Morning mist clung to the trees as Lei Sheng moved through the training fields beyond the river, his breaths steady despite the weight on his muscles. He had been practicing since dawn, pushing his limits with the cultivation techniques from the scroll.
He had come far. His body was stronger, his movements sharper, his Qi more refined. But he still had a long way to go.
With a deep breath, he focused, channeling his Qi into his right palm. He struck forward, aiming at a large tree stump.
Boom!
A sudden force erupted from his hand, sending the stump crashing backward, leaving a deep mark in the dirt. Birds scattered from the nearby trees, startled by the unexpected burst of energy.
Lei Sheng's eyes widened.
That was stronger than he intended.
Before he could react, a voice called out.
"Lei Sheng?"
He turned sharply. A group of villagers stood a short distance away, staring at him in shock. Among them was Elder Chen, one of the village's senior leaders.
Lei Sheng's heart pounded. He had been too careless.
Summoned by the Elders
Later that day, Lei Sheng stood in the village's main hall, facing the elders. The wooden beams of the room felt imposing, the air heavy with unspoken judgment.
Elder Chen sat in the center, his wrinkled hands resting on the table. To his left was Elder Fang, the village's best herbalist, and to his right was Elder Zhou, known for his wisdom and strict discipline.
"Lei Sheng," Elder Chen began, his voice calm but firm. "Several villagers witnessed your display of strength this morning. Would you care to explain?"
Lei Sheng hesitated. "It was an accident, Elder Chen. I was just training."
Elder Fang stroked his beard. "Training? That was no ordinary strike. That was Qi manipulation, was it not?"
Lei Sheng swallowed. Lying would be pointless.
"Yes," he admitted. "I've been… learning how to control it."
Murmurs passed between the elders.
Elder Zhou leaned forward. "And where did you learn this?"
Lei Sheng tensed. The scroll. The forbidden techniques. He couldn't tell them the truth.
"I figured it out on my own," he said carefully.
Elder Chen sighed. "Lei Sheng, do you understand the danger of what you're doing? Meddling with unknown powers could bring disaster to you and to our village."
Lei Sheng clenched his fists. "I'm not trying to bring disaster. I only want to grow stronger to protect my family, my home."
Elder Zhou frowned. "Power without control is reckless. And secrecy only leads to trouble."
Lei Sheng looked down. He wasn't being reckless. He was being careful. But they wouldn't understand.
Elder Fang's tone softened. "We do not doubt your intentions, boy. But the path of cultivation is not something to be taken lightly."
Elder Chen nodded. "If you continue down this road, you must be prepared for the consequences."
Lei Sheng met their gazes, determination burning in his eyes. "I understand."
The elders exchanged glances before Elder Chen finally sighed. "Very well. But remember should trouble arise because of your actions, you will be held responsible."
"I accept that," Lei Sheng said firmly.
The meeting was over, but as Lei Sheng left the hall, the weight of their words sat heavily on his shoulders.
Misunderstood
As he walked through the village, whispers followed him.
"He's been training in secret?"
"Where did he learn such power?"
"Is he dangerous?"
Lei Sheng's jaw tightened. One mistake, and now the entire village looked at him differently. He hadn't meant to cause concern, yet now he was a subject of gossip.
When he reached his home, Lei Mei was waiting for him by the gate.
"You met with the elders," she said. It wasn't a question.
Lei Sheng nodded. "They warned me to be careful."
She studied him for a moment. "And will you be?"
Lei Sheng exhaled. "I have to keep training, Mei. No matter what they say."
His sister sighed but didn't argue. "Just… be careful, okay? You might not care about what people say, but I do."
Lei Sheng gave her a small smile. "I'll be fine."
But deep down, he knew the road ahead would only get harder.
A Vow to Grow Stronger
That night, Lei Sheng sat alone by the river, staring at his reflection. The doubts, the warnings, the fear of being misunderstood all of it weighed on him.
But he had made his choice.
The elders didn't trust him. The villagers feared him. But one day, he would prove them wrong.
One day, he would stand before them not as a reckless boy playing with power, but as a warrior strong enough to protect them all.
With that thought, he rose, steeling his resolve.
Tomorrow, he would train harder.
No more mistakes. No more carelessness.
He would master his strength, no matter what it took.
A Silent Determination
The moon cast a pale glow over the river, its shimmering surface reflecting Lei Sheng's solemn expression. The weight of the village's doubts pressed against him, but he refused to let it break his spirit.
The elders thought he was reckless. The villagers whispered behind his back. But he couldn't stop now not when he had already come so far.
Lei Sheng clenched his fists, feeling the faint pulse of Qi flowing through him.
If he wanted their trust, he had to earn it. If he wanted to protect his home, he had to be strong enough to do so.
