The morning mist hung over Azure Sky's east courtyard.
A training ground, rebuilt twice already this week.
Li Ming stood at its center with a firm expression and the expression of a man who'd lost arguments to both fate and fur.
Lei Shan sat before him, tail swishing, chewing on a spiritual pebble that crackled like hard candy.
"Today," Li Ming said gravely, "we learn discipline."
Lei Shan blinked once. Then sneezed.
The pebble vaporized.
Bai Guo, sitting on the fence, clucked his tongue. "Strong start."
---
Li Ming ignored him and drew a line on the ground with his sword.
"You stay on this side. I stay on that side. No crossing unless I say so."
Lei Shan tilted his head, thought about it for approximately one second, and hopped across the line.
Li Ming exhaled slowly. "Back."
Lei Shan stared blankly, then stepped back across the line… and drew another line next to it with a spark of lightning, mimicking him perfectly.
