Han Zixuan's POV
The mansion's backyard was filled with the usual roar of voices of students, challengers, spectators were all gathered to see today's ranking battles.
The winter air was crisp, and the wide courtyard was surrounded by stone lanterns and trimmed hedges. At the very center was the circle that awaited the next fight.
I stood near the back, arms folded, watching quietly. I wasn't here for myself. Not today. Qin Yue was beside me, her calm composure betraying only the faintest flicker of tension in her eyes. Her presence was enough reason for me to be here but truth be told… I was curious too.
Bruce Chan.
The boy who, six months ago, who had accepted my challenge and was confident enough that he would reach the top five.
Most would laugh at such confidence, but he hadn't been boasting and I knew that.
His rise through the ranks had proved that I was right.
From the twenty eight rank to tenth, climbing steadily without facing any defeat.
He crushed his opponents with clean precision, never sloppy, never arrogant. A martial artist to his bones but there was something strange.
Not once in these months had he used Chi.
I saw it only once at his very first match, where gold mist flickered faintly around his fist.
At the time, I thought it a trick of light or maybe a fluke.
Manifesting Chi outside one's body without a Lotus Bud was nearly impossible yet Bruce had done it and then… he never repeated it. Not even once.
Was it a single accident?
Or… was he hiding it?
My gaze shifted from Qin Yue to Bruce, who stood not far from us, surrounded by his friends.
His posture was relaxed, shoulders loose, his smile faint but steady. Too calm for someone about to fight a top-five opponent.
'He's hiding something,' I thought, narrowing my eyes.
If he planned to fight Rank 5 without Chi, it would be suicide.
We, The ones in top 5 weren't just strong—we were prodigies.
We lived and breathed combat from childhood by our families and without chi, Bruce's flawless Wing Chun wouldn't be enough.
I found myself smiling despite the tension.
'Prove it to me, Bruce,' I thought silently. 'Show me it wasn't a fluke'
Bruce POV
The crowd buzzed around me, but I felt calm. Almost too calm.
Tao stood to my right, Mei Yanyan and Zhang Weiren behind me, Guo Minghao and Lin Qiun to my left.
Qin Yue wasn't far either, her usual composed nod already shared between us earlier and of course, her fiancé Han Zixuan stood near her, arms folded, quietly watching me like a hawk.
I wasn't nervous. In fact, I felt light. Free.
Yesterday changed everything.
I caught Tao's glance, then Mei's and even Zhang Weiren smirked faintly.
We didn't need words, the memory of yesterday was still fresh in their minds.
That was why they were all here, their eyes burning with excitement rather than worry.
Because for the first time, I had shown them a glimpse of what I was truly capable of.
Yesterday morning, I woke up feeling… different.
My body wasn't just awake—it was alive. Energy pulsed in every corner, like I was carrying sunlight under my skin.
I immediately sat cross-legged on my bed and sank into meditation. My consciousness slipped inward, down to where my Lotus Seed resided.
And there it was.
The glossy white seed had changed.
From its core, countless thin threads stretched outward, spreading across the inner landscape of my body. They glowed faintly, pulsing like living veins of light. They weren't just growing—they had covered everything.
The Lotus Roots were complete.
A shiver ran through me as the realization struck. I clenched my fist in the real world—and for the first time, my Chi didn't just flow. It surged, wrapping tightly around my hand, reinforcing every tendon, every bone. My fist felt like it could break a wall without effort.
'This is just a fraction,' I thought in awe. 'If I unleashed it all…'
I didn't even finish the thought. Instead, I allowed a small stream of Chi to manifest outward. White mist seeped from my knuckles, pure and sharp, clinging to my skin like a veil.
I couldn't stop grinning.
I rushed downstairs. Jackie was yawning, still in his pajamas, while Uncle was already awake, sipping tea.
"Uncle! Jackie!" I shouted.
They both blinked in surprise as I raised my fist. White Chi mist shimmered visibly around my knuckles.
