Chapter 2: The Mysterious Training

Kai Feng had no idea what was happening in the library.

Because Kai Feng was no longer there.

Cold wind rushed against his skin.

Kai gasped, his eyes flying open.

He found himself standing atop a mountain peak, surrounded by rolling clouds and endless sky.

The air was crisp, charged with an energy he had never felt before.

Before him stood a thin old man, his expression mischievous and knowing, his long beard and ancient robes giving him the air of a sage from forgotten times.

"You're finally here," the elder mused, eyes twinkling with amusement.

His robes were tattered, his long white beard so long it nearly touched the ground, and his eyes sparkled with an unsettling amount of amusement.

"Finally awake, are we?"

Kai blinked. "Who the hell—"

Before he could finish, a wooden cane smacked him across the head.

WHACK!

"OW! What the hell?!"

"You dare speak to your master like that?!" the old man cackled. "No respect! No discipline! Bah!"

Kai rubbed his head, glaring. "Master?! I don't even know who you are!"

The old man ignored him.

"Hm. Weak body. No spiritual foundation. No discipline." He sighed dramatically. "Why must fate always send me idiots?"

Kai took a step back.

"Okay, listen, I think there's been a mistake—"

WHACK!

"NO THINKING!" the old man shouted. "JUST TRAINING!"

And before Kai could even protest, his tough training has began.

At first, Kai resisted.

He complained. He screamed. He tried to run.

But no matter what he did—the old man was always one step ahead.

Every time he refused to train, he got smacked.

Sometimes he was kicked down a cliff, only to somehow land back on the mountaintop a second later.

Kai kept track of the days by scratching a mark on a big boulder.

Days blurred into weeks. Weeks into months.

His body, once weak and useless, became sharper, stronger, faster.

At first, Kai did nothing but cultivate—meditation, breathing exercises, and focusing his internal energy. His master instructed him to sense his Qi, guiding it through his meridians, into his palm, arm, and internal organs. Soon, Kai could see the energy itself, his hand enveloped in a glowing aura.

His first real test came when he was ordered to direct that energy at a willow tree. The first few attempts barely caused a breeze, but with time, he began to harness his Qi properly, eventually striking the tree with enough force to splinter its bark.

From there, his training grew more complex. He was taught to combine his Qi into various attack forms, refining techniques that enhanced both power and efficiency. One day, his master threw a flurry of small stones at him, forcing Kai to react instinctively—he formed a Qi shield just in time, deflecting them away. Another day, he was required to strike multiple moving targets in succession, learning to manipulate his energy mid-air.

At first, Kai grudgingly followed the old man's orders. As time passed, he found himself enjoying the training. He had nothing better to do in his real life anyway—why not learn something new? His body felt stronger, lighter, and more responsive than ever before. His reflexes improved, and he felt healthier than he had in years.

And yet, through it all, he never stopped wondering.

"Why am I here?"

"Is this a dream?"

"If I wake up… will I still remember all of this?"

The old man only ever smirked.

One day, after what felt like three years, the old master finally stood still.

"It is time."

Kai, exhausted and panting, frowned. "Time for what?"

"Time for you to go," the old man said.

Kai's gaze fell upon the boulder, he silently counted the etchings—one thousand and ninety five markings. So... it has been three years. It felt like an eternity.

As soon as this realization hit, the world began to melt.

The sky shattered like glass.

And as everything around him faded, the old man grinned.

"Let's see how well you survive, my foolish disciple."

Kai gasped, his eyes flying open, revealing the familiar sight of the library once more.

The library was exactly as he left it. Kai found himself seated at his desk, exactly where he had been before.

But something was different.

As his vision cleared, he realized he was surrounded by four strange looking unfamiliar figures, their expressions unreadable. The stasis barrier had vanished, and the air was thick with tension.

Kai gulped. What the hell just happened?