For the next several months, the rhythm of the village was the steady pulse of training. The Iron Path had become both a challenge and a rhythm in their lives. Each day began before sunrise, with the pale light painting the tops of the hills golden. The children would gather at the training ground, their muscles sore, their bodies alert, and their spirits restless with anticipation.
But something had changed.
Once the Dorgons were filled, as they had been so many times before, the elders would silently approach. With calm hands, they would empty the tanks again, letting the water cascade down the slopes into the gardens and the roots of the herbs, nourishing the earth. The children had long grown accustomed to the labor of filling the massive tanks. Yet now, seeing all their hard work vanish in moments, frustration gnawed at their hearts.
"Wait—again?!" Chen Li shouted one morning, his small fists clenching as the water poured away.
"Seriously, Elder!" Luo Tang stamped his foot, cheeks red, but a grin betraying his mischief. "We worked so hard! That was ours!"
Yan Rui crossed her arms, glaring at the tanks. "I swear, every drop we carry just disappears into thin air!"
Wu Ping, ever the curious observer, tilted his head. "Maybe… it's not the water that matters?"
Tong Chen's deep voice broke through their chorus of complaints. "You are learning, whether you realize it or not. Anger is wasted strength if left untamed. Convert it. Let it flow into your body, your Qi, your purpose."
Liang Shan stomped his boot lightly on the ground, laughing heartily. "Ah, little rivers, you grumble, yet your bodies have never been stronger. Look at you! You used to take three months to fill your assigned tanks, and now?"
Ye Chen puffed her cheeks, pretending annoyance, "One month! Only one month now!"
"Almost two months, yes," YunKai Tao corrected, a quiet smile on his face, "but still—our speed is improving every time."
Xiao Ling stepped forward, her robes flowing in the morning breeze. "Strength without control is chaos. The water is not yours. The tanks are a lesson, a mirror. Empty tanks teach humility, patience, and awareness. Only when you can accept emptiness can you truly begin to feel the flow within."
The children's complaints softened into murmurs. They had begun to see the wisdom, but frustration still flickered like sparks in the edges of their minds.
Over the months, the improvement was remarkable. The first time Team 1 had completed their task, it had taken them three months to fill even a single tank. Now, after almost a year of practice, they could fill each team-assigned tank in just one to two months. The giant central tank, once a monument to exhaustion, became a challenge they approached with a mixture of strategy and excitement.
Luo Tang bounced on his heels, rubbing his sore arms. "I can't believe we used to take three months to do this!"
Chen Li nodded, sweat dripping down his face. "It feels… easier somehow. But harder, too. I can feel my muscles, my bones… even my blood is moving differently."
Ye Chen's eyes sparkled. "You feel it too? That warmth in your hands? And the pulse in your feet?"
"Exactly," YunKai Tao whispered, eyes half-closed. "I think… I think the energy is actually moving along my body. Like a river… in channels."
The elders watched from the ridge, their expressions a mix of pride and curiosity. Yan Zhi Lan leaned slightly toward Xiao Ling. "They are close. Very close. The first acupoints will awaken soon. Their bodies, their breath, their minds—all aligned enough to sense the subtle flows."
Xiao Ling nodded, a small smile on her lips. "Yes. Soon, they will not only carry water, they will feel it within themselves. And then, they will begin to direct it. To open the meridians and activate the points. But this is a delicate moment. Too much excitement or impatience, and the flow will be scattered."
Tong Chen's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Observe Yeotu's posture. Notice how he maintains his focus while carrying the heaviest tank. That discipline—silent, unspoken—is the first indicator of an acupoint awakening."
Liang Shan laughed quietly. "And yet, Luo Tang and Liang Yin are still arguing about who can fill the tank fastest. It's amusing… but the playful energy will sharpen their reflexes, so I won't intervene."
On the ground, the children were already teasing one another.
"You think you can beat me this time?" Liang Yin asked, twirling a small wooden bucket in her hands.
"I will," Luo Tang shot back, smirking. "Just wait—you'll see who's faster when the water flows!"
Ye Chen rolled her eyes. "You two are hopeless. Watch me—steady, fast, smart. That's the way."
Wu Chen chuckled. "Smart, yes—but remember the lesson. Speed is useless if you forget control."
Even amidst their playful banter, the work continued. Each child carried, lifted, and filled their assigned tanks with renewed vigor. The timing of their efforts had improved dramatically — a testament not just to their strength, but to the alignment of body, mind, and spirit.
Xiao Ling moved quietly among them, carrying small gourds of elixir. "Drink," she said softly, offering each child a shimmering cup. "This will help open the channels slowly. Your blood will strengthen, your senses sharpen, and your mind will become more aware of the energy flowing through you."
