Morning came softly, the first rays of sunlight spilling over tiled rooftops and fluttering paper banners. The Blue Pearl Sect was already awake, disciples training, elders screaming vibrantly, and the occasional explosion from someone's failed Qi technique.
Raon sat cross legged in the courtyard, still sore from yesterday's Qi Formation 101 fiasco. Then a faint blue shimmer of unstable energy.
**Qi density: 3.2 units per cubic chi. Translation: this air is basically diet energy.**
"Is that supposed to help me train?"
**No, but I thought you'd like to know how weak you are compared to grass.**
He groaned, channeling his focus inward. Slowly, he began to feel it, the soft rhythm in his chest, the breath of the world flowing through him. The system guided his awareness toward his abdomen, where the energy flowed faintly.
**That's your dantian core. Think of it as your personal Qi battery. Try not to overcharge it and explode.**
"You're very encouraging, thanks."
He exhaled deeply, the blue glow fading into calm ripples, until a voice startled him.
"Training this early?"
Raon turned to see Jin Seoryun, the Young Master of the Blue Pearl Sect, the main character. His black robes shimmered faintly, embroidered with silver waves. The air around him felt… steady. Too perfect.
"Ah… yeah," Raon replied quickly. "Can't protect the gate if I can't swing a sword."
Jin smiled politely, but his gaze lingered. "You're the guard who took that hit from me during sparring, aren't you?"
"Yeah. I'd call it a 'learning experience.'"
**He means 'trauma.**
Raon twitched. "Nothing, just, thinking out loud."
Jin chuckled, brushing his hair aside. "You have an unusual presence, Guard Raon. Keep training. The sect needs disciplined men."
As he walked away, Raon let out a breath he didn't know he was holding.
**Congratulations. You've survived your first protagonist encounter without dying or groveling.**
"Barely." Raon said
He looked up at the clear sky. Somewhere beyond these mountains, the Heavenly Demonic Alliance was preparing. And here he was an average guard trying to form his first proper Dantian core.
"Guess I better catch up fast," he muttered, gripping his sword and resuming practice.