[POV — Ethan Cross]
Morning in Cheonliang didn't come with light.
It came with pain.
Ethan's eyes snapped open as something slammed into his ribs.
Hard.
Air exploded from his lungs as his body rolled instinctively, hands clawing at dirt and leaves. He barely caught sight of Mujin Jin's leg retracting before another kick followed.
"Up," Mujin said.
No emotion. No warning.
Ethan coughed, forcing himself upright. His entire body screamed. Bruises from yesterday's fight had deepened overnight, muscles stiff and swollen.
He grinned anyway.
"Good morning to you too."
Mujin didn't respond.
He simply turned and walked.
Ethan staggered after him.
[POV — Seongji Yuk]
Seongji was already awake.
Not by choice.
He'd spent the night half-sitting against a tree, eyes open, alert to every sound. Cheonliang didn't allow sleep without consequence.
Mujin stopped near a clearing surrounded by broken stone and uprooted trees.
"This," Mujin said, "is where you live."
Seongji frowned. "There's nothing here."
Mujin's glowing eye fixed on him.
"Exactly."
[POV — Mujin Jin]
They needed to learn.
Not technique.
Not style.
Survival.
He tossed a knife onto the ground between them.
"Food," he said. "Water. Shelter."
He pointed toward the forest.
"You have until sunset."
Then he sat down on a boulder.
And closed his eye.
[POV — Ethan Cross]
Ethan stared at him.
"…That's it?"
Mujin didn't answer.
Ethan snorted. "Guess we're on our own."
He picked up the knife.
"Split up?" Ethan suggested.
Seongji shook his head. "We die faster that way."
"Fair."
They moved together.
[POV — Seongji Yuk]
The forest tested them immediately.
Thorns tore at their skin. Insects bit. Roots tripped them. Every noise felt like a threat.
They failed. A lot.
The first animal Seongji tried to catch bolted instantly. The second bit him hard enough to draw blood.
Ethan laughed through it.
"Guess it doesn't want to be lunch."
Seongji glared. "Focus."
They eventually caught a rabbit—barely. It took both of them, mud smeared across their faces, hands shaking as they held it down.
Seongji hesitated.
Ethan didn't.
He ended it quickly.
Clean.
Efficient.
Seongji watched closely.
[POV — Ethan Cross]
They roasted the meat over a weak fire, smoke stinging their eyes.
Ethan chewed slowly, savoring the taste.
"Not bad," he said.
Seongji ate in silence.
After a moment, he asked, "Why are you smiling all the time?"
Ethan paused.
"Because," he said lightly, "if I don't… I remember."
Seongji didn't ask what.
[POV — Mujin Jin]
Mujin watched them from afar.
They learned quickly.
The wild taught them where he didn't need to.
But it wasn't enough.
Strength came next.
[POV — Seongji Yuk]
The next day, Mujin woke them by throwing them into the river.
The water was freezing.
Seongji fought the current, teeth clenched, muscles burning as he dragged himself onto the rocks.
Mujin stood above them.
"Again."
They climbed back in.
Again.
And again.
And again.
By the tenth time, Seongji's arms felt like they were tearing from their sockets.
Ethan was laughing.
Not mocking.
Enjoying.
That scared Seongji more than Mujin did.
[FLASHBACK — Mujin Jin]
Hands on bone.
Grip.
Twist.
Break.
Strength wasn't about muscles.
It was about control.
[POV — Ethan Cross]
Mujin finally stepped into the water.
In one motion, he grabbed Ethan's wrist.
Pain exploded.
Ethan screamed—then bit down, refusing to let it show.
"Your body lies," Mujin said calmly.
"You decide when it stops."
He released him.
Ethan collapsed, shaking.
Still smiling.
[POV — Seongji Yuk]
Mujin turned to Seongji next.
"Come."
Seongji attacked.
No hesitation.
Mujin caught him effortlessly, twisted his arm, and slammed him into the ground.
The earth shook.
Seongji tasted blood.
Mujin leaned down.
"Again."
[POV — Ethan Cross & Seongji Yuk]
Days blurred into weeks.
Pain became routine.
Hunger became normal.
They learned how to fall without dying.
How to stand while broken.
How to fight when exhausted.
Mujin didn't teach gently.
Cheonliang didn't forgive mistakes.
And slowly—
They stopped being children.