Clack. Thud. Crack.

 Wooden swords and fists collided in the courtyard, three silhouettes trading blows in rhythm under the morning sun. Ilho's twin butterfly blades blurred as he weaved in and out, each movement honed from weeks of relentless drilling. Jinhu’s gauntleted fists answered with brutal force, smashing down against wooden weapons with sheer weight behind every blow. His punches left small dents in the stone, his body heavier now, more grounded.

 Blue moved around them, jian in hand, eyes sharp but shadowed with fatigue. He pivoted, blocked, sidestepped...but something was off. His arms felt heavier. His breath slightly off beat.

 "Still too slow, Jinhu!" Ilho called out, flickering behind him, tapping him sharply in the ribs.

 “Dammit! You little flickering bastard!” Jinhu spun, too late.

 Blue intercepted the counterblow, blade meeting fist. The vibration rolled through his arm. He staggered slightly and stepped back, watching as the other two reset. Ilho’s silver-tinged gaze danced with clarity. Jinhu's power was raw but purposeful. Blue looked at his blade. I’m falling behind.

 CRACK.

 A shadow loomed at the courtyard’s edge. Wu Jin stood with rod in hand.

 “Three days remain until the tournament. Lunch now. Spars begin after.”

 All three dropped their stances with synchronized sighs. Ilho twirled his blades with flair. Jinhu wiped his brow, muttering. Blue sheathed his jian without a word.

Silent Edge Dining Hall – Lunch

 They sat shoulder to shoulder, bowls of rice and dumplings in hand, surrounded by the steady murmur of soldiers.

 “I bet we fight other squads,” Jinhu said, stuffing his face. “Maybe even the elite guards.”

 Ilho grinned. “I wanna fight Cheng.”

 Jinhu nearly choked. “You what?!”

 Ilho shrugged. “Just curious how strong he really is. No big deal.”

 Blue snorted. “Better pray Wu Jang doesn’t kick your door in mid-spar Jinhu.”

 They laughed.

 Jinhu leaned in. “Alright. Real talk. Who wins between our masters?”

 Ilho tilted his head. “Sa Gwan’s too weird. But Wu Jang’s built like a cliff.”

 Blue didn’t join in. He stirred his food quietly. Thinking about his grandfather

 Grandfather… just how strong were you really?

Sparring Grounds – Stone Platform

 The courtyard brimmed with anticipation. Wu Jin stood at its center, rod held low. Around him stood the elders—Wu Cheng, Sa Gwan, Wu Jang, and Yeol. The rest of the Silent Edge corps ringed the stone platform.

 Jinhu stepped forward mid-bite. “Who are we fighting?”

 CRACK.

 Wu Jin raised a brow. “What a wonderful question. Come and find out.”

 Laughter rippled from the elders. Wu Jang’s was the loudest.

 Jinhu stepped forward in front of Wu Jin "But i dont see anyone."

 Wu Jin pointed at himself.

 “You three are sparring me.”

 Jinhu froze. “Wait—you?!”

 CRACK.

 “Oh, so I’m nobody now?” Wu Jin smirked. “Three moves each. Show me everything.”

 Jinhu smiled with a steady breath. No posturing. No grin.

 He raised his fists. First strike: He surged forward, fists low. The punch came wide and fast, aimed for Wu Jin’s ribs. The impact was clean, forceful—Tree Splitter.

 CRACK.

 Wu Jin Smacked Jinhus forearm and deflected his strike with ease, but his stance shifted ever so slightly. Jinhu’s feet stayed firm. No stumble. No wasted motion.

 Second strike: He dropped his center and launched forward. The air rippled from a punch that screamed with weight and direction...Mountain Fist. The wind behind it hissed. Wu Jin tilted his head and let it pass. Jinhu skidded, then reset. Your fists won’t land until your feet mean it, he remembered.

 He heard a voice in his head. Mu Jang had used transmission. "Steady base, let the qi flow from bottom to your arms, and explode."

 Jinhu grinned and lowered himself into Earthshaker's Mark ready to throw a Mountain Fist that soon wouldn't be forgotten.

