The morning sun just began to rise through the foggy horizon when Bai Cheng got to the bottom of the hill again. His body was sore and hurt from ten days of nonstop running, telling him to stop, but his mind drove him on. The thought of failing Mei Feng's challenge worried him, like a hidden enemy waiting in the dark.
He found Gerald waiting at the bottom of the hill, hunched against a tree, arms clasped in his chest. Mei Feng was nowhere to be seen Bai Cheng could feel almost surely that she was watching him already.
"You're late," Gerald remarked, glancing at his wrist as though checking the time.
"I'm not late," Bai Cheng panted, trying to catch his breath. "You're early."
Gerald chuckled. "No need to argue. You've got enough to worry about without testing me."
Bai Cheng only shook his head weakly. His legs were trembling, and it felt like a heavy rock was pressing on his chest. For days, he had been running up and down the hill, and he was exhausted, but today was different; today was the beginning of something important.
"Start moving," Gerald said, sounding serious all of a sudden.
"Mei Feng's suggestion for your first step was to run. My idea is about being sneaky. You're not just going to run, Bai Cheng, you're going to *move*. And that means more than just using your legs."
Bai Cheng blinked, not understanding. "What do you mean?"
Gerald grinned. "You're going to learn how to move without making a sound. You're going to walk, run, and even fight without a single footstep.
Stealth is the second part of the Shadow Step—*silent movement*—and you're going to master it."
Before Bai Cheng could argue, Gerald put up his hand to stop him. "Here's the deal: you have to do it at night when it's dark. *Total silence* is the aim. If I hear even one twig break or see a shadow move where it shouldn't, you'll have to begin again."
"That's. Crazy," Bai Cheng stated softly, but Gerald just shrugged.
"Welcome to the real world," he said with a playful smirk. "This isn't a game. You're preparing for something very tough, kid. And that tough thing is going to become a lot tougher."
Mei Feng emerged from behind trees that happened to be laughing across at her, wide-armed and grinning. "Oh, he's right. It's going to be *so* much fun to watch you try."
Bai Cheng looked at her in frustration. "It's not funny.
"Oh, but it really is," she laughed. "You're going to run up and down this hill *twice* before you can start your *real* training. Don't look so unhappy, Bai Cheng. It helps you grow."
"You're the one who will get a character check when I'm done with you," Bai Cheng said quietly to himself as he walked up the hill, trying to ignore their teasing.
---
Hours passed by swiftly because he was so overtired. Keeping up with the run, Bai Cheng ran on, his legs getting heavier with every stride. This steep hill looked like a mountain to him, and the ground beneath seemed to be as hard as he was. Sweat dripped down his nose and into his eyes but still managed to stay in focus. He had to prove to himself that he could really do it—not to just someone like Mei Feng, nor to someone like Gerald, but to himself.
Finally, when he finished his second round and fell to the ground, breathing heavily, Mei Feng stood above him, her red robe flowing like a flame in the morning sun.
You did?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
Bai Cheng could hardly speak, but he nodded in assent. "Yeah. Done. for now."
"Well, don't get too comfortable. You've got more work to do," she said, with a sly smile.
"Gerald's idea of stealth training is important, but I've got another test for you. Time to see if you're ready to start mastering the *Shadow Step*."
Bai Cheng struggled to sit up. "What now?"
Mei Feng got down beside him. "The next step is control. Physical training is great, but so is *mental* training. This is your real test, Bai Cheng. It's in the mind where you will either screw up or succeed.
If you want to move without one seeing or hearing you, you need to learn control. That ain't just about your body. But your mind.
Gerald's voice cut in from behind her. "And *that* is something I've got covered."
Mei Feng stared at him with a comically puzzled look. "Huh? Well, let me hear it.
Gerald stood up straight, hands on his hips. "You're going to teach him focus. I'm going to teach him *endurance*."
Bai Cheng blinked. "Endurance?" Endurance, stamina, and willpower," Gerald said. "Your physical training will be about pushing yourself to the limit and beyond. Your mental training will be about holding onto that limit when your body screams for rest. The Shadow Step is about moving without breaking—physically, mentally, spiritually.
Mei Feng snickered. "You're just going to make him run more?"
Gerald smiled back. "I'm not just running. I'm teaching him a method tomorrow that will help him handle physical pain. Trust me, it will make running seem easy."
Bai Cheng sighed. "Please no more running."
But before he could continue his argument any further, Gerald knelt beside him. "Remember this, kid. The real strength is not in *how much* you can take, but *in how much you can last without stopping*. That's the difference between losing and winning. The moment you give up, you lose.
"Yeah, yeah," Bai Cheng complained, he didn't want to be lectured.
Gerald laughed. "You will understand it soon. You have more energy than you realize. But having energy alone doesn't make a sword; you have to heat up to shape it.
---
The moon had risen to the full during the night when gentle winds were whistling through the woods. Bai Cheng was amid a rigorous stealth drill. Sweat ran down his neck, and his heart pounded rapidly as he padded through the trees on tiptoes-toes barely touching the ground below.
Every time a branch cracked or leaves rustled, he jumped, but he pushed himself to keep moving. Mei Feng stood nearby, watching him with a relaxed but careful look.
"That's all right, she cried after a while. "But I can hear you breathe."
"I'm not a ghost!" Bai Cheng shouted, frustrated.
Mei Feng smiled. "No, you're not. But you're learning to be one."
Gerald was invisible, but Bai Cheng knew he could see from the place of his wait to let him slip. "Just think about it: every step you take, someone is looking for you,"
Mei Feng continued. "Every move you make might give you away. You need to move like the wind, leaving no signs behind."
After what seemed like forever, Bai Cheng fell to the ground in the forest, exhausted and dirty. His body ached and even made him feel dizzy.
"Good," Mei Feng said, sounding a little pleased. "You're not the fastest and not the quietest yet. But you're learning. And that's what is important."
Bai Cheng turned blue and gasped, giving a faint smile. "How much longer do I have to do this? Gerald's voice rang out from the shadows. "You'll do this for as long as it takes. Until it's second nature."
Bai Cheng looked up and saw Gerald's face, serious. "And remember this," Gerald said, his voice growing serious. "When you feel like you can't keep going, remember this: *A true warrior doesn't fight just to win. They fight because they won't accept losing*. Bai Cheng nodded, steeling himself. Even his aching muscles felt determined.
*He was not going to lose.*