That was a shocking revelation to Kang.
"What do you mean a traitor? From our Dojo?"
Xiao Yun nodded, her voice filled with hatred.
"Liu Tian Long, my grandfather's first disciple, as well as his..." She paused, then finished, "...adopted son."
Kang froze. That sounded far too familiar.
Everything made sense now. No wonder Xiao Yun had been so cautious of him, even after he saved her life. No wonder she kept testing him, doubting him. Of course she would be careful, when her Dojo had once been betrayed by one of its own.
"Tell me everything in detail," Kang said seriously.
Xiao Yun nodded and began recounting what she knew.
Tian Long had also been an orphan, adopted by her grandfather at the age of three. He was two years older than her father. The two grew up like real brothers, training side by side and protecting each other. Tian Long was hardworking and devoted, while her father preferred to slack off and play around. Tian Long often defended him, even covering up for his mistakes.
The downfall of the Dojo began after Xiao Yun was born. Her father had fallen into gambling, at first small and harmless but over time it grew worse. He started wagering larger sums, burning through the Dojo's income and even selling off their possessions. Her grandfather, heartbroken and furious, fell ill and eventually passed away.
It was a familiar story about how gambling addiction could ruin a family. But what came after turned it into a tragedy.
The day after her grandfather's death, Tian Long tricked her father and steal all of the Dojo's secret martial arts manuals. That was when the truth came out. Everything had been orchestrated by Tian Long—his kindness, his indulgence, even the introduction to gambling. All of it had been part of his plan to seize the Dojo's secret techniques for himself.
After that, Tian Long abandoned the Dojo and went on to become a champion fighter in the Neon Crucible.
As for her father, he realized the truth far too late. He tried to repair the damage he had caused, but it was hopeless. For a year he worked desperately to restore what was lost, then entered the Neon Crucible as a last resort, hoping to repay their debts.
He died there at the hands of Tian Long, his own senior brother, the man he once called family.
Kang stood frozen, his whole body trembling on the edge of fury. How dare that ungrateful bastard do such a thing to their family? He couldn't understand it, nor did he want to. What Tian Long had done was unforgivable and there was only one punishment fit for him. Death.
Xiao Yun looked up at Kang, her eyes red with tears and burning with hatred. The sight made his chest tighten. Now was not the time for rage.
He stepped forward and pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly.
Xiao Yun stiffened in surprise, but she didn't resist.
"I'm sorry I was too late," Kang whispered. "But I'm here now!"
That was all it took. Xiao Yun clung to him and broke down completely, sobbing into his chest as years of grief and anger finally poured out.
-----
"Let anger guide your fist, not your mind."
Kang's calm voice echoed through the courtyard as he and Xiao Yun moved in sync, practicing the Core Forms together. His breathing was steady, each motion deliberate and fluid, guiding her into the rhythm.
Xiao Yun had told him that the method of Qi training was lost with her grandfather's death. Tian Long had used that very excuse to deceive her father into handing over all the secret martial arts manuals so they could look for the Qi training method together. In the end, Tian Long stole nearly everything. But even among the stolen scrolls, the method of cultivating Qi was nowhere to be found. Her grandfather must have taken it to the grave.
How foolish of them, Kang thought. There was no need to look for any secret manual to learn the Hidden Tiger Style's Qi cultivation method. Every disciple was already practicing it from their very first lesson.
It was hidden within the Core Forms themselves.
The Core Forms weren't just basic stances or moves—they were a trial. To awaken Qi through them required two things, talent and patience. Talent to harmonize with the world, to feel its pulse not just through one's body but through one's spirit. And patience to maintain a calm, unwavering mind, allowing one to enter a meditative state. Only through the union of both, and relentless training, could a disciple truly awaken their inner Qi.
That was why Tian Long and her father had failed. One was too ambitious, his heart clouded by greed and deceit. The other was lazy and unfocused. Neither could reach the state required to awaken Qi. And by the doctrine of their Dojo, no master was ever allowed to reveal this truth. Each disciple had to discover it on their own.
Because once a person knew that the Core Forms were the key, they would train with expectation—and expectation breeds impatience.
Xiao Yun herself was exceptionally talented, Kang could sense it in her movements and the faint pulse of Qi already forming within her. But it was still only a seedling, fragile and undeveloped. To let it bloom fully, she needed more training, something she had neglected for months.
Thankfully, he was here now. If fate had not brought him to this era, the legacy of the Hidden Tiger Dojo might truly have ended with her. Perhaps this was his purpose—to guide and protect the flame of their art once more.
Kang glanced at Xiao Yun beside him. Her breathing had steadied, her movements smoother, her impatience fading away with every motion. A faint smile appeared on his face. It wouldn't be long, he knew, before the current Master of the Hidden Tiger awakened her Qi and reclaimed what was lost.
As for him, he would be her guardian, clearing every obstacle that stood in her way.
-----
"So that's where you two are!"
A cheerful voice rang out as Kang and Xiao Yun finished their morning practice and were catching their breath. It was none other than Lena, striding into the clearing with her usual confidence.
Kang raised an eyebrow. She looked perfectly calm, not even a flicker of embarrassment or awkwardness—as if last night had never happened. That's a gang leader for you, he thought.
Xiao Yun, on the other hand, turned bright red. Just seeing Lena's face made her remember those indecent noises she'd overheard. She gave a stiff nod, desperately trying not to make eye contact. It would take a while before she could speak normally to her Lena sis again.
Completely unaware of Xiao Yun's turmoil, Lena wrinkled her nose.
"Ew, all that sweat... you two smell awful! Go take a bath, then meet me for breakfast. I've got news to share."
Kang clicked his tongue, glancing sideways at her. The same girl who had been licking up his sweat last night was now complaining about the smell? Bah, women...
The three of them walked back along the stone-paved road. Apparently, there was a large bathhouse near their dormitory. The temple might be old, but the Orphans had restored it well. To the other gangs they might live like country hicks but to Kang, it felt more like a luxurious mountain resort.
"You said you've got news, Lena sis?" Xiao Yun asked, trying to sound casual.
"Yup! One good, one bad. Which do you want first?"
"Good news," Xiao Yun replied immediately.
"Yesterday, the guys took what was left of Big John's crew to the recycling center. Big haul, we're swimming in creds now! So today breakfast's the real deal, with actual food. No more nutrisoy!"
Kang blinked. So they even got paid officially for disposing of corpses? In this place, not only was killing unpunished—it was profitable. No wonder the slums were called criminal nests.
"And the bad news?" he asked.
Lena's tone turned casual, but her eyes were sharp.
"Thanks to that, every gang in Slum 9 knows we offed Big John and his lackeys. They're not happy about it and are holding a meeting to decide what to do with us."
Both Xiao Yun and Kang stopped dead in their tracks.
"Isn't that... really bad?" Xiao Yun asked anxiously.
Instead of answering, Lena looked straight at Kang with a teasing grin.
"Well, tough guy? What do you think?"
Kang folded his arms, pretending to think it over. He already knew his answer, but a senior brother had to keep up appearances. After a moment, he smiled dangerously.
"That meeting..." he said, turning to Lena.
"...are we invited?"