Chapter 39: Body Refining 4th Layer

The morning sun glinted off steel as Li Yao effortlessly parried Xiang Yu’s attack, redirecting his momentum with a casual flick of her wrist. The force sent him staggering backward, but unlike previous sessions, his feet shifted instinctively to compensate. His muscles strained as he fought against the momentum, managing to stabilize his stance without toppling over—a small victory that would have been impossible just days ago.

But before he could savor this achievement, Li Yao materialized before him, her movement so swift it seemed as though she had teleported. Her sword arm lifted, blade catching the sunlight, and Xiang Yu’s instincts failed him. Eyes squeezing shut, he braced for pain that never arrived. Instead, a sharp flick struck his forehead with just enough force to sting but not injure.

Cautiously opening his eyes, he found Li Yao’s finger extended, her lips curved in a mischievous smile. “Your battle awareness seems to be improving,” she observed, pivoting gracefully on her heel. Over her shoulder, she added with teacherly authority, “Oh yeah, don’t close your eyes in battle.”

She flowed back into her combat stance, limbs positioned with perfect precision. Xiang Yu nodded silently as he settled into his own stance. This time, he initiated the exchange, charging forward with deliberate intent. His eyes locked onto Li Yao’s left leg—a tantalizing vulnerability in her otherwise flawless defense.

Li Yao sighed inwardly. He had been progressing so well, yet here he was, still falling for the most obvious trap. As he closed the distance, she lifted her foot and brought it down with controlled force, sending a cloud of dust billowing outward. “I told you to stop falling for these traps,” she chided into the obscuring haze.

“And I listened,” came Xiang Yu’s voice from within the cloud, closer than she expected.

“What?” Confusion flickered across her face, and in that momentary lapse of focus—

“Auch!” The surprised yelp escaped her lips as a sharp pain bloomed on her forehead.

The dust settled, revealing Xiang Yu standing before her, satisfaction written across his features. The tables had turned; he’d repaid her little flick with one of his own.

Recognition dawned in Li Yao’s eyes. “It seems that you’ve improved quite a bit,” she acknowledged, a competitive gleam entering her gaze. “Then I guess I should also let loose a little.”

To her surprise, Xiang Yu simply turned and began walking away.

“Where are you going? Do you think you can escape?” she called after him, indignation coloring her tone.

Without breaking stride, he replied simply, “It’s lunch time.”

“Hmph.” Li Yao sheathed her weapon with a practiced motion. “Don’t think I’ll forget this,” she warned, though her threat lacked genuine menace.

“And here I was thinking of making your favorite,” Xiang Yu remarked casually, the bait dangled with expert precision.

The transformation was instantaneous. Li Yao bounded forward, attaching herself to his arm with childlike enthusiasm. “Senior brother is the best!” she exclaimed, previous grievances forgotten.

Xiang Yu stroked his chin thoughtfully. “Weren’t you saying something about not forgetting?” he prompted, feigning concentration.

“Not forgetting? What are you talking about?” Li Yao batted her eyelashes innocently. “My memory is not all that good, so I probably already forgot. Was there something I wasn’t supposed to forget?”

Xiang Yu marveled at the girl’s remarkable adaptability—she could shift from deadly warrior to eager child in the span of a heartbeat. “No, must’ve been my imagination,” he conceded as they walked together toward the kitchen, her grip on his arm never loosening.

…

After lunch, the two disciples made their way back to the training grounds, their footsteps crunching against the worn path. Li Yao practically bounced alongside Xiang Yu, her face glowing with satisfaction from the meal.

“Senior brother’s cooking skills are really top notch,” she exclaimed, patting her stomach contentedly. The genuine appreciation in her voice brought a rare smile to Xiang Yu’s face.

“Of course they are,” he replied with uncharacteristic playfulness. “How else am I supposed to impress you?” The teasing comment flowed naturally, surprising even himself.

When they reached the training ground, their demeanor shifted instantly. The casual camaraderie of mealtime dissolved into the focused intensity of cultivation training. Li Yao’s sword flashed forward with blinding speed, her blade splitting the air as it arced toward Xiang Yu’s chest.

