《Jin's Adventure》 The Day Jin Found Something Strange
Jin sat on a wet rock outside the village, looking at the hills to the west. His sandals were falling apart, covered in mud from two years of running errands for Master Gu. He was sixteen, thin as a stick, with messy black hair over his eyes. Everyone called him Cricket¡ªsmall, loud when mad, and useless at fighting. The air smelled like wet grass, but a faint hum came from the hills. The village was tiny¡ªstraw huts, pigs, nothing much¡ªsitting close to those weird lands. People talked about a valley out there with strange lights and missing folks. Jin¡¯s mom worked for Master Gu, the old guy in the shack up the path. She washed his clothes and cooked, while Jin hauled water and wood whenever Gu yelled for it. Gu was different. People said he was an immortal, though he looked grumpy and old. Two years ago, Jin saw him float an inch off the ground, eyes like knives. He only trained a few kids¡ªones who could make mist with their punches after months of work. Kang Tae was one, always acting big. Jin just watched from the side, ignored. A week ago, Gu had enough. ¡°You¡¯re a waste,¡± he growled, waving Jin away. ¡°No energy, no point¡ªget lost.¡± The yard was full of his real students, bigger kids making mist with their fists. Gu called it the Mist Stage, the first step. Jin stood there with his bucket, feeling empty inside¡ªno buzz, no nothing. After that, he stayed away from the shack but kept working. His mom needed Gu¡¯s coins, so he grabbed apples from an orchard near the western path, avoiding Kang Tae¡¯s smirks. Days dragged¡ªmud, apples, that hum¡ªbut Gu¡¯s words burned. He wanted to prove something. That morning, he dropped a load of apples and sat on the rock. His stomach growled, but he didn¡¯t care. He kicked at the dirt, same as always. The hum felt louder today¡ªor maybe he was just tired of it all. His foot hit a pebble, and it rolled into a ditch he¡¯d crossed a million times with buckets. A sharp clink came back, not the usual thud. Jin frowned. He¡¯d heard that before, faint, on other days. Never cared¡ªtoo worn out. But today, it bugged him, like the hum, like Gu. He got off the rock and crouched by the ditch. It was muddy and weedy, but he dug with his fingers, half-curious, half-fed-up. Something green peeked out. He pulled it free¡ªa small jade chunk, cracked down the middle. He wiped it on his sleeve. It wasn¡¯t pretty, but it glowed a little green in the light. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. ¡°Huh,¡± Jin said, flipping it over. It felt warm, not cold. Odd. He¡¯d carried enough junk for Gu to know this wasn¡¯t normal around here. Maybe it¡¯d get him new sandals. ¡°One day,¡± he muttered, ¡°I¡¯ll show them.¡± He stood to toss it. Then it buzzed. A jolt hit his arm, sharp and alive. Jin yelped, almost dropping it, but held tight. His head spun, and when he blinked, the village was gone. He was in a huge room. Mist covered his feet, and gold flecks floated around. Walls went up forever, full of scrolls moving on their own. Jin¡¯s jaw dropped. This wasn¡¯t real. A woman sat in the middle, floating. Silver hair fell past her shoulders, her robe switching colors¡ªblue, purple, gold. Her green eyes hit him hard, and his knees shook. She was beautiful, but too big, like a mountain. ¡°Hey, you,¡± she said, her voice in his head. ¡°You picked up my prison.¡± Jin stared. ¡°Your what?¡± She floated closer, silent. Up close, her face was perfect, smirking like she knew something. ¡°I¡¯m Hyeon Seo,¡± she said. ¡°An immortal from way up. That jade¡¯s my cage.