Seeing Lin Jianyi Again

"This old minister was merely passing by," Li Xuangang said. "Seeing Your Highness practicing swordsmanship, I did not wish to disturb you."

Zhou Chen did not ask why the Imperial Preceptor had happened to be "passing by" the Eastern Palace.

He merely dipped slightly in greeting. "Imperial Preceptor, you have come so late at night. Do you have something to instruct me?"

Li Xuangang looked at him, his gaze calm.

"This old minister merely wished to see whether Your Highness's sword was still as swift as it was three months ago."

Zhou Chen was silent for a moment. "What does the Imperial Preceptor think?"

"Faster," Li Xuangang said. "But not because your moves have become more exquisite. It is because your heart has grown calmer."

He paused. "When Your Highness practiced the sword just now, what occupied your mind was not that alien, not the arranged battle, not even the sword itself."

"What Your Highness thought of was simply drawing the sword."

Zhou Chen did not deny it.

Li Xuangang nodded. "Then this old minister can rest easy."

He turned, leaning on his cane as he slowly departed.

After taking a few steps, he suddenly stopped again.

"Your Highness." He did not turn around. "Though this old minister has not seen that alien's spear personally, I can infer some things from Zhao Yuanwu's description."

"His spear is heavy as a mountain, its transformations deep as an abyss. He is unlike any opponent Your Highness has encountered before."

"If Your Highness means to break it with your sword, do not clash with it head-on. Use speed against slowness, skill to break strength."

Zhou Chen listened intently.

"And one more thing," Li Xuangang said. "If Your Highness uses that divine weapon, remember this: a divine weapon is ultimately an external object. Do