Sweat dripped from Rui's forehead as she parried Shen's final strike.
Her muscles ached, but satisfaction bloomed across her face as his blade stopped mere inches from her shoulder.
"Better," Shen acknowledged, lowering his weapon. His stoic expression couldn't quite hide the pride in his eyes. "But still too predictable."
"She's magnificent!" Zou called from the sidelines, waving an ornate fan emblazoned with Rui's likeness. "Did you see that counter-strike? Pure artistry!"
Ran stood beside him, his jade green robes immaculate despite the dusty training grounds.
"Your energy flow is more balanced now. The celestial core complements your chaos energy rather than fighting it."
Kee Kee, perched atop Ran's shoulder, yawned dramatically.
"Yeah, yeah, she's amazing. Can we eat now? Watching people swing swords makes me hungry."
Rui sheathed her practice blade, wiping her brow with the back of her hand.
