Lee Wooyun circulated his qi into his palm, forming a thin, sharp edge to his flow. One couldn't just tear this bark free with brute strength; doing so would destroy the medicinal property within. The bark had to be coaxed and peeled gently while feeding it a thread of qi so it would part willingly.
He pressed his palm flat and let his qi seep into the grooves. Slowly, the bark loosened, a strip bending outward with a creak like strained metal. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he coaxed more free, the process demanding both precision and patience.
Finally, with a sharp tug, a length of bark came loose, its underside gleaming faintly with earthy veins of qi. Wooyun took a slow breath, holding the piece carefully in both hands.
"You are one tough son of a bitch," he whispered to himself, a slight, satisfied grin tugging at his lips. Well, that's one down, Goyeonie. We got two more to go."
