Shen Guang settled cross-legged in the quiet clearing near the cave, the ancient scroll of the Thunder Vein Harmonization Sutra unfurled before him. The violet lightning that usually crackled wildly around his body flickered faintly, as if waiting for his command.
He took a deep breath and muttered to himself, "Alright... Resonant Breath. Calm the storm within."
Following the sutra's instructions, he inhaled sharply, then exhaled slowly, trying to match the precise rhythm. But the wild energy inside him refused to obey. Sparks of violet lightning flared uncontrollably, scorching the grass beneath him.
"Ugh... this Dou Qi," Shen Guang gritted his teeth, "it's like trying to hold lightning in my bare hands."
Sweat dripped down his face as the chaotic energy surged. He closed his eyes, forcing himself to slow and deepen his breath. Gradually, the violent flashes softened, flowing more smoothly through his limbs.
"I can... feel it," he whispered, "the rhythm... the pulse..."
His runes glowed steadily now, the erratic sparks dimming into a steady, humming aura. Opening his eyes, Shen Guang was surprised by the calmness that had settled within him.
"It's... like the storm is listening. Not raging anymore."
From the shadows, Lady Yin stepped forward, arms crossed and a faint smirk playing on her lips.
"Not bad," she said. "The Thunder Vein Harmonization Sutra isn't easy. It teaches you to dance with your Dou Qi, not just fight it."
Shen Guang grinned, the tension easing from his shoulders. "Feels more like taming a wild beast than dancing. But... I think I'm starting to get it."
Lady Yin nodded approvingly. "Good. This is only the first step. Master the breathing, and the rest will follow."
As they sat together, Lady Yin explained, "The Thunder Vein Harmonization Sutra is a rare technique designed specifically for lightning cultivators. It helps control the most volatile Dou Qi. There are four levels to it:"
She counted on her fingers. "First, Resonant Breath—syncing your breath with your Dou Qi's pulse to calm surges. Second, Vein Alignment—guiding Dou Qi smoothly through your meridians. Third, Thunder Thread Weaving—splitting your Dou Qi into multiple precise streams for complex techniques. And finally, Storm Core Manifestation—achieving perfect balance, refining your Dou Qi to match the rhythm of your heartbeat itself."
Shen Guang's eyes gleamed with determination. "Then I have a long way to go."
Lady Yin's smile was sharp. "Yes. But you've taken the hardest first step. Now, the storm inside you must learn to sing."
Days slipped into a steady rhythm. Shen Guang's life settled into a cycle as natural as the rising sun and falling rain.
Mornings found him deep in the forest, hunting beasts to sharpen his senses and replenish their meager supplies. The crackle of lightning in his veins made him swift and deadly, each strike precise as a thunderbolt.
Afternoons were reserved for martial training. The clearing echoed with the thud of his footsteps and the clash of invisible strikes as he refined his Heaven-Sundering Gale Step and Shattering Mountain Shoulder. Sweat soaked his robes, but his determination never wavered.
Evenings belonged to the Thunder Vein Harmonization Sutra. Shen Guang sat cross-legged, breathing in time with his Dou Qi, coaxing the wild energy into harmony. The violet sparks danced gently around him, no longer a tempest but a controlled storm.
Night fell, and he cultivated quietly, his mind weaving through the complex currents of Dou Qi, preparing for the next breakthrough.
One afternoon, as Shen Guang wiped sweat from his brow, Lady Yin appeared, leaning casually against a tree.
"You know," she said with a sly grin, "if you keep training like this, you might actually survive my lessons."
Shen Guang smirked, sheathing his sword. "I'm aiming for more than survival. Maybe one day I'll be the one throwing you into a wolf pack."
Lady Yin laughed, a clear sound that cut through the forest's stillness. "Dream on. I'm the storm here, little thunder pup."
He raised an eyebrow. "Storm, huh? More like a gentle drizzle that enjoys watching me suffer."
"Oh, you wound me," she said dramatically, placing a hand over her heart. "I'm a monsoon—unpredictable, relentless, and impossible to outrun."
Shen Guang shook his head, amused. "Well, monsoon or drizzle, you're the only one who can keep up with me."
She stepped closer, eyes sparkling. "Careful, or I might start thinking you like the rain."
He grinned. "Maybe I do."
