the night stretching out around them, and the faint sound of Meiling breathing beside him. Su Chen sat there cross-legged, eyes closed, letting his silver Qi move nice and easy through his meridians.
It felt different tonight, smoother after the jade slip info. The Galeblade Sword Art sat in his mind like a clear map, all about flow instead of force.
He pictured the first stance again, feet planted steady, imaginary sword loose at his side. A little smile crept onto his face.
'This actually feels fun!'
He breathed in slow, pulling the cold silver energy up from his dantian. It mixed with the new technique, turning into something light and cutting, like a steady breeze through tall grass.
Just a quiet hum in his veins that made his arms tingle. He shifted his hands into the form, empty for now, and let a thin thread of Qi trace the motion. The air around his palm stirred soft, rustling the edge of the blanket.
It worked. Not perfect, but it sliced a single dust mote clean in half without a sound. Su Chen opened one eye, heart doing a little flip of real satisfaction.
'Okay, that's something. I did it right.'
Meiling stirred beside him, her big tits rising and falling under the loose outfit, nipples still out from how she'd shifted in her sleep. Her pussy stayed exposed too, glistening a bit in the low light.
She looked peaceful, but he knew better. That crazy side of hers never really shut off, especially now with the clan gone. The estate felt emptier already, like the walls had loosened their grip.
Still, he stayed super careful. If she woke up and saw him glowing even a little, she'd be all over him with questions and that possessive touch.
He waited until her breathing evened out again, then eased off the bed one foot at a time. The floorboards didn't creak under his weight. Good.
He grabbed the short wooden practice sword from the corner rack, the one he'd used back when everyone thought he was too crippled to hold anything sharp. It felt solid in his grip now, not heavy like before.
'Can't risk making noise in here. Garden it is.' He glanced back at Meiling one more time. She looked so content curled up there, dark hair spilling over the pillow, red eyes closed in what he hoped was a deep sleep.
Part of him felt bad sneaking out on her, but the other part knew he needed this. Just a little space to breathe.
Su Chen slipped through the side door into the garden, the night air cool on his skin. The peach tree stood gray and still, a reminder of his last mistake, but he gave it a wide berth.
He found a clear spot near the back wall, hidden by some low bushes. Moonlight filtered down soft, enough to see but not enough to draw eyes from the main house.
He planted his feet shoulder-width, wooden sword at his side, and started the first form again. Slow this time. Real slow.
The Galeblade flowed better out here. His silver Qi answered quick, cold and liquid, wrapping around the blade like invisible wind. He swung once, gentle arc, and the air parted with a faint whoosh.
Leaves on the nearest bush trembled but didn't fall. No damage. Just clean movement. He did it again, adding a little more flow, and felt the Qi slice through like a breeze sharpening into an edge.
A tiny cut appeared on a fallen branch ten feet away, neat and precise. Su Chen let out a quiet laugh under his breath, the happy kind that came from actually getting it right.
'Hell yeah. It's clicking. Not overpowering anything, just... working.' His body moved natural, shoulders loose, hips turning smooth.
The silver energy didn't drain him. It fed him, making each repetition feel lighter and sharper.
He kept at it for what felt like hours but was probably only one. Every detail mattered. The way his thumb adjusted on the hilt. How his breath synced with the swing. The faint tingle when the Qi hit the right spot and turned the wooden blade into something that hummed with potential.
Just steady progress that made his chest warm with quiet pride.
'Li Wei was right. This fits me. I can hide it easy if anyone peeks.'
A soft rustle came from inside the house. Meiling probably shifting in her sleep again. Su Chen froze mid-stance, listening close. Nothing else. He exhaled, relieved, and went back to it.
The crazy watch would tighten up come morning now that the clan had cleared out. She'd be glued to his side, checking every breath, making sure her little brother stayed safe in their private world.
The thought made him shake his head with a mix of fondness and frustration. She meant well, in her intense way. But he needed this practice time more than ever.
He practiced the second form next, a quick follow-up cut that built on the first. Feet pivoted, sword rose and fell like wind changing direction. His silver Qi danced along with it, cold threads turning the motion into something almost graceful.
A small rock nearby split clean down the middle without him even touching it. Su Chen grinned for real this time, wiping a bit of sweat from his brow.
'Progress. Actual, honest progress. Feels good not to be stumbling around anymore!'
The night stayed quiet around him. Crickets chirped soft in the distance, and the garden smelled like damp earth and leftover jasmine from Meiling's earlier visit.
He lost himself in the rhythm, repeating the forms until his muscles warmed nice and his mind cleared. No rush to master it all tonight. Just building the foundation, one careful swing at a time.
He finally lowered the sword, breathing steady, and glanced back toward the house. Meiling was still asleep inside, he hoped.
Time to head back before she noticed he was gone. He tucked the practice sword under his arm and turned toward the path.
That's when he saw her. A girl in a dark ninja mask stepped out from the shadows near the garden wall, moving as silent as smoke.
She wore tight black clothes that blended with the night, hood up, eyes visible just enough to catch a glint under the moonlight.
She walked straight toward where Su Chen stood, steps light and purposeful, like she knew exactly who he was and why he was out here alone.