章節 7: Harsh training - Teach Me!
Although the Great General, Hu Quan Li, assured the siblings that Hu Zi would be fine, the Hu siblings were very worried because Shou's way of training was actually too harsh.
Shou made her fly around in the dark, swim even though she did not know how to float (she ended up sinking like a stone in the cold water), short marathon-run in the practice ground, fight a wild boar, race with a horse, climb trees, do push ups, sit ups, tree trunk barbels, and much more.
But Hu Zi improved pretty quickly because of this extremely harsh training. Slowly, she managed to master 'feel' and was able to sense the wind's movement by emitting her energy and sending it with the wind. She learned the way to feel and sense the air, it was like a radar in the dark to Hu Zi.
As time passed by, Hu Zi's body became stronger and stronger. She could host an abundant amount of energy within her body, her healing period also shortened. The energy that Hu Zi could house within her tiny body was the same as a grown up.
One day, Hu Zi tried to walk in the house alone without anyone guiding her. She could 'feel' the stiff and strong walls without even touching them. Little by little, she walked. Getting out of the training hall and walking into the long corridor, then taking turns here and there to finally find the small courtyard that was located near the practice hall.
"How is it?" asked Shou, he flew from the practice hall and landed in the small courtyard. Shou picked Hu Zi up. She teared up and placed both her hands on Shou's clothes and choked. Being a stubborn girl and not wanting Shou to look at her crying face, she buried herself within his embrace. "Ugh... master..."
Hu Bai, Hu Cheng Se, and Hu Ye were actually eavesdropping behind the small courtyard gate. Hu Cheng Se pushed the gate a bit, opening it to reveal Shou and Hu Zi. The three siblings saw their third sister's emotional face. They looked at each other and nodded, tacitly agreeing on something.
'This is best for her.'
Three to five times a month, Master Shou would take Hu Zi to the mountain to train her body and build up the energy inside of it. With her body getting stronger, she leveled up her capability of hosting energy. Usually, when they went back, Shou would carry Hu Zi on his back because she was either full of bruises or unconscious.
Fortunately, Shou would give her a one-day break every time they went back. For someone who practiced Wu Feng and had the help of a certain bitter tea, this one day was enough for her to rest her body.
Today was the same. Hu Zi's body was wrapped in bandages, looking even worse than a mummy.
"You okay, sis?" Hu Ye saw his sister struggle to place a spoonful of soup into her mouth.
"Yes, I'm fine." As soon as she said it, her spoon fell back into the bowl. "Now, not so fine."
Hu Ye lightly chuckled. Hu Zi's right hand was badly hurt because she fell near the waterfall yesterday. It was currently wrapped in five layers of bandage. Hu Zi could not move her fingers.
"Here, I will help you." Hu Ye loved his three sisters, but he was most gratified with Hu Zi because her age was the closest to his own. "Open up."
Hu Ye fed Hu Zi her soup until there was nothing left in the bowl. Hu Zi was actually feeling embarrassed at having to be fed by someone younger than her, and a male at that, but she knew that there was no use in arguing about it.
In the Hu household, the number of guards stationed was twice the amount of other high-level noble households, but the number of servants was only half the normal amount, consisting of only housekeepers, cooks, gardeners, etc. But no personal servants. The children were accustomed to serving themselves.
"Ye'er, it is time for your archery lesson," said Lady Hua to her son. "You better not be late."
"Okay, mother." Having just finished doing Hu Zi's hair, he ran outside of the room.
Hu Zi laid on the bed, quietly listening and sensing her mother's movements. Her mother opened her sewing kit and started to embroider a piece of cloth. Now that it was autumn, almost a year had passed since she started practicing Wu Feng. She could feel almost every single detail that happened around her if she concentrated.
"Mother."
"Yes, Little Zi?"
"Can I touch the cloth?"
"Of course." A warm smile appeared on her mother's gentle face. Hu Zi couldn't see the warmth in her mother's smile, but she could definitely sense the movement of her lips. Hu Zi's mouth curved up, too.
Taking the cloth into her hands, she could feel its softness and the details of the needlework. Truly exquisite, as expected of her mother. The thread was lined and sewn perfectly, making dots, dashes, and images.
"Mother, it is very beautiful." Hu Zi stroked it again and again.
Lady Hua chuckled at Hu Zi's lovely behavior.
"Do you want to try embroidery, Zi'er?"
Before Hu Zi could answer, the door opened and in came Hu Bai and Hu Cheng Se with heavy sighs and tired faces. Hu Cheng Se was in her 'pug face' mode, the edges of her lips turned down till they reached the earth. There was a noticeable frown on Hu Bai's pretty face.
"What is wrong with that guy..." Hu Cheng Se threw herself onto the bed, ready to take a nap, but unfinished with her complaining. "Ugh…" She mumbled something under her breath.
