Xiao Wu's Roll Call: Special Training Before Soto City

The wind outside the stone walls was biting.

When the Deacon handed over the letter, the wax seal had not yet fully cooled.

Xiao Wu reached out first.

"Let me see."

The Deacon instinctively looked toward Su Chen.

Su Chen nodded.

Only then did the Deacon pass the letter over.

Xiao Wu tore it open, and her eyebrows shot up instantly.

"What does he mean by 'if I don't dare to show up, Nuoding Academy might as well forfeit first'?"

She crumpled the letter paper in her grip.

"Who does he think he is, to decide our win or loss?"

Shen Zhi stood to the side, his expression unchanged.

"Zhou Ling has always had that temper."

"He's grown accustomed to throwing his weight around in Suotuo City, and he loves nothing more than stepping on others' reputations to elevate his own."

Xiao Wu sneered.

"Stepping on me?"

"He picked the wrong person."

She turned to look at Su Chen.

"I'm taking this match."

Su Chen looked at her.

"Have you thought it through?"

"Does that even need thinking?"

Xiao Wu slapped the letter back down.

"Didn't he call me out by name?"

"Then I'll stand right in front of him and make him swallow his words."

Su Chen didn't take it immediately.

He simply reached out and slowly smoothed out the letter paper Xiao Wu had crumpled.

"Fine."

"This match, you take it."

Xiao Wu's eyes lit up.

"Really?"

"When have I ever lied to you?"

Xiao Wu lifted her chin; the fire from before hadn't dissipated, but she was already brimming with energy.

"Then don't try to steal it from me."

"I'll beat him myself."

Hearing this, Shen Zhi finally interjected.

"Zhou Ling is level twenty-eight, Beast Martial Soul, and he relies on frontal suppression."

"He isn't exactly subtle, but his explosive power and durability are both decent."

"If you want to win, you can't meet him head-on."

Xiao Wu glanced at him.

"I was never the type to fight head-on anyway."

Shen Zhi nodded.

"That's true."

Su Chen put the letter away and handed it to the Deacon.

"Keep watching the situation in Suotuo City."

"The names, levels, and Martial Souls of the people around Zhou Ling—get them to me before tonight."

"Understood."

The Deacon cupped his hands and retreated.

Su Chen then looked at the two Martial Soul Hall Deacons guarding outside.

"After Tang San is sent back to the academy, do as I just instructed."

"People can move about."

"But the blacksmith shop, the apothecary, the warehouse, and the city gates—do not touch a single one."

"If there is a next time, I will have you detained immediately."

The two Deacons lowered their heads in unison.

"As you command."

Xiao Wu stood to the side, her arms crossed over her chest.

"You really aren't afraid of him continuing to stir up trouble?"

"Why would I be?"

Su Chen began walking back.

"What he lacks most right now is opportunity."

"I have cut off every single opportunity; no matter how much he struggles, he can only spin in circles."

Xiao Wu took two quick steps to catch up.

"So, are we heading back to the academy now?"

"No."

Su Chen turned his head to look at her.

"We're going to the Training Ground."

Xiao Wu paused in her tracks.

"Now?"

"Now."

"Isn't there still three days left?"

"Three days is not a short time."

Su Chen's tone was calm.

"It is enough to shave away all the unnecessary movements from your form."

Xiao Wu first let out a huff, then leaned in a little closer.

"The way you say that, it sounds like you've thought I had too many unnecessary movements for a long time."

"It doesn't just sound like it."

"It is."

Xiao Wu glared at him.

"You really are blunt when you speak."

Su Chen smiled slightly.

"Politeness doesn't win matches in the ring."

The Training Area at the back of Nuoding Academy.

This was usually where the senior students practiced basic combat.

The ground was packed very flat.

Wooden stakes and old sandbags were arranged all around.

The sun shone down at an angle, bleaching the surfaces of the wood until they were nearly white.

Wang Sheng had been leading a few work-study students in clearing the area.

The moment he saw Su Chen and Xiao Wu enter, he immediately stood at attention.

"Boss."

"Clear the floor."

Su Chen swept his gaze across the surroundings.

"Go get two new wooden stakes, three lengths of hemp rope, and a pair of soft-soled training boots."

Wang Sheng was stunned for a moment.

"Training boots?"

Xiao Wu was also taken aback.

"Why buy those for me?"

"The shoes you're wearing right now are too old."

Su Chen glanced at the cloth shoes on her feet.

"The soles are thin, the grip is poor, and they slow down your power output."

Xiao Wu looked down at them.

She usually didn't pay much attention to these things.

As long as she could run and jump, that was enough.

"It shouldn't be that much of a difference, right?"

"It's a huge difference."

Su Chen said it quite bluntly.

"Especially when you run into a strength-based opponent."

"If you slip even once, your rhythm will be broken."

Wang Sheng had already realized this, turning around to run off.

"I'll go get it right now."

Shen Zhi did not leave.

He stood on the sidelines with his arms crossed, watching the two of them.

