As Kailin continued to sense Qi, he began to discover new dimensions of this energy. There were brief but deeply felt moments in which he felt as if he were part of the very impulses of the Earth. These little bursts of energy crept into his body, filling him not only to give him physical strength but also as if they were adding something special to his soul—something he had not yet understood.
He closed his eyes further, trying to plunge into this growing feeling, flowing into a calm river. He felt as if every breath he took deepened his connection with the world, making him more in tune with everything that surrounded him. The air around him carried calm breezes, as if nature itself recognized his existence and whispered to him. He realized that Qi is not just an "energy" that he seeks to control; it is a means of communication, a link that unites him with the Earth, the air, the trees, and nature itself.
His thoughts began to swim in his consciousness, and he wondered to himself, "Is this what my father meant by wisdom? To understand that I am not alone, but part of this whole." His father always told him that true strength comes not only from physical power but from understanding the nature of the universe and merging with it. And here he was now, feeling that truth deeply, as if he were learning an old secret that had remained hidden from him.
At that moment, Kailin felt something else: a faint but more pronounced push, as if the Qi itself was rushing through his body to tell him something. This feeling was more like an internal pulse, creeping into his heart and filling his chest with unfamiliar warmth. While he was immersed in this feeling, the leaves of the trees outside began to sway lightly, as if responding to his growing sensation, as if nature around him sensed what he was experiencing.
"This is… different," he whispered to himself in amazement. The energy was stronger than ever, as if it were coming to tell him that there were latent abilities inside him waiting for someone to use them wisely. And with these feelings, Kailin began to think about his abilities in a different way. What if he truly had a unique talent? He had always doubted himself, but this new sensation gave him a boost of confidence that he had never felt before. Maybe he was not a failure; maybe he was not as brilliant as some, but now he realized that his talent needed patience and time to manifest. For the first time, he felt that this kind of slow progress might be an advantage, not a disadvantage.
Reviewing his long coaching career, Kailin recalled moments of frustration, when it seemed all his efforts had borne no fruit. But now, at this moment, he felt that every moment spent in training had led him to this point. He realized that training alone, without guidance or protection, was a different challenge but also an opportunity to understand his own strength.
He took a final breath, filled with the confidence that had been lacking in his previous days. He felt something strange, as if the energy he had absorbed began to circulate inside his body, traveling through his channels and settling in the dantian peacefully. This energy was building inside him, as if waiting for the moment of its use.
Kailin smiled to himself, but it was not an ordinary smile. It was a smile of gratitude and discovery. This deep connection with Qi made him realize that he was experiencing something deeper than just gaining strength; he was crossing a portal to a new world, where nature was not just a silent background for his life but a living entity pulsating with wisdom and strength. He felt as if the world itself recognized his existence and was giving him a piece of itself.
As the Qi continued to flow through his body, Kailin felt more aware of his body and the energy circulating within him. He began to notice the paths of energy as if they were faint channels of light, stretching from his fingertips to the depths of his heart. These channels, which they called "meridians," were more like a tangled network, regularly transmitting Qi through his body. With each pulse, the Qi flowed like a warm current, filling him with strength. As this current flowed, he felt it penetrating into the cells of his body, renewing, strengthening, and cleansing them.
He took another breath, trying to deepen this feeling, and focused on his energy center, the "dantian," in his lower abdomen. He imagined that Qi was gathering there, condensing like a clear lake in the depths of his soul. Whenever this lake filled, he felt a stronger connection with the world, as if his soul was taking root in the Earth and rising to heaven simultaneously.
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Suddenly, he began to feel a slight trembling inside. It was like a faint pulse, as if the energy in the dantian was trying to tell him something. That feeling resembled an inner dialogue, but it was not speech or language; it was more like a deep feeling, a dormant voice within him saying, "You are part of this universe, and the energy flowing in you is an extension of your soul, an extension of the world itself."
He felt a sense of amazement and awe. For the first time, he realized that Qi is not something that can be controlled like a sword or a shield; it is more like a quiet communication, a silent understanding between him and everything around him. It was not just a means of gaining strength, but a link that made him feel united with the very universe. At that moment, he understood his father's words: that power does not come from imposing control, but from harmony, from being part of a larger system.
