Chapter 8｜Night Training for Three: The True Combat Style Takes Shape

When night falls, the mountains reveal their truest self.

By day, the mountains are for prey to see;

By night, they belong only to those who survive.

Li Xing kept the lamps unlit.

The courtyard lay in gloom, moonlight settling on the ground like a thin frost.

Zhao Yun stood by the wall, his Tang sword sheathed, spine rigid.

Li Yu hugged his rifle, leaning against the doorframe, breathing deliberately softly.

This was their first time—

training not for the hunt.

“Tonight, we do only three things.”

Li Xing spoke, his voice low enough to be carried away by the wind.

“Positioning.”

“Coordination.”

“Mistakes.”

Li Yu looked up: “Mistakes?”

“Yes.”

Li Xing met her gaze. “Making mistakes here is better than losing your life out there.”

Round One｜Positioning

No targets. No prey.

Only the route.

Li Xing led the way, following the path outside the courtyard toward the back mountain.

His pace was measured, yet he never stepped twice on the same spot.

Zhao Yun trailed behind on the left, maintaining a three-step distance.

His Tang sword remained unsheathed, but his hand never left the hilt.

Li Yu walked the outer flank, deliberately lagging half a body length behind.

System prompts synchronized in all three minds:

“Cooperative Action Test in Progress.”

“Warning: Formation Unstable.”

Suddenly, Li Xing halted.

Zhao Yun stopped almost simultaneously.

Li Yu lagged half a beat, her foot snapping a dry branch beneath her.

“Snap.”

The sound was faint.

But in the night, it was deadly enough.

“Again.” Li Xing offered no reproach.

Li Yu pressed her lips together and nodded.

The second time, she anticipated the pause in advance.

The system prompt shifted subtly:

“Formation Stability: Improved.”

Round Two｜Coordination

This time, there were targets.

Not people.

Three pre-set “hazard points”—

fallen logs, ropes, and a sudden clanging metal plate.

Zhao Yun handled close-range engagements.

His Tang sword drew from its scabbard, not to strike, but to block, parry, and sever.

“The sword isn't about speed,”

Li Xing reminded her. “It's about—slowing the enemy down.”

Li Yu lay prone on the slope, his rifle never aimed at the human-shaped target.

Instead—at the shadow behind the shadow.

“Remember.”

“You're not the final shot.”

“You're—the shot that prevents things from getting worse.”

Li Yu nodded, his breathing gradually steadying.

System feedback:

“Role positioning confirmed.”

“Li Yu: Long-range suppression / Threat containment.”

Round Three｜Mistake

This round came without warning.

Li Xing abruptly changed course.

Zhao Yun reacted with lightning speed, yet still was a split second too late—his shoulder grazed the tree trunk.

“If that had been a person,”

Li Xing said coldly, “you'd be injured right now.”

Zhao Yun nodded, offering no defense.

Immediately after, Li Xing deliberately exposed his position.

Li Yu's heartbeat surged.

She nearly pulled the trigger.

“Stop.” Li Xing barked.

Li Yu's hand trembled.

“You must learn to discern.”

“When to shoot saves one life.”

“When not to shoot saves everyone.”

She took a deep breath and lowered the muzzle.

System prompt appeared:

“Emotional interference assessment passed.”

“Li Yu: Combat psychological stability increased.”

At the end of the night training, the three sat on the hillside.

Silent.

Only the sound of the wind.

The system's final summary:

“Team combat roles confirmed.”

Li Xing: Core decision-making / Route selection

Zhao Yun: Close-quarters disruption / Clearance

Li Yu: Long-range coverage / Risk control

“Note: This combination is optimal for non-frontal engagement scenarios.”

Zhao Yun spoke suddenly: “If they really come—”

Li Xing finished: “It won't be head-on.”

Li Yu lifted her head, gazing into the depths of darkness.

“Then we'll make sure they can't find us.”

Under the moonlight, the shadows of the three intertwined.

They didn't look like a family.

Yet they were more of a whole than any family.

And the true combat style

took shape at last, on this night.