The Untamed 2: The Unlikely Hero -Book 1-3

6. A Test

A TEST

Huang Jin's eyes fluttered open as her body's internal alarm clock told her that it was 4:30am. She had been waking up exactly at that time for as long as she could remember. Always the same, every single day, 4:30am.

"Why do you do this to me?" She asked herself, as if someone would answer back.

She felt so tired. Her body felt like an iron weight. She was sore all over. However, as she stretched her arms to the sky and began to move around, she could feel her core respond weakly. It was at least better than the day before. It was nothing compared to the normal blazing star it usually was. But at least it was still there. Things could have been a lot worse. She could have easily died.

Alright...I just have to train really hard while I am here and I am sure I can get it back to where it was before! This was her chance to show them all what she had learned over the years all on her own.

She hurriedly got dressed. It was still dark outside, the sun had not risen yet. The small tendrils of the coming day were barely beginning to touch the mountain tops. As she looked up beyond the treeline of the mountain tops, she could see the beginnings of what looked like a beautiful sunrise peeking through the mists. This place really was beautiful.The mountain air was cold and crisp and a striking difference to what she was used to in the valleys and towns of Yiling and Yungmeng.

She began to walk towards the small training grounds that she had been shown last night on the quick tour that Wei Wuxian had given her; before she was taken to the dormitory where all the inner disciples slept.

She had only been half paying attention at the time, as she was visibly having a hard time staying awake. The delicious food she had had for dinner and the whirlwind of the events of that day had caused her whole body to want to crash. She had only remembered about half of what Wei Wuxian had been saying.

Her mouth watered at the thought of the food again. Ok, enough stop it, you know meditating and quick exercise before food...She reminded herself, tapping her lips.

The training grounds were just off from the dormitory and were surrounded by thick foliage. It was a rather large area cleared of any debris and the ground was covered in a thin layer of white sand like material.

Huang Jin walked to the middle of the cleared area and sat down legs folded underneath her.

She closed her eyes and breathed the cold morning air in, focusing her mind. This was as good a place as ever to begin her morning practice of golden core work. As she settled her mind she concentrated on the tiny flicker of light within her. Her mind went completely blank. The only thing she could see was the small flicker of golden light. She could feel it respond as she coaxed the small flame to grow.

It is so small now. A twang of guilt caused her to lose focus for the briefest of seconds and the picture in her mind of her core flickered and the small responded as well. Focus Huang Jin.

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It had seemed like hours when she finally adjusted her sitting position and a sheen of sweat had long developed on her forehead as she sat in perfect meditation form.

The tiny spark had barely responded to her at first but now after what felt like eternity she could play with the tennis ball sized flame. She could picture it in her mind's eye, the ball like flame bouncing around.

She could almost touch and caress it, and it would send out little sparks around her nerves. Through her finger tips, into her legs, swirl around her arms, and it felt like it had filled her every pore.