Author's Preface
The scent of roasted pork and dumplings lingered throughout the barracks. Laughter spilled through the thin walls as Hanjo, Ryul, Jinhu, Ilho and Blue sat around a small table in Jinhu's room. They traded stories between bites, over exaggerations of their fight with the lightning dragon. For a moment, the world outside didn't exist. Just friends sharing food and company.
Blue leaned back, his gaze fixed on a single point on the ceiling. He thought to himself. "I'll have to go back home to Earth soon."
Jinhu slammed his palm against the floor. "Our fearless leader is losing brain cells now as well."
The others chuckled. Ilho studied Blue for a moment. "You okay man?"
Blue smiled faintly. "Yeah, just thinking about how much I'll miss all of this when I have to leave."
Hanjo clasped his hands. "Amitabha, you speak as if Buddha himself would forbid your return."
"Do you think we can figure out a way for us to go with you through the golden gate?" Ryul asked.
"Maybe one day. I will search for a way for all of you to follow me through." Blue looked between the boys.
Jinhu raised a cup. "You better. I want to try that pizza you're always bragging about."
"I agree, and I want to read these comics and manwhas." Ilho smiled.
The conversation about earthly things they wanted to try was halted when it happened.
BOOM.
The door exploded off its hinges flying past the boys and stuck into the wall behind them.
Blue sighed. "I will not miss that though."
Mu Jang stood in the doorway arms crossed.
Oh, and while you’re finding ways through gates,” Jinhu shouted, “find me a way to keep my damn door intact next time!” He grabbed a dumpling and hurled it, it bounced off Mu Jang's shoulder. Mu Jang bent down, picked it up and ate it.
I’ll stop kicking in your door,” Mu Jang said flatly, “when you master all my techniques.” His gaze shifted to Blue. “Wu Jin wants to see you.”
Jinhu groaned. “Then I guess I’ll never have another door again.”
Still chuckling, Blue rose and followed Mu Jang out into the corridor, the echo of his friends’ laughter trailing behind him.
Wu Jin sat behind his desk, the infamous rod, Silent Edge’s most feared weapon, resting across a mountain of paperwork. Seori stood to his right, hands clasped neatly behind her back.
Blue entered and bowed. "I've come as requested."
"Sit, Blue,” Wu Jin said, gesturing to the chair before him. Blue nodded and took his seat.
"Seori here,” Wu Jin began, “came up with an idea, one that may allow others to pass through the gate from Earth to Murim.”
Blue’s brow furrowed. “A way to bring people through, how?”
Wu Jin nodded. “You said your system didn’t appear until after you crossed the gate. To this day, no one else has made that journey. Yet you also had qi on Earth, even if only a little.”
Blue nodded. "Yes, that's right."
“Then what if the key lies there?” Wu Jin said. “What if you teach people on Earth to cultivate, to form qi in their dantian before crossing? Perhaps that’s what allows passage through the golden gate to Murim.”
Seori stepped forward. “In theory, those who succeed would awaken their systems upon arrival. We could train them, strengthen Silent Edge, close more gates, and secure Murim’s future. It’s the best chance we have to stand against the Alliance."
Blue rubbed his chin, thinking. “That… actually makes sense. There are still plenty of people on Earth without systems. But what breathing technique would I even teach them?”
“We’re working on that,” Seori said. “There are legends of universal techniques and methods that allow cultivation without binding to a single martial path. The knowledge has been lost, but Master Baek and the Sword Saint are searching."
Wu Jin leaned forward, the desk creaking under his weight. “We also plan to test if Seori’s assistant can cross the gate with you. If it works, we’ll have a way to communicate between worlds.”
He straightened, voice low. “Blue, I ask this not just for Silent Edge, but for all of Murim. We need strength and that strength comes from system users.”
Then, in a gesture that startled Blue, Wu Jin rose. Seori followed his lead. Both bowed.
“Please,” Wu Jin said, “help us gather it.”
Blue stood quickly, hands raised. “Please, stop. You don’t have to bow. I’ll do everything I can to make sure Silent Edge has the strength it needs to fight back. And it’s not like I won’t return.”
"Good." Wu Jin said as he reached for the rod. "Then we need to prepare now. We will make extra scrolls for Silent Edge's breathing technique as well for you to take with you."
"Sounds like a plan." Blue smiled.
"We leave for the gate in 3 days time. Make sure Jinhu doesn't forget anything please." Wu Jin grinned. Seori chuckled.
"I will." Blue bowed and walked out.
As Blue walked out Mu Jang and Wu Cheng walked in. "So, the area around the gate is undisturbed. It is mainly flat. We have most of the materials necessary to build what is needed to secure it." Cheng said.
"Good. Any signs of you being followed?" Wu Jin sat in his chair as he asked.
"None, although there are a few families still in the wasteland. It wouldn't be a bad idea to bring them in to protect them and employ them." Cheng suggested.
"Very well, everything here is almost packed up. Head back out there with a few more squads. Get some cover built before the main party arrives." Wu Jin ordered.
"Sir, it is a full day's trip to the gate. You want us to build shelters within three days time for everyone?" Mu Jang tilted his head.
"I do, I didn't say it has to be pretty or comfortable. Just a makeshift shelter. We will focus all our efforts on construction once we get there." Wu Jin stood and approached Mu Jang. "Leave the doors attached on them as well please. Also, take Sa Gwan with you, have him scout the area and verify you are not being followed. We do not need the Alliance knowing what we are doing yet."
Seori stepped forward. "The Alliance doesn’t know where the gate it. Only Blue does, they have been searching. We need to secure it first. You should leave immediately."
Cheng looked at Wu Jin. "Maybe we should make her a rod too." He chuckled.
Wu Jin looked at Seori. "Her shadows are way more frightening than the rod. She still refuses to let me know who they are or get a sense for their cultivation levels."
Seori shrugged her shoulders and smiled. "I trust you, but my shadows only trust me." She snapped her fingers. One of the men clad in black dropped from the rafters in front of her and knelt down on one knee. "Stand and remove your mask." The man removed his mask. Scars adorned his face. Half of his upper lip was missing, exposing his teeth and gums. "You may speak." Seori said.
The man bowed. "It is my pleasure to meet you Sect Leader. I am the First Shadow, Wuxing Mok." Wu Jin stared at the man. "May I?" He looked at Seori who simply nodded. " Wuxing Mok stretched out his arm. Wu Jin placed two fingers on his wrist. After a moment he took two steps back. "An Ascendant? Are the rest?" Wu Jin eyes wide looked at Seori.
"They are." Seori smiled.
"How? How did you amass a force like that?" Cheng asked.
Just then Sa Gwan entered the room. He stopped instantly as he entered the doorway. Staring at the man in front of Wu Jin. "Mok?"
The man turned around, Sa Gwan reached up and pulled down the mask the covered the lower halfof his face he always wore. A scar stretched from under his neck to just above his lip.
Wuxing Mok drew his sword. Sa Gwan drew his twin butterfly swords. Both men released their qi and stared at each other as the others in the room took large steps backward.