Despite Luan’s initial predictions, I continue living and two weeks pass.


    Jun’s still too busy to talk to me much. But his squad does a good job of keeping me company. Luan’s still suspicious of me but seems to accept that I’ve been too injured to get up to much.


    Zhen has told me so many stories in way too much detail and some of them might even be true.


    And Ming, well Ming, just continues doing his three step workout routine: step 1) reorganize the entire training ground, step 2) stretchy stretch, step 3) drill baby drill. Today is no exception and I must admit that this does give me plenty of study time.


    But today, the manor is a buzz with news, and no one will tell me what it is. Gossip maid, won’t gossip in front of me if she knows I’m awake. And heaven’s knows Ming isn’t going to talk to me unless it’s absolutely necessary.


    I try to focus on my flash cards but then there is a loud bang and a dust cloud appears in the middle of the training grounds.


    Once the dust settles, Zhen is standing in the center of a small hole with Ming’s sword at his throat. He’s holding his hands up in surrender and says, “Brother Ming, how about we talk about this?”


    With one sausage like finger, he gently pushes the sword away from his throat.


    Ming says, “If you didn’t want my sword at your throat, you shouldn’t have interrupted in the middle of my drills.”


    “Well Brother, I thought you would like having a sparing partner for this afternoon, since Jun is debriefing Tai. But I can see that I’m not welcome here.”


    Before Zhen can even take a step, Ming sheaths his sword and bows to Zhen with his hands clasped in front. “I apologize Brother. It would be an honor to trade pointers.”


    “That’s what I thought.” I can hear the satisfied smirk before he turns to wave hello at me. I wave back.


    Zhen continues, “How about we show the Lady what we can do?”


    Ming draws his sword again, and says, “Don’t you dare hold back on me.”Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    With a laugh, he says, “Wouldn’t dream of it.”


    The bits of the spar that I can follow with my weak mortal eyes, show that Zhen only brought his fists to a sword fight and despite all logic to the contrary appears to be winning. He can somehow punch a super powered sword. That has to be magic.


    The flashcards get forgotten for a while and I just try to follow the fight. Even though he promised not to hold back, Zhen is clearly going at Ming’s pace. Between the slashes, he gives what sounds like actual useful advice like your left foot is too rotated or you still need to follow through.


    Zhen manages to tire Ming out and leaves him in a panting sweaty pile on the training ground floor, before coming over to sit next to me.


    He pours us both a fresh cup of juice and spikes his with a little something from a flask. His cup smokes a little. After we each take a sip, he asks me, “So what do you think of the news?”


    I manage to not yell. In the most polite voice I can muster, I say, “What news? No one has told me anything.”


    “Tsk, tsk,” he tells towards the training ground, “Ming why haven’t you told Lady Ellen the news?”


    The pile makes an unintelligible grunt. Zhen sighs. Then he drags Ming by the arm to my table and dumps him in a chair, before sitting back down like dragging people through the dirt is perfectly normal and civil.


    He leans in towards me while pouring a cup for Ming, “Tai returned at some point in the dark with a letter from the Emperor’s court, which was what we were expecting.”


    I nod and take a sip. The juice is a little too sweet for my taste, but according to Luan my body needs all the calories I can get.


    “But here’s the good part,” his eyes twinkle, clearly expecting me to beg for it.


    Instead, Ming says, “And the Imperial Court addressed Jun as Prince, Liang Jun, the Sword of Jubilant Light, the fourth disciple of the Celestial Sword of the South, Lord of White Fang and the true heir to the Golden Bamboo Palace; therefore, acknowledging that he is the rightful heir to his uncle’s territory and validating the war he’s about to wage.”


    Then Ming knocks the juice back like it’s a shot and refills his cup.


    Zhen says, “I was almost there.”


    Ming rolls his eyes, “I should have told Lady Ellen sooner or I should have waited. You can’t have it both ways brother.”


    Undeterred, Zhen says, “Of course I can.” Ming sips this cup.


    Zhen continues, “Anyways, that’s the big news, Tai is back and Jun was acknowledge by some court too far away to bother to send any support. And since Tai is back, now I can just sit and wait and for him to find his welcome home gift.”


    “And you decided to hide at my training grounds?”


    “He probably won’t find it until he wakes up. And after that trip, he might sleep for days.”


    There’s a loud boom and I turn to see a mass of purple smoke pouring out of one of the upstairs windows. “Or he could wake up right now.”


    Ming takes another sip. “I’m not helping either of you.”


    There’s a blur and Zhen is laughing his ass off in his hole in the center of the training ground, while a purple blob tries to punch his face it. It appears to be about as effective as tickle torture.


    Ming tops up both our cups and then turns to watch.