Li Feng barely had time to react as Yan Wei's blade cut through the air. The sharp ring of metal filled his ears, and instinct took over—he stumbled backward, raising his arms in a feeble attempt to defend himself.

"Pathetic," Yan Wei said, her movements a blur. With a flick of her wrist, she redirected her strike, the flat of her blade slapping against his side. Li Feng yelped, clutching his ribs as he fell to the ground.

"Get up," she commanded, her voice as sharp as her blade. "If you can't even dodge, you'll be dead before the week's out."

Li Feng gritted his teeth, his pride stinging more than his side. "What's the point of this?" he snapped, pushing himself to his feet. "I agreed to learn from you, not to be your punching bag."

Yan Wei snorted, resting her blade on her shoulder. "Lesson two: the world doesn't care what you think is fair. If you want to survive, you fight. You adapt. Or you die."

Her words struck a chord, and Li Feng's anger gave way to a cold realization. She was right. The Silver Shadow Sect wouldn't wait for him to get stronger—they would hunt him down, and if he wasn't ready, he'd end up as nothing more than a footnote in their conquest.

"Fine," he said, his voice steady. "Let's try again."

This time, when Yan Wei lunged, Li Feng focused on her movements. Her strikes were fast but deliberate, each one designed to test his reflexes. He dodged clumsily, the tip of her blade grazing his sleeve, but he managed to stay on his feet.

"Better," she said, circling him like a predator. "But not good enough."

The training continued for what felt like hours. Yan Wei didn't hold back, pushing Li Feng to his limits with each exchange. By the time she finally lowered her blade, his body was battered, his breath coming in ragged gasps.

"Not bad," she said, tossing him a waterskin. "You've got potential, but potential doesn't mean much without discipline."

Li Feng gulped down the water, his mind racing. Despite the exhaustion, he felt a spark of determination. He had never thought of himself as strong or capable, but something about Yan Wei's relentless approach stirred something inside him—a flicker of hope.

"Now," Yan Wei said, sitting cross-legged beneath a tree, "let's talk about that mark."

Li Feng glanced at his palm, where the glowing symbol pulsed faintly. "What is it?"

Yan Wei frowned, her expression uncharacteristically serious. "That's what I'd like to know. It's not like anything I've seen before, but I can tell you this much: it's amplifying your qi. Normally, someone at your level wouldn't even be able to sense qi, let alone absorb it. That mark is acting like a beacon, pulling energy into you whether you want it or not."

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Li Feng's brow furrowed. "Is that a bad thing?"

"It depends," Yan Wei said, leaning back against the tree. "On one hand, it's giving you a massive head start. On the other, it's dangerous. Qi isn't something you can just stuff into your body without consequence. Without proper control, you're like a dam with too much water—eventually, you'll break."

Her words sent a chill down his spine. "So what do I do?"

Yan Wei grinned, the sharpness returning to her gaze. "That's the fun part. You're going to learn how to guide qi, control it, and use it to strengthen your body. It won't be easy, and it definitely won't be quick. But if you listen to me, you might just survive."

The next morning, the training began in earnest. Yan Wei led Li Feng to a secluded part of the forest, where the air was thick with qi.

"Sit," she instructed, gesturing to a patch of mossy ground.

Li Feng obeyed, crossing his legs and placing his hands on his knees.

"Close your eyes," Yan Wei said. "Breathe slowly. Feel the energy around you. It's like a current, flowing through the air. Don't force it—just observe."

Li Feng took a deep breath, his mind buzzing with skepticism. How was he supposed to "feel" qi when he didn't even know what it was? But as he sat there, the world around him seemed to shift. The rustling of leaves grew sharper, the chirping of birds clearer. A faint warmth brushed against his skin, subtle but undeniable.

"That's it," Yan Wei said, her voice softer now. "You're starting to sense it. The qi around us is everywhere—in the air, the earth, even the trees. Now, focus on drawing it in. Imagine it flowing into you, filling your core."

Li Feng furrowed his brow, concentrating. The warmth grew stronger, gathering around him like a gentle breeze. Slowly, hesitantly, he guided it inward, feeling it pool in his chest.

A sudden jolt of pain snapped him out of his trance. He gasped, clutching his chest as the warmth turned into a searing heat.

"Stop!" Yan Wei barked, rushing to his side. She placed a hand on his back, her qi flowing into him like a calming river. The pain subsided, leaving him shaking and pale.

"What… what happened?" he stammered.

"You were pulling in too much qi," Yan Wei said, her tone harsh. "I told you not to force it. That mark of yours is like a magnet—it amplifies everything you do. If you're not careful, it'll overwhelm you."

Li Feng nodded, his fear mingling with frustration. "How am I supposed to control it?"

"Practice," Yan Wei said simply. "You're trying to sprint before you can walk. Cultivation is about balance, not brute force. Learn to harmonize with the qi, and it will obey you. Fight it, and it'll destroy you."

As the days passed, Li Feng's training continued. Yan Wei's methods were grueling, combining meditation with physical exercises designed to build his endurance and focus. She pushed him to his limits, but each day he felt himself growing stronger, more attuned to the energy around him.

But the wilderness was not without its dangers. One evening, as they prepared to camp near a stream, a low growl echoed through the trees.

"Spirit beasts," Yan Wei muttered, drawing her blade. "Stay behind me."

A pair of glowing eyes emerged from the shadows, followed by a hulking wolf-like creature. Its fur shimmered with a faint blue light, and its fangs gleamed like polished ivory.

Yan Wei stepped forward, her stance relaxed but poised. "Watch and learn," she said, a smirk tugging at her lips.

The beast lunged, and Yan Wei met it head-on, her blade flashing in the moonlight. The fight was over in seconds, the beast collapsing with a final, guttural growl.

Li Feng stared, equal parts awed and terrified. "How… how did you do that?"

"Experience," Yan Wei said, wiping her blade clean. "And a lot of practice. Don't worry, kid—you'll get there. Someday."

As they settled in for the night, Li Feng couldn't help but wonder if he would ever reach her level. The road ahead seemed impossibly long, but for the first time, he felt a spark of hope. He wasn't alone anymore.