A New Beginning
The moment I held the manual in my hands, I knew this was different.
This wasn't a flashy technique meant for warriors who charged into battle.
The Hidden Path Technique.
It was designed for those who thought ahead, planned, and struck from the shadows.
Perfect.
...
A Technique Unlike Any Other
I unrolled the scroll carefully, eyes scanning the delicate calligraphy.
> Power is not found in brute strength alone.
The wise man shapes his battlefield before the fight begins.
The true master never lets the enemy see his hand.
This wasn't just martial arts... it was a philosophy.
Most techniques focused on strength, speed, and qi flow.
But the Hidden Path was built on stealth, deception, and precision.
It had three key principles.....
1. Clouded Steps_ Movement techniques that made it difficult to track my position.
2. Phantom Veil _Concealing my presence and suppressing my qi signature.
3. Silent Strike _Targeting weak points efficiently rather than overpowering an enemy.
No wasted energy. No unnecessary movement.
I felt my blood rush with excitement.
This… this was something I could master.
...
Training Begins
I had expected Wu Jian to simply hand me the scroll and leave.
I was wrong.
The next morning, he was at my door.
"Up."
I groaned. "It's barely sunrise..... "
A wooden staff slammed down beside my head.
"Up."
…Fine.
....
Lesson One: Clouded Steps
We started with movement.
"Most martial artists rely on brute force," Wu Jian explained as we stood in a forest clearing. "But power is useless if you cannot touch your opponent."
He demonstrated.
His footwork was strange..... fluid, shifting, like a shadow moving under flickering candlelight.
I tried to follow.
I failed.
Repeatedly.
I either moved too slow or too predictably.
By the time the sun had fully risen, I was drenched in sweat.
Wu Jian sighed. "Your mind is sharp, but your body is sluggish. You rely too much on logic."
I scowled. "Isn't that the point?"
He smirked. "No. Strategy must be instantaneous in battle. Your body must react before your mind finishes calculating."
I hated that he was right.
But I wasn't giving up.
....
A Different Approach
That night, I returned to my workshop.
If my body wasn't fast enough, I needed something to help me.
I rummaged through my materials..... fabrics, threads, light alloys.
I needed something that reduced drag and enhanced movement.
Something to augment my training.
After hours of experimentation, I had my answer:
A lightweight, qi repelling underlayer.
By morning, I had stitched a prototype into my robes.
It wasn't much, but it reduced resistance, allowing my movements to flow just a little smoother.
The next day, I tried again.
I moved better.
Not perfect.. but better.
Wu Jian noticed.
He didn't say anything, but I saw the brief flicker of approval in his eyes.
I was learning.
...
Lesson Two: Phantom Veil
The next step was concealment.
"This is the hardest part," Wu Jian said. "It requires absolute control over your qi. You must suppress it so completely that even a trained expert cannot sense you."
He demonstrated.
One second he was standing in front of me.
The next.... he was gone.
Not invisible. Just… absent.
It was unnerving.
I tried to replicate it.
I failed. Again.
My qi refused to settle.
Every time I tried to suppress it, I ended up overcompensating..... either flaring it too much or suffocating myself completely.
Wu Jian shook his head. "You're forcing it."
"Well, how else am I supposed to do it?" I snapped.
He sighed. "You are used to controlling things with your hands, your tools, your mind. But qi is not something you can grip. It must flow naturally."
That… wasn't exactly helpful.
But I wasn't giving up.
...
Breakthrough
For the next week, I practiced.
Every. Single. Night.
I meditated, controlled my breathing, tried different techniques.
Nothing worked.
Until I stopped trying to force it.
I remembered something from my old life.
When designing, the best results didn't come from forcing a shape... but from guiding it.
Qi was the same.
It wasn't about shutting it down completely but about blending it with my surroundings.
One night, as I sat in the darkness of my workshop, I breathed.
Not forced. Not rigid.
Just breathed.
My qi settled.
For a moment, I felt… lighter.
I opened my eyes.
The candle in the room flickered differently.
I stood.
Moved.
And realized something shocking.
For the first time, my footsteps were completely silent.
....
Lesson Three: Silent Strike
I was making progress.
But movement and concealment meant nothing if I couldn't fight.
Wu Jian took me to a secluded training ground.
"Most people aim for the strongest attacks," he said. "You will not."
He gestured to a training dummy.
"Strike it."
I punched.
It did nothing.
Wu Jian sighed. "Not with strength. With precision."
He tapped a few points on the dummy. "A warrior can take ten hits to the body, but only one to the throat."
I understood immediately.
Targeting weaknesses.... not overpowering them.
....
Final Test
The training continued for weeks.
I refined my footwork.
I perfected my qi suppression.
I honed my strikes.
Then, one night... Wu Jian surprised me.
"You're ready," he said.
I blinked. "For what?"
He smiled.
And attacked.
No warning. No hesitation.
I barely dodged... his strike grazed my shoulder, sending a shock of pain through my body.
I reacted instinctively.
Clouded Steps.
I shifted, my body moving before I could think.
Phantom Veil.
I suppressed my qi..... just enough to make my movement unpredictable.
Silent Strike.
I lunged, striking toward his ribs... where his stance was weakest.
At the last second, he deflected..... but I saw it.
A flicker of acknowledgment.
I wasn't stronger than him.
But I had forced him to acknowledge my presence.
Wu Jian stepped back. Smirked.
"Now," he said. "You're ready."