Over the next few days, Jae-Hoon fell into a rhythm. He woke before dawn, trained until breakfast, helped with chores, and then sneaked in more practice whenever he could.
The other children at the orphanage began to notice, whispering and casting curious glances his way.
Jae-Hoon caught snippets of their conversations - "What's gotten into Jae-Hoon?" "He's always punching and kicking at the air."
Ignoring the chatter, Jae-Hoon focused on his goal. The system pinged regularly, small increases in stats and skills spurring him on.
But he knew it wasn't enough. He needed real training, real competition.
One evening, as Jae-Hoon was finishing his chores, he overheard Mrs. Kim talking to another staff member.
"The community center is offering free Taekwondo classes for underprivileged children," she said. "I was thinking of signing up some of our older kids."
Jae-Hoon's heart raced. This was it - his chance to get proper training.
[New Side Mission: Join the Community Center Taekwondo Class]
[Reward: Access to Structured Training]
After dinner, Jae-Hoon approached Mrs. Kim, trying to keep his voice casual. "Mrs. Kim, I heard about the Taekwondo classes. Could I... could I join?"
She looked surprised, then thoughtful. "I didn't think you'd be interested, Jae-Hoon.
But given your recent... enthusiasm, perhaps it would be good for you."
The next day, Jae-Hoon found himself standing in front of the community center, a group of other orphanage kids around him.
His palms were sweaty, but not from nervousness - from excitement.
As they entered the training hall, Jae-Hoon saw him. The instructor, Master Kang, a man he remembered from his past life.
He was the one who had first recognized Jae-Hoon's potential, who had pushed him to compete. Seeing him again, younger but still imposing, sent a shiver down Jae-Hoon's spine.
"Welcome, students," Master Kang's voice boomed across the room. "Today, we begin your journey in Taekwondo. But first, I need to assess your current abilities."
He started calling kids forward, having them perform basic movements. Jae-Hoon watched carefully, noting the mistakes they made, mistakes he had once made too.
Finally, it was Jae-Hoon's turn.
"Name?" Master Kang asked.
"Lee Jae-Hoon, sir," Jae-Hoon replied, bowing deeply.
"Show me a front kick, Jae-Hoon."
Jae-Hoon took a deep breath, centering himself. The movement came naturally, muscle memory from years of training in his past life guiding him. His leg snapped out, precise and powerful.
Master Kang's eyebrows raised slightly. "Again," he commanded.
Jae-Hoon repeated the kick, then again when asked. Each time, he felt more confident, more in tune with his body.
[Skill: Basic Front Kick leveled up! Now Level 3]
[Master Kang's interest piqued. Potential for mentorship increased]
The system's notification flashed in Jae-Hoon's peripheral vision, but he stayed focused on Master Kang.
Master Kang nodded approvingly. "Good form, Jae-Hoon. Have you trained before?"
"No, sir," Jae-Hoon lied, feeling a twinge of guilt. "I've just been practicing on my own."
Master Kang studied him for a moment longer, then moved on to the next student. But Jae-Hoon could feel his eyes returning to him throughout the class.
As they went through basic forms and techniques, Jae-Hoon was careful not to stand out too much.
He made small, deliberate mistakes, then corrected them quickly. He didn't want to draw too much attention, not yet.
By the end of the class, Jae-Hoon was sweating and his muscles ached, but he felt more alive than he had since waking up in this new-old world.
"Good work today, everyone," Master Kang said as they lined up to bow out. "Jae-Hoon, a word please."
Jae-Hoon's heart skipped a beat as he approached Master Kang after class.
"You have natural talent," Master Kang said, his eyes intense. "With proper training, you could go far in this sport. I'd like to offer you additional classes, free of charge."
[Side Mission Completed: Join the Community Center Taekwondo Class]
[New Side Mission: Impress Master Kang]
[Reward: Accelerated Skill Growth]
Jae-Hoon bowed deeply, trying to hide his excitement. "Thank you, Master Kang. I would be honored."
Jae-Hoon had the knowledge from his past life, the mysterious Taekwondo System to guide him, and now a mentor in Master Kang.
Yet, as he walked back to the orphanage with Mrs. Kim and the other children, the weight of his circumstances settled on his young shoulders.
He was still a 10-year-old orphan with limited resources and freedom.
As they neared the orphanage, Jae-Hoon glanced at his stats, a small smile tugging at his lips:
[Stats after training:
Strength: 17
Speed: 20
Endurance: 18
Flexibility: 17
Spiritual Energy: 25]
The numbers were a testament to his progress, but they were just the beginning.
Jae-Hoon clenched his fists, a fire burning in his eyes. He had been given a second chance, and he was determined to make the most of it.
