When mortal rage ignites, even immortals retreat in fear.
When the mountain shrinks, the river inevitably follows.
When the earth bleeds, heaven itself receives the wound.
The connection, the unity, the union, the harmony, the path—everything eventually converges upon the same end.
And that, we call the Martial Path.
"Instructor Wu, does that mean even Martial Trainees like us are cultivating the Martial Path?"
A young boy, barely twelve years old, stood up and asked, his voice filled with a hopeful earnestness.
"No, a Martial Trainee does not cultivate the Martial Path."
A middle-aged man, Instructor Wu, slowly shook his head. His long, dark martial robes fluttered gently with the cool night breeze that silently entered the vast Martial Teaching Arena of the Murim Training Academy.
"Then... doesn't that mean Martial Trainees like us aren't true Martial Artists?"
The same young boy, clad in the standard Martial Trainee uniform, pressed further, his relatively muscular arms instinctively rising slightly with his question.
"Hmm… you may be misunderstanding the fundamental concept of Martial Path and Martial Art, Trainee Yan."
Instructor Wu, his six-foot-tall frame shifting subtly from left to right, surveyed the thirty or so children—both boys and girls—who sat attentively on the polished stone floor of the Teaching Arena.
"Trainee Yan, to be more precise, Martial Art refers to the form of discipline you cultivate and learn as you rigorously train yourself with various Martial Techniques and Martial Forms."
He sighed, a deep, resonant sound, as his gaze settled upon the eager young boy.
"Martial Art teaches you the very basics of discipline. This discipline you cultivate will eventually become an intrinsic part of your everyday life, guiding your actions and shaping your very being."
He paused, deliberately meeting the eyes of each child, slowly and unhurriedly, allowing his words to sink in.
"Eventually, when you touch that insurmountable wall—that point where you truly believe you have finally stepped into the realm of human limitations—that, my young ones, is when you would finally have to evolve. You would manifest the said discipline into a profound Enlightenment."
A faint, knowing smile graced his lips, causing every child present to be utterly mesmerized by the weight and profound meaning of his words.
"And that same Enlightenment would inevitably become the gateway to your very own unique Martial Path, a singular journey that would lead you to the sacred teachings and hidden truths of the world, making you a true master amongst masters."
He concluded, his smile widening slightly, and exhaled calmly.
"Does that mean you have achieved the Martial Path, Instructor Wu?"
Trainee Yan asked, his voice a curious, innocent blend of expectation and genuine naiveté.
"Idiot, take your seat before Instructor Wu beats you to your death!"
Suddenly, a soft but stern whisper came from a boy seated next to him, warning Trainee Yan to immediately sit down and avoid causing further trouble.
"Brother Wudi, don't worry, Instructor Wu isn't like that!"
But Trainee Yan seemed completely oblivious to the gravity of what he had just asked.
"Hehe…"
Instructor Wu couldn't help but let out a dry, slightly awkward laugh, feeling a pang of both embarrassment and speechlessness. Achieving the Martial Path was a monumental feat, far easier said than done.
If he truly were a master who had achieved the Martial Path, he wouldn't be merely an Instructor in the Training Academy of the Murim Alliance; he would undoubtedly be one of the revered Murim Elders or a powerful Hall Master.
"No, I have not achieved the Martial Path yet."
He decided to be entirely truthful with these innocent children.
Listening to his honest, negative reply, a collective wave of disappointment rippled through the young audience.
"Then who has achieved the Martial Path, Instructor Wu?"
Trainee Yan asked, his excitement undimmed despite Instructor Wu's disappointing answer.
Seeing the boy's unwavering enthusiasm, Instructor Wu scratched his head in a gesture of mild embarrassment.
"Only true masters—such as the esteemed Murim Elders, the various Hall Masters, the patriarchs and matriarchs of the Noble Houses, and so on—have achieved such a profound accomplishment."
He offered a gentle smile to the persistent young boy, even though he felt a pang of sadness relaying this information, knowing that for all martial artists, achieving the Martial Path remained their ultimate, lifelong dream.
"Wow! Then what about the Murim Alliance Leader? Does he not have the Martial Path?"
Trainee Yan continued to ask, his spirit unwavering, his curiosity boundless.
"Idiot!"
Trainee Wudi could no longer restrain himself. He shot up from his sitting position and delivered a sharp, albeit not overly forceful, punch to Trainee Yan's head.
Although Trainee Yan was a good two inches taller, Wudi's conviction allowed him to deliver the strike.
"Ouch, ouch, ouch!"
Trainee Yan clutched his head, moaning in exaggerated pain, staggering a few steps as he frantically rubbed the sore spot.
"Brother Wudi, that was completely unnecessary! Why did you have to do that?"
He felt deeply wronged; he hadn't done anything to deserve such a hard punch. He had merely asked a series of questions he genuinely believed needed answers—was that a crime?
"Instructor Wu, please forgive this foolish boy, Trainee Yan, and please have a generous heart to show some mercy!"
Trainee Wudi completely ignored Trainee Yan's complaints. Instead, he turned swiftly to Instructor Wu, cupped his fist in his palm, and bowed deeply, seeking immediate forgiveness for his friend's perceived impudence.
