Chapter 235
Xinque Town, Black Cloud City.
That afternoon, Lin Hui took a leisurely stroll along Red Stone Beach, just outside of town, his feet picking over the pale red stones lining the shore.
From a distance, he spotted the young Fan Lingxi already crouching on the beach, waiting for him. There was no telling how long she had been there.
The moment she saw him, she stood, tossed aside the stone in her hand, and hurried over.
"Teacher Lin!" Her pale blue eyes burned with anticipation. "You said..."
"I meant what I said." Lin Hui nodded. "But before we begin, run through the physical testing method I taught you one more time," he instructed, his voice measured and grave.
"Yes, sir."
Fan Lingxi performed the sword dance from their earlier session with meticulous care. She was even more earnest than before, and her movements were flawless in form.
She believed she had given her absolute best. In Lin Hui's eyes, however, the girl was utterly without talent. Her forms were technically precise, yet painfully rigid—she moved like someone who had memorized a pattern rather than understood it. She had no genuine comprehension of the movements she performed.