The courtyard was vast, paved with smooth jade stones that shimmered under the morning sun.
The wind carried the scent of blooming spirit flowers, but Tao had little time to admire the scenery. His heart pounded against his ribs as he stood across from Butler An, his father's trusted aide, and his first opponent in this new body.
Butler An was an aged man, dressed in a simple yet elegant grey robe.
His posture was relaxed, but Tao sensed the sheer power hidden beneath his calm exterior. Despite his frail-looking frame, An was no ordinary servant—he was a warrior, one Tao had no chance of defeating.
Which he knew.
Tao exhaled slowly. His new body was healthy, stronger than the sickly form he had known in his previous life, yet it still felt… unfamiliar. His stance was unsteady, his balance off. He clenched his fists, willing himself to focus.
"Butler An," Tao began, his voice steady despite his nerves, "I'm ready."
The old man gave a small nod. "Good. Then let us begin."
In an instant, An moved.
Tao barely saw the attack coming—just a shift in the air before a palm was aimed straight for his chest. He threw himself sideways on instinct, but he was too slow. The strike landed, sending him stumbling back.
He gasped, his ribs aching. That was a light hit?
"Sloppy." An's voice was devoid of emotion. "You hesitate."
Gritting his teeth, Tao steadied himself. He had read countless stories about battle. He had imagined how it would feel, how he would move—but reality was far crueler.
No time to think.
Tao rushed forward, swinging a fist toward An's side. The old man shifted slightly, just enough to avoid the blow, and countered with a sweeping kick.
Tao barely managed to lift his arm in time, blocking the strike, but the force sent him skidding across the stone floor. His breath was ragged. His body was strong, but his movements were clumsy.
"You're still treating this body as human," An observed, stepping forward. "But you are not the weakling you once were. Move as a warrior, not as a frightened child."
Yeah apparently his father spoken in depth about his situation. Not to much, and not to little just enough for Butler An to use in order to help him.
Tao's hands clenched. Frustration burned in his chest.
He was strong now. He knew it. But strength meant nothing if he couldn't use it.
He took a slow breath, letting the tension drain from his shoulders. This time, when An approached, Tao didn't overthink. He let his instincts take over.
An's fist shot forward. Tao shifted, his body moving smoother now. He ducked under the strike, twisting his torso, and countered with a sharp elbow toward An's ribs.
Which met the finger of Butler An.
Tao felt it—the shift. The difference between forced movement and true combat. His heart pounded with something unfamiliar. Excitement.
An stepped back, his expression unreadable. Then, he nodded. "Better."
Tao wiped sweat from his brow. He had a long way to go, but for the first time, he felt it—this body was his.
And he was going to master it.
No matter how much pain he had to endure.
....
The air was still, thick with anticipation. The jade courtyard gleamed under the midday sun, its polished surface reflecting the tension between the two figures standing at its center.
Tao stood firm, fists clenched at his sides. Sweat dripped from his brow, his body aching from their previous exchanges. Across from him, Butler An remained composed, his hands still behind his back, his expression calm and unreadable.
"You have potential," An remarked, his voice steady. "But you lack understanding."
Tao's muscles tensed. "Then show me."
An studied him for a moment, then nodded. "Very well. You've yet to feel a real strike. You won't learn until you do."
Before Tao could react, An moved.
No shift in stance, no warning—just instant motion.
A blur—nothing more.
Then—BOOM!
A fist buried itself into Tao's stomach.
The world around him vanished. His vision blurred as his body folded inward, pain detonating through his core like a thousand knives stabbing at once.
The air in his lungs….gone. His bodies strength…gone.
The force lifted him off his feet.
His back slammed into the courtyard floor with a thud, jade stone cracking beneath him. He gasped, desperate for breath, but his lungs refused to respond. His entire body ached as if his very bones were rattling inside his skin.
He couldn't move. He hated it. Hated this feeling.
Weakness.
It was the same as before. The same helplessness he had felt when sickness stole his strength in his past life. The same powerlessness that had left him trapped in his own failing body, dreaming of a second chance.
And now, even in this new life—he was still weak.
His fists clenched against the stone. His arms trembled as he forced himself up. His breathing was ragged, his vision spinning, but he refused to stay down.
An studied him, his face betraying nothing.
Tao staggered to his feet, his stomach burning with pain, but his eyes blazed with something far stronger.
Resolve.
"Again," he said hoarsely.
An raised a brow. "You can barely stand."
Tao wiped the blood from his lip, his grip tightening. "Then I'll stand faster next time."
For the first time, something like approval flickered in Butler An's eyes.
"Good."
Tao inhaled deeply, pushing down the pain. This was only the beginning. He would become stronger. He had to.
No matter what it took.
...
*Bammm*
"Ugh!"
Hitting the ground for the thousandth time today, Tao groaned in pain. Gritting his teeth, Tao stood up once more and looked at his tormenter, who currently had shit eating grin on his face.
"I mean really, he looks like he is enjoying this a bit too much." Tao groaned in his head, as he spat out some dirt.
Butler An raised his hand, signaling the end of the spar.
"That's enough for today." His cocky voice echoed in the air.
Tao exhaled, feeling his body protest with aches and fatigue.
"Your instincts are awakening," An continued, "but instinct alone will not be enough. You must refine your technique, strengthen your foundation."
Tao nodded, determination burning in his chest. "Understood."
An turned, walking toward the edge of the courtyard. "Rest for now. Training resumes at dawn."
Tao watched him go before glancing down at his own hands.
He had survived. He had fought.
And next time, he would be even stronger.
As Tao turned and walked away, his steps unsteady but unyielding, Butler An watched in silence. His usual composed expression remained, but deep within, a ripple of something unfamiliar stirred.
That boy…
He had seen countless young dragon youths train—sons of great clans, prodigies born with divine bloodlines, arrogant and brimming with talent. He had seen them fall and rise, had witnessed their spirits waver the moment they tasted true pain.
Yet Tao—a mere hatchling and former human at that —was different.
He should have stayed down. Any sane youth would have. That strike wasn't meant to be endured, let alone walked off so soon. Even those born with divine dragon lineage, bodies naturally tough as tempered steel, would take longer to recover from such a blow.
Yet that look in his eyes…
That pure, unyielding rage at his own weakness. That fire that refused to be extinguished, even when his body begged him to collapse.
Butler An's fingers curled behind his back. No, this boy is nothing like the others.
The young masters he had seen were trained for honor, for recognition, for power. They honed their skills with pride, believing strength was their birthright.
But Tao?
Tao fought as if his very existence depended on it. As if weakness was a curse, he would rather die than accept.
A slow breath left An's lips as he turned his gaze to the cracked stone where Tao had fallen.
Perhaps Sage Dai Long already knew. Perhaps that was why he had been spared. Why he had been given this chance. Why he had been assigned to him.
Butler An closed his eyes for a brief moment. This hatchling will either die chasing strength or become something terrifying.
For the first time in years, he felt a flicker of uncertainty.
And perhaps—a trace of anticipation.
Only time would tell.