The moment Li Bie stepped back, Yuyan became a blur of motion. She darted forward, her speed now an elegant zephyr. Lingqi, without hesitation, followed her. He knew that the instant he lost sight of the ball, he would lose the game. He tracked her every movement, watching as she wove her way towards the goal with the precision of a master weaver threading a loom.

As Yuyan closed in on the goal, Lingqi's strategy crystallized in his mind. Attempting to steal the ball from her was folly—an exercise in futility. Instead, he would become the immovable object to her unstoppable force. He would defend the goal, mirroring her earlier tactics. This would force Yuyan to slow down, to deliberate, giving him the opening he needed to block her shot.

Yuyan, sensing his strategy, tried to maneuver around him, but Lingqi was relentless, a shadow on her heels. She was within striking distance of the goal, and Lingqi moved to intercept, positioning himself perfectly to thwart her.

Yuyan had her shot lined up. Just as she was about to unleash her kick, she performed a deceptive maneuver. With the front of her toes, she bounced the ball into the air, a feint that threw off Lingqi's timing. He was prepared for a direct strike, his reflexes sharp as a blade. Yet, even he was caught off guard by her ingenuity.

As the ball descended, Yuyan's form soared into the air, executing a front flip kick with gravity defying grace. Her heel struck the leather ball, sending it arcing through the air. Lingqi predicted its path, moving to block it with his knee.

Instead, the ball's trajectory shifted, dipping into a downward arc that slid beneath his leg and rolled past the goal line.

"Amazing!" Gao exclaimed, his voice tinged with admiration.

"Yeah! Go, Yuyan!" Chen cheered, his excitement infectious.

"Wow..." Li Bie marveled, his voice hushed with awe. "That was a fantastic kick."

Lingqi stood there, stunned into silence, his mind racing to comprehend the spectacle. The technique Yuyan had executed was beyond mere skill—it was a level of mastery that defied explanation. What was the word?

Sh--!

The word eluded him.

"Shui," Lingqi said finally, his voice barely a whisper as the pieces fell into place. "You used Shui."

"Yep, I sure did," Yuyan giggled, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she gave her junior a friendly wink. "You must have thought that you and Gao were the only ones that could use it, huh?"

"Well, it wasn't like that, I just--"

"Hey, I'm just messing with you," Yuyan teased, unable to resist ruffling his feathers. "But I am your senior, after all. I can't let you show me up."

"Well, I'm not going to give up just yet," Lingqi told her, determination hardening his voice as they squared off once more.

Lingqi took a moment to center himself, drawing deep, steadying breaths to calm his racing heart.

The two opponents met at the center of the field once more. Li Bie dropped the leather ball, and both surged forward, each intent on reaching it first. Lingqi's reflexes proved quicker, and he snatched the ball away, but Yuyan was undeterred. She shadowed him, giving no quarter.

As Lingqi neared the goal, he twisted his body and launched the ball towards the target. The ball sliced through the air, destined for the goal, until Yuyan, with a perfectly timed slide, struck the leather ball with her toes, sending it skyward. Lingqi met the ball in the air with the foresight of a soothsayer. His Prana fueled his muscles and sharpened his perceptions, allowing him to visualize and enhance his strike. He headbutted the ball downward with fierce velocity, and it burned through the sky as it careened towards the goal.

The ball moved with impeccable speed, a blur that aimed for the goal line. Yet, Yuyan, her reflexes enhanced by her Prana, dove to intercept it. Her attempt to block it with the top of her foot resulted in a searing pain as the ball burned through her shoe. The ball, relentless in its trajectory, rolled past the goal line in spite of her best efforts.

"Goal!" Chen shouted, his voice ringing with triumph.

"Wow," Li Bie breathed, astounded by the skill on display from his juniors.

"Two to two!" Gao called out, his excitement palpable.

Yuyan staggered, nearly losing her balance as she examined her foot. Her shoe was nearly obliterated, her toes swollen and singed.

"Yuyan, are you okay?" Lingqi approached, his voice laced with concern.

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"I'm fine," Yuyan replied, forcing a smile despite the pain. "Just stings a little."

"You should sit down for a bit. I don't want to hurt you," Lingqi insisted, worry etched in his features.

"I'll be okay," Yuyan countered, keeping her injured foot suspended above the ground. "It's just a scratch."

"No, you're not," Li Bie interjected firmly. "Take a break. The last thing we want is for you to get seriously injured."

"But..." Yuyan hesitated, knowing he was right but loathing the thought of conceding.

"Come on, Yuyan. You don't have to push yourself. We can have another match some other day," Lingqi encouraged her gently.

"I suppose so," Yuyan conceded with a heavy sigh. She hated to lose like this, but her injury left her little choice in the matter.

"Alright, everyone, let's stop the matches for now. Yuyan, I'll get some medicine," Li Bie said, hurrying towards the academy.

"I'll go with you!" Lingqi called out, quickly following behind him.

"Thanks, guys," Yuyan mumbled, sitting down and removing her shoe to rub the sore spots on her foot. Her toes were tender, bruised, but thankfully not broken.

"That Lingqi is really something, isn't he?" Gao remarked, approaching her and taking a seat to her side.

"Yeah," Yuyan admitted, her gaze lingered at her foot. She was unable to deny his talent.

