Zhang Wei's legs shook as he stood in the training ground, the morning sun barely peeking over the bamboo grove. His body felt like a sack of broken sticks—bruises from Scar-cheek's ambush throbbed, and Zhang Huo's staff had left a fresh mark on his shoulder. He wiped sweat from his brow, tasting blood from a split lip. Training with the old man was no joke.
"Again," Zhang Huo barked, twirling the staff like it weighed nothing. "Block it this time, not just dodge."
Zhang Wei groaned but nodded. He planted his feet in the dirt, hands up, trying to look ready. Inside, he was screaming. Every swing from yesterday still echoed in his bones, and that fight in the rain hadn't helped. But he wasn't backing down—not now, not ever.
The staff came fast, a blur aimed at his chest. He twisted, calling on that Ascendant Breath trick he'd picked up from the jade slip. The qi in his chest flared—small, but enough. He raised his arm, and the wood smacked against it instead of his ribs. Pain shot through him, but he stayed standing.
Zhang Huo raised an eyebrow. "Better. You didn't fall."
"Progress," Zhang Wei muttered, shaking out his arm. It hurt like hell, but he grinned anyway. Small wins mattered.
The old man didn't smile back. "Sit. Catch your breath. Then we go again."
Zhang Wei dropped to the ground, dirt sticking to his sweaty palms. He pulled air in slow, running the Ascendant Breath like he'd practiced all night. That faint warmth spread, easing the ache just a little. The system chimed in his head.
[Ascendant Breath: 15% Mastered]
[Qi Awakening: 20% Complete]
[Strength: 6 | Agility: 8 | Vitality: 7]
He smirked. "Getting somewhere." The numbers weren't big, but they were his—proof he wasn't the trash everyone thought. Not anymore.
Zhang Huo sat across from him, resting the staff on his knees. "You're tougher than yesterday. What's driving you, boy? You've never cared before."
Zhang Wei hesitated. The old man's eyes were sharp, digging for truth. He couldn't say the real stuff—dying on Earth, the system, the jade slip. Instead, he shrugged. "I'm done being a joke. That's all."
Zhang Huo grunted, like he didn't fully believe it but let it slide. "Good enough. Your father's still raging—wants you out by the trials. Your brothers are betting you'll die in them."
"Let them bet," Zhang Wei said, voice hard. "I'll shove it down their throats."
The old man chuckled—a rare, rough sound. "Big talk. Prove it, or it's just noise."
Zhang Wei nodded, wiping blood from his lip. He liked Zhang Huo, in a weird way. The old man didn't coddle him, didn't lie. Just pushed him to be better—or break.
They went again. Staff swings, blocks, dodges—over and over until Zhang Wei's arms felt like lead. He took hits, landed a few shoves, and kept going. By noon, he was a mess—sweat-soaked, bruised, but standing.
[Strength: 7 | Agility: 8 | Vitality: 8]
"Rest," Zhang Huo said, tossing him a water skin. "You're not useless today."
Zhang Wei caught it, gulping the water down. "High praise," he said, half-laughing. His chest burned, but it wasn't all pain—some of it was qi, growing stronger.
The old man sat beside him, staring at the cracked pillar. "Trials are in three weeks now. You'll face disciples—real ones, not those fools who jumped you last night."
Zhang Wei froze, water dripping down his chin. "You knew?"
Zhang Huo snorted. "I'm old, not blind. Saw the marks. You fought back—good. But those were weaklings. The trials won't be."
"Who're we talking about?" Zhang Wei asked, wiping his face.
"Your cousins, mostly. Zhang Li's the worst—second son of your uncle. Peak Body Awakening Realm. Fast, strong, and mean. He'd love to snap you in half."
Zhang Wei's gut twisted. "Great. Another family reunion."
Zhang Huo didn't laugh this time. "Train hard, or he will. Rest's over—up."
They kept at it—hours of swings and blocks until the sun dipped low. Zhang Wei's body screamed, but he pushed through, each hit sharpening that qi inside him. By dusk, he could feel it—a steady hum, not just a flicker.
[Ascendant Breath: 20% Mastered]
[Qi Awakening: 25% Complete]
He collapsed onto the dirt, breathing hard. Zhang Huo nodded, almost approving. "Sleep. Tomorrow's worse."
The old man left, and Zhang Wei dragged himself back to the hall. His cot felt like heaven, even with the lumps. He lay there, staring at the ceiling, the jade slip pressed against his chest. That fight last night replayed in his head—Scar-cheek's sneer, the rush of landing a punch. He'd been sloppy, but he'd survived.
"Zhang Li, huh?" he muttered. Peak Body Awakening Realm sounded bad—way above his level. He needed more than bruises and a breathing trick to face that.
He pulled the jade slip out, running his thumb over it. The warmth hummed, steady and quiet. He pressed it to his forehead, diving back into the Ascendant Breath. Inhale slow, hold, exhale sharp—over and over, until his body relaxed and the qi flowed smooth.
[Ascendant Breath: 25% Mastered]
"Better," he whispered. It wasn't enough—not yet—but it was a start. Three weeks. He could do this.
Sleep tugged at him, but his mind raced. Back on Earth, he'd been a nobody—stuck in a cubicle, dreaming of something bigger. Here, he had a shot. A real one. Even if it meant getting beaten bloody every day.
A noise outside jolted him awake—footsteps, soft but close. He sat up, heart pounding. The door creaked open, and a shadow slipped in—a girl, maybe sixteen, in a servant's robe. Her eyes widened when she saw him.
"Sorry!" she squeaked, bowing fast. "I—I thought this was empty. I'll go—"
"Wait," Zhang Wei said, voice rough. "Who are you?"
She froze, clutching a broom. "Mei. I clean here. You're… Third Young Master, right?"
He nodded, relaxing a bit. "Yeah. Don't run off. I won't bite."
Mei hesitated, then smiled—small, nervous. "They say you're different now. Not like before."
Zhang Wei raised an eyebrow. "Different how?"
She fidgeted. "Less… angry. Less mean. You used to yell at us—throw things. Now you just… train."
He winced. The old Zhang Wei's memories flickered—snapping at servants, smashing cups. What a jerk. "That's not me anymore," he said, quiet but firm.
Mei nodded, like she believed him. "Good. I—I hope you win the trials." She darted out before he could reply, leaving him staring at the door.
"Win the trials," he muttered, lying back down. Her words stuck with him—someone rooting for him, even a scared little servant girl. It felt… nice.
He closed his eyes, running the Ascendant Breath again. The qi settled deeper, stronger.
[Qi Awakening: 27% Complete]
Morning came too fast. Bells rang, and Zhang Huo was back, staff in hand. "Up," he said. "No slacking."
Zhang Wei groaned but stood, brushing dirt off his robe. "Ready."
They hit the training ground again—more swings, more blocks, more pain. Zhang Wei took it, gritting his teeth through every hit. His qi grew with each breath, slow but sure.
[Strength: 8 | Agility: 9 | Vitality: 8]
By noon, he could block two swings in a row without stumbling. Zhang Huo nodded, a rare glint in his eye. "Not bad, boy. Keep it up."
Zhang Wei grinned, wiping sweat and blood from his face. "I will."
Three weeks. Zhang Li. The trials. He'd be ready—or he'd die trying. Back on Earth, he'd let life slip by. But here was different. This was his chance to prove himself, and he wasn't going to waste it. Not now. Not ever.
Zhang Wei smirked, his confidence unshaken. "Bring it on," he said, as if daring the challenges ahead to test them.