"YOU'RE NOT GOOD enough," Lei Bo said, his voice cold and hard. "You need to try harder."
Zhan Sheng felt a surge of frustration, but he knew that Lei Bo was right. He had to keep pushing himself, to control his qi and become the sect leader he was destined to be. How could he become great like his father if he kept getting tripped up by these simple techniques?
The snow continued to fall as they trained, covering the courtyard in a thick blanket of white. The disciples moved with a grace and power that was awe-inspiring, their strikes with qi cutting through the air like knives.
Zhan Sheng felt a sense of pride in being part of the Burning Fire sect, and in learning from the best of the best. And despite Lei Bo's harsh training, he knew that he was getting better every day.
The sun finally began to set over the mountains, and Zhan Sheng collapsed to the ground, his muscles burning with exhaustion. Lei Bo stood over him, his fur coat swirling in the wind. "You have potential," he said, his voice softening. "But you must learn to control your devil's aura. It could be your undoing."
Zhan Sheng nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude for Lei Bo's tough love.
"Lei-ge how did you come here? Where is your own sect?"
Hurt flittered over Lei Bo's features and Zhan Sheng felt like he said something wrong. A few of the disciples that overheard them snickered, their alpha scent souring.
"When one is well-fed and warm, they start thinking of mischief during their free time." One of the disciples chuckled shaking his head.
"Dismissed. All of you," Lei Bo snarled, his hands balled into fists. He left shortly afterward, his black robe flowing in the wind. Zhan Sheng wasn't sure what he said wrong, but a few of the disciples came up to him.
"Don't take it to heart Zhan-gongzi," one of the disciples said. "Wanbei is always prickly regarding his past. Push it from your thoughts."
"Yeah, yeah don't worry Zhan-gongzi."
"Wanbei is always like that."
Zhan Sheng nodded along, but he felt strange and uncomfortable in his heart. He thought about how beautiful Lei Bo was, with his lithe body and striking features, but how sad he always seemed to be. A large part of him wondered about the omega's past and what that would mean going forward. Zhan Sheng walked back inside with his fellow disciples and when he looked over his shoulder, he saw Lei Bo standing on a balcony nearby, their gazes met, and Lei Bo nodded gently. Zhan Sheng's heart lifted, and he vowed no matter what to see Lei Bo smile more.
●
A FEW WEEKS LATER, Zhan Sheng followed Zhan Wei, as they made their way through the forest. The crisp winter air chilled him to the bone, but he knew he couldn't let it show. He was determined to learn how to control his devil's blood, even if it meant braving the cold.
"Here," Zhan Wei said, stopping at a clearing in the forest. "This is where we'll meditate."
Zhan Sheng looked around the clearing, taking in the barren trees and the snow-covered ground. It was a stark contrast to the warmth and comfort of his home. They had agreed to train late at night when everyone was asleep, that way it would lessen their chances of exposure.
Zhan Wei was the sect leader, on top of that, the Burning Fire sect held several delegates from other sects year-round, not to mention the disciples that came here to train. It would cause a whirlwind of trouble if the other sects were to get wind that there was a devil in the midst and has been for a few years.
Zhan Sheng sighed as he sat cross-legged on the frozen ground, staring up at the bright winter moon. At times, he could feel the devil's blood boiling inside him, threatening to burst out of him. It felt like a curse that he had been born with, and one that he had struggled to control his entire life.
"Now, close your eyes," Zhan Wei instructed. "Focus on your breathing. Let everything else fall away."
Zhan Sheng did as he was told, taking deep breaths, and trying to clear his mind. But he couldn't help but feel frustrated. Why was this so difficult? Why couldn't he just control his devil's blood? The midnight winter moon shone down on them, casting an eerie glow over the forest. It was both beautiful and haunting, reminding Zhan Sheng of the darkness within him.
"Good," Zhan Wei said, interrupting his thoughts. "Now, visualize your qi circulating through your body. Feel it flow through your veins, calming your devil's blood."
Zhan Sheng tried to do as his father instructed, but he could feel his frustration building. It was like trying to catch the wind in his hands. He couldn't control it. The calming qi felt like sand slipping between his fingers and suddenly Xing Junwei's face flashed before his eyes mocking him. Zhan Sheng's lips curled, rage sparked within his chest and suddenly, he felt a surge of energy within him, and he gasped as his devil's blood flared to life. He could feel the darkness taking over, and he panicked.
"Father!" he cried out, but Zhan Wei was already by his side, guiding him through the meditation.
