The first light of dawn crept over the horizon, casting long shadows across the quiet village of Fenglu. The air was cool, filled with the earthy scent of morning dew. Birds began their early songs, unaware of the silent figure standing alone near the edge of the forest.
Lei Sheng stood with his eyes closed, his breath slow and steady. His palms faced upward, and faint threads of jade-colored Qi danced around his fingertips like whispers of mist. The energy pulsed gently, flowing through his veins with a rhythm he had grown to understand over the past few weeks.
Focus.
His thoughts echoed in the stillness, grounding him. With a deep inhale, he drew the Qi inward, channeling it to his core. His body responded with ease a testament to countless hours of training. His muscles no longer trembled under the strain, and his mind no longer wavered.
Suddenly, a voice broke the serenity.
"You're up early again, huh?"
Lei Sheng opened his eyes to see Jiao Lan approaching, her usual confident grin tugging at the corners of her lips. She carried a small basket filled with herbs, likely gathered from the nearby fields.
"I could say the same for you," Lei Sheng replied with a smirk.
Jiao Lan shrugged. "Someone's got to make sure you don't accidentally blow yourself up with all that 'Jade Soul Path' nonsense."
Lei Sheng chuckled, shaking his head. "Your faith in me is overwhelming."
She grinned. "I'm just here to keep you humble."
Their laughter blended with the morning breeze. It had become a routine Lei Sheng's relentless training, and Jiao Lan's sharp wit to balance it. But beneath the teasing was an unspoken bond, strengthened by shared struggles and dreams.
____
Later that day, the peaceful rhythm of the village was shattered by frantic shouts.
"Help! Someone help! The livestock pen it's under attack!"
Lei Sheng and Jiao Lan exchanged a glance, both sprinting toward the commotion without hesitation.
When they arrived at the livestock pen on the village's outskirts, chaos greeted them. Villagers were scrambling, trying to herd terrified animals back into their enclosures. Wooden fences lay splintered, trampled by something large and aggressive.
Then they saw it a massive wild boar, easily twice the size of a normal one. Its coarse, dark fur bristled with rage, and its bloodshot eyes gleamed with ferocity. Thick tusks curved menacingly from its snout, stained with fresh splinters from the broken fence.
"It's a Fierce-Tusk Boar," Jiao Lan gasped, her eyes narrowing. "They're not supposed to come this close to the village."
The boar charged again, ramming into another section of the fence with bone-crushing force. Livestock scattered, bleating in fear. A young boy tripped and fell near the creature's path, his terrified screams piercing the air.
Without thinking, Lei Sheng sprang into action.
____
"Stay back!" Lei Sheng shouted, rushing toward the boy.
He reached the child just as the boar charged again. With a swift motion, Lei Sheng scooped the boy into his arms and rolled out of the beast's path. The ground trembled as the boar's tusks gouged deep into the dirt where they had just been.
Lei Sheng set the boy down safely, his heart pounding. The villagers stared, frozen by fear and disbelief.
The boar wasn't done. It snorted aggressively, pawing the ground, preparing for another charge.
I can't let it hurt anyone else. Lei Sheng clenched his fists, feeling the familiar warmth of Qi rising within him. The jade glow flickered faintly beneath his skin, responding to his determination.
"Lei Sheng, be careful!" Jiao Lan's voice rang out, but he was already moving.
The boar charged, its massive form like a battering ram. Lei Sheng stood his ground, focusing his Qi. At the last possible moment, he sidestepped with precision, slamming his palm against the beast's side.
A burst of jade energy erupted from his hand, sending the boar stumbling sideways with a pained squeal.
It worked…
Lei Sheng barely had time to register the surprise before the boar recovered, even angrier than before.
_____
The Battle Intensifies
The boar charged again, faster this time. Lei Sheng dodged, his movements fluid thanks to his training. He countered with strikes infused with Qi, each hit leaving faint trails of jade light.
But the boar was relentless. It's thick hide absorbed much of the impact, and its rage seemed endless. Lei Sheng's muscles burned with exhaustion, his breaths coming in ragged gasps.
I can't keep this up forever. He risked a glance toward Jiao Lan, who was helping villagers get to safety. Their eyes met briefly, and in that moment, he found his resolve.
I have to end this. Drawing on the deepest reserves of his Qi, Lei Sheng focused everything into his next strike. His palms glowed brighter than ever before, the jade aura pulsating with raw energy.
As the boar charged for the final time, Lei Sheng met it head-on. With a powerful shout, he leapt forward, striking the beast squarely between the eyes.
The explosion of energy was blinding.
When the dust settled, the boar lay unconscious, its massive body motionless.
Lei Sheng stood over it, panting heavily, his legs trembling from exhaustion.
____
Silence followed, thick and heavy. Then, slowly, the villagers began to approach.
"He… he defeated it."
"Did you see that? The way his hands glowed?"
Murmurs spread like wildfire fear, awe, curiosity.
Lei Sheng met their gazes, his chest rising and falling with each breath. But instead of pride, he felt something unexpected doubt.
Would they see him as a protector… or a threat?
Jiao Lan rushed to his side, her face filled with both worry and relief. "Are you okay?"
Lei Sheng nodded weakly. "Yeah… just tired."
She smiled slightly, her hand resting on his shoulder. "You did it."
But as he looked around at the villagers' wary expressions, he realized his journey wasn't over. This is just the beginning.
____
A Quiet Reflection
Later that evening, Lei Sheng sat alone by the river where he often trained. The water reflected the colors of the setting sun, casting ripples of gold and crimson.
Jiao Lan joined him, sitting quietly for a moment before speaking.
"You saved lives today," she said softly.
Lei Sheng stared at the water. "And yet… they looked at me like I was a monster."
"They're scared of what they don't understand," she replied. "But that doesn't mean you're wrong to be strong."
He sighed. "I thought defeating the boar would prove something. But all it did was show them how different I am."
Jiao Lan reached over, gently taking his hand. "You don't need to prove anything to them. The people who matter already know who you are."
Her words settled in his heart like a warm ember against the cold doubt.
Lei Sheng squeezed her hand gently, finding comfort in her presence.
"I just… want to protect them," he whispered.
"And you did," she replied firmly. "That's what matters."
As the stars began to appear, Lei Sheng felt a quiet resolve growing within him.
No matter how they see me, I'll keep fighting. For them. For this village. For the people I care about.
His journey was far from over, but he knew one thing for certain, He wasn't alone.