Chapter 4: The First Step

The next morning, Lin Yun woke early, the forbidden scroll still clutched tightly in his hands. The sun had barely risen, casting a soft orange glow over the Lin family estate. The air was crisp, fresh—everything outside seemed to be alive with possibility.

But Lin Yun's focus was entirely on the task before him. His father had spoken of his failure, of the crippling weight of expectations, but Lin Yun no longer cared about any of that. In this new life, he would carve his own path. He would rise through his own strength, not relying on the Qi Core that had been stolen from him, but on something far deeper.

The scroll's ancient text detailed the steps to begin the body refinement technique: strengthening muscles, bones, and internal organs through rigorous training. Each stage was more brutal than the last, testing not just physical limits but the very limits of the mind and spirit.

He stood in the training yard, the sound of the wind rustling through the trees the only accompaniment to his thoughts. The family servants were busy preparing breakfast, their voices drifting faintly from the kitchen. Lin Yun stood alone, his posture rigid with determination.

He unfurled the scroll once again, reading the opening lines.

*"To begin the path of body refinement, one must first endure the trials of physical conditioning. The foundation must be laid in the flesh, where pain is the greatest teacher."*

Lin Yun's body tensed. He was no stranger to hard work—on Earth, he had been an athlete, running track and lifting weights—but this was something different. Every muscle in his body screamed in protest as he began his first set of exercises: endless squats, push-ups, stretches, and sit-ups. The pain quickly became unbearable, and sweat began to pour from his skin. His breath came in ragged gasps, but he pushed on.

With each movement, the pain intensified. His body wasn't accustomed to this level of strain, and it felt like every muscle was being torn apart. But he refused to stop. The words of the scroll echoed in his mind: *Pain is the greatest teacher.*

Hours passed. His body shook with exhaustion, but Lin Yun did not relent. His legs wobbled, his arms felt like lead, and his chest burned with each breath, but he pushed through. When his muscles gave out, he didn't stop—he adapted. The sweat that soaked his robes became a badge of his struggle, a testament to his determination.

As night fell, Lin Yun collapsed onto the ground, his body too exhausted to move. The stars above shone brightly, yet he felt the weight of the world in his bones. He had barely eaten, and his body was on the edge of collapse, but somehow, he didn't feel like a failure. In fact, he felt more alive than ever.

The first step had been completed. But the road ahead would only grow harder.

For the next several days, Lin Yun followed the instructions of the scroll, pushing his body through an unrelenting cycle of strengthening exercises. Each day, he found new limits within himself, new depths of resilience he hadn't known he possessed. But his progress wasn't without setbacks.

One morning, after a particularly grueling set of exercises, Lin Yun collapsed in the courtyard, unable to move. His muscles burned, his bones ached, and his mind was foggy.

A shadow loomed over him, and he looked up to see Lin Mei standing there, her expression a mixture of concern and exasperation.

"You've been overworking yourself," she said, her voice laced with worry.

Lin Yun sat up slowly, his body protesting the movement. "I have to," he muttered, his voice hoarse. "If I don't, I'll never be strong enough."

Lin Mei knelt beside him, her eyes softening. "You can't just force strength. It comes from within, from patience and control, not sheer will alone."

Lin Yun met her gaze, his eyes hardening with resolve. "You don't understand. I have to do this. For me. For my family. For everything I lost."

Her expression faltered, and she sighed. "I know you're angry, Yun. But you don't have to carry all this weight alone. I'll help you. You don't need to suffer like this."

Lin Yun's heart wavered at her words, but his resolve didn't waver. He had to do this alone. For the first time in his life, he had a purpose that was entirely his own.

"I appreciate it, Mei," he said quietly, "but this is something I have to do on my own."

She didn't argue. Instead, she simply nodded and stood up, her gaze lingering on him for a moment before she turned to leave.

As Lin Yun sat there, catching his breath, he couldn't help but wonder: Was he being too stubborn? Was there a way forward that didn't involve breaking himself down piece by piece?

But as he looked at the distant mountains, the feeling of helplessness that had plagued him for so long faded. He had chosen this path. And no matter how painful it became, he would keep moving forward.

The first step had been hard. But there were still many more to take.