The river sparkled like silver in the early morning sunlight, flowing endlessly through the valley below. Its waters, gentle yet persistent, mirrored the years that had passed. Five years - five long, solitary years - and the boy who had first awakened in Lui Yan's frail body had changed.
The once weak and trembling child was gone. In his place stood a 15-year-old youth, lean and strong, with muscles honed from years of climbing, running, lifting, and moving in harmony with the natural world. His hands, once unable to grasp a branch firmly, now held materials and tools with precision. His legs, once trembling under his own weight, carried him effortlessly across rough terrain. And his mind… his mind had only sharpened, refined by the constant calculations of survival, qi observation, and experimentation.
-
The hut, originally a simple wooden shelter, had expanded over the years. He had added:
A raised observation platform, perfect for watching wildlife, the river, and the surrounding forest.
A larger storage area, containing carefully dried and preserved food, tools, and supplies he crafted himself.
A training area, with simple climbing poles, balance beams, and space for stretching and qi experiments.
Each addition reflected his methodical nature. Every nail, every joint, every rope and plank had been calculated for maximum efficiency and durability. Even in a frail body, he had used leverage, simple pulleys, and balance techniques to construct structures that would have been impossible for a normal boy of his age.
Days were long and structured. He divided his time meticulously:
1. Resource gathering – wood, vines, stones, and edible plants.
2. Food acquisition – fishing, small traps, and learning the migration patterns of forest animals.
3. Qi observation and experimentation – following energy flows in the river, the wind, and the living creatures around him.
4. Physical training – running along ridges, climbing trees, balancing on logs, pushing the limits of his body.
Though he did not know any formal cultivation methods, he had intuited the flow of qi. His breath became a tool, his senses tuned to subtle energy vibrations, and his body learned to respond naturally. The river, the wind, the sun, even the rustling of leaves had become teachers in his silent, solitary classroom.
-
Each morning began with long stretches along the riverbank. He would stand barefoot on uneven stones, feeling every vibration through his soles. The current of the river mirrored the flow of energy within his body. He experimented with movements: bending, twisting, small jumps, and subtle shifts of weight. Qi responded. Sometimes a faint warmth spread from his dantian to his limbs. Sometimes a pulse of energy lingered in the tips of his fingers.
"Not enough," he muttered to himself, tightening his fists and letting energy flow along his arms. There's always more. I can feel it.
After stretches, he would run along the forest trails, leaping over fallen logs, ducking under branches, and testing his balance along narrow ridges. The frail body of Lui Yan had once been incapable of such feats, but the mind inside it turned every weakness into an opportunity for improvement.
At night, he practiced meditation beside the fire. The stars reflected in the river, and he observed their motion while controlling his breathing. Each inhale and exhale became a tool to sense and move qi. Even without knowing cultivation techniques, he had formed his own method: observation, experimentation, adjustment, and repetition.
-
One morning, a stronger urge to explore pulled him deeper into the forest than ever before. He moved silently, observing patterns of wildlife: birds flying in predictable currents, squirrels leaping between branches, small animals moving along hidden paths. Each was a lesson in energy and movement, a clue to survival and efficiency.
Then - a subtle disturbance. Something in the forest vibrated with chaotic energy, jagged and unbalanced. His heart quickened - not in fear, but in anticipation. His mind, honed by years of calculation, analyzed the energy signature.
Ahead, entangled in thick, twisting vines, was a young female cultivator. Her movements were frantic; her qi flared erratically as she struggled. From the patterns of her energy, MC realized she had been attacked - perhaps by wild qi beasts or rogue cultivators.
His body moved instinctively. Observing the vines, he noted the points where pressure could be applied to loosen them. He grabbed a fallen branch, positioning it as a lever, and combined a subtle burst of his qi to weaken the binding.
The vines shifted. A snap echoed through the forest. The cultivator froze, eyes narrowing.
"Who… who are you?" she demanded, voice sharp, defensive. Her qi flared as a protective shield, instinctive and precise.
"I'm helping," he said calmly. "If you stay still, I can free you without harming you or the vines."
Suspicion flickered across her face. "You don't even know cultivation principles… why are you here?"
"I follow qi," he replied simply. "I observe it, manipulate it, and act. That's all."
Her eyes narrowed further, scanning him carefully. Strange… and yet… competent.
-
Lui Yan worked methodically, moving vines aside with leverage and precise bursts of qi. Each motion was calculated: one wrong movement could injure her, alert predators, or destabilize the terrain. As he worked, he mentally accounted for every variable: weight distribution, tension in the vines, qi flow in her body, and potential threats.
Finally, she broke free. She stumbled backward, steadying herself against a tree. Her sharp gaze met his.
"You… saved me?" she asked, disbelief laced with suspicion.
"Yes," he replied simply. "Your energy was unstable. I calculated the safest method to release you."
Her gaze softened slightly. She remained alert, but the tension in her stance lessened. MC noted her body language carefully, reading it like a map of trust and caution.
-
From the ridge, a group of cultivators approached, moving swiftly. Sister Mei - her name, he later learned - tensed. "Stop! It's him!"
Lui Yan raised his hands, not in surrender, but in a neutral gesture. He analyzed their formation, likely thoughts, and energy signatures. The team halted, suspicious.
"Explain!" their leader demanded. "Why is a stranger with Sister Mei?"
He spoke clearly, logically detailing the vines, the chaotic qi, and the steps he took to free her. He demonstrated small manipulations of energy to prove his abilities. Slowly, the team's stance shifted from suspicion to grudging acknowledgment.
Sister Mei studied him in silence, a flicker of respect appearing.
-
Later, they walked together to a nearby clearing, away from the team.
"You could have easily killed me," she said softly, frustration mixed with curiosity.
"I calculated the risk," he replied simply. "Killing you would solve nothing."
She stared at him, blinking. "You… think differently. You don't follow conventional cultivation logic."
"I only observe, experiment, and adapt. That's how I survive."
For the first time in years, she smiled faintly. "Then perhaps I underestimated you."
-
When the team regrouped, the misunderstanding resolved, Sister Mei approached him.
"You saved my life," she said, her tone formal yet warm. "And your understanding of qi… it's unusual. My sect could teach you properly. You have potential beyond what you realize."
Lui Yan considered it. Five years alone, mastering survival, observing qi, experimenting… now, the opportunity to learn formally.
"I… can learn," he said. "I will adapt."
She nodded, smiling. "That is enough. Come with us. You will train under guidance."
The forest, the river, the mountains - his life of solitude - was ending. Ahead lay a world of cultivators, techniques, and challenges. He felt a thrill unlike any before.
Finally… the real game begins.
-
(Foreshadowing)
As they walked toward her sect, His's mind ran through possibilities:
Observation, adaptation, experimentation - his style would clash with conventional methods.
Friends, rivals, and enemies awaited.
Somewhere beyond the forest, a faint pulse of strong, chaotic energy lingered - a seed of future trials.
The river flowed beside them, the wind whispered through the trees, and the stars awaited. For the first time, He felt not just survival, but exhilaration, curiosity, and limitless potential.