The exchange continued.
**CLANG!**
Lían's sword collided with Mei's.
The impact sent both of them sliding backward across the ground.
Mei immediately recovered.
Her sword flashed again.
**SHING!**
Lían raised his blade.
**CLANG!**
Another collision.
Then—
another.
**CLANG!**
**CLANG!**
**CLANG!**
Mei's attacks became faster.
Her movements grew increasingly aggressive.
Wind continuously gathered around her body.
Every swing of her sword carried a sharp current that tore through the air.
Lían's expression remained calm.
His feet shifted constantly.
Step.
Turn.
Deflect.
Counter.
Yet—
the longer the exchange continued—
the more Mei struggled to keep up.
Lían's movements became increasingly difficult to predict.
He flowed around her attacks.
Every time she attempted to corner him—
he slipped away.
Every time she tried to create distance—
he closed the gap.
**SHING!**
Lían's sword passed dangerously close to her shoulder.
Mei twisted her body to evade it.
Another strike followed immediately.
She raised her sword.
**CLANG!**
The impact forced her backward.
Her feet dug into the ground as she struggled to stop herself.
Lían stepped forward.
His sword swept toward her side.
Mei barely managed to evade the strike.
A thin cut appeared across her sleeve.
Her expression became serious.
*He's overwhelming me.*
She gritted her teeth.
Then—
she suddenly jumped backward.
Lían stopped.
His eyes narrowed.
Mei planted her feet firmly on the ground.
Both hands tightened around the hilt of her sword.
The surrounding wind abruptly began gathering.
It swirled around her body.
Faster.
And faster.
The air itself began to howl.
Lían's expression changed slightly.
*What's she doing?*
The wind surrounding Mei suddenly expanded outward.
**WHOOOM!**
A massive circular current formed around her.
The wind spun violently.
It became a wall.
A rotating barrier of compressed air that completely surrounded her body.
Mei shouted.
"Wind Wall!"
The spinning wall exploded outward.
**BOOOOM!**
Lían's eyes widened.
An overwhelming force struck his body.
His feet immediately left the ground.
He was pushed backward.
**Whoosh!**
Lían twisted in midair.
He landed heavily.
**THUD!**
His feet slid across the earth.
He dug his heels into the ground.
Dust rose around him.
Lían finally came to a stop.
He looked up.
His crimson eyes narrowed.
*That pushed me back...*
But—
Mei was already moving.
**Whoosh!**
Her figure burst through the remaining wind.
She appeared directly in front of him.
Her sword descended.
**SHING!**
Lían immediately raised his blade.
**CLANG!**
The sword was deflected to the side.
An opening appeared.
Lían's eyes sharpened.
*Now—*
But—
Mei's free hand suddenly moved.
Her arm snapped forward.
Her palm struck toward his chest.
Lían's expression changed.
"...What?"
Mei's voice rang out.
"Ascending Crane!"
**BOOM!**
A violent burst of wind exploded from her palm.
Lían's body was launched backward.
**WHOOOOM!**
His feet left the ground.
His body flew through the air.
Lían immediately tightened his grip.
He brought his sword across his chest.
The wind struck him again.
**BOOM!**
His body continued flying backward.
But—
he managed to stabilize himself.
His feet finally touched the ground.
**THUD!**
He slid several meters before coming to a stop.
Lían lowered his sword slightly.
His eyes remained fixed on Mei.
For several moments—
he said nothing.
Then—
his gaze shifted toward the hand she had used.
*A palm technique...*
His expression became thoughtful.
*I really should learn something like that.*
He looked at his sword.
*I've only been relying on my sword.*
*If someone gets inside my range...*
*I need another way to fight.*
His eyes returned to Mei.
*A palm technique.*
*Or maybe a fist technique.*
His thoughts continued.
*Something I can use when a sword isn't the best option.*
Lían's eyes narrowed slightly.
*Master never taught me anything like that.*
He paused.
