Lin Yun wake up before the sun even rise up.. and feel the cold and fresh outside, its was a wonderful feeling after a hard long day of practice ..
Even though his muscle kinda sore for a moment but he like to push it more .. so stretch it out to less the tense of his muscle, from head to to arms to hips and legs.. "okey I need some place to practice"
As he walked onto the yard, he noticed something leaning in the wall its look like a handle of a broken broom .. so he grab it and feel it .. "nice not bad… its like the one that I used to play when I was on earth"..
He gave the makeshift staff a spin. Whish. He remembered playing as a kid with his brother, pretending to be a hero with a stick. Now, it was real. This was his life and Time to get serious.
He started his forms. Stepping, turning, spinning, jabbing. His body knew the basic routines, even if this wasn't a proper weapon. The handle felt surprisingly good in his grip.
This will have to do for now.
A breeze drifted around the area and the sunrise was turning the clouds. He felt a strange loneliness a feeling of missing something: he's family and Especially Wu Lan.
"Gotta keep going. For them."
"Not bad, kid."
Lin Yun jumped and nearly dropping the woodin staff.
"How long have you been standing there, Master?!" he ask him wisphered.
Master Baby was stand on the roof, arms crossed and robes flapping in the wind, grinning. "Long enough to see you moping at the grass. You looked like a sad, lonely weed... waving around a broken broom handle."
He hopped down, landing lightly (almost tripping). Straightening up, he tried to look important. "Keep practicing, kid!," he said. "Might actually amount to something someday. Or not. Even with… that." He gestured at the handle.
Lin Yun felt a little surge of determination. He spun the makeshift staff, moving faster, trying to smooth out his movements. The air sighed as he practiced. He pushed aside the thoughts of home, concentrating on the here and now.
Master Baby strolled around, watching. "That style… What is that? Looks like a cooking disaster, too many ingredients. Did a traveling circus teach you? Or did you just make it up... with a broomstick?"
"Just messing around," Lin Yun said, trying to sound casual.
Master Baby clutched his chest dramatically. "Messing around?.. okey sure.. sure.." He waved dismissively. and say "Your left foot wants to run a marathon while your right is stuck in the mud. It's confusing! And now you're doing it with cleaning supplies."
Lin Yun adjusted his stance, trying to find that elusive balance. "Before… I was just playing. Now it feels… real. Like I have to do this."
Master Baby's gaze softened. "forget it kiddoo."
While there where talking A messenger came charging into the courtyard, kicking up dust. "Young Master Lin Yun! Young Lady Xiao! The Elders invite you to the Jade Fall Market tomorrow! Merchants from everywhere will be there – herbs, pills, weapons!"
Xiao practically vibrated with excitement. "The market! We have to go!"
Lin Yun grinned, enjoying her enthusiasm. "What's the big deal, Xiao? It's just a market."
"Just a market?!" she cried. "It's like a giant treasure chest! Herbs, fruits, energy candies! Anything to help us get strong!"
"You just want to eat your way to power?" he teased.
"Maybe!" she giggled, shoving him playfully.
Master Baby snorted. "Don't buy any snake oil. Last time, someone bought a 'spirit gem.' Total fake! Just a rock from the river. I had to bribe him with buns to stop crying."
Lin Jian stood by the gate, glaring, looking like he'd rather be anywhere else. He turned and stomped off. Master Baby cackled, the sound booming through the courtyard.
Lin Yun felt a jolt of anticipation.
"master! can you teach me how to use qi" lin yun ask! while bowing his head .. "oh.." Master baby Look at Him and say"So.... you want to learn it now ?"
Lin yun smiling.. "okey .. so first you rember how we practice last time?" master baby glaze at him with a smirk.
"Yes! Master… you teach me how to punch and kick" Lin yun spoke with determination …
And master baby stretch and point "okey kid! Master baby is here for the lesson 2!" and laugh hard .
"Okay, same as before lets start with the punch," Master Baby said, suddenly serious. "Gather your qi in your dantian. Guide it down your arm. Smooth. Controlled. Easy does it."
