One week into Feng's training, Wei Chen faced Yun Hao again.
Same temple hall. Same supervised sparring. But Wei Chen felt different. Moved different.
Yun Hao noticed immediately.
"Ready?" Yun Hao asked, water already condensing around his hands.
Wei Chen drew his practice dagger—he'd started carrying one everywhere now—and nodded.
Yun Hao's water whip lashed out.
Wei Chen didn't raise a shadow wall this time. He moved. Sidestepped, letting the whip crack against stone where he'd been standing.
Yun Hao's eyes widened slightly. He sent three water streams simultaneously.
Wei Chen blocked one with his shadow, dodged another, and the third caught his shoulder. But he'd already closed distance, dagger thrusting toward Yun Hao's guard.
Yun Hao created a water shield reflexively. Wei Chen's blade struck it and—
Shadows erupted along the weapon's edge. Not perfect. Not stable. But there.
Shadow Blade. For half a second.
The shield held, but Yun Hao stumbled back, surprised.
"What was that?"
Wei Chen didn't answer. Pressed the attack. His movements weren't elegant—Feng's training was brutal efficiency, not grace — but they were purposeful.
Block high, strike low. Feint left, attack right. Don't just react—dictate.
Yun Hao adapted quickly, his superior control reasserting itself. Water prison formed around Wei Chen's feet.
"Yield?"
Wei Chen tested the prison. Still too strong to break.
"Yield."
The water released. Both were breathing harder than usual.
"You've changed," Yun Hao said. Not accusatory. Just... observing. "You move differently. Fight differently."
"I have a new instructor."
"That Fire mage? Feng?"
"Yes."
Yun Hao studied Wei Chen with those analytical eyes. "He's teaching you to fight, not just use magic."
"Both. Magic is enhancement. Fighting is foundation."
"Interesting philosophy." Yun Hao created a sphere of water, floating it between them idly. "My tutor emphasizes magic first, technique second. Yours does the opposite."
"Different paths."
"Yes." Yun Hao let the water sphere collapse. "But you lasted longer this time. Landed hits I had to actually defend against. That's progress."
Wei Chen acknowledged this with a nod. He'd still lost. But the gap felt smaller.
"Again?" Yun Hao offered.
"No. I'm exhausted." Wei Chen's honesty surprised even himself. "Feng's training is brutal. I can barely move by evening."
"But you keep going."
"I don't have a choice. You have tutors, resources, family support. I have work ethic and stubbornness." Wei Chen smiled slightly. "So I use what I have."
Yun Hao's expression softened. "That's... admirable. Frustrating to compete against, but admirable."
They sat against the temple pillars, recovering.
"Can I ask something?" Yun Hao said after a moment.
"Go ahead."
"Why combat training specifically? Elder Shen teaches control, which is valuable. My tutor teaches healing and support magic. But you're learning to hurt people." No judgment in his tone. Just curiosity. "Why?"
Wei Chen thought about how to answer. "Because control and healing don't close the gap between me and people stronger than me. Combat does."
"You think violence is the answer?"
"I think capability is the answer. I don't want to hurt people. But if someone tries to hurt me, I want the option to stop them." Wei Chen met Yun Hao's gaze. "You have family to protect you. Money to solve problems. I have magic and a willingness to learn how to use it."
Yun Hao nodded slowly. "Fair point."
"Besides," Wei Chen added, "Darkness magic isn't suited for healing. It's suited for... other things. I'm just following my element's nature."
"Shadow Blade." Yun Hao's voice held respect. "That technique you used. I've heard of it but never seen it. You learned that in a week?"
"Foundation only. It's unstable. Barely functional."
"Still impressive." Yun Hao stood, offering his hand. "Keep pushing. This is more interesting when you actually challenge me."
Wei Chen took the hand, pulled himself up. "Same time next week?"
"Yes. But Wei Chen?" Yun Hao's expression turned serious. "Be careful with that instructor. Combat training can change people. Make them harder. Colder."
"I know."
"Do you?" Yun Hao held his gaze. "Because the person who just fought me wasn't the same person from last week. You moved like you were ready to hurt me if necessary. That's not bad, necessarily. Just... different."
Wei Chen didn't have a response to that.
Yun Hao left, and Wei Chen stood alone in the temple, thinking.
Had he changed? Yes. Obviously.
Was that bad? He didn't know yet.
But he knew one thing: the old Wei Chen would've lost faster, learned less, and stayed afraid.
The new Wei Chen might be harder. But he was also stronger.
And in a world where strength mattered, that was worth the cost.