The mountain dawn painted the training ground in hues of gold and amber as Xiang Yu and Li Yao faced each other, their silhouettes sharp against the rising sun. As always, both disciples had risen with the first light, drawn to their daily ritual of combat with unwavering dedication.
Xiang Yu adjusted his grip on the sword, its weight now familiar in his hands. As he moved through his forms, he noticed something different—a subtle shift in his awareness. His movements flowed with newfound fluidity, each stance transitioning into the next with improved precision. More remarkably, he found himself anticipating Li Yao's attacks moments before they came, his body reacting to signals his conscious mind barely registered.
Li Yao lunged forward, her blade tracing a deadly arc through the morning air. Xiang Yu pivoted, his body responding to some primal instinct rather than calculated thought. He avoided the main force of her strike—a feat that would have been impossible just days ago.
