"I understand. First kick fate far away, then talk about growth."
Ning Rongrong tucked the Seven Treasures Token into her waistband. Her posture was a little more proper than when she had first entered the courtyard.
Xiao Wu picked up her teacup and lightly tapped its rim against the cup beside Su Hang.
"Turns out you're not completely stupid."
Ning Rongrong immediately looked over.
"You rabbit, do you have to be so annoying even when you're complimenting someone?"
Xiao Wu moved her teacup closer to herself.
"I do what I want."
Seeing the two of them about to start bickering again, Su Hang stood up.
"That's enough. We're done here. Tomorrow morning, we're going to the Training Ground."
Ning Rongrong immediately called after him.
"To see what?"
Su Hang walked to the courtyard gate and looked back, leaving them with one line.
"To see how Tang San patches his own leaks."
Early the next morning, there weren't many people at Notting Academy's Training Ground yet, but two people were already standing by the wooden stakes.
Tang San hadn't slept all night. His right arm was numb from his wrist to his elbow, but he had cleaned the Sleeve Arrow mechanism until it was spotless.
Yu Xiaogang stood with his hands behind his back and circled the wooden stake.
"The problem with your Blue Silver Grass is that its control is being affected by the Poison Pattern."
Tang San fastened his sleeve.
"Teacher, I want to restrict movement with Blue Silver Grass, then use Hidden Weapons to follow up with an attack."
Yu Xiaogang nodded.
"That approach is viable."
He pointed to the wooden dummy ahead.
"Entangle blocks the path, while the Sleeve Arrow handles precision strikes. As long as you get the timing right, you can make up for yesterday's weakness."
Tang San raised his right hand, and the Yellow Soul Ring lit up.
"I'll give it a try."
Blue Silver Grass sprouted from the ground and wound around the dummy's ankles and waist. This time, the blades didn't immediately fall apart.
Tang San shifted his footwork and aimed his sleeve at the side of the dummy's shoulder.
Whoosh.
The short arrow struck the dummy's side, landing much more steadily than it had the previous afternoon.
Yu Xiaogang finally relaxed a little.
"Good. Again."
Not far away, Xiao Chenyu was crouched behind a wooden railing, holding half a bun.
Wang Sheng was lying beside him, muttering under his breath.
"You dragged me out here this early just to watch this?"
Xiao Chenyu took a bite of his bun.
"What do you know? Whenever Tang San trains early, there's bound to be a show."
Wang Sheng peeked toward the Training Ground.
"This time, it looks pretty smooth."
Xiao Chenyu snorted.
"Don't rush. Leaks have a way of coming back."
Soft footsteps sounded behind them.
"What are you two doing hiding here?"
Xiao Wu stood behind the pair with her hands on her hips.
Xiao Chenyu nearly stuffed the bun up his nose.
"Sister Xiao Wu, we're on patrol."
Wang Sheng immediately nodded.
"Right, we're protecting the academy's safety in the early morning."
Ning Rongrong followed behind them with a small bag in her arms. After hearing that, she burst out laughing.
"Your patrols at Notting Academy come with breakfast?"
Xiao Chenyu hid the bun behind his back.
"Seven Treasures Little Princess, it's called stocking up on energy."
Su Hang came over last and stopped beside the wooden railing.
"Quiet. Watch his second round."
In the Training Ground, Tang San had already started his second test.
Yu Xiaogang stepped aside and moved the dummy in front of another wooden stake.
"Speed it up this time."
Tang San didn't look back.
"Okay."
Blue Silver Grass shot forward along the ground. The Poison Pattern spread along its blades, wrapping around both of the dummy's legs.
The Sleeve Arrow fired right after.
Whoosh.
The short arrow struck the dummy in the chest.
Wang Sheng murmured under his breath.
"He really did patch it up."
Ning Rongrong folded her arms, her tone a little more serious.
"If he can make it consistent, this setup really does have some use."
Xiao Wu immediately looked at Su Hang.
"Brother Su Hang, do you think he'll really master it?"
Su Hang didn't answer right away. He watched the rhythm of Tang San's right arm as he applied force.
"Let's see one more time."
Yu Xiaogang heard the commotion in the distance and turned his head.
Su Hang, Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, Xiao Chenyu, and Wang Sheng were all there.
Tang San noticed the newcomers too, and his movements paused for half a beat.
Yesterday's humiliation was still fresh, and now this whole group had gathered at the sidelines again.
Yu Xiaogang suppressed the discomfort rising in his chest and reminded him,
"Tang San, don't let them distract you."
Tang San smoothed his sleeve again.
"I'm fine."
Xiao Wu gave a quiet snort.