"Is it Qing Bo again?" Lady Hua said, seeing her daughter's exhausted figure. A loud thud could be heard from Hu Cheng Se's bed.
"Yeah! That guy! Class was finally over, and I just wanted to go home or something, but he suddenly approached me and started to argue about this and that, and... huft..."
"Stopping their fights is another struggle." Hu Bai kneaded her temple then let out another deep sigh. "How about you, Third Sister?"
"Great! Mother and I were just talking about embroidery," said Hu Zi in a happy tone. One could hear snores coming from the direction of Hu Cheng Se's bed. She was quick even in terms of falling asleep.
"Is that so?" Hu Bai looked interested.
"If you three want to learn, I can personally teach you anytime." Lady Hu was always delighted to teach her children something she knew.
"Yeah, let's do that!" Hu Bai immediately came forward to sit beside her mother.
"But, mother...I..." Hu Zi was eager but concerned. She couldn't draw, and even getting the sewing thread into the needle hole took up her full concentration.
Of course, Lady Hua knew her daughter's worries. She gently placed her hand on top of Hu Zi's, which was stroking the embroidered clothes. The warmth of her mother's hand traveled through her arm, shoulder, and to her heart.
"Don't worry, you don't need sight to make simple artwork, you only need your feeling and a strong will to learn."
Hu Zi's closed eyelids suddenly opened, and she exclaimed. "Being stubborn is one of my good points, I will definitely be able to surpass mother."
"It is strong will, not stubbornness." Lady Hua and Hu Bai giggled at Hu Zi's reaction.
"Let's start tomorrow when you are healed." Lady Hua lightly stroked Hu Zi's hair. "We still need to buy two more sewing kits and more clothes."
Hu Zi cocked her head, hearing unhurried and smooth footsteps from far away, the sound getting closer and closer until it reached their door. Lady Hua heard it too, she called. "Housekeeper Zhi Yu!"
The footsteps stopped. On the other side of the door, male voice spoke. "Yes, My Lady?" He didn't open the door because the room was the three young ladies' 'female' bedroom.
Housekeeper Zhi Yu had served the general's house ever since the late emperor gave this manor to Great General Hu Quan Li. He was good at managing the house and taking care of the kids. Coupled up with his good looks, he was also quite popular among the maids.
For a second there, Hu Zi sensed her sister Hu Bai's body temperature go up.
'It seems like he's not just popular among the maids.' Hu Zi grinned to herself.
A pity that he was already in love with his work.
"Tomorrow, the children are going to the market to buy some needlework tools, can you go with them?" Lady Hua asked Zhi Yu.
"Of course."
Lady Hua then dismissed him and went back to her room to let the two other sisters rest.
-----
The archery class was held in a separate building inside the school. This was not like swimming and horse riding. Archery class was special in this school; only those who took the test and were deemed qualified were able to receive lessons. As such, there was a grade and age diversity in this class.
Although it was Hu Ye's first time taking the class, he was not worried or nervous because his father already taught him some of the basics at home.
Currently, he was aiming at a point in the target eighteen meters away from him. He released the arrow, so sure that it would at least hit the target, when abruptly another arrow came from the right side and hit his arrow.
*Yank!
*Yank!
Hu Ye watched as his arrow was shot down and got stuck in the ground. The arrow that had hit his was the one that pierced the target and hit bullseye instead.
"What?!"
Hu Ye looked at the arrow in amazement. He no longer minded that his own arrow had been rudely disturbed.
That arrow curved?
"Ahaha... What a greenhorn," spoke a beautiful girl that came from Hu Ye's right, her tone carrying a mocking lilt.
Hu Ye instantly turned and was met with a pair of cold eyes. Walking up to him, she slightly bent her body to his height and looked him in the eye. "You need to pull your bow harder."
"Qing Guang..." Hu Ye did not know that she practiced archery.
Qing Guang was still ten, and she was able to make her arrow curve. Hu Ye thought that it was an amazing feat.
She was wearing a white training robe, her long, straight hair left loose. In her grip was a black bow with a majestic carving of gold on it.
After gathering his thoughts, Hu Ye tried to calm himself so that the admiration in his eyes wasn't so obvious. He made a stoic countenance and said, "How did you manage to make that curving arrow?"
"Who knows?" Qing Guang coldly replied. She saw the place where Hu Ye was standing and frowned. Qing Guang liked that spot, it was in the corner and was a great place to practice one's archery in peace.
"This is my spot, go away." Qing Guang shoved Hu Ye but he did not move. "Move it!"
"I came here first, so this is my spot," said Hu Ye indifferently.
"Heh, what are you talking about, greenhorn? I am your senior. So, move!"
"..." Hu Ye glared at Qing Guang like an eagle eyeing its prey. He firmly said, "No!"
