And so, just like that, Chen Xi embarked on his bold new chapter as a martial arts student. Every morning, before even the first blush of dawn touched the sky, he dutifully showed up at the Su household, eager—well, mostly eager—to prove his dedication.
After five consecutive days of running laps around the compound like a soldier in basic training, Su Shen finally deemed him worthy of actual instruction.
"Follow Su Li's lead," Su Shen said one morning, standing in the center of the courtyard with his arms crossed like a general surveying his troops. "Hold your horse stance. You're not done until Su Li gives out."
Chen Xi blinked. He stared at the child standing nearby and broke into an easy, almost cocky smile. "Come on, isn't that a bit unfair? You're making me compete with a kid. How long can he really last?"