Then—
a faint smile appeared.
*Maybe I should ask him.*
Across the courtyard—
Mei lowered her palm.
Wind continued swirling faintly around her fingers.
She stared at Lían.
"You didn't expect that, did you?"
Lían looked at her.
"...No."
Mei smiled.
"Then don't underestimate me."
Lían's expression became slightly awkward.
Inside—
he sighed.
*She's right.*
*I really shouldn't.*
From the side—
Wa Shi watched silently.
His expression had become increasingly serious.
He had noticed the moment Lían was sent flying.
Yet—
what caught his attention wasn't the attack itself.
It was Lían's reaction afterward.
*He isn't angry.*
*He's analyzing it.*
Wa Shi's eyes narrowed.
*Even after being caught off guard...*
His gaze shifted toward Mei.
Then back toward Lían.
*This spar is becoming more interesting than I expected.*
Lían slowly raised his sword again.
His posture changed.
The relaxed feeling disappeared.
His crimson eyes became focused.
"Alright."
He took a step forward.
"Let's continue."
Mei smiled.
"That's more like it."
Wind gathered around her sword once again.
Lían's grip tightened.
This time—
he wasn't going to underestimate her.
The two figures faced each other beneath the afternoon sun.
Then—
both moved.
**BOOM!**
The spar continued.
**CLANG!**
Lían's sword collided with Mei's once again.
Both figures separated.
Mei immediately stepped forward.
Wind gathered around her feet.
**WHOOSH!**
She rushed toward him.
Lían shifted sideways.
Her sword passed through empty air.
He turned his wrist and struck toward her shoulder.
Mei quickly blocked.
**CLANG!**
The force pushed her backward.
She gritted her teeth.
Then—
the surrounding wind suddenly surged.
It wrapped around her body.
Her speed increased.
**WHOOSH!**
Lían's eyes narrowed.
*She's getting faster.*
Mei's sword swept toward him.
Lían leaned backward.
The blade passed barely above his chest.
A sharp current of wind followed the sword.
He twisted his body.
The wind brushed past his cheek.
Lían immediately stepped forward.
**SHING!**
His sword flashed.
Mei raised her blade.
**CLANG!**
Their weapons collided again.
Neither gave way.
Mei pushed forward.
Lían's feet slid backward.
Then—
his body suddenly flowed sideways.
He redirected the force of her attack.
Mei stumbled forward slightly.
Lían moved around her.
His sword stopped just beside her shoulder.
Mei froze.
For a brief moment—
silence filled the courtyard.
Lían slowly lowered his sword.
"You're improving."
Mei turned toward him.
"You're still holding back."
Lían paused.
Mei narrowed her eyes.
"I can tell."
Lían smiled awkwardly.
"...Maybe a little."
From the side—
Wa Shi watched the exchange carefully.
*He's still restraining himself.*
That much had become obvious.
Yet—
what interested him was how naturally Lían adapted.
Every time Mei changed her attacks—
Lían adjusted.
Every time she used wind—
he found another way around it.
His movements were becoming smoother with every exchange.
Wa Shi stroked his beard.
*This child truly learns through combat.*
Mei suddenly raised her sword again.
"Again."
Lían sighed.
"You're not tired?"
"No."
She immediately charged.
**BOOM!**
Lían's expression became helpless.
*She really doesn't know when to stop.*
Still—
he raised his sword.
The exchange continued.
---
Minutes passed.
Then—
more time.
The afternoon gradually faded.
The sunlight became softer.
Sweat covered Mei's forehead.
Her breathing became increasingly heavy.
Yet—
she continued attacking.
**CLANG!**
Her sword struck Lían's.
She stepped backward.
Her shoulders rose and fell as she breathed heavily.
She was clearly reaching her limit now.
Lían remained standing across from her.
His breathing was barely disturbed.
Mei stared at him.
"Again..."
She lifted her sword.
Her arm trembled slightly.
Lían looked at her.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
Mei took another step.
