For the next three months, Hyun, now twelve, maintained his relentless, dual routine. By day, he was the diligent, small boy at The Inn of Quiet Shadows. By night, he pushed his Murim-infused body to its limits. Despite his outward calm, Hyun lived in constant inner turmoil. His adult morality screamed at the injustice, yet his logic insisted on patience until his power matured.
One rainy evening, Ahn and two other gaunt villagers approached him. "Boy, you have been a good, quiet worker for two years," Ahn rasped. The villagers explained that the Tithing would be replaced this cycle by a Selection of the Dispossessed. The Cult was demanding "volunteers" from the village's vulnerable population—orphans, those with no family, or those deemed weak—to be taken to the Demon Peak.
Ahn leaned in closer, her eyes fixed on Hyun. "The Selection is in less than three months. You are an orphan survivor, boy. You fit their requirement perfectly." The suggestion hung in the heavy air: Hyun had to volunteer for the Selection to save another child.
Hyun's adult mind reeled. This was a reckless, suicidal plan. Entering the Demon Peak directly would be walking into the dragon's lair. Yet, it was also a terrifying opportunity: the only way to gain direct access to the Cult's headquarters and understand their power structure and weakness. It aligned with the justice his adult heart craved.
For weeks, Hyun was consumed by indecision. One afternoon, while running an errand, he witnessed a small, chilling incident that shattered his restraint. A young boy, perhaps seven, momentarily escaped his mother's grasp and ran into the road. He was immediately snatched back, his face rigid with terror. Suddenly, the scent of sulfur and rot wafted in on the breeze. Hyun looked up and saw the Cult Collector standing on a distant rooftop. The chilling, effortless grace of the figure and the palpable fear he radiated was a stark reminder: They know when hope flickers, and they feed on the terror of the children.
Hyun returned to the Inn, his eyes blazing with a resolve he hadn't allowed himself to feel before. He sought out Ahn, who was quietly kneading dough. "I will go for the Selection," Hyun stated simply, his young voice steady but cold with determination. "Tell me what I need to know about the Demon Peak." The silent cultivator had made his choice. The years of diligent preparation were over.