Chapter 2: The Unseen Path
The following morning, Lei Xian woke to the familiar sounds of birds chirping and the smell of fresh bread wafting from the kitchen. The sun had barely crested the horizon, casting soft rays of light through the small window of his room. Despite the peaceful surroundings, Lei Xian felt the weight of anticipation pressing on his chest.
Yesterday had been a turning point—a glimmer of something he hadn't felt before. The energy, the warmth, the fleeting power. He hadn't imagined it, had he? No. It was real. But how could he possibly tap into it again?
As he rolled out of bed, his mind was consumed with thoughts of the mysterious energy. He had been so close. He could feel it, like a whisper just beyond his reach. His fingers itched to try again.
But not yet. Not before his chores were finished.
"Lei Xian, breakfast is ready!" His mother's voice rang from below, warm and inviting.
Lei Xian sighed, running a hand through his messy hair. There was no use in getting distracted. He had to focus on what mattered—his family, his responsibilities. The cultivation could wait.
But even as he descended the stairs to the kitchen, his mind kept wandering. The scroll, the mysterious energy—everything felt like a puzzle. A puzzle that, if solved, could change everything.
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Breakfast was a quiet affair, as it always was. His mother, though warm and caring, never pried into his personal thoughts. She smiled at him over the meal, her hands working busily, preparing everything just so. There was no hint of suspicion in her eyes, only the quiet concern of a mother who wanted the best for her son.
Lei Xian picked at his food, his mind elsewhere. He could barely taste the bread, barely feel the warmth of the tea. All he could think about was the energy, the way it had surged through him, just for a brief moment. And how, in that moment, he had felt like more than just a weak cultivator. He had felt alive, powerful—even if it was only for an instant.
But why hadn't it come back? Why was the energy so elusive?
"Lei Xian, what's bothering you?" His mother's voice brought him back to reality. She was looking at him with concern, her hand resting gently on his arm.
"Nothing, Mother," Lei Xian replied quickly, forcing a smile. "Just... thinking about things."
His mother studied him for a moment, her eyes sharp despite her gentle demeanor. Then she nodded slowly, accepting his answer. "I understand. Just remember, no matter how difficult things get, you always have your family to lean on."
"I know," Lei Xian said softly, his gaze dropping to his hands. The truth was, he didn't want to burden her with his struggles. He didn't want her to see how hopeless he sometimes felt. But she could sense his inner turmoil, and the weight of her concern only made it worse. He didn't want her to know how much he longed to be something more than just ordinary.
She smiled at him then, her warmth filling the room, and Lei Xian did his best to smile back.
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The day stretched on, and Lei Xian completed his chores with the same mechanical routine that had become second nature to him. But in the back of his mind, he could feel the pulse of that energy again, just waiting, like a distant call. He tried to focus on his work, but his thoughts kept drifting back to the scroll, to the runes that had glowed when he touched them, to the feeling of something new and powerful awakening within him.
At mid-day, after finishing his tasks, Lei Xian couldn't resist any longer. He made his way back to the small room where he'd hidden the scroll, his heart pounding with anticipation.
The scroll lay just as it had been the day before, still and lifeless. He hesitated for a moment, looking at the ancient symbols, unsure if he had the right to attempt it again. What if it was all just a fluke? What if he wasn't worthy?
But the doubt was gone. The hunger for power, for answers, outweighed his fears.
He knelt down and opened the scroll once more, his hands trembling slightly as he touched the ancient parchment. The runes flickered to life, glowing faintly under his fingers. His breath hitched. He felt the familiar stirring of energy deep inside him, as if the scroll were calling to him. It wasn't as powerful as yesterday, but it was there.
"Come on," he whispered to himself, his voice low and urgent. "I know you're there."
This time, Lei Xian did not rush. He closed his eyes and focused, letting the strange energy come to him instead of forcing it. He felt a subtle warmth spread through his body, like the faintest trace of sunlight breaking through clouds. It was gentle, unhurried.
And then, slowly, it began to grow.
The warmth spread to his chest, and then outward, filling his veins with a pulsing energy. His heart raced, but it wasn't fear—this time, it was excitement. The energy responded to him, not violently or unpredictably, but steadily. He could feel it moving, like a river flowing through his body, twisting and turning in ways he couldn't quite understand.
He focused harder, trying to guide it, to bend it to his will. And slowly, it began to obey. He could feel it swirling around his core, gathering strength.
Then, with a sudden burst, the energy expanded outward, enveloping his body in a cocoon of light. His mind raced as the world around him seemed to pulse with power. The room blurred, the edges of his vision fading. He could feel the energy surging through him like a torrent, unstoppable and wild.
"Stay calm. Stay calm," he muttered to himself. He had to control it. He had to—
The energy suddenly pulled back, like a snap of a bowstring releasing, and with a force that nearly knocked him off his feet, the surge of power receded. The room came back into focus, but Lei Xian was left breathless, his body trembling from the intensity.
For a moment, there was silence.
Then, as though it had never happened, the energy was gone.
Lei Xian fell to his knees, panting, his mind whirling. He wasn't sure what had just happened. It had felt different this time—more controlled, but also more volatile. The energy had responded to him, but it was so fleeting. So difficult to hold onto.
But... it was progress.
That's all he needed. A step forward.
He reached out and picked up the scroll again, staring at the glowing runes, his thoughts racing. He could feel it, deep within him—the potential to do more, to go further. He had only begun to scratch the surface of what was possible.
And so, with renewed determination, he vowed to press on. He would keep trying, keep pushing, until he mastered whatever power had chosen him.
---
The sun set slowly over the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and red. In the distance, the sounds of the village continued, but Lei Xian was no longer paying attention. He was consumed by thoughts of cultivation, of the mysterious energy that had just awakened within him.
Tomorrow, he would try again. And the day after that, and the day after that. Until he became something more. Until he could prove to everyone, including himself, that he was no fool.
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