It was time for intermission. All the prospects sat on the cave ground with water and bread and meat In their hands. Some formed group circles, staying far away from Joon as possible, Joon by himself, his left eye still not recovered or regenerated, it was gone permanently, he had ripped a piece of his shirt to wrap around his left eye.
'I can't recover for this…why? Is it because I got this wound before I got my cheat skill..? Eh, screw it. I'm not blind, that's all that matters. My senses are heightened, like a dogs, I can hear and smell 100 times better than I have before.'
Then he remembered how he was falling down the dark abyss, seeing his own devil hounds consuming, and thought, 'It's gotta be because of them, right? Dammit. Even after all of that, no one wants to at least talk to me. Fine, I don't care. I'm used to being alone anyway.'
He looked to the left, seeing Elara was sitting on top of a rock, not even touching her food and drink. She kept glimpsing over at Joon, and Joon kept looking away.
Elara thought, 'There's something about him..should I go talk to him? I don't do this at all, going up to random people and talking to them. What if he thinks I have some sort of feelings for him or something? Tch. Why would he even think that? I should walk over there now. God why can't I do it? I fight so easily, but am scared to talk to a random boy.'
At that moment, Torin and Zephyr walked to Elara, and Torin smiled, "Hmmmm, you keep looking at Joon. Do you want me to call him over?"
Elara, flustered, formed an ice shard, putting it up to Torin's neck, saying, "Don't you dare do such a thing. I'll kill everyone."
"Haha! It's okay!"
Zephyr said, "She is not a fan of speaking to someone."
Elara agreed, "Thank you. That's it. I'll just wait."
"We could possibly relay a message."
"No! No! Don't do anything. I can handle this."
'I hate talking to people in general. I'll wait until he says something to me. I have things I want to ask. He spoke of a girl named Hana, maybe it's the same one I know as well.'
Elsewhere, Caelan sat by himself as well, scarfing his food down, leaning against the cave wall, looking at Joon, thinking, 'That l brat was there with Shen Wei when he was slaughtered by that demon. I need to talk to him. Why should I even talk to him? I hate him, his demon kind, everything. I was banished from the Baihu sect, and Shen Wei was the only one who tried to stand up for me. I want to know what Joon knows, to see if he knows something I don't. I want to know everything. If I plan on wiping out the Baihu sect as a whole, I'll need everything.'
At that moment, a woman approached Joon, saying, "I have been instructed to treat your wounds."
Joon asked, "Who instructed you?"
"Myself. Now come."
The woman grabbed Joon by the arm, and took him away.
Joon said, "Ahh…easy easy. That hurts."
"Hm. That's strange."
"What?"
"Your arm should be ripped off by now by how much I'm pulling."
Joon panicked, "Huh?!"
"No worries."
'This kid. He's a calm boy, very cautious about his surroundings.'
Joon thought, 'I hope she doesn't plan on killing me or something.'
Just then, his system window opened only for him to see:
[7% hostile intent detected within her]
'Is that good or bad? 7% seems like a lot. Actually, I understand. Based on what I am now and my power, everyone would be on edge.'
…
Joon rested uncomfortably on the stiff cot laid out inside the large, light brown tent, which served as a temporary medical bay. The dim light filtering through the fabric cast soft shadows across the space, emphasizing the sober atmosphere following the intense training session. Despite Joon's innate ability to regenerate, the process was painfully slow and inefficient for immediate threats, and some of the deeper wounds he sustained from the demonic centaurs threatened to be fatal if not treated swiftly.
The woman approached him; she was one of the four leaders of the Blood Sect, known for her wisdom and ruthless efficiency. Her black hair was pulled back tightly, and her brown, thin eyes peered down at him through her glasses with a mixture of concern and clinical detachment.
"Stay still," she said softly yet firmly as she began channeling healing Qi into his wounds. Her hands hovered just above the injuries, a soft, golden light emanating from her palms. This light seemed to seep into Joon's flesh, stitching the deeper lacerations with a warmth that belied the cool exterior of the healer.
'This feeling…'
"Your body's regeneration is remarkable," she commented, her focus unwavering, "but even unique abilities have their limits. Without proper intervention, you risk complications that no natural healing can undo swiftly enough."