His training had to continue smarter, harder, and most importantly, in absolute secrecy.
With renewed determination, he turned away from the river and disappeared into the night, ready to push himself beyond his limits.
This was just the beginning.
One day, he would prove them all wrong.
A Hidden Path to Strength
The morning sun had barely risen when Lei Sheng left his home, slipping away before the village stirred to life. He knew he couldn't afford to be careless again. The elders were watching him, and the villagers were wary. If he displayed his strength openly, he risked not only their distrust but also drawing unwanted attention from beyond the village.
He needed a place where he could train in peace.
The forests beyond the river stretched far, with dense foliage and hidden clearings untouched by most villagers. If he trained there, he could remain unseen.
As he moved deeper into the woods, the air grew cooler, the scent of damp earth surrounding him. Finally, he found it a secluded clearing surrounded by towering trees, their thick canopies shielding the area from prying eyes.
"This will do," Lei Sheng murmured.
He exhaled slowly, settling into his stance. He began his routine, repeating the movements he had spent weeks refining stances, strikes, footwork. His Qi moved through him, flowing more smoothly than before. The energy felt more natural, more controlled.
But control wasn't enough. He needed power.
Pushing Beyond Limits
Lei Sheng focused inward, drawing on the techniques from the scroll. He had seen glimpses of what his Qi was capable of, but he hadn't yet fully grasped its potential.
He steadied his breathing, channeling Qi into his palm. He struck forward, directing the energy outward. A faint shockwave rippled from his hand, stirring the leaves around him.
Not enough.
Again.
He repeated the motion, this time with more intent. The energy surged, striking the trunk of a nearby tree with a dull thud. The impact was stronger than before, but still not enough.
Sweat beaded on his forehead. His arms trembled slightly, the exertion weighing on him. But he didn't stop.
Again.
And again.
With each attempt, he refined his control, pushing his limits further. The village elders thought he was reckless, but they were wrong. He wasn't blindly chasing power he was honing it, mastering it.
For hours, he trained, until exhaustion finally forced him to stop. He dropped to one knee, his breathing ragged.
He had improved. He could feel it.
But he was still far from where he needed to be.
Clenching his fists, he whispered to himself, "I will become stronger. No matter what it takes."
A Growing Distance
As the days passed, Lei Sheng's routine became more disciplined. He worked harder, trained longer, but at the cost of something else his connection to the people around him.
His mother noticed first.
"You've been disappearing more often," she remarked one evening as they ate dinner. "Where have you been?"
"Just helping around the village," Lei Sheng replied, keeping his tone casual.
His father grunted. "Strange. I haven't seen you working with the others."
Lei Sheng forced a smile. "I go where I'm needed."
His mother frowned but didn't press further.
Lei Mei, however, wasn't so easily convinced.
"Brother," she said later that night as they stood outside, watching the stars. "You're not telling me everything, are you?"
Lei Sheng tensed. "I already told you, Mei. I'm just."
"Training," she finished for him. "I know."
Lei Sheng turned to her in surprise.
"I've seen you sneaking out," she admitted. "I don't know what you're doing, but I know it's dangerous."
She sighed. "The elders are worried about you. The villagers talk about you behind your back. Even Mother and Father are starting to notice something's wrong."
Lei Sheng looked away, guilt creeping into his chest. He never wanted to worry his family.
"I have to do this," he said quietly.
Lei Mei studied him, searching his face for answers. "Why?"
He hesitated, then met her gaze.
"Because one day, I'll need to protect this village. And I won't let anyone stand in my way."
Lei Mei's expression softened, but there was worry in her eyes.
"Just… don't lose yourself, Brother," she whispered.
Lei Sheng said nothing, watching as she turned and walked back inside.
He clenched his fists.
He couldn't stop now.
He wouldn't.
The Elder Warning
The next day, as Lei Sheng returned from training, he was stopped by Elder Chen.
"Lei Sheng," the old man said gravely. "A word."
They walked together to the outskirts of the village, where no one else could hear.
"You've been training in secret," Elder Chen said. It wasn't a question.
Lei Sheng didn't deny it.
The elder sighed. "You remind me of someone I once knew eager, determined… reckless."
Lei Sheng frowned. "I'm not being reckless."
Elder Chen's gaze sharpened. "Do you know why our village has survived for so long? It's because we know our place. We do not chase power. We do not invite danger."
Lei Sheng met his gaze steadily. "And what if danger finds us? What then?"
Elder Chen was silent for a long moment.
Then, his expression softened. "If that day comes, I only hope you are strong enough to bear the burden you seek."
With that, he turned and walked away.
Lei Sheng watched him go, his heart pounding.
The elders would never understand.
But he would prove them wrong.
One day, they would see.
One day, they would know.
And on that day, no one would ever doubt him again.