Training
That night, Lin Xuan couldn't sleep at all.
He had tried lying down, closing his eyes, even regulating his breath like someone trying to force their body into a state of rest. But every time he closed his eyes, it wasn't a calm darkness that appeared, but a replay of the previous night's scenes—the punches, the pressure, the pain in his ribs, and the split second he realized his body no longer belonged to the ordinary world.
Eventually, he sat up on the floor of his boarding room.
The wall behind him was cold and slightly damp, as if slowly absorbing his body heat. The ceiling fan spun lazily, producing a small, rhythmic creak like a broken metronome.
His hands rested on his knees.
And for the umpteenth time that night, he stared at them.
"Strange…"
He clenched his fist.
Visually, there was no major change.
But he could feel it.
There was something "alive" inside his body now. Not full power, not a stable energy, but like a small spark that had just been lit and didn't yet know what it was meant to become.
"You're still awake."
Long Yuer's voice came from the direction of the window.
Lin Xuan was no longer startled.
He didn't even turn his head as quickly as he used to.
"I can't sleep."
"Because of fear?"
"Because my mind won't stay quiet."
Long Yuer stood near the window, as usual, without a sound.
"Then we start now."
Lin Xuan looked up slightly.
"…Now?"
"Now."
🌙 Heading Out with No Purpose but Practice
They left the room without much conversation.
The night air of the city greeted them with a coldness sharper than before. The streets were nearly empty, with only the occasional vehicle passing by and streetlights flickering dimly at certain points.
Lin Xuan walked behind Long Yuer.
"If people saw us heading out like this every night, they'd think we're doing something illegal."
"No one is paying attention to us."
"That actually sounds scarier."
Long Yuer didn't respond.
The further they walked, the quieter the surroundings became. Buildings turned into old warehouses, rusted iron fences, and unused vacant lots.
Finally, they arrived at the same spot.
The vacant lot.
The construction ruins.
Uneven ground.
An atmosphere that felt like a world untouched by life.
Lin Xuan sighed.
"…This place again."
"The place isn't important."
"Then why is it always here?"
"Because it's safe."
The answer was simple.
But Lin Xuan didn't argue further.
⚔️ Training Without the World's Gaze
Long Yuer stepped into the center of the lot.
"Attack me."
Lin Xuan took a long breath.
"…If I had any other choice, I'd refuse."
"You don't."
He clenched his fists.
This time, he tried something different.
He didn't attack immediately.
He held back for a few seconds, observing Long Yuer.
Her movements showed no signs of anything.
But Lin Xuan began to realize something.
Whenever Long Yuer was still, she wasn't truly "still."
There was a slight "pressure" in the air.
Like something waiting.
And the moment Lin Xuan took a step—
That pressure spiked.
He attacked.
But before his fist could connect—
His body stopped abruptly.
Not because he stopped himself.
But because Long Yuer had already caught his wrist.
Without even appearing to move fast.
"BOOM!"
Lin Xuan was thrown to the ground.
Dust rose.
His chest felt tight.
"…I didn't even see you move."
"That is your problem."
Lin Xuan stood up again.
This time, his expression changed.
He was becoming serious.
🧠 Round Two — The First Mistake
Lin Xuan tried a new approach.
He didn't attack head-on.
He tried to feint.
He moved to the left.
Stopped.
Then lunged again from a different direction.
However, Long Yuer didn't overreact.
Just one small step.
And it was enough.
"BOOM!"
An elbow struck Lin Xuan's ribs.
He fell to his knees.
But this time—
He gave a small smile.
"…I'm starting to get it."
Long Yuer looked at him.
"If you were starting to get it, you wouldn't be falling this much."
"It's precisely because I understand a little that I realize I've been wrong from the start."
Long Yuer remained silent.
🔥 Round Three — Forced Adaptation
Lin Xuan stood up again.
This time, his body no longer rejected the pain.
He was beginning to grow accustomed to the impact.
He no longer tried to avoid everything.
He chose which hits to take.
And which ones to avoid.
A blow hit his shoulder.
He didn't retreat too far.
A punch hit his arm.
He stood his ground.
Long Yuer paused for a moment.
"…A real change."
Lin Xuan panted.
"Just a little."
"It's enough for today."
⚡ Round Four — Brief Momentum
The next attack came faster.
Lin Xuan drew a breath.
And this time—
He didn't back down.
He entered Long Yuer's range.
Not to evade.
But to strike.
As Long Yuer raised her hand—
Lin Xuan dove in.
He unleashed a punch.
"BOOM!"
This time—
He actually connected.
He retreated quickly afterward.
His eyes showed a hint of disbelief.
"…I hit you."
Long Yuer looked at her shoulder.
"Yes."
"…And does that mean I'm improving?"
"It means you're starting to understand timing."
Lin Xuan laughed softly.
"At least I didn't fall this time."
"There isn't much difference."
"But it's a difference nonetheless."
⚠️ A Near-Fatal Mistake
Just as Lin Xuan began to feel a spark of confidence—
He made a mistake.
He moved in again too quickly.
Without reading the situation.
Without waiting for the rhythm.
Long Yuer didn't move back.
She moved forward.
"BOOM!"
Lin Xuan was sent flying.
His chest felt as if it had been struck by a sledgehammer.
He almost lost his balance entirely.
"…Okay, that was on me."
"The first obvious mistake."
Lin Xuan smiled bitterly.
"Good… I'm finally starting to make the right mistakes."
🌌 Closing
The training ended when car headlights in the distance swept across the vacant lot.
Long Yuer stopped instantly.
"Enough."
Lin Xuan nodded slowly.
His body ached, but his mind was clearer.
On the way back, he said softly:
"I'm starting to understand one thing."
Long Yuer glanced at him.
"Say it."
"This world doesn't care if you're ready or not."
"Correct."
"But it will keep forcing you to be ready."
Long Yuer answered briefly:
"Now you're starting to think like a survivor."
Lin Xuan smiled faintly.
"…I hope that's a compliment."
🌙 End of Chapter
The night grew deeper.
Lin Xuan returned to his room.
He sat on the edge of the bed.
He didn't go to sleep right away.
He stared at his hands once more.
This time, longer.
"I'm still far off…"
"…but I'm no longer at the starting point."
Outside the window—
The moon remained silent.
And somewhere far away—
Someone recorded his name once again.
🔥 END CHAPTER 9