I had heard about combat training at Lingxian Academy, but nothing could have prepared me for the real thing. Today was my first session, and as I stood in the training grounds with dozens of other new students, I felt a surge of both excitement and fear. The arena, surrounded by ancient stone walls, was much larger than I had imagined, with the sunlight casting long shadows over the ground.

"New students!" called out one of the instructors, his voice booming. "Today, you will face your first battle simulation. You will be grouped into pairs, and your task is simple—defeat your opponents!"

The crowd around me stirred nervously, some whispering to each other, others clenching their fists in anticipation. I kept to myself, my eyes scanning the crowd, wondering who my partner would be. Suddenly, a voice broke through my thoughts.

"Hey, looks like we’re paired together," said a cool, quiet voice.

I turned to see Lingjun, the girl with short hair whom I had seen a few times in the dormitories. She always moved with a sense of calm, as if nothing in the world could shake her. We hadn’t spoken much before, but now we were expected to fight side by side.

"Uh, yeah, looks like it," I replied, trying to sound confident. In truth, I was relieved to have a partner who didn’t seem too intimidating, though I had no idea what her skill level was.

Lingjun didn’t say much as we stepped into the arena together. The other pairs were already taking their positions, and I saw some familiar faces. Fengqi, the girl with a sharp tongue, was glaring in our direction. Next to her stood a boy with a serious expression, known as "Handblade Boy" because of his unique fighting style. He used his hands like blades, sharp and deadly.

As we prepared for the match, Lingjun unsheathed her sword, the metal glinting in the sun. I followed suit, drawing my weapon with a sense of unease. The instructors gave the signal, and the arena erupted into action.

"Stay close," Lingjun said softly, her eyes focused on Fengqi and her partner.

Before I could respond, Fengqi lunged toward us, her blade slicing through the air with deadly precision. I barely had time to raise my sword in defense, the clash of metal ringing in my ears. She was fast—faster than I had expected.

Lingjun, however, was quicker. With a swift movement, she parried Fengqi’s strike and countered with a fluid motion, her sword gliding effortlessly through the air. I watched, stunned, as Lingjun moved with a grace and precision I hadn’t anticipated. She wasn’t just good—she was incredible.

"Focus!" she snapped at me, her eyes never leaving our opponents.

Shaken out of my trance, I tightened my grip on my sword and stepped forward to engage the Handblade Boy, who was already closing the distance between us. His movements were sharp and deliberate, each strike aimed with the precision of a blade. I blocked his attacks as best as I could, but his speed was overwhelming.

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"Switch!" Lingjun called out suddenly.

Without missing a beat, we swapped opponents. I found myself facing Fengqi, her eyes full of disdain as she advanced toward me. I could feel the weight of her gaze, like she was daring me to falter.

"You're slow," she taunted, her voice cold and cutting. "You won't last long at Lingxian if this is all you've got."

Her words stung, but I couldn’t afford to be distracted. I met her next strike head-on, the force of it vibrating through my arms. My muscles burned, but I pushed through the pain, determined to hold my ground.

Meanwhile, Lingjun was a whirlwind of motion, her sword dancing through the air as she deflected Handblade Boy's relentless attacks. Their duel was intense, with neither giving an inch. For a moment, it seemed like they were evenly matched, but then I noticed something—Lingjun was holding back.

"Is that all you’ve got?" Handblade Boy sneered, his hands moving in a blur as he aimed another strike at her.

Lingjun smiled faintly, sidestepping his attack with ease. "Not even close," she replied, her voice calm.

In an instant, her demeanor shifted. Her movements became faster, sharper, more precise. It was as if she had been waiting for the right moment to reveal her true skill. With a single, fluid motion, she disarmed Handblade Boy, sending his weapon flying across the arena. He stumbled back, his eyes wide with shock.

"Impressive," he muttered, clearly humbled by the turn of events.

Fengqi, realizing that her partner had been bested, redoubled her efforts, her strikes becoming more aggressive. But I was ready. I had found my rhythm, and though I wasn’t as skilled as Lingjun, I could hold my own. I deflected her attacks, matching her pace as best as I could.

"You're tougher than I thought," Fengqi admitted through gritted teeth, her eyes narrowing.

I didn’t respond. My focus was entirely on the fight, my body moving on instinct. For the first time since arriving at Lingxian Academy, I felt like I belonged here—like I could truly become a martial artist.

With one final push, Lingjun and I launched a coordinated attack. I feinted to the left, drawing Fengqi's attention, while Lingjun swept in from the right. Fengqi, caught off guard, was forced to yield, her sword clattering to the ground.

The arena fell silent as the match ended. The instructor stepped forward, nodding in approval. "Well done," he said, his voice filled with authority. "You fought with skill and coordination. Keep training like this, and you will go far."

As the crowd began to disperse, I turned to Lingjun, still trying to catch my breath. "You're really good," I said, my admiration for her growing by the second.

Lingjun sheathed her sword, her expression unreadable. "You’re not bad either," she replied. "But you still have a lot to learn."

I couldn’t argue with that. As we walked off the arena floor together, I felt a sense of camaraderie forming between us. We had fought as a team, and in that moment, we had become more than just partners—we had become allies.

But as we left the training grounds, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. Lingjun’s skill was far beyond what I had expected, and there was something about her calm demeanor that intrigued me. Who was she, really? And why was she holding back during the fight?

Before I could ask her, Fengqi brushed past us, her eyes full of cold fury. "This isn’t over," she hissed, her voice dripping with venom. "Next time, you won’t be so lucky."

Lingjun watched her go, her expression unchanged. "Let her be," she said quietly. "Fengqi’s not the real threat here."

I glanced at her, puzzled. "What do you mean?"

Lingjun didn’t answer. Instead, she looked out at the horizon, her eyes distant. "You’ll see soon enough."