'It's like a peaceful power flowing through me. My mother had the same ability…damn it's been years since I felt it after hurting my knee outside.'
Joon clenched the cot, he wanted to cry at the reminiscent feeling, his veins popping in anger once Ji-Woo appeared in his head.
Then, Joon grimaced slightly from the pain but was more intrigued by the healer and the organization she represented. "Can you tell me more about the Blood Sect?" he asked, eager to divert his mind from the discomfort.
She glanced at him, curiosity flickering in her eyes. "Curious? Very well. Since you will be apart of us soon. The Blood Sect, or Xuepai as it was originally known, was established during the Warring States period in response to the rampant corruption and demonic interference within spiritual sects. It was founded by Wei Fang, a rogue monk who defected from his original sect after witnessing the devastating effects of demonic collusion."
She moved to another wound, her hands steady. "We operate under 'The Crimson Oath,' which compels us to remain hidden in the shadows, our blades serving as silent arbiters of balance. Our mission is to cleanse corruption from the martial world, ensuring no sect becomes too powerful or too tainted."
As she spoke, Joon noticed how the voices of other prospects filtered into the tent, speaking of homes and dreams, fears and ambitions. Outside, the intermission was a fleeting reprieve from the harsh realities of their training, a time to share stories and bond over shared hardships.
"Our deeds are many," she continued, "such as the Purge of the Black Willow Sect. They were once healers but delved too greedily into forbidden magics, inviting demonic aid into their ranks. We ended their menace under the cover of a lunar eclipse, erasing an impending blight upon the land. I was a part of that sect, then was recruited here because I killed most of the blood sect members that came after me when I was against the very things my own sect did."
She checked another wound, her touch clinical yet comforting. "Then there was the Night of Red Sorrow, where we thwarted the Azure Alliance's attempt to seize power through demonic summoning. Such acts are necessary; they prevent the contamination of our world's spiritual integrity."
Joon listened, absorbed by the tales that seemed as if they were torn from the pages of an epic. "And how does the Sect view me?" he ventured, uncertainty threading his words.
'Where do I stand with these people? These killers?'
"There are rumors," she admitted, locking eyes with him. "Your abilities, your origin—they are of great interest. The Blood Fest does not act hastily. Observation and patience are our guides. If you are a threat to the cosmic balance, we will act. For now, you are an enigma that requires understanding. You will be shunned for what you are, but most of it is out of pure jealousy. You will be the main one focused on by the sect, you and Caelan. Caelan has potential as you do, oh, and also Elara. You are the min three prospects the sect talks about the most."
She finished her treatment and stepped back, observing her work. "Healing is just a part of what we do, but it is crucial. It restores more than just the body; it mends the spirit, preparing it for the trials to come."
As she spoke, Joon felt the weight of her words, understanding the gravity of his situation. He was a piece in a much larger puzzle, one that the Blood Sect was keenly aware of.
"Can you heal my eye?"
"You garnered that wound before you seemingly awakened. I treated the infection but healing qi can restore limbs."
"Oh. It's fine then I guess."
"Hmph. Strange. No one I've seen has had that reaction after losing an eye or limb. I see the real reason the Hangyang sect despised you. You're different. Your next test will be soon," she stated plainly, preparing to leave. "Rest now. Regenerate. Reflect on your place in this world."
With that, she exited the tent, leaving Joon alone with his thoughts and the soft murmur of his fellow trainees outside, each voice a story, each story a life intertwined with the deadly dance of the Blood Sect's shadowy embrace.
'She's awfully nice to me. Nothing as I expected as I thought they would be much harsher. It's refreshing to have someone be a little nice to me after dealing with being hated for years. It brings me a little joy I guess.'
The relative calm of the medical tent was abruptly shattered as the flap burst open and three young prospects marched in, their eyes set determinedly on Joon. The leader, a tall, imposing teen with streaks of silver and blue running through his otherwise black hair, moved with a predatory grace. His eyes, a striking icy blue, burned with a mix of contempt and determination. Each of the intruders brandished weapons that glimmered with the etchings of Qi runes, their intent clear and lethal.
