Morning came with a golden glow spilling over the vilge, painting the sky with soft hues of orange and pink. It was the kind of morning that should have promised peace, but for Han Ye, that peace was shattered the moment his older brother stormed into his room.

  "Oi! Time to train!" His brother’s loud voice boomed through the small space.

  Han Ye groaned, pulling his bnket over his head. "I already trained, Shu Shu. Now go away."

  His brother frowned, crossing his arms. "Training with your tools doesn’t count, little brother. You need to strengthen your body, not just your mind."

  "I don’t need a sword. I’m an archer, not a swordsman," Han Ye grumbled, sitting up and rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "Why would I waste time swinging around a piece of metal?"

  Shu Shu clicked his tongue in frustration. "And what if your bow breaks? What if you run out of arrows? You need to be ready for anything."

  Han Ye simply waved him off. "I’ll find another way. Now, get out. I have something important to do."

  Shu Shu gave him a long stare before sighing. "Fine. But don’t come crying to me when you realize you’re too weak to fight up close."

  With that, his brother left, and Han Ye let out a relieved breath. He had no interest in wasting his morning sparring when he had more pressing matters to attend to.

  Han Ye quickly dressed and made his way to his workshop. It was a small, cluttered space behind their house, filled with half-finished projects, blueprints, and tools of all kinds. Despite its messiness, it was his sanctuary.

  Today, he had a clear goal: to complete his newest invention—a mp powered by either sunlight or ki.

  Ever since he had begun refining his control over ki, he realized that most people in the vilge wasted too much of it. Hunters used it to enhance their bodies, warriors used it in combat, but there were so many other uses beyond simple fighting. If he could make objects that efficiently absorbed ki, life in the vilge would improve drastically.

  And so, he set out to gather his materials.

  First, he needed a Sunsteel Core, a rare metal that absorbed sunlight and converted it into energy. Fortunately, he had a small shard left from an old hunting knife that had shattered years ago.

  Next, he required Spirit Vein Gss , a special type of gss infused with the flow of natural energy. This gss was typically found in ancient ruins, but he had traded for a piece with an old traveling merchant months ago.

  For the frame, he chose Bckwood Iron, a rare blend of iron and wood found in the deep forests. It was strong but light, perfect for holding the delicate components together.

  And finally, to store ki, he needed Azure Flowing Jade, a mineral that could hold and release energy in a controlled manner. It was often used in talismans and cultivation tools, making it invaluable for his project.

  With all his materials gathered, Han Ye set to work.

  The sound of clinking metal and the faint hum of flowing energy filled the workshop as he carefully shaped each component. The Sunsteel Core was the heart of the mp, pced within a thin shell of Spirit Vein Gss to allow light to pass through while absorbing ki from the surroundings.

  He meticulously carved small runes onto the Azure Flowing Jade, ensuring it could store and release energy without dispersing too quickly. The frame, crafted from Bckwood Iron, held everything together while providing durability.

  Hours passed in focused silence, broken only by the occasional sigh of frustration when something didn’t fit quite right.

  But finally, after careful adjustments, the mp was complete.

  Han Ye held it up, admiring his handiwork. The mp was small, fitting comfortably in his hand. Its core shimmered with a faint golden glow, absorbing the light filtering through the workshop’s window. He channeled a small amount of ki into the Azure Flowing Jade, and immediately, the mp fred to life, a warm light radiating outward.

  A satisfied grin spread across his face.

  It worked.

  Han Ye sat back, wiping sweat from his brow. It had taken longer than expected, but the result was worth it. If he could refine the design, he could make more of these mps for the vilge. No more relying on fire alone—his invention could provide steady light, even in the deepest night.

  Just as he was about to test it further, a sudden knock on his door made him jump.

  "Han Ye, are you in there?"

  It was his father, Han Zhe.

  Han Ye quickly set the mp down and opened the door. "Yes, Father?"

  Han Zhe stepped inside, his gaze sweeping over the workshop. He took in the scattered materials, the half-finished projects, and finally, the glowing mp in Han Ye’s hands.

  His eyes narrowed slightly. "What is that?"

  Han Ye hesitated before holding up the mp proudly. "A mp powered by either sunlight or ki. I made it myself."

  His father studied the device for a long moment before finally speaking. "And why did you make this?"

  Han Ye blinked. "Because it’s useful. Wouldn’t it be better if the vilge had reliable light, even at night?"

  Han Zhe was silent for a moment before sighing. "You are always thinking of strange things, Han Ye."

  The younger man frowned. "Strange? It’s practical. Imagine how much easier night patrols would be with these. Or how safer the vilge would be if we had constant light sources."

  Han Zhe gave a small nod. "It is not a bad invention. But be careful with knowledge, son. Not all discoveries lead to good things."

  Han Ye frowned. "What do you mean?"

  His father shook his head. "Just be mindful of what you create. Tools can be used for many things, but they can also attract attention you do not want."

  Before Han Ye could ask more, Han Zhe turned to leave. "Come to the house when you are done. We need to discuss what happened during the hunt."

  Han Ye watched his father leave, confusion still swirling in his mind. His invention was harmless—why would it bring trouble?

  Yet something about his father’s words unsettled him.

  Shaking his head, he turned back to his mp. For now, he would focus on perfecting it. Whatever his father meant, he would deal with it when the time came.