Chapter Eight: The Five-Day War

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It was not yet sunrise. The sky was only just beginning to lighten—a beauty beyond the reach of words. In the deep, pale blue of dawn, a handful of scattered stars still lingered. The earth below was wrapped in darkness, while the heavens seemed wan and cold.

In the east, a sliver of sunlight pierced the mountain peaks, casting its rays over the Kilimanjaro forest. Wild grasses quivered gently, the shadows of trees gradually faded, and beside one such tree, a wolf suddenly leaped up, its jaws wide as it bit down upon the fierce serpent sprawled on the ground…

Lin Shan wiped the sweat from his brow, the result of vigorous exercise. He had risen at first light and already completed one routine.

After a night of deep contemplation—and seeing little result from his early morning practice—he finally decided to open “Wind and Cloud Breath” to study the second half: the Sword Interception Technique.

“Lin Shan!”

Just as Lin Shan was about to turn the pages, he felt a sudden weight on his shoulder—someone was patting him?

“Lin Ruoxi?”

She flashed him a sweet smile. Dressed in simple black training clothes, her hair tied up without any ornament, she looked neat and focused.

Clearly, she’d dressed for martial training.

Why was she up so early to practice? He frowned, glancing at the horizon, where the first faint glimmer of dawn had just appeared at the mountain’s edge.

Hadn’t she always said she disliked martial arts? Why so diligent today? The tournament in five days would certainly be a challenge.

Lin Shan’s face clouded with worry.

“What’s this—frowning at me? Not happy to see me? Fine, I’ll leave!”

Lin Ruoxi’s expression shifted. She hadn’t expected Lin Shan to ignore her after rising so early to find him.

She pouted in frustration, turning to go.

“Wait!”

Lin Shan’s resolve melted at her reaction; he quickly caught the corner of her sleeve, unwilling to let her leave.

“Aren’t you usually lazy? Why are you up so early to practice? I was just surprised, that’s all! Otherwise, how could I not greet you?”

Lin Shan, seeing her displeased look and her attempt to leave, hurried to explain his confusion.

“So, you’re practicing ‘Wind and Cloud Breath’?”

Lin Ruoxi gave him a knowing smile, moving to another corner of the terrace and regarding him with a half-smile.

“Have you mastered the first part?”

“I think so,” Lin Shan replied, shrinking back under her mischievous gaze, testing the waters.

“Have you generated internal energy?” she asked, lips curving slyly.

“Internal energy? What’s that?”

“Internal energy is a current you feel within you, flowing like a river through your body. When it reaches a certain point, that place becomes stronger, more responsive, more powerful.”

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“Yes, that’s right—at least, that’s how father explained it to me,” Lin Ruoxi mused, touching her chin.

“Ah! By that standard, then no, I haven’t managed it,” Lin Shan admitted with a sinking heart, sighing. After all his arduous training, all he felt was a mild ache—there was no sign of internal energy at all.

He’d wanted to ask someone for help, but in the vast Lin household, there was no one except Lin Feng who might know. Was there a deeper meaning in Lin Ruoxi’s words? Did she understand after all?

“I’ll teach you. I know how,” Lin Ruoxi said, picking up “Wind and Cloud Breath” and changing the subject.

“Really? I was just worrying about how to proceed!” Lin Shan’s spirits soared at the offer; it was surely better to have a teacher than to fumble about alone.

Fortune had finally smiled on him—even drinking cold water felt sweet in such moments.

“Show me how you practice—I’ve studied this manual too,” Lin Ruoxi smirked.

“Alright! Watch for any mistakes and let me know—I’ll fix them,” Lin Shan replied earnestly.

“How do you know this skill?” he blurted out, then regretted it—wasn’t it obvious? Her father wrote the manual; of course she knew it.

“Everyone in the town has practiced it. My father revised this method himself,” Lin Ruoxi rolled her eyes.

“The whole town?” Lin Shan’s enthusiasm faltered as if struck by lightning.

“Of course. Did you think my father would just hand you the method so easily? He wanted to test your martial arts foundation! Don’t just stand there—practice, and let me watch!”

Seeing Lin Shan rooted to the spot, Lin Ruoxi hastened him along.

…Never mind, he thought, best to ask later, and moved into the courtyard.

“A daughter really does grow up and become hard to keep close. She just asked how to practice this technique, and now she’s off teaching someone else!” Lin Feng sighed at the west wing door.

“But in doing so, she’s unwittingly making things harder for herself, upping the challenge.”

“In the end, my skills are still superior!”

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“Aunt Mei, bring them some food later. I’ll eat alone,” Lin Feng waved a hand and turned away, a hint of melancholy in his manner.

“Alas,” Aunt Mei sighed. For years, the master had been alone at home; Ruoxi used to be there, lively and noisy, but now she had grown up and…

Shaking her head, Aunt Mei went to the kitchen, prepared two sets of dishes and utensils, and set them in a room in the west wing, ready to bring food to Ruoxi and Lin Shan.

Time slipped by, the sun setting in the west. Unconsciously, the two figures had spent hours talking in the same spot; the sun now hung high overhead.

“Next, I’ll teach you the Sword Interception Technique,” Lin Ruoxi said, using her finger to press Lin Shan’s acupoints, unblocking his meridians as she turned to the second half of “Wind and Cloud Breath.”

“So soon? I feel like I could practice a bit more,” Lin Shan said, breathing heavily as he slowly stopped moving at her instruction.

“Learn quickly. Let me give you some special instruction, but don’t you dare tell anyone it was me who taught you. Practice for a few days, and my father will surely see you in a new light—hmph!” Lin Ruoxi’s lips curled in anticipation, already imagining her father’s astonished face.

“It’s nearly noon. I need to go back and train; if I can’t beat that expert, I’ll be in real trouble!” Her expression turned anxious—clearly, being forbidden from adventures was something her lively spirit could not bear.

So that was her plan—setting aside her own training to help him master the technique so that Lin Feng would recognize his martial arts talent.

Looking at Ruoxi’s earnest face, Lin Shan felt an unexpected warmth in his heart.

Yet Lin Feng had no intention of doing as Ruoxi hoped; instead, he used the threat of death to force Lin Shan to master the skill—or perhaps, he never intended for Lin Shan to stay in the Lin household at all.

The thought dimmed Lin Shan’s gaze.

Even Ruoxi had risen early, risking discovery, to teach him. If he didn’t work hard now, he really would die!

Clenching his fists, his heart surged with an unquenchable storm.

“I’m actually the one your father is looking for—” Lin Shan began, but saw that Ruoxi had already hurried away.

“Enough, you practice on your own for now! My father will surely come check on me soon,” her voice called from ahead—she had already left, afraid her father would discover she wasn’t in her own courtyard practicing.

She had risked being caught just to teach him! If he didn’t rise to the occasion now…