Zhao followed Yun Xia through the dense forest, the morning light filtering through the leaves overhead. His body still ached from the previous night's ordeal, but the fear that had gripped him before had begun to fade. Now, it was replaced by something else—determination. The weight of the Celestial Flame Medallion in his pocket felt both comforting and dangerous, a constant reminder of the power he now held and the responsibility that came with it.
As they walked, Zhao noticed how easily Yun Xia moved through the forest, her steps light and purposeful. She seemed completely at ease in this environment, as if she belonged here. In contrast, Zhao's footsteps were clumsy, and every branch he stepped on seemed to crack loudly underfoot.
"How long have you been a cultivator?" Zhao asked, trying to fill the silence between them.
Yun Xia didn't turn around but answered after a brief pause. "Since I was your age. But cultivation is more than just learning techniques. It's about understanding the Dao—the path. Everyone's journey is different."
Zhao frowned, unsure of what she meant. "The Dao?"
Yun Xia finally stopped and turned to face him. They had reached a small clearing, surrounded by ancient trees. The air here was different—still, yet charged with an invisible energy that Zhao could feel in his bones.
"Everything in this world," Yun Xia began, her voice calm, "is connected by the Dao. It's the essence of life, nature, and power. Cultivation is the art of aligning yourself with that energy, learning to harness it, and bending it to your will."
She gestured for him to sit on a patch of grass. Zhao did as he was told, crossing his legs awkwardly. Yun Xia sat down across from him, her movements fluid and graceful.
"Before you can learn anything about the Celestial Flame, you need to understand your own Qi," Yun Xia said, her gaze steady. "Qi is the energy within you, the force that connects you to the Dao. Without control over your Qi, the medallion will destroy you."
Zhao swallowed hard, the memory of the fire from last night still fresh in his mind. "How do I control it?"
Yun Xia's lips twitched into the faintest of smiles. "First, you must learn to feel it. Close your eyes."
Zhao hesitated for a moment but eventually obeyed. He closed his eyes, his heart still racing from the events of the past day.
"Breathe," Yun Xia instructed, her voice low and steady. "Focus on your breath. In… and out."
Zhao took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly. At first, he felt nothing—just the sound of the wind rustling the leaves and the distant chirping of birds. But as he continued to breathe, something began to shift. A warmth spread through his chest, a faint tingling that moved through his body like a slow current.
"That's it," Yun Xia said softly. "That's your Qi. It's always been there, but now you're starting to recognize it."
Zhao's brow furrowed in concentration as he tried to focus on the feeling. The energy within him was subtle, like a barely perceptible thread, but the more he focused, the stronger it became. It flowed through him, connecting his body to the world around him in a way he had never experienced before.
Yun Xia's voice broke through his thoughts. "The medallion amplifies your Qi, but it also pulls from external sources. That's why it's so dangerous. If you can't control your own Qi, the medallion's power will overwhelm you."
Zhao opened his eyes slowly, the tingling sensation still present in his body. "I think I felt it," he said quietly.
Yun Xia nodded approvingly. "That's a start. But feeling your Qi is only the first step. You must learn to guide it, to shape it. Once you've mastered that, you can begin to control the flames of the medallion."
Zhao looked down at his hands, wondering how long it would take to master something so complex. "How did you learn all of this?"
Yun Xia's expression grew distant for a moment, her eyes flickering with something—pain, perhaps, or regret. "I had a teacher once," she said, her voice softer than before. "He taught me everything I know. But he's gone now."
Zhao sensed that there was more to the story, but he didn't press her. Instead, he asked, "What happened to him?"
Yun Xia's gaze hardened, and she stood up abruptly. "That's not important right now. What matters is that you focus on your training."
She turned away, leaving Zhao with more questions than answers. But he knew better than to push her for information. Yun Xia was clearly carrying her own burdens, and Zhao had his own to bear.
"Get some rest," Yun Xia said, her back still to him. "We'll start again tomorrow. And you'll need all your strength."
Zhao nodded, though a part of him was restless, eager to learn more about his new power and the mysteries surrounding the medallion. He lay down on the soft grass, his body still humming with the remnants of the Qi he had felt earlier. His mind raced with thoughts of what was to come, but soon, exhaustion overtook him, and he drifted into a deep, dreamless sleep.