"...Sigh."
Instructor Wu observed the disciplined boy, Trainee Wudi, who appeared far more mature than his tender age suggested.
"You are Trainee Wudi, aren't you?"
"Yes, Instructor Wu!"
When questioned, Trainee Wudi answered instantly, his posture impeccable.
"I recall you ranked first in the written test during the Entrance Exam. It seems that was not just a mere fluke."
Instructor Wu could clearly see that Trainee Wudi possessed an intelligence far beyond what his age implied.
"Thank you for your praises, Instructor Wu."
"You don't need to worry about your friend being rude to me. He was simply curious, so he did nothing wrong by asking those questions."
Instructor Wu waved his hand dismissively, indicating that there was truly no offense taken.
"Thank you, thank you for your generosity and magnanimity!"
Trainee Wudi, still demonstrating his maturity, quickly and forcefully made Trainee Yan bow as well, compelling him to express their shared gratitude.
With that, both boys reluctantly sat back down, Trainee Yan still grumbling about how he had done nothing wrong, while Trainee Wudi continued to scold him, albeit in a hushed tone, for his reckless behavior.
****
After the teaching session concluded, a gentle murmur filled the vast Martial Teaching Arena as the thirty or so young trainees began to stir, gathering their belongings and preparing to return to their respective dormitories.
The cool night breeze, which had carried Instructor Wu's profound words, now seemed to usher them quietly out.
Trainee Wudi and Trainee Yan shared a room, a space they occupied with two other trainees, a common arrangement within the academy. As they gathered their few possessions, a figure approached them from the dispersing crowd.
"Brother Yan, you were certainly bold back there."
A young girl, strikingly beautiful, drew near. She moved with the natural grace of a swan gliding across still water, her every step exuding an air of elegance and nobility.
Her long, red dress, flowing gently with her movements, seemed to enhance her ethereal appearance, making her seem as if she had stepped directly out of an immortal painting.
"Sister Tang, please don't encourage this idiot,"
Trainee Wudi interjected, turning to face the beautiful girl, his gaze sharp.
"Otherwise, he'll only become more courageous in repeating tonight's folly."
"You are so strict, Brother Wudi,"
Trainee Yan remarked, walking towards Trainee Tang with a wide smile, completely oblivious to Wudi's underlying frustration.
"Don't listen to him; he's always like that, always strict, just like an old man."
"Don't worry, I don't mind."
Trainee Tang's smile remained fixed on Trainee Yan, a delicate curve of her lips. She then turned her attention to Trainee Wudi, who merely responded with a subtle frown, a silent display of his disapproval.
"By the way, do you have time tomorrow?"
She asked Trainee Yan, her voice carrying a light, hopeful lilt as she waited patiently for his reply.
"Yeah, we do actua—"
"No, we don't."
Before Trainee Yan could complete his sentence, Trainee Wudi abruptly cut him off, his voice firm and decisive, delivering the answer himself.
"Oh… is that so?"
Trainee Tang's expression shifted, a subtle hint of disappointment clouding her features. Her sad countenance resembled a beautiful flower beginning to wilt, losing its vibrant charm and beauty.
"Brother Wudi… but aren't we free tomorrow?"
Trainee Yan, still utterly clueless, asked in genuine confusion, wondering why they were suddenly not free the following day.
"Is that so?"
Upon hearing Trainee Yan's bewildered question, a flicker of excitement returned to Trainee Tang's eyes. It seemed Trainee Wudi might have been lying to her after all.
"No, as I said, we are not free at all."
Under the soft glow of the moonlight filtering into the arena, Trainee Wudi remained as unyielding and strict as ever, offering no leeway, his resolve unshaken.
"Then can you tell me why that is?"
She pressed, her curiosity piqued, demanding a proper, logical reason for his assertion. This wasn't her first time being rebuffed by Trainee Wudi.
Whenever she attempted to approach him and Trainee Yan, he seemed to deliberately chase her away or intentionally create more distance between them than they already had.
"Tomorrow, we have to visit the Martial Cultivation Hall to train our Acupoints. And that idiot, who is about to open all his Acupoints, needs the most time because if he succeeds in that, he can finally become a Martial Artist."
Trainee Wudi pointed directly at Trainee Yan as he delivered his clear and seemingly proper reason.
Trainee Yan was momentarily stunned. He was wondering what on earth Brother Wudi was talking about. Wasn't he already a Martial Artist?
So why would he need to cultivate again to become a Martial Artist? Trainee Yan had, in fact, been a Martial Artist for two months already. Unlike the other Martial Trainees, he was not merely a trainee but one rank higher—a full-fledged Martial Artist.
So, what was Brother Wudi talking about? Saying he needed to be training in the Martial Cultivation Hall for advancement to the next rank, becoming something he already was?
In fact, he was currently at the level where he was cultivating his Twelve Primary and Eight Extraordinary Meridians, specifically focusing on his Three Meridians (Upper, Middle, and Lower).
He was, to be precise, in the process of opening his Xin Jing, the Heart Meridian, which was considered the Middle Meridian.
