Journey through the wilderness

Juwon stood amidst the ruins of the shattered pillar; his breath steady despite the lingering unease coiling in his chest. Why did the energy from the pillar not affect him? Liang Rui lay unconscious nearby, completely overwhelmed by the blast. Yet, he remained untouched.

Curiosity gnawed at him, and he knelt beside her. Her breathing was stable, but something puzzled him—he could sense the Qi within her fading, dissipating bit by bit with time. He had never been able to perceive something like this before. How did he know that?

Juwon exhaled sharply. He had bigger problems.

With the pillar's explosion, one of the walls had crumbled, revealing an opening into the mountains. The tunnels leading back were gone, buried under layers of rock and debris. There was no way to return the way he came. His only relief was that at least he had a way out.

Even if he could return, Hei Long Trading Company would never keep their promise of safety. He had entered without permission and emerged alone. There was no doubt in his mind—they would suspect he had taken something.

Juwon scoffed, running a hand through his hair. "Hah! Only if I actually got something…"

As he turned toward the exit, something caught his eye—a faint golden glow, similar to the aura of his pendant.

His steps slowed. He moved toward the rubble, shifting debris aside until he found it—another jade pendant. And beside it—

"What is this?"

A book?

He dusted off the cover, his gaze narrowing as he read the inscription.

"Dragon Emperor's Primordial Breathing Technique."

Juwon flipped through the pages, scanning the introduction. The breathing techniques were divided into different stages based on mastery:

- Initiation Stage

- Foundation Stage

- Core Expansion Stage

- Draconic Burst Stage

- Draconic Apex Stage

- Dragon Sovereign Stage

Juwon flipped through the pages, his brow furrowing. "I've never heard of something like this." He glanced at Liang Rui, still unconscious. "But then again, after what I saw from this little lady over here, I'm not surprised."

His fingers tapped against the cover of the book. "None of this makes sense."

Juwon let out a small breath. "Well, it's not like I can practice it right away."

He tucked the book and pendant away, turning toward the new path. His first priority was getting out of here.

As Juwon stepped outside, the crisp mountain air filled his lungs. The sight before him was breathtaking. The towering peaks of Wudang stretched endlessly, bathed in the golden hues of the rising sun. Mist clung to the valleys below, weaving through the ancient forests like a living entity. The sky was painted in brilliant shades of orange and blue, a stark contrast to the cold stone caverns he had just left behind.

Yet, he had no time to appreciate it fully.

He descended into the forest, knowing that evading Hei Long was nearly impossible. With their vast resources, it was only a matter of time before they tracked him down. For now, his best option was to keep moving.

Pulling out his phone, he quickly typed a message to someone, then tossed the device into the underbrush. No more tracking.

By the time evening arrived, Juwon had been running for nearly twelve hours. His legs throbbed, his body felt heavy, and hunger gnawed at his stomach. He needed shelter.

He knew the dangers of spending a night in the wilderness unprepared. Many plants were poisonous, and the wrong meal could leave him weak or worse. He had survived harsh conditions before, thanks to his excavation work, but something was different now.

Twelve hours and all I've had were a few fruits. I should be starving. Yet… I feel fine. That's odd.

He didn't realize it yet—but his body had changed.

At last, he spotted a cave. He wasn't foolish enough to rush inside. He spent the next two hours watching, waiting, ensuring no predators claimed it as their den. When he was certain it was safe, he entered.

The cave was filled with ant mounds, but that was manageable. A fire would keep them away.

Juwon gathered dry branches and struck a flame, roasting a few fruits he had picked on the way. As the fire crackled, his thoughts drifted.

"What was mother trying to teach me?"

"And who were those shadowy figures?"

They hadn't harmed her in the dream, but something about them was wrong. He felt it deep in his gut—they were the ones who caused his mother that horrid expression.

His fingers curled into fists. "I swear I'll find them and—" He stopped mid-sentence, his breath hitching. The words felt foreign, hollow. Would I really be able to? Would I even have the resolve?

He paused, his own words shocking him.

"…And what? Kill them?"

A bitter chuckle left his lips. "Hah. Like I could kill someone."

Yet, his chest tightened painfully at the thought. Why did his heart ache like this?

Juwon exhaled, tilting his head to stare at the night sky beyond the cave entrance. "I don't even know what happened… but if I find them… what then? Should i ask them for an explaination?" His chest ached, a strange mixture of anger and helplessness weighing on him.

His fists clenched. A bitter, hollow feeling gnawed at him. "Revenge wouldn't even change anything, However"

His father had told him his mother died in an accident. He never even saw her body.

"Every instinct in me screams that was a lie"

His gaze fell upon the book and pendant beside him. His mind calculated, measured.

Juwon let out a slow breath, rubbing his temple before dragging a hand through his hair.

"It doesn't matter".

"Whoever crosses their paths with me….I will find them"

His lips curled, but it wasn't a smile—it was something colder.

" And I can only pray they survive me."

Another hour has passed, Juwon had eaten, he had planned, and now it was time to rest.

Then—

The bushes rustled outside.

Juwon's body tensed. He slowly rose to his feet, his senses sharpening. Something—or someone—was out there.

Two glowing eyes stared at him from the darkness beyond the cave.

Juwon exhaled. "What a bad day to be alive"