She stopped in front of Tang San, tilting her head with a faint, teasing smile. "I hear there's someone here who thinks they're untouchable," she said, voice light but confident. "Let me see if that's true."
Tang San's eyes flicked toward her, sharp and assessing. He didn't bother to respond verbally; he simply moved into a ready stance, confident in his skill. This should be easy, he thought, expecting a straightforward spar.
Xiao Wu didn't attack aggressively. Instead, she moved with fluid grace, her strikes soft and precise, focusing on balance, subtle openings, and flow rather than brute force. Tang San easily blocked and dodged at first, underestimating the quiet intensity behind her movements.
The shadows around my hands pulsed nervously — a whisper of warning. Tang San's calm demeanor began to falter, not because he was weak, but because her soft skill was unlike anything he had anticipated. Every movement she made seemed to guide him, redirect his energy, and expose gaps he didn't notice.
In a swift, elegant maneuver, Xiao Wu exploited a tiny misstep. Tang San's balance shifted just enough for her to lightly tap his shoulder, sending him stumbling backward onto the floor. He landed softly, unharmed, but the look on his face was one of quiet surprise and acknowledgment.
Xiao Wu's smile widened faintly. "Not bad," she said softly, stepping back. "But you need to respect the subtleties in every fight."
The room went quiet, students murmuring in shock. Even Wang Sheng, still recovering from his earlier loss, looked impressed. Tang San rose slowly, expression unreadable, but his eyes betrayed a flicker of respect.
Xiao Wu's white eyes swept across the room after Tang San stepped back, accepting his loss. Her gaze lingered on the students, noting reactions, postures, and subtle expressions.
Then her eyes stopped on me — Jiang — sitting quietly in the corner, shadows coiling lightly around my hands. I hadn't moved, hadn't intervened, simply observing the sparring matches with careful attention.
A faint smirk appeared on her lips. "So… you're just watching," she said softly, tilting her head slightly. Her voice carried no accusation, only curiosity, as if she were assessing the depth of my attention.
Xiao Wu's white eyes glimmered softly as she stepped closer, her movements smooth and unhurried.
She glanced at Tang San, who was still adjusting to the dorm after the sparring matches.
"Tang San," she said calmly, voice light but carrying a faint teasing lilt, "I see you got new bedding from Master. Want to… share a bed?"
Tang San's sharp gaze flicked toward her, expression unreadable. He didn't speak at first, simply studying her calm demeanor. There was no challenge in her tone, no aggression — only quiet curiosity mixed with subtle mischief.
The room fell silent for a moment. Even Wang Sheng, still recovering from his earlier defeat, raised an eyebrow but didn't intervene.
Tang San's sharp eyes flicked toward Xiao Wu, taking in her calm expression and the faint smirk playing on her lips. For a moment, he said nothing, his usual composure slightly disturbed by the unexpected offer.
Finally, he simply nodded his head, silent but acknowledging her. There was no smile, no words — just a quiet, almost awkward gesture that conveyed his agreement.
Xiao Wu's smirk widened faintly, as if pleased with the subtle response. She didn't push further, stepping aside to let him settle in. "Alright then," she said softly, her tone calm and unhurried, "let's make sure the bedding is comfortable."
I watched from my corner, shadows coiling lightly around my hands, noting the interaction. She's confident, but not forceful. Tang San's calmness is meeting her subtlety… this room is going to be interesting.
Wang Sheng, sitting nearby, shook his head with a faint grin. "Huh… you guys really have your own way of doing things," he muttered, clearly amused by the quiet dynamic forming between them.