¡± Jin looked at it. Still warm. ¡°This? A cage?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± she said, arms crossed. ¡°Been stuck forever. You found it, so we¡¯re linked. Break it, I¡¯m out. Keep it, I¡¯ll help you.¡± ¡°Help how?¡± Jin¡¯s voice cracked. An immortal? Him? He¡¯d heard stories¡ªflying, lightning, forever stuff. Her smirk grew. ¡°I¡¯ll make you strong. Stronger than that old grump you work for. Stronger than the big schools. I know the steps¡ªMist, Accumulation, all the way up. But there¡¯s a catch.¡± ¡°What catch?¡± Jin asked. ¡°You owe me,¡± she said, leaning in. Her eyes locked his, and he couldn¡¯t breathe. ¡°Break the jade later. Free me. Deal?¡± His head raced. He was Cricket¡ªnothing. But the jade felt real. So did she. He wanted more. ¡°Deal,¡± he said. The room vanished. Jin stumbled back to the path. The jade glowed in his hand. A tiny buzz started inside him¡ªweak, but there. A yell broke the quiet. ¡°There¡¯s the rat!¡± Jin turned. Kang Tae stomped down the hill, grinning mean. His fists glowed a little¡ªGu¡¯s training. Min Soo and Dae Ho followed, one sneaky, one huge with a club. ¡°Stealing apples, Cricket?¡± Kang Tae said, cracking his knuckles. ¡°Gu says you¡¯re trash. Time to learn.¡± Jin¡¯s stomach dropped. He couldn¡¯t fight¡ªKang Tae would flatten him. But the jade buzzed, and Hyeon Seo¡¯s voice whispered, ¡°Dodge left. Kick his knee.¡± Kang Tae rushed, fist flying. Jin jumped left, the punch missing, and kicked. His foot hit Kang Tae¡¯s knee¡ªnot strong, but enough. The big guy stumbled, cursing. ¡°Run!¡± Hyeon Seo said. Jin ran. ¡°Get him!¡± Kang Tae shouted, but Jin dodged through trees, legs burning. He didn¡¯t stop until the village was tiny, panting against an oak. The jade hummed, that buzz still there. ¡°What now?¡± he gasped. Hyeon Seo¡¯s voice came, calm. ¡°Go west. There¡¯s a valley where immortals train. That¡¯s your start.¡± Jin grinned, breathing hard. A start. Maybe this was it. The Girl by the River
Jin woke up with a sore neck and dirt on his face. He¡¯d slept under a tree, curled up tight, after running from Kang Tae and his crew yesterday. The sun poked through the branches, warm and bright, but his body still hurt. His apple sack sat next to him, lumpy and beat-up. He grabbed one, took a bite, and made a face¡ªsour and mushy, but it¡¯d do. The cracked jade hung around his neck now, tied with some twine from his pocket. It stayed warm against his chest, humming since yesterday. Hyeon Seo¡¯s voice had told him to go west, to a valley where immortals trained. Jin didn¡¯t get it fully, but it sounded better than going back to get pounded. He stood, stretched, and looked around. Hills went on forever, green and quiet, with mist hugging the ground. West was that way, he figured, checking the sun. He threw the sack over his shoulder and started walking. No path¡ªjust grass and rocks. His sandals flopped, one strap hanging on for dear life. An hour in, his legs ached, and the apples weighed him down. He stopped by a river¡ªsmall, fast, cutting through the hills. The water was clear, running over smooth stones. Jin knelt, scooped some up, and drank. It was cold and sweet, way better than village stuff. He splashed his face, and the jade buzzed hard, like a trapped bug. Jin stopped. Hyeon Seo¡¯s voice hit his head, quiet but firm. ¡°Watch out, kid. Someone¡¯s here.¡± He wiped water from his eyes and looked up. A girl stood across the river, staring. She looked seventeen or eighteen. Her black hair was messy, tied with a red ribbon flapping in the wind. She wore a patched gray robe, plain, but stood tall, like she owned the place. Her dark eyes moved fast. A small bronze charm hung from her belt, glowing faint. