Mei looked at Lían for several moments.
Then—
she suddenly smiled.
"You know..."
Lían raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
Mei tilted her head slightly.
"Before you disappeared..."
"You were the one who kept asking me to spar."
Lían froze.
Mei continued.
"You always wanted to test yourself against me."
"But now..."
Her gaze traveled up and down his body.
"...you're acting completely different."
Lían remained silent.
Mei's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Almost like you don't really want to fight."
Lían scratched his cheek awkwardly.
Inside—
his thoughts remained calm.
*She's right.*
*Maybe it's because I'm not really interested.*
*There's not much point in fighting someone weaker than me.*
He glanced at Mei.
*Still...*
*I can't exactly tell her that.*
Lían forced a faint smile.
"I'm just feeling a little under the weather."
Mei stared at him.
"...Under the weather?"
Lían nodded.
"Yeah."
"I guess I'm still tired from being away."
Mei clearly didn't believe him.
But—
she didn't press the matter.
Instead—
her hand moved toward the sword at her waist.
**Shing!**
The blade slowly slid free of its sheath.
Lían's eyes immediately focused on it.
"...A real sword?"
Mei looked at him.
"Of course."
Lían frowned slightly.
"Shouldn't we use wooden swords?"
Before Mei could answer—
Wa Shi spoke.
"There's no need."
Lían turned toward him.
Wa Shi calmly continued.
"If you're going to spar..."
"You should use real weapons."
Lían remained silent.
Wa Shi's expression became serious.
"Training with wooden weapons has its uses."
"But..."
"If you want to truly understand what it means to fight..."
"You must eventually face the possibility of injury."
"Or death."
Mei nodded.
"Grandfather is right."
Wa Shi looked toward Lían.
"A cultivator cannot always rely on harmless sparring."
"Once you leave the village..."
"Your opponent won't care whether you're holding a wooden sword."
Lían listened quietly.
Wa Shi continued.
"Survival is what matters."
"Not whether the weapon in your hand is real."
Lían stared at him for several seconds.
Then—
he sighed inwardly.
*I suppose he's right.*
*But it's not like I'd be stupid enough to use a wooden sword in a real battle.*
His gaze shifted toward Mei's sword.
*Still...*
*I don't want to use Thunder Vein.*
*If I take it out...*
*There will be questions.*
Especially after everything that had already happened.
Lían glanced at the sword in Mei's hand.
"I don't have a sword."
Wa Shi raised an eyebrow.
"You don't?"
Lían shook his head.
"Not one I want to use."
Inside—
his thoughts remained calm.
*I'm definitely not pulling out Thunder Vein.*
Wa Shi seemed to understand something.
Without saying anything—
he reached toward his storage ring.
A faint spatial fluctuation appeared around his hand.
The next moment—
a sword flew from the ring and landed in his grasp.
He tossed it toward Lían.
Lían caught it.
**Clang!**
He looked down at the weapon.
The sword was relatively simple.
Its blade wasn't particularly ornate.
There were no elaborate decorations or precious gemstones adorning its hilt.
But—
it was sharp.
And sturdy enough for combat.
Wa Shi spoke.
"Use that."
Lían examined the weapon for a moment.
"...Alright."
He adjusted his grip around the hilt.
Mei watched him.
Then—
she suddenly asked,
"Do you even know how to use a sword?"
Lían looked at her.
"Of course."
Mei blinked.
"Really?"
Lían nodded.
"You don't need to worry."
"I've learned."
Mei's expression became curious.
"When?"
Lían paused.
"...Recently."
Mei stared at him.
Then—
she smiled.
"Alright."
She raised her sword.
"Then let's begin."
Lían nodded.
"Okay."
Silence descended over the backyard.
The breeze passed gently through the trees.
Leaves drifted slowly across the ground before settling among the grass.
Wa Shi stood several meters away.
His attention remained completely focused on the two children.
Mei adjusted her stance.
Her expression became serious.
Lían did the same.
His grip tightened slightly around the sword.
His body relaxed.
His breathing became steady.
Every unnecessary movement disappeared.
Then—
Mei moved.
**Whoosh!**
Her foot struck the ground.
Her body surged forward.
Her sword swung toward Lían's shoulder.
Lían's eyes remained calm.
*Too obvious.*
He shifted his body sideways.
The blade passed directly beside him.
**Shing!**
Mei's eyes widened slightly.
Lían didn't retreat.
Instead—
he stepped forward.
His wrist turned.
The sword swept toward Mei's waist.
Mei's expression changed.
She immediately raised her sword.
**CLANG!**
The blades collided.
Mei's arms trembled slightly from the impact.
She quickly pushed Lían's sword aside.
Then—
she jumped backward.
**Tap!**
Her feet landed several meters away.
Mei stared at Lían.
For several breaths—
she remained silent.
Then—
a smile slowly appeared on her face.
"It seems..."
She tightened her grip around her sword.
"...you really do know how to use a sword."
