Chapter Three: Thirty-Seven Players, One Sparring Session

The Crown had not given him this ability. For three years as a sparring partner, he had watched five professional players at once, recorded every mistake, and then described those mistakes gently enough not to injure a star's pride during review. No one had applauded that skill, but it had grown into his eyes. “Left. Two steps,” Su Wanqing said. Lin Jin obeyed. The volley grazed his shoulder and pinned an assassin behind him. “Acid burst at three o'clock. Four seconds.” He kicked over a corroded bone plate. Green fluid swept across the passage and reduced seven hunters to critical health. Su Wanqing's directions were too precise for an improvised partner.