She nodded and tossed a different bag back to Mingtian, within which Lily could hear the clink of jade against jade. Spirit stones? Probably spirit stones. “Beyond satisfactory. I wasn’t sure what to expect when you asked for the materials to make formation flags, but this certainly wasn’t it.” She smiled softly— and that too Lily recognized. It was the same dangerous smile she’d worn when they’d raided the criminal alchemist's home. “Suzhong, you’re also fine with this?”

“Yeah, yeah. It’s deliciously ironic that they did all this on the matter of safety and a gift from the damn Bloody Saffron Sect itself is going to render the entire thing essentially a moot point. It really is a shame to see you go, Mingtian. Would’ve loved to have you here for a couple more decades.”

“I never intended to teach here in the first place, and—”

“You won’t continue because there’s no reason. Yeah. I get it.” Instructor Ceng yawned widely as he heaved himself up from the couch, crushing the can into a flat circle of aluminum with contemptuous ease. Unlike some people— cough, Avyr— whose cultivation she could completely put out of her mind until she stubbed her toe trying to kick ‘em, Instructor Ceng never let them forget he was a Shedding cultivator. It was simply… part of his every action, movement and essence of self, his him. “Let’s get going then. The students are probably waiting outside by now.”

Tentatively, her and Avyr followed them out onto the field, their gazes dancing between all the familiar faces scattered about. She made sure to burn the memory of each and every detail into her mind— Young Master Xinshi’s voluminous robes, clearly enchanted, and the sword he wore on his hip. Guandong’s red ribbon. The various weapons that some students had brought with them. A few were even wearing padded armor they’d scrounged up from… somewhere. It almost made her feel self conscious that she had none of that.

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Almost. At least she still had a plan.

The outer disciple started setting up the formation as Instructor Ceng clapped loudly to get the crowd’s attention— not that it really worked, when there was a real cultivator doing actual, real cultivator things right there. “Alright everyone— alright! Focus!” That at least managed to drag most everyone’s gazes onto him. “Today’s exam is going to be just like last semester’s exams, except not at all because they changed the rules. No talismans. Other equipment is allowed, as per the usual. Treat this like you would a real battle— the honorable Outer Disciple has agreed to temporarily provide the school with a formation that will limit injuries from most blows. A killing blow won’t kill you, but it’ll still count as a killing blow. Give it your best and most brutal, and show the world what it means to be an elite student of East Saffron’s 32nd Preparatory Academy. First up… Raya Leth and Me Zengliao…”

Lily stood beside Avyr as the first match commenced, watching intently as the two students circled around each other only to dart forward and trade blows, a barrier of silken facets stopping their punches from truly landing on each other. By the way they recoiled, though, it still hurt.

So it went for the next few matches, as the sun rose in the sky and the mists were banished and— “next… Ai’er Avyr and Lily Ward.” It was time for her first match— and she already knew she was screwed.