15 Chapter 14: A True Master is an Eternal Disciple

Awakening with the dawn, Azula felt somewhat uncomfortable. Unpleasant sensations in her back and shoulders distracted the girl's genial mind. Such a nagging pain caused mild discomfort. It was probably due to the not-so-comfortable bed. Having no trouble pulling herself together, the girl showed a strong will and got up. There was a new day ahead of her and it was worth living with the advantage.

"Wonderful morning, Azula. Did you sleep well? I hope I didn't disturb you with my activities?" the spirit greeted her happily.

"Good... Why do I feel like I spent the whole night doing handstands?" Azula complained as she got out of bed and immediately began to massage her sore shoulders.

"Well, not all night, and I certainly wasn't standing. I was just testing the limits of your abilities. Turns out you can do handstand pushups in a snap! You have no idea what you're capable of!" said the spirit, clearly impressed.

"What have you done to my body?"

"Don't say that as if I did something dirty and immoral."

"What. Did. You. Do. With. My. Body?" Azula raised her voice slightly, enunciating each word carefully.

"Nothing terrible, really. I did some handstands, tried push-ups, and experimented with your chi. I did a push-up that ended with my legs touching the ceiling," Azula looked thoughtfully at the ceiling, which was about five to seven meters above the ground. Ignoring her reaction, the spirit continued.

"I have been testing your stamina, which is monstrous by the way, practicing your punches, and playing with your inner energy. Did you know that if you charge your body with chi and make it move faster, you become slightly stronger, more stable, and faster? And if you charge each part individually, like bones, muscles, tendons, nerves, and so on, the results are much better? You could say that the last trick allows you to go beyond human limits, but it burns through your chi at a frightening rate. The further you go beyond the limits, the faster you consume your chi," the spirit concluded, sharing fantastic insights that were hard to believe.

"Such control is impossible! Don't tell me stories about what you've done to my body!" Azula protested.

"It is true, and you know it. Are your memories failing you? Even though I've been working in the dark, I don't really need light, but surely you remember something?" the spirit replied.

"A human cannot control such subtle processes..." Azula hesitated, remembering that she wasn't talking to a human. "Fine. I need to freshen up and get to training. Since you experimented on my body, can you at least ease my pain? And wait, how can you control my chi? It's mine!"

"Heh. Does it bother you that I can control blue flames? Chi and firebending are basically the same thing. As you remember, I controlled the generated flames perfectly, and I never started a fire in all that time. As for the pain... I have an idea about that. Will you give me control of your body for a moment?" There was silence as Azula considered the spirit's words, feeling the discomfort in her back and shoulders.

"Alright," despite her skepticism, Azula allowed the ghost to take control of her body. But she was ready to reclaim it at any moment, to wrest it back from the demon's clutches.

With control of her body, the spirit spread its arms wide and took a deep breath. It began to move its hands in sync with its breath. Soon Azula began to feel warmth spreading from her lungs to her stomach and then throughout her entire body. After completing the mysterious breathing exercise, the spirit calmly returned control of her body to its rightful owner.

"What was that?" Azula asked, straightening her shoulders and rolling onto her back. The pain was gone.

"It was an advanced breathing exercise to restore your energy. After replenishing the depleted chi, I directed it to the injured parts of your body and healed minor wounds. I learned it last night when I got carried away testing your stamina. I apologize for not doing it immediately; I was carried away by my success," the spirit explained apologetically.

"What else did you learn last night? - Azula inquired cautiously, feeling a growing fear at the realization of the Spirit's growing abilities.

"Nothing much. I've learned too much now. I spent most of the night exploring new possibilities. I've also gained a deeper understanding of firebending. Let's just say you might want to show that to Piandao when he looks at your breathing; it won't hurt," the spirit replied.

"My breathing is perfect!" Azula's voice rose sharply at the last words, deeply hurt by the comment. Breathing was crucial to her as a Firebender.

"It looks like you were on your way to your morning workout, right? Don't waste your time. We can talk about it tonight, but for now, focus on your immediate tasks. I need some time to think," the spirit replied.

"All right, but don't think you can avoid my questions," Azula replied, still annoyed.

Acknowledging the spirit's point, she began to prepare herself. After a few minutes, dressed in her old, crumpled clothes, she left her designated chambers, freshened up, and headed to the training grounds. There, she performed various exercises with a training sword she had picked up along the way. It was during this activity that she was approached by her master.