That evening, as Shen Guang settled into his Thunder Vein Harmonization practice, Lady Yin sat nearby, casually tossing a pebble at him.
"Hey, you missed a breath."
He opened one eye, annoyed. "Thanks for the critique, Your Majesty."
She smirked. "I'm just here to make sure you don't turn into a lightning statue."
He chuckled, focusing back on his breathing.
Later, under the moonlight, as Shen Guang cultivated, Lady Yin's voice broke the silence.
"Tomorrow, we hunt the azure falcon . They're faster than wolves and twice as stubborn and most importantly they are avian."
Shen Guang groaned. "Why can't we ever just train with flowers or something peaceful?"
"Because," she said with a grin, "flowers don't explode in lightning storms."
He laughed softly. "Fair point."
Their days passed in this rhythm—grueling, challenging, but punctuated by moments of warmth and teasing that made the storm inside Shen Guang feel a little less wild.
Months of relentless cultivation had passed, but the breakthrough to Dou Shi remained stubbornly out of reach. Shen Guang's frustration simmered into anger. One evening, as the twilight painted the cave in muted hues, he slammed his fists against the stone wall, voice sharp and bitter.
"Why won't it happen? I've pushed myself harder than ever! What's wrong with me? Or is it you? You've been watching me struggle, but you never help! You just stand there, acting like it's some grand lesson!" His eyes blazed with accusation. "Maybe I don't need you. Maybe I'm better off without your 'guidance'!"
Lady Yin's expression hardened, her voice cold and cutting. "You think I enjoy watching you suffer? You think I owe you progress? This path isn't about hand-holding, Shen Guang. If you want to blame someone, blame yourself for not being strong enough yet."
The tension snapped like a lightning bolt. Shen Guang's jaw clenched. "Fine. Then I'm done. I'm leaving. I don't need you or your twisted lessons."
Without waiting for a reply, he turned and strode out of the cave, the door closing behind him with a finality that echoed in the silence.
Alone in the dim cave, Lady Yin stared at the empty space where Shen Guang had been moments before. A rare flicker of uncertainty crossed her eyes.
What age am I at now, she thought wryly, that I find myself locked in battle with a child?
Her lips twitched into a bitter smile. He's stubborn, reckless... and infuriating. But maybe that's what I need. Or maybe, after all these years, I'm just bored.
She exhaled slowly, the storm outside mirroring the turmoil within. Perhaps this fight isn't about him at all.
She went to search for him.
Lady Yin searched tirelessly through the dense forest, her heart pounding with growing dread. After hours of desperate searching, she finally found Shen Guang unconscious near a battlefield, his body battered and bleeding from multiple wounds.
A long, jagged claw mark marred his chest, deep and ominous. Nearby lay the lifeless form of an Azure Falcon, its feathers stained with blood—a silent testament to the fierce battle that had taken place.
Fear gripped Lady Yin tightly as she hurriedly gathered Shen Guang in her arms, her mind racing with worry. Without hesitation, she carried him back to the oblivion pool, where she fed him healing pills and tended to his injuries with urgent care.
For three days, Shen Guang drifted between feverish nightmares and pain-soaked silence. When he finally woke, the sight of Lady Yin hovering near the oblivion pool ignited a fresh wave of shame. His pride screamed—You came back. She saw you broken. He clenched his jaw, refusing to meet her eyes.
Lady Yin knelt beside him, her usual sharpness replaced by a quiet intensity. She didn't flinch from his glare. "Anger is natural," she said, her voice low but unwavering. "When you pour your soul into a mountain and it refuses to move, rage is the only honest response."
Shen Guang turned his face away, but she continued, softer now. "You think I haven't stood where you stand? That I never raged at skies that wouldn't yield? Your frustration isn't weakness—it's proof you're alive."
He remained silent, but his fists unclenched slightly. The truth hung between them: he'd have died alone in that forest. Her hand brushed his uninjured shoulder—a fleeting touch, heavy with unspoken understanding.
"You don't have to speak," she murmured. "But remember this: some barriers aren't meant to be shattered. They're meant to be understood."
In the stillness, Shen Guang's anger began to fray at the edges, revealing the raw fear beneath: What if I'm not enough? Lady Yin's gaze held his, fierce and unwavering. "Rest. The mountain isn't running away. And neither am I."
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The End
Total word count= 1520