## Chapter 7: Sparks and Suspicions
The afternoon sun hung low, casting long shadows across the village square as Chen Yu and Liang Hao faced each other on the packed dirt. Instructor Gao Lin stood to the side, arms crossed, his white robe fluttering slightly in the breeze. The air was thick with the scent of dust and sweat, and a small crowd of villagers had gathered, their murmurs a low hum of curiosity. Sparring was the next step in their training, and Chen Yu's nerves were frayed, not just from the prospect of fighting but from Lin Xiao's warning and the lingering sense of being watched.
"Basic stances," Gao Lin said, his voice cutting through the chatter. "No martial souls, no soul power. Just form and movement. You're not soul masters yet—you need to learn how to move before you can fight. Liang Hao, attack. Chen Yu, defend."
Liang Hao grinned, dropping into a low stance, his lanky frame coiled with energy. "Ready, Yu? Don't go easy on me."
Chen Yu nodded, mirroring the stance Gao Lin had taught them—knees bent, weight balanced, hands raised to guard. His body felt small and weak, but Ethan's memories of martial arts videos gave him a slight edge. He focused on Liang Hao's movements, trying to ignore the hum in his chest, which pulsed faintly, as if the sphere was watching, waiting.
Liang Hao lunged, his fist aiming for Chen Yu's shoulder. It was a clumsy strike, telegraphed by his shifting weight, and Chen Yu sidestepped, deflecting the blow with his forearm. The impact stung, but he kept his balance, circling to keep Liang Hao in front of him. The crowd murmured, and Gao Lin's eyes narrowed, tracking every move.
"Good," Gao Lin said. "Liang Hao, faster. Chen Yu, don't just dodge—counter."
Liang Hao attacked again, this time with a series of quick jabs. Chen Yu blocked one, ducked another, and managed a light push to Liang Hao's chest, enough to throw him off balance. Liang Hao stumbled, laughing. "Not bad, Yu! You're quick for a little guy."
Chen Yu forced a smile, his heart racing. Sparring was exhausting, but it was also a distraction from the questions swirling in his head. Lin Xiao's words about Spirit Hall sending a report to their main branch gnawed at him. His martial soul's "old" aura, the starry void in his vision—it all pointed to something beyond the normal rules of Douluo Dalu. He needed to keep his head down, but Gao Lin's scrutiny was making that impossible.
The sparring continued, Gao Lin barking corrections as they traded blows. Liang Hao was stronger, his longer reach an advantage, but Chen Yu was faster, his movements precise despite his small frame. By the end of the session, both boys were panting, their tunics damp with sweat. The crowd clapped, more out of politeness than enthusiasm, and Gao Lin stepped forward.
"Decent," he said, his tone clipped. "Liang Hao, your form is sloppy, but you've got spirit. Chen Yu, you're holding back again. Your movements are too calculated for a village kid. Where'd you learn to fight like that?"
Chen Yu's stomach dropped. He'd been careful, or so he thought, but Gao Lin's eyes were too sharp. "Just… watching the older kids," he said, hoping the lie sounded plausible. "They used to spar near the stream."
Gao Lin studied him, then nodded slowly. "Fine. But don't hide your potential. Spirit Hall expects progress." He turned to the crowd. "Training's done for today. Tomorrow, we'll work on combining soul power with movement. Dismissed."
Liang Hao slumped onto the ground, grinning through his exhaustion. "Man, that was tough. You're good, Yu. Bet you'll be dodging soul beasts in no time."
Chen Yu managed a weak laugh, his mind elsewhere. Gao Lin's suspicion was a problem, and Lin Xiao's warning about Spirit Hall's report was worse. He needed to practice with his martial soul again, to understand its limits, but the barn felt too risky now. Whoever—or whatever—had been watching him last night could come back.
As the crowd dispersed, Chen Yu lingered, pretending to adjust his tunic while watching Gao Lin. The instructor was speaking to a villager, his expression unreadable, but his glance flicked toward Chen Yu once, brief but deliberate. Chen Yu turned away, his pulse quickening. He needed a new place to practice, somewhere no one would look.
