Chapter 14: Sparing with Juniors

"Split up!" Linger whispered urgently to Xiao Fan, and they each veered off in different directions, hoping to confuse Grey and buy themselves some time.

But Grey, with his heightened senses and mischievous grin, was not so easily fooled. He watched them go with amusement, ready to make this game of cat and mouse even more entertaining.

"Oh, you can run, but you can't hide!" Grey called out, deciding which of his cute juniors to chase first. The thrill of the chase was all he needed to shake off his earlier depression. Now, it was time to catch his prey.

As soon as Linger and Xiao Fan took off running, Grey's eyes locked onto Xiao Fan, who was just a bit slower. "Oh no you don't, Xiao Fan!" Grey shouted, his grin widening as he launched himself after the fleeing boy.

Xiao Fan's heart pounded as he darted through the bamboo trees, zigzagging to throw off his relentless senior. "Senior Brother, have mercy!" he cried out, but the only response was Grey's mischievous laugh echoing behind him.

"Mercy? You want mercy after running away from your senior brother?" Grey called out, his speed increasing as he gained on Xiao Fan. The chase had turned into a full-blown game of cat and mouse, with Xiao Fan desperately trying to stay ahead. But with every turn, Grey seemed to close the distance effortlessly.

Xiao Fan's face was a mixture of terror and laughter, knowing that if Grey caught him, he'd be in for the most intense "training" of his life. As he tried to speed up, he realized there was no escaping the inevitable. Grey was too fast, too determined.

Finally, with a swift movement, Grey caught up and tapped Xiao Fan on the shoulder. "Gotcha!" he exclaimed, grabbing Xiao Fan by the collar and spinning him around. "Now, let's start our special training session, shall we?"

Xiao Fan's face fell as he caught his breath, while Grey gave a satisfied nod, already planning the torturous—oh, sorry, "beneficial"—training session ahead.

Grey's grin widened as he let go of Xiao Fan, who was still gasping for breath. He turned his gaze toward where Linger had run off to, his eyes narrowing playfully. "Now it's your turn, Linger," he said, his voice dripping with mock menace.

Linger, who had thought she might have escaped, froze mid-step. She slowly turned around to see Grey already sprinting in her direction, his smile growing even more mischievous. "No, no, no! Stay away from me!" she yelled, taking off at full speed.

But Grey was relentless. "You can run, but you can't hide, Junior Sister!" he called out, his voice filled with teasing glee. The chase was on, and Linger knew that the "training devil" was right on her heels.

Despite her best efforts, Grey closed the distance quickly. Linger, trying to dodge him, zigzagged between the bamboo trees, but Grey matched her every move, clearly enjoying the chase.

Finally, Linger found herself cornered against a large bamboo grove. She turned around slowly, panting, and raised her hands in surrender. "Alright, alright, I give up! You win, Senior Brother!"

Grey smirked as he closed the distance, patting her on the head. "Good choice, Junior Sister. Now, let's start our training session—after all, we wouldn't want you to fall behind, would we?"

Linger groaned, knowing that whatever Grey had planned would be anything but easy. Xiao Fan, who had managed to catch his breath, watched from a distance, silently grateful that it was Linger's turn this time.

Xiao Fan and Linger unleashed their full power, launching a coordinated assault on Grey. Xiao Fan's punches were swift and precise, aiming at Grey's midsection, while Linger's kicks were aimed at his sides and legs. Despite their combined effort, Grey seemed to glide effortlessly through their attacks, dodging with an agility that left them both exasperated.

As Linger's kick flew just inches from Grey's face, he twisted in mid-air, narrowly avoiding it. He countered with a playful swipe, knocking her off balance. Xiao Fan tried to capitalize on the opening, but Grey was already sidestepping, his movements so fluid it was almost like he was dancing.

Grey's playful grin never faded. Every time Linger or Xiao Fan thought they had him cornered, he'd be somewhere else, barely touched by their efforts. He would occasionally toss a gentle counterattack, nudging them or tapping them lightly on the shoulder, further aggravating them.

"Come on, give me something harder!" Grey taunted, ducking a particularly fierce swing from Linger. "Is that all you've got?"

Linger's frustration was palpable as she tried to land a decisive blow, only to miss again as Grey gracefully ducked and twirled out of the way. "Stop mocking us!" she shouted, her cheeks flushed with exertion.

Xiao Fan, sweating and panting, tried to regroup and anticipate Grey's next move, but every attempt was met with Grey's effortless dodging and playful jabs. Despite their frustration, the training had turned into an unexpected display of skill and amusement.

After 15 minutes,

Eventually, Grey, seeing that they were giving their all but still unable to land a hit, decided to end the session. He raised both hands in a gesture of surrender, grinning from ear to ear. "Alright, alright! You two are improving, but you'll need to work on your teamwork if you want to catch me!"

Linger and Xiao Fan, though exhausted, couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of their relentless pursuit. They collapsed onto the ground, panting and laughing, while Grey, still standing, watched with a mix of satisfaction and amusement.

As the commotion continued, a new voice cut through the noise, calling out, "Grey?"

Grey turned to see Madam Su Ru approaching with a calm but commanding presence. His playful demeanor shifted to one of respect. He quickly stood straight, offering a polite bow. "Disciple Grey pays his respects to Madam Su Ru."

Madam Su Ru acknowledged him with a warm smile before turning her attention to the scene. Linger, catching her mother's gaze, stomped her foot and complained, "Mom, this guy is bullying us!"

Grey, with a hint of mischief, defended himself. "That's called training, Linger. If Madam Su Ru wanted to intervene, she would've done so earlier. Clearly, she's seen everything."

Madam Su Ru raised an eyebrow. Her expression was of amusement. "Indeed, I've been watching. Training often involves pushing your limits, even if it means some discomfort."

Grey grinned, feeling a bit triumphant. "See? Even Madam Su Ru agrees with me."

Linger huffed but managed a small smile. "Alright, alright. I guess we'll take a break then."

Grey, with a playful smirk, called out, "Of course, after the break, there will be training again!"

Linger and Xiao Fan, catching the hint, quickly dashed off, their laughter echoing through the Bamboo Forest.

"Hey, stop running! Do your training!" Grey shouted, chasing after them with renewed enthusiasm.

Madam Su Ru watched the scene with a mix of amusement and pride. "Did you see, dear? Grey almost caught up with his seniors."

Tian Buyi appeared beside her, his expression a blend of skepticism and approval. "Hmph, that brat still has a long way to go."

"But dear, even you have to admit that in just seven months, he's nearly caught up to his seniors, who have trained for years," Su Ru pointed out.

"So what?" Tian Buyi replied, a hint of nostalgia in his voice. "At his age, I was like that too."

"Oh, I know, dear," Madam Su Ru chuckled, her eyes twinkling with affection. "You were quite a prodigy in your time."

With that, the two continued to observe the energetic training session, their conversation drifting to other topics as Grey's playful pursuit of his juniors continued in the background.