Xuan stretched his legs, keeping his gaze fixed on Lin Ran, who stood a few paces away, arms crossed and an eyebrow raised.
"Alright, just stand still," Xuan said, focusing on his plan.
Lin Ran's skeptical expression deepened. "Why? What's going on?"
"Just trust me," Xuan said, his tone dismissive as he positioned himself.
Lin Ran shifted uneasily, her servant uniform—a light gray tunic and dark trousers—catching a faint breeze. Xuan glanced at her feet, noticing the courtyard's dusty surface. His stomach twisted briefly.
"What if you fall?" Xuan murmured aloud, the realization dawning. His eyes darted around the courtyard. "Hold on a second."
He jogged to the side, dragging over a thick blanket from a nearby room. "Okay, if you lose balance, you'll fall on this. That should help."
Lin Ran eyed the mat suspiciously „"Why would I lose my balance?". Still she gave a reluctant nod. "This better not mess up my clothes though," she said, brushing a speck of dust off her sleeve.
"It won't." Xuan forced a grin, though he wasn't entirely sure.
Turning back, he steadied himself, channeling his qi into his legs. This technique would be a gamble, but if it worked, it would be a breakthrough.
"Okay. Ready?" he asked.
Lin Ran gave a stiff nod, her stance awkward as she braced herself for whatever Xuan had planned.
Xuan advanced slowly, his movements deliberate. Raising his leg, he aimed for her shin, kicking in slow motion to ensure his foot wouldn't strike too hard.
As his foot neared her leg, he focused on creating the frost diagram at the moment of contact. When his toes grazed her leg, a faint glyph shimmered to life, and a translucent frost chain linked his leg to hers.
"Wait, what's—" Lin Ran began, but Xuan didn't wait.
The Falconburst spirals activated in reverse and his leg shot backward, propelling him with a burst of speed. The unexpected pull yanked Lin Ran off balance, her feet slipping out from under her as she toppled onto the mat with a soft thud.
"Ow!" she yelped, glaring up at him. "What was that?!"
Xuan froze for a moment, then his face broke into a wide grin. "It worked! The frost chain, the pull—it all worked!"
Lin Ran sat up, huffing in anger as she brushed dust off her tunic. "Worked for you, maybe," she muttered, eyeing the faint smudge on her sleeve. "You said you wouldn't ruin my clothes."
"I—uh—didn't think that part through," Xuan admitted sheepishly. He quickly reached out a hand to help her up. "Sorry. I'll make it up to you."
Lin Ran hesitated before taking his hand and getting up.
Then she let out a soft huff as she brushed more dust from her sleeve. "You better," She glanced at the frost chain mark fading on her leg and shook her head. "What even was that move?"
"Something new I've been working on," Xuan replied, his excitement undiminished. "Thanks for helping me test it out." He gave a sheepish smile. "Though maybe next time I'll think it through more."
"Next time?" Lin Ran raised an eyebrow but didn't press further. She dusted herself off and turned to leave, muttering something about needing to change.
Moments later, Lin Ran returned from her quarters, now wearing a striking red tunic with intricate embroidery along the sleeves, a stark contrast to the muted tones of her earlier attire. Her steps slowed as she approached the courtyard once again, this time keeping her distance. Xuan was deeply focused on practicing the Frostbind Chains, the faint shimmer of ice forming briefly around his arm before vanishing as his qi faltered.
He's strong, she thought, watching silently from behind a corner. But even strong people get tired.
Her gaze lingered as Xuan finished another attempt, this time collapsing back onto the grass with an audible sigh. His hand rested on his chest as he stared up at the sky, his breathing steady but clearly fatigued.
Now's my chance.
Slipping into the house, Lin Ran grabbed a towel and concealed a knife within its folds. With practiced steps, she approached him, her face calm but her grip on the hidden blade tightening as she drew closer. Just as she was a few paces away, Xuan sat up abruptly, his sharp eyes locking onto her.
"Oh, Lin Ran!" he said, smiling despite his exhaustion. "Thanks for the towel." He stood and stretched, his movements fluid, showing no sign of the weariness she had assumed.
Caught off guard, Lin Ran quickly adjusted her plan. "Uh, yes! I thought you might need it after all that," she said, forcing a smile as she placed the towel on a nearby rock. Her fingers slipped the knife from the folds and tucked it discreetly into her sleeve.
"By the way," Xuan said, his gaze flicking over her attire. "That tunic looks good on you—much better than your usual one."
Lin Ran blinked, momentarily startled. "Oh, uh… thanks," she stammered. "I'll… just leave you to it." She turned quickly, trying to not give anything away as she retreated to the house.
>>>
Now alone, Xuan sat cross-legged in the courtyard, his thoughts drifting from martial arts to his cultivation. With the Frostdew Flower's effects fully integrated, he had officially entered the Inner Essence Realm.
The Inner Essence Realm was a pivotal stage, the true beginning of cultivation. Now, with his pores unblocked and qi flowing freely, he could manipulate qi externally, enabling him to use martial skills.
But it wasn't without limits. He had a very limited amount of qi to utilize. So while simple, the Inner Essence Realm had one goal: refine more qi.
As he focused inward, feeling the small flow of energy circulating through his dantian, a faint sensation brushed against his arm. At first, he dismissed it as the wind, but then it moved—slithering upward.
Xuan opened his eyes and glanced down. His breath caught. A small spider, its body glistening with black and green patterns, skittered up his arm, it's goal looking to be his neck.