A tranquility flooded his heart, as if his body and soul had shed the burdens of doubt he had carried for years. He finally realized that his talent was not something outwardly loud as he had imagined. He was not one of those who suddenly burst forth with force; his talent was gradualness, a slow and deep growth resembling the growth of underground roots—visible but strong and firm.
He took another, deeper breath, trying to absorb all these new emotions. With each breath, he felt as if the world were opening its arms to him, inviting him to become a part of it, not by force but through identification and understanding. He began to see in his mind images of everything he had learned from his father, how every word and piece of advice was not just instructions but hidden messages preparing him for this moment—to become connected to the world around him without losing his identity.
Then, while he was immersed in this deep stillness, he felt the dantian inside him sending out small bursts of Qi, pulsating softly and deeply, as if training his body to receive and store this energy. Each splash was like a drop of water falling into a calm lake, a small wave spreading all over his body, making him feel warm and peaceful.
He whispered to himself, "This energy is not just a force… it is a part of me, of my being." He was not trying to control it; he was letting it flow freely into him, accepting it as part of himself. He felt that this journey he had begun was not only towards acquiring a skill but was also a search for himself, for his place in this universe, for the balance between his inner strength and the nature around him.
When he finished meditating, he slowly opened his eyes, trying to return to reality. But he was no longer the same person who had started meditating moments ago. He carried within him a feeling of deep connection with everything: with the village land on which he grew up, with the trees that surrounded it, and with the wind that carried the sound of nature. This was the beginning, the start of his journey toward strength that was not just physical but one that lay in understanding, communication, and balance.
Kailin continued to sit, staring into the void in front of him, while feelings of surprise and reassurance still permeated him. His thoughts were like silent paintings in front of his eyes, bearing images of his future, of his skills that would grow, and of the life he would build for himself and the people of his village. He knew now, with a clarity he had never felt before, that his strength would not come from speed or violence, but from deep patience and a hidden connection with the world.
But while he was immersed in those deep sensations, a strange feeling crept into his heart. It was more like a cold shadow passing over the warmth of the Qi that filled him. He was possessed by a slight sense of danger, as if something unknown lurked at the edges of his consciousness—distant but present. He closed his eyes again, trying to sense the source of this feeling, but all he found was a faint echo, as if the forest around him whispered an indistinct warning.
"Is this part of Qi?" Kailin wondered in a faint voice. But there was a part of him that rejected that explanation. This sensation was nothing like the natural energy he had just experienced. It was more like a strange pulse, a separate entity, as if a hidden eye was watching him.
Soon, he noticed something strange. Looking out of his window, he was surprised to see the moon hanging in the sky, scattering its silver light over the village and the forest that now seemed to be shrouded in the dense shadows of the night. The room was dark, interspersed with faint rays of moonlight, and he took a moment to absorb what had happened.
"No way…" he whispered to himself in amazement. He had returned home with his father, and it was the middle of the day; the sun was clearly illuminating the village. But now, without realizing it, he found himself surrounded by the darkness of night.
Kailin felt a bit confused. He was sure he had only spent a few moments absorbed in his meditation; however, the night had come, and the day had passed without his awareness of its passage. He was overwhelmed by a mysterious awe, as if this experience had taken away his sense of time, or perhaps the Qi, with its deep power, had taken him on a journey beyond what he imagined.
He thought of his father's words echoing in his mind like a distant echo: "Real challenges come not only from within but from outside, from the unknown that you cannot see." Kailin realized that his journey toward power would not just be a path toward developing his skills but a battle with forces that he might not yet understand.
Despite this, he did not feel fear. On the contrary, inside him was a passion and a desire for confrontation, as if this mysterious warning were nothing but an invitation to set off into the unknown, to discover what awaited him in the shadows. He gathered his strength and stood up slowly, sensing the ground under his feet, feeling that he now possessed a strength he had never had before—a strength that was not in his muscles or in his weapon, but in his soul that connected with the world.
He whispered to himself, with a slight defiant smile on his face, "I'm not going to run away. I will face everything that comes my way. It has started now, and there is no turning back."