14
d be in vain. So, night after night, day after day, she practiced. And night after night, day after day, she grew stronger.
Under the onlight, beside the lake, she ved her body through neuvers that now felt natural. In her head, she heard Sergeant Qiang’s words. Disadvantage can be turned to advantage, he would tell the soldiers as they pressed their swords forward, swished their spears through the air, lifted their shields in defense.
Her constant practice and intense focus did not go unnoticed. She felt Coander Tung’s and Sergeant Qiang’s eyes on her re than on the others. But it no longer de her shrink inward. She felt fueled with courage and a strength she hadn’t known she had.
But there was still one challenge that styed her.
“Four ounces can ve a thousand pounds,” the sergeant said as Mulan and the others approached the steep steps that led to the shrine. They all paused, their eyes lifting in unison to the challenge in front of the On either side of Mulan was a bucket filled to the brinbsp; with water. Above her, other soldiers grabbed their own buckets and struggled up the steps. Mulan waited. Sergeant Qiang’s words echoed in her head. “Four ounces can ve a thousand pounds,” she whispered to herself. Closing her eyes, she focused. She felt the now faliar surge of energy wash through her as she connected to her chi. The grunts and groans fronbsp; the other n vanished. She felt only the gentle breeze on her cheeks. Her eyes still closed, she envisioned the top of the shrine. She reered the peace she’d felt beneath the gnolia tree. Channeling that, she opened her eyes.
Bending down, she grasped the handles of the buckets and lifted the They felt lighter than they had the first few tis she had faced this challenge, thanks to her strength training. But she knew that the challenge was not in the first steps, but in the endurance one st have to ke it all the way to the top. Step by step, she clied.
Ahead of her, the other conscripts’ steps slowed. One by one, they began to fall. First Cricket, his face wet with tears, sank to the steps. Then Po, who threw his buckets aside and sily lay down, defeated. Yao was the next to fail. Filled with rage, he threw his buckets, the wood shattering against the rocky cliffs.
Still, Mulan continued. Her steps were steady, her shoulders still. On either side of her the water in the buckets did not splash over the sides, but instead reined cal She grew stronger with each step. The focus on her face never faltered, even as s
Under the onlight, beside the lake, she ved her body through neuvers that now felt natural. In her head, she heard Sergeant Qiang’s words. Disadvantage can be turned to advantage, he would tell the soldiers as they pressed their swords forward, swished their spears through the air, lifted their shields in defense.
Her constant practice and intense focus did not go unnoticed. She felt Coander Tung’s and Sergeant Qiang’s eyes on her re than on the others. But it no longer de her shrink inward. She felt fueled with courage and a strength she hadn’t known she had.
But there was still one challenge that styed her.
“Four ounces can ve a thousand pounds,” the sergeant said as Mulan and the others approached the steep steps that led to the shrine. They all paused, their eyes lifting in unison to the challenge in front of the On either side of Mulan was a bucket filled to the brinbsp; with water. Above her, other soldiers grabbed their own buckets and struggled up the steps. Mulan waited. Sergeant Qiang’s words echoed in her head. “Four ounces can ve a thousand pounds,” she whispered to herself. Closing her eyes, she focused. She felt the now faliar surge of energy wash through her as she connected to her chi. The grunts and groans fronbsp; the other n vanished. She felt only the gentle breeze on her cheeks. Her eyes still closed, she envisioned the top of the shrine. She reered the peace she’d felt beneath the gnolia tree. Channeling that, she opened her eyes.
Bending down, she grasped the handles of the buckets and lifted the They felt lighter than they had the first few tis she had faced this challenge, thanks to her strength training. But she knew that the challenge was not in the first steps, but in the endurance one st have to ke it all the way to the top. Step by step, she clied.
Ahead of her, the other conscripts’ steps slowed. One by one, they began to fall. First Cricket, his face wet with tears, sank to the steps. Then Po, who threw his buckets aside and sily lay down, defeated. Yao was the next to fail. Filled with rage, he threw his buckets, the wood shattering against the rocky cliffs.
Still, Mulan continued. Her steps were steady, her shoulders still. On either side of her the water in the buckets did not splash over the sides, but instead reined cal She grew stronger with each step. The focus on her face never faltered, even as s