"He's acting pretty calm."
Ning Rongrong leaned toward her.
"Don't rush. Su Hang just said to watch the second round. He must have something up his sleeve."
Xiao Wu turned her head.
"How come you trust him so much too?"
Ning Rongrong lifted her chin.
"I know how to judge people."
Xiao Wu glanced at her.
"You're learning fast."
Ning Rongrong immediately fired back.
"Faster than you learn to guard your food."
Xiao Chenyu hurriedly moved aside.
"Wang Sheng, take two steps back. Don't get caught in the crossfire."
Wang Sheng clutched his bun.
"This place is more dangerous than the Training Ground."
In the middle of the Training Ground, Yu Xiaogang moved the dummy farther away.
"Third try. Have the Blue Silver Grass restrain it first, then delay the Hidden Weapon by half a beat."
Tang San nodded.
"Understood."
Blue Silver Grass rose again, faster than before. After wrapping around the dummy's waist, the blades pulled it backward.
Tang San pressed the mechanism in his sleeve. The short arrow should have struck the opening left as the dummy was pulled away.
But right then, the Poison Pattern on the blades suddenly recoiled.
Tang San's right arm went numb, and his wrist shifted half an inch.
Whoosh.
The short arrow skimmed past the dummy and shot straight toward the wooden stake by Yu Xiaogang's feet.
Smack.
The arrowhead sank into the stake, stopping just short of Yu Xiaogang's shoe.
Yu Xiaogang staggered back several steps. His robe fluttered in the wind, and he nearly hit the wooden frame behind him.
Luo Sanpao poked out from behind his legs, yelped twice, then shrank halfway back again.
The area outside the Training Ground fell quiet for a moment.
Xiao Chenyu put down his bun and muttered under his breath,
"That's Hidden Weapon Window Patching for you. Too bad the window's crooked."
Wang Sheng clutched his stomach on the spot.
A few other students who had risen early started laughing along with them.
"Don't laugh, don't laugh. Show some respect for Grandmaster's new theory."
"If it had gone a little farther off, Grandmaster would be studying footwork today."
Ning Rongrong tried to hold it in, but couldn't.
"This combination seems a little risky."
Xiao Wu immediately piled on.
"Risky enough to almost hit his own teacher."
Tang San withdrew his Blue Silver Grass. His right arm hung at his side, and his knuckles had turned white.
After steadying himself, Yu Xiaogang forced himself to straighten his robe.
"Mistakes are normal. Training is about eliminating them."
Only then did Su Hang walk out from beside the railing.
"Mistakes are normal, of course."
Tang San looked up, his expression dark.
"What are you trying to say now?"
Su Hang stopped at the edge of the Training Ground, keeping his distance.
"Your Blue Silver Grass is slow to react, and the Poison Pattern can recoil."
He pointed to the wooden stake beside the dummy.
"Hidden Weapons are about accuracy and speed. You're insisting on tying them to a Spirit Skill that holds you back."
Tang San suppressed his anger.
"I can fix that with practice."
Su Hang pointed at the short arrow embedded in the stake.
"Then keep practicing."
He looked at Yu Xiaogang.
"But next time, move farther away. Don't let Grandmaster get caught up in your practice."
Xiao Chenyu ducked his head and coughed.
"Boss Su sounds awfully concerned."
Wang Sheng chimed in.
"Mostly because Grandmaster can't handle that much concern."
Yu Xiaogang's face went pale, then red, and he flung his sleeve.
"No Soul Master can reach perfection in a single step."
Su Hang looked at Tang San.
"The problem is that you're trying to force two things that don't work well on their own into working together."
Tang San removed the Sleeve Arrow and put it back in his cloth bag.
"I admit they still need to be practiced together."
He raised his hand to hold down his numb right arm.
"But this path is viable."
Su Hang didn't argue further.
At times like this, Tang San only drove himself deeper into a dead end.
Xiao Wu walked up beside Su Hang and spoke softly.
"Brother Su Hang, will he keep practicing this?"
"He will."
Su Hang answered without hesitation.
"Because he can't bear to give it up."
Ning Rongrong stood by the wooden railing, looking at Tang San's arm, still numb, then at the short arrows stuck in the wooden post.
All the things she'd heard last night came together in her mind.
Tang San could endure, keep things hidden, and even pass off mistakes as part of the adjustment.
If someone like him got the Seven Treasures Pagoda's boost, his Hidden Weapons would be faster, and his Blue Silver Grass would be even harder to deal with.
Ning Rongrong took half a step toward Su Hang and lowered her voice.
"Would someone like him be even more dangerous with the Seven Treasures' support?"
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