Master Zi Chen was calmly walking and behind him both Liang and Jún were also following him. Both Liang and Jún were thinking where Master Zi Chen was taking them, especially Jún because from the start he wasn't seemed to be much interested in today's lesson where Master Zi Chen will teach them about restrain.
After some time they arrived infront of a forest, Master Zi Chen stopped and when he stopped behind him both Liang and Jún also stopped.
"We have arrived!" Master Zi Chen said.
Jún was confused when saw the forest, while Liang was patiently looking at those beautiful greenery of the forest.
"Where are we Master?"
Jún asked. Master Zi Chen looked at trees of the forest and answered.
"We are at the Gŭ Shén Lín forest, Jún."
"Gŭ Shén Lín?" Jún asked.
"Yes Jún, Gŭ Shén Lín." Master Zi Chen replied.
"But Master why we are here, we shouldn't be in the forest at all. My mother always warned me from going inside a forest." Jún said.
Master Zi Chen smiled, he made Jún believe by telling him about the specialty of Gŭ Shén Lín forest.
"Jún, you don't worry. This forest is the most ancient forest, here ancient worshippers have came to find knowledge for their ancient scripts. This is the most divine forest, here a person who is always in search of an answer, will get his answer in this forest. The peace of this forest is mesmerizing."
Hearing Master Zi Chen's praise for the Gŭ Shén Lín forest and it's speciality was quite impressive for Liang. However Jún wasn't interested in hearing it's speciality or something about why it is so speacial but Liang was looking very much interested in knowing more about the forest.
"C'mon let's go inside this beautiful forest."
Master Zi Chen said and he walked towards the Gŭ Shén Lín forest with full of enthusiasm, Liang without any fear followed Master Zi Chen into the forest. Jún was hesitant to enter, he was standing still and was thinking whether he should follow them or not.
Master Zi Chen noticed that Jún was not following him, he looked back at Jún and asked.
"Jún! You don't want to come with us?"
Jún startled. He didn't made his decision but uninterested, he finally gave in and joined them.
"I am coming Master."
Jún said, he then joined them and followed Master Zi Chen into the Gŭ Shén Lín forest.
The forest was still not dead, but dignified. Ancient trees arched overhead like temple columns, their leaves whispering secrets as the morning breeze passed through. Shafts of the sunlight pierced the green canopy, falling upon the moss covered floor like blessings from the sky.
Master Zi Chen walked ahead in silence, his robes, swaying gently, the wooden staff tapping the rhythmically against the earth. Behind him followed Liang and Jún ------ opposite in both soul and step.
Jún, proud and impetuous, walked with his chin high and a sword slung across his back. Every movement announced him.
While Liang being Liang, he was calm and alert, he moved like a shadow. Quite, deliberate, watching everything and saying little.
"Today," Master Zi Chen spoke without turning, "you will learn something that no blade can teach."
Neither boy replied but Liang leaned in closer to the weight of his words.
They reached a clearing where, wildflowers grew untamed and the forest widened into stillness. Master Zi Chen turned his face to them, eyes like stone cold unmoved by time or temptation.
"There is a power greater than strength." He said.
"Greater than speed, than skill, than even a magic spell. A force that shapes warriors into legends and kings into peacekeepers."
Liang listened carefully with his hands behind his back. Jún smirked, impatient.
"Seriously Master! I can't understand how could say restrain a force and most importantly why you have brought us here in such a dense forest?" Jún asked. brushing a leaf from his shoudler.
"Jún."
Before a word could sink in, a sudden scream of a shattered the quiet high pitched, human, desperate.
"HELP!"
The scream came from from deeper within the forest. A women voice.
The three of them turned. Then came the sound of crashing brush, panicked footsteps, and the heavy snort of something wild.
Master Zi Chen's eyes narrowed. "Go."
They ran.
Through twisted roots and hanging vines, until they burst into another clearing and saw her.
A women, barefoot and terrified, stumbled backward as massive black bull eyes flaring red with rage, pawed the earth and charged again. Its horns already torn her sleeve. She screamed and fell near a tree, cornered.
The women was helpless and the bull glazing at her, inching forward like a maniac towards her. The women flinched out of fear.
All three Master Zi Chen, Jún and Liang were there. Jún wanted to show off his skills infront of everyone and without wasting any second leapt forward.
"I'll handle it!"
He unsheathed his sword with a flash and charged forward, shouting to draw bull's attention. The big bull turned, lowering his head and lunged towards him.
"JÚN..... STOP!.....!"
Master Zi Chen tried stop Jún but Jún ignored his orders and gone for a duel against the angry bull.
Jún slashed ----- once, twice ----- shallow cuts across the hide. But it only made the bull angrier. Its hooves tore up the earth as it rammed forward. Master Zi Chen wanted to stop Jún but he knew will be dangerous for Jún, so remained silent and didn't distracted Jún.
Jún was fast but not focused. He swung wildly, trying to dominate by force. One wrong step and the bull's shoudler caught him in mid turn, sending him flying.
"AAAAAARRRGGGHHHHH!"
Jún screamed, flying in mid air, he then landed into mud. His royal black robe was now covered in mud.
"Damn it!" He cursed, struggling to rise.
"Stop Jún!" Master Zi Chen called. "By doing this you will make him more angry."
Jún never listened to Master Zi Chen's advice, he stood up and looked into the eye of raging bull, he charged forward to attack the bull with his sword. The bull also charged towards Jún.
"NOOOO.... JÚN!" Master Zi Chen screamed wanted Jún to stop.
Jún and the bull running towards each other. Jún raised his sword in air to attack the bull, the bull lowered his head and before Jún could attack the bull slammed his head into Jún's stomach with full force, sending Jún again flying.
Jún crashed into a tree and fall onto the ground with several bunches of trees falling onto to him as well.
"AARGHH...." Jún was moaning in pain underneath the broken bunches, this time he was seriously hurt.
"JÚN!" Master Zi Chen called, concerned, he goes straight to Jún, to check on him.
Liang watching his brother suffering made him feel concerned about his brother. He didn't liked to see Jún suffering like that. Liang then looked at the raging bull, he walked up and stood right infront of the raging bull.
Master Zi Chen was checking on Jún and suddenly his eyes fell on Liang, who was standing infront of bull. This made Master Zi Chen scared and worried, for him, Liang was a small innocent boy, if the bull attacks him it will life threatening for him.
"LIANG! GET OUT OF THAT BULL'S SIGHT, OTHERWISE HE WILL ATTACK YOU AS WELL."
Liang listened to what Master Zi Chen said but he stood to his ground and looked straight into the bull's eyes without any fear. The raging bull started running at Liang, the women there couldn't see a little boy to be attacked so she flinched away.
"LIANG...." Master Zi Chen screamed helplessly watching Liang standing infront of the raging bull who was lunging at him.