11 Can you teach me martial arts?

The kids of her age and slightly older than her, joined her in her everyday activities. All kids of servants were trained to serve a master from the moment they could understand things. So, it didn't surprise Wei Ning, seeing little kids doing things meticulously and trying to make her as comfortable as possible.

Wei Ning also recognized their effort but... she needed someone reliable by her side not some immature little maid who would wait by her side to be ordered around.

Since, it was selection of a study partner, the person needed to have a smart brain with good IQ and EQ and was good at various skills of ancient world.

After a week of her observation, Wei Ning finally settled on the son of a shadow guard by her mother's side. The shadow guard, Qing Jian used to be her mother's bodyguard in the modern world and even in this era he had followed her mother from Bai family to Duke Dinghai's mansion. It could be seen that Qing Jian had been reliable and loyal to her mother and even though Wei Ning hadn't care to know about the bodyguard's son, Qing Mu, she often used to hear her mother singing praises about this Qing Mu; Qing Mu had entered into a prestigious university, Qing Mu had joined military, Qing Mu had become the youngest general and on and on....

Well, after observing this Qing Mu, even Wei Ning had to say; he was really a reliable person.

Qing Mu was good both at pen and swords. Being the son of a shadow guard, he had gone through martial training since he was three and because he was trained to follow a master, he had to learn almost all basic skills to survive and make sure his master is safe in any condition and situation.

"Qing Mu." Wei Ning loudly called out the eight year old boy in her child like voice.

Hearing her childish voice, Qing Mu who was grilling meat on the charcoal fire, turned his head to look at his newly appointed master and raised his brows in question.

"It's enough for both of us, you don't have to grill anymore. Come and eat it quickly, otherwise, it won't taste as good if it becomes cold." Holding a piece of grilled meat between her chopsticks, Wei Ning waved it towards her new friend and study partner.

"This is the last one. It's almost done." After the meat was grilled, Qing Mu brought it on the table.

"Aah! Eat this lamb skewers, they are more tender and juicy." Saying this, Wei Ning brought the lamb skewers near his lips. This action of hers, stunned Qing Mu. But looking at her childlike face and expectation in her eyes,.he only shook his head and took the skewers from her hands and tasted it. "Umm. It's delicious." Qing Mu nodded his head and praised the finely grilled lamb meat.

Wei Ning who was sitting on the stone stool beside him, clicked her fingers and pointed at him: "I told you." Her smiling face and twinkling eyes which reflected the golden lights, dazzled him for a moment and he smiled... "Yeah, you told me."

"Since, you like it then, eat more." Wei Ning piled up a small mountain of grilled lamb meat in front of him and motion with her eyes to eat.

While halfway their meal, Wei Ning slowly scooted closer to Qing Mu. Being a martial artist since young, Qing Mu had always been very sensitive to his eyes and ears, so, he didn't miss her little movements but let her be.

After shifting here and there for a while, Wei Ning finally summoned her all courage and poured a cup of tea for Qing Mu.

"Qing Mu, drink tea. Don't choke on your food." See, how sensible she was.

"Thank you. You too." Qing Mu thanked her and went to pour a cup of tea for her too but Wei Ning hastily waved her hand. "No. No. My cup is already full. You drink." Wei Ning smiled awkwardly and darted her gaze around.

Seeing her behaving this way, Qing Mu doubted, she had mixed something in his tea but when he sniffed his cup, there was nothing unusual. He frowned and was just about to ask when she turned to him and said: "Qing Mu, do I treat you good?"

Qing Mu narrowed his eyes, filled with confusion and shook his head "Yes."

"Then, are you my friend now?" Wei Ning twisted her fingers and bit her lower lip in nervousness.

Seeing her behaving like this and asking such questions, Qing Mu raised his brows in amusement and nodded his head "Yes."

Wei Ning immediately grinned and scooted more closer and held his right arm which was holding the chopsticks and then said excitedly: "Then, can you teach me martial arts?"

"No." Qing Mu immediately pulled out his arm from her soft, little hands and jumped from her stone stool as if someone had scalded that piece of his skin and denied her request almost instantly as if he feared if he delayed, he would fall into some trap.

Seeing him refusing her without a second thought, Wei Ning had a look of hurt on her small chubby face, her cherry red lips were curved down, her lashes were lowered and fluttering non-stop as if she was trying to hold back her cries and.... 'sob'

"He, he. Don't cry okay? Don't cry, please?" Qing Mu immediately knelt down in front of her and tried to coax her but she turned her small head away from him.

"I want to learn martial arts." She said stubbornly.

Qing Mu run his brain but couldn't think of a way "But you so small. What if you got hurt?" He tried to find some excuse to coax her. Well, she was small.

But....

"How old were you when you started to learn martial arts?" Wei Ning questioned back.

"Three." Qing Mu replied subconsciously.

"And... I'm also three." Wei Ning put her little hands on her hips and turned to him. Her small smug face showed only one expression... victory.

"But-"