Han Yu continued down the dirt road for nearly an hour before deciding he was far enough from the village to begin testing the Dancing Flame Art properly.
The winding path eventually brought him to a small stream that cut through the landscape like a silver ribbon. Its waters flowed gently over smooth stones and the soft gurgling created a peaceful background hum.
He stepped off the road and descended the shallow slope toward the rocky bank.
The area was open, with very few trees, and the ground was mostly stone and gravel. Even if something went wrong with the flame, there was nothing flammable nearby. And the stream was right at his feet. If the flames became unpredictable, he could easily leap into the water.
"A good place for testing." Han Yu took a slow breath and centered himself.
His spirit qi circulated through his meridians and his mind sharpened. He raised his hand and extended his index finger.
