Chapter 33
The look alone was enough to send a faint chill down Lin Yi's spine.
"You don't need to know that much, Shifu."
The air fell quiet after that.
Wuming broke eye contact first, his gaze drifting back toward Weiyang in the distance.
Weiyang was sitting on the ground, fingers tangled in his hair in frustration, muttering under his breath. Wei Zhi lay nearby, still recovering, occasionally glancing at him with a tired expression.
Then—
Weiyang inhaled deeply and focused again.
This time, the qi gathered more steadily.
Not too much.
Not too little.
Balanced.
He struck.
Wei Zhi tensed—but didn't fall. She staggered slightly before steadying herself, a hand rising to her neck as she exhaled slowly.
"…Finally," she muttered.
It had taken him nearly thirty minutes.
Weiyang froze for a second—then his face lit up.
"I did it!"
He jumped to his feet, grinning widely, the earlier frustration gone as if it had never existed.
Wei Zhi shook her head but smiled faintly, standing up properly now.
The two of them walked back toward the others.
Weiyang looked like he had just won a battle.
Wuming watched him quietly.
A strange thought crossed his mind.
Is he lonely…?
Or—Is he really just this happy over something so small?
Weiyang laughed, still talking excitedly to Wei Zhi, completely unaware.
Wuming's gaze lingered on him for a moment longer.
…He's happy just by doing it.
Something about that felt unfamiliar.
Wuming's gaze lingered a moment longer before he looked away, as if the thought itself wasn't worth holding onto. Weiyang reached them quickly, still carrying that same bright energy, his grin unrestrained as he spoke, half to Wei Zhi and half to himself about finally getting it right. He stopped in front of Lin Yi, trying to compose himself but failing when the satisfaction kept slipping through. "Did you see that?" he said, almost challenging. "That one was perfect."
Lin Yi gave a small nod. "It was controlled."
Weiyang clicked his tongue. "That's it? Just controlled?"
"Do it ten more times like that," Lin Yi replied calmly, "then I'll praise you."
Weiyang groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "You're impossible."
A quiet scoff came from the side.
Weiyang turned immediately. "What was that?"
Wuming didn't bother looking at him. "You're loud for someone who struggled with something basic."
Weiyang's eye twitched. "Basic? You try controlling that mess inside me then talk."
"I don't need to try," Wuming said. "I can already do it."
Weiyang stepped closer, irritation flashing. "Yeah? Then do it again. Properly this time. Not like you're showing off."
Wuming finally looked at him, expression flat. "I wasn't showing off."
"That's worse," Weiyang shot back. "Means you think you're naturally better."
"I am."
The answer came so easily it made Wei Zhi let out a small breath, already sensing where this was going. Yinghua covered her mouth, half amused.
Weiyang stared at him for a second, then let out a short laugh that didn't hide the challenge in his eyes. "Fine. Then let's see it again. Same thing I just did."
Wuming didn't move at first, then lifted his hand with quiet precision. The qi gathered smoothly, compressing without fluctuation, steady and controlled as before. He didn't strike, just held it there long enough to make the point clear before letting it disperse.
Weiyang watched closely this time, not speaking, his earlier irritation shifting into focus. "Do it again," he said.
Wuming's brow lowered slightly. "You were the one being trained."
"Yeah," Weiyang replied, stepping even closer, eyes fixed on his hand. "And I'm watching. So do it again."
For a brief second, it looked like Wuming would refuse.
Then he repeated it.
Slower.
More deliberate.
Weiyang's gaze followed every movement, his usual careless attitude gone as he tried to catch the exact moment the qi compressed. He raised his own hand immediately after, attempting to mimic it. The first try wavered, the flow uneven before dispersing.
He clicked his tongue again. "Again."
This time, Wuming didn't wait to be asked. He demonstrated once more, his movements sharper, clearer.
Weiyang mirrored him.
Still unstable—but closer.
Wuming watched silently now, eyes narrowed slightly, as if measuring the difference. "You're forcing it," he said after a moment.
Weiyang exhaled sharply. "I know that. Tell me something useful."
"Stop thinking about the amount," Wuming replied. "Control the shape first."
Weiyang paused, considering that. Then he tried again.
The qi formed—smaller this time.
Less violent.
It held for a second longer than before.
Weiyang's expression shifted, surprise flickering across his face before he quickly hid it. "…Again."
They repeated it.
Once.
Twice.
Again.
Neither of them noticed how quiet the others had gone.
Wei Zhi watched with a faint smile, Yinghua leaning slightly toward her as if whispering something under her breath, while Lin Yi simply observed, arms crossed, saying nothing.
Weiyang's next attempt held steady.
Not perfect—but stable.
He let it disperse slowly, lowering his hand as a grin tugged at his lips again. "See? I can do it."
Wuming didn't respond immediately. He looked at the fading qi, then at Weiyang, his expression unchanged but his gaze more attentive than before. "You're still rough."
Weiyang huffed. "And you're still annoying."
A brief pause.
Then, almost casually, Wuming said, "Do it again."
Weiyang blinked, then smirked. "What happened to 'basic'?"
"You're not there yet," Wuming replied.
Weiyang's grin widened slightly, something more competitive settling in his eyes now. "Then watch properly."
He raised his hand again.
And this time—
Wuming didn't look away.
Weiyang drew in a slow breath, his focus narrowing as the world around him seemed to fade into the background. The restless energy that usually defined him settled, not disappearing, but sharpening into something more precise. His fingers adjusted slightly, mirroring what he had observed, and the qi began to gather again.
At first, it trembled.
Then steadied.
Not perfect—but no longer wild.