He wandered toward the village's northern edge, where the houses gave way to fields and a small hill dotted with rocks. It wasn't as private as the barn, but it was open enough to see anyone approaching. The sun was setting, painting the sky in shades of red and gold, and the air was cooling fast. Chen Yu found a flat rock near the hill's base, hidden from the village by a cluster of bushes, and sat cross-legged.
He closed his eyes, reaching for the hum in his chest. It came quickly, the warmth spreading through him, and the sphere appeared, hovering above his palm. Its dark, iridescent surface shimmered, and that sense of presence was stronger now, almost expectant. He focused, channeling a thin stream of soul power into it, careful not to push too hard. The air rippled, and a pebble nearby trembled, then rolled toward the sphere, stopping an inch away.
Chen Yu's breath hitched. He adjusted his focus, trying to control the effect. The sphere pulsed, and the ripple grew stronger, tugging at the grass around him. A small twig snapped, drawn toward the sphere, and he felt a faint resistance, like the world was bending under his will. It wasn't just objects—it was the space itself, warping slightly, like a lens distorting light.
He pushed a little harder, and the hum became a low, musical tone. The sphere expanded, now the size of an apple, and the air grew heavy. A rock the size of his fist lifted off the ground, hovering briefly before dropping with a thud. Pain flared in his chest, sharp but manageable, and he cut off the soul power, letting the sphere vanish. He was panting, but he hadn't collapsed this time. Progress.
"What is this thing?" he muttered, staring at his empty palm. The novels never mentioned a soul like this—relic-type, yes, but sentient? Warping space? It felt like something from a different story, something older than the Douluo Continent he knew.
A rustle in the bushes made him freeze. He scrambled to his feet, heart pounding, and scanned the hill. The shadows were deeper now, the sun nearly gone, but he saw movement—a flicker of cloth, a glimpse of dark hair. "Who's there?" he called, his voice cracking.
Lin Xiao stepped out, her braid swinging as she crossed her arms. "Relax, it's just me. You really need to work on your stealth, you know. I could hear that humming from halfway across the field."
Chen Yu's shoulders sagged, but his guard stayed up. "What do you want, Lin Xiao? You can't keep sneaking up on me like this."
She smirked, stepping closer. "I wasn't sneaking. I was out here practicing, same as you. But that soul of yours…" She tilted her head, eyes narrowing. "It's not just weird—it's dangerous. You know that, right? The way it moves stuff, the way it feels. It's like it's alive."
Chen Yu tensed, his hand twitching. "You saw that? How long were you watching?"
"Long enough," she said, her smirk fading. "Look, I'm not here to rat you out. But you're not the only one who's curious. I heard Gao Lin talking to the elder after training. They're sending a higher-ranking Spirit Hall member to check on you. Someone from the city, maybe even a Spirit Sage. You need to be careful."
Chen Yu's stomach twisted. A Spirit Sage—rank seventy or higher—was way beyond anything he could handle. If they were coming for him, it wasn't just about training. They wanted to know what his soul was, and they wouldn't stop until they did. "Why are you helping me?" he asked, his voice low. "You don't even know me."
Lin Xiao shrugged, but her eyes were serious. "I told you, I don't like Spirit Hall. They took my brother two years ago—said he had potential, dragged him off to some academy. Haven't heard from him since. I don't want them doing the same to you. Or worse."
Chen Yu studied her, searching for a lie, but her expression was raw, unguarded. He nodded slowly. "Thanks. But I can handle myself."
She snorted. "Sure you can, hero. Just don't get caught playing with that soul of yours. And if you figure out what it is, tell me. I'm curious."
She turned and vanished into the shadows, leaving Chen Yu alone with the fading light. His chest hummed, the sphere's presence lingering like a whisper. A Spirit Sage was coming. Spirit Hall was closing in. And his soul was still a mystery, pulling him deeper into a world he wasn't ready for. He headed back to the orphanage, the weight of his new life heavier than ever.