Chapter 12: Trial by Fire
Adrian had never been patient. He was the kind of person who wanted results fast, who pushed until something broke. But Elias's words kept echoing in his head: "Cultivation isn't about speed. It's about survival."
So he tried something new. He slowed down.
The apartment was quiet, the couch shoved against the wall, the rug rolled up. The focus stones lay in a neat circle around him, faintly humming with energy. He sat cross-legged in the center, pendant against his chest, and closed his eyes.
The Qi came easily now, smoother than before. The stones steadied him, grounding the flow, keeping the energy from tearing him apart. He guided it carefully, tracing paths through his body, opening channels bit by bit. It wasn't dramatic. No sudden breakthroughs, no bursts of light. Just steady progress.
Hours passed. Sweat dripped down his face, his muscles trembled, but he didn't collapse. He stopped before the pain became unbearable, before blood came. For the first time, he felt like he was in control.
He opened his eyes, breathing hard. The room was dim, the stones faintly glowing. He felt stronger—not in the reckless, intoxicating way of before, but in a quieter, steadier way. It was progress.
But progress came with a price.
The pendant pulsed suddenly, harder than usual. Adrian frowned, touching it. The warmth wasn't calm this time—it was urgent, warning.
Then he heard it.
A sound outside his door. Footsteps. Slow, deliberate.
Adrian's heart pounded. He rose quietly, slipping the pendant under his shirt. The stones dimmed as he moved, their hum fading. He stood in the dark, listening.
The footsteps stopped. Silence.
Then the door rattled.
Adrian's breath caught. He grabbed a chair, holding it like a weapon. The door creaked, then burst open.
A figure stepped inside—tall, broad-shouldered, eyes glowing faintly. Not Elias. Not the woman from the alley. Someone new.
The man smiled, teeth sharp in the dim light. "Found you."
Adrian's grip tightened on the chair. "Who are you?"
"Doesn't matter," the man said. "What matters is that relic. Hand it over, and maybe I'll let you live."
Adrian's chest burned. He could feel the Qi stirring, the pendant pulsing. He shook his head. "No."
The man laughed. "Then you'll die."
He moved fast, faster than Adrian expected. Adrian swung the chair, blocking the strike, but the force sent him stumbling back. The man pressed forward, fists glowing with Qi, each blow heavy and precise.
Adrian dodged, barely. The pendant flared, guiding his movements, but he was outmatched. His body screamed, his ribs throbbed, his breath came ragged.
The man struck again, sending Adrian crashing into the wall. Pain exploded across his side. He coughed, blood filling his mouth.
But he didn't stop.
He grabbed one of the focus stones, clutching it tight. The hum steadied him, grounding the chaos. He forced the Qi through his body, channeling it into his fists.
The man lunged. Adrian met him head-on, fist glowing faintly. Their blows collided, the impact shaking the room. Adrian staggered, but he didn't fall.
The man snarled. "You're stronger than you look."
Adrian wiped the blood from his mouth. "And you're weaker than you think."
He pushed harder, channeling the Qi, guiding it carefully. The pain was sharp, but he controlled it. He struck again, fist slamming into the man's chest. The pendant flared, the stone hummed, and the blow landed with more force than Adrian thought possible.
The man stumbled back, eyes wide. He hissed, retreating toward the door. "You're not ready. But you will be. And when you are, others will come."
Then he vanished into the night, leaving Adrian trembling in the dark.
He collapsed onto the floor, chest heaving, body battered. The stones lay scattered, their glow fading. The pendant pulsed faintly, steady and calm.
Adrian closed his eyes, exhaustion pulling him under. He had survived—barely. But survival wasn't enough anymore.
He clenched his fists, whispering to himself. "I'll be ready. Next time, I'll be ready."
The pendant pulsed again, as if agreeing.