The night was quiet. Ye Wuchen sat by the fire, holding his sword. His teacher, Yan Xi, had not returned. A small note was all he had left behind:
"If I don't return by dusk — bury my blade. Or draw yours."
Wuchen waited, watching the trees.
Then, someone stepped out of the forest.
He was an older man, wearing gray clothes, with a sword on his back. His face was calm, but serious. The sword made a strange soft sound, like it was sad.
The man looked at Wuchen.
"You're the boy who carries the last whispering sword," he said.
"My name is Shen Li. I came to kill my brother."
Before Wuchen could say anything, another voice came.
"You're late, Shen."
Yan Xi walked out of the shadows, holding his wooden stick.
"You broke the code," Shen Li said.
"The code was already broken," Yan Xi replied. "When they told us to kill children who had done nothing."
"You gave him Murkfang."
"I didn't give it. The sword chose him."
They stared at each other. Then Shen Li spoke again.
"I spared you once. I won't do it again."
Suddenly, he moved.
---
The Fight Begins
Shen Li's sword came out fast. It moved like wind — sharp, quick, and deadly.
Yan Xi used his stick to block the first strike. The air shook when wood met steel.
Shen Li didn't stop. He attacked again and again, changing angles and speed each time.
Yan Xi stayed calm. He didn't try to block every strike. Instead, he dodged some, deflected others, and waited.
He knew Shen Li's style. It was smooth, clean, and full of power. Each move had a reason.
But Yan Xi's style was different. It was broken, messy, and strange. It didn't follow a pattern. It was made to confuse.
They moved like shadows. Step by step. Blow by blow.
Wuchen stood still, watching everything.
In his mind, the system activated.
System:
"Watching Master Duel… Combat Skill Learning: Active"
Wuchen didn't blink. He focused on how they moved, how they reacted, how they breathed.
---
A Dangerous Move
Shen Li's foot stepped into a small puddle. The sound was soft — but Yan Xi used that moment.
He hit Shen Li's leg with his stick.
It wasn't strong, but it made Shen Li slow down.
Yan Xi tried to follow with another strike, but Shen Li turned fast and hit back hard.
His sword cut Yan Xi's side.
Blood came out. Yan Xi held his side, breathing slowly.
Wuchen took a step forward.
"No," Yan Xi said.
He stayed on one knee, but his eyes were clear.
"You've improved," he said to Shen.
"And you've gotten old," Shen Li answered.
"But not weak."
---
The Decision
Shen Li raised his sword. Wuchen was ready to jump in — but Yan Xi gave him a small shake of the head.
"If I die," Yan Xi said, "let it be while protecting the future."
Shen Li looked at him.
Then at Wuchen.
He didn't move.
"You're not ready yet," he said.
"I'll wait. But next time… I won't stop."
And with that, Shen Li turned and disappeared into the forest.
He didn't make a sound.
---
After the Fight
Yan Xi sat down, his hand still on his side.
Wuchen helped him.
"You could've died," he said.
Yan Xi smiled.
"That's part of the job."
"But why didn't he finish it?"
"Because he's still human. And because you were watching."
Wuchen didn't understand.
"You saw what we were," Yan Xi said. "Now, I'll teach you how to be something better."
---
System Notification
Trainer: Yan Xi
Bond Level: 2
New Skill Unlocked: Ghost Edge Meditation
Effect: Stamina comes back faster when sitting still
New Passive Skill: Duel Reader – You can understand someone's fighting style in 3 moves
---
Wuchen looked at the fire.
The night was dark.
But he felt a small light inside him grow stronger.
He was still learning.
But now, he had seen what real battle looked like.
And he knew…
One day, he would face Shen Li himself.
---