THE REAL TRAINING BEGINS PART 2

They began slowly at first, the weighted vests settling against their frames like physical manifestations of responsibility. Li Hua had chosen their burdens carefully - five kilos for her brothers, a gentle introduction to what would become a far heavier path, while she carried twenty-five kilos with the easy grace of long practice.

The first mile passed in companionable silence, broken only by the steady rhythm of their breathing and the subtle shift of stone against fabric. Li Hua watched her brothers from the corner of her eye, noting how Li Wei's precision translated into measured strides while Li Hao's spirit manifested in barely contained energy even under the added weight.