Second Time

Chapter 24 - Tempering

"I set up the array," Cai Fei reported.

"Good, let me take a look."

Shao Yue headed to the inner courtyard and examined the array around the training dummy. She punched the dummy. One second later, a wave of energy flowed out and sent tingles across her skin where it touched.

"This will do," Shao Yue said with a nod. "Good work."

"Thanks."

Shao Yue stepped out of the array and drew a blunt training sword. "Your goal will be to start from outside the array, attack the dummy at least twice, then escape before the energy can hit you."

To demonstrate, Shao Yue's image blurred. She reappeared next to the dummy with a slash, then quickly followed up with four more, making the shape of a star. She slashed horizontally as she jumped backwards out of the array. The whole process took less than a quarter of a second. A visible burst of energy dissipated into the air after she'd left.

"Once you can succeed, reduce the time to half a second. Once you succeed at that, reduce it further to a quarter of a second. If you manage that, we'll consider this training complete, but you can start over and try to do more attacks in the time limits to improve further."

Cai Fei stared at the setup with a pensive expression. "I'll do my best."

"Take the opportunity to go through the different manuals." Shao Yue pointed at Cai Fei's feet. "The most important part is your footwork. Find the one that feels the most natural."

"I understand."

"Good. Now, I have to deal with something annoying." Shao Yue turned towards one of the buildings. "May I ask why the Night Emperor has come here?"

Cai Fei blinked and followed Shao Yue's gaze. The air above the roof shimmered a bit before revealing a thin man wrapped in layers of black.

"To see through my concealment, you truly are someone special," the Night Emperor praised. His voice seemed to come from all directions at once.

"Ever since I saw your subordinate following my friend, I've been keeping an eye out for you specifically," Shao Yue explained. "If it weren't for that, I wouldn't have noticed."

"Hmph. I'm only here to make a delivery, but if you tell me the technique you used to notice me, I'll throw in a bonus."

"It's truly quite simple," Shao Yue said, smiling. "Your One With Nothingness technique is profound and allows light, divine sense, and even matter to pass through it. However, I mixed my divine sense with a tiny fraction of my Authority, which your technique does not allow through. If my divine sense and Authority separate, then I know you're there."

Shao Yue had developed several countermeasures for the Night Emperor over her life. The one she mentioned was only the first. It wouldn't do any harm to reveal.

Seemingly satisfied, the Night Emperor tossed a long box and a small bag towards Shao Yue before vanishing. She moved to catch them.

"Eh?" Cai Fei rubbed her eyes. "Coming and going, just like that?"

"That's how he's always been," Shao Yue said. "Fine by me in this case. An extended conversation would only bring pain again."

Noticing Shao Yue's forlorn expression, Cai Fei took a step towards her and gave her hand a squeeze.

Shao Yue smiled warmly. "Thanks. I'm glad you're here."

Cai Fei felt her heart melting a bit. "What did he give you?"