Wumu stood up, took a few steps forward, and bowed respectfully.
Master Korin nodded. "I know why you've come. Still, making it here has already proven your determination and strength. What would you like to learn?"
Wumu pondered for a moment, then said earnestly, "I'd like to learn how to control ki better and use it more flexibly in battle."
Master Korin smiled and nodded. "If that's all, I can certainly teach you. But the ki inside you really is immense."
My, my!
"Blindfold yourself and try to catch me." Master Korin tied a bell to his staff and tossed Wumu a strip of cloth.
Wumu carefully covered his eyes, gripping the cloth tightly in his hands, feeling both nervous and excited.
"Then, shall I begin?" he asked tentatively, feeling around with his hands as he approached the sound of the bell.
"Yes, go ahead." Master Korin's voice echoed softly through the air, seeming to come from every direction, making his exact position difficult to pinpoint.
Wumu slowly turned in a circle, trying to catch Master Korin's location in the gentle breeze.
The bell rang out again and again, sometimes far away, sometimes close by, leaving him utterly confused.
"Well? Can you sense where I am?" Master Korin's voice seemed to sound right beside his ear.
Wumu bent forward, nodded, and rushed toward him.
"Good, good, but your movements are still too slow."
Master Korin's voice came from a short distance away, and the sound of the bell shifted with it.
"What should I do to become faster?"
Wumu asked, his voice carrying his eagerness to improve his abilities.
Master Korin smiled.
"First, you must learn to sense the air currents around you. Closing your eyes isn't just about being unable to see. More importantly, you must feel with your heart."
Wumu calmed his mind and followed Master Korin's guidance, trying to sense the gentle breeze around him and the fluctuations in the air.
"Very good. You're starting to get a feel for it."
Master Korin walked over to Wumu and gently guided him.
"Now, try again."
Wumu took a deep breath, and all his senses seemed to sharpen.
This time, when the bell rang again, he spun around almost reflexively and seized Master Korin's wrist.
"Haha, well done, Wumu. You're improving quickly."
Master Korin praised him.
"It's because you teach so well."
Wumu removed the cloth from his eyes and answered respectfully.
In the days that followed, Wumu and Master Korin's lives were filled with all sorts of training.
Every morning, Wumu would learn from Master Korin how to better control and sense ki.
After lunch, they would discuss battle strategies and techniques.
At night, Wumu would practice alone, integrating everything he had learned during the day.
"Master Korin, how do you think my control is now?"
One evening, after practicing, Wumu asked curiously.
Master Korin answered with a smile:
"You've made great progress, but controlling the power of ki isn't just about technique. It's even more about your state of mind. You need to remain calm and focused, never losing sight of your true self even in the fiercest battle."
"I understand. Thank you, Master Korin," Wumu said solemnly.
Over the next few days, Master Korin taught Wumu many techniques for controlling ki: how to swiftly redirect its flow in battle, and how to use its power to increase his speed and strength.
As time passed, under Master Korin's guidance, Wumu learned not only to control ki better, but also to use it flexibly in battle.
Every day, he continued to improve. Gradually, he began to feel a closer connection between himself and his ki.
Although this period of training was full of challenges, Wumu felt deeply fulfilled and satisfied.
He knew that all this effort was meant to make him stronger.
After a morning training session, Wumu sat on the ground to regulate his breathing while Master Korin observed him from the side.
"Master Korin, whenever I use ki, it feels incredibly violent, and I can't control it properly," Wumu said, looking somewhat puzzled.
Master Korin smiled. "That's because you haven't fully merged your awareness with your ki yet. Imagine ki as an extension of yourself, your tool, rather than your enemy."
"How can I do that?" Wumu pressed.
"Guide it with your heart, not just your will." Master Korin stood up and began to demonstrate.
"Look, like this."
He gently waved his hand, and a light breeze formed inside the room, softly brushing Wumu's face.
Wumu's eyes widened.
"So that's how it works!"
Sure enough, I couldn't understand the specifics from the anime alone.
Ki wasn't just energy, nor was it only meant for destruction.
"Now, you try," Master Korin encouraged him.
Wumu closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to follow Master Korin's instructions.
At first, he felt only a faint current of air swirling between his fingers, but soon, with his focus and the guidance of his heart, it grew stronger and stronger.
"Very good. You've done it." Master Korin's voice was full of approval.
Wumu opened his eyes and saw that he truly was controlling a gentle breeze. A look of incredulous joy spread across his face.
That afternoon, they discussed how to use ki cleverly in battle.
"Remember, using ki isn't just about direct attacks and defense," Master Korin said. "It's also an expression of your inner self."
Wumu nodded, silently committing those words to memory.
That night, Wumu practiced alone beneath the cool moonlight.
He tried to integrate what he had learned during the day-not just controlling ki, but also using it while moving.
"I want to try the Flight Technique."
Thinking that he now understood how ki circulated, Wumu planned to try the Flight Technique.
He took a deep breath, gathered all his focus and strength, then tried to use the power of ki to make himself float.
At first, his toes only lifted slightly off the ground, but soon, as his control over ki grew more practiced, his entire body began to rise slowly into the air.
Wumu felt a surge of unprecedented excitement. He tumbled and spun in the air, dancing through it entirely through his control over the power of ki.
When he finally landed steadily back on the ground, Wumu knew he had mastered a new ability.
He sat on the ground, recalling the day's training and his achievements, his heart full of gratitude and determination.
After mastering the Flight Technique, Wumu felt that his strength had made a qualitative leap.
With that thought, he decided to make a request of Master Korin.
"Master Korin, I'd like to ask you a question."
Wumu stood before Master Korin, a trace of caution in his tone.
Master Korin looked at him and smiled. "What is it, Wumu?"