The journey to the Floating Cloud Sect began before dawn.
Tae-hyun stood at the edge of the bamboo forest, his gear fastened, blade at his side, body tense with anticipation. The lingering embers of last night's conversation with Yul still burned quietly in his chest. Trust. A dangerous ideal—and yet, he hadn't regretted saying any of it.
The sky was a pale blue as Elder Wu emerged from the mist, robes fluttering in the morning breeze. Behind him stood Yul, her arms crossed, expression unreadable.
Tae-hyun blinked. "She's coming too?"
"She is," Elder Wu said simply. "The sect elders have agreed. You've caused… ripples. Strong ones. That much raw potential draws eyes—curious and hostile alike. Yul will travel with you, observe your growth. And, if needed, intervene."
Tae-hyun raised an eyebrow. "A babysitter?"
Yul stepped forward. "Don't flatter yourself. I volunteered."
That made him pause.
Her tone was as dry as ever, but there was something beneath it—something unspoken. He nodded.
"I don't need protecting," he said.
"Good," she replied, turning on her heel. "Because I don't plan to protect you."
Elder Wu chuckled. "The Floating Cloud Sect does not raise lone wolves. Even those who arrive with teeth bared will learn to run with the pack—eventually."
They began the trek up the mountain trail, winding through misty paths and towering cliffs. The landscape shifted from forest to stone, the air rich with qi. Tae-hyun felt it flowing around him—denser, purer. A cultivator's haven.
Yul kept pace beside him, silent but alert. Her presence wasn't comforting, exactly—but it was grounding. A known variable in an unknown world.
As they approached the final ridge, the Floating Cloud Sect came into view—an awe-inspiring sprawl of temples and training grounds built into the mountain's spine. Waterfalls cascaded beside spirit trees. Disciples in flowing robes sparred and meditated in harmony. And above it all, the main hall stood like a throne, carved into the peak itself.
Tae-hyun exhaled slowly.
This was it.
The path to power. The forge that would temper his will. And perhaps... the place where trust would either take root or be shattered.
The Floating Cloud Sect buzzed with energy. Cultivators drifted through the stone courtyards like ghosts, each cloaked in purpose and silence. Tae-hyun and Yul stood at the edge of the initiation grounds—a wide, circular plaza paved in black jade, surrounded by statues of mythical beasts.
A dozen new initiates gathered with them. Some looked nervous. Others, arrogant. Tae-hyun stood apart from them, calm yet alert, every instinct telling him this was more than a formality.
From the great marble steps of the main hall, a middle-aged man in white robes approached, his spiritual pressure washing over them like a wave. It was refined, yet sharp, like wind honed to a blade.
"I am Master Li Shen, Overseer of the Outer Sect," the man said, his voice echoing. "Today you stand at the gates of your path. You may have come here with pride or fear, but those things mean little beyond this point."
He gestured to the stone circle. "This is the Trial of First Steps. You will face it alone. A manifestation drawn from your deepest weakness. Pass—and you are accepted into the sect. Fail—and you are escorted back down the mountain."
Someone scoffed behind Tae-hyun. A tall boy with silver hair stepped forward, cracking his knuckles. "What if it's too easy?"
Master Li smiled faintly. "Then your weakness is arrogance. And I promise the trial will not disappoint."
The boy's smirk faltered.
Without another word, the first initiate was called. A girl stepped into the circle, and the world shifted. The air rippled. Her figure disappeared into an illusion only she could see.
Tae-hyun watched as one by one, the initiates entered the circle and emerged—some shaken, others broken. One girl ran out screaming, clutching her own arms. Two others fainted. Only five remained unscathed.
Then Master Li called his name.
"Tae-hyun."
He stepped forward. The black jade beneath his feet felt cold, unnaturally smooth. He inhaled slowly. Yul watched him from the side, her expression impassive—but her eyes narrowed slightly. Focused.
As soon as Tae-hyun reached the center, reality twisted.
The world went dark.
Then—he was back in Seoul.
A ruined alley, smoke curling from broken glass and crumbling walls. Sirens in the distance. Blood on his hands.
No… not just his hands.
In front of him knelt a boy—his little brother.
"Hyung… why?" the boy whispered, tears streaking his ash-covered cheeks.
Tae-hyun froze. His mind screamed that this wasn't real, that it couldn't be—but the weight of guilt crushed him like a mountain.
"You left me," the boy said. "You always do. For power, for purpose. But I just wanted you to stay."
Tae-hyun's breath caught in his throat.
He remembered this moment. Or something like it. In his old world, he'd abandoned people—friends, family, mentors. Always chasing something greater, leaving shadows behind him.
"Is this what you call strength?" the boy asked. "Running from your past?"
Tae-hyun clenched his fists. His knees buckled.
Then, he remembered the flame in his chest. The oath he'd taken in this new world.
"I seek power… not to run, but to carve freedom. And I will never run again."
He stood, slowly, and faced the boy. "You're not real. But the regret is. And that's fine. I'll carry it—not as chains, but as fuel."
The world cracked.
Light poured in.
And then he was back—on the jade stone, breath heavy but steady.
Master Li gave a slight nod. "Pass."
Yul looked at him differently then. Not softer—but more curious. As if she'd seen something she didn't expect.
"Next," the elder called. "Yul."
She stepped forward with the ease of someone walking into a familiar dream. When the trial swallowed her up, Tae-hyun found himself waiting—not anxiously, but thoughtfully. He'd seen her guarded side. Heard her philosophies. But what would her weakness look like?
Minutes passed.
Then, she emerged—calm, expression unchanged.
Master Li studied her. "Also… pass."
As the last of the initiates were tested, the crowd thinned. Those who failed were escorted away. The rest were led into the inner courtyard, where engraved tablets awaited.
"Place your hand on the stone," an attendant instructed. "It will record your name, talent, and cultivate a personalized schedule for your training."
Tae-hyun stepped forward, touching the ancient slate.
A faint hum echoed.
> Name: Tae-hyun
Spiritual Root: Dual Affinity – Shadow and Flame
Evaluation: Highly Unorthodox. Extremely Dangerous Potential. Recommend close observation.
He saw Yul glance at his results—and then at him.
"Shadow and flame?" she murmured. "That's a rare pairing."
"I like contrast," he replied.
Her lips twitched—something almost like a smile.
"Dangerous," she said. "I can see that."
As the two walked deeper into the Floating Cloud Sect, surrounded by towering halls and disciplined cultivators, the path ahead of them shimmered with uncertainty.
But for the first time, Tae-hyun didn't feel alone on that path.
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