The morning sun bathed the forest in golden light as Jian and Hu Win made their way back to Huin. After the grueling training session at the waterfall, the idea of warm food and a break from the constant pain seemed like a distant dream come true for Hu Win.
As they walked, Hu Win's mind wandered back to the events from earlier—the monstrous creature they had encountered in the forest. The more he thought about it, the less it resembled the shadow beasts he'd read about in books. He furrowed his brows, replaying the fight in his head.
"Jian," Hu Win said, breaking the silence.
"What?" Jian replied, his hands resting casually on the hilt of his sword as they walked.
"That creature from earlier… it wasn't a normal shadow beast, was it?" Hu Win asked hesitantly.
Jian raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Hu Win's sudden question. "What makes you say that?"
"I've read about something similar before," Hu Win said, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "They're called the Walking Dead. They're formed when a person with a high Chi count dies but releases their Chi before their death. That Chi doesn't disappear—it lingers and manifests into a dark, twisted form like the creature we saw."
Jian stopped in his tracks and turned to face Hu Win, his expression unreadable. "The Walking Dead? You're sure?"
Hu Win nodded. "It fits. But… it doesn't make sense for one to appear here."
"Why not?" Jian asked, his tone sharper now.
"Because," Hu Win explained, "we live in the West. Our ancestors built a massive barrier centuries ago to seal the Walking Dead and prevent them from being born in this region. The barrier is invisible and unbreakable. Seeing one out in the open… it shouldn't be possible."
Jian crossed his arms, his eyes narrowing in thought. "If that creature was a Walking Dead, then it means the barrier has been broken."
Hu Win's eyes widened, and he shook his head. "That's impossible. The barrier isn't something you can physically see or touch. It's powered by ancient seals and anchored deep within the earth. Breaking it would take an immense amount of power—more than anyone in the West could possess."
"Unless," Jian said, his voice dropping to a near whisper, "someone unsealed it."
Hu Win blinked, the weight of Jian's words settling over him. "Unsealed it? You mean… someone deliberately broke the barrier?"
Jian nodded. "It's a possibility. If there's someone powerful enough to tamper with those seals, then we're dealing with a threat far greater than any Walking Dead."
Hu Win shivered, the thought sending a chill down his spine. "But who could do something like that? Our history books don't mention anyone with that kind of power."
Jian's gaze hardened. "Plenty of names come to mind, but if I had to guess, it's the Octons."
"The Octons?" Hu Win repeated, his brow furrowing. "I've read about them. They were a group of four incredibly powerful warriors who appeared seven years ago. But they're not evil—they saved the West from the Hell Dragon, didn't they?"
"That's what people believe," Jian said with a cold smirk. "The Octons did fight the Hell Dragon, but they didn't do it out of the kindness of their hearts. They killed the dragon to take its Chi for themselves. They divided its power into four parts, one for each of them."
Hu Win stared at Jian in shock. "How do you even know that?"
Jian's smirk faded, replaced by a serious expression. "Because I was a member of the Octons."
"What?" Hu Win nearly shouted, his voice echoing through the forest. "You were part of the Octons? How? When?"
Jian began walking again, his voice calm and steady as he spoke. "It was five years ago. I found the Octons in the northern city of Xiawon. They were recruiting, looking for someone strong enough to replace one of their members. They told me that if I could defeat one of them in battle, I'd take their place."
"And… you did?" Hu Win asked, his voice filled with disbelief.
Jian nodded. "I fought Dai Dagan, one of their strongest members. The battle lasted for hours, but in the end, I won. I beheaded him, and his Chi flowed out of his body and into me. That's how I became part of the Octons."
Hu Win stared at Jian, struggling to process what he was hearing. "But… they say the Octons were practically invincible. That each member could take on 30,000 mastered soldiers at once. And you… defeated one of them?"
"I did," Jian said simply.
"Are you still part of the group?" Hu Win asked cautiously.
Jian shook his head. "No. They tried to kill me shortly after I joined."
"What? Why?"
"Because I was strong," Jian said, his tone matter-of-fact. "Too strong. They saw me as a threat. I managed to escape, but I couldn't take on the remaining three at once. Eventually, they found a replacement for me, and I've been on my own ever since."
Hu Win fell silent, his mind racing. The man walking beside him wasn't just a skilled warrior—he was someone with a past as tangled and dangerous as the stories of the Octons themselves.
---
As they entered the outskirts of Huin, the bustling town greeted them with its lively streets and cheerful vendors. The smell of freshly baked bread and sizzling meat filled the air, and the chatter of townsfolk created a warm, welcoming atmosphere.
Hu Win's thoughts were interrupted as Jian came to an abrupt stop.
"What are we doing here?" Hu Win asked, looking around.
Jian smirked. "Training."
"Training?" Hu Win repeated, puffing out his chest with pride. "What kind of training? Another waterfall? Fighting some bandits?"
"EATING!" Jian declared, grinning mischievously as he bolted toward a nearby restaurant.
Hu Win blinked, stunned for a moment before running after him. "Wait! Eating is training? How does that even work?"
Jian didn't answer, disappearing into the restaurant. Hu Win hurried inside and found Jian already seated, waving at a waiter to bring food.
"You've been pushing your body to its limits," Jian explained as Hu Win sat down. "Now it's time to refuel. Eating well is just as important as fighting or meditating."
Hu Win grumbled but couldn't deny that the idea of a good meal sounded appealing. Soon, their table was laden with dishes of steaming dumplings, roasted meat, and fragrant rice.
As they ate, Hu Win couldn't help but glance at Jian, the weight of their earlier conversation still heavy on his mind. There was so much he didn't know about his mentor, so much he wanted to ask.
But for now, he let the warmth of the food and the lively atmosphere of the restaurant wash over him, content to savor this rare moment of peace.