The moon hung high when Jin stepped out of the warehouse, his steps light and silent. The air was icy, and a low mist covered the abandoned grounds behind the depot. Broken stones and twisted bushes formed a small natural circle.
Chi was already waiting for him, floating above a rock, arms crossed, an impatient expression on his face.
— Finally. I thought I'd die of old age before you mustered the courage. — He spun in the air and landed gracefully on his feet. — Alright. Let's start with the basics. What do you feel right now?
Jin closed his eyes. He took a deep breath. The cold in his lungs. The weight in his chest. And deep inside, an echo. A faint thread of something alive.
— I feel... a flow. Weak but constant.
— That's your Qi. — Chi smiled. — It flows through your meridians like a lazy river. But it can become a flood if guided properly.
First lesson: accumulation.
— Void Breathing. Empty your mind. Let the world disappear. Focus solely on your inner self.
Jin obeyed. He sat cross-legged. Chi remained silent, watching him with narrowed eyes. Jin's breathing grew deeper, more rhythmic. A light warmth spread through his abdomen. For a moment, his body felt as if it were floating.
— That's it. Maintain. Shape. Control.
Second lesson: movement.
Chi stood up and began to demonstrate.
— Sliding Wind Technique. The principle is simple: redirect your Qi to the soles of your feet. Minimize friction. Slide, don't walk.
Jin tried. He fell sideways. Chi laughed.
— Again. And try not to look like a drunken duck this time.
He tried again. And fell to his knees. But his eyes no longer held discouragement. They held focus.
On the fifth attempt, he slid two steps. His eyes widened slightly. A spark appeared on his face. Chi smirked.
— Just because you carry a monster in your chest doesn't mean you'll become a hero overnight — he muttered. — But at least learn to run away with style.
The following nights were the same. Jin returned to the same field, even exhausted after work. He trained in silence. Fell. Got up. Learned. And little by little, his body began to flow along with the Qi. His steps became lighter. His senses, sharper.
And Chi? He was always there. Laughing, criticizing, provoking... but also watching. Guiding. His presence was no longer just a voice. It was a shadow within Jin's spirit, growing with him.
And in that symbiosis of sarcasm and perseverance, Jin was taking his first steps — not just as a survivor, but as someone who was finally beginning to awaken.