The days turned into weeks as Li Wei delved deeper into the world of the martial arts created by Lung Shen, the enigmatic dragon. The training regimen was intense, focused on building the boy's physical attributes and forging his body into a weapon.
Each morning, Li Wei would sneak out of his home, ensuring his mother and sister remained in blissful ignorance of his rigorous endeavors. The dragon was unrelenting, its approach reminiscent of a stern master.
"Again," Lung Shen's voice echoed through the forest as Li Wei attempted another set of push-ups, his arms trembling with exhaustion.
Li Wei gritted his teeth and pushed through the pain, determined to meet the dragon's high expectations. Each day, he faced grueling routines that tested his strength and endurance. A hundred push-ups, a hundred pull-ups on the tree branch, a hundred crunches, a hundred squats, and a ten-kilometer run became the new normal.
The dragon pushed him beyond his limits, demanding perfection in every move. Lung Shen was not a patient teacher, and its training was unforgiving. Li Wei was often left gasping for breath, his muscles on fire, and his body pushed to the brink.
But as the weeks passed, Li Wei's body began to adapt to the rigorous regime. The dragon's unwavering guidance and stern discipline were molding him into something more than a simple village boy.
The dragon's emerald eyes held a mixture of pride and scrutiny as they observed the boy's progress. It was as if Lung Shen saw the potential within Li Wei, waiting to be fully harnessed.
While Li Wei trained relentlessly in the moonlit forest, his mother began to wonder about her son's absence. He would return home late, his clothes drenched in sweat, his body aching, and his appetite ravenous. She couldn't fathom where he disappeared to every day, and it filled her with concern.
"Li Wei," she inquired one evening as she ladled a simple meal onto his plate, "where have you been spending your days?"
Li Wei hesitated for a moment, his eyes darting around the room as if searching for an answer. "I've been... exploring the forest, Mother. I've found some interesting places to visit."
His mother's brow furrowed with worry, but she decided not to press further. She simply patted his head and said, "Just be careful, my son. The forest can be a mysterious and dangerous place."
Li Wei nodded, his mind filled with a mix of excitement and determination.
On one of the restful days during their training, Li Wei approached Lung Shen and settled down beside the dragon. He gazed at his enigmatic master and ventured to ask a question that had been lingering in his mind.
"Master," Li Wei began hesitantly, "were you sealed in that box?"
Lung Shen's emerald eyes held a hint of contemplation. "Li Wei, I have dwelled within that box for longer than memory can recall. The one who sealed me remains a distant memory, their identity lost to the sands of time."
Li Wei furrowed his brow, his curiosity piqued. "How long have you been inside it?"
The dragon's voice resonated with the weight of the ages. "I cannot say for certain, but I know it spans at least a thousand years. It was an eternity of solitude and confinement."
Li Wei's eyes widened in awe and disbelief. A thousand years! It was beyond his comprehension.
Lung Shen noticed the boy's fascination and decided to reveal more. "The box that entrapped me is far from an ordinary vessel. It was meticulously crafted by an ancient dragon who predates my own existence. This dragon used it to imprison another of our kind, a malevolent being who posed a grave threat to our fellow dragons."
Li Wei imagined the box in all its mystic glory, its ornate carvings, and enigmatic symbols that held the power to imprison a dragon.
"The one who imprisoned me was likely an individual who had become aware of the box's existence, yet recognized that direct confrontation with me was a futile endeavor. I held the mantle of the Dragon King, reigning as the mightiest among my kind. "The act of sealing me within the box represented the sole conceivable method to both vanquish me and acquire my formidable powers."
Li Wei's eyes shimmered with reverence. He had unwittingly freed a dragon that had been sealed away by a great warrior.
Lung Shen's tone grew somber. "The box exacts a price. It is a symbiotic prison. It transfers both the lifespan and qi of the one sealed within. My existence has been greatly extended but at a cost."
Li Wei's heart sank as he grasped the implications. "You mean... your lifespan has been reduced?"
The dragon nodded. "Yes. I have been granted an extended life, but my remaining years are limited. I do not have the time to seek vengeance on those who sealed me, nor do I possess the strength I once had."
Li Wei felt a surge of compassion for the dragon. It had suffered a great injustice, and yet it was bound by the consequences of the very box that had saved its life.
The boy's voice trembled with emotion. "Master, I am honored that you have chosen to pass on your martial arts to me. I will do my best to learn and carry on your legacy."
Lung Shen's eyes gleamed with a mixture of pride and determination. "Li Wei, you are a promising student. My martial arts will not only empower you but also serve as my instrument of vengeance against the one who bound me within the box. But time is a cruel master, and I must ensure that you receive the knowledge you need before my strength wanes."
Li Wei nodded in understanding. He knew the urgency of their situation. The dragon had been weakened, and the limited time they had left weighed heavily on both of them.
As the moonlight bathed the clearing in its silvery glow, master and pupil continued their training, each moment bringing Li Wei closer to getting stronger. The legacy of Lung Shen, the dragon of a thousand years, would live on through the boy from a remote village, united by the enigmatic box that had altered their destinies.