Yi Long

Sunlight danced across Yi Tian's face as his eyes fluttered open, scanning the room. "I'm still here," he murmured, a sense of lingering disbelief enveloping him. The previous day had felt surreal, and today was no different.

He turned his gaze to the window, the same one he had opened yesterday and forgotten to close. Now fully awake, Yi Tian threw off his silk covers with a soft rustle, slipped into his sandals, and slid open the paper door to his room. As he entered the antechamber, he spotted a young man seated in one of the many chairs.

The young man appeared to be in his late teens, dressed in long purple robes adorned with cloud and serpent embroidery, similar to Yi Tian's attire. He sipped tea while a young maid servant stood nearby.

Upon noticing Yi Tian, the young man rose and greeted him, "Brother, good morning."

Realizing who this young man was, and noting that he seemed younger than himself, Yi Tian concluded that this was the third young master of the Yi family. "Good morning. What brings you here, brother?"

The young man smirked. "Isn't it obvious? I heard you're being sent to war. Looks like Father really isn't keen on making you head."

Yi Tian recognized the mockery in his tone but remained unfazed. The possibility of going to war was not yet certain, as it was still four months away. "Well, alright. If that's all, you can leave."

The young man feigned surprise before adopting a knowing expression. "You can't hide your frustration forever, brother. I know you were banking on a carefree life as the second young master, but now you're bound for war." He chuckled at the end of his statement.

Yi Tian gleaned some information about the previous owner from this conversation. "Yes, alright, you got me. If that's all, I have to go teach Yi Long," he said nonchalantly.

The young man's face reddened with anger. He huffed and stormed off. Watching him leave, Yi Tian smiled, amused by the young man's arrogance. Such an attitude would surely bring him great suffering in his later years.

Refocusing his attention, Yi Tian walked along the carpet and pulled open the wooden doors to the courtyard outside. Stepping out, he marveled at the pristine garden. Following the stone path through the center of his courtyard, he eventually reached a fork in the path that led to the garden tower. Glancing at the path, his figure blurred and moved upward. Using a tree to continue his ascent, he blurred once more, landing on the tower's balcony. From this vantage point, he again admired the palace and compound nestled in the distance, bathed in sunlight.

Resuming his journey toward the training area, Yi Tian blurred each time his feet made contact with a surface. Arriving at the training square, he noted that Yi Long had yet to arrive. Taking a cross-legged position in the center, he closed his eyes to wait.

Twenty minutes later, the sound of distant footsteps reached his ears. Opening his eyes, Yi Tian saw Yi Long, dressed again in his martial hanfu, accompanied by a servant. The servant was likely Yi Long's personal attendant, given the boy's youth.

Upon seeing Yi Tian, Yi Long smiled and quickened his pace. "You're already here, brother?"

"Yes, I am, Yi Long," Yi Tian replied, smiling as he rose to his feet.

Yi Long approached Yi Tian and asked, "What are we going to train today?"

After a moment's thought, Yi Tian adopted the Thunderbolt Force Form stance. "I'll teach you this today," he said, striking out with his fist and sending a gust of wind towards Yi Long, making his hair flutter.

Yi Long's eyes widened, and he gulped, intimidated by the sudden display of power. "Okay, but I don't think I can do that." Usually, Yi Tian would teach him basic punches and kicks, make him run around the courtyard, and do push-ups. It was fun, but this seemed too serious for a child like him.

Yi Tian offered a reassuring smile. "It's okay if you can't do it right away, but it will help you understand more about martial arts." With a graceful spin, Yi Tian unleashed a powerful kick, the air whistling around his leg.

Yi Long was captivated by what his brother called martial arts. He nodded, and Yi Tian continued, "Alright, try to copy me." He took on the stance of the Thunderbolt Force Form once again.

Yi Long observed Yi Tian closely and attempted to imitate him, but his execution was poor. "Alright, hold that position, and I'll help you." Walking up to Yi Long, Yi Tian adjusted his arms and legs, then twisted his torso to achieve the correct angle. It wasn't perfect, but it was a vast improvement.

"This is the proper position, Yi Long. You don't need to memorize it right now, but try to focus on how your body feels. Be aware of how your feet connect with the ground and how your arms move," Yi Tian advised as he guided Yi Long's fist through a punch.

Yi Long closed his eyes, concentrating on the slow punching motion. Absorbing everything at once was challenging, but he could feel the stability and rigidity of his body in this stance.

"Now, try it yourself," Yi Tian instructed, releasing his guidance. Yi Long threw a punch, but without Yi Tian's support, his form wavered, and his movements grew sloppy.

"Remember to clench your core and keep your arms straight," Yi Tian reminded him.

"I know, but my shoulders are tired," Yi Long complained.

Yi Tian smiled warmly, understanding the challenges of learning new martial arts techniques. "It's alright. With practice, you'll get stronger. For now, let's focus on getting the form right, and we can build up your strength over time." His encouraging words fueled Yi Long's determination to master the Thunderbolt Force Form, a shared goal that would strengthen their bond as brothers and warriors.