Lian Yi stood frozen in the courtyard, her mind spinning with the revelations from the past hour. The lingering warmth of the morning sun did nothing to soothe the chill that had settled deep in her bones. Her father’s words echoed in her ears, each one a shard of ice piercing through the haze of confusion and disbelief.
The Hidden Blade Sect wanted to marry her off to solidify their power. Her father, the venerable master of the Wind Flower Sect, had agreed to let this strange man, with an even stranger name, Ahmad Fadl Xu train her. But could she even call it training?
Ahmad was no wise master or revered warrior, he was a wandering drunk, with a perpetual smirk that showed no seriousness. How could her father trust this man with her future? And why had her father never mentioned this marriage before? The thought that her father had been silently bearing this burden instead of rightfully sharing it with her gnawed at her heart. Was her fate to be reduced to a mere pawn in a political game?
She clenched her fists, her fingernails biting into her palms. The idea of being forced into marriage with some stranger was terrifying, but so was the thought of leaving her home, her family, and everything she knew to train under this… this man.
She looked at the main hall, the heavy doors now closed, shutting her out of the decisions being made about her own life.
She felt the weight of the situation pressing down on her, and for the first time, truly understood the precariousness of her position.
Her thoughts however, were interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching. She turned to see Ahmad sauntering back towards her, his posture relaxed, as if he had just concluded a casual conversation rather than an arrangement that would decide her entire future.
“Well, little Missy,” Ahmad called out, his voice tinged with that same infuriatingly casual tone, “looks like you’re stuck with me for a while. Don’t worry, I’ll try not to make it too miserable.” After finishing, he glanced at her, scanning her body with his infuriatingly relaxed eyes.
Lian Yi’s eyes narrowed, her irritation flaring. “What exactly is your plan, ‘Master’ Ahmad? Or are you just going to take me along on your drunken escapades and call it training?” The mockery in her voice didn’t escape him.
Ahmad grinned, clearly amused by her defiance. “Not even trying to hide that you were eavesdropping? Well, with skills like that it’s not like you could, but I like your spirit.”
He turned abruptly, calling out to a nearby servant. “Oi! Bring out everything that could be used as a weapon. I don’t care if it’s a rusty rake or a broken broom. If it can be swung, stabbed, or thrown, I want it here.”
The servant hesitated, blinking in confusion before casting a glance at Lian Yi, who remained silent, her expression a mix of disbelief and frustration. The servant took her silence as confirmation and scurried off to fulfill the bizarre request.
Lian Yi watched the exchange, incredulous. This was her new master? The one who was supposed to make her strong enough to defy the Hidden Blade Sect, stronger than her father? Ahmad’s nonchalance grated on her nerves. She had imagined many times that she would meet some wise master who would take her to explore the world, a childish fantasy of hers. But instead she got a drunken fat fool. “You can’t be serious.”
Ahmad heard Lian Yi’s muttered words and chuckled, the sound grating against her already frayed nerves. He leaned against a nearby pillar, his expression one of lazy amusement as he watched the servant scurry away.
“Serious? Missy, the only thing I’m serious about is getting through this favor as quickly as possible, so I can get back to my… more enjoyable pastimes,” Ahmad said, sarcasm dripping from his words. “But until then, we’re going to do this my way. So if you’re expecting some grand lesson on the philosophy of martial arts, prepare to be disappointed.”
Lian Yi’s mouth tightened into a thin line. She had no idea who this man really was. The way he carried himself, the nonchalance with which he approached everything, made it hard to believe he was anything more than a drunkard her father happened to know from back before he became the sect master. No one in the sect had ever mentioned Ahmad Fadl Xu before today, and it was strange to think that someone so important could have escaped the notice of everyone she knew.
But now, here she was, facing an uncertain future with a man who seemed more interested in mocking her than teaching her anything useful. She couldn’t help but believe that her father had made a terrible mistake in trusting this man.
As they waited for the servant’s return, Ahmad pulled out a small, worn gourd from his tunic, taking a long swig. The faint smell of rice wine drifted through the air, and Lian Yi wrinkled her nose in distaste.
“Relax, kid,” Ahmad said, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “It’s just a bit of training. Oh wait, don’t tell me you never swung a sword before today? Then it might be too hard for ya.”
Lian Yi crossed her arms, her gaze steely. “I’m not afraid of hard work, and i have trained my fair share” she said. “But I need to know if you’re actually going to teach me something valuable, or if this is just some game to you.”
Ahmad paused, the grin fading slightly from his face. He studied her for a moment, his sharp eyes narrowing as if trying to gauge her resolve. The casual air he wore like a cloak slipped for just a second, revealing a flash of something deeper, something more serious.
