The morning of the tryouts Blue woke up, stretched.
"Alright let's see how much I've gained. System open."
[Core: Ten-Thousands Poison Qi(8 years)]
"Damn, how can I gain so much in three days?"
The system pinged.
[System Notification]
[Passive ability: Perfect Circulation]
[Qi accumulation efficiency increased by 50%]
[Cleansing meridians will increase efficiency futher]
What the fuck? Can you hear me?
Blue waited. The system said nothing. "Well, I suppose i can make use of that. Although this would've been nice back on Earth..." Blue looked up. "If you're still listening, damn it."
Blue sighed. He made is way downstairs, and stopped by the front desk.
"Where is the Martial Alliance grounds?" Blue asked.
The man behind the counter gave Blue the directions. Blue thanked him, and walked out. As he approached the Alliance, crowds of people were already waiting.
One voice yelled. "If you're here for the tryout, get in a line and register."
Blue joined the line and waited his turn.
"NEXT!"
Blue stepped forward.
"Name?"
"Blue."
"Affiliation?"
"T-...None."
The examiner looked up at Blue confused. "This is no place for wanderers boy. Look around you. These people come from major sects, some from the 5 great families and the remaining sects. Go away and stop wasting my time."
As Blue turned to leave, Wu Cheng appeared.
The examiner immediately stood and bowed. "Elder Cheng. What brings you here?"
"Oh, just to register my new recruit with Silent Edge." Wu Cheng looked at Blue and smiled.
"Sir?"
"Is there an issue with that, young man? Shall I go see the Corps commander myself?"
"No need sir..." The man handed Blue a ribbon. "You're number 115, wear that. It's how we identify you."
Blue took it and pinned it onto his top. Wu Cheng patted him on the back and smiled. "Make us proud."
Blue shook his head. "Seriously who is he?"
As he walked away it hit him. He remembered sitting in the house listening to Yoryeon tell the children old tales. He always loved telling the children stories that ridiculed their father or uncle. He mentioned the boy that always seemed to be next to Yeol, Wu Cheng. He was the Wudang young leader.
"No way... does that mean?" Blue stopped and spun. He started looking for his Uncle. "Okay, I guess not. That'd be too much of a coincidence."
Blue entered the training area. Uniforms from every major sect, adults his age and even younger stood tall. Blue stood toward the back.
As whispers filled throughout the courtyard, a loud drum started beating. Two lines of men marched onto the platform. Each wearing matching red armor of the Crimson Veil Corps. On one side a man held a flag of the Corps. On the other the flag of the Tang clan.
Blue froze, he recognized it instantly. Uncle Yeol is the commander of this Corps? He thought to himself. It would make sense, he is the patriarch.
A man stepped forward onto the platform. "EVERYONE BE QUIET... Thank you. The Matriarch of the Tang clan and Commander of the Crimson Veil Corps will now address you all."
"Matriarch?" Blue shook his head. "No fucking way!". He muttered to himself.
A woman with flowing purple hair, wearing the traditional Tang leader garb. Sword at her waist approached. The only thing that could be heard were the sound of gasps throughout the hopeful candidates.
""S...S... So-Yeon?" Blue whispered. A man behind him elbowed him. "Shhhh."
"My name is So-Yeon." She scanned the crowd. "Many of you come from wealthy families, big sects. You have been spoon fed elixirs since childhood. You have come here today to prove your strength, your worth." She paused. "I care about none of that. Your background doesn't matter. Strength can be taught, elixirs can be given. Courage can not. I only seek those who have the courage to stand against these monsters... and the courage to die for Murim. If you do not have that resolve, turn around and leave now."
She turned and took her seat just outside the platform. The guards with her stood on either side. "You may begin." She yelled at the captain who stood on the platform. "When i call your numbers, come quickly to the platform and show us your resolve!"
As numbers were called Blue couldn't take his eyes off So-Yeon. He remembered his cheerful little sister, coming home and showing him new techniques she had learned. Always smiling, even after their parents mysterious deaths. The woman in front of him felt like a stranger. She had witnessed Blue get his head chopped right off. She had screamed and cried at his body.
What has she been through to make her so emotionless? Her aura alone makes her unapproachable . Blue thought of a million ways to get her attention. None seemed viable.
As the fights dragged on, So-Yeon leaned to one of her men. "Who is that boy that keeps staring at me?"
"I will find out, right away." The man said and turned and ran.
Wu Cheng approached So-Yeon shortly after. "I hear you're looking for answers?"
"Who is that boy?" She glared at Wu Cheng. "His gaze is starting to piss me off."
"Oh, hes a simple stray I found. I pointed him in your direction. You may find him interesting."
"Is that so?" She looked back at Blue. "We will find out soon enough... you may go."
Wu Cheng bowed. "Matriarch." He took his leave.
"Number 115 and number 5." The captain yelled.
The crowd watched Blue approach the platform. The whispers started immediately.
"Who is the bum?"
"Is he a beggar?"
"He's going against the second young master of the Demonic Cult."
"He's doomed."
"Poor guy."
Blue ignored it all and took his place. Across from him Yong Gyeol stood, sizing him up. They both turned toward So-Yeon and bowed. Blue held her gaze for a moment longer than he should've.
"Hey, you may want to focus on me. You have no chance in hell to get close to her."
The two bowed toward each other. As Blue stood straight his system pinged.
[System Notification]
[Lineage: Suppressed]
[Qi: Suppressed]
[This is what is best]
Blue's eyes widened. "What the fuck!"
As Yong Gyeol dashed forward Blue doubled over. His arms wrapped around his abdomen. Gyeol cared not. In one movement he swept Blue's leg, sent him falling to the ground. The next motion his blade rested stuck into the platform by his head.
Blue turned his head to look up, blood dripped off his cheek. "Pathetic. Go back to begging." Gyeol exclaimed.
"I've seen enough..." So-Yeon exclaimed. "...Everyone take a break. We will resume the tryouts shortly."
So-Yeon stormed away to find Wu Cheng.
"Do you take me for some type of fool. What exactly is interesting about that trash you brought to my tryouts?"
Wu Cheng laughed. "I do not, So-Yeon. I also can't explain what that was either."
"Tch." So-Yeon smacked her tongue. "Don't waste my time again with your son's pets."
"I'll see to it." Wu Cheng walked away.
Blue stepped off the platform, head down. He listened to the mocking from everyone. Others spat in his direction. He didn’t care. He still couldn't wrap his head around what just happened.
That evening Blue sat on the edge of his bed. He stood and opened his window to let the breeze in.
"System open."
There it was, no doubt about it. "The system really did fuck me. It felt like my dantian shattered. He clenched his fist. "15 years cultivating what grandfather taught me. I finally make it back here, back home. And it gets taken away from me."
Blue looked up. "What the hell do you want from me?"
He replayed it over and over all night.
[This is what is best]
Best for who? He thought to himself. As he finally laid on his bed to rest he hadn't realized he was being watched the entire time.
On the roof across the street, Yeol and Cheng sat perched, watching.
"He said grandfather." Cheng looked at Yeol. "He couldn't possibly mean-"
Yeol interrupted. "I don't know what to believe. I can’t for a second believe that Jinho had a second family."
"Seems to me thats the only thing that's plausible. You know as well as I do, the love your father had for Jinho." Wu Cheng shook his head.
"I do..." Yeol looked toward the sky. "...He would have conquered heaven and earth for him if he could." He looked back down at Cheng. "Is there anyway we can find out who his mistress might have been, or where that boy came from?" Yeol asked.
"I will see if Gyeom can get any information from Jaegal Li. If anyone can find information about anyone in Murim. It's the general strategist."