"I can do this," Jae-Hoon whispered to himself as they entered the orphanage gates. "This time, I'll change everything."
The next few weeks flew by in a blur of training, chores, and more training for Jae-Hoon.
Every spare moment was dedicated to improving his skills, pushing his young body to its limits. The system pinged constantly, a steady stream of small improvements keeping him motivated.
[Strength: 17, Speed: 21, Endurance: 19, Flexibility: 17, Spiritual Energy: 25]
It was during one of Master Kang's additional classes that everything changed.
Jae-Hoon was practicing a complex kick combination when the door to the training hall slammed open.
A boy strode in, his presence immediately commanding attention. He was taller than Jae-Hoon, with sharp features and eyes that burned with intensity.
Jae-Hoon recognized him instantly - Park Min-Jae, the prodigy who had dominated youth competitions in his past life.
Jae-Hoon's heart sank. In his previous life, Min-Jae had always been just out of reach, always one step ahead.
He was the one who had knocked Jae-Hoon out of his first major tournament, setting him on a path of self-doubt that took years to overcome.
Master Kang's face lit up. "Ah, Min-Jae! I'm glad you could make it. Everyone, this is Park Min-Jae. He'll be joining our advanced class from today."
Min-Jae bowed slightly, his eyes scanning the room. When they landed on Jae-Hoon, there was a flicker of interest.
"Let's see what you can do, Min-Jae," Master Kang said. "Jae-Hoon, you too. I want to see you spar."
[New Side Mission: Prove Your Worth Against Min-Jae]
[Reward: Increased Recognition, Potential Skill Unlock]
Jae-Hoon's pulse quickened as he stepped onto the mat. This was his chance to change things, to show that he wasn't the same person he was in his past life.
The two boys bowed to each other, then took their stances. Master Kang gave the signal to begin.
Min-Jae moved first, lightning-fast. His roundhouse kick came at Jae-Hoon with blinding speed, but this time, Jae-Hoon was ready.
He sidestepped, countering with a quick jab that caught Min-Jae off guard.
[Skill: Evasion unlocked!]
[Skill: Counter Attack unlocked!]
The fight intensified. Min-Jae was good - incredibly good for their age. But Jae-Hoon had the advantage of experience, of knowing Min-Jae's style from years of watching and competing against him.
They traded blows, neither gaining a clear advantage. Jae-Hoon could see the surprise in Min-Jae's eyes, the growing respect. He had never had to work this hard in a sparring match before.
As the match neared its end, Jae-Hoon saw an opening. It was risky, but it was his chance to make a statement.
He feinted with his right, then spun into a jumping back kick - a move far beyond what a beginner should be capable of.
[Skill: Advanced Kick unlocked!]
[Warning: Skill level may raise suspicion]
Jae-Hoon's foot connected with Min-Jae's chest, sending him stumbling backward. The room fell silent.
Master Kang's voice cut through the tension. "Enough! Excellent work, both of you."
As they bowed to each other, Jae-Hoon could see the questions in Min-Jae's eyes.
"Where did you learn to fight like that?" Min-Jae asked as they stepped off the mat.
Jae-Hoon shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. "Just practice, I guess."
Min-Jae didn't look convinced, but there was a glimmer of something in his eyes - respect, maybe even the beginnings of friendship.
It was so different from the rivalry that had defined their relationship in Jae-Hoon's past life.
[Side Mission Completed: Prove Your Worth Against Min-Jae]
[Reward: Skill Growth Rate increased by 10%]
[New Relationship Formed: Park Min-Jae - Potential Rival/Friend]
As the class ended and they prepared to leave, Master Kang pulled Jae-Hoon aside.
"Jae-Hoon, that was... unexpected," he said, his voice a mix of admiration and suspicion.
"You've been holding back in our regular classes, haven't you?"
Jae-Hoon swallowed hard, his mind racing for an explanation. "I... I've been practicing a lot, sir. And watching videos online."
Master Kang studied him for a long moment. "You have a gift, Jae-Hoon. But remember, true mastery comes not just from talent, but from discipline and hard work. I'll be watching your progress closely."
As Jae-Hoon walked home with the other orphanage kids, his mind was a whirlwind of thoughts.
He had changed things, perhaps dramatically. Min-Jae wasn't just a distant rival now, and Master Kang's suspicions had been aroused earlier than he had intended.
But as he clenched his fists, feeling the new strength in his young body, Jae-Hoon couldn't help but smile.
[Stats after sparring:
Strength: 19
Speed: 21
Endurance: 20
Flexibility: 19
Spiritual Energy: 25]
The system pinged one last time as Jae-Hoon fell into bed, exhausted but exhilarated.
