A few hours passed, and it was almost midnight. Most of the hostages had left the training ground and retreated to their cages, but there were still a few dozen who remained, practicing hard. The sight of their dedication motivated each other, pushing them to train even harder.
Perhaps, more people would have achieved the first stage of the muscle strengthening and bone forging realm if they had trained together in the training ground. However, that wasn't an option at the time, as food portions were cut, and everyone was after each other's throat. The unity between the hostages had broken, but that was no longer the case since they were being fed properly. Although, it wasn't out of generosity; their bodies needed nutrients and stamina to absorb and cultivate.
Liam's team was still training, even in his absence. But Soo Min wasn't. She had fallen asleep on the training ground, her small frame curled up, her breaths soft and steady.
Out of the five remaining team members, Kai and Joon Ho had achieved Qi Control, and the others felt they were close. But they decided to stop and go back to their cages to rest.
Joon Ho gently woke up Soo Min in a soft and gentle voice. "Soo Min, wake up. It's time to go back to the cage."
Soo Min stirred, her eyes fluttering open. "Hmm? Oh, okay," she murmured, still half-asleep.
They all stood up, stretching their tired muscles. Mi-Na looked around, her brow furrowing in confusion. "Where are Lee and Rin? Shouldn't they be back by now?"
Joon Ho responded, "Lee is helping Rin. They'll be back soon."
Mi-Na's eyes narrowed slightly, her curiosity piqued. "Why is Liam personally training Rin and not the rest of us? We could all use his help."
This time, Joon Soek's expression darkened, but he kept his voice level. "We were able to achieve Qi Visibility and Qi Control within a day thanks to Lee. It's none of our business to question what he does or where he goes."
Mi-Na persisted, her voice laced with suspicion. "But don't you think it's strange? Why is he giving Rin special treatment? Is something going on between the two?"
Joon Ho's grip on Soo Min tightened slightly, his voice tense. "Drop it, Mi-Na. It's not our place to question Lee."
Kai sensed the growing tension and intervened, his voice firm yet gentle. "Mi-Na, let's hurry up if you don't want to be left behind."
Mi-Na sighed but nodded in agreement. Kai and Mi-Na were staying in a separate cage, while Liam and the rest of his team members stayed together in another cage.
Soo Min was still sleepy, stumbling slightly as she walked. Joon Soek noticed her struggle and turned to Joon Ho. "Carry Soo Min to the cage. I'll go ahead and make space for us."
Without waiting for a response, Joon Soek hurried to the cage. Upon entering, he was shocked to find it empty. He wondered if Liam and Rin were training somewhere else. Just then, a cold breeze passed by, moving the curtain in the corner of the room.
It was just a glimpse, but Joon Soek saw Liam and Rin sleeping naked on top of each other. He recalled what Mi-Na had said about Liam and Rin's relationship.
'So it was true.'
Just then, he heard the rustling sound of footsteps approaching and panicked.
'This is bad. Joon Ho is almost here. If he sees Lee and Rin like this, he'll be furious. After all, he loves Rin. I can't let him see this.'
Joon Soek quickly left the cage and met with Joon Ho, who was carrying Soo Min. Joon Ho looked at him, confusion written all over his face. "What are you doing here? I thought you were making space for us."
Joon Soek was nervous but tried to keep his voice steady. "Lee and Rin are still training. They're lost in the zone. I didn't want to disturb them, so I thought we should rest in a different cage."
Joon Ho's eyes narrowed, suspicion clear in his gaze. "A different cage? Why?"
Joon Soek quickly added, "Some of the cages are now empty since many failed the tests. It'll be more comfortable for us."
Joon Ho wasn't convinced, but he reluctantly agreed. "Fine. Let's go."
The three of them made their way to a different cage, leaving Liam and Rin undisturbed. Joon Soek couldn't help but feel a mix of relief and guilt as he led the way, hoping that his quick thinking had averted a potential disaster.
The next morning, as the sun was still rising, Rin woke up. She was naked, and Liam was still lying on top of her. Liam's one hand was on her breast and the other on her ass. His leg was wrapped around her, and he was sucking on her nipple while sleeping.
Rin couldn't help but chuckle at the sight, regarding him as a baby drinking milk. But suddenly, her smile faded as a realization struck her. What time was it? She slowly peeked through the curtain and saw the traces of sunlight. Instantly, she panicked.
Her heart began to race, and her mind flooded with a whirlwind of thoughts. She imagined the others walking in and seeing them in this compromising position. The embarrassment and judgmental looks they would receive flashed through her mind. She worried about what Joon Ho and the others would think of her, and how this would affect their dynamics within the team.
She was aware of Joon Ho's feelings for her although he hadn' expressed it, it was obvious to her. And Joon Soek knew about it for the same reason.
Her breath hitched as she pictured the shocked and disapproving expressions on their faces. She imagined the whispers and the gossip that would spread among the hostages. The thought of being seen as a seductress, taking advantage of Liam, made her stomach churn.
She shook Liam awake, and whispered violently. "Lee, wake up! It's morning already!"
Liam stirred, his eyes fluttering open. He greeted her with a sleepy smile and leaned in to kiss her on the lips, but Rin stopped him, her voice filled with panic. "Lee, it's morning! Everyone must have seen us!"
Liam was confused at first, but then he realized what she was talking about. Seeing Rin's panic, he quickly calmed her down. "It's okay, Rin. Let's get dressed first."
They both hurriedly put on their clothes, but neither of them dared to step out from behind the curtain. Liam gathered some courage and finally walked out, only to find the cage empty. He pulled Rin out from behind the curtain and showed her that no one was there.
"See, Rin? There's no one here. There's nothing to worry about," Liam reassured her.