"You intend to train her yourself?"

"Otherwise, you want to do it?"

Su Chen countered.

Shen Zhi twitched the corner of his mouth.

"I'm afraid she won't listen."

Xiao Wu immediately chimed in.

"You're quite self-aware."

Shen Zhi glanced at her, not at all angry.

"With your temperament, you really aren't suited for being forced to learn."

"But when he teaches you, you seem quite willing."

The tips of Xiao Wu's ears grew hot, and she immediately retorted.

"That's because what he says is right."

"Stop thinking nonsense."

Su Chen had already walked to the center of the field.

"Come here."

Xiao Wu immediately followed.

"Let's get this straight first: today, you are not allowed to throw me around like you do Zhou Ling."

"You aren't as sturdy as he is."

"Su Chen."

"Hm?"

"Sometimes, you are really annoying."

"Are you going to listen or not?"

"...I'll listen."

Shen Zhi stood to the side and couldn't help but let out a low chuckle.

Su Chen raised his hand, signaling for Xiao Wu to stand opposite him.

"Let's go through it once first."

"Use the opening move you're most comfortable with."

Xiao Wu immediately lowered her stance.

Her movements were fast.

With her left foot lunging forward and her shoulder dropping, she was already closing in, skimming the ground.

There was no unnecessary probing.

She went straight for a close-quarters position.

This was the rhythm she knew best.

Get close, wrap around, borrow force, and flip them over.

But just as she stepped within two paces, Su Chen spoke up.

"Stop."

Xiao Wu braked abruptly.

"What's wrong?"

"You dropped your shoulder too early."

Su Chen raised his hand and tapped her left foot, which was extended forward.

"This move of yours is telling your opponent that you're preparing to seize the inside lane."

"If Zhou Ling reacts fast enough, he only needs to drop his elbow, and you'll be forced to retreat."

Xiao Wu frowned.

"But I've always attacked like this."

"That's because you've only ever fought people slower than you."

Su Chen took two steps closer, standing in the position where she had just started her move.

"Watch."

He did not fully imitate Xiao Wu's movements.

He simply broke down the rhythm.

First, a light tap of the toe, then a slight twist of the waist and abdomen, and only at the very end did he drop his shoulder.

The entire change was subtle.

But precisely because it was subtle, the intent behind the opening move was instantly concealed.

Xiao Wu stared at the changes in his footwork.

"Are you intentionally delaying by a beat?"

"It's not a delay."

Su Chen said.

"It's concealment."

"You aren't competing with them to see who moves first."

"You are making it impossible for them to see when you are actually moving."

Xiao Wu stood in place, thinking for two seconds.

Then, she tried it again.

This time, she saved the shoulder drop for last.

As she lunged forward, the movement was noticeably smoother.

Su Chen nodded.

"Continue."

Xiao Wu initiated the move three more times in succession.

Each time was steadier than the last.

By the fifth time, she stopped on her own.

"I get it."

She looked up at Su Chen, her eyes bright.

"It's not that my previous set was bad."

"It was just too obvious."

"Mm."

"This method of yours is actually quite useful."

"This isn't mine."

Su Chen's tone was flat.

"It was already yours; you just hadn't smoothed out the kinks."

Xiao Wu was taken aback.

She looked at Su Chen, the corners of her mouth curling up slightly.

"You have a roundabout way of complimenting people."

"As long as you understand it, that's enough."

At this moment, Wang Sheng came running back, carrying some items.

Two new wooden stakes, a bundle of hemp rope, and a pair of soft-soled short boots he had just bought in the city.

He set the items down, panting heavily.

"Boss, I've brought everything."

Su Chen crouched down and picked up the training boots to inspect them.

The soles were soft enough.

The forefoot was thin, too.

They were perfect for a fighting style like Xiao Wu's, which relied on explosive speed and frequent changes.

He handed the shoes over.

"Put them on and try them out."

Xiao Wu took them.

She looked down at the pair of shoes, then back at the old cloth shoes on her own feet.

"You were actually going to buy them for me."

"Otherwise, did you think I had Wang Sheng run that errand just to enjoy the scenery?"

Xiao Wu gave a soft huff and walked to the side, clutching the shoes.

She changed into them quickly.

When she stood back on the field, she deliberately tapped her feet against the ground twice.

The soles scraped against the floor, emitting a short, crisp sound.

Xiao Wu's eyes lit up instantly.

"These are indeed more stable than the last pair."

After she finished speaking, she suddenly looked at Su Chen.

"When did you notice?"

"Yesterday, when you were chasing me at the back mountain."

"I wasn't chasing you; that was following you."

"It's all the same."

"It's not."

Xiao Wu retorted, but her heart felt inexplicably warm.

He even remembered such a small detail.

Su Chen didn't dwell on the topic for too long.

He raised his hand, signaling Wang Sheng to set up the wooden stakes.

Two stakes stood one behind the other, with a very narrow gap between them.

A hemp rope was stretched diagonally between them.

"Crawl through."

Su Chen said.