"Focus, Shengzi," Zhan Wei said firmly. "You can control this. Breathe."
Zhan Sheng tried to follow his father's instructions, but the darkness within him was overwhelming. It was like trying to fight a raging storm with only a candle. But Zhan Wei was patient, and he knew it would take time for Zhan Sheng to get used to the feeling of his powers. "Keep breathing, Wuhan," he said. "Picture yourself as a calm lake, with the energy flowing through you like a gentle breeze."
"Father!" he cried out. "It hurts! Make it stop!"
Zhan Wei's voice was steady, but there was a hint of concern in it. "Breathe, Shengzi. Focus on your breathing. You can do this."
Zhan Sheng tried to take a deep breath, but the pain was too intense. He felt like he was going to pass out. "I can't! It hurts, father!" he gasped, his eyes filling with tears.
"I know, son. But you must stay focused. You are strong enough to endure this."
Zhan Sheng gritted his teeth and tried to follow his father's instructions, but the pain was too intense. It felt like his blood was boiling inside him, threatening to burst out and consume everything in its path. The cold ground beneath him was uncomfortable, and the wind howled through the trees, making it hard to hear anything else. But as he continued to breathe, he felt a strange calmness come over him, like he was floating in a warm bath instead of sitting in the freezing wilderness. Zhan Sheng nearly collapsed, his little body bowing forward as sweat beaded on his forehead.
"Why is this happening to me?" he moaned, feeling a sense of frustration and hopelessness wash over him like a tidal wave.
Zhan Wei's voice was calm and reassuring. "You were born with a gift. But with that gift comes great responsibility. You must learn to control your powers, or they will control you."
"A gift?" Zhan Sheng asked staring up at him. "Then why does it hurt so much? Why am I trying to hide it? You said devils come from the devil realm, isn't that evil?"
Zhan Wei's lips dragged into a familiar smile. "No, you'll soon understand nothing in this world is truly evil. Just like nothing in this world is truly good."
Zhan Sheng chewed on his bottom lip still not understanding. He spent his whole life with people telling him he was bad, that he was a little demon for his nature and now his father was telling him that it wasn't wrong. If that's the case, why were they hiding? Why not let the four sects know they were devils?
"Father, I don't understand why being a devil is wrong. Why can't I just embrace my true nature?" Zhan Sheng asked, looking up at his father with confusion in his eyes.
"It's not that being a devil is inherently wrong. It's the imbalance of yin and yang energies that can cause harm," Zhan Wei explained patiently.
"Yin and yang energies? What do you mean?" Zhan Sheng asked, intrigued.
"In our world, everything is made up of opposing but complementary forces, like light and dark, hot and cold, and yin and yang," Zhan Wei elaborated. "When these energies are balanced, there is harmony and growth. But when they become imbalanced, there is chaos and destruction."
"So, if I embrace my devil side too much, I'll upset the balance of yin and yang energies?" Zhan Sheng questioned.
"Exactly," Zhan Wei confirmed. "The way of yin and yang is both constructive and destructive, and all things are created and destroyed through this process. By embracing your devil side too much, you risk becoming too destructive and causing harm to yourself and others."
"So, by mediating and cultivating I can balance these two energies out? And no harm to others?"
"Yes," Zhan Wei replied. "You're still young so your devil's blood will be volatile for now, but once we stabilize your core then things will balance themselves out. The devil's realm is much different from the mortal realm, there you are allowed to let your devil's qi run rampant, but here it would be far more destructive. You are also half-mortal, you must understand how important balance is for you. It must be essential to you at all costs."
Zhan Sheng nodded thoughtfully, finally understanding his father's words. "I understand now, father. Thank you for explaining it to me," he said gratefully.
Zhan Wei chuckled, shaking his head. "Of course, but we should head back now. It's late and I'm sure you're tired."
Zhan Wei took his hand and together they walked back inside the sect. Since he was old enough to have his room they parted ways in the hallway, but Zhan Sheng didn't feel the least bit sleepy. He was just about to go to his room when he heard the familiar sound of a pipa being played. Zhan Sheng followed the sound excitedly knowing exactly who it came from.
Lei Bo was sitting on a windowsill, bathed in the soft glow of the moonlight, the notes danced and skipped like a delicate allegretto, while the plucking of the strings was as tender as a lover's caress. His hair almost seem to dance as he looked up at the moon.
Why does Lei Bo's hair always look like it's been swept by the wind, even when there's no wind around?
Is it some kind of sword-fighting secret I don't know about?