Dustwind Sect gathered in the main training courtyard.
The air was clean—too clean.
Not a leaf, not a speck of dust, not even the shadow of dirt dared to appear.
Why?
Because Aurelius, the new Gatekeeper, had already sterilized the mountain three times before sunrise.
Lin Ruyin trembled.
"I… I can smell nothing… It's like the air died…"
Jin Haru whispered back,
"That's because Gatekeeper Aurelius purified the oxygen. It hurts to breathe…"
Meanwhile, Miyu stood in front of her first batch of disciples, dressed in her usual clean robe.
Today was important.
Today she would teach her first cultivation technique.
Miyu cleared her throat softly.
"…We will begin training now."
The disciples knelt instantly.
"YES, ANCESTOR MIYU!!"
Aurelius stood behind her like a terrifying statue, emitting a sterile aura that made everyone stand straighter.
---
⭐ 1. Miyu Reveals Her First Technique — A Simple Step
Miyu lifted a foot.
"…This technique is called 'Order Step: Clean Shift.'"
The disciples stared, mesmerized.
Jin Haru whispered,
"A martial art… from the Ancestor herself…"
Lin Ruyin cried,
"I'M NOT WORTHY—!!!"
Miyu continued.
"…It's just stepping cleanly."
The disciples gasped as if hearing the secrets of the heavens.
"STEPPING CLEANLY?!"
"A DIVINE PATH!!"
"THE CLEAN FOOT DAO!!"
Yin Huani, watching from a tree branch, almost fell off from laughing.
Miyu demonstrated:
A small hop.
A soft slide.
A perfect step.
The ground beneath her sparkled clean.
The disciples screamed like she performed a heavenly miracle.
"THE DIRT FEARS HER FEET!!!"
"IS THIS THE POWER OF CLEANLINESS?!"
"I SAW THE EARTH GET POLISHED!!"
Aurelius trembled with suppressed emotion.
"Master's stepping technique… has reached transcendence…"
Miyu blinked awkwardly.
"…It's… just stepping."
Aurelius shook his head sharply.
"No.
It is perfection incarnate."
---
⭐ 2. Aurelius Demonstrates… and Nearly Kills Everyone
Aurelius stepped forward.
"Master.
Allow me to refine your example."
"No—"
But it was too late.
Aurelius raised one foot, then stepped:
BOOOOOOM!!!
A shockwave blasted through the valley.
Disciples flew backward like leaves in a storm.
Trees bent away.
Clouds scattered.
Lin Ruyin screamed mid-air,
"WHY IS HIS STEP A NUCLEAR BOMB—?!"
Jin Haru crashed into a rock.
"This is unreasonable—!!"
Even Yin Huani was knocked out of her tree.
Aurelius stood proudly.
"This is the correct level of cleanliness impact."
Miyu stared blankly.
"…You broke the training field."
Aurelius bowed respectfully.
"I will break it more cleanly next time, Master."
"NO."
"Understood."
---
⭐ 3. Miyu Attempts to Teach Breathing Technique
After the disciples recovered, Miyu tried again.
"…Let's practice breathing."
Everyone nodded fearfully.
Miyu demonstrated a simple inhale—exhale.
Aurelius immediately panicked.
"MASTER!!
THE AIR IS NOT FULLY PURIFIED—DO NOT INHALE THAT!!"
He waved his hand violently.
A gale of sterile wind blasted the courtyard.
Disciples clung to the ground.
"HE'S STERILIZING THE AIR AGAIN—!!"
"STOP—WE'RE GONNA GET OUR SKIN EXFOLIATED—!!"
Solene sigh-cleaned her glasses.
"…Training with him is impossible."
Miyu's eye twitched.
"…Aurelius. Stop cleaning the air."
He froze like a scolded robot.
"…Yes, Master."
---
⭐ 4. Disciples Practice — And Fail Gloriously
Miyu instructed:
"…Just follow my motions.
Step gently."
The disciples attempted Miyu's "Clean Step."
What resulted was:
BOOM!
CRACK!
THUD—!!!
The entire courtyard erupted like a battlefield.
A disciple cried,
"WHY IS CLEAN STEPPING SO HARD?!"
"My ankle is too dirty to do this!"
"I think my soul cracked—!!"
Aurelius judged every attempt mercilessly:
"Your movement is crooked."
"Your balance is contaminated."
"Your qi is sweaty."
"Your existence needs polishing."
The disciples cried in despair.
---
⭐ 5. Rumors Spread Through Murim
Nearby sects began to panic.
"Dustwind Sect caused a mountain to shake earlier!"
"They say their ancestor cleans the air."
"I heard their gatekeeper sterilizes demons by glaring at them."
"Someone said they invented a step that purifies the earth!"
Dustwind Sect was becoming a myth.
---
⭐ 6. Miyu Ends Training Before Someone Dies
Miyu clapped her hands once.
"…Okay. Enough cleaning steps for today."
Disciples collapsed in exhausted relief.
Aurelius bowed.
"Master,
shall I enforce night training?"
"No."
"But Master—"
"No."
Aurelius bowed like a machine shutting down.
"…As you command."
Miyu sighed.
"…Tomorrow, we will train normally."
She hoped.
But fate had OTHER plans.
Tomorrow would bring—
A fart.
A catastrophe.
A new attendant.
And the biggest panic the sect had ever seen.
Dustwind's legend had only just begun.
---