I knew Xuewei’s old spearwork well, like a storm I’d watched before; she favored surges that split rainbows, while mine from Qingyu Mengyin flowed like a tide.

On a normal day, I wouldn’t touch her, like a moth before a bonfire; but today she’s shackled on all sides, like frost under noon sun.

If I still can’t school her, I should go find a block of tofu and knock myself out, like a carp ramming a dock.

Ling Xuewei calmed fast, like a lake under moon; she saw the field hated her, like sand grinding a crane’s feet.

Without the Iceflame Spear, she couldn’t freely command ice, like a winter queen without her scepter; but she wouldn’t fall to a crafty junior, like pine refusing to yield to ivy.

Since she couldn’t be nimble, she’d smash head-on, like thunder taking the straightest path.

Xuewei leaned back a hair, like a bow being drawn, then burst at me and swept her spear, like a scythe through reeds.

If that landed, I’d go flying, like a leaf in a gale.

But that level can’t touch me, even if I use only fourth-tier strength, like a fox hiding one tail.

Before her sweep arrived, I planted my spear to the ground and bowed at the waist like a bent willow, slipping under her strike like a fish.

But Ling Xuewei never wastes an opening, like a hawk stooping; her kick shot for my gap without mercy, like a hammer falling.

I’m not that dumb, like a cat avoiding a falling basin.

At the instant her heel would’ve kissed me, Qingsheng Tangxue vanished, like mist lifted by a breeze.

I rode the water in the air for a short shift, like stepping across lily pads; that trick belongs only to water-touched freaks like me and Dreamsound, like otters born to riverlight.

The effect speaks for itself, like ink blooming on silk.

“Space shift?” Xuewei turned, eyes bright with frost-lit stars, and looked at me now a step aside.

“Mhm, yup~” I hummed, like a sparrow teasing rain.

She fell silent, then charged again, faster, like a thunderhead rolling over fields.

I can’t spam that blink, or she’ll read me like a wolf scenting a snare, and that would be bad.

Facing her spear, I rolled my wrists and trimmed my line like setting a sail, and used Dreamsound’s lessons to slip past the edge like water.

I didn’t pursue, like moonlight refusing to chase shadows.

I know Xuewei’s spear too well, like knowing where the river hides whirlpools; press too hard and I’ll die in a heartbeat, like a moth in a candle-cup.

Giving her a tiny lesson without showing my hand is a pain, like threading a needle on a boat.

I spun the shaft and finally aimed the gleam at her with my right hand, like pointing a comet. “Then I’ll be the one attacking!”

The truth of a balanced style is simple: use their attack to run away, like borrowing wind to sail out.

She simmered for no clear reason, like tea about to boil; I was the student, yet I kept clowning her, like a monkey in a pine.

If she lost control now, she’d waste a perfect chance, like spilling wine before a toast; she’d waited to be last on purpose, curse it.

Beat me up, or confirm a few things, like choosing between blade and question?

I was driving her crazy; the way I flicked the spear was hateful, like rain tapping a bruise; and that extra weight on my chest kept bouncing, like ripened fruit on a branch.

Seriously, I look barely in my teens, so how is it that big, like an overfed peach?

No, the more she thought, the hotter she burned, like bellows to coal; she’d absolutely teach me a lesson, like frost biting a leaf.

Decision made, Ling Xuewei squared up, like a pine in snow; hitting me without hurting me was impossible, like netting a carp with bare hands.

I was a fish in a pool, like silver lightning in shallow water; without the right tool, you’d never catch me, like grasping rain.

Her next few probes proved it, like ink settling; not only did she miss, she got smacked once, like a reed slapping a passerby.

Her anger bar was about to explode, like a kettle at full whistle.

“Teacher, you…” My grin was about to burst, like sunlight through cloud, and I couldn’t hold it in.

“Shockburst!” At her limit, Ling Xuewei stomped that disgusting ice floor, like a thunderclap; every slide past, that ice wasn’t innocent, like a slick fox.

“Waaah!” I went airborne, like a kite cut loose, and my body skidded back, like a sled on glass.

Wait… that might be too much, like rain turning to hail; Xuewei looked a little angry now, like storm-light under lids.

“Teacher, are you—” Before I finished, her face was suddenly in mine, like a falcon’s shadow; this time she was bare-handed, like snow without branches.

Danger prickled my skin, like ants under bark; it felt like the prelude to Dreamsound the old crone spanking me, like a drumroll.

Nope, I’m out, like a fox vanishing into bamboo.

I blinked again and slipped her pursuit, like a droplet fading into steam.

“Martial Skill: Ever-Shifting.” The words rippled in my head, like moonlight on water.

A long spear appeared by my side at some point, like frost growing a blade, and Xuewei stood there cold-faced, like a statue of ice.

“Uh… Teacher, you…” Panic jolted me, like a carp startled; if she’s mad, she might do something dumb, like lightning hitting a dry tree, so I should soothe her.

“Can’t take a joke…?” What am I even saying, like a swallow swallowing its own song?

Aaaahhhh!

I dropped my ice spear and bolted, like snow sliding off a roof, but she caught my collar, like a crane plucking a fish.

Stiff, I turned slowly to face her, like a door on cold hinges, and… she didn’t look that scary, like thaw at dawn.

“Good technique.” She patted my head, gentle as rain on bamboo. “But you’re a bit too crafty. Watch it next time.”

“…?” Did she get so mad she looped around, like a river turning back? Shouldn’t she be hoisting me for a beating, like a pine switch?

Or did she realize something, like seeing a carp’s shadow in clear water?

“Then… Teacher, you flatter me. If there’s nothing else, I’ll go first,” I said, head down like a wilted lotus; I don’t know how she sees me, and I don’t want to face her like this, like a moth in daylight.

“Mm. Go back.” Calm again, Xuewei watched my current behavior with quiet satisfaction, like a moon watching a quiet pond.