"Your pull is so weak, yet you want to practice here for an eighteen-meter target? Don't push yourself, greenhorn. Go back there with your peers and practice pulling your bow first."
"I am qualified for the eighteen-meter target. I can even hit the target. Look, I already did it twice before." Hu Ye frowned. No one had ever belittled his skills before.
Qing Guang coldly cast a glance at the target Hu Ye was pointing at. There were two arrows embedded in it, but neither one had hit the bullseye.
"Hump!" Qing Guang took her arrow. "Fine! Since the loser doesn't know his place, I will show you what true archery is."
Qing Guang took position in a post next to Hu Ye's place.
In a perfectly practiced motion, she notched her arrow. Then in one flawless move, she shot three arrows simultaneously.
The arrows were so fast that Hu Ye didn't even see them move to the center of their respective targets. "Impossible!"
Seeing Hu Ye's shocked expression, Qing Guang felt extreme satisfaction.
"Now, do you understand how low your level is? If you understand... move!"
"..." Hu Ye did not move. He just stared at the pierced targets.
"Can't you hear me? Move it!" Still, no response came from Hu Ye. When she was about to reprimand him again, Hu Ye finally spoke.
"Teach..."
"Huh?" Bewildered, Qing Guang took a step back.
"Teach me how to do that!" Hu Ye impulsively grabbed Qing Guang's shoulder. Staring into her eyes, his gaze was full of determination, amazement, and... respect?
Qing Guang was but a young maiden. Suddenly being grabbed like that startled her.
"You brat, let go!"
"No, you gotta agree to teach me first, then I will let go."
In her fury, Qing Guang tried to push him but failed once more.
In the end, they got into a fight. The fight disturbed other students, so as a result, the teacher punished them by making them clean the training ground after class.
"This is all your fault!" Qing Guang angrily said while cleaning the equipment. Hu Ye carried it back to the small storage.
"If you had just agreed then it wouldn't have ended up like this," Hu Ye said in a determined tone. He was set on not letting this matter go.
Qing Guang was so angry, her prideful heart refused to yield.
'I will get back at him later!'
Watching her curse him under her breath, Hu Ye noticed that her hair was plastered everywhere on her face! It was messier than the equipment that they needed to clean, some strands even falling into the cleaning water, making them sticky.
The corner of Hu Ye's eye twitched. Hu Ye had three sisters and all of them always tidied their hair, unlike Qing Guang. So he was a bit disturbed.
"Do you have a ribbon or something to tie your hair?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Never got my hands on one."
"..."
A girl of Qing Guang's age usually decorated her hair with many things, from hairpins to ribbons to clips, there were many variations that could be bought in shops. To think there was a girl in this continent who did not have a simple hairband…
It was not like Qing Guang didn't want to get ornaments for her hair or look outstanding like others. Her mother had long passed away when she was little and due to some circumstances at home, she had no personal maids, so she had no one to teach her about female things.
Qing Bo was very smart, but if you were the left prime minister's only son, being smart was not enough. You needed to be the best.
Because she was his twin and in the same grade as him, she needed to try harder to catch up with her brother's achievements so that people would not sneer at her or belittle her when comparing the two of them. She used most of her time to study and didn't think too much of her looks.
The corner of Hu Ye's eye twitched again. He couldn't take it anymore. He had a piece of bandage left from bandaging Hu Zi earlier. He took it from his sleeve and quickly put Guang's hair up in a simple but flattering ponytail. Her hair was softer than silk, even more so than Lady Hua's hair. Even though it dipped into the dirty liquid earlier, all the water seemed to be dripping down, leaving her hair clean and shiny.
Hu Ye had caught Qing Guang off guard, as she was still concentrating on cleaning.
"Why you!" She hated it when someone touched her hair.
"Better?"
Qing Guang's head felt lighter and the strands were no longer blocking her view. He even made her look prettier with just the simple ponytail.
"How did you do that?"
"You want to know?" Hu Ye tugged his lip a bit, revealing a crafty smile on that serious and stoic face. "Agree to teach me archery and I'll tell you, deal?"
"You think this hair trick is worth anything in front of my godly archery?" Qing Guang showed a cold, disdainful look and irritation flashed in her eyes. "Dream on!"
"I also know how to do makeup and choosing the best clothes and ornaments along with their quality and variation, name it all!" Hu Ye said. Although it was a bit embarrassing for a boy to know about these female things, he had learned it all to help Hu Zi over the years. He was confident about his knowledge.
Qing Guang was startled. She was in the dark about this stuff. Being ten this year, she was beginning to lose out to her peers.
"Think about it. You might not be interested, but your sister certainly is. A few more years and I think there will be a huge difference between you and her, no? Hear this, you are ten-years-old but you can't even tie your hair correctly. Your sister is nine, but I saw her yesterday looking like a princess attracting many people's praises, including..."
每周推薦票狀態
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榜單 
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