Before the sun rose high, Bai Cheng trudged up the rocky pathway. His limbs were aching from days of arduous training. Gerald walked ahead. The broad back was framed within the chaos of dense trees of Eldenwood. Mei Feng, lounging lazily on a tree stump, caught them. The long red robes billowed out in the wind. Bai Cheng was tired but couldn't help the excitement flowing through his veins.
"Where are we going today?" Bai Cheng asked, his voice rough from yesterday's training.
"Somewhere special," Gerald said mysteriously, turning back to him with a smile. "A place where your training will change direction."
"You complain every day," Bai said. "And in the end, it always makes me look like a torn rag. How great can this place be?
Mei Feng laughed from behind him. "Oh, stop the theatrics already. It's not like he is making you swim with piranhas."
"Not yet," Gerald replied with a grin.
Bai Cheng shot him a glare, but Gerald's grin only widened. "Trust me, this one's gonna be different. You'll thank me for it later."
---
**The Waterfall Across Eldenwood**
After a few hours of trekking in, the thick canopy of Eldenwood thinned out, and a clearing opened up to a spectacular view: a huge waterfall cascading down into a crystal-clear pool below. The roar of the water filled the air gruesomely by causing friction and an overwhelming head bent down to stave against the inevitable grim outcome.
This differed greatly from Bai Cheng's heavy breathing.
Bai Cheng opened his eyes wide with astonishment. "Hey, this is beautiful!"
"Beautiful and deadly," Gerald replied, pointing to the rushing waters. "Today, we're training underwater. Your new technique is *Underwater Sprinting*—a method that will push your limits for speed and endurance while simulating the resistance of dense spiritual energy pressure."
"You want me to run fast underwater?" Bai Cheng asked, clearly incredulous. How can I breathe down there?
"That's where *Breath Control Drills* come in," Gerald said, tapping his chest. "You will learn how to hold your breath for longer, to regulate your breathing rate. That solves the paradox of the need to stay 'cool' under pressure while performing rapidly in combat."
Bai Cheng blinked at him. "You want me to run fast underwater, without any air, holding my breath, and not fainting? Are you trying to kill me?"
Mei Feng groaned. "You just talk too much. Get in the water before I drag you in myself."
Bai Cheng let out a sigh but, gradually, waded into the pool, where cool water swirled around him as he moved into the deep end. He felt pressure from the water within moments, and Bai Cheng wasn't sure. It wasn't cold alone; it was also the heaviness that made every movement, like walking in heavy fog.
"How deep do I have to go?" he asked, shivering despite himself.
"About ten feet should do it," Gerald said, grinning like a madman. "But you'll need to keep moving, or the current will drag you."
Bai Cheng nodded and plunged into the water. The water surged forward and hurled him back, slamming into him like a fast-closing wall. He slowly exhaled so that he wouldn't waste his air, and his muscles throbbed from the exertion of pushing himself forward as though running through thick mud.
Mei Feng raised an eyebrow as she stood by the beach. "This is your plan to break him?"
Gerald grinned widely. "Good. See, Bai Cheng is not going to improve by just isolating himself from challenging himself. This water is the strength of a strong cultivator's energy. If he could do this, he would already be that much better prepared to stand up to really tough opponents.".
Bai Cheng came up, gasping for air. "Can't happen!" he spluttered, shaking his hair free of water.
Gerald was not worried. "You believe it's impossible now, but wait a few days, and you'll be swimming easily."
"Yeah, right," Bai Cheng grumbled, but he didn't argue. He plunged under again, fighting downstream.
---
**Sparring Underwater**
After several warm-up runs and breathing exercises, Gerald motioned to Bai Cheng to stop, and he did so gladly, resting against a craggy rock, but Mei Feng wanted otherwise.
"You're still too slow, Bai Cheng," she teased, walking over to him. "I hope you're not planning on drowning here."
Bai Cheng looked at her with annoyance. "I'm not drowning," he said, gasping for breath. "But I think I need new lungs after this."
