As the accepted candidates climbed the gentle slopes of Mount Baekun, they marveled at the mountain's calm beauty. Despite Hanan’s typically warm climate in Zhongyuan, the forested path up Mount Baekun offered a surprising coolness, with seasonal winds brushing through, at times feeling almost chilly.

The mood among the candidates was buoyant as they felt an inexplicable sense of anticipation, their spirits lifted by the pleasant weather and the promise of what awaited them at Yi Jeong Martial Academy.

Even Mataja, the youngest of the Cheongha Six, felt this excitement.

"Wow, I was wondering why they'd open the academy in …