The clatter of the last wooden practice dummy hitting the ground still echoed in the courtyard. Shen Yu rubbed his elbow, grimacing, while Ling Wei straightened his robe, completely unbothered.
"You really need to pay attention to your footwork," Ling Wei said, voice calm but edged with a note of exasperation. "Your stance is… chaotic at best."
"I'm fine! Totally fine," Shen Yu protested, though he stumbled over his own feet as he tried to bow properly. "See? I'm standing. Perfectly. Totally… fine."
Ling Wei's lips twitched, almost a smile, but he didn't comment. Instead, he bent down and adjusted the angle of Shen Yu's sword grip with a gentle flick of his fingers. Shen Yu froze, heart thudding far faster than necessary.
"Why does it feel like your fingers are… attacking me?" Shen Yu muttered, though not very convincingly.
Ling Wei raised an eyebrow. "They're correcting your technique. You should be grateful."
Shen Yu blinked, staring at Ling Wei's composed expression. He had no idea whether to argue, swoon, or run away entirely. Probably all three at once.
From the sidelines, Yu Zhen leaned against a tree, arms crossed, lips curved in a faint smirk. Xiao Rong nudged him with a grin.
"You're enjoying this far too much," Xiao Rong whispered.
Yu Zhen didn't answer. His eyes, however, betrayed the slightest sparkle. Shen Yu's antics were always entertaining, especially when Ling Wei acted so… annoyingly composed.
"Now," Ling Wei said, stepping back, "again. And this time, focus. I don't want another 'chaos disaster.'"
"I got it! I got it!" Shen Yu shouted, puffing out his chest and adopting the most exaggerated fighting stance he could manage.
It looked more like a bird trying to flap its wings than a cultivator ready for battle.
Ling Wei pinched the bridge of his nose. "Just… try to lift the sword without flailing."
Shen Yu took a deep breath, adjusted his grip, and swung. The blade wobbled violently in midair, clipped the practice dummy, and sent it rolling across the courtyard.
"Perfect," Ling Wei said flatly. "Just perfect."
Shen Yu froze. "Wait, that sounded sarcastic!"
Yu Zhen chuckled softly, leaning further against the tree. Xiao Rong snickered so loudly that it startled a nearby bird into flight.
Shen Yu spun around, glaring at them. "Stop laughing! This is serious training!"
"Serious, yes," Ling Wei murmured, stepping forward to right the dummy again, "but not that serious. You'll learn faster if you keep your mind calm… unlike you."
"Mind calm? My mind is very calm! Totally," Shen Yu insisted, though he realized halfway through the sentence that his racing heartbeat was probably not helping the illusion.
Xiao Rong snorted. "You're hopeless, Shen Yu."
"Hey! I'm… I'm improving!" Shen Yu shot back, swinging the sword again. This time, it caught the air perfectly — just for a fraction of a second — before wobbling and almost slicing a bush.
Ling Wei caught the tip effortlessly, holding it steady between two fingers. "Better."
Shen Yu blinked. "Better? That counts as better?"
Yu Zhen's smirk widened. "You'll get there… eventually."
Shen Yu threw a mock salute at him. "I'll make sure to become a cultivator even you can admire!"
Ling Wei rolled his eyes, but a faint blush colored his cheeks as he adjusted Shen Yu's stance once more. Shen Yu didn't notice — too busy grinning foolishly, convinced he was on the verge of greatness.
From a corner of the courtyard, Xiao Rong leaned close to Yu Zhen and whispered, "They're ridiculous together, aren't they?"
Yu Zhen only smiled faintly. "Yes… but that's why it's entertaining."
Shen Yu swung again, this time with slightly more control. The blade traced a shaky but recognizably elegant line in the air. Ling Wei's eyes softened for just a moment.
"See?" Shen Yu said, chest puffed out proudly. "I told you I'm getting better!"
Ling Wei just shook his head, lips twitching again. "One step at a time… and maybe fewer dramatic gestures."
Shen Yu puffed his cheeks. "Fewer dramatic gestures? Impossible!"
Xiao Rong and Yu Zhen exchanged a glance, silently agreeing: Yes. Absolutely impossible.