Ming Yue Yin was practicing with Fu Ying in the Manor's training ground. Although she had high cultivation, she lacked any battle experience and she couldn't count the number of times she lost to Fu Ying. Lory who had already fixed her appearance in her room had decided to watch Ming Yue Yin practice to kill her boredom. She pulled a wooden stool close to the grounds and placed her head on her hand.
Two hours passed and there's still no improvement in Ming Yue Yin fighting. The Princess kept losing miserably. Fu Ying kept giving her mild pointers but she hardly understood them. Lory couldn't stand watching them anymore so she stood and calmly walked towards them. Fu Ying and Ming Yue Yin stopped practicing when they saw this.
?
"Miss Luo," Fu Yin nodded courteously.
Lory returned his gesture with a polite smile before shifting her gaze to the sweaty Ming Yue Yin.
"Brat, wanna practice with me?" Lory asked casually.
"I'm a cultivator, Aunty. You can't win against me," Ming Yue Yin teased.
"Don't use you're Qi then. Your problem is not in your cultivation anyway…" Lory also teased.
"Ooh?" The thought of a challenge excited Ming Yue Yin.
Fu Yin was getting used to Ming Yue Yin and Luo Ri Yi's casual interactions. He at first disapproved of Lory's manner towards Ming Yue Yin as she was the Emperor's daughter while Lory was a commoner to them. His thoughts changed when he saw how relaxed and happy Ming Yue Yin was whenever she was with Luo Ri Yi. Ming Yue Yin would also sparkle every time she saw Luo Ri Yi. It was hard for him to understand why the Princess admired Lory so much, but he decided to let it be.
Lory picked a short sword and swung it around to check its balance. She glanced at Ming Yue Yin once she was satisfied with it. "Ready?"
Ming Yue Yin assumed a fighting stance, "Ready!"
They both simultaneously leaped towards each other and clashed. Ming Yue Yin's body, even without her Qi, Ming Yue Yin stronger as her cultivation had strengthened her bones but Lory had more experience. Lory could easily read Ming Yue Yin's moves and stop her attacks.
Fu Yin was surprised to see Luo Ri Yi match Ming Yue Yin. He had never heard of a wasted who could fight a cultivator, not even when the cultivator wasn't using their Qi. A cultivator's body was not the same as that of a normal person. He thought the reason could be Ming Yue Yin was fighting carelessly, while Luo Ri Yi had estimated Ming Yue Yin's movements from watching her before.
Lory was suddenly kicked by Ming Yue Yin. Lory fell to the ground with a loud thud and her swords fell a few meters from her hand. Ming Yue Ying carelessly jumped with her swords aimed at Lory's chest as she felt she was about to win. A triumphant smile emerged on her face but Lory threw a handful of dirt towards Ming Yue Yin's face stunning and disrupting her movements.
Lory used the small window of opportunity to trip Ming Yue Yin who fell on the ground, jumped over her, and placed her knee on Ming Yue Yin's chest. She then pushed Ming Yue Yin's neck to the ground and aimed her red dagger at Ming Yue Yin's throat. The winner was obvious.
Lory grinned while Ming Yue Yin pouted and shouted angrily, "You cheated!"
"I did," Lory's grin widened. "You made three mistakes… One, your moves are too simple and honest. I can read them like a book. Two, you let your guard down quickly and three is the worst…You underestimated your opponent!"
Lory raised her eyebrows as she sheathed her dagger under her left arm. She casually continued to sit on Ming Yue Yin's stomach. Her expression became serious. "You are lucky it was only dirt. What if it was a secret weapon or poison?"
Ming Yue Yin pressed her lips together as she knew Lory was right. Ming Yue Yin sighed heavily as it was clear she had a lot to learn yet she didn't have much time. She couldn't help but feel defeated. Lory stood up and helped Ming Yue Yin stand.
"Remember, your enemy will not tell you how many weapons, talismans, or amulets they have, and the weaker your enemy, the more dangerous they can become. Always prepare for the 'what if' situation," Lory said sternly like a teacher.
"Yes!" Ming Yue Yin nodded strongly. She had seen Lory's strength in her dream and she couldn't help but feel excited and eager to prove herself in front of Lory.
Lory approached Fu Yin who was still amazed by Lory. He heard what Lory said to Ming Yue Yin and was stunned because his father once taught him the same way. Fu Yin was Ming Yue Yin's subordinate and he did not dare to be rough with her because of that and the fact Ming Yue Yin was also a woman. These were the reasons Ming Yue Yin wasn't making any progress even after practicing a few sessions with a great soldier like Fu Ying.
Lory stared at Fu Ying and said something he would never forget for the rest of his life, "The tougher you are with her now, the better her chances of surviving. The Emperor wouldn't be her last enemy. More will come and they may be smarter, stronger…crueler!"
Fu Yin's face became hard, "I can protect her!"