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°Hey!¡± she yelled, voice carrying over the water. ¡°What¡¯s a dirty kid like you doing out here?¡± Jin wiped his face on his sleeve, feeling grimy. ¡°Walking,¡± he said. ¡°You?¡± She stepped across, feet light on the stones, and landed close. She was taller, with a sharp chin and a grin¡ªhalf-nice, half-trouble. ¡°Hunting,¡± she said, flicking the charm. It hummed soft. ¡°I¡¯m Ryn. You got a name, or just Mud Boy?¡± ¡°Jin,¡± he said, brushing dirt off his pants. ¡°Hunting what?¡± ¡°Rabbits, mostly. Foxes if I¡¯m lucky.¡± She looked him over. ¡°You don¡¯t look like you hunt. Or fight. Or anything.¡± Jin¡¯s ears got hot. ¡°I can do things,¡± he mumbled. ¡°Still figuring it out.¡± Ryn laughed, loud and clear. ¡°Sure you are. Where you going, Figuring-It-Out Jin?¡± ¡°West,¡± he said, keeping it short. The jade buzzed, and Hyeon Seo whispered, ¡°She¡¯s got energy. Mist Stage, Level 3. Be careful.¡± Jin¡¯s eyes got big. Level 3? He didn¡¯t even know Level 1. Could she tell he was nothing? He shifted, acting normal. ¡°What about you? You from here?¡± ¡°Nope,¡± Ryn said, hand near her charm. ¡°I wander. Take odd jobs, follow rumors. Heard there¡¯s a valley west¡ªlights in the sky, people disappearing. Want to see it.¡± Jin perked up. That¡¯s where Hyeon Seo pointed him. ¡°I¡¯m heading there too,¡± he said. ¡°Maybe we can go together?¡± Ryn raised an eyebrow. ¡°You? You¡¯ll slow me down. Can you keep up?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll try,¡± Jin said, grinning a little. She was pushy, but he liked how she didn¡¯t care what people thought. She shrugged. ¡°Fine. Trip and whine, I¡¯m ditching you.¡± She turned and walked along the river, not looking back. Jin grabbed his sack and hurried after her. The jade hummed, and Hyeon Seo spoke again. ¡°She¡¯s strong for her age. Stay close¡ªtrouble follows her, and that¡¯s how you get better.¡± ¡°Trouble?¡± Jin muttered. ¡°Awesome.¡± The river shone next to them as they walked, hills up ahead. Jin didn¡¯t know what was in that valley¡ªor what Ryn would say about the jade. But for once, he felt like he was going somewhere. Somewhere big. The Old Man鈥檚 Test
Jin¡¯s legs ached by noon. He¡¯d been chasing Ryn for hours, her quick steps leaving him out of breath. The river still flowed beside them, winding through the hills, but the air felt heavy, like something big was near. His apple sack bumped his side, and the jade around his neck buzzed now and then, a nudge from Hyeon Seo¡¯s words yesterday. Ryn didn¡¯t talk much. She¡¯d hum a tune sometimes, sharp and fast, but mostly she walked, eyes on the trees. A small bronze charm hung from her belt, glowing faint. Jin liked the quiet¡ªit gave him time to think. That tiny energy in him, sparked by the jade, was still there. Weak, just a twitch, but it shifted more today, like water breaking through dirt. ¡°You¡¯re slow,¡± Ryn said, glancing back. Her red ribbon flicked as she turned. ¡°Thought you¡¯d fall over by now.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Jin said, wiping sweat off his face. It was a lie, but he kept up. She laughed short. ¡°Fine for a nap, maybe?¡± Her grin came quick, then faded. Jin liked that¡ªshe teased but didn¡¯t push. They went on until the river bent around a hill, and the trees opened up. A wobbly wooden bridge stretched over the water, just wide enough for one. An old man sat on a rock across it, legs crossed, fishing pole on his shoulder. His gray hair stuck out wild, and his robe was faded, maybe white or brown once. An empty basket sat next to him. Ryn stopped, hand near her charm. ¡°Huh. Didn¡¯t expect that.