He paused, then looked Arthur dead in the eye.
"And yet, in your body… they're like two rivers flowing side by side—never crossing, never clashing. But…"
His voice dropped, grave and heavy.
"I don't know how long that balance will last."
Arthur stood frozen, the weight of the words sinking in like stone.
"As both forces grow stronger with cultivation, they will inevitably collide. And when they do…" Kim's gaze sharpened. "Your body will become the battlefield. And it will be torn apart."
"Then what should I do?" Arthur asked, tension rising in his voice. "Is there anyone who walks the same path as me?"
He gritted his teeth, quietly cursing the system for keeping such a critical detail from him.
Kim shook his head slowly. "There are a rare few… legends, really. But those people were born with bodies forged by fate itself—blessed physiques, mysterious constitutions, divine bloodlines. They had advantages you don't. Even if you could find them, they wouldn't be able to help you. Their paths are too different."
"And besides…" He looked off toward the mansion. "They sit at the pinnacle of humanity. You couldn't meet them even if you tried."
Arthur clenched his fists, his heart beating faster. "There has to be a way. I'm not giving up. Not after coming this far."
Kim studied him in silence. In the boy's eyes, he saw something rare—not just talent, but resolve forged under pressure. A will that refused to shatter.
He sighed.
"…Come with me. I don't have the answers. But my old friend might know something."
Without another word, he turned and led Arthur toward the massive gates of the mansion.
As they approached, Kim shouted, "Old Seok Hung! Get out here, you hermit!"
The moment the name echoed through the estate, a thunderous wave of pressure swept over them like a tidal wave of raw power. The air itself trembled. Arthur's knees buckled—but before it could crush him completely, Kim raised his hand and conjured a protective barrier of his own energy, shielding Arthur from the worst of the impact.
"What the hell is going on today?" Arthur muttered through clenched teeth, barely holding himself upright. "Why do I keep meeting monsters?"
He looked toward the source of the pressure with wide eyes, both awe and dread in his heart.
Kim, unamused, snapped, "Seok Hung! Don't you see there's a child here too? Or have your ancient eyes finally failed you? Why are you tossing your damn aura around like that?!"
Just then, a figure appeared before them in a blur of motion.
He was young—surprisingly so—with sharp features, smug eyes, and an arrogant grin plastered across his face.
"Who are you?" the youth asked, arms crossed. "And what business do you have with my grandfather?"
Before Kim could answer, the boy sneered. "What's a ragged old man and a beggar doing in front of my house? If you know what's good for you, you'll turn around and get lost before I make you."
Arthur's eyes twitched. *Beggar?* He looked down at himself, realizing his clothes were a little worn… but still!
Kim's expression darkened instantly.
"You… brat," he said in a low growl. "Do you have any idea who you're talking to?"
He didn't wait for an answer. With a flick of his sleeve, Kim released a sliver of his suppressed aura.
The effect was immediate. The arrogant youth was slammed to the ground as if a mountain had fallen on his shoulders. He gasped, eyes bulging, limbs trembling violently under the crushing pressure.
The entire ground beneath him cracked.
Arthur stared, stunned. *This… is just a sliver?*
Kim stepped forward, voice as sharp as a blade. "You dare threaten me, you arrogant worm? If your grandfather wasn't my friend, I would've turned you into a floor ornament by now."
The boy coughed violently, barely able to speak.
Kim exhaled, pulling his aura back.
"Let this be a lesson in respect," he muttered. Then glanced sideways at Arthur. "Tch. Kids these days."
Arthur didn't say anything—partially out of awe, partially out of fear.
Today had started as a relaxing stroll… and had turned into a gauntlet of near-death experiences.
And it wasn't even noon.
Just then, a middle-aged man rushed out from the mansion. Without a moment's hesitation, he dropped to his knees before Old Man Kim.
"We are deeply sorry, Grandmaster Kim," he said, bowing low, voice laced with desperation. "My son was ignorant and insolent. Please forgive his foolishness. I'll make sure he learns his lesson."
Arthur watched in silence, a single thought echoing in his mind:
This is how power works.
Before the weak, it is unrelenting. Before the strong, even pride bows without a fight.
Old Man Kim waved a hand dismissively, his gaze never settling on the boy still struggling to breathe behind them.
"I don't waste my time holding grudges against children," he said flatly. "Seok Yung, where's your father, Seok Hung? It's been years—I wasn't expecting his brat to greet me at the gate."
The kneeling man flinched slightly but quickly recovered. "Father is currently in seclusion. He's on the verge of a breakthrough and left strict orders not to be disturbed. My son only acted the way he did because he didn't recognize you."
"Hmph. That old man's still chasing breakthroughs at his age?" Kim chuckled, clearly amused. "Some habits never die."
He looked up toward the towering structure at the center of the estate, its roof brushing the clouds. A soft pulse of energy was emanating from it, like distant thunder trapped beneath stone.
"When did he enter seclusion?" Kim asked.
"About a month ago," Seok Yung replied. "The energy from the Pagoda has been unstable lately. We believe the moment of breakthrough is near. Please… come inside, Grandmaster Kim. You can wait in the main hall."
Kim nodded and began walking, Arthur trailing beside him.
As they passed through the gates, Seok Yung looked at Arthur with a hint of curiosity. "Forgive me, Grandmaster, but… who is this young man? Your disciple, perhaps?"
Kim glanced at Arthur with a smirk, then turned back to Seok Yung and said with a completely straight face, "Why, he's my sweet grandson."
Arthur's mouth twitched. This old man…
But he held his tongue.
There was no harm in playing along. After all, this was no ordinary elder—he was the kind of "old man" that stories whispered about. The kind who appeared for a single chapter and changed a protagonist's entire destiny.
If hugging the thigh of such a figure meant being called a grandson…
Then so be it.
Arthur straightened his back and smiled politely. "Good to meet you, Uncle."
Seok Yung blinked in surprise, then laughed. "Ah! So Grandmaster Kim has a grandson now. The world truly changes when you're not looking."
Kim snorted but didn't deny it.
As they entered the courtyard, Arthur silently followed, heart beating a little faster.
He didn't know what lay ahead…
But whatever it was, it felt like the start of something far greater than he'd expected when he'd set out for a walk that morning.
.
..
...