The night was silent.
The Chu mansion slept under the pale glow of the moon. From the servants' quarters came the faint sound of snoring, but in one small, dimly lit room, a boy sat cross-legged on the floor.
Lian.
His eyes were closed, his back straight, his breathing calm. A scrap of parchment lay before him, covered in his shaky handwriting—the first chapter of the Essence of Energy manual.
"To step onto the martial path, one must first awaken the Qi Core.
The Qi Core lies three inches below the navel, the Dantian.
Focus the breath. Feel the energy of the body. Guide it inward, until a spark is born."
Lian repeated the words silently, like a prayer.
At first, nothing happened.
He inhaled deeply.
He exhaled slowly.
Minutes turned into an hour. His legs went numb, sweat dripped down his forehead, and still—nothing.
His thoughts wavered. Am I foolish? Can a servant truly hope to do what even nobles struggle with?
But then he remembered Feng's arrogant smile. His father's cold eyes. His mother's weary face.
A surge of stubbornness ignited in his chest.
"No," he whispered. "I will not stop here."
He focused again. This time, he imagined every breath sinking into his lower abdomen, into the place the manual described.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Again.
Again.
Hours passed like this. The candle burned low.
And then—
Thump.
A faint sensation stirred deep within his belly, like a spark struggling to ignite. It was weak, almost imperceptible, but it was real.
Lian's eyes flew open, shining with shock. His body trembled.
"I… I felt it."
His first step.
Exhaustion crashed over him, but he didn't care. His heart pounded with exhilaration. For the first time in his life, the invisible chains on his neck felt lighter.
A whisper echoed in his mind: The path has opened.
Lian clenched his fists, tears stinging the corners of his eyes.
"Father… Chu family… one day, you will see. The servant you despised will stand where you stand. Higher, even."
The candle flickered out, leaving him in darkness. But in that darkness, a boy's unyielding will burned brighter than flame.
✨ End of Chapter 3 ✨