Next Morning , the dormitory was still dim when the morning bell rang.
Chen Yu groaned loudly and rolled toward the wall, pulling his blanket over his head.
Chen Yu said to no one in particular, "I am completely certain that waking up at seven in the morning serves no spiritual purpose whatsoever."
Liu Ming sat up on his bed and glanced at the window, then looked toward Chen Yu.
Liu Ming said calmly, "Training starts at eight, and the dining hall stops serving food early, so unless you plan on cultivating hunger instead, you should get up."
Chen Yu lifted his head slightly and stared at Liu Ming.
Chen Yu replied, "That explanation feels like deliberate emotional manipulation disguised as academy rules."
From the next bed, Zhao Qing swung his legs down and began tying his boots.
Zhao Qing said evenly, "The schedule was posted clearly yesterday, and it applies equally to everyone regardless of personal suffering."
Wang Yan was already awake.
He finished folding his blanket with care and adjusted his clothes before standing near the door. Chen Yu noticed and stared at him openly.
Chen Yu asked Wang Yan, "You arrived late yesterday after travelling from a village, so how do you look more awake than anyone here?"
Wang Yan replied calmly, "I slept early, and I did not overthink today."
Chen Yu shook his head slowly.
Chen Yu muttered, "That answer makes me uncomfortable for reasons I cannot explain."
They washed quickly and headed toward the dining hall with the other students.
Breakfast was simple and filling.
Chen Yu poked his bowl with his spoon and looked at Zhao Qing.
Chen Yu complained, "This food feels like it exists solely to remind us that pleasure is temporary."
Zhao Qing replied without looking up, "It exists to keep you alive through training, not to satisfy your preferences."
Liu Ming glanced at Wang Yan, watching how slowly and steadily he ate.
Liu Ming asked Wang Yan, "You eat at a very controlled pace, even when time is limited. Does that not worry you?"
Wang Yan answered, "If I start earlier, there is no need to hurry."
Chen Yu stared at him.
Chen Yu said incredulously, "That sounds suspiciously like planning ahead, which I refuse to believe is natural."
Training began exactly at eight.
The instructors emphasized physical conditioning, soul power circulation, balance, and sparring.
During running exercises, Chen Yu gradually slowed, breathing heavily.
Chen Yu spoke to Liu Ming between breaths, "My martial soul is literally a Wind Wolf, so I would like an explanation for why I am suffering more than everyone else."
Liu Ming replied steadily, "You sprinted the first two laps and burned your stamina unevenly, which made recovery impossible afterward."
Chen Yu glanced ahead and noticed Wang Yan maintaining an even pace.
Chen Yu pointed and said, "Then explain why he looks like he could keep going until sunset without collapsing."
Zhao Qing replied calmly from behind, "Because he never rushed to begin with."
During sparring, Chen Yu faced Zhao Qing briefly and lost balance after an aggressive charge.
Chen Yu groaned and said to Zhao Qing, "You stand there calmly, and somehow I always end up on the ground."
Zhao Qing answered, "You commit all your strength at once, which leaves you no room to adjust afterward."
Wang Yan sparred using footwork alone, avoiding direct clashes.
Chen Yu watched closely and later asked him, "You fight like you are more concerned about not being injured than about winning. Is that intentional?"
Wang Yan nodded slightly and replied, "Avoiding damage allows you to continue training tomorrow."
Zhao Qing added thoughtfully, "That mindset favors long-term progress rather than short-term dominance."
By three in the afternoon, training ended.
Chen Yu collapsed onto the ground and stared at the sky.
Chen Yu declared dramatically, "I have discovered today that confidence offers no protection against exhaustion."
Liu Ming replied dryly, "That lesson repeats every day, whether you accept it or not."
After training came work assignments.
Wang Yan was assigned to watering the outer training grounds.
Liu Ming assisted with maintaining training equipment.
Zhao Qing organized supply crates.
Chen Yu was given a broom.
Chen Yu stared at it in disbelief and said to Wang Yan, "I am absolutely certain that someone in authority dislikes me personally."
Wang Yan replied, "You spoke loudly during training."
Chen Yu sighed deeply.
Chen Yu said, "That explanation makes painful sense."
While working, Chen Yu watched Wang Yan carry water steadily.
Chen Yu asked him seriously, "You trained for hours and are still moving evenly. What exactly are you doing differently?"
Wang Yan paused before answering.
Wang Yan said quietly, "I control my breathing and do not release all my strength at once."
Chen Yu frowned and replied, "That explanation sounds simple, but I feel like it hides something important."
Wang Yan added after a moment, "When you prepare to move, inhale slowly, pause briefly, then release only what you need."
Liu Ming listened and said thoughtfully, "That sounds easy to understand but difficult to maintain under strain."
Zhao Qing tried it while lifting a crate and spoke after a short pause.
Zhao Qing said, "It reduces unnecessary tension, even if only slightly."
Wang Yan said nothing more.
That evening, the dormitory was quiet.
Chen Yu lay on his bed and spoke toward the ceiling.
Chen Yu said confidently, "Tomorrow I will pace myself properly and prove that today was an exception."
Liu Ming replied from his bed, "You said the same thing this morning with equal conviction."
Zhao Qing added calmly, "Routine corrects mistakes regardless of intention."
Wang Yan lay still, listening.
Wake at seven and train from eight to three, repeating the same drills, sparring sessions, and circulation exercises until fatigue became familiar rather than overwhelming. Wang Yan still spoke less than the others, but his silence was no longer distant; it carried attention and care.
He began answering questions patiently, offering small suggestions without insistence, and listening more than he spoke. During work in the evenings, he waited when others slowed and accepted conversation without hesitation. Slowly, without effort or declaration, his reserved nature softened, and the group grew closer through shared routine and quiet trust.
End of Chapter.