Lim Kris held her ground, the shimmering shield of water she had summoned slowly dissolving into mist. She exhaled heavily, glancing at Chen Franz, who stood with his hands behind his back, watching her with calm amusement.
Chen Franz (raising an eyebrow):
"Not bad for your first real test. But if you hesitate, you'll lose. Again."
Before Lim Kris could respond, Chen Franz vanished from her view, reappearing to her right in a blur of speed.
Lim Kris (thinking):
"So fast—!"
With no time to react, she instinctively raised her arm, pulling water from the nearby stream to form a blade-like whip. The water lashed out toward Chen Franz, but he sidestepped effortlessly, the blade slicing only air.
Chen Franz (calmly):
"Your movements are predictable. Let the water flow naturally, don't force it. Focus."
Lim Kris gritted her teeth, frustration mounting.
Lim Kris (thinking):
"He makes it look so easy…"
Without warning, Chen Franz advanced again, this time extending a single finger aimed at her chest. Lim Kris reacted by conjuring twin water spears from the ground, crossing them in front of her to form a barrier.
Lim Kris (shouting):
"Try this!"
The spears shot forward, but Chen Franz barely glanced at them. With a casual wave of his hand, the water spears froze mid-air, shattering into droplets.
In an instant, Chen Franz flicked his finger toward her forehead – again.
Lim Kris (yelping):
"Ah—!"
The light tap sent her tumbling backward, landing hard on the grass.
Chen Franz (sipping tea casually):
"Still thinking too much. If I were truly your enemy, you'd be unconscious by now."
Lim Kris groaned, rubbing her forehead as she sat up.
Lim Kris (pouting):
"Do you have to keep flicking me like that?"
Chen Franz (grinning):
"It's effective, isn't it?"
Lim Kris glared at him but couldn't help the small smile that tugged at her lips. Despite the tough training, she could feel herself growing stronger, her connection to water deepening with each sparring session.
The sun began to set over Dead Mountain, casting long shadows across the temple courtyard. Lim Kris stood in the center of the courtyard, her breathing steady as she prepared for another round.
Chen Franz (walking toward her):
"Now that you've mastered basic defense, let's move on to attacking forms."
With a flick of his wrist, a ring of fire emerged around them, flickering faintly.
Chen Franz:
"Your task is simple – break through this barrier."
Lim Kris stared at the flames warily.
Lim Kris:
"Fire? But I control water."
Chen Franz (nodding):
"Exactly. Water can extinguish fire… if you know how to control it. Think of this as the perfect test."
Lim Kris stepped forward, summoning a spiraling stream of water around her arms. She lunged forward, attempting to part the flames with a burst of water.
The fire hissed but remained unbroken.
Lim Kris (frustrated):
"Why isn't it working?"
Chen Franz (calmly):
"You're treating the flames as an obstacle. Flow with the fire, don't fight it head-on."
Lim Kris paused, lowering her stance. She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath.
Slowly, the water around her began to swirl more smoothly, wrapping around her body like a flowing river. As she advanced again, the water spiraled into a thin blade that sliced through the flames with precision.
The ring of fire vanished in an instant.
Chen Franz (smiling):
"Good. Now you're starting to understand."
Lim Kris exhaled, a bead of sweat running down her temple.
Lim Kris (grinning):
"I did it!"
Chen Franz:
"Don't celebrate yet. Again."
The flames reignited around them, and Lim Kris groaned.
As they continued to train, Chen Franz's eyes subtly flickered toward the horizon. Though his expression remained neutral, he could still sense the Fire Clan warriors approaching.
They were now only three days away.
Chen Franz (thinking):
"They're moving faster than I thought. Pung Han must be eager to prove himself."
Lim Kris, unaware of the approaching danger, continued practicing, perfecting her technique with each attempt.
Lim Kris (panting):
"Master, how long do you think it'll take for me to catch up to someone like you?"
Chen Franz (glancing at her softly):
"Catch up? Maybe in a thousand years."
Lim Kris (pouting):
"That long?!"
Chen Franz (laughing):
"Relax. By the time you reach that point, you'll be thankful for the journey."
He watched as Lim Kris summoned another blade of water, slicing effortlessly through the flames.
Chen Franz (thinking):
"I'll let her enjoy the peace while it lasts. She'll know soon enough."
