Chapter 4: The Proper Way to Fall

Ji paid for the school's demonstration space before she discovered what Shen intended to demonstrate.

Their place stood between a noodle stall and a seller of ornamental scabbards.

Shen spread an old blanket over the paving stones.

She set the borrowed stool at one corner for prospective students.

Then she announced that anybody could learn to fall safely.

Ji looked at the scabbard seller's shining display and wanted her sword back.

Their neighbors had silk banners, polished weapons, and matching uniforms.

Low Step had a blanket with a bean stain near its middle.

She had spent most of her remaining copper to secure that blanket's location.

A small boy stopped to watch, holding his grandmother's hand.

Ji immediately straightened so he would see a proper cultivator.

Shen asked the grandmother whether she would like the stool.

The woman accepted it before her grandson could answer for her.

That left Ji standing in front of their entire audience.

"Begin from a crouch," Shen told her.

Ji lowered herself, then remembered the academy's public demonstrations.

Those always began with a long, sweeping sleeve and an impressive turn.

She spread both arms before she let her right knee bend.

Her left sleeve caught the nearest noodle stall's hanging ladle.

The ladle dropped into a clean serving bowl with a loud clang.

The little boy looked away from Ji to admire the noise.

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