Chapter 19

Chapter 19

"Master, why does senior brother get to sit and cultivate while I have to keep patting the brazier?" Danny, who had just turned ten yesterday, stared resentfully at the iron sand sizzling in his brazier. His hands were red and swollen, while Li Ji sat cross-legged nearby, calm and still. It felt profoundly unfair.

"Your senior brother has already reached the stage of strength cultivation," Lei Gong said without looking up, sipping tea at his usual spot. "What he lacks now is character. As for you, your strength still isn't enough. Naturally, you need to build it first."

"I understand, Master." Danny answered quickly, but his tone didn't match the words. Deep inside, he was still unconvinced.

Truthfully, Li Ji wasn't enjoying himself either. His task sounded simple: sit and sense the power of the grass growing beneath him. But that was easier said than done. He knew that the force of growth—of grass pushing through soil—was a real power. But it wasn't the explosive kind of power he was used to. It was subtle. Gradual. Built over time.

He believed his perception and control over energy were already solid. But when it came to this practice, he could only admit, "I don't know how to feel it."

"Li Ji," Lei Gong spoke up again, his voice even, "don't be impatient. I've told you before—Kunlun Martial Arts is rooted in nature. Nature, nature, and more nature. Calm your mind. Observe. Sync with the world around you. Only then can you truly grasp the essence of our path."

Li Ji's expression twisted slightly, and Lei Gong noticed. He knew Li Ji's heart wasn't fully settled. That was fine. He was already pleased with Li Ji's progress—among all the disciples who practiced Iron Fist, Li Ji stood out. And he had done so even before starting his formal military training, which was rare.

That talent was exactly why Lei Gong focused more on Li Ji's temperament. He suspected that the boy carried secrets. The tail was proof of that. But Lei Gong wasn't concerned with what Li Ji might be hiding. As long as he posed no threat to Kunlun, Lei Gong wouldn't pry. His only concern was refining Iron Fist and strengthening Kunlun's future.

Li Ji didn't respond. He simply exhaled and closed his eyes again, trying to settle into the feeling beneath him.

"Master!" Danny called out again. "When can I sit and sense the grass like senior brother? I think I might be more talented in this area."

"You?" Lei Gong chuckled. "Maybe you'll never need to do that kind of practice."

"Why not? Is it because I'm naturally gifted? Then I should try it now!" Danny immediately stood up from the brazier and crossed his legs, trying to imitate Li Ji.

Lei Gong shook his head, amused. He could see through Danny's eagerness—it was just an excuse to get out of the hard work.

"Master, the ground's making my butt itch. Is that the power of the grass?" Danny squirmed and quickly stood up again.

Lei Gong patted his head. "In a way, yes. Now back to strength training."

"Itchy?" Li Ji's ears perked up at the word. There was something there.

It was true that when soft blades of grass brushed against bare skin, the nerves reacted—little bioelectric signals that triggered the sensation of itching. That was basic biology. But what if, in this specific practice, that sensation wasn't just a surface reaction? What if the itch was a sign? A result of pressure—of growth?

Li Ji shifted his focus entirely to the sensation near his tail.

"When grass brushes against the tail, it doesn't always cause an immediate sensation. But if the tail feels itchy… it might be because the grass is pushing against it—growing, expanding. That force would part even the smallest hairs. That's what I need to feel," he thought.

He concentrated on his tail. The tiniest sensation built slowly, like a whisper in his nerves.

…

"Hmm?" Lei Gong looked up. He noticed something different in Li Ji's expression. "Has he really sensed it already? That's fast. Too fast."

Still, it wouldn't be the first time Li Ji broke expectations. Again and again, he had surpassed what Lei Gong thought was possible. And each time, it had forced Lei Gong to reevaluate his understanding of the boy. Now, he watched silently, eager to see what would come of this moment.

"My tail's starting to itch," Li Ji thought, "and there's a faint pressure… like it's being nudged upward. Could this really be the power of grass? Small, yes—but persistent. An endless force. This must be what they mean when they say water wears through stone."

He opened his eyes slowly. His right palm rose.

Energy swirled, gathering at his fingertips. A soft glow shimmered.

"This feeling… I think I understand it now."

He closed his hand. The energy dispersed.

"I'm not good at controlling Qi with one hand. It's too unstable," he muttered. "Better to use both."

Placing his palms together, he opened them again slowly. Between them, a small stream of air began to coalesce—shimmering, glowing softly, like a bead of condensed light.

"So this is why Wukong used both hands for the Turtle Qigong. Balancing Qi is so much easier like this."

The light grew brighter, more stable, then rounder—taking on the shape of a small, radiant sphere. The energy pulsed softly outward, creating a subtle breeze that rustled the grass around him.

Lei Gong stood up, his face unreadable.

Li Ji's hands stayed still. The sphere didn't fade. It compressed, solidified, taking on the appearance of a smooth, luminous pearl.

"I've spent years trying to do this…" Li Ji whispered, gazing at the sphere. "It's finally real."

"No, calling it an energy bomb doesn't feel right. Qi is more than just energy. It has form, flow, intent."

He looked ahead, searching for an open space.

"The Turtle School calls theirs the Turtle Qigong. I built this from their method, but the comprehension is mine. Let's call it… Ji Qigong."

He slowly rotated his hands, aligning the Qi. Then, with a powerful push, he released it.

The glowing sphere shot forward like a comet. A flash of light followed its path—and then silence.

Where it landed, a five-meter-wide crater remained.

"Not bad," Li Ji said quietly, admiring the result.

Then he glanced to the side.

Lei Gong's face was frozen in a mixture of disbelief and rage.

"You dare destroy Kunlun's sacred land? You little brat—prepare to be beaten!"

*******

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