The wind carried the crisp scent of pine as Feiyin stepped onto the training grounds, his breath steady, his mind focused. Today felt different. There was a lightness in his limbs, a strength in his core that hadn't been there before. For the past three months, he had pushed his body and internal strength to their limits, tempering every part of himself inside and out.
The militia members were already gathered, their voices carrying over the morning air. Jiang Hu, as usual, was the loudest, arguing with Sun Ke over some trivial matter. Zhao Wei stood with his arms crossed, nodding occasionally, while Lao Min groaned about how much he disliked running drills.
Feiyin took his place among them, rolling his shoulders as he prepared for the day's training. It started as usual, footwork drills, evasive movements, strength conditioning. But when they moved into paired combat practice, that's when he felt it.
Sun Ke lunged at him, his movements sharp, refined. Feiyin twisted his body instinctively, redirecting the force of the attack, countering with a controlled burst of internal strength. The air seemed to hum around him, his body moving in perfect synchronization with his will.
Sun Ke barely managed to block, his feet skidding slightly in the dirt. For a moment, his face was frozen in surprise. Then, he let out a short, incredulous laugh.
"…What the hell?"
The group had been engaged in their own sparring matches, but at Sun Ke's reaction, all eyes turned to them.
Feiyin blinked. "What?"
Jiang Hu strode over, grabbing Feiyin's wrist, feeling the tension in his muscles, then letting go with a grunt. "Do that again."
Feiyin hesitated, then moved through the motions once more. He could feel it now, the power surging through him, the sheer weight of his own internal strength responding to his movements.
Jiang Hu let out a sharp exhale, then barked a laugh. "Hah! This little brat just hit 1000 kilograms of strength, didn't he?"
A brief silence followed. Then,
"Wait, seriously?" Sun Ke's voice cracked as he looked at Feiyin like he had grown a second head.
Zhao Wei, always the quiet observer, narrowed his eyes. "That's… No wonder his movements feel heavier."
The realization rippled through the group, and soon, the militia was in an uproar.
"He's just a kid!"
"How the hell did he reach that already?"
"This brat's outpacing grown men now?!"
Feiyin's face flushed with a mixture of pride and embarrassment as Jiang Hu clapped a heavy hand on his back, nearly knocking the breath out of him.
"You little monster. You've been training quietly, and now you pull this on us?"
Feiyin grinned, his heart swelling with joy. He hadn't been sure before, but now, hearing it from them, feeling their reactions, this was proof that his effort had been worth it.
He wiped the sweat from his brow, his chest rising with excitement. He had trained hard on tempering his body, focusing on both his inner and outer foundation, but now he could see that his patience had paid off.
Jiang Hu ruffled his hair. "Alright, alright, don't get too full of yourself. Keep training, and maybe in a few years, you'll actually be able to spar with me properly."
Feiyin scoffed. "You mean in a few months?"
The group roared with laughter, and Feiyin couldn't help but laugh along with them.
That night, after dinner, Feiyin sat cross-legged in the quiet of their home, his heart still buzzing from the day's events. He had reached 1000 kg of internal strength. He had proof that his body could withstand immense force. That meant…
He was ready.
He had spent months refining his inner strength, understanding how it resonated, how it flowed through him like a song intertwined with the world's oscillations. But up until now, it had remained just that, a resonance, an understanding.
Now, he wanted to take it further.
He closed his eyes, breathing deeply, reaching inward.
The elements all had their own rhythm. He had felt them in the trees, in the wind, in the water. But fire, it was the one he had yet to truly grasp.
He thought back to the flames in the village, to the merchants cooking over their stoves, to the flickering torches lighting the training grounds. The oscillation of fire was lively, wild, always shifting, but there was an unmistakable harmony to it, a rhythm within the chaos.
He steadied his breathing. Slowly, carefully, he began to adjust the oscillation of his inner strength to match the pulse of fire.
At first, it was difficult. Fire's rhythm was fickle, hard to grasp. It burned too fast, too bright, slipping away the moment he thought he had it. He furrowed his brows, concentrating harder.
Then,
A spark.
His heart stirred, a warmth blooming deep within his chest, filling him with a sense of power and exhilaration. His blood pumped stronger, each beat vibrating in harmony with the fire element. The air around him tasted sharper, richer, more alive.
He had done it.
He wanted to laugh, to celebrate,
Then, suddenly, the warmth turned scalding.
His heart lurched, the fire within him spreading outward uncontrollably, searing through his body like a wildfire consuming dry wood.
Pain, blinding, unbearable pain.