Luo Tang tilted the gourd and took a tentative sip. His eyes widened. "It feels… funny. Like tingly fire inside me."
Ye Chen laughed softly, sipping hers. "Yes! Like a river running through my veins."
Xiao Ling smiled. "It is the river. You will feel it in your hands, in your feet, and even in the spaces between your breaths. But it is not only physical strength — it is awareness, perception, patience. Without these, Qi cannot move freely."
YunKai Tao closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. "I feel it. I feel the tank, the water, even… the earth beneath my feet. It's like it's connected to me."
Tong Chen's voice rumbled, carrying over the field. "Good. That is the beginning. Soon, you will sense acupoints not as a map, but as living channels — pathways that must be nurtured, opened, and aligned. Only then can your inner power truly flow."
The children paused, catching their breath, their arms aching but their eyes shining with understanding.
Yeotu, from Team 3, clapped his hands, a grin spreading across his face. "Alright, everyone! Let's see if we can fill these tanks faster than ever! But… let's also try to feel the water while we do it. I mean, if Luo Tang can spill half, maybe we can sense half too!"
Luo Tang giggled, splashing a bit of water onto Liang Yin, who squealed and chased him across the slope, slipping slightly but catching herself with a laugh. Even in play, their energy was learning to flow, their movements natural, coordinated, and aware.
Chen Li shook his head, smiling, "You two are impossible. But… maybe you're right. We can turn this frustration into power."
Yan Rui nodded, determination flashing in her eyes. "From now on, every tank we fill… we feel it. Every step, every breath. Let's see how fast we can do this — without losing control."
And so the process continued. Four tanks for each team, plus the giant central Dorgon. From this day forward, the young warriors would not only measure their progress in speed or strength, but in awareness: the ability to sense, channel, and direct energy through the body's acupoints.
The elders, observing silently, exchanged glances.
"Soon," Xiao Ling whispered, "they will no longer need elixir. Their blood, their breath, their Qi — all will guide them."
Yan Zhi Lan's eyes sparkled. "And when they awaken their first acupoint, they will not just feel themselves — they will feel the world."
Tong Chen's stern face softened into a rare smile, the kind that seemed almost hidden behind decades of discipline and rigor. "Patience, discipline, and humility," he said, his voice low but carrying across the hilltop. "That is the path. They are ready. Very soon, they will discover that their bodies are rivers, their minds the banks, and their spirits the flow."
The children looked at one another, excitement and curiosity mingling with the aches in their limbs. For months, they had carried water, lifted tanks, and endured pain. Yet now, a new understanding had begun to dawn—a sense that their bodies held currents far deeper than the muscles and bones they had strengthened.
Yan Zhi Lan stepped forward, her flowing robes catching the wind. "From today, you practice as you will," she said, her voice calm and certain. "Use what you have learned, but listen to your own bodies. Let your energy guide your steps, your hands, your balance. Only then will the true lessons begin."
Xiao Ling moved among them, hands resting lightly on shoulders and arms. "And remember," she added softly, "to feel is different from sensing. You are not simply observing your bodies—you are inviting the flow. Blood, Qi, breath—they are one. Your tanks, your water, are now mirrors for what is inside."
With that, the elders stepped back, allowing the children to venture freely.
The four teams gathered at the base of the hill overlooking the training ground. Beyond the familiar Dorgons and smaller tanks, a massive stone formation loomed ahead—an enormous, jagged rock that resembled a small house. Its surface glinted faintly in the sun, the edges rough yet inviting, as if challenging anyone who dared climb it.
The children scrambled up, panting but laughing, each finding a small ledge or crevice to perch on. From their elevated view, they could see the entire village below, the winding paths they had traversed countless times, and the training grounds, now empty after the elders had once again released the water.
Luo Tang sat cross-legged on a small ledge, swinging his legs like a pendulum. "Do you think we're really ready?" he asked, glancing at Liang Yin, who was perched beside him, trying not to laugh at his nervous energy.
Liang Yin grinned. "Ready? Maybe. But if we're not, at least we'll look impressive doing it." She nudged him lightly, and he laughed, the sound echoing across the hill.
Ye Chen flexed her fingers, the small aches in her hands a reminder of countless hours carrying and lifting. "I feel… different," she murmured, eyes closed for a moment. "Not just my arms or legs… my chest, my stomach… even my head. Like energy is moving in waves inside me."
Wu Chen nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, it's like the water we carry… but inside us. I can feel it flowing from my feet up to my spine… almost like a river awakening."
Chen Li, perched a little apart from them, grinned. "Finally! I thought it was only me. I can actually feel the pulse… the pressure of blood and breath moving together. It's weird, but… amazing."