[Daily Quest Completed: Push Your Limits]
[Reward: +1 to All Stats]
The following week, Jae-Hoon arrived at the community center earlier than usual, hoping to get some extra practice in before class. To his surprise, he wasn't the only one with that idea.
Min-Jae was already there, methodically working through a series of complex forms. He paused when he saw Jae-Hoon, a mix of curiosity and wariness in his eyes.
"You're early," Min-Jae said, his tone neutral.
Jae-Hoon nodded, trying to keep his voice casual. "Thought I'd get some extra practice in."
For a moment, they stood there awkwardly, the tension from their sparring match still lingering. Then Min-Jae did something unexpected.
"Want to train together?"
[New Side Mission: Build a Connection with Min-Jae]
[Reward: Improved Teamwork Skills]
Jae-Hoon hesitated for a split second before nodding. "Sure."
They started with basic drills, but it quickly evolved into something more. Min-Jae showed Jae-Hoon a technique he'd never seen before - a variation of a spinning kick that added extra power to the strike.
[New Skill Unlocked: Advanced Spinning Kick]
[Skill synergy with Min-Jae detected. Learning rate increased by 15%]
As they practiced, Jae-Hoon could feel the initial awkwardness melting away. There was a rhythm to their movements, a silent understanding that began to form.
"You know," Min-Jae said during a water break, "I've never met anyone our age who could keep up with me before."
Jae-Hoon shrugged, trying to downplay it. "You're still better than me."
Min-Jae shook his head. "Maybe. But you've got something... different. Where did you learn to fight like that?"
For a moment, Jae-Hoon considered telling him the truth. But how could he explain his past life, the years of experience crammed into this young body?
"I watch a lot of videos," Jae-Hoon said instead. "And I practice whenever I can."
Min-Jae nodded, but Jae-Hoon could see he wasn't entirely convinced. "Well, whatever you're doing, keep it up. It's nice to have some real competition."
As more students began to arrive, including the other kids from the orphanage, Min-Jae and Jae-Hoon wrapped up their impromptu training session.
But something had shifted between them. The rivalry was still there, but it was tempered now by a budding respect.
[Side Mission Update: Build a Connection with Min-Jae - 50% Complete]
[Reward: Teamwork Skill Unlocked]
Class began, and Master Kang had them pair up for drills. To everyone's surprise,
Min-Jae immediately moved to partner with Jae-Hoon. As they worked through the exercises, Jae-Hoon could feel Master Kang's eyes on them, watching their interactions closely.
Halfway through the class, Master Kang called for everyone's attention. "Listen up, everyone.
The regional youth tournament is coming up in two months. I'll be selecting a team to represent our dojang."
Jae-Hoon's heart raced. This was it - the tournament that set him on his path in his previous life.
The one where Min-Jae defeated him so soundly that he almost quit Taekwondo altogether.
"Jae-Hoon, Min-Jae," Master Kang continued, "I want you two to demonstrate the advanced form we've been working on."
As they moved to the center of the room, Min-Jae caught Jae-Hoon's eye. There was a glint of challenge there, but also something else - a silent acknowledgment that they were in this together.
They began the form, their movements synchronized. It was a complex series of kicks, punches, and blocks, requiring perfect timing and coordination.
As they neared the end, Jae-Hoon could feel the energy in the room shift. Everyone was watching, transfixed.
[Synchronization with Min-Jae achieved]
[Team Skill: Harmonic Flow unlocked]
As they finished, the room erupted in applause. Even Master Kang looked impressed.
"Excellent work, both of you," he said. "I think we've found the core of our tournament team."
As the class ended and they prepared to leave, Min-Jae approached Jae-Hoon. "Hey, Jae-Hoon. Want to train together again sometime? Maybe we could meet up on weekends?"
Jae-Hoon nodded, unable to keep the smile off his face. "Yeah, I'd like that."
As Jae-Hoon walked home with the other orphanage kids, his mind was buzzing with possibilities.
He'd changed the course of his relationship with Min-Jae, potentially altering the entire trajectory of his Taekwondo career.
But as he thought about the upcoming tournament, a chill ran down his spine.
Yong-Soo would be there. The boy who, in another life, became his best friend... and ultimately, his murderer.
[Stats after training:
Strength: 20
Speed: 22
Endurance: 21
Flexibility: 20
Spiritual Energy: 25]
[Daily Quest Completed: Forge New Bonds]
[Reward: +1 to All Stats]
As Jae-Hoon fell asleep that night, the system pinged one last time:
[Warning: Significant divergence from original timeline detected. Future events may become unpredictable.]
Jae-Hoon smiled in the darkness. Unpredictable was exactly what he was counting on.
[