Li Wei awoke with stiff limbs and a headache that felt suspiciously like the aftermath of last night's overexertion. Training in the Azure Dragon Sect had pushed him to his limits, but he wasn't about to admit that. He had survived the first week—barely—but survived nonetheless.
"Today," Master Shen announced during morning assembly, "you will spar with your fellow disciples. Li Wei, you are first."
Li Wei's stomach sank. Sparring. Combat. Hands-on experience. In his modern life, his closest brush with martial arts had been YouTube tutorials and the occasional chaotic gym class. And now? He was expected to fight a real disciple.
He took a deep breath, trying to muster confidence. "Okay… just survive. Just survive. And maybe look cool… somehow."
He was led to the training courtyard, where a young disciple named Feng Tao awaited him. Tao had a lean build, quick reflexes, and the kind of grin that screamed, I fight for fun and you're my free entertainment today.
"Ah, so you're the new guy," Tao said, twirling his wooden staff. "Don't worry. I'll go easy on you."
Li Wei's internal panic set off. "Go easy… sure. Just don't kill me. I promise I'm funny at parties, but not deadly!"
Master Shen raised his hand. "Begin!"
Tao charged instantly, spinning his staff in a blur. Li Wei panicked and swung his wooden sword wildly—like a man possessed by sheer survival instinct. His swing missed completely, hitting the ground with a loud thwack, which sent a small cloud of dust into Tao's face.
"Hey! Watch it!" Tao coughed, stepping back.
Li Wei took a deep breath, remembering a parkour trick from his past life. He pivoted on one foot, swung low, and tripped over his own robe—but somehow, his leg knocked Tao off balance. Tao stumbled, almost falling. Li Wei froze, wide-eyed.
"Did… did I just—?" he muttered.
Master Shen's eyes narrowed, but a faint flicker of approval crossed his face. "Luck, or intuition?"
Li Wei didn't stick around to analyze. Tao recovered quickly, spinning and swinging his staff with impressive speed. Li Wei ducked, rolled, and tried to counterattack—only to end up tangled in his own robe again.
"Focus, Wei!" he muttered under his breath. "Think modern tactics! Think… think… grocery store defense moves!"
He remembered how he used to dodge and weave through crowded aisles to save time. Adjusting his footwork instinctively, he sidestepped Tao's next strike and, without meaning to, tripped Tao with a low kick. Tao's staff flew from his hands, landing with a loud clunk several feet away.
Li Wei froze, staring. "Whoa… that actually worked?"
Tao got up, brushing himself off, grinning wider than ever. "Not bad, newbie. You're… chaotic. But effective."
Li Wei panted, chest heaving. "Chaotic… yeah… that's my middle name. Well, not officially, but you get the idea."
Master Shen clapped his hands. "Enough! Li Wei, you survived the match through unconventional methods. Tao, you allowed the lesson. Both of you return to your positions."
Li Wei staggered back, relief washing over him. He couldn't believe it. He had survived his first real sparring match. Not gracefully, not traditionally—but survived.
Later, as he sat recovering, Tao came over, offering a hand. "You're weird, but you've got potential. Don't let your ego get in the way."
Li Wei shook it cautiously. "Thanks… I think? And don't worry—I definitely have no ego. Just… pure chaotic skill."
Tao laughed. "We'll see how long that lasts."
That night, Li Wei reflected on the day. He had learned a valuable lesson: raw power and traditional techniques were important, yes—but so were creativity, adaptability, and a little bit of luck. And maybe, just maybe, his modern-life tricks could give him an edge in a world where everyone followed the same rules.