Wang Sheng stepped back, hands on his hips, still catching his breath from the rapid flurry of attacks. For a moment, the sharp edge of his authority softened, replaced by a boyish curiosity.
He tilted his head, eyes bright with genuine interest. "Huh… not bad at all. You're fast… really fast. Tell me — what's your martial spirit?"
Shadows around my hands twitched faintly, almost as if sensing the sudden shift in his intent. I paused, studying him. Despite his earlier aggression, there was no malice now — just a child's curiosity, eager to see what made me tick.
Wang Sheng bounced lightly on the balls of his feet, eyes wide. "Come on, tell me! I've never seen anyone dodge like that before. You've got some kind of secret, right?"
I exhaled softly, letting the shadows calm slightly. "It's… my martial spirit," I said evenly, watching him carefully. "It helps me perceive and respond to danger. That's all."
Wang Sheng's grin returned, wide and boyish this time. "Whoa… that's awesome! Guess you're not just a new kid. Looks like Room Seven just got interesting." Tang Sans walks and wang sheng challenges him.
The students nearby exchanged whispers, sensing the tension. Wang Sheng didn't know that Tang San had just become a disciple under Yu Xiaogang — he simply acted according to the dorm's hierarchy, giving the new student a fair test.
Tang San tilted his head, curiosity lighting his eyes. "Alright. Let's see." His voice was calm, measured.
Wang Sheng moved into a ready stance, fists poised but controlled, clearly expecting a routine sparring match. The students quickly stepped back, giving them space.
I watched from a corner, shadows coiling lightly around my hands, whispering subtle directions — distance, timing, angles. Interesting… he doesn't know who Tang San really is. This will be a real test of his instincts.
Wang Sheng lunged forward, launching a series of precise, controlled punches. Tang San didn't immediately dodge — he simply observed, analyzing every movement with calm attention.
Wang Sheng lunged forward again, fists aimed precisely at Tang San. But Tang San's eyes flickered with a sharp, cold focus.
Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track. Shadows rippled around him, creating afterimages that disoriented Wang Sheng, making every strike miss by a hair.
Without hesitation, Tang San moved fluidly behind Wang Sheng. His hand came down in a precise chop to the boy's neck, enough to knock him off balance. Wang Sheng stumbled forward and fell to the floor, stunned but unharmed.
The room went silent, students holding their breath, eyes wide with shock. Tang San didn't speak. He simply stood there, expression unreadable, gazing at Wang Sheng with calm disdain, as if the boy hadn't even been worth his full attention.
Wang Sheng blinked up at him, a mix of shock and awe on his face. Slowly, he pushed himself up, brushing the dust off. He didn't say a word, only nodded slightly, silently acknowledging the outcome without words.
I watched from my corner, shadows coiling faintly around my hands. That technique… precise, elegant, and terrifyingly controlled. And he doesn't even bother speaking.
As the tension from Tang San's display settled, a soft, light-footed sound echoed through the corridor. A girl stepped into the doorway, her white eyes calm and luminous, her expression unreadable yet curious. It was Xiao Wu.
She paused for a moment, taking in the room: Wang Sheng still on the floor, Tang San standing silently, and Jiang observing from the corner. A small smirk touched her lips, one corner curling in quiet amusement.
"Hmph… what's going on here?" she said lightly, her voice melodic but carrying a hint of teasing. "Room Seven already having a sparring match without me?"
Shadows shifted subtly around my hands as I watched her. Her aura was different — calm, but with a faint undercurrent of strength and alertness. Something about her felt… attuned, perceptive, almost like she could see the invisible threads of energy swirling in the room.
Tang San's gaze flicked briefly toward her, eyes still sharp and assessing, though he said nothing. Wang Sheng, now sitting up, scratched the back of his head nervously. "Uh… this is Xiao Wu. She just arrived too… I guess you're new here," he said awkwardly.