Amidst the roar of the waterfall and the rustling wind of the gorge, Zego continued to perfect his Wuji Step. The ticking clock of the remaining six months was a whip that spurred on his every move. He was no longer just training; he was dancing among the slippery rocks, leaping from cliff to cliff, with increasingly realistic shadow-illusions flickering behind him. These phantom traces no longer merely followed his movements but performed clever maneuvers of their own, as if they possessed an independent consciousness.
The Elder watched from a distance, his sharp eyes missing no detail. He saw Zego creating five, six, even seven shadows at once. The real Zego moved with a deadly silence, while his phantoms surrounded the Elder, creating a vortex of confusion.
"Extraordinary, kid," the Elder muttered. "He has surpassed every limit I ever knew."
However, in the midst of the silence, the Elder could sense Zego's restlessness. His breathing was still heavy, and his focus occasionally wavered.
"Kid, stop for a moment," the Elder said. "The Wuji Step is not about the number of shadows, but the quality of the movement. If you create too many illusions, your real strength will be diminished."
Zego halted his training. His breath was ragged, sweat soaking his body. "But, Elder, I only have six months. I have to make the most of every second."
The Elder walked closer and patted Zego's shoulder. "Balance, kid. Always balance. Your body needs rest, your soul needs peace. You need time to remember why you are training so hard."
Zego fell silent. He thought back to the smiles of the children in the village, the friendly faces of the merchants. These flashes gave him strength but also instilled fear.
"Let's go to the village, kid," the Elder said, reading Zego's thoughts. "You've been under too much pressure."
That night, Zego and the Elder returned to the village. A peaceful atmosphere immediately greeted them. Oil lamps illuminated the streets, and the aroma of cooking wafted from every home. Zego felt a warmth that had long been absent from his life. He walked through the bustling night market, watching children play and listening to the stories of the elders.
He even helped an old farmer lift a heavy sack of grain. The farmer, with his wrinkled smile, thanked him and gave him some fresh fruits. Zego felt happy. The feeling was simple, yet incredibly precious. He realized that this was the kind of peace worth protecting.
But at the same time, he felt something strange. A cold premonition crept up his spine. He sensed an energy fluctuation far outside the village, an energy that was not pure. It was the same energy he had felt when the Elder told him about his former disciple.
In a dark forest not far from the village, a group of figures in black robes gathered. The figure who had been spying on Zego from the cliff now stood before them, his eyes gleaming coldly.
"They have returned to the village," the leader said, his voice hoarse and authoritative. "It's time for us to move. Don't kill anyone. Just cause a commotion, make them panic. We just want to lure Zego and that old man out."
"Yes, Master," one of them replied.
"Remember," the leader continued, "the boy's eyes are my goal. Once they come out, capture the boy alive. Kill the old man. Do not let him interfere with my plan."
They began to move, leaping from branch to branch, moving toward the village with terrifying speed. In the middle of the forest, the dark energy they exuded spread like a mist, killing every bit of small life it passed.
Zego, who was sitting in a tea shop, suddenly stood up. He felt the premonition growing stronger. The energy fluctuation now felt incredibly close.
"Elder," Zego said, his voice low. "Something is coming."
The Elder, who was sipping his tea, calmly put down the cup. His eyes sharpened. He felt the same thing. "They're faster than I expected. They've arrived."
"Who are they, Elder?" Zego asked.
"Evil people who want your power, kid. They are out there, waiting for you. And they're coming to this village to find you."
A moment after the Elder spoke, the commotion began. Panic-filled screams came from the end of the village. People ran, seeking shelter. Horses neighed in fear. From the direction of the forest, flames soared high, illuminating the darkness of the night.
The Elder and Zego immediately ran toward the source of the noise. They saw a group of men in black robes burning some houses and attacking the villagers. The terrified villagers tried to fight back, but they had no power.
"They just want to cause chaos, kid," the Elder said, his eyes filled with rage. "They want to lure us out."
Zego could not contain his anger. He saw the confusion and despair in the eyes of the villagers. The children he had played with were now terrified, hiding behind their parents.
"I won't let them," Zego thought, his resolve hardening. "I will protect them."
Zego stepped forward, standing between the villagers and the attackers. He took a stance, activating his Taichi Breathing. Yin and Yang energy merged within him, creating an invisible shield that made him feel invincible.
"Who are you?!" Zego shouted. "Why are you disturbing the peace in this village?!"
The attackers turned, their eyes focused on Zego. One of them, a man with a dragon tattoo on his neck, smiled maliciously.
"We came for you, kid," he said, his voice cold. "We came to take what is rightfully ours."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Zego replied. "But I won't let you hurt these people."
The man with the dragon tattoo laughed. "You think you can stop us? You're just a kid."
The man then attacked Zego with incredible speed. Zego, who was ready, used his Wuji Step to evade the attack. Illusionary shadows appeared around him, confusing the man. The man attacked the shadows, but his blows went right through them.
"What is this?!" the man thought, shocked. "I can't find the original!"
The real Zego, with incredible speed, was already behind the man. He used his Yin-Yang Fist to strike the man's back. The cold punch from his right hand and the hot punch from his left hand hit the man's back, sending him flying. The man groaned in pain, then fell unconscious.
The other attackers were shocked to see Zego's power. They then attacked Zego all at once. Zego did not flinch. He used his Wuji Step to evade the attacks, and he used his Yin-Yang Fist to strike them one by one.
The Elder only watched from a distance, his eyes radiating pride. He knew that Zego was ready. He knew that Zego was the best disciple he had ever had. The fight had begun. Zego was fighting dozens of attackers by himself, protecting the village he had just come to know. This was the real test. And Zego would not fail.