"What happens when you're gone? You can't be in two places at the same time…" Lory told him the reality. A soldier can't always stay near her. There would be a time when he would need to leave her to protect the Kingdom and they would be no one else to protect her. Fu Ying gritted his teeth and clenched his fists as he understood this.
"She will become an Empress and millions of her people would depend on her. As her subordinate, you can clear her path but she will still be the one who needs to walk through it."
"Hey! Are we gonna practice or what?!" Ming Yue Yin became impatient with waiting.
Lory and Fu Ying turned to stare at Ming Yue Yin as one. The corner of Lory's mouth curved slightly. She patted Fu Yin's shoulder and walked past him, "Show her the way…"
Fu Yin tightly gripped his sword as he knew Lory's words were right. His Princess needed to be strong. She couldn't always be protected and only the strong could rule others. A weak person would be a puppet Empress and he couldn't let that happen to Ming Yue Yin. His eyes were filled with determination as he walked towards Ming Yue Yin and cupped his fists.
"This subordinate had failed to teach Her Highness. Please give me another chance and I will thoroughly guide Her Highness this time," Fu Yin's temperament change. Although Ming Yue Yin didn't know what happened, she guessed the change had something to do with Lory so she smiled with satisfaction.
"By all means…" Ming Yue Yin signaled for him to begin.
Fu Ying showed her his real talent this time around. Ming Yue Yin was kicked and punched to the ground but she did not give up as Fu Ying would correct her where she had done wrong. The practice continued but it was much rougher than before. Lory sat back on the stool and ate sunflower seeds as she watched.
Every time Ming Yue Yin lost, she would glance at Lory but Lory only munched on the sunflower seeds without much regarded. Defeated by these actions, Ming Yue Yin would grip her weapon, stand up with determination, and swing her sword towards Fu Ying. This continued for hours until Zhao Li Xin, his four palace Kings, Fu Xiao Jin, Zhang Yu Hao, and Wu Tian Zi came.
They were all panic-stricken when they saw Ming Yue Ying's sorry state. The Princess was covered in bruises, dirt, and sweat. Fu Xiao Jing almost fainted from anger. He wondered if his son was tired of living for him to treat the Princess so shabbily.
Fu Xiao Jin wanted to stop Fu Ying but Lory raised her hand to stop him, "Don't! This is her choice."
"What? To get beaten?" Fu Xiao Jin was furious that he forgot Zhao Li Xin was present and could easily bash his head.
"To be strong…" Lory remained calm. She expected such a reaction since he cared for Ming Yue Yin.
"But…she's just a girl. We can't be harsh with her…" Zhang Yu Hong grimaced as he watched.
"She is not just a girl… She is the last of her kin. The royal bloodline depends on her. Your life and your family depends on her. This Kingdom depends on her. The course of this Kingdom and the people who live in it will change whether she fails or succeeds. This is her burden for better or worst. She needs to be strong if she wants to prevail. She has no other choice!" Lory inhaled loudly yet her eyes were still fixed on Ming Yue Yin.
Her words shook Fu Xiao Jin and his friends. They wanted to keep Ming Yue Yin safe from pain but as a subordinate, they knew they all depended on her. It was a painful reality but the truth. This was a heavy burden for seventeen years old woman but what other choice did they have? It was what it was.
Ming Yue Yin suddenly got kicked and she rolled on the ground while clenching her stomach. Wu Tian Xi turned his cheeks as he did not want to see her hurt, Fu Xiao Jin unconsciously clenched his fists with an anxious expression, Zhang Yu Hong turned pale while the four Kings glanced at Lory to see her reaction.
Lory crossed her arms, "You can stop if you are tired."
Lory's words only provoked Ming Yue Yin further as she forced herself to stand up. Ming Yue Yin was panting profusely as more sweat trickled down her face. She refused to give up because she knew Lory would never do it. "It's not over yet!".
Lory's mouth curved before she shouted, "THEN FIGHT!"
Ming Yue Yin roared and swung her sword but Fu Ying blocked her attacks. Ming Yue Yin attacks became more intense and her moves seemed desperate. Everyone thought she would lose again. However, she gathered all her Qi to her right hand and threw her swords at Fu Ying. Fu Yin swung his sword to block hers and failed to comprehend Ming Yue Yin's next move as she leaped toward him and bumped her body into his. Fu Ying and Ming Yue Yin both fell to the ground and Ming Yue Yin pushed the tip of a knife a few inches from Fu Yin's face.
Everyone watched with amazement as they never thought Ming Yue Yin would win. Zhang Yu Hong clapped his hand with excitement waking the rest from their stupor prompting them to do the same. The four Kings also followed suit as it was really a battle of wits and perseverance. Lory smiled secretly.
Ming Yue Yin limped towards Lory and they both stared at each other. Lory remained calm.
"When did you get the small knife?" Lory asked.
"I stole it from Fu Ying when he kicked me to the ground," Ming Yue Yin grinned.
"So, you cheated…?" Lory frowned.
Ming Yue Yin gave a sly smile, "I won!"
A pleased smile gradually appeared on Lory's face, "Yes, you did…"
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