Anticipating the attack, Xiang Yu bent backward, his spine flexing just enough for the blade to whistle harmlessly above him. But Li Yao was a step ahead, redirecting her sword mid-swing with masterful control, changing its trajectory to catch him in his vulnerable position.

Xiang Yu’s knife came up in desperate defense, meeting the sword with a metallic clang that echoed across the training ground. The collision sent shock waves through his arm, his strength insufficient to completely deflect the superior weapon. Still, he managed to redirect it just enough, propelling himself backward to create vital distance.

Li Yao pressed her advantage mercilessly, advancing with relentless determination. She allowed no respite, no moment for Xiang Yu to gather himself or formulate a counter-strategy. Each strike forced him to block rather than evade, each parry sending painful vibrations cascading through his muscles and bones. The knife in his hand began to feel like an extension of the impact rather than a shield against it.

With each exchange, Xiang Yu found himself retreating—five steps, then ten. A quick glance over his shoulder revealed a tree looming behind him, its gnarled trunk offering no escape route. The momentary distraction cost him dearly as Li Yao launched another devastating attack, driving him back until his shoulder blades pressed against rough bark.

She approached with measured steps, satisfaction gleaming in her eyes as she cornered her prey. When she finally struck, it was with calculated precision. Xiang Yu, drawing upon his growing battle awareness, waited for the exact moment when her attack committed fully—that split second when changing direction became impossible even for someone like her.

He rolled sideways, executing a perfect evasion that left Li Yao’s blade embedded deep within the tree trunk. The sword bit into the wood, lodging itself firmly in place. Xiang Yu seized what appeared to be a golden opportunity, launching himself toward his temporarily disarmed opponent.

But with casual ease, Li Yao caught his wrist mid-strike, her fingers like iron manacles around his flesh. Before he could process what was happening, she had pivoted and thrown him to the ground, the impact driving air from his lungs. While he lay staring at the azure sky above, she calmly retrieved her sword from the tree with a single powerful tug.

Coming to stand over him, Li Yao extended her hand, helping him to his feet. “Your battle awareness is great, but you still have some bad habits,” she observed, brushing dirt from his robe with sisterly concern. “When my sword got stuck, you hesitated to attack.”

Xiang Yu nodded, inwardly acknowledging the truth of her assessment. In a real life-or-death struggle, his instinct would have been to flee the moment his opponent was disadvantaged—survival, not victory, was always his primary objective. He had only attacked because this was training, not combat, and even then, caution had made him hesitate, suspecting a trap. Perhaps he needed to adjust his thinking, though privately he maintained that running would still be his preferred option in any genuine confrontation.

They continued their rigorous practice until sunset painted the sky in vivid oranges and purples, signaling dinnertime. After sharing another meal showcasing Xiang Yu’s culinary talents, they returned to the training grounds, pushing their limits until midnight finally forced them to separate.

Alone in his quarters, Xiang Yu lay on his simple bed as he observed the system screen before him:

[Calculating Settlement]

[Calculation Complete]

[Enlightenment: Low (12/1000)]

[Battle Instinct: (4/100,000)]

[Mountain Heart Scripture: 3rd Layer (184/300) (+40/300)]

[Low-grade Iron Body Technique: Minor Success (150/200) (+50/200)]

[Basic Knife Technique: Completion (20/500) (+20/500)]

[Basic Sword Technique: Intermediate (200/300)]

[Cook: 9th Grade (45/100) (+5/100)]

[Experience Points Doubled]

[Cook: 9th Grade (45/100) → 9th Grade (90/100)]

[Basic Sword Technique: Intermediate (200/300) → Major Success (0/400)]

[Basic Knife Technique: Completion (20/500) → Completion (40/500)]

[Low-grade Iron Body Technique: Minor Success (150/200) → Intermediate (0/300)]

[Mountain Heart Scripture: 3rd Layer (184/300) → 4th Layer (0/400)]

[Battle Instinct: (4/100,000) → (8/100,000)]

[Enlightenment: Low (12/1000) → Low (24/1000)]

[Next Settlement: 23:59:59]

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