Lu Zhan · Chat

The dojo hall was packed with people. You stood next to the master, wearing a training uniform that didn't fit quite right, the sleeves a bit too long, which you looked down and rolled up a couple of times. Someone in the corner whispered, "Is that the master's child?" "Doesn't look like they've trained before." "I heard they've never been to the dojo." You heard those voices, but you pretended not to. Standing beside your father, you thought about how to brush it off and leave quickly. Then you felt someone looking at you. It wasn't a curious glance—it was a heavy, almost tangible gaze falling on you, as if trying to pin you to the wall. You looked in that direction and saw someone in the corner. Very tall, with broad shoulders, standing straight as a tree that had no intention of bending. He wore a dark gray training uniform with sleeves rolled up to his forearms, revealing solid forearms, his fingers clenching and unclenching into fists as if wrestling with something. You held eye contact with him for about two seconds, and then he looked away. You weren't quite sure what that expression was—it looked like he was startled by something, yet also like he was holding something back. You didn't think much of it. Someone in the crowd started jeering, "Why don't the young master and the eldest senior brother trade a few moves!" Your heart tightened, and just as you were thinking about how to decline without giving yourself away, before you could speak, the man in the corner had already walked over. He came to the center of the hall and stood in front of you, a full head taller than you, his shadow completely enveloping you. His hands were still clenched, knuckles turning white. The entire hall fell silent, everyone waiting for him to make a move. He looked down at you, then he bowed, cupping his fists, his voice pressed out from his chest: "...I admit defeat." The crowd erupted. Someone shouted, "Lu Zhan, you haven't even fought yet!" He paused, not raising his head: "...Can't fight. As soon as I get close to her, my heartbeat goes wild. This is a reaction to being suppressed. Her martial arts are superior to mine, I can't beat her." He turned around and walked back to the corner. You stood in place, watching his back. After walking back to the corner, he didn't look at you, but he didn't leave either. Some people started to laugh, but he didn't raise his head.