Lían smiled faintly.
"I told you."
"I learned."
Mei's eyes narrowed.
"You're different."
Lían tilted his head.
"Different?"
"Yes."
"Before..."
"You were always reckless."
"You'd swing as hard as you could without thinking about your next move."
"But now..."
Her gaze settled on his stance.
"...your movements are much cleaner."
Lían didn't answer.
Inside—
his thoughts remained calm.
*The dream helped.*
*And it's not like we sparred that many times.*
*Only twice.*
Mei suddenly stepped forward again.
This time—
her attack was faster.
**Whoosh!**
Her sword swept toward his chest.
Lían shifted his body.
The blade missed.
Mei immediately changed direction.
Another slash came from the opposite side.
Lían raised his sword.
**CLANG!**
Their blades collided.
Mei twisted her wrist.
Lían immediately adjusted his grip.
Their swords separated.
Then—
Mei stepped forward.
Lían stepped forward as well.
**CLANG!**
Another collision.
Mei's eyes became increasingly serious.
*He's reading my movements.*
She changed her rhythm.
A low slash.
Then—
a thrust.
Lían avoided both.
His movements remained smooth.
There was no wasted motion.
His feet continuously shifted across the ground.
His body flowed around Mei's attacks.
Mei suddenly swung downward.
Lían stepped to the side.
The blade passed beside him.
His sword flashed upward.
**SHING!**
Mei quickly raised her sword.
**CLANG!**
She blocked the attack.
The impact forced her backward several steps.
She stared at Lían.
Her breathing had become slightly heavier.
"...You're really good."
Lían smiled.
"Looks like I learned well."
From the side—
Wa Shi remained completely silent.
His eyes had narrowed.
His expression was far more serious than before.
*That wasn't luck.*
He had seen the exchange clearly.
Every movement.
Every adjustment.
Every change in direction.
*His swordsmanship has improved tremendously.*
Wa Shi's gaze followed Lían's feet.
*And that movement technique...*
His eyes narrowed further.
*He isn't simply using Flowing River Steps.*
*He's already modifying the technique through his own movements.*
Lían had only learned the technique yesterday.
Yet—
he was already combining it with his swordsmanship.
Wa Shi's expression became complicated.
*This level of comprehension...*
*It's abnormal.*
Then—
another thought surfaced.
*And this is only his swordsmanship.*
Wa Shi remembered Lían's cultivation.
The mysterious master.
The Water Elemental Physique.
His expression slowly became solemn.
*Exactly how much has this child changed during the time he disappeared?*
Across the courtyard—
Mei tightened her grip.
Her eyes became determined.
"Lían."
Lían looked at her.
"What?"
She raised her sword.
"Again."
Lían stared at her.
Then—
a faint smile appeared.
"...Alright."
Mei charged.
And—
the second exchange began.
The sound of steel rang throughout the backyard.
**CLANG!**
Their swords collided again and again.
Neither side gave the other an opportunity to relax.
Mei's movements became increasingly aggressive.
Lían continued to evade and counter.
For several moments—
the two figures moved across the courtyard like flashes of light.
Then—
Wa Shi's brows slowly furrowed.
"Why are you two still using only swordsmanship?"
Lían and Mei both paused.
Wa Shi folded his arms across his chest.
"This is a spar."
"Not a lesson in swordsmanship."
His gaze moved between them.
"Use whatever abilities you have."
"Techniques."
"Spiritual arts."
"Anything."
His voice became slightly more serious.
"I want to see how you actually fight."
Inside—
Wa Shi's thoughts remained calm.
*Especially you, Lían.*
*I've already seen enough to know that what he's showing me isn't everything.*
*His swordsmanship is strange.*
*His movement is even stranger.*
*And then there's that mysterious master...*
His eyes narrowed.
*I need to know what else this child is hiding.*
Lían stood quietly across from Mei.
His fingers tightened slightly around the sword.
Inside—
his thoughts remained equally calm.
*I've been holding back this entire time.*
If this had been a real battle—
Mei would have already died several times.
The difference between them was simply too great.
But—
this wasn't a real battle.
He had deliberately avoided using enough strength to seriously injure her.
*Still...*
His gaze shifted toward Mei.
*Maybe I should take this more seriously.*
Mei raised her sword.
"Yes, Grandfather."
Then—
she looked toward Lían.
"Lían."
He met her gaze.
"I'd advise you to stay on your toes."
Her expression became more serious.
"You won't be able to keep dodging like before."
Lían nodded.
"Alright."
Inside—
a faint interest appeared in his eyes.
*Honestly...*
*I'm curious.*
*What kind of technique is she going to use?*
His thoughts briefly returned to the past.
Back when he had first started cultivating—
he had asked Mei to show him one of her techniques.
She had used wind control.
Lían's eyes narrowed slightly.
*If I remember correctly...*
His thought was interrupted.
Mei suddenly lowered her body.
Then—
she moved.
**Whoosh!**
Her sword swept upward.