Tong Chen's voice rumbled from below, carrying effortlessly up the hill. "You are correct. Your blood and energy have strengthened, but do not mistake this for mastery. What you feel now is the surface—the beginning of the currents. The hill before you, the streams you see below, even the water you have carried—these are reflections, not the source. The true rivers run within you."
YunKai Tao looked toward the massive stone ahead, his hands resting on the rough surface. "But Elder… the stone… it feels… heavy. Strong. Like it's testing me."
Tong Chen's eyes twinkled with rare amusement. "Ah, young river. That stone is no more than your reflection. Its weight is not measured in stone and granite, but in the doubts, fatigue, and pride you carry. Think of the water in the rivers, the streams beneath your feet—ever flowing, shaping the land. That is what you must become. The body breaks and refines itself constantly; the hill, the water, the stone—all are guides, mirrors for your foundation. Do not be fooled by appearances."
Yeotu, from Team 3, leaned back against the rock, laughing softly. "So all these months, we thought we were carrying water for the Dorgons… and now we find out we were just… fooling ourselves?"
Xiao Ling's gentle voice carried up to them, serene yet firm. "Not fooling yourselves, Yeotu. You built strength, endurance, patience, and unity. But strength alone does not awaken your inner flow. That comes only when you learn to feel—truly feel—your energy. Your blood, your breath, your pulse. This hill, these rocks, the rivers below… they are your teachers now."
Luo Tang's brow furrowed. "So… we carry water, but also… feel it inside us?"
"Exactly," Yan Zhi Lan said, stepping closer. "You must understand the rhythm. Your heart beats. Your Qi flows. Your mind guides. When all three move as one, then you will know the acupoints. They are not just points on a map—they are the channels, the rivers of life within you. You are nearly there, but only practice, observation, and awareness will open them fully."
Liang Yin tilted her head, mischievous as ever. "So… we can spill water and laugh, and still learn?"
Tong Chen's laugh echoed across the hill, a deep, rolling sound. "Yes. Even humor is part of flow. Play sharpens reflexes, eases tension, and opens the mind. Do not forget, little rivers—joy guides energy as much as discipline."
The children laughed together, the tension easing. Even as they felt the weight of responsibility and the subtle currents of energy inside them, the playful banter reminded them that growth could be joyful.
Ye Chen stood tall, facing the sprawling village below. "I can feel it, right? The blood, the Qi… even the wind seems to flow differently now."
Wu Chen placed a hand on her shoulder. "Yes, and look at everyone else. We've all changed—our muscles, our senses, even our hearts. We are not just filling tanks anymore… we are filling ourselves."
Tong Chen nodded, satisfaction shining in his eyes. "Remember, every drop of water you have carried, every tank you have filled, every stone you have climbed—they were all lessons, tools for your awakening. Now, the rivers flow within. You are ready to refine the foundations further. Soon, your acupoints will respond—not to water, not to tanks, but to your own strength and awareness."
Yeotu tilted his head toward Qiu Lan. "So… we're basically rivers in human bodies?"
Qiu Lan raised an eyebrow, calm as always. "Rivers that need careful guidance, or they flood and destroy."
Chen Li laughed, wiping sweat from his brow. "I guess that makes me a waterfall then—crashing and noisy!"
Luo Tang kicked a small stone off the edge, and it tumbled down the slope. "And I'm a trickle, but I'll grow into a river too!"
The elders watched, allowing laughter, banter, and reflection to mingle. They knew the children's energy needed freedom now—freedom to feel, to experiment, and to understand.
Xiao Ling's voice floated above them again, soft and melodic. "Tomorrow, you will begin training with the inner rivers. Each team will carry water as before, but you will also direct energy consciously to your acupoints. Observe the flow, sense the channels, guide it with breath and intention. One tank for each team, plus the central Dorgon. Your methods are yours to discover, but the flow must remain steady, precise, and harmonious."
Yan Zhi Lan added, "And remember—control, observation, patience. The strength you feel is a tool, not the goal. The goal is harmony between body, mind, and spirit."
Tong Chen's eyes swept across the young warriors. "You have worked, struggled, laughed, and endured. Now the real challenge begins. The river flows inside you. Will you guide it wisely, or let it run wild?"
The children looked at one another, excitement and determination burning in their eyes. Ye Chen tightened her fists, Chen Li bounced lightly on the rock's edge, Luo Tang stretched dramatically, and Yeotu's confident grin widened.
Together, they nodded, their collective energy almost palpable in the crisp evening air.
The moon rose higher, casting silver light across the Iron Path, the empty Dorgons below, and the village beyond. The river of energy within each child pulsed steadily, waiting, flowing, alive—and soon, it would be theirs to command.
And so, beneath the watchful eyes of the elders, the young disciples stood atop the mountain peak, ready to take the next step in their journey: not just carrying water, not just filling tanks, but awakening the rivers within themselves.