Hey, wanderer. You ever look a storm in the face and think, Yeah, I can take that? No? Well, you’re probably smarter than me. But where’s the fun in being smart? Ehhhh, you’ll either get soaked or find your spark. Me? I might’ve done both.

  Let’s break it down.

  Key Details and Context

  The Storm’s Spark:

  Let’s get one thing straight: I wasn’t running from anything when I went out into that storm. I was running toward something—power, answers, maybe just a way to stop feeling so small.

  What I didn’t expect? That hum, that flicker of warmth, like something inside me finally waking up. A spark that felt like lightning in my chest. Was it the storm? Was it me? I don’t know yet. What I do know? That spark isn’t going away.

  Jianyu’s the guy who tries to teach you patience by tripping over his own feet. He’s one of our clan’s training advisors, which is fancy talk for “the older guy who gives you pointers and tells you to stop trying to punch everything.”

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  I’ll give him credit, he’s got heart. But sometimes, his “wisdom” feels more like a wet blanket than a torch. “Strength without control is dangerous,” he says. Sure, Jianyu, but so is not being strong enough when it matters.

  Qi Awakening (觉气 Jué Qì):

  The first step to sensing and connecting with Qi. For most martial artists, this comes through years of meditation, discipline, or sheer desperation.

  Jianyu (剑玉): Jee-an Yoo

  Qi Awakening (觉气): Jweh Chee

  Jianyu (剑玉):

  Age: 17

  Realm: Second-Rate Warrior

  Personality: Diligent and humble, but clumsy under pressure. A patient mentor who puts effort into everything, even when he stumbles.

  Appearance: Lean with slightly tanned skin. His brown hair is tied into a loose, messy bun, with a face that looks like it’s apologizing for something.

  Quirk: Can trip on a flat surface. It’s a skill.

  When someone says, “Wait until you’re ready,” what they really mean is, “Stay in line.” But if storms waited, they’d never break the sky.

  Be the storm, wanderer. Don’t wait for permission to shake the world.

  —Tianmo, Lightning’s Favorite Fool