Piandao was impressed by her dedication to her studies. He had noticed her while painting the sunrise. His sharp eyes quickly spotted minor flaws in Ty Lee's forms, and he pointed them out, demonstrating the correct techniques. After a brief warm-up, they engaged in a sparring match. This time the fight was much tougher than the day before.

Only by repeating the hairpin trick from yesterday was he able to defeat her. It was the same move that Azula had used to defeat him the day before. Of course, Azula didn't fight fair either, using some of the same underhanded tactics she'd seen firsthand the day before. Piandao praised her for her resourcefulness, saying that a true master is always a student. Still, experience outweighed youthful brilliance, and Azula ultimately lost. They decided to take a break and have breakfast, as the servants had prepared a meal for the early risers.

After the meal, Ty Lee was the first to speak with Master Piandao. She asked him to examine her breathing and see if she was doing everything correctly. The Master observed her breathing for a long time, paying close attention to how she inhaled and exhaled. Then he decided to have another sparring session. It was only after the fight that he noticed the small mistake Ty Lee had made. After pointing it out, he gave a speech about the importance of breathing for any warrior, especially a Firebender.

"Breathing is a vital aspect for any warrior, and it's especially crucial for firebenders. Always strive to breathe properly. Even when you sleep, never forget to breathe. Inhale fully with the strength of your lungs. That way, you conserve your stamina and infuse your entire body with power. For a firebender, this is especially important because your bending depends on proper breathing. You can experience it for yourself," Piandao allowed, and Ty Lee immediately performed a series of firebending moves, quickly feeling the difference.

"As I suspected, your breathing wasn't perfect, but I won't distract you any longer. Practice and learn, I'll just be an observer," the spirit reminded Ty Lee as soon as she finished her series of firebending moves.

It was amazing that a person with no firebending abilities knew a little more than all the masters who had taught her. Azula even wondered how he could have learned such subtleties about breathing. After all, not every master could even guess at such details. For the young woman, this was a significant blow, as she had previously considered her breathing to be perfect. However, correcting the mistake made an immediate difference - her techniques became a little easier and she used a little less energy, resulting in more powerful moves.

"Thank you for the lesson, Master. Perhaps you can also answer another question of mine," Ty Lee bowed respectfully and addressed the master, making a mental note. She had heard the Master's words, and she would always breathe properly now.

"Nothing prevents you from asking..."

Azula, posing as Ty Lee, then told the Master about her question. Or rather, her questions, for she had quite a few on this completely unfamiliar subject. She shared much of what she knew about chi, the internal energy system, pools, vortexes, the interaction between pools, and other topics she had discussed with the spirit the night before, along with her additional questions. The Master didn't hesitate and answered promptly:

"What you're describing are chakras. As far as I know, chakras are centers of power and consciousness in the human body that connect its spiritual and life energy. Each of these chakras is associated with emotions or mental states that a person can experience. Each can be opened or closed by the corresponding emotion or state. There are seven chakras along the vertical axis of the human body, each located in different organs. Opening all of them allows the energy of chi to flow freely through the body," the old master explained, recalling the words he had heard from the others, while being closely watched by the young woman.

"Ask him about his chakras, has he opened them all?" the spirit interjected, but only Azula heard him.

"Did you open all your chakras? Is that what made you so strong and brilliant?"

"Not quite. It's more like, thanks to brilliance and the help of a wise one, I managed to open all my chakras. Anticipating your next question, yes, I can help you open your chakras, but it will be very difficult. Opening them requires deep knowledge of meditation, understanding of yourself, your emotions, your goals and your life path. Opening all the chakras gives a person access to many things, but it's not an easy path and not everyone is able to walk it. That's not something I'm going to teach you anytime soon," Piandao concluded resolutely.

"In that case, what will be my next lesson?" Ty Lee asked in a respectful tone.

"Let's start by reviewing our fight. You still don't perceive the sword as an extension of your hand, and that's what needs to be corrected first," the master said and accompanied his words by pulling the sword out of its sheath.

And so the young woman's training continued...

(***)

After another sparring session, Piandao decided to teach Ty Lee a different lesson. He led the student into the same room, or rather hall, where they had first met. The room had changed; there was a clean scroll on the table, a brush and ink, and the windows still offered a magnificent view. The young woman quickly realized that this was going to be an unusual lesson.

"What is this for?" Ty Lee asked, examining the calligraphy tools.

"It looks like something interesting is about to happen," the spirit commented.

"A true warrior practices many arts, training not only the body but also the mind. I want to see your calligraphy skills. Write your name," after his brief speech, the master took a brush and handed it to the girl.

