The tidiness of Lancelot's parry prompts a single glance of understated appreciation from Lan Wangji, whose response is to backflip, with equal tidiness, away from him to regain his footing and to find a moment to consider strategy. The landing is soft, muffled footfalls on the grass. When he swoops back in, he does it more quickly, with a more precise flick of his blade, testing Lancelot's speed.