Wuming's eyes followed every detail, from the way Weiyang positioned his hand to the subtle tension in his shoulders. There was still force in it, too much in places, but it wasn't spilling over anymore.
Weiyang compressed it.
A flicker of imbalance—
Then he corrected it.
The qi held.
A small, controlled formation hovered at his fingertips.
Weiyang didn't move for a second, as if testing whether it would collapse.
It didn't.
A slow grin spread across his face. "There."
Wuming's gaze lingered on it for a moment before he spoke. "Better."
Weiyang let out a quiet laugh. "Just 'better' again? You really don't know how to praise someone, do you?"
Wuming didn't answer.
Weiyang released the qi, letting it fade into the air before dropping his hand. He rolled his shoulders once, then glanced sideways at him. "Your turn."
"I already did it."
"Yeah," Weiyang said, tilting his head slightly. "Now do it while I watch properly."
Wuming looked at him, unreadable.
For a second, it seemed like he would ignore him again.
Then—
He lifted his hand.
The motion was smooth, almost effortless. Qi gathered instantly, dense and quiet, without the violent fluctuations Weiyang struggled with. It condensed under his control, shrinking without losing its intensity.
Weiyang watched closely, his expression more serious now.
"Slower," he said.
Wuming's eyes flicked toward him.
But he didn't argue.
This time, the process unfolded more gradually. The gathering, the compression, the control—each step visible if you paid enough attention.
Weiyang leaned in slightly, studying it like he was trying to memorize the exact rhythm of it.
"…You're not forcing it at all," he muttered.
Wuming released the qi without comment.
Weiyang straightened, exhaling through his nose. "So that's the difference."
"You rush," Wuming said.
"And you don't," Weiyang replied. "Yeah, I got that part."
A brief silence settled between them.
Not tense.
Just… steady.
Weiyang glanced at him again, a small smirk returning. "Don't think this means you're ahead."
Wuming's expression didn't change. "I am."
Weiyang let out a short laugh. "For now."
He turned slightly, raising his hand again, already preparing for another attempt.
"…I'll catch up."
Wuming watched him for a moment, then spoke without looking away. "You'll need more than that."
Weiyang didn't stop. "Good."
Another pause.
Then, almost absentmindedly—
Wuming raised his own hand again.
They trained side by side this time.
No announcement.
No agreement.
Just quiet repetition.
Weiyang's movements were still rough, but improving with each attempt, his control tightening little by little. Wuming remained consistent, precise as ever, but his pace adjusted slightly—just enough to match the rhythm beside him.
From a distance, it didn't look like much.
Just two boys standing there, repeating the same motion again and again.
But the space between them had changed.
Not softer.
Not warmer.
Just… aligned.
Weiyang failed once, the qi dispersing unevenly.
He clicked his tongue.
Before he could try again—
"Your grip," Wuming said. "It's off."
Weiyang paused, then adjusted it without arguing this time.
"…Like this?"
A brief glance.
"…Yes."
Weiyang tried again.
This time, it held longer.
A small smile appeared—quieter than before.
"…Hah."
Wuming didn't say anything.
But he didn't look away either.
A little distance away, Yinghua, Wei Zhi, and Lin Yi had settled down to watch, their earlier attention now softened into quiet observation. Lin Yi sat in the middle, his legs crossed, his right elbow resting on his thigh while his face leaned lightly against his palm. On either side of him, Yinghua and Wei Zhi mirrored the same posture, all three of them watching the two without interruption.
After a while, Yinghua reached beside her and brought out a small tiffin box. She opened it, revealing neatly arranged almond cookies and delicate jujube flower cakes. Without saying much, she held it toward Lin Yi.
He took one of the jujube flower cakes, then, almost absentmindedly, passed the box toward Wei Zhi. She took both of the containers from Yinghua and balanced them carefully before placing them back within Lin Yi's reach, all while her eyes remained fixed on the training ahead.
None of them were really focused on the food.
Their attention stayed on Weiyang and Wuming.
Weiyang tried again.
Failed.
Wuming followed.
Also failed.
If Weiyang tried ten times, Wuming failed at least three.
Neither of them said it out loud—but both noticed.
Both adjusted.
Both tried again.
Their frustration started showing in small ways now—slightly tighter movements, sharper exhales, brief glances at each other as if silently comparing whose control slipped more.
Behind them, Lin Yi quietly finished the almond cookies without anyone really noticing.
Yinghua reached into the box still in his hand and took one of the remaining jujube flower cakes for herself, then leaned lightly against his shoulder with a small sigh. Three hours had passed without them realizing, and the sun had climbed high overhead. It was noon now, the warmth settling over the clearing.
Wei Zhi shifted as well, leaning slightly toward Lin Yi from the other side, her posture relaxing just a little.
The box was empty.
Lin Yi glanced down at it, then at Yinghua. "Did you make these?"
Yinghua shook her head lightly. "Not entirely. I helped my mother."
Then she looked toward Wei Zhi. "There should be two boxes left from yesterday. Can you bring them? At least we can eat while those two keep fighting."
Lin Yi gave a small nod. "Good idea. And… thanks for the snacks."
Yinghua smiled, her voice bright despite the long wait. "You're welcome, Shifu."
In front of them, the training hadn't slowed.
Weiyang and Wuming were still at it.
Breathing heavier now.
Movements slightly slower—but still precise.
Weiyang formed the qi again, but this time it wavered more than before. He exhaled sharply, dropping his hand. "My qi's almost finished…"
"Mine too," Wuming replied, just as steady—but the slight rise and fall of his chest gave him away.
Weiyang shot him a look. "Then just admit it. Mine was better."
Wuming's eyes narrowed slightly. "It wasn't."
End of 33