"Toji, stay back!"
"Dad, no!"
"I love you, son… I always will."
"Dad!!!"
Toji jolted awake, his eyes filled with tears. His chest rose and fell heavily as the memory replayed in his mind for what felt like the thousandth time. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't forget the moment his father died.
Instead, it only made him more determined.
More eager to complete his mission.
He wiped his face and stood up, walking into the living room. There, he saw Yeng sitting calmly beside the fire furnace, as if nothing in the world could disturb him.
Yeng had brought him here the previous day… for the training he promised.
"You're up," Yeng said with a smirk.
"You know, no matter how I look at it, you're still just a child. You didn't even realize your body was burning up last night."
"I've told you to stop calling me that."
"What? A child?" Yeng replied, amused.
"Call me a child again and I'll wipe that smirk off your face."
Yeng laughed.
"What's so funny?" Toji snapped.
"Sorry, I just can't forget the image of you getting knocked down by a book. It was hilarious."
"Hey, don't make fun of me!"
"Alright, alright," Yeng said, still chuckling. "Now, let's get to why we're here."
He stood up.
"Follow me."
Yeng led Toji up the mountain, far away from the village—somewhere quiet, where no one would interrupt them.
When they reached the top, Toji froze.
The view stretched endlessly before him. The village below looked peaceful… almost unreal.
"It's… beautiful," Toji muttered.
"I know," Yeng replied. "Sometimes, you need to look at things from a different perspective. You can't stay rigid all the time—you have to be flexible."
Toji blinked.
He didn't understand a word of that.
"So… what are we doing here?" he asked.
Yeng turned to him, his expression suddenly serious.
"We're about to begin your training," he said. "And it's going to be hell for you."
Toji swallowed.
"Why did you say it like that?"
"Like what?" Yeng asked.
"What's with that scary look? You're not trying to kill me, are you?"
Yeng shrugged.
"If you die during the process, that would be your fault."
Toji stared at him.
"…Okay. So what are we doing today?"
Yeng smirked.
"Your mission is simple."
"To hit me."
Toji frowned.
"That's it? I thought you said this would be intense. Anyone can do that."
Yeng sighed.
"Are you always like this?"
"Like what?"
"Stubborn. You don't listen. I offered to train you, didn't I? Or do you want to train yourself?"
Toji clenched his fists.
"What did you just say?"
"You heard me. Kids these days never listen."
"I told you to stop calling me a kid!"
"Then prove you're not one," Yeng said coldly. "Otherwise, I won't stop. And you won't be getting that map either. The last one… is with me."
Toji's expression hardened.
"…Fine."
He took a step forward.
"All I have to do is hit you, right? No problem. But don't die on me—I don't want to end up killing my own teacher."
Yeng burst out laughing.
"Go ahead," he said.
Toji charged forward with full force, his dagger aimed straight at Yeng.
Yeng didn't move.
He simply stood there… watching.
Then, just as Toji was about to strike—
Yeng's leg shifted slightly.
Everything went black.
---
When Toji opened his eyes again, it was already night. His head throbbed.
"What… happened?" he muttered.
"You were unconscious for almost a day," Yeng said casually. "Sorry. I tried to go easy on you, but my hand slipped."
"To go easy on me?!" Toji snapped. "How did I get knocked out with just one hit?!"
Yeng shrugged.
"Explaining it is a drag. You'll figure it out yourself."
He stood up.
"Rest for now. Reflect on your mistakes. We'll continue tomorrow."
"Wait—"
But Yeng had already walked away.
---
The next day… the same thing happened.
And the day after that…
The same result.
For three straight days, Toji couldn't land a single hit.
On the fourth day, after knocking Toji out again, Yeng sighed.
When Toji woke up, Yeng was already looking down at him.
"Are you a deer hunter?" he asked.
Toji froze.
"…How did you know?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Yeng replied. "The way you charge in like a fool. Only hunters who chase weak prey like deer fight like that."
Toji clenched his jaw.
"To be a real hunter," Yeng continued, "you have to study your enemy. Read their movements. Predict their actions."
He leaned closer.
"I've been using the same technique to knock you out for three days straight. Even I'm getting tired. Are you really that slow?"
"Then why won't you just tell me what you're doing?!" Toji snapped.
Yeng shook his head.
"If I tell you, it's not training. When you're in a real fight, will your enemy teach you their techniques?"
Toji stayed silent.
"You'll have to learn by observing… in the middle of battle."
Yeng stepped back.
"Now, try again."
Toji took a deep breath.
This time… he watched carefully.
He rushed forward again, but his eyes stayed locked on Yeng's body.
Yeng stood still.
Just like always.
Then—
Toji saw it.
A slight movement… in Yeng's foot.
Right before the attack.
Yeng shifted at the last possible second, dodging the dagger effortlessly.
Toji's eyes widened.
"…So that's it…"
For the first time—
He had seen it.
But even though he saw it, Yeng had already prepared for the moment Toji would figure it out. He shifted his direction instantly, moving the opposite way. Toji tried to counter, but he was still knocked to the ground. This time, however, he didn't lose consciousness. He had already learned how to harden his neck at the moment of impact.
Yeng's eyes narrowed slightly in surprise. Learning something like that this quickly wasn't normal.
"Ah… can't you just let me touch you already?" Toji groaned, pushing himself up.
"Sorry, boy, I can't. It's for your own good," Yeng replied calmly. "But you've really improved since the last time. You're getting much better. Still… I've told you, you don't just charge in. You study your opponent—the way he stands, his eye movements. You read everything… so you can predict where he's going."
"Okay, boss, I've heard you," Toji said, brushing the dust off his clothes. "Since there's still a lot of time left, can we continue? I need to get this over with."
Yeng smirked. "No problem. Come at me."
Toji stood up again, steadying his breathing. This time, he didn't rush. He slouched slightly, acting as if he was exhausted, his movements slower—deliberately weaker.
Yeng smiled. He could see right through it.
"Stop playing around and come at me."
Toji's eyes sharpened.
He didn't move forward immediately. Instead, he began circling sideways, step by step, watching carefully… just like Yeng had taught him. Then suddenly, he dashed forward.
Yeng smiled.
Fool, he thought.
But this time, everything was going exactly as Toji had planned.
Toji already knew how Yeng would respond—he'd block the attack the same way as before. So instead of striking, Toji did something different.
He threw the dagger.
Yeng's eyes widened for a split second. That wasn't something he expected.
The blade cut through the air at incredible speed. It was too fast for an ordinary person to dodge—but Yeng wasn't ordinary. He shifted smoothly, avoiding the dagger as it flew past him. His focus immediately snapped back to Toji.
That was when Toji smiled.
"I knew you'd do that."
Before Yeng could fully recover his stance, Toji had already dropped low, sliding across the ground. His leg swept forward, aiming directly at Yeng's base.
Caught off balance, Yeng couldn't move his leg in time. His footing broke, and for the first time… he let it happen.
Toji stopped just short, his strike perfectly placed.
For a moment, there was silence between them. The air felt different—heavier, yet calmer.
Then Toji burst out laughing.
"I got you!"
Yeng looked at him for a few seconds… then slowly smiled.
"Well done, Toji."