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“Thechipervadestheuniverseandalllivingthings.”

Themorningaftertheirconversation,CommanderTungcalledtheconscriptsouttotheparadegrounds.Arrangingtheminacirclearoundhim,hemovedinaseriesofslow,intricatemotions.Ashemoved,hespoke.Theconscriptswatched,mesmerizedbythewaythespmander’sbodyseemedtobeonewithhisweapon.Hisswordbecameanextensionofhisarmhislegs,likerootsofatree,werefirmlyplantedonthegrounduntiheyliftedandappearedtobelightasfeathers.Hesignaledtothem,andMulanandtheothersbegantomirrorhismoves.

“Weareallbornwithit,”CommanderTungcontinued.“Butonlythemostdedicatedwillconnectdeeplytohischiandbeagreatwarrior.”

Mulanfocused,herbodymovingofitsownord.Sheheardthespmander’svoicerolloverherlikethewaterofthelake,withthesamesoothingeffect.“Tranquilasaforest,”hesaid.“Butonfirewithin.”

Swingingherarmthoughtheair,Mulanpracticedthesimplemovementsoverandoveragain.Shetrainedthroughtheafternoonandthenlater,asshestoodguard.Whenhershiftwasover,shemadeherwaybacktothelake,whereshepracticedunderthelightofthemoon.Witheveryswishofhersword,shefeherchigrowstronger.Itblossomed,liketheleavesonthemagnoliatreebythelake’sshore.Thesensationwasempoweringandstrange,likesomethingwhollynewbutalsooddlyfamiliar.

Overthedaysthatfollowed,theconscripts’trainingintensified.Itwasasubtleshiftatfirst.Afewmoreminutestackedontotheendofeachsession.Abitmorebark—andbite—fromSergeantQiangasheshoutedorders.Tensionsroseasitbecameclearthattheywerenolongerpracticingforapossiblebattlebutforanactualone.

“TheRouranenemyisvast,”SergeantQiangwarnedasMulanandtheotherswentthroughaseriesofmartialartsmovements.“They’reruthlessandunpredictable.Yetphysicalforceneednotbemetwithequalforce.Thewarrioryieldstoforce—andredirectsit.”HestoppedinfrontofMulan.Shekepthergazeahead,notallowinghimtointimidateher.

EversincesheandCommanderTunghadspoken,Mulanhadbeenabletothinkofnothingbutherchi.Itconsumedher.Fueledher.Droveher.Everymomentshecouldspare,shespenttryingtofocusit.Thespmander’swordshadbeenlikeaspark.She’drealized,inthemomentsaftertheytalked,thatsheowedittoherfathertobethebestwarriorshecouldbe.Ifshedidn’ttryforthat,theneverythingshehaddonewouldbeinvain.So,nightafternight,dayafterday,shepracticed.Andnightafternight,dayafterday,shegrewstronger.

Underthemoonlight,besidethelake,shemovedherbodythroughmaneuversthatnowfenatural.Inherhead,sheheardSergeantQiang’swords.Disadvantagecanbeturnedtoadvantage,hewouldtelhesoldiersastheypressedtheirswordsforward,swishedtheirspearsthroughtheair,liftedtheirshieldsindefense.