"How does this relate to the art of fencing?" Ty Lee took the brush and examined it carefully, looking at the clean scroll.

"A poor warrior is one who only knows how to kill," the spirit expressed his opinion, although no one had asked.

"When you write your name, you leave your own mark on the paper. You must learn to leave your own mark on the battlefield with your sword, bending, or other skills," the master explained calmly, watching the young woman closely. Without much thought, the student dipped the brush into the ink and prepared to begin writing, but the master's words stopped her.

"Remember, you can never erase the ink stain, any more than you can erase the mark of a sword or your place in history," the Spirit added.

"What wise words. I hope you got the hint?" Ty Lee looked at the Master. Her eyes sparkled with understanding as she realized what the Master meant. Focusing her gaze on the blank scroll and holding her sleeve, she began to write her name. Slowly, without haste, without mistakes or doubts, the disciple spelled her name "Ty Lee" perfectly. Towards the end, looking at the written name, she couldn't help but smile, pleased with her work.

"Excellent work. What were you thinking about when you wrote those characters?" the master inquired, watching the whole process closely.

"About the past... What will be my next lesson, Master?"

(***)

"Is that necessary?" Ty Lee asked, looking at her master. They had ventured far beyond the castle walls, and the Master was preparing for another unconventional lesson.

"Yes, it's necessary for the next lesson," the master replied confidently.

"Do not be stubborn; a student must trust his master. Put on the blindfold; it won't prevent me from seeing the world. If he plans something bad, I'll be sure to inform you," the neighbor inside her body comforted her.

"Alright," the student replied, and tied the blindfold over her eyes, depriving herself of sight. She didn't like such exercises, but she had already acknowledged her master, and if he deemed it necessary, she would trust him.

"Trust me and walk forward," Ty Lee felt the Master's hand on her shoulder and walked in the direction indicated.

She walked, counting the seconds and feeling herself climbing a hill. She stumbled at times, but always managed to keep her balance and avoid falling face first to the ground. The Master's hand, always on her shoulder, guided Ty Lee in an unfamiliar direction. About ten minutes passed in silent travel, and then, unexpectedly, the Master spoke amidst the distant sounds of a waterfall.

"The art of painting helps a warrior capture images of nature in his memory," the young woman stopped as she felt the master's hand remove her blindfold. With her free hand, she quickly removed the blindfold from her eyes. A bright light struck her eyes, causing her to squint.

"In battle, you'll only have a moment to remember everything," Piandao said as Ty Lee's eyes adjusted to the light.

As her eyes adjusted to the brightness, Ty Lee saw the enchanting beauty of nature. A huge stream of water cascaded down in a series of waterfalls. The splashing water created a mist that added a mystical touch to the natural beauty. Hills were visible in the distance, and on both sides of the river were vast meadows. The sky was as blue and bright as ever.

"The beauty of it. I even feel like going for a swim," the spirit said.

"Now, paint it, and no peeking," the master carefully turned the disciple to the table behind her. Everything was ready for the painting: paints, brushes, a clean canvas.

Brush in hand, Ty Lee began to contemplate the canvas, pondering the usefulness of such a lesson. Her contemplation lingered, and the spirit perceived her inaction in its own way.

"Start painting; it's another exercise for the mind. This particular lesson teaches you to memorize as much as possible in a short time. You must understand that in battle, there is rarely time for unnecessary thoughts and contemplation."

She dipped the brush into the paint and began to paint carefully. The princess had never done anything like this before, but her knowledge of calligraphy helped her create a fairly decent picture, and her well-developed memory allowed her to convey the precision of what she had seen. She painted calmly, striving to reproduce the image perfectly. Occasionally, the spirit would assist her by reminding her of certain details. The master, on the other hand, stood silently, enjoying the breeze, the sound of the water, and the singing of the birds, waiting for his pupil to finish her work.

"Done," the student handed her work to the master.

Piandao examined the resulting painting. It was far from perfect, but done with care.

"Quite commendable for a first attempt. Now, let's return to the castle..."

The days of training with the master passed quickly. Piandao taught the young woman not only how to use a sword, but also many other skills he possessed.

The art of calligraphy was already at a high level for Ty Lee. However, painting was something she worked on more often with her master. She also tried to learn to play a musical instrument to improve her hearing. Piandao was not only skilled with the sword, but also with many other types of weapons and fighting styles. He passed on his knowledge to his student through numerous sparring sessions interspersed with lectures.

Days turned into weeks. With each passing day, the student grew stronger, gaining experience and sharpening her senses, mind, and skills...

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