"Hi allies!" Master Sung called out to them with a smile that seemed slightly forced, as if he was still sick from the fact that his supreme district leader had been turned into a human projectile by an amateur summoner. "How's your training so far?"
"It's been going smoothly so far," Ryder answered as he stepped forward toward Master Sung's direction. "I guess you came to pay us a visit to track our progress."
"No, not really, but now I'm curious," Dwang Sung said dismissively, acting to be unfazed. "Did you all truly learn to master all the techniques of the Luo?"
"All the techniques!!!" Brok screamed, his voice cracking slightly with disbelief and eyes widened like dinner plates. "We only learned seven!"
Mara quickly spanked the back of Brok's head, causing a loud *thwack* that echoed across the grassland.
"Ow! What was that for?" Brok protested, rubbing the back of his head.
"For being an idiot in front of Master Sung," Mara whispered in a hushed tone toward Brok, then stepped forward to respond properly.
"She taught us the seven relevant and key techniques, and using that foundation, I have noticed it's possible to perform all the other techniques—all thanks to the knowledge Yuki had engraved in us through the knowledge transfer."
Master Sung nodded thoughtfully, clearly impressed. The way Mara had explained the connection between the seven relevant techniques and all the other seventy was with a precise level of understanding that typically took months, if not years, for one to develop.
"I am impressed," he commented. "I never knew you all had it in you." This admiration was directed toward Mara and Brok in particular, since Leo and Ryder's capabilities had been clear from the beginning.
"Guess I'll humbly welcome you all," Master Sung said, his voice taking on a resigning tone, "for being able to defeat Akira Tian in a friendly spar."
I truly was trying to find a way to kick you guys out if you couldn't blend in, Master Sung spoke internally. You're lucky fellas, aren't you?
A smile crept across both Mara and Brok's faces as they processed Master Sung's words. The reality of what they had accomplished was sinking in—they had not only held their own against one of the most powerful summoners in the Red Eastern Guild, but they had actually emerged victorious—even though it was Ryder's win.
Leo yawned deliberately and smacked his mouth, the sound cutting through the congratulatory air around them. When he had everyone's attention, he interjected with directness toward Master Sung: "You said you're not here to track our progress, am I right?"
"So tell me," Leo continued, his voice carrying the kind of casual authority that suggested he was used to getting answers to his questions, "what brought you here?"
Master Sung's expression immediately darkened as Leo spoke, as if the question had suddenly reminded him of something sinister that he had been trying to push to the back of his mind.
"Allies," Master Sung said, his voice taking on an intensity that made everyone stand a little straighter, "you need to relocate to a more secure location to continue your training. The Falcon Guild is after you."
The words hit like a running train of shock. For a moment, nobody spoke, nobody moved—they just stood there processing what they had just heard.
"What the hell!" Mara barked, her voice cracking slightly with a combination of surprise and outrage. "The Falcon Guild! After us!"
Of everyone among her companions, she was the only person who knew what the Falcon Guild was—she grew up as a bookworm after all, trained by her father to become a professor just like him.
"Yes, I am not mistaken," Master Sung confirmed grimly. He reached into his robe slowly, as if the very act of retrieving the item he pulled out moments later was difficult.
When his hand emerged, it held a blood-stained envelope that seemed to carry a malicious aura all its own.
"They dropped this message in the makeshift room I decided to rest in just moments ago," Master Sung explained, "threatening me to hand y'all over within twenty-four hours."
He held the envelope up so everyone could see it clearly. This was more than just a letter—it was a declaration of intent if the demands were not met.
"Hand over your allies, eh? Like we're objects," Brok commented. "It's not so surprising that we're already being hunted, though. I already knew we would attract a lot of attention after you made our alliance a public declaration."
Master Sung nodded approvingly at Brok's observation. "You'll attract a lot of attention even within this guild," he confirmed. "Even before we admitted you into the guild, a Sen district member was already asking to meet you—Zhou Sen."
Yeah, Leo agreed internally. I remember Ming Fan mentioning that.
"I had to delay them a little for y'all to blend in to a reasonable extent before you got involved with them," Master Sung continued. "But now might not be a bad time, given that you all have already evolved so much, and you also need somewhere safe to stay."
"I will be taking you all to the Sen district now," Master Sung announced. "I have already called for Koji on my way here. We will be teleporting to the Sen district shortly, where you all will have the greatest protection."
As if summoned by the mention of his name, the crackling sparks of a portal began to manifest several meters away from their group. The air itself seemed to ripple with each and every spark.
"Perfect timing," Master Sung muttered, complementing Koji's arrival.
The portal stabilized moments later, and three figures stepped through it.
The first in the middle was a young man with orange hair clad in armor like he was ready for battle at any moment—Koji Tian.
***
Meanwhile, in the heart of the Falcon Guild... ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ NovєlFіre.net
In a silent dojo that seemed to exist in a space between two different offensive worlds, a certain man could be seen with his eyes closed in a meditation position.
The chamber was vast and empty, its walls lost in shadows, and the structure seemed abnormal.
He was clothed in a robe and had the back of both hands resting on his knees. His name is... **Yuki Nakamura**