CHAPTER 69 — TRAINING ISN'T ABOUT POWER
Another Morning at Dragon Turtle Academy arrived without ceremony.
No announcements. No alarms. Just the slow return of sound as the academy woke up. Footsteps echoed through stone corridors. Wind slid through open archways. Somewhere far off, metal struck metal in steady rhythm.
Azure Dragon's team gathered in the lower training field just before sunrise.
It wasn't one of the grand arenas. No spectators. No banners. Just an old rectangular ground bordered by weathered stone pillars, each etched with faded formation lines.
Instructor Mei Ying stood at the center.
She didn't greet them.
She didn't waste time.
"You're all tired," she said plainly. "Good. That means you're honest."
Chen Wulian shifted his shoulders.
"I feel great."
Mei Ying looked at him.
"Then you're lying to yourself."
Chen shut up.
She walked slowly in front of them, eyes sharp, taking in posture, breathing, stance.
