It's noon, as I stood in the center of the courtyard, drenched in sweat, my body aching from days of continuous training. My limbs felt heavy, but the strain had become somewhat familiar, like a constant companion that I had grown used to.
Qin Shi Huang stood across from me, his golden robes glinting in the sunlight, his posture impeccable. Despite the relentless training, his presence remained unnervingly calm. He hadn't shown any signs of exhaustion, his movements as fluid as ever. It was both humbling and infuriating—how could I, someone with no combat experience, even begin to compare?
"You have learned the basics of control," he said, his voice low but firm. "Your body is stronger than before, and you have learned to push past your limits. Now, we begin the true training. The Chi You forms. These are the key to your strength."
I nodded, trying to suppress the nervousness that gnawed at me. I had heard of these forms, these ancient techniques, but to think I was about to actually practice them—it was both exhilarating and terrifying.
"Let's start with the first," Qin Shi Huang began. He stepped into a new stance, his body immediately radiating authority and power. "The Heavenly Hand of Defense—Chi You's Armor Form. This form is meant to solidify your defense, to create an unshakable foundation. It is not only about blocking, but absorbing the power of your opponent's strikes and redirecting them."
He moved, raising his arms in front of him, palms facing outward, his body angled like a mountain standing tall against the wind. His movements were slow at first, deliberate, as if he were demonstrating a concept more than a simple action.
"The first step," Qin Shi Huang continued, "is to understand the flow of your own energy. Your arms must act as shields, but also as conduits for the energy you channel from the ground to the sky. The Heavenly Hand of Defense requires you to be unyielding, but flexible. The power of the strike will not break you if your mind and body are aligned."
I watched closely as he executed the form with precision, his arms tracing an arc before him, his body moving with the grace of an ancient oak swaying in the wind. The stance felt natural to him, like a second skin.
"Now, you try." His command was simple, but the weight behind it was unmistakable. I stepped forward, positioning myself in the same stance. My arms trembled slightly as I raised them, but I tried to emulate his fluidity. My posture was rigid at first, but I remembered his words: I had to channel the energy, not just block it.
I moved slowly, raising my arms, and in the moment of contact, I felt it—the force of the air around me shifting. My arms absorbed the impact of an invisible blow, and I quickly redirected the energy, as though I were pressing it down into the earth.
"Good," Qin Shi Huang said, his voice soft but approving. "You are beginning to understand. The key is not to resist, but to flow. Let the energy pass through you, and then return it."
I continued practicing, gradually building up strength in my arms, my core, and my mind. The strain was immense, but the form slowly began to take shape.
"Next," Qin Shi Huang said, stepping forward, "the Mount Tai Dragon Claw—Chi You's Spear Form."
I felt a surge of excitement at the mention of a spear. I had seen the form used in battle before, though never in person. It was said to be devastating when wielded correctly.
"The Mount Tai Dragon Claw is an offensive form," Qin Shi Huang explained, his eyes narrowing with focus. "It is not just about attacking; it is about timing. The strike must come from a place of balance, where your legs, arms, and will converge into a single blow. The dragon's claw does not strike aimlessly; it strikes to pierce the heart."
He crouched slightly, drawing his arm back, then suddenly lunged forward, his fist extended like the talons of a dragon. The movement was so fast that I barely had time to blink before he was back in his original stance.
"Notice the flow of his body," Qin Shi Huang said, referring to his own form. "The strike does not begin with the arms—it begins with the legs. The power generated from the ground must travel up through the body and into the arm. This is how you generate true power."
I copied his stance, positioning my feet in the same way, bending my knees to draw energy from the ground. The punch I threw felt clumsy, lacking the fluidity he had, but there was power in it—a surge of energy that followed his instructions.
"Again," he commanded.
I repeated the form, this time focusing more on the flow of my body. It wasn't perfect, but I could feel it—each movement, each strike, connected to the ground and the air around me.
"Now, we move to the next form," Qin Shi Huang said, his voice even and commanding. "The Tortoise Ripple—Chi You's Crossbow Form."
The Tortoise Ripple was unlike the other forms. It wasn't as direct or as aggressive. It was a defensive, tactical maneuver. Qin Shi Huang raised both arms, crossing them in front of his body, as though forming a protective barrier.
"This form is about controlling the battlefield," he explained. "You become like the tortoise, patient and unyielding. But when the time comes, you strike with the precision of an arrow. The key is focus. You must wait until the perfect moment, and then release your power in a single, untraceable motion."
He demonstrated, moving with deliberate slowness, his arms pulling back before suddenly shooting forward, his hands moving in a pattern that was almost invisible. There was no wasted motion. Everything was tight, controlled.
I tried to replicate it. My arms crossed in front of me, and I felt the subtle tension of my muscles, waiting. Then, with a swift motion, I extended my arms, feeling the rippling energy pass through my body and out toward an invisible target. The sensation was unlike anything I had felt before. It was like firing a bow, except the arrow was my own power.
"Next is the White Tiger Crescent Moon—Chi You's Halberd Form," Qin Shi Huang said, moving swiftly into position.
The White Tiger Crescent Moon was a form that demanded both strength and speed. Qin Shi Huang's movements were swift and fluid as he held his hands in a crescent-shaped arc, his arms ready to strike with the power of a tiger's claws.
"This form is not about precision or power alone," he said. "It is about agility. The Crescent Moon is an arc, a slash that cleaves through the air. It is not a simple cut. It is a form that flows with speed, each strike following the next with the swiftness of a tiger hunting its prey."
He demonstrated the movements, the speed of his strikes blurring together in a seamless flow. His body moved with deadly grace, and I could feel the power in his strikes, even as he moved at full speed.
I followed his lead, feeling the weight of the motion in my arms and legs, the quickness of the transition from one strike to the next. The speed was difficult to match, but with each movement, I felt myself getting closer.
"Lastly, the Shi Huang Yan Cut—Chi You's Sword Form," Qin Shi Huang concluded.
The Shi Huang Yan Cut was a form of unmatched precision. The sword was not just a weapon—it was an extension of the will.
"This form is about cutting through everything," he said, his voice quiet but full of weight. "The sword is not just a weapon. It is a tool. You must cut through the air, through your enemies, and through the limitations of your own body. You must know the blade as if it were part of you. Every motion must be purposeful."
Qin Shi Huang drew an invisible sword with the elegance of a master, his movements fluid but sharp. "Focus. Control. Power. These are the three elements of the Shi Huang Yan Cut."
As he finished, I stood before him, my body trembling with the effort of all the forms I had practiced. I was far from perfect—hell, I wasn't even close—but I felt something inside me stir. It wasn't just physical strength. It was a sense of purpose, of will.
"You have learned the forms," Qin Shi Huang said, his eyes piercing into me. "But this is just the beginning. Now, you must make them your own. If you wish to survive, if you wish to lead, you must embrace these forms as your own. Only then will you become the true successor of Chi You."
I nodded, feeling the weight of his words settle over me. The road ahead was long, but for the first time, I felt ready to walk it.