In the afternoon, the Warrior Division's training grounds were as noisy as ever. The clang of metal, heavy panting, and instructors' shouts mingled together, filling the air with sweat and masculine energy.
Lin Qin's presence here didn't draw much attention. He wore simple training clothes, with the broad sword wrapped in cloth strapped to his back. As a student of the Magic Department, he was allowed to use the public equipment area, as long as he didn't disrupt the Warrior Division's regular classes.
He completed a set of basic physical training, then headed to the weighted-training area in the corner. Various stone weights and barbells were laid out there. He picked a stone weight suited to his current strength and began practicing snatches and clean and jerks. His form was precise and his pace steady, each exertion accompanied by a short exhale.
A few students in Warrior Division uniforms were resting nearby. Watching Lin Qin's meticulous form, they chatted quietly.
"That kid's from the Magic Department, right? He's here using our equipment again."
"I heard his name's Lin Qin. His mental strength is high-grade, and his elemental affinity is mid-grade. No idea why he's working his body so hard."
"Who cares? Look at his form. It's pretty solid—not worse than some of ours."
Lin Qin paid no attention to their remarks. He set down the stone weight, adjusted his breathing, and felt the ache in his muscles and the Battle Qi stirring as he neared exhaustion. The tangible sense of growing stronger put him at ease.
After a short rest, he went to the wooden-dummy area, where students practiced sword swings. Several dummies wrapped in thick leather stood there for students to practice chopping and thrusting. He chose an unoccupied one and unstrapped the broad sword from his back.
"Thud!" "Thud!" "Thud!"
Unlike the whistle of a sword swinging through empty air, the broad sword struck the solid wooden dummy with a deep, forceful thump. He used no fancy techniques, sticking to basic chops, but each strike landed in almost the exact same spot, leaving deep marks. As he practiced, he deliberately controlled the flow of his Battle Qi: at times, he made it burst forth at the moment of impact to increase its destructive force; at others, he spread it evenly over the blade to improve its durability.
Sweat ran down his temples and dripped into the dust at his feet. He immersed himself entirely in his "conversation" with the wooden dummy, feeling the recoil travel up his arms and adjusting how he absorbed the force.
"Hey, kid from the Magic Department."
A gruff voice sounded nearby. Lin Qin stopped and turned. A boy much taller and sturdier than him stood with his arms crossed, wearing the Warrior Division's uniform. He regarded Lin Qin with a hint of scrutiny and... curiosity?
"What is it?" Lin Qin asked calmly, wiping wood dust from the blade with a cloth.
"Name's Barker." The boy pointed at the wooden dummy Lin Qin had been chopping. "I've been watching you for a while. Your movements are steady, and you put your strength into it well. How long have you been training?"
"A few years," Lin Qin answered vaguely.
"A few years?" Barker raised an eyebrow. "You don't look that old. Want to spar? No Battle Qi, just basic swordsmanship." He was clearly intrigued by this "odd one out" and wanted to see what he could do.
Lin Qin glanced at Barker, then at the broad sword in his hand, and nodded. "Sure."
They walked to an open patch of ground and faced each other. Some Warrior Division students who had been resting noticed them and gathered around with interest.
"A Magic Department student sparring with Barker? This should be good."
"Barker's fundamentals are solid. That kid's probably in for a rough time."
Barker took a wooden practice sword from the nearby weapon rack and hefted it. "Come on."
Lin Qin gripped his own broad sword. It wasn't sharpened, but its weight and feel were familiar.
Barker struck first, thrusting the wooden sword toward him with a rush of air. It was fast, and the angle was fairly tricky. Lin Qin didn't meet it head-on. He shifted his footing and moved to the side, lifting his broad sword from below to deflect Barker's thrust. The tip then pointed toward Barker's wrist.
Barker gave a small "Huh" and quickly changed his move, bringing his sword across to block. They traded blows, their swords clapping together.
The spectators gradually stopped treating it as a mere spectacle. They realized that this kid from the Magic Department had surprisingly solid fundamentals! His footwork was steady, his defense tight, and his counterattacks precise. Though he seemed weaker than Barker, his keen anticipation and simple, effective movements allowed him to hold his own.
Barker grew more and more astonished as they fought. It felt as though Lin Qin saw through every attack, always defusing it with the least effort. His swordwork was simple and direct, without a single unnecessary movement, yet he always threatened Barker at critical moments.
"Hold!" Barker hopped back and lowered his wooden sword. Admiration showed on his face. "Impressive! Your fundamentals are better than mine. I've been training for ages, but I still have trouble controlling my strength. My movements aren't nearly as clean as yours."
Lin Qin lowered his sword as well, breathing only slightly harder than before. "You're strong, and you're pretty fast."
He meant it. Barker was clearly in better physical shape than he was, but he still lacked fine control over his strength.
"Haha, you're all right!" Barker laughed heartily and patted Lin Qin on the shoulder. Lin Qin's body stiffened almost imperceptibly. "Come train here more often. Sparring with you is way more fun than sparring with those guys!" He pointed at the onlookers, drawing a few laughing curses from them.
Lin Qin nodded. He didn't mind this kind of straightforward exchange of skills. It helped him discover his own shortcomings.
The brief spar was over, and the onlookers dispersed. Lin Qin continued practicing his sword swings, while Barker stood to the side, imitating Lin Qin's simple, efficient way of putting power into his strokes. He muttered to himself, "So this way feels smoother..."
The sun sank in the west. Lin Qin finished his training, put away his broad sword, and headed for the dormitory. The training grounds were still lively, but he felt completely at peace. This little episode at the Warrior Division was like a stone tossed into a lake. The ripples quickly faded, but it had still left a small, unfamiliar mark on his regular routine. He knew that tomorrow would be another day of sword practice, meditation, and studying, repeated again and again. And he enjoyed it.
Before you continue