Blue and So-Yeon spent the next hours talking about Earth, Murim. Both shared stories of life after Blue had died as Jiung. "I guess while we are out here i can help refine your footwork."
Blue's eyes went wide. "Really? You're going to help?"
So-Yeon nodded. "You have mastered the concept, sure. But it's still clumsy. I can't have my brother using the footwork i do, and looking like a fool." So-Yeon stood and hopped onto a branch. "You understand the concept of the flow. You can even put it into practice. I'll help you refine that. Flowing Steel is like a dance." She skipped to the next tree kicked off its trunk, twisted mid air and sliced the branches behind Blue and landed. "Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast. Now, come. We still have scouts to find."
Blue grabbed his pack tossed it around his arms and the two dashed through the trees.
As they made their way to the canopy Blue tracked So-Yeon's flow. He focused on her feet, how each step bled naturally into the next. As he moved to the next tree limb. He lost his footing and started to fall.
So-Yeon appeared and caught him. "Seriously?" So-Yeon laughed. "You're thinking too hard about it. Just let your qi flow naturally between each step. Flowing Steel was never meant to be precise movements." She placed him back on the limb. "Let one movement flow into the next, don't think about it. Just recognize where your body needs to be next and let it carry you there."
Blue looked down at his feet. "Sometimes, I feel like my qi can't keep up."
So-Yeon sighed. "Do you know why Wu Cheng and the sword saint were never able to master it?"
Blue shook his head.
She continued. "Because, its meant to work only with our families qi." She put her hand against his dantian. "I don't know if it's because of your system that you were able to master it or not. But, if you ever can use our families qi again. This technique will carry you to greater heights than any other."
"If I can use the Ten-Thousands Poisons qi, then I'll have true mastery of it?" Blue asked.
"Yes, right now you've mastered the concept. The knowledge, but the Silent Edge qi... it can't keep up." She sighed deeper. "Everything grandfather left behind is meant to be used in unison with the family qi." She took a step back.
"That's why it was so hard to believe you, you don't use our qi, but use his technique. You will have total mastery of it when your system decides to unlock your true heritage."
They moved together in unison through the forest. "If I stop trying to force it, it is definitely smoother." Blue looked to his right, he was right behind So-Yeon. He smiled. "I'm getting the hang of it!"
So-Yeon looked back smiling. "You still resemble a toddler learning how to walk, big brother." So-Yeon laughed and then vanished.
"Show off." Blue muttered as he tried to keep pace.
In the distance So-Yeon was standing still. Blue came to a stop next to her. He looked over the ridge. Below them nestled in a basin, surrounded by trees. Dozens of goblins were scattered around, patrolling the area. Two hellhounds prowled near the red gate in the middle of the basin. "A gate?" Blue looked at So-Yeon.
"Yes brother, and there's no record of this one. None of the scouts sent flares or reported it." She paused. "Yet, my scouts patrolled this area. Their silence and this gate is telling me everything i need to know."
Blue reached in his pack and pulled out a flare. "We should fire a flare, let your corps, Mu Jang and Sa Gwan know."
So-Yeon paused and looked at the flare in Blue's hand and back at the goblins. "If you do, they are coming after us. Are you prepared to fight?"
"I'm not here for a vacation." Blue chuckled.
"My scouts are in that gate Blue. We are going in." She pointed at the gate.
"Wait, seriously?" Blue looked at her.
"You have a system right? You awakened?" So-Yeon stared at him.
"I mean, technically yes. But I've never cleared a gate before." Blue looked at the gate.
"Well, today is your first lesson. Let's find out how much smoother your footwork is too. Fire it, then we go."
Blue aimed the flare high. "Are you sure? We're seriously going on?"
"Just fire it, you got me, why you so worried." So-Yeon smiled.
"It's Wu Jin I'm worried about, that rod is going to kick my ass." Blue's body twitched as he fired the flare into the sky. Blue drew his jian. They looked at each other as the goblins all turned their heads toward the pair. Blue jumped and landed first sliding past one goblins and slicing the neck of the next. So-Yeon landed a heartbeat later, her hidden daggers, flew through the air as they collided with heads. Sending the goblins flying backwards. One hellhound lunged at Blue from the side, he ducked under its bite. His stabbed the hound through the ribcage as So-Yeon landed on its head, her sword piercing through to the earth beneath. She spun and sent two more daggers flying past Blue's face, barely missing him. The hound behind him slid and stopped by his feet.
"I want hidden daggers!" Blue said.
"Not until you can use the family qi brother." She walked past him and grabbed her daggers and removed them from the hounds head. She looked back at Blue. "You're still too stiff. Flow with the terrain, not against it."
The remaining goblins scattered under their assault. Neither stopped. They pressed forward, leaving a path of bodies behind them as they approached the gate.
They stood shoulder to shoulder in front of the gate. They looked at each other and nodded.
To the west Jinhu looked in the sky. "Hey guys look." He pointed up. "That's pretty." Mu Jang smacked him. "Thats a flare, dumbass. So-Yeon or her men found a gate."
Sa Gwan and Mu Jang stared at each other and nodded. "Let's go." Sa Gwan said quietly.
Ilho looked at Sa Gwan. "You dont think?"
"I don't know, but that woman is reckless. It's best we know for sure." Sa Gwan muttered.
"Wu Jin will kill my brother for sure. If he went into that gate with her." Ryul hung his head.
Hanjo put his hand on Ryul's shoulder. "Then let Buddha lead us east with haste. For his sake. Amitabha."
The group continued through the forest until the trees gave way to a wide clearing nestled under the shadow of a jagged cliff. The sight that met them made their steps falter.
Dozens of goblins and hellhounds lay dead at the base of a red gate, their bodies torn, slashed, scorched. Blood pooled in the dirt. The gate crackled in front of them.
"Well, now we know where they went." Jinhu said, arms crossed staring at the gate.
"Why though?" Ilho asked.
Ryu stepped forward. "It only makes sense if she thought her missing scouts are in there."
"Then we have to follow them." Ryul tried to move. Mu Jang's hand grabbed him. "No. We don't know what's inside. If they are in trouble. Us charging in blind won't help anyone."
Sa Gwan stepped forward. "I'll go inform the elders. Stay here. Do not enter that gate."
"But-"
"That's an order Ryul. I'll return by daybreak with Cheng, Yeol and Wu Jin."
The wind shifted as Sa Gwan vanished into the trees. The others all stood in silence staring at the gate. "Wonder what trouble our leader has gotten into now." Ilho muttered. "Be safe, and hang on Blue."