Lin Yun closed his eyes, focused. Warmth gathered in his core, flowing through his shoulder, arm, and into his fist. A tingling sensation on his skin.
"Punch!"
Thud. The training dummy wobbled.
Better. Focus. Control.
He tried again, adding a little more force.
Crack! A sharp noise echoed as blue sparks erupted from his fist. The dummy shook violently. His arm throbbed. Smoke curled from his sleeve.
Master Baby's eyes nearly popped out. He rushed over. "Stop! Too much! That's unstable qi! You're going to blow yourself up!"
Lin Yun's heart pounded. Qi wasn't just energy; it was alive, powerful… dangerous.
I have to respect this. Control it or it'll control me.
"Patience, grasshopper!" Master Baby yelled. "Qi doesn't take orders. You have to persuade it. Don't try to force it or you'll look like a frog about to burst!"
Lin Yun breathed deeply, trying to let the qi flow naturally. He moved, sometimes fast, sometimes stumbling, but always learning.
"Alright, enough with the arms," Master Baby said, clapping his hands. "Time to work those legs! Qi isn't just for punching, you know. It's your whole body."
He pointed at Lin Yun's feet. "Feel the qi. Guide it down your legs, into your feet. Imagine it flowing like a river, giving you power."
Lin Yun focused, trying to feel the energy in his legs. It was harder than with his arms. It felt… disconnected.
"Think about pushing off the ground," Master Baby instructed. "Not just with your muscles, but with the qi. Let it explode, give you a burst of speed."
Lin Yun tried it. He focused, visualized the qi flowing, and pushed off. He stumbled forward a few steps, nearly falling.
Master Baby chuckled. "Not quite. You're thinking too hard. It's about feeling, about instinct. Watch."
Master Baby took a deep breath. For a moment, his form blurred. Then, in the blink of an eye, he was standing on the other side of the courtyard. Just… there.
"See? Fast, right? Like a gust of wind. Qi in your legs, a focused intention, and poof! You're somewhere else."
Lin Yun stared, impressed. "How…?"
"Practice, kid! Lots of it. You won't be teleporting overnight. Start with small steps. Feel the qi, push off, move. It's about rhythm, about connecting your mind and body."
Lin Yun tried again, focusing on the flow of qi, pushing off with intent. He managed a slightly quicker step, but nothing like Master Baby's blink-and-you'll-miss-it dash.
"Better," Master Baby said. "Keep at it. It's like learning to walk all over again. Soon, you'll be dancing on the wind... and maybe, just maybe, you won't need that ridiculous broom handle to defend yourself."
Lin Yun nodded, determined. This was going to take time, but the possibilities…
This is different from fighting back then. Strength counts, but control wins. And speed… speed changes everything. I can do this.
Master Baby's eyes gleamed mischievously. "Do the spin! Monkey steals the peaches!"
Lin Yun sighed, but complied. He spun, the makeshift staff a blur, the qi helping him keep his feet.
Master Baby darted in, wiggling his fingers. "Okey kid!"
Clack! The staff connected with Master Baby's hand.
They sparred, moving quickly around the courtyard. Xiao cheered Lin Yun on. The qi made him quicker, steadier, more reactive. He even managed a couple of slightly faster steps, remembering Master Baby's lesson.
Master Baby, panting, said "Alright! Not quite as clumsy as a newborn ox. Getting steadier. And I saw a little… something… with your feet there. But you still need work."
Lin Yun grinned.
I'm getting stronger. More sure of myself.
After a while master baby smiling on the distance and say "kid! Do you want to see a new move?"
Master Baby snapped off a small tree branch, turning it over in his fingers. "Weapon qi is tricky. Too much power, snap – broken weapon. Too little, useless. You need balance, finesse."
Lin Yun raised the makeshift staff, channeling qi carefully. The first swing felt weak. He adjusted, and the second sliced cleanly through the air. Whoosh.
Master Baby nodded. "Good. Like a baby bird learning to fly. Clumsy now, graceful soon... hopefully. Still can't believe you're doing this with a broom handle."