Mei Feng's eyes are sparkling as she says, "Well, you try sparring underwater. See if you can keep up with me while we're at it."
Bai Cheng's eyes opened wide. "Struggle underwater? Are you crazy?
"Not if you're up for it," she replied, her tone mocking.
Bai Cheng paused for a bit before agreeing. "Okay. But you're not going too hard on me, right?"
"Ha! We'll see," said Mei Feng as she stepped into the water. "We won't take it easy, not for a moment."
---
A Family, but Not Really
With the sparring session, soon enough, Cheng realized that Mei Feng was very fast, even in the water. Mei Feng was moving quickly, not jerking and awkward, and more or less taking it as though created for the water. Meanwhile, all Cheng could do was fight to stay upright.
"Come on, kid! You're moving slow!" Mei Feng joked as she ran behind him, pushing him into the water.
Bai Cheng growled in anger. "This is not fair! I'm still getting used to it!"
"Drespuesta: "Okay, you should get used to it quickly!" she laughed, going under him and jumping up from the water to hit his shoulder quickly.
Bai Cheng stumbled, barely holding himself upright. "You are not even trying to hide your strength!
"I'm not the one learning, kid," Mei Feng laughed. "You're the one trying to stay alive. Just don't make me hit you too hard. We don't want to hurt that nice face."
"'I think it's already broken!' replied Bai Cheng.".
He sauntered over to the edge of the water. And he watched laughing. "Having fun yet?" he asked.
"Having the time of my life," Bai Cheng muttered sarcastically, then, turning to Mei Feng, he said, "You know, it's starting to feel like we're a family. You, Gerald, and me. A big, dysfunctional family."
Mei Feng stopped in her tracks, and then turned red, her eyes getting bigger. "W-What did you say?"
Gerry laughed loud and hearty, nearly tumbling into the water. "Well, kid, that was one way to get under her skin!"
Bai Cheng saw the red cheeks of Mei Feng and grinned. "What? You don't think we sound like a family? I mean, you tell me what to do all the time, and Gerald is the strange, older Father with wild ideas.
Does that not sound like a family?"
Mei Feng opened her mouth to respond, but nothing came out; however, she was still flushed. "I-I am not your mother!" she stuttered.
Bai Cheng just laughed. "Not *yet*, at least."
**Campfire Conversations**
By nightfall, all the training for the day was finished. Wei drenched with sweat, Bai Cheng sat down in front of the campfire Gerald had lit, his body aching from work filling the day. Mei Feng, always not caring, sat next to him. She eyed him off and on.
Bai Cheng leaned against the soft couch, closing his eyes and saying, "I think I'll just sleep here. You guys don't mind, do you?"
Gerald smiled lightly, adding a piece of wood to the fire. "Go ahead. You deserved it. But tomorrow is another day of suffering."
Mei Feng rolled her eyes and leaned back against a tree. "You know, for someone who says he's not special, you're getting really good at this training."
Bai Cheng opened one eye to look at her. "Well, sure. Yeah, I'm not giving up. If I want to show what I can do, I need to keep going, right?"
Gerald nodded, watching the flames dance. "Exactly," he said. "Nobody gives you power, Bai Cheng. You will make your own future. But you have spirit. I can see this. You will get by.
" Bai Cheng grinned, though it was a tired, worn-out grin. "Thanks, Gerald. I'll get there. Just you wait."
Mei Feng still looked a little anxious and smiled archly. "Well, don't think I'll be nice to you next time."
Bai Cheng smiled quietly, then finally lay his eyes shut, wrapped in the warmth of the fire and exhaustion. Night went on as Geralt and Mei Feng went on speaking in hushed tones, the crackle of fire, and the soft steady breaths of Bai Cheng being the only sounds in the stillness of the night. And during this quiet moment, despite all the adversities, the strange group felt something akin to a family.
A family built strong by fighting, training, and hope for future success.