But—
her knees suddenly weakened.
She stumbled.
Lían's eyes widened.
He immediately moved forward.
"Mei."
She caught herself before falling.
Her sword lowered slightly.
She breathed heavily.
"...I'm fine."
Lían looked at her.
Then—
he glanced toward Wa Shi.
The Village Head had already noticed.
He slowly shook his head.
"That's enough."
Mei looked toward him.
"But—"
"Enough."
Wa Shi's tone became firm.
"Your spiritual energy is exhausted."
Mei looked down at her hands.
The wind surrounding them had already weakened considerably.
She reluctantly lowered her sword.
"...Alright."
Lían released a quiet breath.
*Finally.*
Mei looked toward him.
"You didn't even seem tired."
Lían scratched his cheek.
"I've been practicing my breathing."
It wasn't exactly a lie.
His body had also become considerably stronger.
And—
compared with Mei, his spiritual energy reserves were much deeper.
Wa Shi walked toward them.
"Both of you did well."
He looked at Mei.
"You relied too heavily on your wind techniques."
Mei lowered her head slightly.
"I know."
"You'll need to learn how to conserve your spiritual energy."
"Otherwise, someone stronger will simply wait until you've exhausted yourself."
Mei nodded.
"Understood."
Wa Shi then looked toward Lían.
His gaze lingered on him for a moment.
"And you..."
Lían raised an eyebrow.
"Me?"
"You rely too much on your sword as well."
Lían paused.
That struck close to what he had already realized.
Wa Shi continued.
"Your movement is excellent."
"But if your opponent manages to restrict your movement..."
"Your options become limited."
Lían nodded slowly.
"I understand."
Inside—
his thoughts became serious.
*He's right.*
*I need something besides swordsmanship.*
*Especially against stronger opponents.*
Wa Shi nodded.
"Good."
The sky had already begun darkening.
Mei looked upward.
"Grandfather..."
Wa Shi glanced toward the sky.
"We're done for today."
Mei nodded.
Sheathing her sword—
she looked toward Lían.
"You've really changed."
Lían smiled faintly.
"Have I?"
"Yes."
She tilted her head.
"You weren't this difficult to fight before."
"You weren't even my match."
Lían chuckled softly.
"I guess I've improved."
Mei smiled.
"Then next time..."
"I'll win."
Lían stared at her.
Then—
he smiled.
"We'll see."
---
Night eventually descended upon the village.
The moon rose above the rooftops.
Most of the villagers had already returned home.
Inside the Village Head's residence—
Lían finished eating dinner with his mother, Aunt Xu, Mei, and Wa Shi.
The conversation eventually quieted.
One by one—
everyone retired for the night.
Lían returned to his room.
He closed the door behind him.
For several moments—
he stood silently.
His crimson eyes looked toward the window.
The village was quiet.
Moonlight spilled across the floor.
Lían slowly exhaled.
*Another day.*
His thoughts returned to the spar.
Mei's wind techniques.
The Wind Wall.
The palm strike.
His own swordsmanship.
And—
the dream.
*I'm still too dependent on water control.*
He glanced toward his sword.
*Even though I didn't use it today.*
His expression became thoughtful.
*I need to become stronger.*
The Foundation Establishment cultivator remained somewhere beyond this village.
And—
if he wanted to find his sister...
he couldn't afford to remain weak.
Lían walked toward the window.
He pushed it open.
A cool night breeze entered the room.
His hair moved gently behind him.
He looked toward the dark forest beyond the village.
Then—
a faint smile appeared.
"...Time to go hunting."
Without making a sound—
Lían climbed through the window.
His feet landed lightly outside.
He glanced back at his room one last time.
Then—
his figure disappeared into the darkness.
The moon quietly illuminated the empty room behind him.
And once again—
Lían entered the forest beneath the night sky.
This time—
he wasn't going there simply to cultivate.
He was going there to fight.
To test himself.
And—
to become stronger.