"Are you sure?"
Trainee Tang's voice held a hint of doubt. She didn't entirely believe what Trainee Wudi had just told her because, as a Martial Artist herself, she could faintly sense that Trainee Yan was not merely a Martial Trainee like Trainee Wudi.
There was a subtle yet distinct aura of cultivated Qi about him that belied his supposed rank.
This subtle difference was precisely why she was so interested in them. A boy with the talent to become a Martial Artist within just two months of joining the Training Academy was by no means a simple feat.
There were very few individuals who had reached the Martial Artist rank in the Junior Year of the Murim Training Academy. Hence, missing out on a talent like Trainee Yan was not something she could easily allow.
But what could she do? When faced with those stern and strict eyes of Trainee Wudi, she couldn't help but sigh deeply and decide to retreat for now.
"Okay then, for now, I shall take my leave, but let's meet tomorrow when you truly have free time."
She couldn't do anything but give up for the moment, her words a soft promise rather than an immediate demand.
With a swift, elegant turn, she left them, her red dress swishing gently as she walked away into the fading light of the arena.
After she had departed, Trainee Yan approached Trainee Wudi. Although he didn't utter a single word, his eyes, wide and questioning, seemed to convey everything he wanted to ask.
"Don't be fooled by that lady."
Trainee Wudi understood perfectly what his friend was trying to convey, so he offered a direct warning, his voice low and serious.
"What do you mean by that?"
Trainee Yan asked, a frown deepening on his brow, his innocent confusion turning to a more thoughtful expression.
"Although she is a trainee like us in the academy, that doesn't mean you should forget that she is the Third Young Lady of the Martial Tang Family, the renowned family known as the Poison and Weapon Kings."
He sharply reminded Trainee Yan of the formidable family she belonged to, causing Trainee Yan's expression to become a little more serious as well.
Yes, even though Trainee Tang was friendly with them, that didn't mean they should forget that she came from one of the Nine Noble Households, the Martial Tang Family, infamous for their mastery of poison and weapon-based martial arts.
"The only reason she is approaching you and me is because she wants to recruit you into her faction."
Trainee Wudi continued, his words a stark reminder to Trainee Yan of the complex, often cutthroat world he was now living in—this life, specifically.
Yes, this life. Trainee Yan was not actually from this world but came from a world full of science and technology, a place vastly different from the Murim he now inhabited. He used to be a normal high schooler in his previous life, but due to an unfortunate electrocution incident, his life had ended prematurely.
Mysteriously, he hadn't expected to reincarnate in this world called Murim, reappearing as the son of humble farmers. In this life, his parents were not office workers but diligent farmers who earned their living by tilling the land.
Fortunately, he seemed to have been born with an exceptional talent for martial arts.
Because of this innate gift, he had joined the Murim Training Academy, an institution similar to government-funded schools in his previous life, where he didn't need to pay for his education.
Of course, those who trained and studied here were expected to eventually become soldiers of the Murim Alliance or high-ranking elites within its structure.
"Powers like the Martial Tang Family send their children to the Murim Alliance or the Murim Training Academy for just two reasons: one, to scout talents, and two, to form connections."
As Trainee Yan was deeply lost in contemplation, he heard Trainee Wudi's voice, which forced him to snap back to his senses.
"But once you get entangled with these Noble Households, you would be trapped in a scheming matrix where only schemes and calculations are going on day and night. So, it's better not to get involved with that lady."
Trainee Wudi reminded him again why he should not get involved with the descendants of the powerful Martial Families that stood at the highest echelons of society.
"...I understand."
Trainee Yan was not so foolish as to misunderstand what Trainee Wudi was saying. He could fully grasp the implications and understood what Trainee Wudi was trying to convey, and perhaps even the concern his friend was feeling right now.
As for Trainee Wudi, he had something entirely different on his mind.
'That lady from the Martial Tang Family is getting too involved with us. Does she know that this idiot has a Martial Physique that grants him Lightning Powers, and because of that, she's trying her hardest to get him on her side?'
He frowned deeply, his thoughts swirling as he and Trainee Yan moved towards their room, the shadows lengthening around them.
'Or maybe she wants him just because of his exceptional martial talent?'
He couldn't quite figure out what was truly going on in the head of that cunning lady, Trainee Tang.
Actually, Trainee Wudi also harbored his own profound secret: he, too, was a reincarnator, hailing from a world where Science and Technology dominated, a world he knew as Earth.
In that previous life, he had been an ordinary man, living an everyday existence. But one day, he had suddenly died and woken up in this Murim world as a newborn child.
Since his birth in this new world, he had possessed a unique power he called the Eye of the Mortal, an ability that allowed him to see through anyone's intentions, discern hidden truths, and much more.
This Trainee Tang was not simply here to befriend him and Trainee Yan; her eyes were firmly set on Trainee Yan, her true intentions clear to him.
Of course, he couldn't let her take his friend away. He wanted Trainee Yan for himself. A martial talent like Trainee Yan, combined with his own strategic mind—his brain—and Trainee Yan's sheer strength, Trainee Wudi harbored no doubt that he would achieve what he desired, for now.