The wind whistled through the lonely courtyard of the Righteous Sword Clan.
A young man sat cross-legged beneath a withered cherry tree, moonlight washing over his pale face.
That young man was Jin Haru — or rather, Lee Han, the fallen Heavenly Emperor reborn.
His body felt weak and frail, poisoned and starved.
Every breath burned his chest, but he didn't move.
Instead, he focused on the words hovering in front of him.
[Quest: The First Spark of Qi]
"Find a quiet place... take 100 breaths... focus on rhythm..."
Lee Han closed his eyes and began.
---
One breath.
Cold air entered his lungs. His body trembled.
Ten breaths.
The poison that once killed Jin Haru still lingered in his blood, but Lee Han's will was sharper than steel.
Thirty breaths.
His vision blurred. His heart raced.
Fifty breaths.
The faint memory of his father's final battle flashed before his eyes.
The mysterious man's smile.
The despair.
The helplessness.
Eighty breaths.
Lee Han clenched his fists, nails digging into his skin.
"I will not be powerless again."
Ninety-nine... one hundred.
He exhaled slowly, his mind calm and steady like a still pond.
Then, as he meditated in silence, something stirred deep within him—
a faint warmth in his dantian, like a spark trying to ignite.
[Ding!] Quest Complete!
---
Reward Gained:
+5 Qi
+1 Mental Focus
Unlocked: Basic Qi Sensing Technique
System Tip:
> "The first step to power is awareness. The second... is desire."
---
A gentle glow spread across his body.
For the first time in two lives, Lee Han felt Qi — real, flowing energy — coursing through him.
It was weak, unstable... but alive.
He opened his eyes, and a faint light shimmered within them.
"So this is... Qi sensing..." he murmured, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"To think I'd have to start from the bottom again... how ironic."
---
As he rose, footsteps echoed from the courtyard gate.
Two young men entered, wearing clan robes embroidered with silver swords. Their eyes gleamed with arrogance.
It was Jin Tae and Jin Myung — Jin Haru's two older half-brothers.
"Oh? The useless brat's alive?" Jin Tae sneered.
"I thought Mother's poison had finished him off for good."
Jin Myung smirked. "Maybe rats have nine lives."
Lee Han turned to face them calmly. His expression was unreadable.
Inwardly, though, his killing intent flickered for a moment — the aura of a man who once stood at the peak of Murim.
But he suppressed it.
'Not yet,' he thought. 'This body is too weak. For now... I'll endure.'
The brothers laughed, shoving him to the ground before walking away.
Dust covered his face, but he didn't react.
Instead, he looked up at the moon and whispered,
> "Mock me all you want. One day, I'll show you what true strength means."
---
That night, when the rest of the clan slept, Lee Han snuck out to the mountains behind the estate.
He found a quiet cave and sat down once again.
"System," he said quietly, "show me my status."
[Status Window]
Name: Jin Haru (Lee Han)
Age: 19
Realm: Mortal (5/100 Qi)
Talent: None detected
Techniques: Basic Qi Sensing Technique (Beginner)
System Points: 0
---
"So it begins again," he whispered.
He clenched his fists. His once-soft hands now trembled with determination.
"From the ashes of the past… I'll climb once more. This time, not for vengeance—"
He paused, eyes narrowing.
"—but to uncover the truth of that man… the Cultivator."
As he began meditating again, the night sky rippled with faint energy.
Somewhere deep within the mountain, an ancient presence stirred—watching.
And thus, the legend of Jin Haru, the Reborn Sword Saint, quietly began.