Morning sun shines down upon the Blue Pearl training yard as disciples began their drills. The sound of wooden swords and grunts echoed like a rhythm Raon had come to recognize. Every breath, every movement it was all energy leaking away.
**Observation: 72% of these people are wasting Qi faster than you waste sarcasm.**
"I'm pretty sure that's a statistical exaggeration."
**No. It's a public service announcement.**
He'd noticed it days ago, the sect's breathing rhythm taught disciples to inhale too sharply, exhale too shallow. It built strength, sure, but it disrupted Qi flow.
If Qi was water, then every breath was a stone dropped in the river.
Raon adjusted his stance, slowly moving through the Blue Pearl Flow. He exhaled longer, letting the air push the energy downward before circling it back up through his chest. The rhythm was smooth, unbroken, quiet.
That was when Jin Seoryun appeared again, his white robes fluttering like a banner of perfection. "Still training early, Guard Raon?"
Raon nodded. "Someone's got to stay in shape in case you collapse mid-fight."
Jin smiled faintly, drawing his sword. "Then spar with me. I need to test something."
They faced each other. Jin's strikes came fast, measured, powerfu, but Raon flowed like water. Each step absorbed the impact... barely but at least he's holding against the MC, redirected force, turned Jin's own momentum against him.
When Jin paused, his chest barely rose. He frowned. "Your breathing,what is that pattern?"
Raon blinked. "Breathing?"
Jin stepped closer, studying his stance. "You're circulating Qi differently. It's balanced, constant. That can't be from the manuals."
Raon shrugged. "The manuals teach you how to move, not breathe. Breathing's just... life. If your Qi doesn't follow your lungs, it'll always stumble."
**Congratulations, you just redefined basic respiration. Would you like to patent it?**
Jin ignored the snark only Raon could hear. He mimicked the motion, adjusting his breathing to match. Instantly, his next swing came cleaner with no lag. The energy spread evenly across his body, light but strong.
He froze mid-swing, eyes wide. "That... that's smoother than anything I've learned in the sect."
Raon scratched his head. "Maybe you're just overthinking it. Qi's supposed to flow. We're called Blue Pearl for a reason."
Jin laughed under his breath, lowering his sword. "The elders never mentioned this. To think a guard" He stopped himself, realizing how it sounded.
Raon gave a small smirk. "Don't worry, I'm just a guard. I'll keep breathing on my own."
**Oof. That's poetic-level pettiness.**
Jin's expression softened. "No... you've taught me something today. Thank you."
Raon turned away, pretending not to hear, and resumed his stance.
**Achievement unlocked: Accidentally impressed the protagonist.**
Raon grinned slightly. "Guess breathing's my new weapon."
As Jin left, the faint ripples of water Qi shimmered around Raon's feet, unnoticed. The current of the Blue Pearl Sect had begun to shift, and no one even realized who'd started it.