Life went on, not in chaos or fear but in rhythm. The store continued running every day, and the crowd never seemed to decrease; if anything, it only grew larger. What started as curiosity had now turned into routine, with customers coming regularly, some even daily, trusting both the quality and the price without question. Inside the store, everything had stabilized. Kima and Akima handled customers efficiently now, no longer clumsy, learning how to talk, how to sell, and how to understand people. Miya managed the house and cooking smoothly, everything clean and timely, while Lalmin worked quietly in the back, the small garden slowly coming to life under his care.
Roma observed all of this and adjusted where needed.
At the same time, Roma's own cultivation improved. With an almost unlimited supply of spiritual fruits, Roma no longer had to worry about resources. Every day after work, Roma consumed them carefully, refining chakra and stabilizing the foundation. Stage 6, which had once been unstable, was now becoming solid, not rushed or forced but steady.
Arun progressed as well, his chakra reserves increasing, his control improving, his body adapting to constant usage. The more he used his ability, the more efficient he became. Riz also improved steadily, his control over the Doctor skill deepening, and with constant exposure to patients, his understanding of the body becoming sharper.
A month passed.
The store had not just survived, it had succeeded.
That evening, Roma stood in the courtyard and called everyone.
Soon Kima, Akima, Miya, and Lalmin stood in front of him. They were more relaxed now, but still careful.
Roma didn't waste time and took out eight spiritual fruits.
"Two each," Roma said.
They didn't move.
"…For cultivation," Roma added.
Shock spread across their faces.
Kima stepped forward slightly and asked, "These… are for us?"
Roma nodded. "Yes."
They took the fruits carefully, almost as if afraid they might disappear.
That night, they cultivated.
Kima and Akima sat side by side, their chakra flowing steadily. After some time, both felt the shift almost at the same moment. Their auras changed, stabilized, and both broke through to Stage 2. Their eyes opened together, filled with surprise.
"We broke through…" Akima said softly.
Kima clenched his fist slightly, still trying to process it.
On the other side, Miya sat quietly. Her cultivation had been stagnant for years, suppressed and blocked, but now with even a small push, something finally moved. Her aura shifted and then stabilized at Stage 4. She opened her eyes slowly and said, "So it still works…"
Lalmin sat nearby, his fruits still untouched. He looked at them, then at the two boys, and without hesitation passed both fruits to them.
"Take it," Lalmin said.
The boys froze.
"Grandpa, you should—"
"I don't need it," Lalmin said calmly. "Your path is ahead."
His voice was simple but firm, leaving no room for argument, and they accepted.
Roma watched all of this quietly and nodded slightly.
Satisfied.
Outside, someone else was watching.
A black figure stood at a distance, hidden and still, observing everything—the store, the people, the patterns. After a while, the figure turned and disappeared.
Inside, Riz suddenly paused.
"…Did you feel that?" Riz asked.
Arun looked confused. "Feel what?"
Riz frowned slightly. "…Something… but I can't tell what."
Roma glanced outside.
Nothing.
Silence.
"…Probably nothing," Arun said.
Riz didn't reply, but his eyes remained sharp.
The black-clothed man stood quietly inside the inner chamber of Vardhan Hall while the manager listened without interruption. The report was detailed—around a hundred spiritual fruits per day, no visible supply chain, no storage, no transport.
The manager tapped the table lightly and asked, "Are you sure they're real?"
"They are."
"And consistent?"
"Yes."
Silence followed.
The manager leaned back slightly and said, "Then there are only two possibilities. Either they have a hidden backing… or they found something."
The black-clothed man asked, "A resource location?"
The manager nodded. "Somewhere outside the city. A place with abundant spiritual plants… maybe untouched."
A pause.
Then he stood and walked toward the window. "If that's true… then it belongs to us."
No hesitation.
The black-clothed man asked, "Do you want them alive?"
The manager thought for a moment and replied, "Preferably. But if needed… it doesn't matter."
Then he continued, already planning ahead. "We won't move immediately. We take four days to prepare, and call a local gang. Send someone to observe first."
The black-clothed man nodded and left.
The decision had already been made.
Back at the store, everything looked normal.
Training had started in the courtyard.
Roma stood to the side, watching.
Riz faced the three and said, "Again."
Kima, Akima, and Arun moved together, still clumsy, their movements easy to read. Riz stepped slightly aside, avoided them effortlessly, and with a small adjustment disrupted all three at once.
"You're too slow," Riz said.
Arun stood up and replied, "No, you're just too fast."
Riz shook his head. "No. You're too obvious."
He pointed at Kima and said, "Before you move, your body already tells everything."
Akima frowned and asked, "Then what should we do?"
"Control," Riz replied.
He demonstrated a step, smooth and quiet, no wasted movement.
"Move without intention showing," he added.
They tried again.
Better.
Still not enough.
Roma watched quietly and thought, They are improving… but too slow.
Arun rushed again and got countered immediately.
"…Why do I feel bullied?" Arun muttered.
"Because you are," Riz replied calmly.
Akima almost laughed, while Kima focused harder this time and showed slight improvement.
Riz nodded. "Better."
In the corner, Lalmin watched everything silently. Something about all this didn't sit right with him. The training, the structure, the discipline—it felt too organized.
Too smooth…
His thoughts drifted again.
These people… they are not normal.
In his mind, the scene changed.
Roma standing in the shadows.
Arun beside him.
Riz calm and cold.
All three laughing like villains.
"Train harder…"
"Become stronger…"
"Serve us…"
"HAHAHAHA…"
Lalmin blinked and shook his head slightly.
"…Still suspicious."
He looked at Kima and Akima again.
The fact that they were getting stronger—
Made him even more uneasy.
Roma glanced at Lalmin for a moment, then looked away.
"Something bothering you?" Roma asked casually.
Lalmin paused, then said, "No… just thinking."
Roma didn't push further.
Above them, the sky was calm.
But somewhere beyond the city—
Things had already started moving.
Four days.
That was all the time left.