Sparring with Mistress Song, I could appreciate how unfair an advantage I had against Idiot Li and lesser cultivators. She was faster than I could track, knew exactly where to hit, and I could sense that she was holding back a little so she wouldn’t accidentally kill me.

I tried to be appreciative, but broken ribs leave me a bit cross.

Still, I was learning how to fight more effectively. Dodge left, bounce right, up to shoulder level, strike fast with the front paws. An ordinary human would be dead, an initiate badly hurt.

Mistress Song just wasn’t there anymore. And unfortunately, my small size and agility are my only advantages. And neither are useful against someone who can still snatch me out of the air like I was attached to her hand with a string.

And here comes the ground. Ow.

“A good attack, Xiang. But try to remember that you can’t quickly change direction mid-air. You overcommited to that strike.”

Good to know. Ow.

“I’m honestly impressed she lasted as long as she has, Mistress. I’ve seen you beat down Experts in less time than Xiang’s been going at you so far, even with you holding back as much as you have been.”

Oh good, I’m special. Gonna wipe the smirk off that fox’s faces when I steady out. All five of them. Ow.

Kaoru, nonplussed, kept sitting on the sidelines. I shook off the daze I’d been in, and went for the Mistress again. Feint left- OW!

“You’re getting predictable, Xiang. And you’re honestly a little too injured to keep going. I’m as impressed at your fortitude as Kaoru is, but you need to cultivate a bit so you can heal up. Your reactions are slowing from the pain and injury.”

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It annoyed me that she was right, but I still listened. Hopping (alright, limping) over to the side of the training square, I sat down and began to cultivate.

“Your turn, three-tail.”

Kaoru seemed to pale when I said that, but walked forward anyway. While I took in qi and let it restore my body, I watched her get beaten up by the mistress with great amusement. Kaoru’s fighting style was a lot more qi-dependent, using what she called “fox fire” as a primary offense and distraction while she prepared to lunge forward with her teeth. In all, she’s not that bad in range or when in an environment that lets her strike unseen.

But Mistress Song nullifies both of those advantages, even if we weren’t in an open yard. Her qi forms a barrier around herself that redirects or nullifies Kaoru’s fire, and she rarely falls for even the best of feints or distractions.

And, true to what Kaoru said, she was sidelined in a couple of passes. A pity. I usually found sparring with her to be fun, but Mistress was just too far above both of us, and there was no one else to train with.

“Xiang’s definitely helping you improve, Kaoru. I daresay you’d be able to face an Adept with a bit of luck and the right approach.”

Kaoru just whimpered, and curled into a ball to meditate.

“Think you’re about ready to go again, Xiang?”

Hm. My bones were mostly healed up and back where they belonged, and the bruising and bleeding didn’t hurt so badly anymore. Yeah, sure. Why not?

I broke left again, but followed through this time. Got behind the mistress, lunged in for a bite at the ankle. Jumped back when I snapped onto air, even as the spot I’d been at was turned into a Xiang-sized crater. Left right right up, use a small burst of qi to snap forward and into mistress’s guard.

And suddenly the stars came out. Pretty, but it’s only just past breakfast. Why are the stars out?

“That… mistress… she…”

Mistress Song laughed. Please don’t, sound hurts.

“I must congratulate you, Xiang. You’re the first Novice in two and a half centuries to get past my guard. Rest and cultivate, my head’s a lot harder than yours is.”

Huh. Nice. Contact.

Ow.