Chapter 14: The Hidden Power Awakens

Zhang Ye wiped the sweat from his brow, his body still adjusting to the new sensation coursing through his meridians. His qi was no longer a faint ember it was moving, alive.

Wei Han's eyes narrowed. "What happened to you?"

Zhang Ye smirked. "Nothing special. Just a long night of thinking."

Wei Han snorted. "You don't seem like the thinking type."

Zhang Ye chuckled but didn't respond. He wasn't about to explain the vision of the Sky Piercing Sword or how his body had been forced to awaken its latent qi.

Wei Han studied him for a moment, then turned. "If you can still walk, Master He's waiting. He won't be happy if you're late."

Zhang Ye stretched, rolling his shoulders. Sore, but manageable. "Alright. Let's go."

The two walked back toward the village, the morning mist still hanging low over the trees. Zhang Ye could feel the subtle shift in his body his steps were lighter, his awareness sharper.

This was just the beginning.

When they reached the forge, Master He was already there, hammering away at a glowing piece of metal. The scent of burning coal mixed with the early morning air.

He didn't look up. "You're late."

Zhang Ye smirked. "I'm here, aren't I?"

Master He finally glanced at him then frowned.

Zhang Ye saw it. The slight crease in the old man's brow, the way his sharp eyes lingered just a second longer.

He noticed.

Master He set his hammer down. "You did something last night."

Zhang Ye raised a brow. "You're the second person to say that today."

Master He exhaled, wiping his hands on a cloth. "I don't know what you did, but your qi is different."

Wei Han crossed his arms. "I thought so too."

Zhang Ye rolled his shoulders. "Guess I finally figured out how to cultivate properly."

Master He's eyes narrowed. "Qi isn't something you just 'figure out' overnight. Either you had help…"

His gaze flickered toward the pendant around Zhang Ye's neck.

"…or something unnatural happened."

Zhang Ye's smirk didn't fade. "Does it matter?"

Master He watched him carefully. Then, after a long pause he grinned.

"No. It doesn't."

He grabbed a wrapped bundle from the forge and tossed it to Zhang Ye. "Since you're done playing around, it's time for your next lesson."

Zhang Ye caught it and unwrapped the cloth

A real sword.

Steel. Well-crafted. Deadly.

Zhang Ye's grip tightened around the hilt.

Master He's voice was calm, but firm.

"No more practice blades. No more holding back. From now on, we train like real warriors."

Zhang Ye exhaled. This was it.

The real training had begun.

The real sword in Zhang Ye's hands felt different. Heavier than the practice weapons, yet perfectly balanced. The steel was smooth, reflecting the morning light, its edge sharp enough to cut.

Zhang Ye ran a finger along the blade. "You sure about this? I might accidentally cut Wei Han in half."

Wei Han scoffed. "You can try."

Master He smirked. "That's the point. Training with wooden swords only teaches you form. Training with real steel teaches you fear."

Zhang Ye's eyes narrowed. "Fear?"

Master He nodded. "A real fight isn't about who has the better technique. It's about who can move without hesitation, knowing one mistake could mean death."

Zhang Ye twirled the sword once, testing its weight. "Sounds fun."

Master He chuckled. "We'll see how long you keep that attitude."

He pointed toward the training area. "Start with simple swings. Get used to the weight. Then, you spar."

Zhang Ye exhaled. Alright. Let's do this.

He stepped forward, adjusting his stance. His body still ached from yesterday's training, but he felt different now. His qi had awakened, and even though it was faint, it was there flowing through him.

He raised the sword.

And swung.

WHOOSH.

The blade sliced through the air, faster than he expected. Lighter than he thought.

Zhang Ye blinked. Was that… different?

He swung again.

Faster. Sharper.

Wei Han frowned. "You weren't that fast yesterday."

Zhang Ye grinned. "Guess I'm just a natural."

Master He's eyes narrowed slightly. He had seen it too.

The way Zhang Ye's movements were just a little too smooth.

Just a little too refined for someone who had only just started training with a real sword.

Zhang Ye rolled his shoulders. "Alright, who's first?"

Wei Han smirked and drew his own blade. "You already know the answer to that."

Master He stepped back. "No holding back. First to land a clean hit wins."

Zhang Ye's grin widened. Perfect.

He raised his sword. Wei Han did the same.

The morning air was silent. Still.

Then they moved.

The first real sword duel had begun.

Zhang Ye's sword clashed against Wei Han's in a shower of sparks. The steel vibrated in his grip, the force of the impact traveling up his arms but he didn't back down.

Wei Han pressed forward, his blade sliding along Zhang Ye's in an attempt to redirect the angle.

A test. A trap.

Zhang Ye saw it.

Instead of resisting, he shifted his stance, twisting his sword just enough to let Wei Han's blade glide past him.

