Awakening in Darkness
Pain.
A deep, throbbing ache in the back of my skull.
When I opened my eyes, everything was pitch black.
I tried to move.
Chains.
My wrists and ankles were bound.
I exhaled slowly, calming my thoughts.
What kind of training is this?
A voice cut through the silence.
"Fear sharpens the blade."
Master Hei.
...
Lesson One: The Mind Breaks Before the Body
Footsteps echoed in the darkness.
"Your body is weak, but that's not the problem," Master Hei's voice was cold. "The real issue is your mind."
Something whooshed through the air.
Pain exploded in my ribs.
I gritted my teeth. A wooden staff.
A second strike followed..... harder.
Still, I refused to cry out.
Master Hei chuckled. "Good. You have some spine."
He paused. Then his voice darkened.
"But let's see how long that lasts."
...
The Breaking Point
For the next few days, I was tested.
No food. No water. Only pain and exhaustion.
Sleep?
Interrupted.
Every time I drifted off, a sharp impact would jolt me awake.
There was no schedule, no pattern.
Time blurred together.
My body screamed for rest.
My mind begged to break.
But I held on.
Because I knew....
This wasn't just training.
This was a battle of will.
And if I lost here…
I wasn't getting out alive.
....
Lesson Two: Embrace the Shadows
After what felt like eternity, the darkness lifted.
A dim lantern flickered to life, revealing Master Hei.
He knelt in front of me, studying my face.
"You're still conscious," he mused. "Good."
Then, with a flick of his wrist...
The chains snapped open.
I collapsed, my limbs barely responding.
Master Hei let me struggle.
"You survived the first test," he said. "But now, we move to the real lesson."
I barely had the strength to glare at him. "That wasn't real?"
He smirked. "That was the easy part."
.....
The Shadow Techniques
Master Hei handed me a small manual.
Faded, old, but well-preserved.
"Memorize it," he said. "Then burn it."
I opened it.
The title read:
'Phantom Steps: The Way of Silent Assassination'
I frowned. "Assassination techniques?"
Master Hei chuckled. "Did you think strength alone would help you survive? No. You need to learn how to disappear."
I looked down at the text.
It wasn't just movement techniques.
It included....
Qi Suppression "Masking presence completely.
Instant Acceleration " Exploding forward with a burst of speed.
Feather Step " Walking on unstable surfaces without sound.
I felt a shiver of excitement.
This…
This was exactly what I needed.
.....
The First Steps into the Shadows
The training that followed was brutal.
For days, I practiced blending into the darkness, moving without sound.
If Master Hei so much as heard me...
A whip to the back.
If he sensed my presence... a knife to my arm.
It was painful.
But I improved.
By the end of the first week, I could move without making a sound.
By the end of the second week, I could step into shadows and vanish.
Master Hei watched my progress with a satisfied nod.
"You're learning faster than I expected."
I wiped the sweat from my brow. "Does that mean I'm done?"
His grin was wicked.
"Oh no. We're just getting started."