Jackie's jaw dropped. "No way…"
Uncle nearly spilled his tea. He stood, walked over quickly, and grabbed my wrist, inspecting the glow with sharp eyes. His lips trembled slightly, something rare for him.
"You… you already stabilized the Lotus Roots," he muttered.
Jackie rubbed his eyes. "Wait, already? Isn't that supposed to take, like, a year or two to master chi movement?"
"Years," Uncle corrected grimly. "For most, even I required nearly a year to control chi after my root formation was completed but you—" He stared at me with wide eyes. "You completed it in mere months and controlling immediately"
I shrugged, unable to hide my grin. "Guess I'm a fast learner"
Uncle smacked my forehead with two fingers. "This is not joke! Do you understand how dangerous Wild Chi is? Without proper discipline, one stray thought could have burned your meridians from inside!"
Jackie whistled low, still staring at my fist. "But he did it. And look at that control… Uncle, admit it, he's talented."
Uncle sighed heavily but nodded. "Yes. Too talented."
I relaxed my fist, letting the mist fade. "Don't worry, Uncle. I'll be careful. But now…" I smirked. "Now I'm ready for the good stuff."
After school ended yesterday, I couldn't hold it in. I needed to show someone.
So I dragged Tao, Zhang Weiren, Lin Qiun, Guo Minghao, and Mei Yanyan to a quiet public park. We found a secluded grove with tall trees shielding us from view.
"Alright," Tao said, arms folded. "What's with all this mystery?"
I grinned. "Watch."
I stepped up to the thick trunk of an old tree, took a breath, and channeled Chi into my right arm. The flow obeyed smoothly, filling my fist with energy. With a sharp exhale, I struck.
CRACK!
My fist pierced straight through the bark, splintering the wood and leaving a clean hole in the middle of the trunk.
For a moment, silence.
Then—
"What the—?!" Tao shouted, eyes wide. "Did you just—"
Mei Yanyan covered her mouth. Zhang Weiren swore under his breath. Guo Minghao took a step back like he'd just seen a ghost. Lin Qiun was frozen, jaw slack.
I pulled my fist free and held it up. White mist seeped across my knuckles, curling upward like smoke.
"This," I said calmly, "is Chi."
They all leaned forward in disbelief.
Tao was the first to find his voice. "How?! How can you do that?!"
I shrugged. "This is the reason Uncle kept me locked in training all holiday. If not trained properly, this energy could go out of control. That's why I had to learn to handle it."
They still looked stunned, unable to take their eyes off the mist.
"So… everyone has this?" Mei asked quietly.
"Some," I replied. "A few awaken it naturally but most have to train for years before they could awaken it."
Lin finally spoke. "Wait… if this Chi stuff is real… does that mean magic is real too?"
I smiled faintly. "Yes. Uncle is a master in magic."
Tao's eyes lit up. "Can I learn this too?!"
I thought for a second. "If you can learn an ancient language—something very old, very tough—you could. That's the foundation of Ancient Chinese magic but whether you have an aptitude for Chi, that's a different story."
Tao groaned. "A language? Man, why does it always come down to studying…"
The group laughed nervously, but the shock didn't fade from their faces.
They peppered me with more questions, one after another, and I answered as best as I could but the conclusion they all reached was simple.
Bruce Chan was no ordinary friend.
When we finally left the park, their eyes still burned with disbelief and excitement and one thing was certain—none of them doubted my upcoming fight.
Now, standing in the mansion backyard with my friends at my side, I felt the same smile tug at my lips.
They looked at me with quiet fire, remembering the tree, remembering the mist. To them, this fight wasn't just another ranking match. It was the unveiling of what they had seen yesterday.
Han Zixuan's gaze lingered on me from across the courtyard. Qin Yue's calm nod was the same as always.
I rolled my shoulders, relaxed, ready.
'The roots are complete and the seed has matured. Now… it's time to show the world.'
The announcer called my name.
The crowd roared.
And I stepped forward.
The End