As Zain ran swiftly between the trees, he was using a skill he had learned in his past life when he lived in the Murim world: "Silent Step." It was one of the first skills he had acquired, allowing him to move like a ghost without leaving a trace behind. In his former world, where the strong devoured the weak, survival had no meaning without strength—especially when he was part of the Heavenly Demon Sect.
He occasionally stopped, crouching to collect some herbs growing among the tangled roots. At first glance, these plants looked ordinary and worthless, but Zain knew their true nature. He had spent years studying herbs and could see their hidden potential.
"In the hands of an ordinary person—even the experts of this world—these would be just plants. But for me... they can become a life-saving elixir."
He continued running until he reached a small clearing surrounded by tall trees, where sunlight filtered through the branches, casting golden threads onto the damp grass. The air here was fresher, prompting him to stop and train for a while.
He removed his bag from his back, sat down on the ground, and took out the herbs he had gathered, beginning to sort them carefully. In his hands were a purple flower with velvety petals, a yellow blossom glowing with a faint shimmer, a twisting ivy plant that looked like it was searching for something to cling to, and a five-leaf herb with a strong aroma—a mix of sharp fragrance and earthy scent.
He gazed at them with a calm smile, recalling memories from his previous world.
"Even in this world, the true secret of power doesn't lie in swords or magic... but in knowledge."
With these herbs, he could prepare a medicinal bath to help him recover after training—boosting his physical strength and internal energy. But before he could start training, he needed to prepare his equipment. And where could he find what he needed? Well, the forest would provide everything.
"Good thing I brought an axe."
In the forest, where nature meets primal strength, Zain knew it had everything required to craft effective training gear. He began by searching for strong tree branches that he could cut down with his axe. He chose straight, sturdy branches capable of withstanding the pressure and strain of intense exercises. Then, he turned to the thick vegetation tangled around the ground, cutting long ropes from durable fibers, which he could use to fasten branches together or to create adjustable training tools.
Zain selected his materials carefully, knowing that every part of this equipment had to be flexible enough to endure the challenges of his training, yet strong enough to withstand his power and test his limits. He crafted ropes to secure weights on the tree branches and made training platforms for hands and feet out of flat tree trunks. In this way, the simple clearing deep in the forest was transformed into a full-fledged training space, packed with tools that would aid him in his journey.
He looked at his work, which had taken him more than half a day, and felt a sense of joy.
"This place will be my training camp for the next six months before the journey begins... but for now, I must return—my uncle and aunt will be worried."
After saying that, he gathered the herbs from the ground and picked up the last two rabbits he had caught while chopping wood.
He ran back toward the village swiftly. When he arrived, he noticed that everyone seemed excited and cheerful. Zain knew this was the day a delegation from the Empire would be leaving with Alicia and her family. Though everyone seemed happy and enthusiastic, Zain knew it was all just hypocrisy, and that their envy was about to reach the heavens.
He ignored the disgusting scene and headed toward his home, where his uncle and aunt were waiting anxiously—it was written all over their faces. But when they saw Zain arriving, the worry vanished and was replaced by relief. They both rushed to him, and his uncle spoke quickly:
"Where have you been, you little rascal?"
But before Zain could answer, his uncle was struck hard by his aunt.
"Why are you yelling at little Zain?"
After finishing her scolding, she turned toward Zain and quickly checked him to see if he was hurt. Once she confirmed he was fine, she sighed in relief and said:
"Zain, where were you? Are you okay? Are you hungry?"
Her questions came quickly, but Zain felt her worry.
"I was in the forest. I gathered herbs and caught two rabbits, and yes, I'm hungry, Aunt."
"Good to know you're okay. Do you know how worried I was? Come on, I'll feed you in the kitchen. I'll cook the rabbits for dinner."
At that moment, his uncle stood and stepped closer, saying:
"Why are you so gentle with him and not with me?"
His aunt laughed and smacked him again. Zain looked at this scene and felt a warm sensation inside. He wondered to himself: Was I a fool in my first life, blind to my family's care while I focused only on Alicia? While ignoring everything around her...
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And so, Zain's training in the forest began. Every day, he pushed his limits, and the sensation of the power he gained became an addiction. Thanks to the medicinal bath that helped his body heal and enhanced his strength and inner energy, he entered a new phase of training. During this period, he began to notice an interesting companion—a small, strange white wolf pup, a magical beast. While the existence of magical beasts wasn't unusual, its closeness to the village was worrying. Their presence could mean that the village was at risk of being attacked by other magical creatures. But thankfully, Zain had discovered it in time.
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Today marked the final day of his training, which meant the time for his journey around the world was drawing near.
Zane was walking back home, and behind him trotted a white wolf pup with blue eyes—his companion, whom he had named "Fenrir" in hopes that he would one day live up to the name.
As he entered the house, a pleasant aroma hit his nose, leading him straight to the kitchen, where his aunt was preparing food. Her large belly was noticeable—not because she was overweight, but because she was pregnant. In his previous life, that hadn't been the case; his uncle and aunt had never had children. But things were different in this life—he had used certain herbs to treat their infertility. Zane didn't know which of them had suffered from the condition, so he had helped them in secret.
It was his gift to them, in return for everything they had done for him.
When Zane walked in, his aunt smiled.
"Look who decided to come back!"
"Auntie, let me help you. You shouldn't strain yourself."
Zane quickly moved to help set the table. Not long after, his uncle arrived, and the three of them began eating together.
"Zane, the old man agreed to your request. You can use his blacksmith workshop."
"Thank you, Uncle. But before that, I'll be going into seclusion for a week."
His aunt said nothing, but a look of sadness crossed her face—one she couldn't hide.
After finishing his meal, Zane made his way to the shed he had cleaned and prepared for his seclusion.
The reason for his seclusion was to purge the impurities from his body. Ever since he had opened his eyes in this world, he had noticed how tainted his body was.
When he shut the shed door behind him, his uncle and aunt stood outside. His aunt was crying while his uncle comforted her.
"You know birds have to fly when their time comes."
"I know… but I can't bear to see him go. He's not just like a son to me—he is my son. Do you think any mother can watch her child leave without breaking?"
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