Budding

Early the next morning, Xu Wuyi woke before dawn.

He did not log into the Battle Net right away. Instead, he first practiced a set of basic boxing techniques in the cultivation room. Bow Stance Punch, horse stance frame strike, crouching stance palm thrust—move by move, neither rushed nor slow.

The wind from his fists echoed through the cultivation room with a deep hum. The flames of the Earth Fire Marrow Lamps flickered faintly in the corners, casting wavering shadows across the walls.

After finishing the set, he drew in his stance and let out a long breath. That breath condensed into a stream of white mist in the air before slowly dispersing.

His breathing was steady, his heartbeat was steady, and every cell in his body was in peak condition.

He walked to the training mat, sat down cross-legged, opened his personal terminal, and logged into the Battle Net.

Liu Yunshan had already arrived in the private room.

He looked as he always did, dressed in an ordinary gray robe, his hair grizzled and his face lean.

He sat beside the table, holding a cup of tea and sipping it slowly.

When he saw Xu Wuyi enter, Liu Yunshan raised his head and studied him for a few moments.

His gaze was calm, yet Xu Wuyi could sense that those deep eyes held a light that saw through everything.

"Here? Sit." Liu Yunshan's voice was aged but clear.

Xu Wuyi walked over to the table and sat opposite Liu Yunshan.

Liu Yunshan set down his teacup, looked him over again, then nodded.

"Not bad," he said. "You've settled down considerably since we last met. Not in strength, but in state of mind. When you sat across from me a year ago, you still had a sharpness about you. Now