To love something that I had no talent in, was harder for me to accept than anything. I felt frustration, anger, doubt, sadness, self-hate, and worse of all, jealousy.

A part of me may have been relieved when Minho told me he wanted to travel the world. 

Seeing him grow every day and getting further and further away from me, darkened my heart no matter what I did.

But the part of me that loved Mu wished to go with him. Afterall, there was no better teacher for me than Minho.

In the end, I chose to stay behind. It was the moment when my jealousy overcame my love for Mu.

Another 10 years went by before I saw Minho again.

It was on a cold winter day, when the door suddenly opened and Minho walked in completely covered with snow. 

“Minho! It’s been so long!”

I greeted him with a smile, but Minho’s expression was stern. 

“Minho…?”

“Yun… I… I lost.”

“…!”

It was the first time Minho had ever lost. I couldn’t believe my ears. Minho’s talent and potential was at a level that no one could compare to. 

“What happened, Minho? Who did you fight?”

“They weren’t human, Yun. Do you remember…? When we first came to this world, the ones who took the others. They flew from the skies, and rained fire down from the heavens… I met those like them... No… they were nothing like them. They were thousands of levels lower than them, but I… I still lost. I couldn’t even react to his attack.”

“…”

“To be honest, this talent of mine… my Mu… I was starting to think that I was one of the strong. I was starting to get over confident. But I was wrong. I’m nothing…”

I looked at Minho who hung his head down low. I had never seen him like this before. 

But more importantly, I could feel something coming up from inside me. It was… anger.

I stood in front of Minho and punched him in the face with all my strength. At his level, he could have easily avoided it, but he didn’t.

“…If you’re nothing… then what am I.”

“…”

“If there’s someone stronger, then keep trying until you can beat him! Don’t give up! If you give up… if someone like you with your potential gives up… then I…”

I couldn’t finish my words. The emotions were stuck in my throat, making it hard to speak. Thankfully, my words had gotten through to him.

“…You’re right, Yun. Sigh… Just because I lost once, I came running here speaking of giving up. I-I’m ashamed…”

I patted Minho on the shoulders.

I didn’t know who the opponent that Minho faced was, but I believed that he could overcome them.

From that day, Minho trained at home. On some occasions, he would stay in the training room for days without eating or sleeping. Inspired by Minho’s determination, I continued to practice my swings in the backyard. 

After 5 years had gone by, Minho told me he could finally see a path. He knew which way to walk now, and it was only a matter of time before he’ll have reached it.

Another 5 years passed, 40 years since I first came to this city. If I counted my previous life, I would be 118 years old now. 

While swinging my sword in the backyard, I could feel the blade cutting through the air with no wasted movements. The same basic swings that I had been practicing for 20 years had become one with me. 

“You’ve broken through.”

I looked up at Minho who was leaning against the wall.

“I have?” I asked.

Minho nodded with a smile.

“Congratulations, You’re now officially at the third rate.”

My heart beat fast in my chest. I never thought it would be possible…

“Have you been practicing the breathing technique that I taught you as well?”

I scratched the back of my head.

“I’ve been diligently doing it everyday. But… I really don’t feel a difference. I also haven’t felt that small seed you mentioned.”

20 years ago, when Minho started teaching me Mu, he taught me the basic sword swings as well as a strange breathing technique. He told me it was an important step to truly master Mu, so I did as he said.

But after 20 years, there was nothing that came out from it.

“Hm…”

Minho closed his eyes and rubbed his chin.

“Sit down for a second, let me check something.”

“?”

I sat down, and Minho placed his palms on my back.

I felt a warm and comforting energy flow into my body and move through my legs and right arm.

“Hm…”

I could hear Minho sounding troubled from behind. After he removed his palms, he sat in front of me.

“Your body has been gathering the ki in the air, but it hasn’t been compressing. Before, I wasn’t able to figure out the reason why because of my low level, but I know now.”

Minho looked at me with sad eyes.

“When I looked inside your body, I found an energy that didn’t belong to you. It seems to have the opposite energy of ki, and it separates all ki that comes in contact with it. And this energy… I remember where I felt it before. It’s the same as the fox’s.”

“!”

The fox guardian?

“When the fox ate your arm, I think some of its energy flowed into your body. Unless if someone with a greater energy removes it… it won’t go away.”

“So… I can never use ki…?”

Minho stayed silent and I knew it was true.

—-

After I found out that I couldn’t use Ki, I quickly fell into depression. I couldn't eat or sleep... It was already impossible for me to get stronger with my talent, but now there was another wall that stood in my way.

Seeing me depressed, Minho decided to set out once again, but this time in search of a way to heal me.

Every year since then, Minho would come back to our home bringing rare herbs, medicines, and techniques in order to get rid of the fox’s energy inside me.

Unfortunately, 8 years had passed and I was still unable to use ki. 

I was now 66 years old and my body had grown heavy. I wasn’t able to move around like I used to, but my swings alone were stronger than before. Not a day went by when I didn’t train. 

I looked out from the backyard, while I took a break and caught my breath. 

This year, Minho didn’t come home.

 I believed he was just a little late this time. Perhaps he traveled further away on this trip.

I realized I was wrong when I didn’t see Minho again until 2 years had passed. 

When I saw him at the front door, I was horrified. He was missing his left arm, and the left half of his face had a burn scar that reached over his nose. His eyes were dull with no light and his pupils were shaking from fear.

“Minho…! What happened to you…”

I had so many questions, but Minho didn’t respond. He simply went into his room and stayed inside for days. 

I walked back and forth in front of his room, hoping that he would come out.

I left his meals out for him by the door, but they were untouched every time.

A week went by when he finally came out.

His eyes were still lifeless, but they also had a hint of determination.

“Yun… I lost again to the same opponent. This time, I was able to learn more about him and their kind. He called themselves sorcerers, and they all walk the same path hoping to ascend into the heavens. My Mu was broken by a single chant. And that’s not the worst part of it… the one I fought was an apprentice at the lowest level. He called his rank Yongi. He told me there are over 10 ranks that are above his.”

Minho looked down at his wrinkled blistered hands. 

“After losing my first battle 20 years ago, I trained hard and finally reached Peak rank… the highest Mu rank known to man… I thought I was close to reaching the sorcerers, but I realized now I was wrong."

Minho’s eyes filled with sadness. 

“But I haven’t given up. I’ll keep training, until I see a way.”

After that day, Minho started to train at home again. 

However, it was different than before. He no longer swung his sword. He would just sit outside with his eyes closed for hours.

When I asked him what kind of training he was doing, he said the next path was something no one had ever reached. With no direction before him, he had to carve that path himself. In order to do this, it was more important for him to look within himself. 

I couldn’t really understand how meditating for hours could help him grow stronger, but I trusted him. 

My heart beat fast thinking how much stronger Minho would become. A rank that no Muin had ever reached before! I would witness the birth of a new Mu.

Unable to calm my racing heart, I walked out to the backyard and swung my sword. 

Every day, we trained.

I swung my sword and Minho mediated.

And 10 years went by.