The morning air carried a hint of autumn's approach as Gù Tiānháo and Lin Xiao Yue sat across from each other on the dew-dampened grass. Their usual training session had not yet begun; instead, a heavy silence hung between them, punctuated only by the distant calls of forest birds and the gentle rustling of leaves. Tiānháo's face was composed, his expression carefully neutral, but his eyes held an unusual softness as he regarded the young woman before him. "Lin Xiao Yue," he finally said, his voice steady and measured, "I must leave tomorrow.
"Though she had perhaps sensed this was coming, the words still struck her like a physical blow. Her shoulders tensed slightly, her fingers curling into the fabric of her simple training clothes. "I understand, Young Master," she replied after a moment, her voice remarkably steady despite the emotion visible in her eyes. "The sect examination awaits you, and your path lies beyond this small cottage. I have always known you would not stay forever.
"Tiānháo nodded, appreciating her composure. "The examination will be held in approximately six weeks," he explained. "The journey to the examination city will take about two weeks, which leaves me time to prepare and gather information once I arrive. It is a crucial opportunity that I cannot miss.
"Will we—" Lin Xiao Yue began, then hesitated, gathering her courage before continuing. "Will we ever meet again, Young Master? After you join the sect?
"The question hung in the air between them, laden with unspoken meaning. Tiānháo considered his response carefully. In his previous life as Alex Chen, he had been pragmatic to the point of coldness, avoiding attachments that might complicate his goals. Since his transmigration, he had maintained that emotional distance, seeing it as necessary for survival in this dangerous world. Yet something about Lin Xiao Yue had breached those defenses—her earnestness, her determination, her simple kindness offered without expectation of return.
"If fate wills it, our paths will cross again," he finally answered, the words carrying more sincerity than he had intended. "The future is uncertain, but possibilities remain open.
"She nodded, accepting this neither-promise-nor-denial with grace, though her eyes betrayed a flicker of disappointment. "I will continue my cultivation," she said with quiet determination. "Perhaps one day I too will be strong enough to join a sect.
"Seeing her disappointment and feeling an unusual desire to ease it, Tiānháo made a spontaneous decision. "Before I leave, I will teach you two more techniques," he said, rising to his feet. "Techniques that will serve you well in both cultivation and self-defense.
"Her eyes widened with surprise and gratitude. "Young Master, I—thank you! I will learn them diligently.
"The first is the Wind Palm, the initial movement of the Gale Palm technique," Tiānháo explained, assuming a stance with his right foot forward, his body balanced and centered. "It channels Qi through the palm to create a concentrated burst of force that can strike at a distance. Observe.
"He extended his arm in a smooth, flowing motion, his palm facing forward. A visible disturbance rippled through the air, and a small sapling twenty paces away shuddered as if struck by a sudden gust of wind, its leaves scattering. "The key is not raw power but precise control," he continued, turning back to Lin Xiao Yue. "You must compress your Qi at the center of your palm, then release it in a focused stream. Like water from a narrow pipe, the pressure increases as the channel narrows.
"Lin Xiao Yue watched with rapt attention, her eyes tracking every nuance of his movement. When he gestured for her to try, she assumed the stance with practiced ease, her body already showing the benefits of their training. Her first attempt produced only a faint stirring of air, but Tiānháo nodded encouragingly. "Again," he instructed. "Focus on compressing the Qi before release. Feel it gathering in your palm like a dense sphere.
"For the next hour, they worked on the Wind Palm, Tiānháo offering corrections and demonstrations, Lin Xiao Yue absorbing each lesson with remarkable speed. By her twentieth attempt, she managed to create a visible disturbance in the air that rustled the grass several paces away. It was nowhere near Tiānháo's power, but impressive progress for someone so new to cultivation. "Good," he acknowledged, allowing a rare note of approval in his voice. "With continued practice, the range and force will increase.
"The second technique," he continued without pause, "is the Shadow Steps, the first movement of the Nine Mist Steps. This is a movement technique that allows for rapid, unpredictable changes in position. In combat, positioning can mean the difference between victory and death.
"He demonstrated by suddenly shifting his weight, his form blurring slightly as he moved three paces to the left in what appeared to be a single fluid motion. "The principle is to infuse Qi into your lower body, particularly the soles of your feet and your Dantian," he explained. "The Qi creates a momentary reduction in friction and weight, allowing for movement that exceeds normal human limitations. The true mastery comes in changing direction mid-movement, which we will not cover today.
"Lin Xiao Yue's attempts at the Shadow Steps were less immediately successful than her Wind Palm practice. The technique required a more complex Qi distribution and precise timing. Her first several attempts resulted in awkward, stumbling movements that left her frustrated. "Patience," Tiānháo reminded her. "This technique took me weeks to master the basics. You are attempting to learn it in a single day.
"His words seemed to calm her, and she approached the next attempt with renewed focus. This time, her movement was smoother, covering nearly two paces in a single step. "Better," Tiānháo nodded. "Remember the feeling of that movement. The Qi distribution, the timing of the release. With practice, it will become instinctive.
"They continued training until the sun reached its zenith, Lin Xiao Yue pushing herself to the limits of her endurance, determined to make the most of these final lessons. By the session's end, she could perform a basic Shadow Step covering three paces and a Wind Palm that could disturb leaves at a distance of ten paces—remarkable progress that further confirmed Tiānháo's assessment of her natural talent. "You have learned in days what takes others months," he told her as they concluded the training. "Continue practicing these techniques daily, and they will serve you well.
"As evening approached, they sat together at the edge of the clearing, watching the sunset paint the sky in hues of orange and purple. Neither spoke for a long time, each lost in their own thoughts about the impending separation. The comfortable silence between them was testament to the bond that had formed—unexpected, perhaps unwanted, but undeniably real. "I have prepared some food for your journey," Lin Xiao Yue finally said, her voice soft in the gathering twilight. "And a small bundle of herbs that may be useful.
"Thank you," Tiānháo replied simply, the words encompassing gratitude for far more than just the provisions. For shelter freely given, for companionship without demands, for a glimpse of what life might be like if he were not constantly driven by the need for power and survival. "You should rest," he added after another moment of silence. "Tomorrow will come early enough.
"As they walked back to the cottage, the distance between them seemed both vast and insignificant—two souls briefly intersecting on divergent paths, yet changed by the encounter in ways neither fully understood. Tomorrow would bring separation, but tonight, in the quiet comfort of shared space and mutual understanding, they could pretend that time stood still. It was a luxury neither could afford for long, but one they silently agreed to indulge in for these final hours together.