Chen Franz observed her closely, his arms crossed as he leaned against a nearby tree.
Chen Franz (thinking):
"If I wanted to, I could make her the most powerful person on this continent in seconds… but power without discipline is meaningless."
His gaze softened as Lim Kris straightened herself, wiping her forehead with the sleeve of her robe.
Lim Kris (smiling slightly):
"Master, I think I'm starting to get the hang of this."
Chen Franz nodded, but inwardly he reflected on his decision.
Chen Franz (thinking):
"If I give her overwhelming strength now, she might never understand what it means to fight for survival. Strength alone can't shape someone's heart. She needs to develop the will to stand her ground, even when outmatched."
Despite his immense power, Chen Franz knew that the true foundation of strength wasn't physical – it was the mind.
He had seen far too many fall to arrogance, relying solely on brute force.
Chen Franz (thinking):
"I've lived too long to know how this ends. If I shape her power carefully, she'll have the strength to protect not only herself but those around her."
Lim Kris stepped forward, interrupting his thoughts.
Lim Kris (curious):
"Master, why do you make me go through all of this? Couldn't you just… I don't know… unlock all of my power like you did with my martial arts knowledge?"
She watched him expectantly, her head tilted slightly.
Chen Franz (grinning faintly):
"I could. But what would happen if I weren't around? What if someone stronger appeared, and you had no experience to draw from?"
Lim Kris blinked, caught off guard by his response.
Chen Franz (calmly):
"Strength isn't just about power. It's about your ability to stay calm in the face of danger, to think when fear clouds your mind. That can't be gifted – you have to earn it."
She lowered her gaze, silently absorbing his words.
Lim Kris (softly):
"I guess that makes sense…"
Chen Franz suddenly stepped forward, and with a flick of his wrist, the temple courtyard shifted.
The sky darkened, and the peaceful garden around them vanished, replaced by an endless black void.
Lim Kris (shocked):
"W-what's happening?"
She spun around, realizing she was standing on a narrow stone platform floating in the void.
Chen Franz (voice echoing):
"This is an illusion, but your body will react as if it were real. Let's test your willpower."
From the shadows, figures emerged – faceless warriors forged from fire, each radiating with killing intent.
Lim Kris instinctively stepped back, gripping the air as she summoned streams of water to her side.
Chen Franz (watching closely):
"Let's see how well you can handle fear."
The fire warriors lunged forward in unison.
Lim Kris's eyes widened, and she immediately launched a barrage of water spears toward them. The first few warriors were cut down, evaporating into mist, but more emerged from the shadows, multiplying endlessly.
Lim Kris (panting):
"There's too many!"
Chen Franz, standing calmly within the illusion, observed without intervening.
Chen Franz (thinking):
"This isn't about winning. It's about how long she can hold out before panic takes over."
Lim Kris's hands trembled slightly as the fire warriors closed in.
Suddenly, her mind echoed with Chen Franz's earlier words:
"Strength isn't just about power… It's about staying calm even when fear clouds your mind."
She exhaled slowly, lowering her hands.
The fire warriors halted mid-strike, flickering uncertainly.
Lim Kris (closing her eyes):
"This is just an illusion… none of this is real."
The void around her began to crack, light spilling through the darkness.
Chen Franz (smiling):
"Good. You passed."
In an instant, the courtyard returned to normal, the garden blooming peacefully around them once again.
Lim Kris opened her eyes, staring at the familiar surroundings.
Lim Kris (whispering):
"That felt… too real."
Chen Franz approached, placing a hand on her shoulder.
Chen Franz (calmly):
"Remember that feeling. When the Fire Clan arrives, it won't be an illusion. If you can remain calm even then, you'll survive."
As Lim Kris returned to practicing her forms, Chen Franz watched quietly, his mind already preparing for the Fire Clan's arrival.
Chen Franz (thinking):
"In three days, they'll be here. She won't be ready by then… but if she stands tall when the flames come, I'll know she has the heart of a warrior."
He could destroy the Fire Clan warriors effortlessly – but he wouldn't.
Chen Franz (smiling to himself):
"Let her think I'm testing her. The truth is, I'm testing myself. How long can I let her fight before stepping in?"
Despite his calm demeanor, Chen Franz felt a flicker of excitement.
It had been centuries since someone made him curious.