Master baby stand in Lin yun side and say"okey kid! This is the last and first you see this so feel it and comprehend" master baby gather a small amount of qi in his hand to the branch slice it on the thin air .. and a sudden fall of the grass in the ground .."its called intent kido! Practice it when your ready ."
I can do this. I'm getting the hang of it.
Master Baby flopped onto the grass, robes rumpled, face flushed. "Teaching's is so hard work," he complained. "This old man cant think of teaching when hungry.. I need sugary buns."
"After practice," Lin Yun said, trying not to smile.
Master Baby pushed himself up, brushing off his robes. "You got this," he said.
He wandered toward the kitchen. The courtyard fell silent.
Lin Yun thought. Focus. No distractions.
He felt the woman's presence in his mind. "hey kid! So your getting serious now?" Lin yun smile and say with a tease ..."By the way … I never know what fairy sister name is? Is there any chance to know it ?"
"I like the fairy sister" woman answered.."fairy sister… huh ." and he smile.
Its start to getting dark at the lin State … so he decide to go back at home with his sister and start meditating ..
It's a cold morning when they arrive at the market on where, a lot of people that you can see.. Lin yun thinking about his past life ,, "its like the same in my world a lot of vendors and so many people"
Xiao could barely contain herself. "Brother Yun! Look! It's all so amazing!"
Lin Yun grinned. "What's the big deal, Xiao? It's just a market."
"Just a market?!" she exclaimed. "It's like a giant treasure chest! Herbs, fruits, energy candies! Anything to help us get strong!"
"You just want to eat your way to power?" he teased.
"Maybe!" she giggled, shoving him playfully.
Her enthusiasm was contagious. He realized cultivation wasn't just about training; it was about finding the right tools, learning from others, the sheer excitement of discovery. And maybe, just maybe, a decent weapon.
They navigated the crowded stalls. Xiao sniffed at jars of herbs, touched polished stones, and squinted at intricately drawn talismans. Her eyes shone.
"Brother Yun! This one! A stabilizing talisman! And these herbs are good for your system!"
Lin Yun examined them carefully. One talisman pulsed with faint energy, seeming to hum in his hand. And fairy sister whispered at him"Hey kid you need those herbs.. your ganna use it later.. just buy it."
And he walk towards the deeper part of the market .. on where all the weapon and shield. Fairy sister point at the other area on where an old base, knife and sword .. its all old and some of them have a crack .. "hey kid do you feel that?" and Lin yun tries to feel it "yes there is a small qi in every items"
"no not at all look at that bamboo staff on the right corner " she sound exited " ow you mean that thing .. will I will buy it and its look old but atleast I got a weapon now " lin yun said while ayeing the bamboo staff..
A merchant spoke to him. "oh my young master ! do you have anything that interest you! Its all of them are old " Lin yun smile .. "Mr. I like those bamboo stick!... how much for that .."
"oh Young master but that bamboo is…. Okey Young master ."
Lin yun don't understand why the marchant seems off , he felt that hes trying to say something but .. he stop it, and he thinks that maybe its important for the old man..
Back in their room, Lin Yun prepared the herbal bath. The water steamed and smelled wonderful as a request of the fairy sister.
Let it flow, don't force it. Let the herbs become a part of you, the Fairy sister murmured in his mind.
Warm qi stirred in his dantian, a gentle hum. His movements were slow, deliberate, careful. He could feel his control deepening, his connection to the qi strengthening. The Inner Core in his mind turned smoothly, silently.
"It feels… smoother," he murmured.
The woman's presence was a constant, silent support.
Wrapped in a towel, Lin Yun looked over the herbs and talismans. He'd made progress, setting a good foundation.
"You're buzzing with energy today," he thought to the woman.
"I like watching you focus. And some of those herbs tasted really good," she said in his mind.
Lin Yun smiled. "Next time, I pick the herbs. Leave some for me, okay?"
She chuckled, inside his head. "Okay… But only if you follow my lead. You still have so much to learn. And don't neglect your legs!"
He nodded. This felt right. Training, herbs, guidance. The next three months would be hard work, but he was ready. Master Baby was gone, but he wasn't truly alone.