The morning sun painted the sky in soft hues of gold and pink as Feiyin walked alongside his father through the village streets. The crisp scent of pine filled the air, mingling with the warmth of freshly baked bread and simmering broth from the market stalls.


    Feiyin’s steps were lighter than usual, an uncontainable excitement bubbling within him. Today, he would be training with the militia.


    Though his father had drilled him relentlessly in body tempering and internal strength control, this would be his first experience training alongside real warriors.


    As they passed through the village, Feiyin felt the familiar hum of life—voices rising in friendly banter, the clatter of wooden carts, the rhythmic pounding of a blacksmith’s hammer.


    ---


    Near the market square, an elderly woman stood behind a simple stall lined with warm, golden flatbreads. Granny Ma, the village baker, was always awake before dawn, making sure everyone started their day well-fed.


    As she spotted Feiyin, her wrinkled face brightened into a gentle smile.


    “Oh my, look at you!” she cooed. “Every time I see you, you’ve grown a little taller. Such a handsome young boy! I hope you grow healthy and strong.”


    Feiyin, completely unprepared for the praise, felt his cheeks heat up.


    “I—I’ll try my best, Granny Ma.” His voice came out a little more flustered than he would have liked.


    She chuckled and handed him a warm bean bun. “Here, something sweet for my favorite little one.”


    Feiyin took it with both hands, mumbling a quick “Thank you!” before hurrying after his father.


    Cai Feng, who had watched the interaction with quiet amusement, smirked. “What’s wrong? Not used to being called handsome?”


    Feiyin scowled at the teasing, stuffing the bun into his mouth to avoid answering.


    His father chuckled and kept walking.


    Pine Village was not isolated. It was part of a larger county, with several other villages surrounding Red Moon City, the central hub of the region. The roads connecting them were well-traveled by merchants, hunters, and messengers, keeping the flow of goods and news constant.


    Feiyin had seen it firsthand. His mother, a sharp and shrewd trader, frequently dealt with merchants who passed through, exchanging goods and gathering information. Through her, Feiyin had learned about different trade routes, bartering techniques, and the power of negotiation.


    But today, his focus was not on trade.


    Today, he was stepping into his father’s world.


    The militia’s training ground was located near the village outskirts, where the land was open and wide. A simple wooden fence encircled the area, and training dummies stood in neat rows. The dirt was compacted from years of heavy footfalls, and a few worn weapons rested against a storage rack nearby.


    Feiyin inhaled deeply, excitement thrumming in his veins.


    Several men had already gathered, stretching and preparing for the morning drills. They were not full-fledged cultivators, but they had all started their journey in Body Tempering with accomplishments, their bodies visibly honed through discipline and training.


    As Feiyin and his father stepped into the yard, a broad-shouldered man with a thick brown beard spotted them.


    “Ah, look who it is! Our captain’s little shadow!”


    A few others chuckled.


    Feiyin scowled immediately. “I’m not little!”


    “Yet you only come up to my waist,” the bearded man shot back, resting a heavy hand on Feiyin’s head and ruffling his hair.


    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Feiyin ducked away, pouting as the laughter around him grew.


    Another warrior, a lean man with sharp eyes, crouched down to Feiyin’s level. “You’re training with us today, huh? We’ll make sure you don’t get trampled.”


    Feiyin crossed his arms. “I can keep up.”


    Sun Ke, one of the younger militia members, barely sixteen, smirked. “Heh. Feiyin might end up surpassing Brother Jiang before long.”


    Brother Jiang, the bearded man, scoffed. “If he does, I’ll owe him a whole roasted pheasant!”


    Feiyin grinned. He liked them already.


    Cai Feng’s sharp voice cut through the laughter. “Enough talking. Form up.”


    Immediately, the atmosphere shifted. The men straightened, standing in organized rows, and Feiyin quickly fell into place.


    “Today’s focus is on strengthening the bones. We’ll be using the Tiger Posture.”


    Feiyin perked up. He had trained in this posture before, but this was his first time practicing it with a large group.


    The Tiger Posture focused on low, powerful stances, where the bones and joints bore most of the weight, strengthening their resilience.


    Feiyin lowered his stance, mimicking the others. His legs burned, but he held firm.


    Jiang, standing beside him, smirked. “Not bad, little cub.”


    Feiyin growled in annoyance. “I’m not a cub either!”


    The training progressed, each movement controlled and deliberate. Feiyin’s bones ached, but he embraced the discomfort. This was what it meant to temper the body.


    After the posture training, the focus shifted to combat drills.


    “The ability to generate internal strength is useless if you don’t know how to use it,” Cai Feng explained.


    The men partnered up, practicing controlled exchanges of strikes, blocks, and counters—all while applying their internal strength to enhance their movements.


    Feiyin was paired with Sun Ke.


    “Alright, little brother, let’s see what you’ve got.”


    Feiyin narrowed his eyes, remembering his father’s teachings.


    He focused his internal strength, feeling the vibrations of his muscles, the weight of his movements.


    When Sun Ke launched a palm strike, Feiyin dodged, redirecting the force with a small shift in his stance.


    Sun Ke’s eyebrows lifted slightly. “Hoh? Not bad.”


    Feiyin grinned. “I know.”


    The drills continued, and though Feiyin was smaller and less experienced, he compensated with precision, using what he had learned from both his father and mother.


    ---


    By midday, the warriors finally rested. Feiyin sat with them, his body aching, but his spirit soaring.


    A bowl of rice and meat stew was placed in front of him.


    “Eat up, kid,” Jiang said. “You earned it.”


    Feiyin dug in eagerly, listening as the men chatted about village affairs, trade with Red Moon City, and border tensions.


    Sun Ke leaned toward him. “You’re not bad, little brother. Just don’t let it go to your head.”


    Feiyin smirked. “Too late.”


    Laughter erupted around him.


    For the first time, Feiyin felt it—he wasn’t just training. He was becoming part of something bigger.


    ---


    As Feiyin and his father walked back through the village, the world felt different.


    The familiar sights—the market, the villagers, the distant travelers—all felt a little more connected to him now.


    Cai Feng finally spoke.


    “You did well today.”


    Feiyin looked up in surprise. His father rarely praised him outright.


    “…Really?”


    Cai Feng nodded. “You trained seriously. And more importantly, you listened.”


    Feiyin grinned.


    As they passed the market, they saw Mei Liao finishing her trade negotiations. She glanced at Feiyin, amused.


    “You look exhausted.”


    Feiyin puffed up his chest. “That’s because I trained hard!”


    She chuckled. “Good. Then you won’t mind carrying some things for me.”


    Feiyin groaned but obeyed.


    And as they walked home, he realized—this village, these people… they were his home.


    And one day, he would also protect them.