Chapter 2: The Art of Strategic Napping (and Accidental Insight)

  Ryan settled into his role as Mei's "strategic advisor" with surprising ease. It mostly involved finding comfortable spots in the Veridia Sword Clan's training grounds to observe (read: nap) while Mei diligently prepared for her diplomatic mission. He’d offer vague, unhelpful advice like, "Just be… persuasive!" or "Remember, communication is key!" whenever anyone asked for his input.

  However, during one of his "strategic observation" sessions (which involved him leaning against a pillar, pretending to meditate while actually dozing), he overheard a heated discussion between two senior disciples, Jian and Hua.

  "Her sword form is still too rigid," Jian grumbled, adjusting the grip on his own blade. "Against a seasoned opponent, she'll be easily countered."

  Hua sighed. "The Sect Leader is adamant. She's the Lumina Blade's chosen envoy. We just have to hope her silver tongue can compensate for her… less refined technique."

  Ryan, still half-asleep, mumbled, "Elbow… too high…"

  Jian and Hua exchanged bewildered glances. "Did you say something, Lumina Blade?" Jian asked hesitantly.

  Ryan blinked, pretending to stretch. "Just… thinking aloud. About the… complexities of diplomacy. You know, like… keeping your elbows down when you're… negotiating a trade agreement. Shows you're… relaxed and trustworthy." He punctuated his profound wisdom with a yawn.

  Jian and Hua looked at each other again, even more confused. But later that day, during Mei's practice session, Jian subtly adjusted her elbow position. The change was immediate. Her movements flowed more smoothly, her strikes carrying more power. Even Mei looked surprised.

  Later, Mei approached Ryan, a thoughtful expression on her face. "Feng," she said, "during my practice today, Jian gave me some advice about my form. It actually helped a lot. Did you… perhaps mention something to him?"

  Ryan widened his eyes innocently. "Me? Advise a senior disciple? Preposterous! I was merely… contemplating the… aerodynamic principles of… persuasive speech. Must have been a lucky coincidence!" He patted her on the shoulder. "See? You're already inspiring people with your… diplomatic aura!"

  You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

  Mei still looked slightly skeptical, but she had more pressing matters to attend to, namely packing for her journey.

  As Mei prepared to depart, the Sect Leader approached Ryan, his expression serious. "Lumina Blade," he said, his voice low. "While Mei travels, I have another task for you. There have been reports of strange occurrences in the nearby Whispering Woods. Villagers speak of shadows moving in the daylight and unsettling whispers on the wind. I need you to investigate."

  Ryan’s heart sank. Investigate? That sounded suspiciously like… hero work. "Whispering Woods?" he repeated weakly. "Shadows? Whispers? Sounds… drafty. And potentially bad for my… allergies. Perhaps Chen would be better suited for this? He has such… keen hearing! He might actually understand what the whispers are saying!"

  Chen, who was diligently polishing the Sect Leader's boots nearby, looked up in alarm. "Me? The Whispering Woods?"

  The Sect Leader stroked his beard, his gaze unwavering. "Lumina Blade, your insight is valuable, but sometimes, the hero must take direct action. This seems like a task befitting the prophesied one."

  Ryan swallowed hard. Direct action? This was going against his entire strategy. "Very well," he said with a sigh that could rival a hurricane. "I shall… bravely… observe the Whispering Woods. From a safe distance. With a lot of tea."

  His investigation of the Whispering Woods turned out to be less terrifying and more… inconvenient. Mostly, it involved swatting away oversized mosquitoes and trying to decipher the rustling leaves. However, during one particularly frustrating moment when he tripped over a root, he instinctively performed a series of fluid movements to regain his balance, a martial arts form he had no conscious memory of learning.

  He froze, realizing what he had just done. It was a basic, yet elegant, movement from the Veridia Sword Clan's foundational techniques, executed with a natural grace that even Jian struggled to achieve.

  "Okay," he thought, his mind racing. "That was… weird. Did I just… do martial arts? Without trying?"

  He tried to replicate the movement, focusing intently. It felt clumsy, forced. But the instinct was there, a faint echo in his muscles.

  Over the next few days in the woods, while ostensibly "investigating," Ryan found himself unconsciously mimicking other movements he’d observed during training sessions back at the clan. He’d be swatting a fly and suddenly find his hand in a precise striking position. He’d be climbing over a fallen log and his footwork would be surprisingly agile.

  He was a prodigy, a natural talent, and he was desperately trying to ignore it. The irony was almost enough to make him choke on a stray leaf.

  As his time in the Whispering Woods drew to a close (he hadn't found any menacing shadows, just a lot of noisy squirrels), Ryan returned to the Sect, his mind buzzing. He was a reluctant hero who was also a reluctant genius. This was going to make his plans for a quiet, wealthy retirement significantly more complicated.