[POV — Seongji Yuk]
The morning sun barely broke through the mist as Seongji Yuk gathered the Cheonliang Fam at the training ground. Today wasn't about sparring with Vin Jin or showing Mary Kim's skill—it was about teamwork, endurance, and trust.
"Cheonliang doesn't forgive ego," Seongji said, voice calm but firm. "Even the strongest can fall if they fight alone. Today, you fight together."
He split them into pairs. Mary Kim paired with Vin Jin naturally—two of the strongest—but Seongji didn't let them dominate the session. Instead, he gave challenges that forced cooperation, obstacles that required coordination, timing, and reliance on each other.
[POV — Vin Jin]
Vin Jin had never worked with a team. Trust was a luxury he couldn't afford. Yet, as he moved alongside Mary Kim, guiding her when a log threatened to trip them, he noticed something different: the other kids were trying. Really trying.
Jewoo Park struggled with balance, Hyungjae Lee panicked at the first surprise obstacle, Wooseok Choi misjudged distances, and Taebong Lim kept pushing too hard.
Vin Jin's patience, though thin, began to grow. He offered tips quietly, adjusting their stances and positioning. "Brace your core… don't lean forward… yes, like that," he instructed, almost imperceptibly.
Mary Kim shot him a glance. "You're actually helpful when you want to be," she said, smirking.
Vin Jin didn't reply. He just focused. The mountain didn't allow distractions.
[POV — Mary Kim]
Mary Kim's judo expertise became the anchor for the team. She demonstrated leverage, throws, and balance techniques, correcting mistakes without arrogance. Her calm confidence slowly inspired the others.
"Focus on movement, not strength," she instructed. "Even the smallest adjustment changes the fight."
Vin Jin watched silently, impressed by her precision. She wasn't just strong—she understood control, timing, and strategy. A natural leader.
[POV — Seongji Yuk]
Seongji observed quietly. Vin Jin's involvement was subtle but effective. He wasn't trying to dominate; he was integrating, learning, and teaching simultaneously. That balance—that hunger for improvement—was exactly what Seongji wanted.
By the afternoon, the group had begun to move in unison. Mistakes still happened, but the rhythm was forming. For the first time, the kids weren't just individuals; they were a team.
[POV — Vin Jin]
The final exercise was a timed challenge: move across uneven terrain while carrying one another in pairs, avoiding "traps" Seongji had set along the path.
Vin Jin paired with Mary Kim again. The two moved fluidly, their synergy growing with each step. He could feel her trust, even if unspoken, and it felt strange—and good.
"Not bad," Vin Jin muttered, smiling faintly. "You're strong… but you're stubborn."
Mary Kim laughed softly, pushing him forward. "And you're full of yourself… but you're learning to work with others, which is new for you."
Vin Jin smirked. For the first time, he felt like he belonged—a part of something bigger than himself.
[POV — Seongji Yuk]
As the day ended, Seongji gathered the group around the fire. Shadows danced across the trees, but the mountain seemed less menacing today.
"Today, you learned more than you realize," he said. "Strength alone doesn't matter. Trust, cooperation, and awareness—that's what keeps you alive. Cheonliang tests everything, and this is just the beginning."
Vin Jin sat quietly, looking at the flames, lost in thought. For the first time, he didn't feel like a broken boy running from a Shaman. He felt part of a family, a team, a force to be reckoned with.
Mary Kim caught his gaze and gave a small nod. No words. Just acknowledgment.
The mountain was silent again, but now it wasn't a place of death. It was a place of growth, bonds, and preparation.
Tomorrow, the real training would begin—and with Vin Jin now part of the Cheonliang Fam, nothing would ever be the same.