CLANG!

Wei Han's sword cut through empty air.

Zhang Ye stepped in, aiming for Wei Han's exposed side

But Wei Han reacted instantly, spinning his sword downward in a sharp deflecting arc.

Zhang Ye's blade was knocked aside.

Wei Han smirked. "Better. But not good enough."

Zhang Ye grinned. "Then let's fix that."

He lunged forward this time, faster.

Wei Han's eyes widened. Zhang Ye wasn't attacking wildly his movements were sharper, more precise.

Like he had already seen this battle before.

Wei Han blocked, but Zhang Ye was already moving twisting, sidestepping, striking from unexpected angles.

Master He's sharp gaze followed every movement.

"He's improving mid-fight," he muttered. "That's not normal."

Zhang Ye's grip on his sword tightened. He could feel his qi responding to his movements not empowering them outright, but flowing with his intent.

It wasn't brute force. It was refinement.

Wei Han gritted his teeth. Zhang Ye's attacks were getting harder to predict.

He's adapting too fast.

Zhang Ye faked a downward slash then suddenly switched mid-motion, flipping his blade upward.

Wei Han's sword was too slow to adjust.

The flat of Zhang Ye's blade tapped against Wei Han's shoulder.

A clean hit.

Silence.

Then Master He let out a chuckle. "Hah. That's a win."

Wei Han sighed, lowering his blade. "Tch. That was sneaky."

Zhang Ye smirked, breathing heavily. "I call it strategy."

Wei Han shook his head, but there was a grin on his face. "Fine. You got me."

Master He stepped forward. "Not bad. But tell me what did you do differently this time?"

Zhang Ye paused.

He had felt something. His qi wasn't giving him superhuman power, but it was flowing with him, helping him move just a little faster, react just a little sharper.

He exhaled. "I think… I'm starting to understand how qi works."

Master He's eyes narrowed.

"You're learning too fast."

Zhang Ye raised a brow. "Isn't that a good thing?"

Master He was silent for a moment. Then he sighed. "For now, maybe."

He picked up a new training sword from the side and tossed it to Zhang Ye.

"Tomorrow, we test just how much you've learned."

Zhang Ye caught the sword, his smirk widening.

Good. That's exactly what he wanted.

Zhang Ye wiped the sweat from his forehead, his breath steadying as the weight of the fight settled into his muscles.

He had won.

But more importantly he had felt something.

The flow of qi.

It wasn't overwhelming, but it was thereguiding his movements, sharpening his instincts, making his reactions just a little faster.

This was just the beginning.

Wei Han rolled his shoulder where Zhang Ye had landed his final hit, shaking his head with a smirk. "You keep improving at this rate, and I'll have to start taking you seriously."

Zhang Ye chuckled. "You mean you weren't?"

Wei Han laughed. "Not yet."

Master He tossed a rag toward Zhang Ye. "Wipe yourself off. You're drenched in sweat."

Zhang Ye caught it, patting his face. "What's next?"

Master He sat down on a nearby crate, arms crossed. "Next? You do that again. And again. Until your body doesn't have to think about it."

Zhang Ye exhaled. "So more sparring?"

Master He grinned. "More losing. You got one lucky hit. Let's see if you can do it twice."

Zhang Ye smirked. "I like those odds."

Wei Han cracked his neck. "I don't."

The two squared up again. The air between them buzzed with anticipation.

Master He's voice cut through the tension.

"Begin."

Zhang Ye moved.

And the next round began.

Zhang Ye lunged.

Wei Han was ready this time.

Their swords clashed mid-air, the force of the impact reverberating through Zhang Ye's arms. Unlike before, Wei Han wasn't holding back his strikes came harder, faster.

Zhang Ye's muscles screamed in protest, but his body moved on instinct.

His qi was flowing.

Not empowering him outright, but guiding him subtle adjustments, small corrections, tiny improvements.

He dodged by a hair. His counters became sharper, more precise.

Wei Han's brow furrowed. "He's adjusting again… during the fight?"

Master He watched from the side, his gaze piercing.

"That's not normal."

CLANG!

Zhang Ye's blade slid along Wei Han's, knocking it slightly off course. He twisted a sudden upward strike!

Wei Han barely blocked. He stepped back, breathing heavily. "You're a damn monster."

Zhang Ye grinned. "Took you this long to notice?"

Wei Han exhaled sharply. "Fine. No more holding back."

Then, his stance changed.

Zhang Ye's smirk faded. This… feels different.

Wei Han's presence sharpened like a drawn sword. His grip tightened. His feet shifted. His next attack would be faster.

Zhang Ye's heartbeat quickened.

He raised his blade, adjusting his stance.

If Wei Han was leveling up… then he would too.

Master He's voice rang out.

"Continue!"

And then Wei Han vanished.