A distant sound of music wafted up the stairs and roused me from my slumber. My mind was immediately befuddled as I sat up in bed and rubbed the sleep from my eyes. Peering out the window, it met with the inky blackness of a night that had already fallen.

A heavy sigh escaped my lips as I settled into a cross-legged position, determined to calm my mind and clear my thoughts. Reciting the divine water sutra, I began to circulate Qi and focus on my breathing. Before long, a sense of serenity washed over me and I felt myself growing calmer by the moment.

As I breathed deeply and exhaled, my mind became crystal clear and I was able to see everything around me with newfound clarity. My thoughts flowed freely, unencumbered by any lingering sense of unease or confusion. With my mind now completely calm and my thoughts unfettered, I turned my attention inward and focused on refining my Qi. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, feeling the energy coursing through my body like a river flowing unimpeded.

With each inhalation, I drew in the pure essence of the world around me, allowing it to merge with my own Qi and become one. As I exhaled, I felt a sense of release, expelling any negative energy or emotions that might have been lingering within me.

With each cycle of breathing, I felt myself growing stronger and more focused, honing my Qi to a razor-sharp point. I could sense the power building within me, a sense of energy that was almost tangible.

For what seemed like hours, I sat there, lost in my own inner world, my mind and body completely focused on the cultivation and refinement of my Qi. My Qi flowed smoothly like a stream of calm river through my body cleansing it, strengthening it, calming it, and nourishing it, helping me to attain greater control over it. I continue this cycle gathering refining and circulating my qi throughout my system, allowing it to flow smoothly into every part of my body, and strengthen my internal organs, muscles, and veins, giving them the same qualities as those used by my martial arts training and practicing techniques. As I focused on gathering my Qi, I directed it towards my dantian - a focal point located three finger widths below my navel. This is where my Qi would be stored, ready to be used in combat or for healing purposes.

The concept of dantian is central to the practice of Qi cultivation. It is believed that the dantian is the place where Qi is stored and can be harnessed for physical, emotional, and spiritual purposes. Through years of practice and meditation, I learned to sense the energy in my dantian and use it to enhance my martial arts skills and overall health.

As I gathered my Qi, I felt it flowing towards my dantian, like a stream of water being directed towards a reservoir. With each breath, the energy grew stronger, filling me with a sense of vitality and power.

When I finally reached the end of my Qi cultivation practice, I could feel the energy pulsing within me, strong and vibrant. Suddenly,

KNOCK! KNOCK!

I was startled by two sharp knocks at my door, disrupting my cultivation practice. My eyes flew open and my mind snapped back to reality. The sudden disturbance caused my calm Qi to turn turbid, and that, in turn, caused it to go on a rampage in my body, causing great pain and internal injuries.

I gasped as the energy within me turned chaotic, and my muscles and organs felt like they were being ripped apart. I doubled over in pain, clutching my stomach as I tried to regain control over my Qi. But it was too late. The damage had been done, and I could feel the effects of the disrupted Qi flow throughout my body.

I tried to focus on my breathing, to calm my mind, and redirect the flow of energy, but the pain was too intense. I could feel my body writhing in agony as the energy within me continued to spiral out of control.

Tears streamed down my face as I struggled to maintain my composure, but it was a losing battle. The pain was too great, and my body was starting to shut down. I knew that if I didn't do something soon, the damage would be irreparable.

Summoning all the strength I had left, I fetched a healing pill from the ring and quickly ate it, before collapsing onto the mattress beside me. I closed my eyes and took several deep breaths to try and restore my energy. After a few seconds, The pain began to subside and I opened my eyes slightly, finding no trace of pain. Looking down, I looked inside to find no damage from my mishap anywhere. I relaxed slightly, glad that my injury had not resulted in permanent damage. After getting dressed, I angrily marched toward the door, ready to make sure whoever had knocked on my door would pay the price.

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Opening the door sharply, I was startled to find Before me Chen Hua and a tall, handsome young man struggling to control an energetic little girl. The woman who had shown me to my room was standing behind them, her eyes fixed on them with an intense glare. But my anger dissipated as I looked out of the window and saw that the sun had finally risen. A smile spread across my face, and I turned back to the trio in front of me.