Xiao Wu took a look.

"It's that simple?"

She pushed off with her feet, lowered her body, and easily slipped under the rope.

"And then?"

"Come back."

Xiao Wu retreated back to the start.

Su Chen shook his head.

"Wrong."

"What's wrong?"

"Your eyes went through first."

Xiao Wu was stunned.

"What do you mean?"

Su Chen walked to the stakes and pressed down on the rope.

"Your habit is that before your body moves, your gaze finds the landing point first."

"That's fine in normal situations."

"But once you encounter someone observant, they will follow your eyes to judge which way you are going."

Xiao Wu was truly taken aback this time.

She had never paid attention to such things.

"Do eyes count as a flaw?"

"The eyes are the easiest to give away."

Su Chen looked up at her.

"You are fast at close range, and your Soft Technique is excellent; these are your strengths."

"So when others defend against you, their first reaction will definitely be to watch your feet and eyes."

"You need to hide both of these."

Xiao Wu remained silent for a few seconds.

She walked back to the starting point.

This time, she did not rush to move.

She first let her gaze go vacant, then suddenly cut under the rope, her body sliding through at an angle as if she had no bones.

It was very smooth.

And even stranger.

Even Shen Zhi, who was watching from the side, raised an eyebrow.

"A bit interesting."

Xiao Wu turned back after landing.

"How about this time?"

Su Chen finally showed a hint of satisfaction.

"That's decent."

Xiao Wu immediately smiled.

Fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead, and her rabbit ear hair accessory swayed along with her.

"Again."

For the next hour.

The Training Ground almost never stopped.

Xiao Wu repeatedly practiced her footwork, lunges, and direction changes.

Su Chen did not spar with her.

He only spoke at critical moments.

"Your left foot is too heavy."

"Pull it back a bit."

"Don't rush the second strike."

"Zhou Ling is a power-type; if you can't budge him with the first hit, change positions immediately."

"Don't stop."

"If you stop, you get hit."

At first, Xiao Wu would talk back a few times.

By the end, there was basically nothing left but panting and nodding.

She learned quickly.

For some movements, Su Chen only had to say it once, and she could immediately correct them by seventy or eighty percent.

By the time the sun leaned to the west, she looked as if she had just been fished out of water.

Her bangs were plastered to her cheeks, and her breathing had become much heavier.

Wang Sheng, watching from the side, felt tired just looking at her.

"Boss, why don't you take a break?"

Xiao Wu, supporting herself by her knees, looked up and replied.

"I'm still okay."

Su Chen looked at her.

"Really okay?"

"Really okay."

Xiao Wu straightened up and wiped away her sweat.

"Isn't Zhou Ling level twenty-eight?"

"If I practice one more time now, I'll have one more point of certainty when the time comes."

Su Chen looked at her for two seconds, not pouring cold water on her enthusiasm.

He only unscrewed the water bottle prepared on the side and placed it on a wooden stake.

"Drink first."

Xiao Wu walked over, took the water bottle, and took a few large gulps.

The water was warm, neither cold nor hot.

After she finished drinking, her breathing gradually smoothed out.

"You had this ready a long time ago?"

"Mm."

"Even the water temperature is just right?"

"Otherwise, should I let you drink it cold and get leg cramps tonight?"

Xiao Wu hugged the water bottle and lowered her head, smiling.

"Sometimes you are... quite detailed."

"You mean attentive."

"Close enough."

"Not even close."

Xiao Wu looked up and glared at him.

"Can't you just let me win an argument for once?"

"Not on the Training Ground."

"Then when can I?"

Su Chen paused, looking at the tips of her hair dampened by sweat.

"When you beat Zhou Ling."

Xiao Wu's eyes lit up, and she immediately set the water bottle down.

"You said it yourself."

"I did."

She extended a finger as if to make a pact, but halfway through, she felt it was too childish and quickly pulled it back.

She only lifted her chin a little higher.

"Then just wait and see."

"In three days, I'll shut the mouths of that crowd in Suotuo City for you first."

Shen Zhi stood to the side, watching the back-and-forth between the two, saying nothing.

But he knew clearly in his heart.

This match for Xiao Wu was no longer just about spite.

She truly wanted to win.

And she wanted to win for Su Chen to see.

Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps came from outside the Training Ground.

A Martial Soul Hall Deacon rushed in, clutching a newly delivered letter in his hand.

"Your Highness, Holy Son."

Su Chen turned his head.

"Speak."

The Deacon lowered his head and handed the letter over.

"It was just sent from Suotuo City."

"Zhou Ling has changed the rules again."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Wu's expression turned cold.

"Is there no end to his antics?"

Su Chen tore open the letter and glanced at it.

There were few words on the paper.

But every sentence was aimed directly at them.

Shen Zhi watched Su Chen's expression and asked, "What does he want to do this time?"

Su Chen handed the letter to Xiao Wu.

His voice was very calm.

"He says there is no need for a draw for the first match."

"He is entering the arena himself."

"To fight you first."