The ancestral library was burning. Flames climbed up the shelves, consuming centuries of knowledge in mere seconds. Jin lay sprawled at the center of the room, his body rigid, eyes wide open. On his chest, the crimson symbol pulsed erratically, like a second heart.
Then, he blacked out.
Jin's mind sank into a cold, dark void. Distant sounds echoed in his mind — screams, explosions, the roar of flames. He tried to move, but his body wouldn't respond. Somewhere, far away, a voice echoed.
— Tsk. Typical. — The voice was calm, slightly ironic. — The kid activates the seal and passes out. Promising.
When Jin opened his eyes, he was no longer in control.
Chi had taken over his body. Jin's eyes now glowed with a fierce red light. Chi rolled his shoulders, adjusting the body as if wearing a tight suit.
— Well, kid, guess I have to save you this time — Chi muttered, cracking his knuckles. — But don't get used to it. This is temporary.
Chi walked out of the library, his steps calm, while chaos unfolded around him. Monks screamed, running in every direction. Soldiers of the Scarlet Alliance attacked without mercy, their spiritual blades slicing through the air in bloody arcs.
At the center of the square, Bae Shiran laughed, the spiritual whip coiled in his hand, dripping with blood. When he saw Jin — or rather, Chi — he grinned even wider.
— Well, well. The heir finally decided to show up — Shiran raised the whip, his eyes glowing red. — I'll tear that power out of you, boy!
Chi said nothing. He simply watched Shiran for a moment, his eyes narrowed, expression unchanging. Then, he moved.
The world seemed to slow down. Chi moved like a crimson blur, dodging blades, evading strikes, each step a deadly dance. Shiran barely had time to react before Chi appeared in front of him and delivered a direct punch to his stomach.
Shiran was launched backward, the air knocked from his lungs. He struggled to his feet, coughing, eyes wide in disbelief.
— But... what...?
Chi walked calmly toward him, his eyes glowing like burning embers.
— You talk too much — Chi said, rotating his wrist. — And, frankly, you're pathetic.
Shiran roared, summoning his spiritual whip. He lashed it toward Chi, but Chi dodged effortlessly, moving like a specter. When the whip passed, Chi grabbed it mid-air and yanked it with force. Shiran was pulled forward, losing his balance.
Chi greeted him with a spinning kick to the face. Shiran spun through the air, crashing into a stone pillar that cracked under the impact. Chi gave no reprieve. He appeared next to Shiran in the blink of an eye and grabbed him by the throat, lifting him off the ground.
— The kid's still asleep — Chi murmured, leaning closer to Shiran's face. — But I'm wide awake.
Shiran's eyes widened in terror. Chi released his grip, letting Shiran drop to the ground. Shiran tried to stand, but his limbs were numb. Chi then opened his palm, drawing a seal in the air.
— Spiritual Concealment Seal — he said, tracing red symbols on the ground. — They're tracking the kid's Qi. But they can't track mine.
Chi closed his eyes, breathing deeply. In a swift motion, he bit his thumb, letting the blood drip onto the seal on the ground. The crimson energy blazed brightly, enveloping Jin's body like a cocoon.
— Sleep, kid — Chi whispered. — I took care of the rest.
The crimson energy subsided, and Jin's body finally calmed. Chi fell to his knees, his breathing ragged.
— Ungrateful brat... — he muttered before closing his eyes and disappearing.
When Jin opened his eyes, the world was silent. The bodies of the Scarlet Alliance soldiers were scattered across the square. The spiritual seal on the ground still glowed faintly. Jin tried to stand, but his legs refused to move. His chest burned, the crimson symbol pulsing gently.
— Chi...? — he whispered, looking around. But there was no response.
Outside, the snow began to fall. Jin let himself sink to the ground, tears streaming silently down his face as the reality of the destruction around him finally set in.