“You want something valuable, eh?” he said quietly. “Fine. Here’s something valuable, the world doesn’t care if you’re ready. It doesn’t care abut who you are, what you want, or where you’re going. It’s going to throw everything it has at you, and the only thing that matters is whether you’re standing at the end of it. Training with a weapon onyl because someone else uses it is idiotic. You have to find the best one for you, or the entire journey is pointless. Which is why those guys are coming here.”
Before Lian Yi could respond, the servant returned, followed by a small group of others, all struggling under the weight of an assortment of weapons and tools. Swords, spears, staffs, axes, hammers, and even a few farming implements were piled on the ground before them. The collection was chaotic, a mix of finely crafted weapons and everyday objects, some rusted, others in decent condition.
Ahmad looked over to the pile, nudging a few items with the toe of his boot. The servants didn''t bother to organize them in any way. “Here we go,” he said, almost to himself. “Time to see what you’re made of, Missy.”
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Lian Yi watched him with a mix of skepticism and curiosity. She had trained with swords before, the standard weapon of the Wind Flower Sect, but the idea of trying all these different tools was new to her. Could this really be the way to determine her strengths?
“Or not,” he said suddenly, surprising her. “You don''t intend to train in… That. Or do you want to ruin your dress?
Lian Yi looked at Ahmad, her brow furrowing in confusion as she processed his words. She glanced down at herself, suddenly aware of the rich, but slightly dirty, fabric beneath her fingertips. She had been so consumed by the tension and revelations of the day that she had not even noticed she was still in her formal attire. A flowing silk dress embroidered with intricate patterns of lotus flowers, its sleeves long and delicate, and the hem trailing slightly on the ground. It was the kind of garment meant for ceremonies and important meetings, not for rigorous training or handling weapons.
The realization hit her all at once. Her cheeks flushed with a mix of embarrassment and irritation at herself for not noticing sooner, and at Ahmad for pointing it out so casually. Without a word, she turned on her heel and hurried back towards the inner quarters of the estate, the edges of her dress whispering against the stone path as she went.
Inside, Lian Yi made her way to her chambers. The weight of everything she had learned that day pressed heavily on her, but she forced herself to focus on the immediate task.
She needed to change, physically and mentally, if she was going to take this training seriously. She was still hesitant but until she got a chance to discuss it with her father she decided to go along with the mans commands, at least for now.
Once in her room, she stripped off the formal dress, carefully folding it and placing it aside. She then reached for her training attire, garments she had worn countless times before. The outfit was simple but functional, a light, sleeveless tunic made from a durable, breathable fabric in a deep shade of green, paired with fitted trousers that allowed for easy movement.
She tied a leather belt around her waist, securing the tunic and giving herself a sense of readiness. Her boots were sturdy, well-worn from years of practice, their soles tough enough to withstand the rough terrain of the training grounds. Finally, Lian Yi pulled her hair back, securing it in a high, tight knot to keep it out of her face. She caught a glimpse of herself in the polished bronze mirror as she did, a stark contrast from the elegant figure she had been just moments ago.
With a deep breath, she left her chambers and returned to the courtyard where Ahmad waited. As she approached, she noticed the way he appraised her, his gaze sharp and calculating, as if assessing her anew. Lian Yi stood before him, shoulders squared, the formalities of her previous attire replaced with the practicality of her training clothes.
"Better," Ahmad said with a nod, a hint of approval in his voice. "Now, let’s get to work, pick one,” he said, gesturing to the pile. “Doesn’t matter which. We’re going to go through every single one of these until we find something that feels right for you.”
Lian Yi hesitated, her eyes scanning the assortment of weapons. The thought of having to wield each one was daunting, but something about the challenge sparked a flame of determination within her.
She reached out and picked up a sword, one that felt familiar in her grip. Ahmad watched her with a bored expression as she took a few experimental swings. Her movements were precise and fluid, honed by years of training in her sects techniques, but something about the sword movements felt… off, at least to Ahmed they did.
“Not that one,” Ahmad said, shaking his head. “Try something else.”
Lian Yi set the sword down, feeling a surge of frustration, she had trained with a similar one for years, yet he dismissed her efforts as if it was her first time. She picked up a spear next, the weight of it more satisfying in her hands. She thrust it forward, feeling the resistance of the air as she moved. But again, Ahmad shook his head.
“Nope. Next”
Gritting her teeth, she dropped the spear and grabbed a pair of twin daggers. She moved with speed, slashing and twirling the blades in a flurry of motion. For a moment, she thought she saw approval flicker in Ahmad’s eyes, but it turned out he was simply yawning.
“Not quite.” he muttered after finishing the yawn,
One by one, Lian Yi tried every weapon in the pile. Axes, bows, hammers, staffs, even the odd farming tools and throwing weapons. Each time, Ahmad would watch silently, his face unreadable, before dismissing her efforts with a shake of his head or a grunt of disapproval.
