In Murim, a land where legends walk among the living and the whispers of the dead echo through mountains covered in eternal snow, there was a clan whose existence was mentioned only in whispered prayers to the winds — Baekseong.
Located beyond the Eternal Crystal Mountains, a majestic range of peaks shrouded in ice that never melted, the clan had been isolated from the rest of the world for nearly three hundred years. This seclusion was not born out of fear but rather from a deep spiritual conviction. While other martial sects ceaselessly battled for dominance through the sword and raw power, the Baekseong clan dedicated themselves to silence, harmony, and spiritual healing. They were known, by the few and wise, as the Guardians of Balance — cultivators who spent their lives preserving and harmonizing the vital Qi, the invisible energy that flows like a river through the body's meridians and connects all beings to the world's primordial essence.
The sacred village of Baekyun was hidden deep within a valley, protected by natural walls of snowy cliffs and frozen fields. There, the snow was eternal and gentle, covering rooftops and paths with a white mantle that not even the strongest summer sun could melt. The rivers ran slow and deep, mirroring the clear skies on silver surfaces, reflecting the calm that inhabited that place.
The houses, crafted from dark wood and stones polished to perfection, formed a perfect circle around the Mirror Temple, the clan's energetic core. Each structure was positioned with meticulous precision, carefully aligned to channel the natural flow of Qi into the residences. Even the architecture revealed the profound communion with the invisible forces that guided life in the village.
The routine in Baekyun might seem simple to outsiders, but every daily task was imbued with spiritual significance. From an early age, the children learned to listen to the earth and understand the skies, recognizing signs in the smallest details of the environment. They grew up surrounded by teachings about the Origin Qi, an ancestral force that preceded even the first masters of the known martial arts. The Baekseong did not seek control over this energy but rather a perfect communion with it.
Among those children was Jin Sohyeon, the only son of Patriarch Jin Haeryeong and Matriarch Hwa Yun. From the day he was born, everyone noticed something different about him. Jin was a calm, observant child, as if he already carried the wisdom of an old monk in his young spirit. His dark brown eyes, deep and attentive, seemed to instinctively follow the currents of Qi, recognizing the spiritual flow that permeated every part of the village.
From a very young age, Jin displayed exceptional abilities. At four years old, he already showed an unusual capacity to feel the vibrations of the environment. He could tell when the forest whispered too loudly or when the energy around him was restless, even when no one else noticed such subtleties.
While other children ran through the fields and played among the trees, Jin preferred to sit near the hot springs, where he meditated in deep silence. One morning, one of the oldest monks found him sitting motionless, listening to the soft pulse of the underground waters for hours. This episode quickly spread among the elders, and Jin soon became known for possessing the rare Gift of Serene Void — a natural ability to absorb and balance the Qi around him, as if his own body were a mirror capable of perfectly reflecting the world's energy.
Though he had not formally begun spiritual cultivation, Jin could already meditate for hours without disturbance. He did not yet master specific techniques, but he could clearly feel the subtle vibrations of the stones along the ceremonial paths. He did not fight, yet everyone in the village saw him as someone far beyond an ordinary child.
Jin's childhood was silent and profound, as harmonious as the very rhythm of the village. The tranquility surrounding Baekyun seemed to reflect directly in Jin's young soul. However, as everyone knew, even the most eternal and untouched valleys would one day undergo change.
In that particular year, something changed subtly. The snows began to fall earlier, covering the meditation fields with a layer much thicker than in previous years. The oldest monks interpreted this phenomenon as a significant omen, and the spiritual protection seals began to be discreetly relocated. The entire village seemed to sense that something was imminent, even though no one spoke openly about it.
With the arrival of the premature winter, the chief elder announced that the traditional Festival of the Stellar Harvest would occur during a rare phenomenon known as the Alignment of Total Light. This ceremony, celebrated only on special occasions, required the active participation of a chosen one for the Blessing of the First Path.
To the silent surprise of many and the confirmation of the wisest, Jin Sohyeon was chosen.
The news spread quickly, and as the monks and villagers reacted with a mixture of surprise, approval, and respect, Jin silently accepted his destiny. At that moment, something deep within him understood that the ritual would mark the end of his tranquil childhood and the beginning of an unprecedented spiritual journey.
The following night, Jin was discreetly summoned to the elders' chamber. There, gathered, were his father, three ancient spiritual masters, and his mother, Hwa Yun, wearing the ceremonial robe. They explained in detail the importance of the ritual: to prepare the Tea of the Three Paths, made with special ingredients representing aspects of the soul — the Crimson Lotus Root, the Sacred Wind Leaf, and the Inverted Snow Flower.
These ingredients could not be given; they had to be individually earned, each symbolizing a distinct spiritual trial. Jin humbly accepted, receiving only a ceremonial dagger carved by his mother. She told him softly to listen with his heart and let each ingredient reveal itself to him naturally.
That night, Jin remained awake, meditating on what was to come. He watched the snow fall silently under the moonlight and understood, in profound silence, that this would be a transformative journey.
At dawn, he departed calmly, without haste or hesitation, fully aware that he was seeking more than ingredients for a sacred tea — he was walking toward the beginning of his own destiny.