"You do not belong here," the leader announced coldly, his gaze fixed on Joon. "Your very presence here, tainted with demonic Qi, is a threat to us all. It's best to end this now, while your powers are drained."
Breathing heavily from the treatment and still weak, Joon assessed his precarious situation. He was not yet at full strength, and these prospects seemed ready to strike him down without hesitation.
[3 prospects, hostility level : 100%. They intend to kill you with weapons embedded with qi runes. Runes of power from fragments of qi that strengthen the effects of its previous skill and the sharpness of the weapon. Before, qi runes did not exist until a deity allowed it to be possible for fragments of qi to be placed onto weapons, in which the deity forms into qi runes themselves. The process is long, for one has to communicate with the deity itself to have this complete]
'So to sum this up…it gives weapons extra power and abilities? That sucks….I want one. How do I get one?'
[Find one.]
'Yeah thanks.'
Before the tension could escalate further, another figure dart rolled into the tent. Elara, a lithe and determined female prospect with a fierce reputation, had overheard the commotion. Without a word, she grabbed the nearest assassin prospect by the face, slamming him back with incredible force, and planted an ice shard sharply against his neck. The cold edge of the shard pressed into his skin, a clear threat etched in its chilling touch.
"Leave now, or I swear on your life he won't see another fucking day," Elara hissed, her expression as cold as the ice she wielded.
The leader, undeterred and even more incensed by her intervention, simply sneered. "Do it then. If you think we will abandon our cause for his sake, you are mistaken." His eyes did not waver from Joon, even as he spoke. "We asked Caelan to join us, but he told us to fuck off, he would've been a huge deal during this situation, but screw it. Joon is weakened. The more he stays here, he could be plotting on slaughtering all of us to increase his power. You saw what he did to the centaur!"
Elara said, "Hey dipshit, do you even care to think of we come across an exam test that has a foe we can't beat? We'll need him."
"There's 80 of us. Nothing can stop us. And if that wasn't the case, would you still let him live?"
"….I.."
"Exactly. Why even defend him? You know what those influenced by darkness are capable of."
"You're right in every aspect, I don't blame you, but you could die easily if you were to fight him. No matter if he's weakened or not. And plus we could use him. We're all against the demons and demonic qi, and if what Joon says is true, then he didn't let this happen on purpose."
Joon thought, 'I meannn…technically I did agree to have this power, but I didn't know it would be THIS power, so basically I didn't really ask for it. Should I say something? No no, stay quiet. Then they'll all jump on me like psychopaths.'
With a ruthless shout, the prospects and his remaining partner dashed towards Joon, their weapons poised to strike. But Joon look at them with a smile, and in the blink of an eye, he vanished at what seemed like light speed, darting to the other side of the tent in a blur of motion.
The sound of bodies hitting the ground thudded behind him. Joon turned to see the leader and his ally sprawl on the dusty floor, their bodies twisted unnaturally, limbs broken, and blood streaming from their noses. Shock and pain twisted their features, their eyes wide with disbelief.
"H-How?" The leader gasped, his voice a mixture of pain and shock as he struggled to comprehend the swift defeat.
Elara, still holding the first assailant at bay, looked across at Joon, her expression a mix of awe and relief. She slowly released her captive, pushing him towards his fallen comrades. "Enough," she said firmly. "You've lost. Leave now, while you still can."
The wounded prospects, groaning and clutching at their injuries, were helped up by their comrades. The leader, supporting himself painfully on one elbow, continued to stare at Joon. "This isn't over," he spat out defiantly. "You are a danger to us all."
The boy who was held captive dragged his friends out of the tent, and Elara stopped him, saying, "You're still going to help them even after we're gonna let me kill you?"
"I…I…"
"What's your name?"
"Kai. I didn't really want to do this, they just told me to come with them because they saw how good I did during the exams. I don't like hurting people…"
Kai had light orange hair, dark orange eyes, and a scar on his left cheek.
Elara sighed, "If you help them, you're just as pathetic as they are."
Kai looked down at his so-called "friends", and then clenched his fists, walking out.
"Hey you bastard! Come get us now!"
Elara looked at Joon, thinking, 'He smiled before he attacked them, but he held back so he didn't kill them. He's strong, but strange. Should I say something to him now? This would be the best time!'