A Dance With Monsters (6)

Previously 

Inside his own body, Willow's consciousness delved deep, seeking answers amid the turmoil of his disrupted chi flow. He understood the misstep he had taken—a deviation from the prescribed rhythm of chi cultivation. The conventional process involved inhaling, holding, and allowing the heart to distribute chi throughout the body before exhaling, a harmonious cycle of purification and refinement.

But Willow, in his eagerness to gain an edge, had forsaken this natural cadence. He had bypassed the crucial step of holding the chi, rushing headlong into an imbalanced surge of power. It was akin to forcing a river's flow without regard for its banks, and now he paid the price.