The cold dawn broke over the waterfall, the sun's rays piercing through the forest canopy in slender beams. Hu Win sat motionless on the rock, the relentless cascade of water pounding his back with unyielding force. His red aura shimmered faintly around him, barely visible in the dim light. The once-trembling boy now exuded a fragile determination, his breathing steady and slow.
Jian leaned against a nearby tree, arms crossed and eyes half-lidded. He had been observing Hu Win the entire night, impressed by the boy's endurance. But his expression remained cold, betraying no hint of his approval.
When the first bird chirped, Jian straightened up and approached the waterfall. "Time's up," he called out, his voice cutting through the roar of the water.
Hu Win opened his eyes, startled, and turned his head slightly. The aura around him flickered before fading entirely. He pushed himself off the rock with trembling arms and staggered to his feet, water dripping from his soaked clothes. His legs wobbled, but he managed to stay upright.
"How do you feel?" Jian asked, his tone neutral.
Hu Win blinked, taking a moment to process the question. "I… I feel… stronger," he said, though his voice betrayed his exhaustion.
"Stronger, huh?" Jian smirked faintly. "Don't get too proud. This is just the beginning. You've barely scratched the surface of what it means to control your aura."
Hu Win frowned but didn't retort. His pride had taken a beating the previous night, and he knew better than to argue with Jian.
"Good," Jian said, sensing Hu Win's silence. "Now dry yourself off. We're heading back."
As they walked through the forest, Hu Win couldn't help but glance at Jian repeatedly. His mind buzzed with questions, but he hesitated to speak. The older man's cold demeanor often made conversation difficult.
Finally, unable to contain his curiosity, Hu Win blurted out, "How did you learn to use aura like that? I mean… it looked so natural when you did it."
Jian didn't break stride. "Years of practice," he replied simply.
"Years?" Hu Win echoed, his voice tinged with disbelief. "How many years?"
"Longer than you've been alive," Jian said with a smirk.
Hu Win stopped walking, staring at Jian in shock. "You're lying! You don't look that old!"
Jian chuckled, a rare sound that surprised Hu Win. "Calm down, kid. I'm not lying. Aura manipulation isn't something you master overnight. It takes time, discipline, and a lot of pain."
Hu Win bit his lip, his mind racing. "But… what's the point of it all? Why do we need to learn this? Can't we just live normal lives without all this pain and suffering?"
Jian turned to face Hu Win, his expression suddenly serious. "Normal lives?" he repeated, his voice laced with disdain. "Do you think the world is kind enough to let you live a normal life? Look around you, Hu Win. There are beasts, bandits, and worse. If you don't learn to protect yourself, you won't survive."
Hu Win's eyes widened, and he lowered his gaze, chastened.
"Besides," Jian continued, "aura isn't just about survival. It's about control—over yourself, over your surroundings. It's the key to unlocking your true potential."
They continued walking in silence until they stumbled upon a narrow path. Jian stopped abruptly, causing Hu Win to almost bump into him.
"What is it?" Hu Win asked, peering around Jian's shoulder.
"Shh," Jian said, raising a hand. His sharp eyes scanned the path ahead, where faint sounds of a struggle echoed through the trees.
"Stay close," Jian whispered, unsheathing his sword.
As they crept forward, the sounds grew louder—clashing metal, shouts, and the guttural growls of a beast. They emerged into a small clearing and saw a group of adventurers locked in battle with a massive, shadowy creature.
The beast was unlike anything Hu Win had ever seen. Its body was cloaked in darkness, its red eyes glowing with malevolent intent. It towered over the adventurers, swiping at them with claws that seemed to slice through the air itself.
"Jian, what is that thing?" Hu Win whispered, his voice trembling.
Jian's expression darkened. "A Shadow Beast. Nasty creatures. They're not supposed to be this far south…"
One of the adventurers spotted them and shouted, "Hey! If you're not going to help, get out of here!"
Jian stepped forward, his sword gleaming in the morning light. "Stay here," he ordered Hu Win.
"But—"
"No buts. You're not ready for this," Jian said firmly, cutting him off.
Hu Win clenched his fists, frustration boiling inside him. He hated feeling useless, but he knew Jian was right.
Jian approached the beast with measured steps, his aura flaring to life around him. The adventurers stumbled back, their faces a mix of relief and awe.
"Who the hell are you?" one of them asked.
"Doesn't matter," Jian said coolly. "Stay out of my way."
The Shadow Beast snarled, its attention now fully on Jian. It lunged at him with lightning speed, but Jian sidestepped effortlessly, his sword slicing through the beast's flank.
The creature howled in pain, its form flickering as if it were struggling to maintain its shape. Jian didn't let up, unleashing a series of precise, calculated strikes.
Hu Win watched in awe, his heart pounding. Jian moved like a dancer, every motion fluid and deliberate. It was as if he were toying with the beast, pushing it to its limits before delivering the final blow.
With one last powerful swing, Jian's sword cut through the beast's neck, and it disintegrated into a cloud of black smoke.
The clearing fell silent, save for the heavy breathing of the adventurers.
"That was incredible," one of them said, stepping forward. "Thank you. You saved our lives."
Jian sheathed his sword and shrugged. "Just passing through."
One of the adventurers, a woman with a bandaged arm, frowned. "Shadow Beasts don't usually appear in this area. Something's not right…"
Jian's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"
"There've been rumors," the woman said hesitantly. "Of someone—or something—stirring up trouble in the northern regions. We didn't believe it at first, but now…"
Jian's expression remained unreadable, but Hu Win could sense the tension in the air.
"Let's go," Jian said abruptly, turning to Hu Win.
"Wait! You're leaving already?" the woman called after him.
Jian didn't answer, and Hu Win hurried to follow him.
As they walked away from the clearing, Hu Win couldn't contain his questions any longer. "What do you think she meant? About someone stirring up trouble?"
Jian sighed. "It's probably nothing. People love to spread rumors."
"But what if it's not just a rumor?" Hu Win pressed.
"Then we deal with it when the time comes," Jian said firmly. "Right now, your training is what matters."
Hu Win fell silent, though his mind continued to race. He couldn't shake the feeling that something bigger was at play, something that would eventually drag them into its web.
For now, though, he focused on keeping up with Jian, determined to prove himself worthy of the path he had chosen.