¡± Jin caught up, panting. ¡°He¡¯s just fishing,¡± he said. ¡°Right?¡± The old man turned slow, like he just saw them. His eyes were small and bright, cutting through his wrinkled face. ¡°Fishing?¡± he said, voice rough. ¡°Maybe. What¡¯re you kids doing by my river?¡± Ryn stepped up, chin high. ¡°Passing through. Going west. Got a problem?¡± Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. He chuckled, low and dry. ¡°West? The valley? Bold kids.¡± He set the pole down and stood, moving too smooth for someone so old. ¡°Lots head that way. Not many come back.¡± Jin¡¯s gut twisted. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Trouble,¡± the old man said, shrugging. ¡°Beasts. Thieves. Things that don¡¯t like nosy kids.¡± He pointed at Ryn. ¡°You¡¯ve got power. Mist Stage, Level 3, I¡¯d guess.¡± Ryn¡¯s eyes narrowed, but she didn¡¯t argue. ¡°Close enough. Who¡¯re you?¡± ¡°Old Tan,¡± he said, waving a hand. ¡°Been here forever.¡± He looked at Jin. ¡°You, though¡ªnothing. Empty as a dry well. Why¡¯re you here?¡± Jin¡¯s face burned. ¡°I¡¯m not empty,¡± he said quiet. The jade buzzed, and Hyeon Seo¡¯s voice whispered, ¡°He¡¯s testing you. Show him.¡± ¡°Show what?¡± Jin thought, touching the jade under his shirt. ¡°I don¡¯t even know.¡± Old Tan raised an eyebrow. ¡°Talking to yourself, kid? That¡¯s bad out here.¡± Ryn grinned. ¡°He¡¯s weird, but he¡¯s with me. Let us pass, old man.¡± ¡°Not yet,¡± Old Tan said. He pulled a small black stone from his robe, blue lines running through it. ¡°Want my bridge? Prove you¡¯re worth it. Touch this. Show me.¡± Ryn sighed but took it. The stone flashed twice¡ªblue, then red. Old Tan nodded. ¡°Two roots¡ªwind and fire. Rare, quick stuff. Go on.¡± She tossed it back and crossed the bridge, steps light. Jin froze. He¡¯d heard about roots¡ªhow they showed who could cultivate. Most got a messy bunch; a few had less, better odds. ¡°Your turn, empty kid,¡± Old Tan said, holding the stone. Jin swallowed and grabbed it. The jade buzzed hard, and Hyeon Seo said, ¡°Relax. Let it out.¡± He closed his eyes, unsure. The stone stayed cold, and Old Tan started to laugh. Then it lit up¡ªgreen, red, yellow, silver, blue¡ªfive weak colors, tangled and fading quick. Old Tan stopped laughing. ¡°Five roots,¡± he said. ¡°Wood, fire, earth, metal, water¡ªall of them. The usual junk. Useless here without a trick.¡± He leaned in, eyes sharp. ¡°What¡¯s that on your neck?¡± Jin covered the jade fast. ¡°Nothing,¡± he said too soon. The old man smirked. ¡°Sure. Keep it. Cross if you want¡ªjust don¡¯t die quick.¡± He waved them off and sat, grabbing his pole. Ryn waited across, arms crossed. ¡°Five roots?¡± she said as Jin stumbled over. ¡°That¡¯s the weak junk. No wonder you¡¯re nothing.¡± ¡°Better than nothing,¡± Jin muttered, but it didn¡¯t feel true. Five roots sounded heavy, worthless. ¡°Barely,¡± Ryn said, walking off. ¡°My two roots¡¯ll leave you behind. Stick close, Five-Root¡ªyou¡¯ll need me.¡± The bridge creaked as they moved, the river fading out. Jin held the jade, wondering if Hyeon Seo could turn his mess into something¡ªor if he was chasing air. The Shadow in the Trees
The hills got steep as Jin and Ryn walked on, the river¡¯s sound long gone. The sun burned high, sweat soaking Jin¡¯s shirt. His sandals were shot¡ªone strap missing, the other clinging on. His apple sack hung light after he ate another sour one to quiet his gut.
