Following the advice of So-hee, Si-U continued to cultivate diligently, rarely taking breaks and spending many long hours at a time in the dream space, infusing ki and strengthening his body and mind.
Not only did he learn many ways to cultivate he also listened to the many stories So-hee had to share, one of them being a story of her origin and of the precursors to modern society;
A time when the amount of people who cultivated worldwide could easily be counted none of which could even dream of reaching the known pinnacle of cultivation: Monarch.
She spoke of how men made automated mechanics instead to do things they with their strength could not.
She told him many good things and bad too. The first and the second world wars, how brutal they were especially the civil wars after-which the third world war came. Most brutal of wars which devastated the entire planet and brought humans to the brink of extinction.
Then lastly how the first ki monarch saw this and after many decades decided that humanity needed to change and so he destroyed the cornerstones of the society's precursors leading them into a dark chapter and a new age.
This one man knew how many he had to end to bring about a new world and he with his unfathomable strength made it his reality.
After which he spread his teachings across the planet birthing many of the new empires and great families which valued strength above all else from which many of the legendary ki masters grew.
This part Si-U knew well, as everyone knew this as history. Though he didn't know of the precursors, that much was new to him.
She continued, telling him how the first monarch erased everyone who held to the knowledge of the old world and hunted those who fled his power and reach.
"There were many of us, not quite like me but many who guarded the knowledge of the precursors." So-hee gazes into the distance "I fear I'm the only one left."
"What happened to the others?" Si-U asked, his interest peaking.
So-hee pouted a little narrowing her eyes, "Dong-Hyuk and his followers they hunt for those like me who carry knowledge of the old world he's a cold blooded murder and the only person I can't ever forgive."
She glances at Si-U "Also I think you're getting it you don't realize but you're unconsciously masking your mentality, not many cultivators can do this and it takes more than a genius to cultivate this type of skill."
"Really?" Si-U asked "are you sure? Cause this is quite easy."
"Little brat don't get cocky," So-hee stated "you have a lot to learn, not to mention you've yet to break through to the ki-forming stage." She sighed.
"I know master, it's just that the feeling I had when I broke through to ki gathering late stage it's just..." looking at his hands "it feels like something's missing unlike that time."
"Woah," So-hee mused "having such dirty thoughts about your master, I should punish you for that," she giggled then "it's not the kiss that made you break through, come on." She pat the bed beside her signalling that Si-U should sit. Until that point he'd been sitting on the floor a few feet from her bed in lotus position like he'd always done while cultivating. It didn't matter because the ki in this dreamspace always flowed into him as long as he used the breathing technique she'd taught him before no matter where he was.
He got up and brushing off his clothes before sitting on the bed beside her.
"I'm gonna show you something that i've never shown anyone before." she stated smiling coyly.
"Wait!" Si-U stated, "I dont think im ready, for th-that yet." his face as red as a tomato.
"pffft!" So-hee suddenly started laughing.
"eh?" Si-U was confused by her reaction and a little embarrassed as he'd totally misread the situation.
"I'm happy that i've met you i really am," she reached out placing her hand on his cheek leading his gaze towards her "You've given me a name and helped me in so many ways, you pulled me back from the edge when this dream space and the loneliness was about to corrode me i'm truly grateful, but there are things you don't know about me."
"Cant you tell me?" si-u asked.
So-hee smiled gently, "i think that... after so many years by myself i can finally tell someone, but i don't want you to be in danger you are my precious student afterall."
Si-u mustered his courage and placed an arm around her waist pulling her closer to him, so-hee's eyes widened in surprise, this wasn't something she was expecting giving his temperament "I won't ever leave you master."
"Still calling me master after doing this?" so-hee stated more than asked. He pulled her even closer "well i do have a soft spot for you," so-hee replies smiling.
"behold this is the true form of the dream space," she whispered releasing her ki and divine sense which enveloped them both like the petals of a flower and for a moment he could see what she could, hear, feel, remember. and for a moment the bed vanished along with the endless white space leaving si-u and so-hee in each other's embrace. The place seemed empty however it was anything but, the endless white space was ki solidified and bore so much pressure now that he only avoided being crushed by it because of his master's devine sense.
Such a vast collection of memories, he saw how she'd been brought up in isolation and entrapped in the jade at 13 as a collector of memories, revered as a god by her clan in the early years of the precursor's time and how she'd remained like this many millennia later as a timeless being endowed with great power which only grew the more memories she collected.
Her ki so vast it surpassed the level of monarch seeming like a vast sea of ki but still leaving her powerless to escape the jade and after so many years. Being the only person to enter the jade, which pulled her back from the edge of insanity. He saw the moment she saw him for the first time and through her memories, felt how she felt at that moment. He felt her emotions welling up through him.
It was too much and So-hee felt it.
Slowly the pressure faded and si-u slowly opened his eyes. The vast white space and the bed had returned and so-hee now eyes his with worry. He understood what it ment and how nervous she was as wondering if he would accept her. This was a first for her afterall and the idea that he might reject her was enough to break her but she wanted to know his response. Both wanted to know and feared what his answer might be.
At the same time he felt her power coursing through him in full he had access to the dreamspaces' ki in its entirety. He inhaled then exhaled slowly consolidating the ki in his body.
"Master," si-u stated still holding her close "i won't abandon you and i swear, that i'll become strong enough to free you from this place."
"how?" so-hee asked "my strength is above monarch realm but even with all that power i still can't break free from this place so..." her voice trailed off.
"It's simple you've tried breaking the restriction for the inside," si-u grinned "i'll become as strong as you and then we can simultaneously nuke it from both the inside and out."
So-hee giggled and "become as strong as me huh?"
She touched his cheek, "I'll be waiting."