Li Chen awoke before dawn, the chill of the early morning seeping through the thin walls of his small home. He rubbed his eyes, still half-asleep, and tried to shake off the lingering fatigue from yesterday's training. His muscles ached in ways he hadn't known possible, yet the soreness didn't feel like a burden—it felt like proof. Proof that he had taken the first steps toward something greater.
I can't be ordinary anymore, he thought, staring at the faint glimmer of the pendant around his neck. Not after what I felt yesterday. Not after that spark. I have to get stronger… for myself… and… maybe for her.
Her. Yan Yue. He couldn't stop thinking about her. Her smirk, her teasing voice, the way she had moved so effortlessly while he stumbled clumsily beside her. She's strong… intimidating… and yet… there's something about her that makes me want to be better. Faster. Stronger.
Li Chen shook his head. Focus, idiot. She's just another cultivator. I have to train, survive, and awaken my power before worrying about anything else.
By the time the sun began to rise, Li Chen was already at the edge of the forest, waiting for the old man. The courtyard awaited, silent and still under the early light, but the air carried the faint pulse of spiritual energy, the same energy that had ignited his first surge yesterday.
"Good morning, boy," the old man said, appearing seemingly out of nowhere, as if he had grown from the shadows themselves. "Today, we will advance. You have potential, but potential alone does not make a cultivator. Technique, insight, and discipline are required."
Li Chen nodded, gripping the pendant tightly. Insight… discipline…I'll do my best. I can't fail. Not now. Not when I've already tasted power.
The old man gestured toward the clearing. "You will practice controlling your Qi through movement. Coordination of body and spirit is essential. Observe the flow of energy in your surroundings. Let it guide you. Let it teach you."
Li Chen stepped into the courtyard, trying to ignore the flutter of nerves in his stomach. Every shadow, every gust of wind seemed to hum with potential danger. He flexed his fingers, feeling the faint thrum of Qi coursing through him, hesitant but alive.
He took a deep breath and began. Step by step, he moved. Each footfall, each motion of his arms, he tried to harmonize with the energy around him. Sparks flickered occasionally from the pendant, guiding him, reacting to his focus. And yet… it was frustratingly difficult. His body refused certain movements, his Qi sputtered, and a wave of self-doubt crept into his mind.
Am I really cut out for this? he thought, sweat dripping into his eyes. I'm just a farm boy. Everyone else here… they probably have years of practice. I'll embarrass myself.
Before panic could settle in, a voice cut through his thoughts.
"Li Chen! Stop overthinking!" the old man barked, though there was amusement in his eyes. "Qi is not a problem to solve with logic. It is a river. You feel it. You flow with it. You do not control it—you harmonize."
Li Chen clenched his fists. "Flow… harmonize… okay, I can do this."
He closed his eyes again, trying to let go of all conscious thought. The pendant pulsed warmly against his chest, its light faint but steady, and suddenly, a flicker of understanding flashed in his mind. Qi wasn't something he had to force. It wasn't about strength. It was about rhythm, balance, and awareness.
He opened his eyes, and for the first time, he felt a subtle difference. His movements were smoother, more fluid. Each step seemed lighter, his strikes more precise. He tested it by swinging his fists toward the air, and sparks of energy danced along his arms—not destructive, but enough to show progress.
Yes… I'm improving, he thought, a grin spreading across his face. I can do this. I can really do this.
Hours passed, the morning turning into afternoon. Li Chen's body was exhausted, yet he pressed on, guided by the old man's steady instructions and the faint warmth of the pendant. Every time his thoughts drifted to Yan Yue, he caught himself blushing. She was strong, confident, and… she makes me want to get better.
Don't think about that now, he scolded himself silently. Focus. Survival. Cultivation. Everything else comes later.
By mid-afternoon, the old man nodded in approval. "Enough for today. You have taken your first steps in understanding Qi. But remember, control is not mastery. You must continue to refine your body and spirit. Challenges will come—sometimes from rivals, sometimes from unexpected sources. Never let your guard down."
Li Chen wiped the sweat from his brow and exhaled, a mixture of relief and exhilaration filling him. I've never felt so alive…
As he began to leave the courtyard, Yan Yue appeared, sitting cross-legged on a nearby stone, her staff resting across her lap.
"Not bad," she said, smirking. "I can see some improvement. But you still move like a clumsy ox most of the time."
Li Chen rolled his eyes, though he couldn't suppress a small smile. "I'll get there. You'll see. I won't embarrass myself forever."
Yan Yue tilted her head, eyes glinting with amusement. "We'll see. Maybe one day, you'll be worth sparring with."
Li Chen's chest tightened at her words. Worth sparring with… maybe that's enough for now.
As night fell, Li Chen returned home, exhausted but satisfied. He laid on his straw mat, staring at the ceiling. Thoughts swirled in his mind: his progress, the old man's teachings, Yan Yue, and the strange flutter of warmth whenever he touched the pendant.
Why does the pendant feel alive? he wondered. Is it… really guiding me?
Before he could ponder further, a sudden sound made him freeze. Footsteps—soft, deliberate, and too calculated to be a villager. He sat up, heart racing, and reached instinctively for the pendant.
No one should be here… he thought, panic creeping in. I'm just an ordinary boy! I can't fight anyone yet!
The footsteps grew closer. A shadow detached itself from the edge of the courtyard. Tall, cloaked, silent. Eyes gleamed under the hood, watching him with unnerving intensity. Li Chen's fingers tightened around the pendant, a surge of heat pulsing through his body.
"Who's there?" he demanded, though his voice wavered.
The figure remained silent, tilting its head slightly. Then, a faint, almost mocking chuckle echoed through the night air.
This… this is bad, Li Chen thought, adrenaline flooding his veins. I haven't even mastered my Qi yet… and someone is watching me. What do they want?
He gritted his teeth, determination settling in despite the fear. I won't run. Not now. Not when I've already begun. If they want a fight… I'll do my best. I have to survive.
The cloaked figure stepped closer, the faint shimmer of Qi detectable in the air. The pendant burned hotter against Li Chen's chest, reacting to the presence. Then, in a voice both smooth and chilling, the stranger spoke:
"Li Chen… the path you've just begun will be filled with fire, blood, and betrayal. Are you ready to face it?"
Li Chen swallowed, heart hammering. I… I have no choice now…