Ryn moved easy, like the heat didn¡¯t touch her. Her red ribbon flicked in the wind. She carried a small bronze charm on her belt¡ªnot a staff¡ªjust a trinket, but it hummed faintly. She had two roots¡ªwind and fire¡ªrare, one in a thousand. Old Tan said it made her sharp, and Jin saw it: steady, Mist Stage Level 3 already.
Jin¡¯s five roots were a tangle¡ªwood, fire, earth, metal, water. Old Tan called it trash¡ªmost folks here had messy roots like that, stuck low where qi was weak. Single roots rose fast; five roots barely moved. The jade on his neck buzzed soft, warm against his skin. Maybe it¡¯d shift things.
¡°You¡¯re quiet,¡± Ryn said, not looking back. ¡°Scared you¡¯re done for?¡±
Jin kicked a rock. ¡°Just wondering how far this valley is. Lights, vanishings¡ªwhat¡¯s that mean?¡±
¡°Talk,¡± Ryn said, shrugging. ¡°Glowing mist, odd shadows. Some say it¡¯s a hidden realm¡ªtreasures or beasts inside. Some say it¡¯s bad luck. I don¡¯t care. Sounds worth a look.¡±
¡°Worth it?¡± Jin muttered. ¡°You¡¯re nuts.¡±
¡°Says the guy with five roots and no qi,¡± she said, grinning. ¡°You¡¯re a mystery, Five-Root. Old Tan¡¯s right¡ªyou need a big push to not die out here.¡±
The jade pulsed, and Hyeon Seo¡¯s voice slid in, calm. ¡°She¡¯s not wrong. You¡¯ve got me, though. The valley¡¯s near¡ªkeep going.¡±
Jin didn¡¯t answer her¡ªRyn¡¯d think he was off. He held the jade under his shirt and followed. The trees grew thick, blocking the sun. The air got cool, heavy, with a hum that made his skin itch. The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.
Ryn slowed, eyes sharp. ¡°Feel that?¡± she said low.
¡°Yeah,¡± Jin said, looking around. ¡°What¡¯s it?¡±
¡°Qi, maybe. Strong stuff.¡± She frowned. ¡°Valley¡¯s close. Watch yourself.¡±
They pushed on, the ground dipping into a wide valley. It spread out¡ªgreen, rocky, with mist glowing faint in the day. It felt off. The hum shook Jin¡¯s bones, and the jade throbbed like a heartbeat.
A rustle hit the quiet¡ªsomething big in the trees to their left. Ryn tensed, hand on her charm. ¡°Stay back,¡± she said.
Jin stepped away, heart thumping. The rustling got close. A shadow moved¡ªlong, lean, with yellow eyes. A growl rolled out, rough.
¡°Beast,¡± Ryn said, steady. ¡°Mist Stage, Level 1 or 2. Don¡¯t mess it up.¡±
Jin¡¯s throat locked. He¡¯d never seen a qi beast¡ªwild, not some stray. It stepped out¡ªa wolf, twisted. Black streaks in its fur, jaws too wide, teeth like spikes. Mist drifted off it, curling around its paws.
Ryn moved. She flicked her charm, and wind kicked up¡ªher wind root, fast and thin. A blade of air sliced out, cutting the beast¡¯s side. It snarled, dodging. She flicked again, fire sparking from the charm, a hot streak that burned its flank. The wolf backed off, growling.
Jin stood there, stuck. Ryn¡¯s roots worked smooth¡ªwind and fire through her treasure. She¡¯d end it fast. Then the jade flared hot, and Hyeon Seo snapped, ¡°Move!¡±
Jin jumped left as a second shadow lunged¡ªa smaller wolf, quick, aiming for him. It missed, claws hitting dirt. He stumbled, banging his arm on a rock, but got up fast.
¡°Two!¡± Ryn yelled, turning. She sent wind at the first, pushing it back. The second faced Jin, eyes glowing.
He froze. No qi, no skill¡ªfive roots, all junk. The wolf leapt. The jade flashed green, a jolt ripping through him¡ªchest, arms, legs. It was weak, messy, but real. He dodged right, the wolf¡¯s teeth snapping close.