"It's almost scary, isn't it? He's already beyond our level," Chen commented, trying to mask his frustration. "And he's only fourteen?"

"Thirteen, actually," Gao corrected.

"Thirteen? No way," Chen replied, shaking his head in disbelief. "He's got to be fourteen."

"Nope. Thirteen," Gao reaffirmed.

"Wow, Lingqi really is special. To think a kid that young is already so skilled," Yuyan marveled, a giggle escaping her lips.

"Hey, what's so funny?" Chen asked.

"Nothing. I'm just thinking that maybe we need to try harder. Who knows, maybe one day Lingqi will surpass even Master Zhang. Wouldn't that be something?" Yuyan mused.

"At his rate, it sure seems possible," Chen shrugged.

"We got it!" Lingqi called out, returning with Li Bie and a small ceramic jar. "I'm sorry for hurting you, Yuyan. Let me put this on your wounds."

"Thanks, Lingqi. I'm really sorry I couldn't keep playing. You were having fun, right?"

"I'm just happy I got to play a few games with you guys. I didn't mean to go that hard on you. I just wanted to have fun and see how far I could push myself," Lingqi explained.

"Hey, don't worry about it," Yuyan reassured him, patting his head. "It's just part of the game."

"Still, I feel bad. Let me take care of you, Yuyan," the boy insisted.

"Sure, but help me to my room first. I need to lay down," Yuyan requested, and Lingqi nodded, helping her up. She leaned on him, her injured foot raised, and he supported her with surprising strength for his size.

"Do you need our help?" Li Bie called out.

"We're good, thanks! We'll meet you later!" Yuyan shouted back.

"Okay, see you!" Gao said.

"Get well soon!" Chen wished her.

"We'll check on you in a bit," Li Bie promised.

"Thanks!" Yuyan replied.

Leaning heavily on Lingqi, Yuyan couldn't help but notice the boy's blush as they reached her dorm room.

"Hey, Lingqi, can I tell you something?" She asked.

"Of course," he replied, looking up at her expectantly.

"This may sound silly, but... I'm actually kind of jealous of you."

Lingqi's eyes widened in shock. "Really? Why?"

"Well, you're younger than me and already so talented. It's hard not to be envious."

Her words reminded him of Master Zhang's warning. The talent, the strength—it was a consequence of what he had witnessed. Master Zhang had cautioned him against revealing the truth, but never explained why. What harm could it cause?

"You shouldn't be," Lingqi said quietly.

"Hm?" Yuyan raised an eyebrow.

Lingqi helped her onto her cot, propping her injured foot on a pillow. He opened the ceramic jar and gently applied the medicinal cream to her wounds. The ointment was cold, and her wound pained her, but Yuyan remained stoic, her resilience unshaken.

"Master Zhang told me not to tell anyone this, but... I saw my parents die. He thinks that witnessing their deaths allowed me to access my Prana," Lingqi confessed with downcast eyes.

Yuyan was speechless, her heart aching for him. She had known about the raid, the loss of his parents, but she had not imagined the nightmare he had endured.

"Lingqi, I'm so sorry," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

"I haven't told anyone else. Please, don't tell the others," he pleaded.

"I won't," she promised. "Why did you tell me?"

"Because I trust you. And... you're my favorite," Lingqi admitted, his face turning red.

"Me? Your favorite?" Yuyan asked, shocked.

"You're strong, talented, and kind. Even when you tease me. And... you're beautiful," he confessed, finally meeting her eyes.

"You think so?" Yuyan's cheeks flushed.

"Yes. You have the most beautiful black hair I've ever seen," he said earnestly.

"Lingqi..."

"I'm sorry," he apologized quickly. This was all so embarrassing and sudden and he didn't even give Yuyan any indication of his feelings. He figured that his confession would overwhelm her, maybe even make her feel uncomfortable. He could no longer bare to look at her, the feelings that stirred within him were all new and strange. Sometimes he felt guilty for harboring them.

"Don't apologize," Yuyan said, cupping his chin and lifting his gaze to meet hers. "You're a sweet boy, Lingqi. You have nothing to be sorry for."

She planted a gentle kiss on his cheek, and his heart soared. He hadn't expected such a gesture. His guilt alleviated and a weight lifted from his shoulders, the burden had dissipated like steam from a warm cup of tea.

"Keep that between us, okay?" She said with a wink, her long lashes fluttering like butterfly wings.

Lingqi nodded, stunned, his mouth nearly agape.

Silence followed as he secured the jar's lid. Li Bie had told him that the ointment would relieve her pain in a few days. He'd just have to help her apply it twice a day.

"I should get going, but I'll check on you later. I'll bring food and more ointment," Lingqi offered.

"Are you going to be my servant now?" Yuyan joked, chuckling.

"If that's what you want," Lingqi replied earnestly, making Yuyan laugh even more.

"I was just kidding. Thank you, Lingqi. You're a sweet boy. I'm lucky to have you as a junior," she said.

Lingqi grew bashful and rubbed the back of his neck. "Thanks. But I'm the lucky one. I'm happy I met you, Yuyan."

"I'm glad to have met you, too, Lingqi. Don't tell anyone else, but you're my favorite, too," she winked.

Lingqi smiled and left her to rest.