The sun came up too bright that morning, like it was trying to pretend the world didn't almost end two times in a row. Yun woke up before his mother for the first time in probably forever, which already shocked the whole household because usually he slept like a rock tied to another heavier rock.

He rolled out of bed, hit his foot on the stool, yelled "OWWW!" loud enough for three chickens to panic outside, then limped to the window with determination anyway. His leg hurt, his pride hurt more, but his heart was burning with some new stubborn fire.

"Today," he whispered dramatically to himself, "I'm gonna get stronger. I don't care if I have to punch a mountain or wrestle a goat or… or something."

He paused.

"…Okay maybe not a goat, those things bite."

He washed his face — splashing water everywhere except his actual face — and marched outside. Several villagers stared at him weird because he had a wooden sword tucked in his belt and he walked like a man who had absolutely no idea what he was doing but was pretending very confidently that he did.

Shen Yu was by the well again, drinking water like a calm immortal that didn't almost die last night. His robe was patched badly from yesterday, like he tried to sew it himself and failed miserably. Yun snorted.

"Wow, you really suck at sewing."

Shen Yu blinked slowly, looked at the crooked stitching on his sleeve, then sighed.

"I'm… aware."

Yun didn't feel scared around him anymore. Actually he felt kinda fired up seeing how strong Shen Yu was. If Shen Yu could fight shadows like nothing, maybe Yun could too… someday… if he didn't trip on his own feet first.

"Shen," Yun said, puffing his chest out proudly (even though he wasn't sure if it actually puffed or just looked like a chicken trying to look tall), "I want you to train me. For real this time. I want to awaken my bloodline or power or whatever that thing inside me is. I'm tired of being the useless one."

Shen Yu looked surprised again — two surprises in two days, a new record.

"You barely slept. You almost fainted last night. Your body isn't used to—"

"I DON'T CARE!" Yun interrupted loudly, waving his stick-sword in the air and almost hitting a passing auntie who screamed at him. "Oops sorry Auntie! But still, I WANT TO GROW STRONG!"

Shen Yu stared for a long moment, then finally gave a small smile that actually looked a little amused.

"…Fine. But don't blame me when your arms fall off."

"They won't! Probably!" Yun said confidently, though he wasn't 100% sure.

Training Begins… Badly

Shen Yu took Yun to the clearing behind the village, where the grass was soft and the birds liked to poop on people without warning. Yun learned that the hard way in the first five minutes.

First Shen Yu made him run.

Yun ran for maybe five steps before tripping over a rock that wasn't even big enough to be called a real rock.

Then Shen Yu told him to breathe properly.

Yun tried, inhaled too fast, choked on his own saliva, fell again.

Then Shen Yu told him to stand in a basic stance.

Yun's legs trembled so much he looked like a newborn calf trying to figure out life.

Shen Yu rubbed his forehead, already regretting everything.

"Yun… are you sure you don't want to rest for a day first?"

"No!" Yun shouted, face red, sweat everywhere. "If I don't start now, I'll just keep being scared and useless and then I'll die like a chicken without feathers or something—NO MORE WEAK YUN!"

Shen Yu sighed again but this time… he seemed proud? Annoyed? Both?

"Very well. Try channeling your energy again. Just breathe slow and think of the light you felt yesterday."

Yun closed his eyes, stood still, and breathed.

One breath.

Two.

Three.

The ground trembled slightly under him, not much, but enough to make the nearby leaves rustle. A faint silver glow flickered around his chest, almost like a heartbeat shining under his skin.

Yun's eyes flew open.

"Did—did you see that!? THAT WAS ME!!! I DID THAT!!!"

"Yes," Shen Yu said, trying to stay calm but a small prideful smile broke through anyway. "Your bloodline is responding faster than expected."

Yun grinned so wide his face hurt.

"I KNEW I WASN'T JUST A USELESS TURNIP!"

"But don't get too excited," Shen Yu added.

Yun did not listen.

By noon, Yun was exhausted, sweaty, dirty, and proud as a rooster. He walked back into the village like a man who survived seventeen wars even though he mostly survived breathing practice.

Liang saw him and burst out laughing.

"You look like a burnt dumpling!"

"Shut up, I'm training," Yun said smugly.

Auntie Lin blinked at the faint silver glow still flickering on Yun's chest.

"Eh?? Yun, are you sick? Why you glowing? Do I need herbs?"

"No Auntie, I'm becoming strong!"

"Oh heavens…" she muttered. "Save this child."

Even the chickens seemed confused. One of them stared at Yun like he owed it money.

Later that evening, while trying to meditate near the well, Yun felt something again. The warmth from last night returned, swirling inside him like a tiny star was waking up. It made his fingers tingle and his hair stand on edge.

He whispered to himself, nervous but excited,

"Okay… okay come on, do something cool… spark or shine or explode,wait no not explode…"

The glow pulsed again stronger, steadier and the air around him shimmered faintly. Shen Yu watched from a distance, nodding quietly.

"He's adapting… much faster than I thought he would," Shen Yu murmured to himself.

Yun opened his eyes, grinning like a fool.

"I felt it again! Shen! I felt it!! I think my power is alive! Or waking up! Or… or hungry??"

"Not hungry," Shen Yu said.

"…I think."

Yun didn't care. He felt ALIVE. For the first time ever, he wasn't scared of the next night or next attack. He wanted to face it. He wanted to get strong enough to protect everyone, and also maybe show off a little because being weak was very boring.

Yun clenched his fists.

"I swear I'm gonna be strong enough to protect this whole village! Even if I have to train until my butt falls off!"

Shen Yu blinked.

"…Your… what?"

"It's a saying!" Yun said. "Probably!"

Shen Yu shook his head with a smile that said this boy is going to kill me with stress, but somewhere deep inside his eyes, there was a soft warmth.

Hope.

For Yun.

For the village.

For what was coming next… but that part could wait.

For now, Yun was just Yun — loud, clumsy, glowing, and ready to fight a mountain if someone asked him to.

Author note: Finally Yun is starting to believe he has to get strong his godly parents must be proud of him hahahh

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