1.21

Seeing that Wushuang was interested, the hunter immediately said, "This is a newly hatched eagle. It will be very friendly if you raise it well. It can also help with hunting. If the girl likes it, just give me five hundred coins."

Wushuang readily gave him five hundred coins and took Xiaoying to the place where the plaque was to be painted to finish the work.This time, the plaque was a big job, a five-meter-long plaque with intricate painting techniques.

The boss was very wealthy and paid fifteen taels of silver.Wushuang had been working on this job for three days. Today she only had the last bit of work left, which would be done in half an hour.

After getting the remaining money, Wushuang held the little eagle in her hands and ran excitedly to the yamen.But halfway through, she remembered that the eagle had never eaten since it came into her hands.

So she went to the butcher's shop and bought a pound of the tenderest mutton.She tore it into thin strips with her hands and fed it to the eaglet little by little.

As Wushuang strolled through the bustling market with her newly acquired little eagle, she was already envisioning how the bird would impress WuYi. The little eagle, still a chick with fluffy down feathers, peered out of its small cage with curious eyes.

A cute eagle should be just the thing to win WuYi over. Plus, if I can learn martial arts from her, I'll be able to protect myself better. Win-win!

Wushuang's excitement was palpable as she approached the yamen, her thoughts interrupted by the reminder that the eagle hadn't eaten since she'd gotten it. She stopped by a butcher's shop, buying a pound of the tenderest mutton. Back at her temporary studio, she carefully tore the meat into thin strips and fed them to the little eagle.

Let's see, how much does a baby eagle eat? Better not overfeed it and have it turn into a little piglet.

After ensuring the eagle had eaten enough, Wushuang made her way to the yamen, hoping to catch WuYi before she left for her patrol. The guards at the gate greeted her with smiles, acknowledging her status as the daughter of the county magistrate. Wushuang breezed through the entrance, looking around for WuYi, but found no sign of her.

Frustrated, she approached a yamen runner. "Excuse me, do you know where Captain WuYi is? I need to see her."

The runner replied, "Captain WuYi is out on patrol right now. Perhaps you'd like to wait for her here?"

Disappointed but resigned, Wushuang decided to wait. Of course she's out. Just my luck! I'll have to hang around and hope she returns soon.

As she sought a place to sit, a voice from behind startled her. "Do you like WuYi very much?"

Wushuang turned to see Wang Zefeng standing there, framed by the golden sunlight filtering through the doorway. She gave a start, her heart racing. "Sir, you startled me. Could you please not sneak up on people like that?"

Wang Zefeng's gaze settled on the little eagle in her hands. "Are you planning to use this eagle to win WuYi's favor?"

Wushuang's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Is Wang Zefeng being sarcastic, or am I imagining it? He's usually so formal. Anyway, no harm in answering.

She raised the little eagle, its tiny wings fluttering. "This is no bald eagle. I was told it will be quite impressive once it grows up."

Wang Zefeng's expression was unreadable. "WuYi doesn't actually like eagles. You might be wasting your effort."

Wushuang's eyes widened in disbelief. "What? How can anyone not like eagles? They're majestic!"

Wang Zefeng sighed and leaned against a wall. "Why are you so determined to please WuYi?"

Wushuang shrugged casually. "If you want to ask someone for something, it's polite to bring a gift first. I'm hoping she'll teach me some martial arts."

Wang Zefeng's mood seemed to lift slightly. "You're seeking the wrong person for martial arts training. WuYi's skills aren't that impressive. If you want real instruction, you need someone with more experience."

Wushuang's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Sir, do you know martial arts?"

Wang Zefeng straightened his posture, a slight smirk on his face. "Doesn't it look like I do?"

Wushuang studied him more closely. Well, he doesn't look like a frail scholar. And if WuYi and Tongze are always out running errands, maybe Wang Zefeng can hold his own.

Determined, she approached Wang Zefeng with a smile and poured him tea from her flask. "Sir, if you could teach me some martial arts, I'd be immensely grateful. I'll even be your disciple and take care of the eagle's needs."

Wang Zefeng sipped his tea, eyeing the little eagle with interest. "I might consider it. But what do you offer as a gift for becoming my disciple?"

Wushuang took out the little eagle with both hands and presented it to him. "My lord, if you like, this little eagle can be your gift. I'll cover its food expenses."

Wang Zefeng chuckled, finding amusement in her earnestness. "That's not necessary. I can manage the eagle's feeding myself. However, I am quite busy. If you're willing to handle its care, that would be appreciated."

Wushuang nodded vigorously. "Of course! I'll make sure it's well taken care of."

Wang Zefeng's demeanor softened. "You need to focus on improving your physical fitness first. Martial arts training is demanding. I'll give you a regimen to build strength and stamina. Once you're in better shape by next spring, I'll teach you the internal techniques. Although you're older and missed the prime age for training, you'll still be able to defend yourself against multiple attackers."

Wushuang's heart raced with excitement. "One person fighting against ten? That's better than I hoped for! Thank you, sir. I'll practice hard."

Seeing her enthusiasm, Wang Zefeng's mood improved further. "If you're so eager, let's start now. Follow me to the martial arts training ground."

Wushuang followed Wang Zefeng through the yamen and into a spacious backyard. Once a lush garden, it had been cleared out, with only a ring of trees remaining. The space was now filled with various martial arts training equipment: wooden dummies, heavy bags, and practice swords.

Wang Zefeng demonstrated a series of physical exercises, emphasizing the importance of discipline and consistency.

So this is the infamous martial arts arena. It's nothing like the fancy training rooms I imagined, but it looks like it'll do the job.

He provided Wushuang with a detailed regimen for strength training and stamina building, outlining specific exercises and dietary recommendations.

Looks like I've got my work cut out for me. Who knew martial arts training would involve so much hard work?

As Wushuang followed Wang Zefeng's instructions, she felt a renewed sense of purpose.

I'm really diving into this. If it means I'll be able to protect myself and my family better, it's worth every bit of effort.

Wang Zefeng observed her progress with a critical eye but was pleased with her determination. He knew that with proper training, Wushuang could become a formidable fighter, despite her late start.

With this kind of dedication, she'll make significant progress. And the eagle will be a fine companion for her journey.

With the promise of future training and the responsibility of caring for the eagle, Wushuang felt a surge of hope.

One step at a time, Wushuang. First, the physical training, then the martial arts. Soon enough, I'll be capable of defending myself and maybe even impressing WuYi with my skills.

As she continued her training and looked after the little eagle, Wushuang was determined to make the most of this opportunity. With each passing day, she grew stronger and more confident, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.