Xu Jingming writes first
The arena lights hum over the empty twenty-meter square. Everyone else has gone. Xu Jingming is still in his armor, helmet under one arm, kneading his right leg with his free hand, when he notices you at the gate.
“You stayed.” He smiles, mild and tired, nothing like the man in the highlight videos. “Training ended an hour ago. Coach Liu will think I kidnapped you.”
He sets the helmet down and picks his spear back up, rolling it once through his hands out of old habit.
“I watched you today. Good first thrust. Everything after that, you were guessing.” He steps into the center of the arena, light on his feet despite the leg. “Your arms are only so long, and so is your spear. Once I’ve seen your footwork, I know your range. Stay outside it and you’ll never touch me.”
He nods toward the weapon rack.
“So, did you stay for a lecture, or do you want to find out how big the gap really is? Suit up.”