 Final strike.

 One step. Qi surged. His punch split the air. A part of Wu Jins hair fell to the ground.

 BOOM.

 A crater exploded on the wall behind the master. Stone shrapnel flew through the air. Wu Jin turned slowly, brushing dust from his sleeve.

 Jinhu grinned. “First time I ever made you dodge.”

 Mu Jang’s booming laugh echoed. “Now that’s a punch!”

 CRACK

 "Ilho." Wu Jin yelled

 Ilho stepped in without a word. He bounced once, then stilled.

 First strike: A blur. Twin blades flashed at Wu Jin’s flank. One missed. The other nearly grazed his sleeve. Ilho twirled away without touching the ground twice.

 Second strike: A low spin. He came in sweeping. One blade curved for the ankle. The other lunged toward the ribs.

 Wu Jin stepped aside.

 Sa Gwan’s voice echoed: “Don’t just vanish. Vanish where they won’t even think to look.”

 Final strike. Ilho disappeared. No footstep. No wind. Even the elders had lost track of him. He reappeared behind Wu Jin, blades reversed, aiming for the collarbone. A thought crossed him mind. "I finally got him." For a instant Wu Jin lost him, only to spin as Ilho reappreared.

 CRACK.

 The rod hit home mid-strike. Ilho flew back, rolling until he stopped at Sa Gwan’s feet.

 The master knelt, placing a hand on his head.

 “You touched his mind. That’s harder than touching skin.”

 Ilho coughed. Then laughed.

 Wu Cheng looked at Yeol, "Has it really only been a month? Those two boys are monsters in their own way."

 "Blue. Three moves. Land a hit, or starve!" Wu Jin yelled out.

 Blue stepped forward, silent. His blade hung low. His eyes were still.

 First strike: He stepped, fast and fluid, no wasted movement. He stabbed piercing through Wu Jin's robe just beneath his bicep.

 Gasps.

 Blue reset.

 Second strike: A rising arc. Precision honed by repetition. As Blue was lunging forward his blue screen appeared in front of his eyes.

             [System Ping]: Silent Edge – Second Form Whispering Gale: 100%

 Blue's attacked had missed completely, and he fell to the ground. He was completely distracted by the system. As he stood up and brushed the dust off he thought to himself. "Hell yeah, thank you system, now i dont have to starve."

 Blue moved for his Final strike. Whispering Gale. The dance unfolded. Every step fed the next. His blade curved in and snapped forward like lightning wrapped in silk right past Wu Jin's ear, grazing him. A red line bloomed across Wu Jin’s cheek. Time stopped.

 CRACK.

 The rod dropped right on the top of Blue's head. Blue crumpled...unconscious before he hit the ground. Then Wu Jin felt it. Instant regret. Yet to late to do anything about it. Yeol’s qi flared like a scream. The temperature dropped. Wu Cheng extended his arm, looked at Yeol and said "I'll handle my son old friend, you grab your nephew."

 Yeol moved first. He knelt. Checked Blue’s pulse. “Still breathing. Good.” Then he stood.

 Wu Cheng moved next, and unleashed his qi. The air exploded. Ilho and Jinhu collapsed to their knees. Elders braced. Corp members scattered to the nine winds.

 Mu Jang and Sa Gwan looked at each other and instantly grabbed their trainees and took them to a nearby roof. Yeol followed behind carrying Blue.

 Wu Cheng walked slowly toward his son. He extended his arm as his open palm reached Wu Jin's chest.

 BOOM.

'Wu Jin flew, carving a trench across the stone. Wu Cheng approached slowly.

“If you had used any more qi, you could’ve killed him.”

“We train them to grow. Not to break and abuse them.”

 “If you had done any more damage to that boy, i'm afraid no one here could have stopped Yeol from turning you to dust.”

“Apologize. Not just for Blue. But for yourself.”

Then he vanished. The dust settled. No one moved. The lesson echoed in silence. And no one forgot it. That lesson was loud. And unforgettable.