The forest was quiet except for the occasional rustle of leaves and the soft gurgle of a nearby stream. Li Feng sat cross-legged on the ground, his eyes closed and his breaths steady. Yan Wei's voice echoed in his ears, sharp and unyielding.

"Cultivation isn't about strength. It's about control," she said, pacing behind him like a hawk. "You're not trying to wrestle qi into submission. You're guiding it, like coaxing a stubborn mule. Be too forceful, and it will buck you off."

Li Feng gritted his teeth, trying to follow her instructions. He reached out with his senses, feeling for the faint warmth of qi around him. It was there, just as it had been during his earlier attempts—a gentle current flowing through the air, the earth, even the trees. But each time he tried to draw it in, it slipped through his grasp like water through his fingers.

"Focus," Yan Wei snapped. "Your breathing is uneven. Start over."

He exhaled sharply, frustration bubbling in his chest. "This is impossible. How am I supposed to control something I can't even see?"

Yan Wei crouched beside him, her sharp eyes boring into his. "You think this is hard? Try being a mortal who has to claw their way up without any shortcuts. You've got that fancy mark on your hand giving you a head start, and you're still complaining?"

Her words stung, but they also ignited a spark of determination. Li Feng took a deep breath, centering himself. Slowly, he reached out again, this time with more patience. The warmth of the qi brushed against his senses, and he visualized it flowing into his core like a stream into a pond.

For a moment, he felt it—a faint trickle of energy pooling in his chest. His eyes snapped open, and he looked at Yan Wei with a mixture of awe and excitement.

"I did it!" he exclaimed.

Yan Wei smirked, standing and crossing her arms. "Congratulations. You've taken your first baby step. Don't get cocky. Now you need to learn how to circulate it through your body."

"Circulate it?" Li Feng asked, his excitement waning.

Yan Wei nodded. "Qi is useless if it just sits there. You need to guide it through your meridians—channels in your body that carry energy. If your meridians are blocked or weak, the qi will stagnate, and you'll be no better off than a farmer trying to plow a field with a broken hoe."

Li Feng frowned. "How do I know if my meridians are blocked?"

"You'll feel it," Yan Wei said. "Trust me."

The next phase of his training was even more grueling. Yan Wei had him sit in meditation for hours at a time, guiding the qi through his body while she monitored his progress. At first, it was agonizing. His meridians felt tight and unyielding, like trying to force water through a clogged pipe. But with each session, the process became smoother, and the energy began to flow more freely.

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"Good," Yan Wei said one evening as Li Feng completed his exercise. "Your meridians are opening up. Now we can move on to the next step—strengthening your body."

"Strengthening it how?" Li Feng asked, wiping the sweat from his brow.

"Qi isn't just for flashy techniques," Yan Wei explained. "It can reinforce your muscles, toughen your bones, even sharpen your senses. But that only works if your body is strong enough to handle it. Otherwise, you're like a brittle clay pot trying to hold molten steel."

Her solution was brutal. She pushed Li Feng through rigorous physical training—running, climbing, lifting heavy stones—all while circulating qi through his body. It was exhausting, but he could feel the difference with each passing day. His reflexes grew sharper, his stamina increased, and his strength began to rival that of seasoned villagers.

"You're getting there," Yan Wei said one morning as he hefted a large boulder onto his shoulder. "But don't get complacent. You've only scratched the surface."

One evening, as they rested by the fire, Li Feng couldn't help but voice the question that had been nagging at him.

"Why are you helping me?" he asked, staring into the flames.

Yan Wei didn't answer right away. She poked at the fire with a stick, her expression unreadable. "Maybe I see a bit of myself in you," she said finally. "Or maybe I just like sticking it to the Silver Shadow Sect. Take your pick."

Li Feng frowned. "You used to be part of them, didn't you?"

Yan Wei's grip on the stick tightened, and for a moment, he thought she might lash out. But instead, she sighed and tossed the stick into the fire.

"Yeah," she admitted. "A long time ago. And I regret it every damn day."

She didn't elaborate, and Li Feng didn't press her. But the tension in her voice lingered, a reminder that she carried her own burdens.

Their peace was shattered the next day when a low growl echoed through the forest. Li Feng froze, his senses on high alert.

"Spirit beast," Yan Wei muttered, drawing her blade.

From the shadows emerged a massive boar, its tusks gleaming like ivory. Its eyes glowed with an unnatural light, and its muscles rippled with qi.

"It's just a boar," Li Feng said, trying to steady his nerves.

"It's a spirit beast," Yan Wei corrected. "Stronger, faster, and a hell of a lot meaner than your average animal. Stay back."

The boar charged, its hooves thundering against the ground. Yan Wei met it head-on, her blade flashing in the sunlight. The fight was intense but brief—her movements were precise, each strike weakening the beast until it collapsed with a final, guttural snort.

Li Feng stared in awe. "How did you do that?"

"Years of practice," Yan Wei said, wiping her blade clean. "And a lot of near-death experiences. Don't worry—you'll get there eventually."

She tossed him the boar's tusk, which pulsed faintly with qi. "Here. Spirit beasts' remains are valuable. You'll need these for crafting later."

"Crafting what?" Li Feng asked.

"You'll see," she said with a smirk.

As the days turned into weeks, Li Feng's training continued. He learned to harness qi to enhance his movements, bolster his strength, and sharpen his senses. Yan Wei drilled him relentlessly, pushing him to the brink of exhaustion, but the results were undeniable. He could feel himself growing stronger, not just in body but in spirit.

But the mark on his palm remained a constant reminder of the challenges ahead. It pulsed faintly, as if alive, and Li Feng couldn't shake the feeling that it was leading him toward something.

"What's next?" he asked one evening as they prepared to camp.

Yan Wei smirked, her eyes glinting with mischief. "Next? We find out just how much you've learned."

Before he could ask what she meant, she lunged at him, her blade flashing in the firelight.

"Lesson three: never let your guard down."