Training did not begin with commands.
It began with a wooden sword.
Li Chen tossed it lightly toward Xu Ming. "Use this."
Xu Ming caught it, confused. "No qi?"
"No sword intent," Li Chen corrected. "No techniques either."
Xu Ming hesitated. "Then how do I—"
"Survive," Li Chen said. "That's the lesson."
They stood facing each other in the courtyard. The formations around the residence shimmered faintly, sealing the space completely.
Li Chen held no weapon.
"Attack when ready," he said.
Xu Ming swallowed and moved.
His stance was correct. His footing stable. Bone Forging cultivation surged as he swung the wooden sword in a clean arc.
Li Chen stepped aside.
Not back.
Not forward.
Sideways.
Xu Ming's sword passed through empty air.
Li Chen tapped Xu Ming's wrist lightly.
The wooden sword fell.
Xu Ming stared at his empty hand.
"…Again."
Xu Ming attacked faster this time. Stronger. His movements carried the confidence of someone who had dominated the training grounds.
Li Chen retreated half a step, then entered Xu Ming's guard.
Tap.
Tap.
Two fingers pressed against Xu Ming's chest.
If it had been a real strike—
Xu Ming's face paled.
Li Chen withdrew. "Too eager."
Xu Ming clenched his fists. "Then tell me what to do!"
Li Chen shook his head.
"I won't," he said. "I'll show you what not to do."
This time, Li Chen moved first.
He walked.
No sudden acceleration. No pressure.
Yet Xu Ming's instincts screamed.
He raised the wooden sword defensively—
—and found Li Chen already past him.
A gentle knock landed on the back of Xu Ming's head.
"Never meet force head-on," Li Chen said. "Especially when you don't need to."
Xu Ming turned, breathing hard. "Then when do I fight head-on?"
Li Chen thought for a moment.
"When retreat would cost more than advance."
He picked up the wooden sword from the ground and handed it back.
"Again."
This time, Xu Ming slowed down.
He watched Li Chen's shoulders. His feet. The faint shift of weight before movement.
He attacked once.
Li Chen avoided.
He attacked twice.
Li Chen retreated.
On the third attack, Xu Ming adjusted mid-swing, letting the momentum carry him into a step rather than a strike.
Li Chen's eyes flickered.
Xu Ming's wooden sword brushed his sleeve.
A hit.
Xu Ming froze.
Li Chen smiled faintly.
"Good," he said. "You're thinking."
They continued.
Blow after blow. Miss after miss.
Li Chen corrected nothing verbally. Every mistake was answered with a gentle counter. Every improvement was met with silence.
Hours passed.
Sweat soaked Xu Ming's clothes. His muscles screamed.
Finally, he collapsed onto the ground, gasping.
"I… can't feel my arms."
Li Chen crouched beside him and placed two fingers on Xu Ming's back, guiding qi gently through his meridians.
"Pain teaches faster than words," Li Chen said. "But don't let it break you."
Xu Ming nodded weakly.
"…Master," he said after a moment, "why are you teaching me like this?"
Li Chen looked toward the sky beyond the formations.
"Because flashy strength gets you noticed," he said. "And noticed people die first."
He stood.
"Tomorrow," Li Chen added, "we'll spar with qi."
Xu Ming's eyes widened.
"…You're going to use qi?"
Li Chen paused, then smiled.
"A little," he said. "I wouldn't want you to think you've caught up."
Xu Ming laughed despite the pain.
In the quiet courtyard, beneath layers of concealment, a monster taught another monster—
Not how to win.
But how to live.The training continued until xu ming couldn't hold on and had to stop for the day to rest and digest what he had learned .