Chapter 104: You Want To Do What???
The morning sun cast long shadows across the training grounds of the Ambrose estate. Eight figures stood in precise formation. Grim and Huangyan approached from the manor, their footsteps silent on the gravel path.
"Five men, three women," Chen Xing announced, falling into step beside them. "All trained under Orvannis’s third son."
Grim nodded, studying the assembled warriors as they drew closer. Each stood at attention. Their armor was well-maintained but showed signs of use—these were not ceremonial guards but experienced soldiers.
"Lady Huangyan will conduct the evaluations," Grim announced as they reached the formation. "I want to see not just their martial skills, but their adaptability and judgment."
Huangyan stepped forward, her amber eyes scanning the line. "I’ll test them in pairs first, then individually."
For the next two hours, the training grounds echoed with the clash of steel and the measured instructions of Huangyan’s testing regimen. She paired warriors seemingly at random, observing not just their combat techniques but how they adapted when forced to fight unfamiliar opponents.
During a brief pause, she approached Grim. "The woman on the left end—Kali. She has exceptional reflexes and thinks three moves ahead. The man next to her adapts well but lacks creativity."
"And the others?"
"Competent, but not exceptional. The tall one—Johnny—has strong fundamentals but telegraphs his intentions." She gestured to a shorter, stockier woman. "Vera there is the most experienced. She’s seen real combat, not just tournament matches."
Grim observed as Huangyan called for individual demonstrations. Each warrior performed a series of forms before engaging her in sparring. Her assessment proved accurate.
"Kali, Vera, and Johnny," Grim decided after the evaluations concluded. "The others fought well, but these three show the most promise."