His breath hitched, his vision blurred. He tried to stop it, but the flames within his inner strength had taken root, spiraling beyond his control.
Before he could cry out, a cool, steady hand pressed against his back.
"Feiyin, stop. Right now."
His mother's voice was sharp, firm, but laced with urgency.
Through the haze of pain, he felt her inner strength flowing into him, calm yet powerful, wrapping around his erratic energy like a river cooling molten rock.
With her guidance, he focused, forced his breathing to slow, and after what felt like an eternity, the burning sensation receded, leaving his body trembling.
The silence that followed was heavy.
Then,
"…What were you thinking?"
His father's voice cut through the air like a blade.
Feiyin's throat tightened. He turned his head slightly to see his father standing at the doorway, his usual calm expression replaced by something… sharper. Concern. Frustration.
"I, I almost had it," Feiyin whispered.
His mother exhaled slowly, rubbing her temple. "Almost had it? Feiyin, do you understand what could have happened if I wasn't here?"
His chest ached. He hadn't meant to make them worry. He thought, he truly thought he had done it right.
Tears pricked at the corners of his eyes before he could stop them. "I thought I was ready," he said, his voice cracking. "I, I just wanted to, "
"To what?" Cai Feng stepped forward, kneeling to meet his gaze. "To rush ahead without fully understanding what you were doing?"
Feiyin bit his lip.
His father sighed, shaking his head. "You are gifted, Feiyin. But that doesn't mean you can skip steps. Mastery comes from patience, not from reckless leaps forward."
His mother placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "We're not angry, Feiyin. We're worried. You need to tell us before you try something like this again."
Feiyin sniffled, nodding as he wiped his face.
Cai Feng studied him for a moment before his expression softened. "You did well in sensing the fire's rhythm. That is already an achievement. But next time, you will not attempt something like this alone."
Feiyin nodded quickly, relief and exhaustion washing over him.
Mei Liao smiled, ruffling his hair. "You're growing, little one. Just… don't burn yourself out."
A small, wobbly smile crept onto Feiyin's lips. He wouldn't stop. He couldn't stop. It was just so interesting.
But next time, he'd be more careful.
As the tension in the air settled, Feiyin let out a shaky breath, his body still trembling from the aftereffects of his reckless attempt. The warmth had completely left his limbs, leaving behind a dull ache in his chest and a strange emptiness where the fire had once burned. His mother's hand was still on his back, gently rubbing slow circles, as if easing the last remnants of discomfort away.
After a few moments of silence, Mei Liao stood up and walked over to a nearby shelf, her movements smooth and precise. She opened a small wooden box, taking out a porcelain vial filled with an earthy-scented liquid. Feiyin recognized the scent instantly, a mixture of medicinal herbs she had often used to help with his body tempering recovery.
She poured a small amount into a cup and handed it to him. "Drink. This will help repair any internal strain and soothe your meridians."
Feiyin took the cup hesitantly, the scent strong but familiar. He had never particularly enjoyed the bitter taste, but right now, he wasn't about to complain. He brought the cup to his lips, taking small sips before swallowing it all in one go.
Immediately, a cooling sensation spread through his chest, like a soft stream washing away lingering embers. His breathing steadied, the ache in his limbs easing ever so slightly.
His mother gave a small nod of approval. "Rest for tonight. No more experiments with your inner strength until your body fully recovers."
Feiyin nodded, still feeling the warmth of their concern despite the scolding.
The days passed in a slow, measured rhythm.
Feiyin lay on his bed, staring at the wooden ceiling of their home, feeling the faint hum of the world around him. His body no longer ached as sharply as before, but a deep soreness lingered, a reminder of his mistake.
He had been so sure. So certain that he had done it right.
And yet, he had lost control.
It frustrated him, gnawed at the edges of his mind like an itch he couldn't scratch. He had matched the oscillation of fire, felt the powerful resonance in his body, but instead of control, he had been consumed. Why? What had gone wrong?
His mother's soft footsteps interrupted his thoughts. Mei Liao walked in with a small ceramic bowl, the familiar scent of medicinal herbs filling the air.
"Time for your treatment," she said gently, sitting beside him.
Feiyin pushed himself up with a sigh, taking the bowl from her hands. He had grown used to the taste by now, though the bitterness still made him wince. Mei Liao chuckled at his expression, adjusting his blankets as he drank.
"You're looking better today," she observed. "Your internal state is more stable."
Feiyin wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "I feel fine. Just… annoyed."
Mei Liao raised an eyebrow. "Annoyed?"
