The morning sun glinted off steel as Li Yao effortlessly parried Xiang Yu's attack, redirecting his momentum with a casual flick of her wrist. The force sent him staggering backward, but unlike previous sessions, his feet shifted instinctively to compensate. His muscles strained as he fought against the momentum, managing to stabilize his stance without toppling over—a small victory that would have been impossible just days ago.
But before he could savor this achievement, Li Yao materialized before him, her movement so swift it seemed as though she had teleported. Her sword arm lifted, blade catching the sunlight, and Xiang Yu's instincts failed him. Eyes squeezing shut, he braced for pain that never arrived. Instead, a sharp flick struck his forehead with just enough force to sting but not injure.
