Training

Bai Rong sat by the fire, occasionally adding more twigs and stirring the pot over the fire. However, her attention was not on the soup nor the flames that were starting to feel too hot.

She had told Yin Xue so many real life stories with twists just so Yin Xue could learn about the real world and see it for what it was. She knew children thought the best of everything, but she didn't even let Yin Xue have that basic fantasy phase where it was all sunshine and rainbows. Was she wrong for embedding those thoughts and leading Yin Xue's mentality down a certain path since young? Was it worth it?

In the end, Bai Rong resolutely closed her hand into a fist. "No, I cannot let those sacrifices be in vain. She must be ready."

***

Yin Xue was chasing a tiger.

Frankly, if she wasn't at the peak of Body Refinement, she would have been left in the dust long ago.

Body Refinement was the rank zero of cultivation. It could be practised without the use of spiritual energy, so anybody would build up their foundations with this. Yin Xue had been forced to stay at Body Refinement to train her speed, strength and reflexes for her whole life, so she could definitely run as fast as a mortal beast. However, just because she could do it, didn't mean she liked it.

Yin Xue stared at the measly rock in her hands and the tiger right in front of her. Oh well, she'd survived worse odds before. She hurled the rock as hard as she could at the tiger's head. As expected, the tiger stopped and spun around to face her. It gleaned out its claws and growled a warning that went ignored by Yin Xue. Instead, she shapeshifted into her fox form and growled back.

They pounced on each other, slashing and biting. Although Yin Xue's size made her situation look bleak, that was all based on surface observation. She was able to dodge most of the tiger's attacks by weaving in and out of its legs and hopping to the sides. Apart from that, the tiger was just a savage beast attacking using instinct, not skill. That would've worked while hunting other beasts, but was useless in the face of Yin Xue. In her eyes, its attacks were clumsy and crude.

Yin Xue seized an opening and snapped on one of the tiger's main arteries deep enough to draw blood. The tiger roared in pain, but she didn't let go until it's trashing stopped. With a loud thud, the beast collapsed, blood soaking from one side of the fur on it's neck into the earth. It was dead.

Yin Xue shifted back into human form. Her hair was dishevelled and covered in leaves, and there were scratch marks all over her arms. Warm blood dripped from her mouth, the taste and smell raw and coppery. She spat it out in disgust—she would never get used to it.

Just as Yin Xue bent down to examine the tiger, she heard a soft rustle. She swiftly rolled to the side. Not a second too soon, a dagger flew out from behind the trees and lodged itself in the spot she had been standing in. Following that, a figure leapt out and started attacking Yin Xue.

As they exchanged blow after blow, Yin Xue panted, "Master... Its not good... to ambush... an injured person!"

Bai Rong ducked and punched Yin Xue's abdomen, but Yin Xue countered it with a well placed whack on her wrist. "The world outside won't care if"—she swiped a foot at Yin Xue's left leg, sending her tumbling—"you're injured. They would be happy of it!"

Yin Xue sprung back up and rained a series of blows at Bai Rong aimed at her head, stomach and legs. "Can I— take— a break—"

"Not until you defeat me. Focus!" Bai Rong grabbed Yin Xue's wrist with an iron grip and twisted it. To avoid a bone fracture, Yin Xue had no choice but to go with the flow and allow herself to be flipped over.

Yin Xue landed heavily on the ground, but didn't get up again. "Master... Can you pull me up?"

On an average day, Bai Rong would have refused. But seeing as Yin Xue had improved and was thoroughly exhausted, she went to help her disciple up. Just as their hands connected, she felt Yin Xue's weak grip tighten. A fistful of dust was thrown in her face and she experienced a sense of vertigo.

When Bai Rong's vision cleared, she was the one lying on the ground, and Yin Xue was on top of her, holding her forearm against her neck. Yin Xue grinned. "I win, Master."

"Silly fox." Bai Rong smiled, slipping a hidden dagger out of her sleeve and pressing it to Yin Xue's heart. "Rule number one: never let your guard down. I win."

Yin Xue appeared unfazed, so Bai Rong pressed, "Which do you think is faster? You suffocating me, or me pushing this blade in?"

Yin Xue stood up and dusted herself off. Bai Rong followed suit, but suddenly felt dizzy. She leaned against a nearby tree for support, but her vision started to blur. Why were there two Yin Xues? Was she having hallucinations?

Yin Xue's grin widened to show her teeth. "Rule number two: know thyself, know thy enemy."

And then Bai Rong knew. The dust Yin Xue had thrown into her face earlier wasn't dust—it was powder. Unscented, dirt coloured, poison.

"You... win..." she gasped.

Yin Xue unfolded her crossed arms and went over to feed Bai Rong a pill. "There. That wasn't so hard to admit, right?"

The antidote worked its way through Bai Rong's system, and she instantly felt better. "I made your favourite soup back home," she said.

Yin Xue squealed, clapping her hands and skipping away joyfully. Bai Rong shook her head, but an indulgent smile hung from her lips.

The setting sun backdropped Yin Xue's silhouette. That very moment, Bai Rong wished Yin Xue would always look like that—happy and carefree. She sighed wistfully, "The student truly surpasses the teacher..."