¡°Push it!¡± Hyeon Seo said.
Jin didn¡¯t know how. He grabbed the jade, willing that jolt out. A faint green thread shot from his hand¡ªnot strong, but it hit the wolf¡¯s face. The beast flinched, confused. Ryn darted in, her charm flashing fire, and a hot burst cooked its side. It dropped, dead.
The first wolf howled and ran off. Ryn stood, breathing hard. ¡°You¡¯re alive,¡± she said, eyeing Jin. ¡°What was that?¡±
Jin shook, the jade cooling. That thread¡ªqi? Five roots, moving at last. ¡°Dunno,¡± he said. ¡°Luck.¡±
Ryn smirked, wiping her face. ¡°Valley¡¯s got teeth. Let¡¯s move¡ªmore might come.¡±
Jin nodded, picking up his sack. The hum pulled harder, deeper into the valley. Whatever the jade started, it wasn¡¯t stopping. First Breath Jin¡¯s arm still ached from crashing into that rock yesterday, dodging the beast. He kept walking anyway. The valley stretched ahead, green and misty, with sharp peaks cutting through the haze. Ryn led the way, her bronze charm jingling soft on her belt. The air hummed loud now, heavy on his skin. The jade around his neck buzzed with it, warm and steady. That fight stuck with him. The jade¡¯s jolt¡ªqi¡ªkept him alive. Five roots, weak and tangled, but they moved. He¡¯d watched Gu¡¯s students for years, sitting cross-legged, breathing slow to pull qi. He¡¯d tried it once, hiding behind the shack¡ªnothing happened, just a stiff neck. Now, with the jade, it felt real. Ryn glanced back. ¡°You¡¯re limping, Five-Root. Slowing me down already?¡± ¡°Nah,¡± Jin said, stepping faster. ¡°Just sore. I¡¯m fine.¡± She smirked. ¡°Sure. Don¡¯t fall too far behind.¡± She turned ahead, scanning the mist. ¡°This place is packed with qi. Thick, wild stuff. We¡¯re in deep.¡± Jin nodded, quiet. The hum shook his bones, and the jade pulsed hard. Hyeon Seo¡¯s voice slid in, calm. ¡°Stop here. Sit. Time to breathe right.¡± ¡°What?¡± Jin muttered, eyeing Ryn. She didn¡¯t hear, too busy moving forward. ¡°Sit,¡± Hyeon Seo said. ¡°You¡¯ve seen breathing¡ªmessy, useless. I¡¯ll fix it. The jade and this valley can wake your roots.¡± Jin slowed, dropping his sack. ¡°Hey, Ryn¡ªI need a break.¡± She stopped, frowning. ¡°Now? We just started. You¡¯re weak.¡± ¡°My arm¡¯s killing me,¡± he said, rubbing it. ¡°Five minutes. Catch up soon.¡± Ryn sighed. ¡°Fine. Don¡¯t sit too long¡ªvalley¡¯s not safe.¡± She walked off, charm glowing faint, fading into the mist. Jin sat on a flat rock, legs crossed like he¡¯d seen back home. The jade sat warm on his chest. ¡°Okay,¡± he thought. ¡°How¡¯s this work?¡± ¡°Breathe,¡± Hyeon Seo said. ¡°Your five roots¡ªwood, fire, earth, metal, water¡ªblock each other. Most here have three, four, five¡ªcommon junk, slow as mud. Two roots are rare¡ªsharp, fast. One¡¯s a myth. Your five clog qi¡ªtakes years to untangle alone. The jade¡¯s my seal¡ªcracked, leaking Ninth Heaven qi. Follow my breath, and it¡¯ll break through.¡± Jin nodded to himself. He¡¯d tried Gu¡¯s way¡ªsuck air in, hold it, push it down. Nothing ever came. ¡°Tell me,¡± he thought. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°Three steps,¡± Hyeon Seo said. ¡°First, breathe in slow¡ªfive counts, nose only. Feel the valley¡¯s qi¡ªraw, heavy. Second, hold it¡ªfive counts¡ªlet the jade drag it to your chest. Third, push it down¡ªfive counts¡ªpast your gut, into your roots. The jade¡¯s qi cuts¡ªsharp, like a blade. Do it.