Lían's eyes widened slightly.
He immediately stepped backward.
*Fast.*
The blade passed beneath his chest.
Lían was about to counter—
when his expression suddenly changed.
His body twisted violently.
**Shing!**
A thin line of blood appeared across his cheek.
At the same time—
another cut opened across his shoulder.
Lían landed several meters away.
His eyes immediately shifted toward the blood dripping from his cheek.
Silence.
He touched the wound.
His fingers came away red.
Lían stared at them.
Then—
his gaze slowly returned to Mei.
His expression changed.
*The wind.*
He remembered.
The sword swing just now.
The air itself had become a weapon.
Mei's sword hadn't actually needed to touch him.
She had simply infused the movement of her blade with spiritual energy—
and the surrounding wind had been sharpened to the point where it could cut flesh.
Lían's eyes narrowed.
*So that's what she was doing.*
He looked around.
The air around Mei was already moving.
Invisible currents drifted through the courtyard.
They weren't merely surrounding her.
They were everywhere.
A faint breeze brushed against Lían's robes.
His expression became slightly more serious.
*I was way too confident.*
No—
he corrected himself.
*I let my guard down.*
Because it was Mei.
Not an enemy.
He had become accustomed to fighting only when the objective was simple.
Kill.
Survive.
Repeat.
Every battle had been a fight to the death.
But this time—
he had subconsciously treated his opponent differently.
*That's dangerous.*
Lían slowly lowered his hand.
The small cut on his cheek continued bleeding.
He wiped the blood away.
Then—
he sighed.
"Alright."
His gaze sharpened.
"Let's do this."
Inside—
his thoughts became focused.
*Her previous attack...*
*It's similar to mine.*
When he coated his blade with water and swung—
the water could be compressed into an extremely thin edge.
Almost invisible.
It could travel through the air and cut from a distance.
But Mei's technique was different.
*She's using wind.*
Wind existed everywhere.
She didn't need to find it or create it from nothing.
Every movement of her sword could manipulate the surrounding air.
And—
unlike his water technique—
her attack wasn't limited to a single projectile.
The entire area could become dangerous.
Lían's eyes narrowed.
*But I've already faced something similar.*
He remembered the countless attacks from his battles.
Invisible attacks.
Attacks that came from every direction.
Attacks that couldn't simply be seen with the naked eye.
He had survived them before.
And—
he had learned from them.
Lían lowered his center of gravity.
His grip on the sword tightened.
Mei watched him carefully.
She noticed the change immediately.
*His expression changed.*
Lían's eyes became completely focused.
No hesitation.
No casualness.
Only concentration.
Mei raised her sword.
The wind around her suddenly intensified.
**Whoosh!**
Several blades of invisible air shot forward.
Lían's body moved.
**Flowing River Steps.**
His foot touched the ground.
His body shifted sideways.
One blade passed beside his shoulder.
Another cut through the space behind him.
Lían continued moving.
He didn't retreat.
He advanced.
Step.
Turn.
Flow.
His body slipped between the invisible attacks.
Mei's eyes widened.
"He's coming toward me?"
Lían accelerated.
**Whoosh!**
The distance between them rapidly disappeared.
Mei immediately swung her sword.
The surrounding wind followed.
A sharp pressure swept toward him.
Lían twisted his body.
The attack passed beside him.
His sword rose.
**CLANG!**
Mei blocked.
The impact forced her backward.
But—
Lían didn't stop.
His feet continued moving.
One step.
Then another.
He flowed around her like water.
Mei's eyes narrowed.
She swung again.
The wind screamed.
Lían ducked.
A razor-thin current passed over his head.
He immediately stepped forward.
His sword flashed.
**SHING!**
Mei barely raised her blade in time.
**CLANG!**
Their swords collided.
Mei's expression became serious.
Lían's eyes remained calm.
Neither retreated.
The wind continued swirling around them.
And—
for the first time since the spar began—
Lían stopped treating Mei like someone he couldn't possibly lose to.
He no longer saw her as simply the girl he had once sparred with.
He saw her as an opponent.
A cultivator capable of killing him if he became careless.
His sword lowered slightly.
His stance changed.
Mei noticed immediately.
Her eyes sharpened.
The atmosphere between them seemed to change.
The breeze that had been drifting peacefully through the backyard suddenly felt cold.
Lían's breathing slowed.
His spiritual energy began circulating through his body.
He still wasn't using his full strength.
He wasn't even close.
But—
he was no longer fighting casually.
Mei tightened her grip around her sword.
A faint gust of wind began gathering around her feet.
Wa Shi watched silently from the side.
His expression became increasingly solemn.
*Now...*
*This is more like it.*
Lían's gaze remained fixed on Mei.
The sword in his hand slowly rose.
Mei's eyes narrowed.
Then—
both of them moved at the same time.
**BOOM!**
Their figures collided once again.
**CLANG—!!**
Steel rang through the courtyard.
And this time—
neither of them intended to give the other an easy opening.