He frowned, gripping the empty bowl in his hands. "I got the oscillation right. I know I did. It felt perfect, like I was one with the fire… but then it turned on me." He clenched his jaw. "I don't understand what I did wrong."
His mother studied him for a moment before taking the bowl from his hands and setting it aside. Then, she tapped his forehead lightly with her finger.
"You're overthinking it."
Feiyin blinked. "What?"
She smiled. "Fire isn't just an element. It has a nature of its own. It is wild, unpredictable, both life-giving and destructive. You matched its oscillation, yes, but you didn't control it. You let yourself become part of it, but not its master."
Feiyin's brows furrowed. "Then… how do I control it?"
Mei Liao leaned back, folding her arms. "That is the hardest question of all. Control is a matter of balance. In my clan, we specialized in the soft application of inner strength, learning how to guide energy rather than force it. Some elders spoke of a fabled realm of control, one where extreme yang births yin, and extreme yin births yang."
Feiyin's ears perked up. "What does that mean?"
She tapped her chin, thinking. "Imagine a raging fire, burning at its peak. What happens when it reaches its absolute limit?"
Feiyin thought for a moment. "It… burns out?"
Mei Liao nodded. "Yes. It consumes everything until it collapses in on itself. That is the principle, when something reaches its extreme, it transforms. Extreme heat can become cold. Extreme light creates shadows. The strongest flame will, at its peak, give birth to its opposite."
Feiyin's eyes widened slightly. "So… if I reach that level of control, I can make fire… into something else?"
She smiled. "Perhaps. But reaching that realm takes a lifetime of mastery. I myself never understood it fully. You, however, might have a better chance."
Feiyin looked down at his hands, flexing his fingers slightly. He had always thought of control as simply getting stronger, but his mother's words painted a new picture, control was not about overpowering something, but about understanding it to its core.
A newfound determination settled in his chest. He had a long way to go, but he wouldn't stop here.
Mei Liao ruffled his hair. "Don't think too hard just yet. Focus on recovering first. Then you can get back to burning things."
Feiyin huffed. "I wasn't trying to burn anything."
She gave him a knowing look. "Mm-hmm."
By the time he had fully recovered, the frustration in his heart had lessened, replaced by curiosity.
That evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Feiyin sat with his father outside their home, the cool air carrying the scent of pine and soil. Cai Feng was sharpening his blade, slow, deliberate strokes gliding against the whetstone.
Feiyin watched the rhythmic movement before finally speaking.
"Father… I want to understand the elements better."
Cai Feng paused mid-stroke, glancing at him. "Oh? And what brought this on?"
Feiyin hesitated, then admitted, "I thought I had control over fire, but I didn't. I want to understand why."
Cai Feng set the sword aside, resting his forearms on his knees. "You've felt the elements through oscillation, haven't you? You see how they exist within the world, how they interact."
Feiyin nodded.
His father picked up a stick from the ground, twirling it between his fingers. "Then tell me, what happens when you set fire to wood?"
Feiyin frowned. "The fire burns it, turning it into ash."
Cai Feng nodded. "Yes. And what happens to the ash?"
"…It becomes part of the earth?"
His father smiled faintly. "Good. And where does water go when it seeps into the soil?"
Feiyin's mind turned. "It nourishes the ground… helping plants grow."
Cai Feng leaned forward slightly. "Everything in this world exists in cycles, Feiyin. Just as your body cycles energy, the elements cycle through creation and destruction."
He drew a quick diagram in the dirt, illustrating a circle.
"This is the Creation Cycle," he explained. "Wood feeds Fire. Fire creates Earth. Earth produces Metal. Metal carries Water. Water nourishes Wood. Each element flows into the next."
Feiyin traced the circle with his eyes, feeling the logic within it.
"Then what about the opposite?" he asked.
Cai Feng smirked and drew another set of lines, forming a star within the circle.
"This is the Destructive Cycle. Fire melts Metal. Metal cuts Wood. Wood buries Earth. Earth absorbs Water. Water extinguishes Fire."
Feiyin stared at the two cycles, his mind racing. "So… if I understand these cycles, I can control elements better?"
His father nodded. "It's not just about controlling them, it's about knowing when to nurture, and when to restrain. Fire burned you because you let it run unchecked. But if you had Water as its balance, it wouldn't have raged out of control."
Feiyin's fingers twitched. It made sense. It all made sense.
"So I need to think about the elements as part of a whole, not just by themselves," he murmured.
Cai Feng smiled. "Exactly. Control isn't about force, it's about understanding balance."
Feiyin sat back, his heart racing with newfound clarity.