¡± Jin closed his eyes and started. In¡ªone, two, three, four, five. The air buzzed in his nose, thick with power. The jade flared hot, pulling qi in. Hold¡ªone, two, three, four, five. A tingle hit his chest, shaky but growing. The jade glowed green, and he felt it¡ªHyeon Seo¡¯s qi, thin and fierce, stabbing into his roots. Push¡ªone, two, three, four, five. Pain hit¡ªgut first, like a punch, then arms and legs, burning. His roots woke¡ªwood¡¯s green spark, fire¡¯s red, earth¡¯s yellow, metal¡¯s silver, water¡¯s blue¡ªall faint, all twisted. They fought, jamming up. The jade¡¯s qi sliced through, hauling the valley¡¯s wild qi along. ¡°Again,¡± Hyeon Seo said. ¡°Ten times. Build the ring.¡± Jin kept going, teeth clenched. Breathe in, hold, push¡ªover and over. Each round hurt¡ªsweat stung his eyes¡ªbut the roots took it. The jade forced them apart, linking the strands into a shaky ring in his chest. Gu called it the Mist Stage¡ªqi spinning, not stuck. Most took months¡ªKang Tae with his four roots still hadn¡¯t hit it last Jin saw. After ten cycles, the pain eased. Jin opened his eyes, panting. His body felt lighter, tougher¡ªlike he could carry wood without gasping. The ring spun slow inside, weak but there. ¡°Mist Stage, Level 1,¡± Hyeon Seo said. ¡°Your five roots drag¡ªtoo messy to move quick. The jade¡¯s Ninth Heaven qi cuts the tangle, pulls valley qi in. Without it, you¡¯d crawl a year. With me, you¡¯ve got a jump.¡± Jin wiped his face. ¡°Level 1? Just breathing?¡± ¡°You watched scraps,¡± she said. ¡°I gave you my breath¡ªthree steps, my qi leading. Others stumble with weak tricks. Ninth Heaven beats this mud.¡± Jin grinned small. Kang Tae fumbled months with four roots¡ªGu barking, no edge. Jin¡¯s five were junk, but Hyeon Seo¡¯s way got him there fast. Ryn¡¯s two roots were rare¡ªsharp, a prodigy¡¯s gift¡ªbut Jin had something too. The mist swirled thicker, and a faint shimmer caught his eye¡ªgreen light flickering in the haze, like the jade¡¯s glow bouncing back. The valley felt alive, humming deeper. Hyeon Seo¡¯s voice came, low. ¡°That¡¯s qi moving¡ªvalley¡¯s waking. Get up. Catch her.¡± Jin stood, grabbing his sack. His legs didn¡¯t ache as bad¡ªLevel 1 wasn¡¯t much, but it worked. He jogged after Ryn, following the charm¡¯s faint glow ahead. The jade hummed steady, and he breathed¡ªfive in, five hold, five push¡ªtesting it. The ring spun a little faster, small but growing. He caught up, panting. Ryn stood by a jagged rock, staring into the mist. She turned, eyebrow up. ¡°You¡¯re back? Took you long enough.¡± ¡°Had to rest,¡± Jin said, shrugging. ¡°Feel better now.¡± She squinted at him. ¡°You look¡­ different. Less dead. What¡¯d you do?¡± Jin scratched his neck. ¡°Just sat. Valley¡¯s air¡¯s good.¡± She snorted. ¡°Weird. Keep up¡ªsomething¡¯s ahead.¡± She walked on, charm glowing brighter. Jin followed, jade warm. Level 1 was small¡ªRyn¡¯s Level 3 could crush him¡ªbut it was real. Kang Tae crawled; Jin leapt, with Hyeon Seo¡¯s breath and the jade¡¯s kick. Five roots bent for him. The valley loomed, mist swirling thick. Jin breathed it in, ready for more.