The Flicker of Power
The days following the elder's cryptic words weighed heavily on Liu Zhen's mind. The quiet life in Xuanlin continued as usual, but a restlessness had taken root in him. He often found himself gazing at the distant mountains, wondering what lay beyond them. His heart, once content with the peaceful rhythm of village life, now yearned for something unknown, something that stirred deep within his soul.
It had been three days since the elder's visit, and Liu Zhen still couldn't shake the feeling that his life was about to change. He sat at the edge of the forest, near the same stream where he often sought solace. The air was cool, the scent of wet earth and pine lingering in the breeze. The village behind him buzzed with life, but here, by the water's edge, all was calm.
As he sat, his eyes fixed on the flowing water, something strange happened.
The surface of the stream began to shimmer, as though touched by an unseen force. Liu Zhen blinked, rubbing his eyes, but the shimmering persisted. The water rippled unnaturally, moving against the current. His heart raced, and before he could react, the faint glow from the night of his birth flickered across his skin again—soft and fleeting, but unmistakable.
Liu Zhen gasped and stumbled backward. His pulse quickened as a strange energy surged through his body. It was not painful, but it was overwhelming, like a fire flickering just beneath his skin. The feeling grew stronger with every breath, spreading through his limbs, down to his fingertips. His vision blurred, and for a moment, the world around him felt distant, as if he were on the edge of something vast and unknown.
Instinctively, Liu Zhen reached out toward the stream, and to his shock, the water responded.
The shimmering ripples intensified, the surface rising unnaturally, twisting and curling in the air as though guided by his hand. It was as if the stream itself had become an extension of his will, bending to his silent command. The water danced in front of him, defying gravity, swirling in the shape of a delicate spiral.
A mixture of awe and fear washed over him.
"What… what is this?" he whispered, his voice trembling.
Before he could fully comprehend what was happening, the energy inside him flickered, and the water collapsed back into the stream with a soft splash. The glow on his skin faded, and the strange power that had surged within him receded just as quickly as it had appeared, leaving him breathless and shaken.
He fell to his knees, staring at his hands. The silence of the forest pressed in around him, but his mind raced with questions. What had just happened? How had he controlled the water? Was this the power the elder had spoken of?
"Liu Zhen!"
The voice startled him, pulling him out of his thoughts. He turned to see his father, Liu Rong, striding toward him from the direction of the village. His father's brow was furrowed with concern, his strong hands clenched at his sides.
"Father," Liu Zhen said, still shaken.
"What are you doing out here alone?" Liu Rong asked, his voice stern but tinged with worry. "You should be helping your mother with the fields."
Liu Zhen hesitated. The words to explain what had just happened were caught in his throat. He wasn't even sure if he understood it himself. Could he tell his father? Would he even believe him?
"I… I'm sorry," Liu Zhen muttered. "I lost track of time."
Liu Rong's frown deepened as he knelt beside his son, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You've been acting strange lately, Zhen. Ever since your visit with the elder… is something troubling you?"
Liu Zhen opened his mouth to speak, but stopped. How could he explain what he had just felt? The way the energy had coursed through him, the way the water had moved at his will—none of it made sense. And yet, deep down, he knew it was important. Something was awakening within him.
"I'm fine, Father," he said, forcing a smile. "Just tired, I suppose."
Liu Rong studied his son for a moment, the concern still etched in his features, but he did not press further. With a sigh, he stood and gestured toward the village.
"Come. Your mother is waiting."
Liu Zhen nodded and rose to his feet, his legs still unsteady from the strange experience. As they walked back toward the village, his mind raced. Whatever had happened by the stream, it was no accident. The elder had spoken of something ancient within him, something that could not be ignored.
That night, as Liu Zhen lay in bed, staring up at the wooden beams of the ceiling, his thoughts churned like a storm. The events of the day replayed in his mind, and the feeling of the energy within him still lingered, like an ember waiting to ignite.
He couldn't stay silent about it any longer.
The next morning, as dawn broke and the first rays of sunlight bathed the village in a soft golden hue, Liu Zhen made a decision. He would return to the elder. He had to understand what was happening to him, and why. There was no other choice.
The village was quiet as he made his way through the narrow streets, the early morning mist clinging to the ground. The elder's hut stood at the far end, beneath the shadow of the great oak tree. Liu Zhen quickened his pace, his heart pounding in his chest.
When he arrived, the elder was already awake, seated outside his hut, his eyes closed in quiet meditation. The old man's breathing was slow and steady, his presence as calm as the still waters of a pond. Liu Zhen hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"Elder," he called softly.
The elder's eyes opened, and he turned toward Liu Zhen with a knowing gaze. It was as though he had been expecting him.
"Come, child," the elder said, his voice gentle but firm. "I have been waiting for you."
Liu Zhen stepped forward, uncertainty and excitement warring within him. "Elder, something strange happened to me yesterday. I felt… something inside me. It was like energy, and it—"
The elder raised a hand, silencing him. "There is no need to explain. I felt it as well."
Liu Zhen's eyes widened in surprise. "You did?"
The elder nodded, his expression grave. "The power you felt is no ordinary energy. It is the elemental force that sleeps within you. You have only just begun to awaken it."
Liu Zhen's mind raced. "Elemental force? But… how? What does this mean?"
The elder stood slowly, leaning on his cane, and motioned for Liu Zhen to follow him inside. As they entered the darkened hut, the elder gestured to a small altar at the center of the room, adorned with ancient symbols representing the Five Elements.
"Do you remember the stories I told you?" the elder asked, his voice low. "Of the Five Elements—Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water? Of the balance of Yin and Yang?"
Liu Zhen nodded, his gaze fixed on the altar. "Yes, but… what does that have to do with me?"
The elder placed a hand on Liu Zhen's shoulder, his eyes piercing into the boy's soul. "Because, Liu Zhen, the balance of the elements flows through you. The power you felt—the control over water—was no accident. It is your destiny. And soon, the world will know it, too."
A shiver ran down Liu Zhen's spine. The elder's words echoed in his mind, and for the first time, he realized the weight of what had been set in motion. His life was no longer the quiet, simple existence of a village boy.
The storm had truly begun.