Chi and Yu stood opposite each other, wooden swords raised, the morning air thick with tension.
They didn't move—only the faint rustle of wind through the trees broke the silence.
Then Yu burst forward, his sword flashing down in a clean vertical arc aimed straight at Chi's torso.
Chi twisted his body, stepping back in a smooth, swirling motion, the strike slicing just past his shirt. Before Yu could recover, Chi countered—a quick, horizontal sweep meant to catch him off-guard.
Wood cracked against wood. The sound echoed through the backyard.
The series continued, each blow faster than the last.
Thwack—step—parry—dodge.
Neither of them spoke, their focus sharp, movements instinctive.
From the side, Loch watched quietly, arms folded, while Lianhua's sharp eyes followed every motion.
The clash of wooden blades echoed across the courtyard, each strike sharper than the last.
"So," Loch said, watching the boys exchange blows with precise rhythm, "they've learned quickly… as always."
Lianhua's eyes softened with pride. "Right? They're already fighting at the level of a grade F Sword Cultivator without even using qi"
Loch's brow lifted slightly. "Unbelievable. A month ago, they could barely hold the sword straight."
The sound of another sharp crack filled the air — this time, Yu's strike actually forced Chi back a step.
Lianhua crossed her arms, smiling faintly. "At this rate, even you might have to spar them soon."
Loch gave a rare smirk. "We'll see about that."
"Alright let's wrap up it's already night" lianhua said as she clapped her hands together while stepping forward
The scene shifted to the dining table, where everyone sat… or rather, waited for the food that no longer existed.
There was only one problem—
Liora, Buddy, and Lian had already devoured the entire dinner meant for nine high-ranked cultivators.
Haoran and Lianhua stared blankly at the empty dishes, the aroma of what was dinner still teasing them.
"YOU TWO COULDN'T EVEN TAKE CARE OF THREE KIDS?!"
Lianhua's voice echoed through the house like a thunderclap, shaking even the windows.
Haoran and Yuanhai sat frozen, chopsticks midair, faces pale.
Meanwhile, the mischievous trio had already escaped—curled up in their rooms, pretending to sleep with suspiciously full bellies.
Of course, the peace wouldn't last long. Tomorrow morning… they were so doomed.
Haoran and Yuanhai had to pay out of their own pockets for an absurdly expensive, high-class meal—both of them convinced they didn't deserve such punishment.
Laughter and teasing filled the air that evening, echoing through the house until late.
The next morning, everything seemed normal—training, breakfast, the same routine—until Chi and Yu were met with a surprise.
"Starting tomorrow," Loch said, his tone carrying a rare hint of excitement, "we'll be heading into a beast domain."
Lianhua smiled beside him, clearly just as thrilled. "Get ready, both of you. It's going to be very different from anything you've done before."
Both Yu and Chi gleamed, their eyes shining with pure gratitude toward their mentors.
"It'll be a low-grade one, don't get your hopes too high," Loch said with his usual calm tone. "And you'll also go to one with your classmates after the holidays—at your school."
The rest of the day passed in a blur.
Dinner, laughter, and training talk—all of it felt fleeting. The only thing that refused to move was the night itself.
Both boys lay awake, their hearts racing with restless anticipation. Every blink felt like an eternity. The moment they closed their eyes, flashes of what awaited them tomorrow filled their minds—mystical beasts, roaring domains, and the unknown challenges that came with them.
Sleep? Impossible. Tomorrow wasn't just another day. It was the start of something new.
"Hey, Chi," Yu said, lying on his bed and staring up at the ceiling. "All our friends have already been to a beast zone. Didn't it feel kinda bad that we were the only ones who didn't?"
Chi turned his head lazily, his hair slightly messy from rolling around. "Yeah… They all have extra tuitions or family teachers already. Guess we were the late bloomers."
Yu laughed softly. "Late bloomers, huh? More like the forgotten ones."
Chi smiled faintly. "Well, not anymore. Tomorrow we'll finally see what a real Beast Domain looks like."
Yu rolled to his side, eyes gleaming with excitement. "Do you think we'll actually fight one?"
Chi exhaled slowly. "If we do, we'll handle it. Besides, we've got Liora and Buddy with us."
"True." Yu stretched his arms behind his head. "Still, can't believe it's finally happening."
A comfortable silence settled in the room. The faint hum of the night air filled the space as the two stared at the ceiling, lost in thought.
> "Hey, Chi."
"Yeah?"
"Let's not embarrass ourselves tomorrow."
"Heh. You? Embarrass me? You wish."
Their laughter echoed softly before fading into the night.
Outside, the moonlight filtered through the window, brushing against their wooden practice swords resting beside the bed — quiet reminders of the path they'd chosen.
Tomorrow, that path would lead straight into the wild unknown.
Yu's face had gone still — unusually serious. His eyes weren't darting around like they usually did; instead, they were fixed on the ceiling, lost in thought.
"Hey, Chi," he said quietly. "We'll be using real swords tomorrow… not the wooden ones."
He paused, his voice lowering. "That would probably mean… killing, right?"
Chi turned to look at him, his expression unreadable. The question hung in the air — heavy, uncomfortable.
"Yeah," Chi finally said. "But it's different. They're beasts, not people."
Yu frowned slightly. "Still… they're alive, right? They feel things. I just—" He stopped mid-sentence, unsure how to explain the strange weight in his chest.
Chi didn't answer immediately. His gaze drifted to the two wooden swords leaning by the wall — the same ones they'd trained with for months. The same ones that now felt almost too light to hold.
"…We'll do what we have to," Chi said at last. "If we hesitate, someone else might get hurt. That's what Mom always says."
Yu gave a small, reluctant nod. "Yeah. I know."
Then, after a beat, Chi smiled faintly. "But I'll tell you this — if you start crying after killing one, I'm telling everyone in our class."
Yu snorted, his mood breaking. "Ha. Like you won't cry first, you sentimental freak."
Both of them laughed softly — not their usual loud, carefree laughter, but something quieter. The kind that hides a little fear beneath it.
The night air outside was cool and still. Their swords rested near the window, faintly gleaming under the moonlight — waiting for tomorrow.