The morning sun pierced through the dense canopy of trees, casting long shadows across Green River Town as Xi Chen walked toward the outskirts. His thoughts, as usual, were heavy—tied to his brothers and his secret cultivation practice. He could feel the temperature rising in his body as he approached the blacksmith's forge. Every step, every movement, was now imbued with a subtle power, a hidden strength that no one could see.
The town was still waking up when he arrived at the forge. The iron doors creaked open with a groan, and the smell of burning coals hit him like an old friend. The heat inside the forge was palpable, and Xi Chen could already feel the beads of sweat forming on his brow. Yet, it was different now. This heat was no longer just the forge's fire. It was his own—a fire he was beginning to control.
Xi Bing, the older one of the two boys, was already there, hammering away at a scrap piece of metal. His small frame and young hands made the work harder than it should have been, but he was determined. Xi Xuan, still a child, sat nearby, watching the metal slowly take shape under his older brother's hand.
Xi Chen couldn't help but smile at the sight. They were his family. His blood. They were all that mattered in this world.
But, as always, the weight of his secret loomed over him.
"Bing," Xi Chen called, his voice steady, though his mind was elsewhere. "Stop for a moment."
Xi Bing looked up, his face streaked with sweat, his hands calloused from the work. "What's wrong, Brother?"
Xi Chen motioned for him to sit beside him. "I've been thinking. You've been practicing your strength, but it's time we start something more. I'll teach you something that will make you stronger. But you must promise me one thing."
Xi Bing's eyes lit up, and he immediately wiped his hands on his shirt. "Anything, Brother. What is it?"
"Don't tell anyone about this. Not a soul. Not even Xuan. If you want to be strong, it must stay between us. Understand?"
Xi Bing nodded solemnly, sensing the gravity in his brother's tone. "I understand."
Xi Chen took a deep breath. "This is not something you can learn in a day or two. It will take years. But in time, your body will grow stronger than any of those noble children, and when we are ready, we will be able to take on anything."
Xi Bing's determination only grew. "I'm ready, Brother."
Xi Chen glanced at his younger brother, Xi Xuan, who was still playing with a small piece of metal, not yet old enough to comprehend the weight of his brother's words. But one day, Xi Chen would teach him too. The time was not yet right.
That afternoon, after Xi Bing had completed his training, Xi Chen took him into the forest behind their home. The trees loomed tall and thick, their branches blocking out most of the sunlight. It was here, in this secluded space, that Xi Chen practiced his tempering technique in solitude.
"Take off your shirt," Xi Chen ordered quietly.
Bing hesitated, but obeyed, his eyes wide with uncertainty. He had grown used to Xi Chen's quiet strength, but this—this was different. Xi Chen's body had always been a mystery to him.
When Bing finally saw it—his brother's body—his eyes widened even further. The deep red hue of Xi Chen's skin shimmered faintly in the dim light of the forest. It was subtle, not as bright as a flame, but unmistakable—a constant reminder of the technique his brother had begun to master.
"Brother… what is this?" Bing asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"This is the beginning," Xi Chen said calmly. "This is what happens when you forge your body like you would forge steel. The heat is unbearable at first, but with time, it strengthens you. This is the Red Ember Tempering Art."
Bing's face twisted in confusion and awe. "But… can I do this too? Will I become like you?"
Xi Chen looked into his brother's eyes, seeing the hunger for strength in them. He understood. He had felt the same way in his past life, when he was just another street thug, desperate to rise above his circumstances. But strength came at a price.
"You can," Xi Chen said slowly, "but not yet. First, you must learn to endure."
He stepped forward, placing a hand on Bing's shoulder. "Start with your breath. Don't rush. Focus. Let the heat flow through your body. Understand its rhythm."
Xi Bing nodded, his face serious. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Xi Chen observed him closely, his mind already racing through the next steps. The tempering technique was simple at first—just learning to bear the heat and endure the pain. But, as his own body had shown, it would evolve as Bing grew stronger.
The air around them grew still, save for the soft rustling of the trees. Bing's body trembled slightly, his skin turning pink as the first wave of heat hit him.
Xi Chen nodded approvingly. "Good. But remember—this is just the beginning. Every day, you must grow stronger."
For a moment, Xi Chen allowed himself to feel a flicker of hope. Perhaps, one day, his brothers would surpass him. But for now, he would be their guide, their protector, and their strength.
Later that night, as they returned home, Xi Xuan was already asleep, curled up in a blanket. The house was quiet, save for the occasional creak of the wooden beams. Xi Chen sat down at the table, his mind still focused on the day's events.
He could feel the pull of his own cultivation—could feel the strength growing within him. It was slow, but it was there. With each passing day, his body became stronger, more refined. The heat, once unbearable, was now a familiar companion. He was becoming something different.
But it wasn't enough.
Not yet.
The panel on his wrist reminded him of his limitations.
[Crimson Tempering Panel]
Body Cultivation Stage: Muscle Tempering (Early-stage)
Technique:Red Ember Tempering Art [Basic Grade – Evolvable]
Combat Art:Blunt Fist Form [Basic Grade – Evolvable]
Status: Stable
Bloodline: None Registered
Clan: Xi Clan [Hidden]
Cultivation Access: Denied by Class Restriction
His clan was still a secret. But one day, Xi Chen would tear down the walls of the nobility and expose their corruption. One day, the world would know the name of the Ghost Fist Clan.
For now, though, he focused on what he could control: his brothers, his forge, and his own body. One strike at a time.