"Good morning," Colleen Wing said as she pushed open the doors of the martial arts hall.
The familiar chime echoed lightly across the quiet room.
Gu Xing was already there, sitting behind the counter with a book in hand.
"Good morning, Instructor Wing," he replied.
It had been three days since Colleen had gone from a walk-in customer to an instructor at the hall.
Surprisingly, the effect had been immediate. Once word spread that a karate instructor had joined the gym, several people from the neighborhood began showing up for training. Most were beginners looking to learn self-defense, but a few clearly had some experience.
I have a feeling it's because the instructor is a beautiful woman…
Every morning, before any students arrived, Colleen would start with her own workout.
She set her bag down near the wall and began loosening her shoulders, stretching her arms before moving into a few shadowboxing combinations. Her movements were sharp and disciplined, each strike controlled yet powerful.
Gu Xing glanced up briefly before returning to his book.
"The wooden swords should arrive either today or tomorrow," he said casually. "Once they do, we can add kenjutsu training in this hall."
Colleen paused mid-stretch and looked over.
"That's good to hear," she said with a small smile.
"I miss swinging a sword."
She walked over to the weapon rack, eyeing the empty space where the wooden swords would eventually sit.
Then she glanced back at Gu Xing, curiosity flashing across her face.
"You know," she said, crossing her arms, "for someone running a martial arts hall… I've never actually seen you train."
Gu Xing slowly turned a page of his book.
"There's not much to see," he replied calmly.
Colleen raised an eyebrow.
She clearly didn't believe that for a second.
Of course, she wouldn't see him train.
Gu Xing lowered his gaze to the book again, though he wasn't really reading anymore.
He simply didn't have to train.
Ever since he arrived, he has reached an enhanced physique level. His body has stopped growing stronger. He seems to have hit a bottleneck
Which meant there was only one logical next step.
Chi.
Yes… that had to be it.
If his physical abilities had already reached this level, then the next path forward should be the mysterious energy martial artists had talked about for centuries.
Chi.
It was said to be the life energy flowing through every living being.
Life energy meant vitality.
Vitality meant the body.
And if that was the case… then Gu Xing was fairly confident he possessed quite a lot of it.
Ever since the thought first appeared in his mind, he couldn't shake it off.
So he decided to try sensing it.
---
'Today is the second day,' he thought quietly.
'I have a feeling I can sense it.'
Gu Xing sat calmly behind the counter, his breathing slow and steady. To anyone watching, he looked like he was simply reading a book.
But in reality, most of his focus was turned inward—trying to feel something deeper within his body.
Time passed quietly.
Then—
Ding ~
The door suddenly opened.
"Coach! I just got back from vacation! I'm ready to start working out again!"
An energetic young man burst into the hall, his voice instantly filling the room.
Gu Xing looked up.
"Welcome back," he said calmly. "We have a new instructor. You can go talk to her."
"New instructor?"
The young man turned his head.
Across the room, Colleen had also looked over after hearing the sudden noise.
The young man immediately straightened up and walked toward her with enthusiasm.
"Hello, Instructor," he said with a friendly grin. "I'm Kevin Woo."
Colleen nodded politely.
"Colleen Wing," she replied. "Nice to meet you."
From the counter, Gu Xing quietly watched the interaction for a moment before lowering his gaze again.
"I'll try again later," Gu Xing sighed quietly. "I keep getting disturbed."
Meanwhile, after briefly introducing himself to Colleen, Kevin wandered over to the counter and leaned against it casually.
"Coach," he asked, "can you train me in your kung fu?"
Gu Xing raised an eyebrow and looked at him.
"You?" he said. "Why the interest all of a sudden?"
"Well…" Kevin hesitated.
After a moment, he answered quietly, "I just want the ability to defend myself."
Gu Xing studied him for a second. Kevin's head was slightly lowered, his earlier enthusiasm fading.
After pondering for a moment, Gu Xing finally spoke.
"I don't have time right now," he said calmly. "But you can ask Instructor Wing. In this world, I'm confident only a few people can surpass her."
Kevin's eyes widened.
"Whoa… that strong?"
He looked a little disappointed at first, but still nodded respectfully. After giving a small bow, he turned and walked back toward Colleen.
The energetic eighteen-year-old clearly had a story behind that request.
"I'll leave everything here to you, Instructor Wing. I'll go upstairs for a while," Gu Xing said as more people began entering the hall.
"Sure," she replied.
Gu Xing headed upstairs to his room.
Once inside, he closed the door and sat on the edge of the bed.
He would try again to sense his **Chi**.
After a moment, he sat cross-legged on the bed and slowly closed his eyes.
Darkness.
All he could see was endless black.
At first, the outside world still reached him clearly—the distant chirping of birds outside, the rumble of a passing vehicle, and the faint sounds of training coming from the hall below.
He needed to focus.
Slowly, he began pushing those sounds away.
One by one, they faded.
The birds disappeared.
The noise of the street vanished.
Even the sounds of training below slowly dissolved into silence.
Soon, all he could feel was the gentle breeze drifting through the window.
Then he removed that too.
Total emptiness.
For a brief moment, everything was still.
Then—
He saw something.
A tiny spark.
Like a small flame flickering quietly in the darkness.
It danced softly, faint yet alive.
But before he could reach it… before he could truly feel it—
The sensations suddenly rushed back.
Sound.
Touch.
Awareness.
The spark vanished.
Gu Xing slowly opened his eyes.
He let out a quiet sigh.
"Another failure."
---
Baammm!
A heavy metallic thud echoed across the harbor as the ship finally docked at the bay. Thick ropes were thrown to the pier, pulled tight as the vessel settled against the wooden platform.
The salty scent of the sea lingered in the cool air.
Passengers began disembarking one after another—tourists with luggage, workers carrying worn bags, and travelers eager to return home after long journeys. Footsteps filled the dock as voices overlapped in a low, restless buzz.
Among the crowd, one figure stood out.
A man with messy blond hair slowly stepped off the ship.
His clothes were wrinkled and worn, the fabric slightly torn in places. His beard had grown uneven and rough, giving him the appearance of someone who had not cared about his looks for quite some time. To anyone glancing his way, he looked like nothing more than a haggard drifter.
Or perhaps a homeless man.
Yet despite his rough appearance, there was something strange about him. His posture was steady, his shoulders relaxed but firm, and his eyes—though tired—held a quiet sharpness that didn't belong to an ordinary wanderer.
He stopped at the edge of the dock.
For a moment, he simply stood there.
Then he lifted his head and took a long, deep breath.
The smell of the ocean mixed with the distant scent of the city—concrete, smoke, and something uniquely alive.
His gaze slowly moved toward the skyline in the distance.
Towering buildings rose against the horizon.
New York.
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"New York…" he muttered softly.
"I'm back."