Training Field

Shortly, our small party reached the bustling training field. It was a vast expanse of meticulously compacted dirt, perfect for a firm grip underfoot. Across this expanse, hundreds of soldiers were arrayed in neat formations, their stances mirroring the martial art forms they had been drilled in. At the head of the formation, a man in an armored uniform hollered commands.

"Switch!" His voice echoed across the field, and like a well-oiled machine, the soldiers adjusted their positions. "Begin!" In response, a synchronized wave of movement swept through the ranks as they executed a series of high-kicks and swift thrusts.

"Captain Huo Zheng!" Liang Shen called out, waving his hand to attract the attention of the man in charge. As Huo Zheng turned, his features became apparent. Despite his short stature, his bulky physique commanded respect, and his weathered features suggested he was in his late forties.

Upon noticing us, he immediately bowed and clasped his hands in greeting, "Young Master, Miss," he said before acknowledging Liang Shen with a nod, "Captain Liang Shen."

Returning the nod with a warm smile, Liang Shen stated his purpose, "I'm here to train the Young Miss again. Could you instruct some of the guards to bring the necessary equipment?"

"Right away." Responding promptly, Huo Zheng signaled a nearby guard who was standing next to a tent. The young man quickly made his way over, bowing in acknowledgment of his instructions. "Bring two bows and quivers filled with arrows," Huo Zheng commanded authoritatively.

"Thank you," Liang Shen said, turning to me, "Young Master, do you have any particular requests?"

I shook my head, "I'm fine."

With my response, Liang Shen addressed Yi Hua, "Young Miss, shall we proceed to the training area?"

"Let's just get this over with," Yi Hua sighed in agreement.

Our journey across the field led us to an adjacent archery range. This area was well equipped with shaded stalls for the archers and an array of targets at varying distances. A few soldiers were already practicing their archery skills, their arrows whistling through the air before thudding into their intended targets.

As we settled into one of the stalls, I turned to Yi Hua, puzzled, "I thought you were learning martial arts. Why are we at the archery range?"

Indignation flashed in Yi Hua's eyes as she retorted, "A true martial artist should be versatile."

Seeing Yi Hua unwilling to explain further, Liang Shen chimed in, "Young Miss prefers archery as it adds a touch of elegance compared to hand-to-hand combat--"

"Liang Shen!" Yi Hua cut him off abruptly, stamping her foot in frustration.

"Ahem, my apologies, Young Miss," Liang Shen quickly bowed, his face flushing slightly.

As he straightened up, the young guard from earlier brought the requested bows and quivers. Yi Hua confidently slung the quiver over her shoulder, flashing Yi Tian a triumphant look. Accepting his own set of equipment, Zhao Shen simply nodded his thanks.

"Let's begin," Liang Shen suggested, taking position at the edge of the stall. His arrow was nocked and pulled back smoothly, and with careful aim, he let it fly. The arrow cut through the air before finding its mark, a bullseye on a target 120 meters away. Turning to Yi Hua, he advised, "The wind is gentle. Aim slightly to the left to compensate."

Yi Hua, with a quick glance in my direction, confidently readied her bow and took aim. With a deep breath and a smile, she released her arrow. It soared through the sky, its flight a beautiful arc, before it embedded itself into the target, only slightly off the bullseye.

"Excellent, Young Miss!" Liang Shen praised enthusiastically. Then, switching to his instructor's tone, he added, "Remember to compensate for the wind. The sway of distant trees can indicate the wind's speed and direction."

Yi Hua beamed and nodded at his advice. Liang Shen then turned to me, a curious gleam in his eyes, "Would you like to try, Young Master?"

Yi Hua stifled a laugh, her hand covering her smirk, "Liang Shen, he won't even be able to hold a bow."

Ignoring her jibe, I nodded at Liang Shen, "Alright." I had been observing Liang Shen's form earlier, and I had a basic understanding of how he managed to hit a distant target.

Accepting the proffered bow from Liang Shen, I felt the tautness of the string. Plucking an arrow from Liang Shen's quiver, I mimicked his stance and nocked the arrow on the bow.

Yi Hua and Liang Shen watched in stunned silence as I pulled the string back perfectly, releasing the arrow with a smooth motion. The arrow whistled through the air, tracing a swift, unerring path before striking the bullseye on a target 200 meters away.

Liang Shen broke into applause, his respect evident, "Truly outstanding, Young Master. I had no idea you were so proficient in archery."

Yi Hua, however, was incredulous, "Yi Tian, you've never practiced archery! How are you this good?!"

"I merely observed Liang Shen," I replied, nonchalantly.

Liang Shen chuckled, "No need to flatter me, Young Master. You've already surpassed my abilities."

Unimpressed, Yi Hua grumbled, "Fine! Liang Shen, I'm tired of archery. Let's practice something else."

Taken aback, Liang Shen quickly recovered and called over a guard, "Take these bows and bring us some practice swords." The guard returned shortly with a pair of wooden swords.

"Young Master, Miss, let's proceed to the sword training area," Liang Shen suggested, leading the way with an encouraging smile.