Wilderness City, Luo Family Village.
This village, like a paradise beyond the world, rested against Heaven Pillar Mountain. The Villagers usually entered the mountains to hunt, gather herbs, and chop firewood, then took their goods into the city to sell.
In an open space within the village, a thin, sallow-faced boy of no more than eleven or twelve was practicing his fists. Though his face was waxy from lack of food, he threw every punch with utmost care, letting out the occasional "Hng! Ha!"
"Put your strength into it! Don't slack off!"
Beside the boy stood a burly, bare-chested man.
"Practicing fists is like rowing against the current: if you don't practice for one day, your skill declines by one layer; if you don't practice for ten days, even the greatest ability will go to waste. Then how will you ever sense your Destiny Star?"
The man held a bamboo rod, scolding as he used it to tap the boy's body and correct flaws in his fist technique. Both his voice and movements were exceedingly stern. Only when he saw the boy still gritting his teeth and persevering did a rare warmth show in his eyes.
This continued for nearly half an hour.
"Enough. Stop and rest for a while."
Once he finished speaking, the man did not relax. He stared intently at the boy, only to see that he did not collapse limply to the ground, but instead slowly drew in his stance.
"Hoo—"
He exhaled a long breath, condensed without dispersing, like a white arrow shooting into empty air. Only after doing all this did the boy stand steadily in place.
"Not bad!" Only then did the man nod in satisfaction. "Looks like you haven't forgotten what I taught you yesterday. The greatest taboo in practicing fists is