The forest stretched endlessly around them, a sea of towering pines and twisting roots that seemed to close tighter with every step. For days, Madam Chen and Li Wei pressed onward, avoiding towns, surviving on herbs and stream water. Yet despite the hardship, Li Wei felt something stirring within him. Each breath seemed deeper, each step more grounded, as though the earth itself lent him strength.
But his mother's face grew paler with each passing day. She bore her fatigue in silence, but Li Wei noticed the tremble in her hands, the way she winced when she thought he wasn't looking. The burden of flight was wearing her down.
One night, as the stars shimmered above, Li Wei turned to her. "Mother, I don't want to keep running. If we run forever, they will never stop chasing us. I need to fight."
Her eyes widened, and for a moment, fear cracked her weary resolve. "No, Li Wei. You are still a child. To fight them is to throw yourself into a storm you cannot withstand."
"But I can feel it," Li Wei pressed, his voice strong. "The river of qi inside me. Teacher Zhao said it flows through all things. I touched it once, I can touch it again. If I learn to control it, I can protect us."
Madam Chen's heart ached at his words. He spoke not as a boy, but as one already forced to bear the weight of destiny. Tears stung her eyes, but she nodded slowly. "Then you must learn. But promise me, Li Wei promise me you will never let hatred consume you."
"I promise," he said, though deep inside, the memory of fire and Zhao's sacrifice burned like a coal he could not put out.
The next morning, they found themselves on a hidden mountain path. Moss clung to the stones, and mist wove through the trees. As they walked, a sudden rustling ahead made them freeze. From the fog emerged a figure clad in gray robes, his long beard flowing, a bamboo staff in hand. His presence carried no malice, only calm.
"Travelers," the man greeted, his voice deep and steady. "You seem far from home. What brings you to these mountains?"
Madam Chen stiffened, instinctively pulling Li Wei behind her. But Li Wei stepped forward, sensing no ill will. "We are… searching," he said carefully.
The man's eyes lingered on him, sharp and discerning. "Ah. Searching, indeed. The heavens leave their mark clearly."
Madam Chen's heart raced. "Who are you?"
The man smiled faintly. "A hermit, nothing more. My name is Elder Yun. I wander these mountains to study the patterns of qi in nature. And yet, fate often places those in need upon my path."
Li Wei met his gaze without fear. Something about the old man's aura reminded him of Zhao calm, rooted, but carrying hidden strength. "Can you teach me?" he asked suddenly.
Madam Chen gasped. "Li Wei!"
But Elder Yun only stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Teach you? Hm. The heavens have already chosen you as their student. But know this: cultivation is not a weapon for vengeance. It is the art of aligning with the Dao the great way that flows through all existence. Only those who can master themselves may hope to master power."
Li Wei bowed deeply. "I will learn. Please."
Elder Yun studied him for a long moment, then nodded. "Very well. But know this, child: your path will not be easy. You carry a burden that will attract wolves from every shadow. If you falter, you may bring ruin to those you love. Still, if you choose to walk forward… I will guide your first steps."
Madam Chen's relief was mixed with dread. She wanted safety for her son, not the dangers of cultivation. But she also knew there was no safety left. Only strength could carve them a place in this world.
Training under Elder Yun began that very night. He led Li Wei to a clearing where moonlight spilled like silver across the grass. "Sit," he instructed.
Li Wei obeyed, crossing his legs, straightening his back.
"Close your eyes. Breathe. Inhale the earth, exhale the sky. Feel the rhythm of your body. Do not chase qi, invite it. It is like a wild bird. If you grasp too hard, it will flee. But if you sit still, it may land upon your hand."
At first, Li Wei felt nothing but his own restless heartbeat. But as minutes passed, his breath slowed, his mind steadied. The world around him sharpened... the whisper of the leaves, the pulse of the earth, the hum in the air. And then… warmth. A trickle of energy slid into him, flowing with his breath, filling his chest with light.
His eyes shot open, glowing faintly in the moonlight.
Elder Yun nodded. "Good. Very good. You have talent. But remember qi is not yours to command. You borrow from heaven and earth. Use it wrongly, and it will consume you."
Days passed in the mountains. Elder Yun taught Li Wei how to root himself like a pine, how to let qi flow through his meridians without force. He guided his hands through forms that mimicked flowing water, burning flame, drifting wind. Slowly, the boy's movements grew steadier, his aura sharper.
But cultivation was not only practice it was trial. Elder Yun sent Li Wei to fetch water from a distant spring, to meditate on cliffs where the wind threatened to topple him, to walk barefoot through thorn paths without complaint. Each hardship tested not his strength, but his will.
Li Wei never faltered. His promise to his mother, his vow to Zhao, his oath to the heavens they burned in him like fire.
Yet the storm outside grew darker. Sect scouts spread rumors of a child born under a blazing star. In distant cities, nobles whispered of the boy who repelled men with a burst of qi. Some wanted him captured, others killed. To them, he was either a weapon to wield or a threat to eliminate.
One night, as Li Wei meditated, Elder Yun spoke quietly to Madam Chen. "Your son walks a dangerous road. He may rise high, but each step will draw more enemies. You must be prepared for sacrifice."
Madam Chen's eyes filled with tears. "I have sacrificed everything already. If I must give my life for his, I will. But promise me, Elder Yun promise me he will not walk alone."
The old man bowed his head. "As long as I draw breath, he will not."
The first true test came sooner than expected. Scouts found their trail, and armed men entered the mountain path under cover of night. Elder Yun sensed them first. "Li Wei," he said, his voice calm, "your training begins now. Stand, and do not yield."
The attackers burst from the shadows, blades flashing. Madam Chen screamed, rushing to shield her son, but Elder Yun raised his staff, sweeping the ground with a surge of qi that sent the first wave sprawling.
"Remember your breath," Yun commanded. "Anchor yourself. Flow with the river!"
Li Wei's heart raced, but he steadied himself. He felt qi gather within him, rushing through his veins. As a man lunged, he exhaled sharply, releasing a burst of force. The ground quivered, knocking the attacker off his feet.
The boy's chest heaved, but his eyes burned with resolve.
For the first time, Li Wei had not just touched qi he had wielded it.
The wolves had come for him, and though he still trembled, the fire of rebellion had been lit.