SWORD OF FLAME

Qiang Mo

The longer Fang Yun stared at the small torch, the larger its flame seemed to grow. He eventually stopped watching it and lay back down to sleep.

A beam of soft morning sunlight slipped into the cave. Fang Yun rose from his sleep, stretching to loosen his limbs. He yawned widely, then walked out toward the river.

Humming a little tune, Fang Yun soaked in the shallow stream for quite some time. “What a shame there are no fish in this river,” he thought.

After bathing, Fang Yun quickly picked some ripe bananas from a tree, brought them back to the cave, and placed them on the floor.

While waiting for Fei Hung to wake up, Fang Yun opened the Fire God Technique Manual and turned to the chapter about channeling the Fire God’s inner energy.

The 16-year-old carefully studied every line written on the page. He read it repeatedly, trying to memorize it so that later he could practice more smoothly.

“So it requires several stages to fully master it,” he murmured.

“Yaaawn!”

Fei Hung yawned loudly like a sunbathing crocodile. The short old man rubbed his eyes and saw Fang Yun concentrating on the Fire God Technique Manual.

“You’re already up, Fang Yun? Why didn’t you wake me?”

“Oh, so you’re awake already, Grandpa. I saw you sleeping soundly and was afraid if I woke you up while you were dreaming something nice, you might scold me again.”

“You rascal, joking this early in the morning!” Fei Hung shook his head.

“Grandpa, how do you get to the surface?” Fang Yun asked.

“Why do you want to go up?” Fei Hung furrowed his brows, curious.

“Ah, nothing. Just wondering,” Fang Yun replied casually.

“There’s no path leading up, Fang Yun.”

“Then how do you go up, Grandpa?”

“Using the art of body-lightening. If you can’t master that, you’ll be stuck here forever.”

“Ooh…” Fang Yun puckered his lips.

“Enough questions. I’m going to bathe now,” Fei Hung said abruptly before Fang Yun could ask more.

After Fei Hung left the cave, Fang Yun resumed reading the Fire God Technique Manual. But in several parts, he felt there were concepts he didn’t fully understand.

He closed the manual and tucked it under his shirt, as Fei Hung had instructed him not to leave it lying around carelessly.

The young man then stepped out of the cave with a few bananas in hand to stave off hunger.

Once outside, Fang Yun finally realized how vast the ravine truly was. He looked around and saw only towering trees and dense underbrush. He wanted to explore the entire place, but he lacked the courage.

Suddenly, he felt a powerful energy calling him from a distant part of the ravine.

“What are you staring at, Fang Yun?” asked Fei Hung, noticing Fang Yun looking far across the ravine floor.

“What’s over there, Grandpa?” Fang Yun replied, pointing with his finger.

“Same as here. Nothing special.”

Fang Yun nodded slowly, though his curiosity remained strong.

“Come, let’s go inside. I’ll teach you how to cultivate your inner energy.” Fei Hung walked ahead, followed closely by Fang Yun.

---

***

“Follow everything I say!” said Fei Hung as he sat cross-legged.

“Yes, Grandpa,” Fang Yun replied. He then sat cross-legged with his eyes closed to help him focus.

“Place both hands on your knees, palms loosely clenched or open. Keep your back straight and your head upright, facing forward. Inhale through your nose while moving your arms in a circular motion to your sides, then lift them above your head, and finally bring them down in front of your chest—right hand clenched into a fist, supported by the open left palm,” explained Fei Hung.

Fang Yun followed his foster grandfather’s instructions slowly.

“Inhale and hold it briefly!”

As Fang Yun held his breath, he felt a gentle, swirling breeze flow inside his body.

“Now exhale through your mouth while stretching both hands forward, then move them to your sides, and return to the starting position.”

Fang Yun’s body felt light. He repeated the breathing and holding technique calmly and steadily.

“Continue until you feel energy beginning to stir within you,” Fei Hung instructed.

The old man, who was in fact a seasoned warrior, then left the cave and walked a fair distance until he reached a large boulder hidden beneath thick brush.

Carefully, Fei Hung cleared the brush away. Atop the boulder stood a short, black sword firmly embedded in the stone.

“Sea of Fire Sword, it’s been a long time. If the boy with me is able to inherit all my knowledge, then follow him. It’s time for you to reappear in the martial world.”

As if understanding Fei Hung’s words, the short black blade began to vibrate violently. Then, suddenly, flames burst from the sword, blazing intensely.

Fei Hung smiled. “Calm down. I’m confident he has a noble heart. He won’t be deceived by worldly illusions. You’ll have a new master, one who will surpass me.”

The flames then died down and vanished. Suddenly, a figure resembling a large, horned human formed from fire appeared.

“What makes you say that, Master Fei? Who is this child you speak of?” the fiery being asked.

“So you’ve finally appeared, Qiang Mo. That boy is destined to be the successor of the Fire God Warrior. You know very well that the Fire God Warrior never chooses carelessly.”

“That person again... Once the boy obtains the Fire God Sword, I’ll be handed off again, just like when he gave me to you.”

“Haha, don’t sulk like that, Qiang Mo. The Fire God Warrior must have had his reasons for entrusting you to me,” Fei Hung chuckled softly.

“This boy doesn’t carry the Fire God Sword yet. Surely, he’ll seek it one day. That means you might be with him for life,” Fei Hung continued, trying to ease Qiang Mo’s disappointment.

“Very well, but on one condition—he must defeat me!” Qiang Mo replied flatly. His tone clearly showed his lingering resentment toward the warrior who had once passed him on after acquiring the Fire God Sword.

Fei Hung was stunned by the condition set by the fire spirit dwelling in the Sea of Fire Sword. After all, the legendary warrior never imposed such a trial on him when he was chosen.