It has been three years since I left Ziran Village with Mu Yi and Fan Tu.
Mu Yi is still the same—cheerful and full of energy, as if he never lost his way in life. Fan Tu remains calm, a bit quiet, but always observant. The three of us came from the same place, but now we walk different paths. We were brought to Qinglong Academy, a place we once believed would mark the beginning of something great.
Back then, when we first arrived, I was certain we were being prepared for something significant. The instructors taught us how to kill, how to defeat enemies, and how to survive in battle. I used to think we would become shadow warriors, moving in silence for some unknown purpose. Every training session felt like part of a grand plan. But at some point, that plan began to fade.
There was no longer any pressure to become killers. No more whispers of battles to come. No more secret missions or training in war tactics. All that remained was... training. Day by day, we practiced. I don't know if they gave up on the original idea, or if it was never real to begin with—just a test.
But I'm still here. Still training.
Sometimes I wonder if this path is truly mine. But every time I try to step away from the practice, my body rebels. My breath changes. My hands move on their own, following the rhythm of the world. Every moment, my body responds to both the outer world and my inner one.
The inner realm within me continues to grow.
The Understanding of Water—I can feel it when I walk in the rain or see the morning dew. Every drop holds meaning. Every flow has direction. Water never resists, yet always prevails.
The Understanding of Stillness—when others panic, my breath remains calm. When the world is in chaos, my mind is silent.
The Understanding of Absence—the ability to go unseen, unrecognized, even unnoticed. I am present, and yet, I am not.
The Understanding of Fear—I do not reject fear. I observe it. I explore its deepest roots. From there, I understand people. What they hide, what they avoid. And from that, I learn to control them... and myself.
Now, the Understandings of Sky and Earth are beginning to emerge. The sky offers calmness, vastness, and direction. The earth offers stability, foundation, and a place to stand. These two understandings create balance within me.
I don't know if all of this will ever be useful in war. But I feel as if the world is leading me toward a different destination. Not to become a weapon—but to become... something I do not yet understand.