Training from m till noon had bee Feiyin’s new reality. Every day was a structured cycle—the m for external refi, f his body through rigorous postures, and the evening for internal cultivation, fog on trolled breathing and nutrition to nourish his ans. This method was demanding but effit, ensuring that his body was tempered without breaking, strengthened without overexertion.Some days began with Python Postures, training his muscles and tendons, pushing their endurand explosive strength. Then, after lunch, the focus would be on Tree Breathing, a teique desigo stimute the spleen and stabilize the body's core bahe pattern was ungi diverse, c all five essential phases of Body Tempering. Crocodile Postures reinforced the skin, making it tougher and more resilient, bined with Earth Breathing, which stabilized his body like the unshakable ground. Tiger Postures were desigo harden the bones, paired with Metal Breathing, strengthening his skeletal structure. Dragon ostures refihe marrow, w in tandem with Water Breathing, enhang recovery and endurance. Finally, Hummingbird Postures focused on blood circution, while Fire Breathing stimuted his heart, improving Qi adaptability and stamina.Each breathing teique was more than just inhaling and exhaling—they were precise, deliberate patterns desigo stimute specific ans and enhaheir efficy. They required deep tration, and through them, Feiyin could feel the osciltions of his body, sensing the shifts in circution, the subtle pulse of energy within him.His meals were just as important as the training itself. Every day, his mother prepared special soups infused with medial herbs and nourishing ingredients, each carefully selected to aid in recovery and amplify the effects of training. Gio invigorate blood, lotus root to reinforce the spleen, bck bone chi for marrow enha. Without proper nourishment, evero cultivator would eventually colpse.For five days a week, his schedule was relentless, a cycle of breaking and ref, exhausting and rec. The remaining two days were reserved for rest and leisure—time he spent pying, apanying his mother to trade with merts, or refining his skills oher.Many might have found such a lifestyle monotonous, but for Feiyin, every day was a new lesson, every challenge an opportunity. His curiosity had always been boundless, and rather than tiring from the repetition, he found himself drawn deeper into the endless pursuit of mastery.Even in a small vilge, he had seen enough to uand that strength was not just a luxury—it was a y.He could still recall the first time he had witnessed blood spilled ireets.

  It had been a typical day at the market, the air filled with the st of spices, roasted meats, and freshly baked bread. Feiyin followed closely behind his mother, his eyes darting over the colorful stalls as they wove through the bustling crowd. Mei Liao was a natural at handling trade, her keen eyes catg opportuhers might overlook.“Cultivation is costly, my dear,” she had expio him as they moved through the market. “Even at your stage, the daily cost of proper nutrition alone is around a hundred Essence s.”Feiyin nearly tripped over his ow. “A hundred Essence s? Didn’t you say a normal family could live for a month on that?”His mother chuckled, adjusting the small ledger in her hands. “That’s right. And when you reach higher realms of cultivation, you might en thousand Essence s per day.”His sholy grew. “How does anyone afford that?”Mei Liao smiled knowingly. “What seems expeo one person might be nothing to ahat’s why, if you want to cultivate freely, you must learn to sustain yourself. Do you remember what I taught you?”Feiyin straightened his posture. “Find something in high demand, purchase a few at a lower price to test the market, and then steadily sell more as you gain ine.”“Good. What else?”“If the market is votile or restricted, you either find a different trade row strong enough to iate your way through.”Her smile widened. “Correow, tell me, roduct do you think would—”She suddenly stopped speaking, her gaze log onto a se unfolding a short distance ahead.A group h-looking men had gathered around an old mert’s stall, their postures predatory. The stall owner, an elderly vilger selling fur-lined socks, was visibly nervous as he faced them.“Hey, old man!” one of the men sneered. “I wore your socks while hunting st night, and my toes nearly froze off! Y to cheat me?”The old mert shook his head frantically. “That’s impossible! I use only fine rabbit fur—they should be warm enough for winter hunting.”The thug smmed his palm against the stall. “So you’re saying I’m a liar?”Feiyi his stomach twist as he saw the osciltions in the air shift—subtle vibrations of rising aggression, the tension in the men's bodies as they prepared for violeh a metallig, the meheir bdes, their i unmistakable.“Mom…” Feiyin whispered, gripping her sleeve.Mei Liao remained calm, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze. “This is why your father trains the militia,” she murmured.Before Feiyin could respond, a shadow flickered behind the thugs. A gust of wind swept through the market, and in the blink of ahe men’s arms—still clutg their bdes—were severed from their bodies.A chorus of agonized screams filled the air as the attackers colpsed, their blood pooling on the cobbled ground.Standing behind them was a broad-shouldered man with a brown beard, his expression cold, his bde still dripping with fresh blood.“You lot have been stirring trouble in this region for too long,” he said. “Stealing, killing, preying on vilges with no prote. Your heads are worth a det bounty—dead or alive.” He narrowed his eyes. “But if you choose to resist, I take just your heads.”The gang leader, his face pale from blood loss, shook his head frantically, stumbling to his feet with the others. “N-No! We’ll e quietly!”The enforodded, sheathing his bde. “Good.”As they were led away, Feiyin couldn’t tear his eyes from the blood-stained ground.“There’s so much blood…” he murmured.Mei Liao gently took his hand, leading him toward a different street. “Do not dwell on it, my dear. Justice is not always gentle, but it prevents greater suffering. If they had been allowed to tinue, how many more lives would they have taken?”Feiyin swallowed, nodding absently, though the sight lingered in his mind long after they returned home.

  As he set the diable ter that evening, the memory resurfaced, sending an involuntary shiver through him.What if those men had been stronger? What if they had attacked Mother?Shaking his head, Feiyihe st bowl down just as his mother finished cooking. He noticed the slight furrow in her brow as she stirred the pot.“What’s wrong, Mom?” he asked.Mei Liao looked up, her expression softening. “Nothing serious. I was just thinking… There aren’t many children ye in the vilge. You have no oo py with.”Feiyin grinned. “That’s okay! You’re already my best friend!”Cai Feng, who had just ehe room, raised an eyebrow. “Oh? And what about me?”Feiyin turo him, grinning mischievously. “Dad, you’re different. You’re my rival.”Cai Feng scoffed, crossing his arms. “Hmph. You’re still far from that, brat.”Feiyin ughed, feeling the warmth of their home settle around him.Yes, the world was dangerous. Yes, strength was necessary.But he wasn’t alone.He had his family, his training, and a future he would carve with his own hands.