Sweat began to bead on her forehead, and her muscles ached from the strain of wielding so many different weapons. She was exhausted.
Lian Yi’s hands trembled slightly as she reached for the last weapon in the pile, a guan dao, its long, curved blade gleaming dully in the afternoon light. The weapon was a combination of spear and sword, with a broad, sweeping blade attached to a sturdy pole. It was a weapon of power and grace, requiring both strength and precision to wield effectively.
She hesitated for a moment, the weight of it unfamiliar but not entirely foreign. Lian Yi had trained extensively with swords, mastering their elegance and finesse. She also enjoyed the brief thrusts she had performed with the spear. But this weapon was something in between, a fusion of the two one could say.
Ahmad watched her closely, his earlier amusement gone, replaced by a rare focus. “Try it,” he said quietly, his voice devoid of its usual mocking tone. “Let’s see what you can do with that.” ‘I hope she’s good, there is another option… but no, won’t let her.
Lian Yi tightened her grip on the guan dao and took a deep breath, centering herself. She began with a few basic moves, feeling out the balance of the weapon. It was heavier than a sword, but not as cumbersome as she had expected. The pole gave her reach, but not as much as a spear, while the blade allowed for powerful, sweeping strikes. As she moved, she began to understand the potential of the weapon.
She started slow, her movements deliberate and controlled. With each swing, the guan dao felt increasingly like an extension of her body. The weapon’s weight was demanding, but she began to find a rhythm, the frustration of earlier trials slowly melting away. The guan dao, while challenging, seemed to whisper possibilities in her ear.
As her pace quickened, the weapon sliced through the air with increasing speed and precision. She spun it around her, combining the slashing strikes of a sword with the thrusting power of a spear. Her earlier doubts seemed to dissolve with each practiced movement, replaced by a growing sense of confidence. Yet, she still grappled with a lingering question. Was this truly the right path for her, or was it just another fleeting moment of hope?
Ahmad’s eyes narrowed with approval as he watched her. “Good,” he murmured. “You’re starting to get it.” He had even put his gourd away.
Lian Yi pushed herself harder, testing the limits of her skill. She could feel her earlier frustrations melting away, replaced by a growing sense of confidence.
But it wasn’t perfect. There were moments where her balance faltered, where the weapon’s weight pulled her slightly off course. She wasn’t yet fully attuned to its rhythm or weight, the weapon demanded of her. Yet, despite these imperfections, the guan dao felt right in a way the other weapons hadn’t. It challenged her, pushed her to be better, to refine her technique and embrace the weapon’s dual nature.
Finally, she stopped, breathing heavily as she sat on the floor, the guan dao still gripped tightly in her hands. Her heart pounded, sweat dripped down her forehead, and she felt both the physical exhaustion and an unexpected surge of satisfaction. As she gazed at the guan dao, she allowed herself a brief moment of reflection. The weapon had tested her limits, but it also offered a glimpse of what she might achieve if she persevered. Her doubts, though not entirely gone, were overshadowed by a budding determination.
She looked at Ahmad, who was observing her with his usual casual demeanor. Despite his earlier dismissiveness, she felt a flicker of resolve ignite within her. Perhaps, just perhaps, this was the challenge she needed to find her own strength and prove her worth.
Ahmad stepped forward, his expression relaxed as always. “Not bad, not bad at all.” He reached out and gently pushed the guan dao with his foot. “Unless you got a better crafted one around here, then what you''re holding right now will accompany you for the foreseeable future.”
Lian Yi nodded, her breath coming in steadying gasps. She glanced down at the guan dao, its weight now feeling like a promise rather than a burden. A newfound resolve took hold of her. Despite the doubts that had plagued her throughout the day, she was ready to embrace this challenge. The guan dao might not be the perfect fit, but it was a start, and she was determined to make the most of it.
“You haven’t seen my fist techniques yet.” She said in between heavy breaths. “Shouldn’t i try?”
“No,” Ahmed said harshly. “Fist arts are ment only for a few, and you are not one of them.”
Lian Yi took a deep breath, feeling the tension subside from her body despite Ahmad’s harsh words. She glanced down at the guan dao, the weapon now feeling like an extension of herself. Determination flickered in her eyes as she met his gaze.
“Fine,” she replied firmly. “The guan dao it is.”
Ahmad shrugged. “Good. Let’s see how far you can push it.” He turned back to the pile of weapons, already losing interest. “Someone clean this up.” He declared to nobody in particular. “The day is still young. You will get familiar with your weapon for a week, after which we will leave.”
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the courtyard, Lian Yi felt a newfound resolve settle within her. This was just the beginning, and she was ready to prove herself, despite her… unconventional teacher. Her worries drowned by the exhaustion and excitement aimed at her new weapoon.