Chapter 5: The Sparring Partner

“Chu Zihang, I watched your last basketball game, and I even brought you water. Do you remember me?” Xia Mi asked.

She was truly a beautiful girl, her long ponytail tied neatly, her fluffy bangs like mist, and her bright eyes clearly reflecting Chu Zihang’s figure.

Chu Zihang hesitated as he looked at her, saying nothing.

“Looks like you don’t remember. It’s okay, I remember you,” the girl said with a crooked smile, her ponytail swaying like willow leaves in the wind. “Senior, do me a favor and go have a meal with me?”

She was so familiar, so warm that rejecting her felt almost guilty, but the atmosphere was off. Even the slow-witted Chu Zihang sensed something strange.

Tang Xi didn’t dare say a word either. She wasn’t dull; she knew exactly who that girl was—

The King of Earth and Mountains, Ymir.

Back then, when Tang Xi chose Chu Zihang, there was no other option. If there had been, she might have hesitated, mainly because of Xia Mi.

Chu Zihang was perfect in every way: potential, drive, an excellent partner. The only problem was that a Dragon King had taken an interest in him.

According to the original timeline, after escaping from the overpass, he already bore Odin’s mark, which then attracted Ymir’s attention—perhaps even earlier.

Their entanglement began there.

Of course, Tang Xi wasn’t very concerned about this supposed entanglement. Her only worry was whether Ymir would discover her.

If found out, what would happen to her?

Right now, she was too weak, just a defenseless prey before a Dragon King-level threat.

Tang Xi had to be cautious—after all, she was merely a weapon whose durability was about to run out, ready to break at any moment.

“Sorry,” Chu Zihang said after a long hesitation, “I’ve been busy lately and don’t have time.”

He wasn’t very good at handling such situations, speaking stiffly. But the girl seemed unfazed, only showing a hint of regret.

“Oh… I see. Well then,” Xia Mi sighed helplessly, “Just let me know when you do have time. And I’ll keep cheering you on!”

She said this, clenching her small fists and waving as she bounced away, her youthful energy shining even in her back.

Seeing this, Tang Xi and Chu Zihang both breathed a sigh of relief. The boy didn’t dare linger and headed straight for the youth center.

Perhaps it was the power of hatred—or maybe Chu Zihang was naturally talented—he learned quickly.

From initially wielding the staff like a madman to now flawlessly completing a full set of moves, even throwing a few impressive gun spins, not much time had passed.

The only issue was that the youth center’s classes focused on flashy moves meant for show; deep mastery was impossible, but it was enough.

After all, true lethal skills could only be honed on the edge of life and death.

Tang Xi figured he was ready. After Chu Zihang finished his training for the day, she spoke first.

“I think you’ve roughly gotten the basics. If you keep training here, you won’t improve much. Let’s find some sparring partners.”

Chu Zihang paused while packing his bag. He was gradually getting used to the other voice in his head and whispered, “Sparring partners? Where?”

“The overpass,” Tang Xi said succinctly. “Dare to go?”

…

It was raining again. The entire city was shrouded in shadows.

Chu Zihang drove with his body rigid, a strange long spear resting quietly on the passenger seat.

This was just an ordinary Toyota, nothing compared to a Maybach. Tang Xi insisted on keeping a low profile. Otherwise, with Chu Zihang’s wealth, buying a better car wouldn’t be a problem.

Raindrops pelted the car, crackling against it. The speed climbed to its maximum. The wind and rain slammed against them, and the black mountains and forests flanking the road seemed to rush forward. The whole world felt like it was closing in.

Pitch-black shadows crawled up from beneath the overpass, slowly straightening as if transforming from four-legged beasts into upright humans.

They watched the car from afar, their necks twisting like snakes. Underneath the elevated highway, the vast broadleaf forest swayed, and the world subtly warped.

All that remained were the sounds of wind, rain, and eerie, suppressed wails that resembled a crying infant trapped in the throats of those shadows.

Yet they did not attack, only watching from afar, as if unable to strike so long as Chu Zihang did not step into their domain—like tormented souls imprisoned in a land of death, twisted by despair, forever unable to break free.

“That’s enough. Stop here,” Tang Xi said as the car slowed to a halt. They were now very close to those shadows, and a faint metallic scent wafted through the storm.

Chu Zihang felt uneasy. Those creatures’ voices clung to him like restless spirits from the underworld.

The pouring rain, the darkness, it all felt like a nightmare from which he could not awaken. His hands gripping the steering wheel trembled slightly.

“See those dead servants ahead? You go and lure one out. That’ll be the sparring partner I prepared for you,” Tang Xi instructed.

Chu Zihang hesitated briefly, then nodded without surprise or questions.

He was a man of his word. Once he promised to listen to Tang Xi, he wouldn’t backtrack. Besides, in his eyes, Tang Xi’s very existence was incredible, so nothing she did was unexpected.

The only question was…

“How should I do it?”

The wind and rain battered him. The line between life and death was stark. Countless pitch-black shadows stood greedily staring from the other side of the bridge, like the gaze of the dead.

How could he possibly draw out one or two of them? They seemed unable to leave that realm of death, and if Chu Zihang stepped in, it wouldn’t be just one or two.

Throwing a spear from a distance? What if the Gungnir couldn’t return? Did it have an automatic recall?

Tang Xi pondered seriously but couldn’t think of a foolproof approach. She stared at the durability display—now at 3—and formed a bold guess.

“Don’t rush. Let me possess your body first. I’ll study the situation.”

Counting time silently, after a minute, she saw the durability drop from 3 to 2 and promptly withdrew.

As she suspected, only when she controlled Chu Zihang’s body did the durability decrease.

As long as durability didn’t hit zero, nothing would happen. That meant she still had at least a minute of proxy control—enough time to take over and escape safely, a solid insurance.

With that thought, she spoke confidently, “You go straight in, but don’t go too deep. Stay at the edge, understand? You should be able to escape at any moment.”

“When you feel drained, come out. Also, your word magic—given your current level, you can only use it once. Save it for clearing the way when you run out.”

“I know you’re afraid, but don’t be. This move is risky but rewarding. Let’s try it once. If it doesn’t work, we’ll rethink.”

Though her heart pounded fiercely, Tang Xi displayed absolute confidence before Chu Zihang, earnestly coaxing him.

“Alright, go. With me here, I won’t let you die. I’m strong—trust me.”

One minute might be brief, but who said a minute wasn’t enough for a strong person? Just charge ahead!