Feiyin could feel it the moment he woke up.
His body was different.
It wasn't just stronger, it felt refined, sharpened, perfected.
He sat up slowly, rolling his shoulders, feeling the way his muscles coiled and uncoiled with effortless precision. His body moved with him, no longer something he had to push and control, but an extension of his very will.
The once subtle hum of inner strength that had always coursed through him now pulsed like a steady heartbeat, solid, unwavering, potent.
Even the air felt different. The morning breeze against his skin wasn't just cool, it carried depth. He could feel the individual shifts in pressure, the way the wind bent around obstacles, the faint distortions it made as it touched the world.
He closed his eyes, focusing inward.
Everything was clearer.
The rhythm of his organs was steady and strong, their harmony now instinctive. The earth-like stability of his spleen, the unyielding density of his lungs, the flowing resilience of his kidneys, the vital pulse of his heart, and the steady circulation of his liver, each one worked with a synchrony that felt undeniably right.
This was perfection in body tempering.
His inner sense reached deeper than ever before, threading through every fiber of his being, allowing him to perceive the faintest movements within and without.
When he flexed his fingers, he could feel the individual shifts in tension along his tendons. When he breathed, he could sense the subtle contractions of his diaphragm, the precise intake of air, the exchange of energy with the world.
And his senses,
When he opened his eyes, the morning light was sharper, as though every ray of sunshine had been etched into reality with greater clarity. His ears caught the rustling of distant leaves, the murmuring of water in a stream too far to see. The scent of dew on the grass was crisp, layered with hints of soil and wood. Even the taste of the air was richer, as though he could discern every element carried upon the wind.
Feiyin grinned.
He wanted to test it.
Throwing on his robe, he grabbed his saber and stepped outside.
The training field was empty at this early hour, but that was exactly what he wanted.
With slow, deliberate movements, he unsheathed his blade, feeling its weight in his grasp. The last time he held it, it had taken careful effort to control each stroke, to ensure his power was properly transferred.
Now?
He felt every grain of the weapon's steel. The way it resonated with his grip, the subtle balance in its forged body, the hidden edge waiting to be sharpened by his intent.
Feiyin took his stance, grounding himself, and swung.
The saber moved cleanly, cutting through the air without resistance. His body, his inner strength, his organs, and his senses all worked together seamlessly. His feet felt rooted yet light, his muscles compact yet explosive, his inner strength flowing in a controlled pulse with every motion.
Each slash felt effortless. Each movement precise.
Feiyin's breathing steadied as he increased his pace, weaving strikes into fluid sequences, letting his body adjust to its newfound efficiency.
And then, He closed his eyes.
His inner sense expanded, filling the gaps where sight would usually guide him. He could feel the world, the subtle shifts in the ground beneath him, the air displaced by his movements, the presence of objects in his surroundings.
He struck again. The saber's edge stopped a hair's breadth away from a falling leaf. Feiyin opened his eyes, heart pounding in excitement. His control was beyond anything he had ever experienced. He felt light. Strong. Unstoppable.
A deep satisfaction settled within him.
Feiyin stepped back from the training field, his body still thrumming with energy, the sheer harmony of his movements leaving a lingering exhilaration in his veins. Every breath, every shift of his weight, every heartbeat, it all felt right. Balanced.
As he walked back home, the cool evening air carried the distant scent of food being prepared, the muffled sounds of conversation from the village filtering through the quiet night. But what caught his attention most was the sound of a guqin, its gentle, flowing melody drifting from his home.
A smile crept onto his lips. It had been a while since he played.
Stepping inside, he saw his mother sitting by the window, her fingers gliding across the strings of her zither, eyes half-closed as she lost herself in the music. His father, sitting nearby with his arms crossed, appeared at ease, his usual sharp demeanor softened as he listened. A rare sight.
Mei Liao opened her eyes, sensing Feiyin's arrival. "You're back."
Cai Feng glanced at him and smirked. "Did you train yourself half to death again?"
Feiyin laughed as he shook his head. "Not this time." He hesitated before walking closer. "Mom, can I join you?"
Her lips curled into a pleased smile as she gestured to his guqin, resting neatly on a wooden stand beside her zither. "Of course."
Feiyin carefully took a seat, his fingers running over the smooth lacquered wood of his instrument, feeling the subtle vibrations already humming within its strings.
He inhaled deeply. Then, he played. The first note resonated through the air like the chime of a bell, clear and strong. The next note followed, gentle yet firm, carrying a warmth that spread outward like the crackling embers of a fire.
His mother's zither followed, weaving around his melody, answering his tune with her own.
Together, their music formed a cycle.
Earth, steady and grounding. His notes held a weight, anchoring the melody with a deep, stabilizing rhythm.
Metal, sharp and precise. His fingers plucked the strings in crisp, exact movements, cutting through the harmony like the edge of a finely honed blade.
Water, fluid and unpredictable. The melody rippled and swayed, shifting between gentleness and power, adapting, never static.
Wood, growing, expanding, breathing. His music carried momentum, each note stretching and intertwining like roots beneath the soil.
Fire, burning, fierce, untamed. The crescendo surged, bright and explosive, only to soften once more, settling back into the comforting embrace of earth.
His mother followed his lead, her fingers dancing effortlessly, her own understanding of the elements flowing naturally through her music.
It was harmony. And Cai Feng listened. At first, his expression was unreadable, but then his posture eased even further. His shoulders lost their tension, his sharp gaze softened, and a deep, long exhale escaped his lips. Feiyin could feel it in his father's presence, the rare moment of complete peace.
The melody filled the room, filling the spaces between their breaths, wrapping around them like the unseen bonds of family. Mei Liao's playing slowed, her fingers trembling slightly. Feiyin blinked, noticing how her expression had changed. Her eyes, glowing with the light of realization, widened as her spiritual sense flared without warning. The air around them shifted, as if responding to something unseen.
Feiyin's music came to an abrupt halt as he felt it, the surge of energy gathering around his mother. His father immediately straightened, his sharp instincts recognizing the moment for what it was. Mei Liao's breathing quickened, her entire body enveloped in a faint, shimmering aura as the energy sank into her, merging with her very being. She was advancing. The third phase of Qi Condensation, Elemental Infusion.
Feiyin watched in awe as his mother's presence deepened, as if something within her had finally clicked into place. The moment stretched, silent except for the lingering echoes of their music. Then, with a final breath, Mei Liao's aura stabilized, the glow around her fading as she opened her eyes, brighter than before, as if newly awakened.
"…I broke through," she whispered, disbelief flickering across her face before it melted into joy. "I finally… I, "
Cai Feng chuckled, shaking his head. "So it took music for you to reach the next step?"
Mei Liao turned to Feiyin, her amethyst-flecked eyes filled with warmth. "No. It was Feiyin."
Feiyin's breath hitched. "Me?"
His mother nodded, smiling. "Your music carried something more than just sound. You wove the elements into your melody, guided them, balanced them. And listening to it, I finally understood what I was missing."
Her voice was filled with pride, gratitude, and something even deeper, awe. Feiyin's hands trembled slightly as he stared down at his guqin, as if seeing it for the first time.
Had his music truly done that?
Had he helped his mother step into a new realm of cultivation?
A wide grin spread across his face, his heart swelling with warmth.
Cai Feng crossed his arms, shaking his head with an amused smile. "It seems our son has a talent for making the impossible happen."
Mei Liao reached out and ruffled Feiyin's hair. "It seems he does."
Feiyin let out a laugh, the weight of the moment settling in his chest like a perfect note played at just the right time.