Snowflakes drifted in gentle spirals as children lined in rows before Leng Tian. Their small frames trembled with effort, breath steaming as they cultivated under his watchful gaze.
"Again," Tian instructed calmly. "Circulate slowly, steady. Frost does not rush. It endures. Use patience."
The group exhaled, faint wisps of icy air spiraling into the night. A year ago, none of them could summon even a glimmer. Now, dozens coated their palms with flickers of frost, some even forming brittle shards that cut skin faintly.
Coldwater Village had changed. Weaklings once destined for obscurity now trained confidently. Hunters walked with greater pride, mothers whispered with hope for their children's futures, and the once mocked "useless child" now stood as their guide.
Tian's Frost Manual had grown too. Originally crude scribblings, it now filled several animal hide scrolls. Techniques evolved:
Group breathing rhythm for resonance.
"Ice Step" — circulation into soles for footing on rough terrain.
Defensive layering: three breaths stacked to stiffen skin briefly.
Though none earth-shattering, they worked. And more importantly, they belonged to the village—ancestral inheritance for Coldwater forever.
Yuexin often stood behind, watching with quiet smile as her husband trained both their bloodline and their community. And some nights, she would whisper softly:
"Tian… even if your spirit is weak, you're stronger than any man here."
For Tian, that was enough.
🔥 End of Chapter 27