"Come in!" I called out, smiling at them warmly. I turned to the woman and asked, "If it wouldn't be too much trouble, could you send something up for the three of us to eat?"

"Yes, of course, young master," she replied with a bow before heading off downstairs.

"Thank you, miss," I called after her. Turning back to the duo in front of me, I smiled and gestured for them to sit. "Good morning," I greeted them. "So, you are the great brother of Chen Hua?" I asked the tall young man, who looked amused.

"Yes, I am," he answered, sitting down. "Well, it is nice to meet you then," I said, placing my hands on my lap and looking at him carefully. He was strikingly handsome, with dark hair curling gently around his face, hazel eyes that sparkled with intelligence and gentleness, and a smooth, fair complexion. He stood well over six feet tall, with a ruggedly masculine nose and jawline, yet his mouth was thin and straight, his teeth white and sharp. His eyes held an element of steel, as if hidden underneath he held the strength of a lion.

Chen Hua, on the other hand, was the complete opposite of him. She wore a simple white dress with a bright red apron tied around her waist, and her hair was pulled neatly into a bun atop her head. Her skin glowed like the moon, and her eyes sparkled with love for her elder brother. I watched them closely, feeling a pang of jealousy as I wondered what it would be like to have such loving companions by my side.

Thankfully my melancholy thoughts were disturbed by another knock

"Young, master, Your food is here" a voice called out,

I quickly rose up and made my way to the door and opened it a man dressed in coarse cotton clothes and carrying a large tray with food in it, walked inside. Setting the tray upon the table, he bowed before me saying, "Master." He then turned to me and bowed and existed in such a fast speed that I did not even have time to react. I watched him leave, still feeling confused and surprised. "Right, Thank you," I said to no one in particular grabbing a piece of roasted pork chop. As I began to chew the succulent meat, I was suddenly engulfed by a vision. I saw the life of a happy pig, running free in a lush meadow with his brothers and sisters. The sun was shining down on them, and they were all playing and frolicking without a care in the world. But then the vision turned dark and the same pig was being chased and hunted by humans with sharp knives. The pig experienced the same fear and trauma that I could feel myself, and in the end, he collapsed on the ground, tears and fear in his eyes.

I dropped the pork chop, my hands shaking as I collapsed onto the ground in tears and fear. Chen Hua and her brother rushed to my side, surrounding me in confusion and concern. I couldn't explain what had just happened, but I knew that I never wanted to eat meat again. The image of the pig's death was seared into my mind, and I knew that I could never forget it.

Chen Hua's brother gently lifted me up and led me to a nearby couch, where he sat with me, holding my hand and murmuring words of comfort. Chen Hua brought me a glass of water, which I drank gratefully, feeling the cool liquid soothe my parched throat.

As I regained my composure, I looked up at the two siblings, my eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you," I whispered.

What the fuck had just happened? What the fuck was that? what the fuck did I just see? That was fucking terrifying...that was scary...and that wasn't all....what was happening now? How the fuck do I know what to do with this stuff? i can barely process what was going through my brain right now and there's more shit coming my way........the fuck Should I do?? As I sat there, my mind was reeling with confusion and questions. What had just happened to me? Why was I suddenly overwhelmed by this vision? And why did it affect me so deeply?

I looked at Chen Hua's brother, searching for some kind of answer. "Do you know what just happened to me?" I asked him, my voice trembling slightly.

He looked at me with concern, his expression grave. "I don't know," he said slowly. "But it seems like Young Master has gone into shock, and we should you to a doctor to figure out what exactly happened," he suggested, trying to sound encouraging and optimistic, despite the obvious sadness that showed in his eyes. I nodded hesitantly in agreement, and he helped me stand up. Together, we headed for the entrance hall. We exited the room, leaving the door open as we went outside. I felt numb; a numbness that I had come to recognize over the years. The silence of the cold morning air surrounded me, numbing me to whatever emotions I currently felt.