As much as Yan loved romance novels, they werent without their flaws. Most were formulaic and unoriginal, featuring a banal title and a main character who falls in love at first glance, usually while having little to nothing in common with their prospective lover. Putting aside their vast differences, there would also be so conflict keeping the fated lovers apart, sothing silly and frivolous like a family rivalry or difference in status, but the main character would always want to do things the right way, when it would be so much easier to wash your hands of the silliness and elope with your lover or even find soone else more worthy of their efforts.
What Yan found most unrealistic was how there was always a rival, if not several, characters whose despicable behaviour bordered on the extre. Usually, the rival was a petty, spiteful individual who would stop at nothing to interfere with the main characters relationship. More than once, she thought it strange for soone to go to such great lengths to sabotage another, especially when the rival usually held so many advantages over the main character. A childhood friend, an arranged marriage, a similar background, or shared employnt, the rivals ti would be better spent winning over the love interest instead of plotting contrived and nonsensical sches against the main character which required everything to go perfectly according to plan.
It all seed so absurd right until this very mont when Yan realized she was the petty and spiteful rival doing everything she could to sabotage the star-crossed lovers, Zheng Luo and Falling Rain.
The Imperial Servants dance was unlike anything Yan had ever seen, the familiar movents of the Forms given new life by Zheng Luos beauty, grace, and poise. To call her dance complex or even technically difficult would be a far stretch, nor were the movents exceptionally innovative or beneficial from a Martial Warriors perspective, but neither of those things took away from its simplistic elegance and breathtaking artistry. Were Yan to execute the sa movents in the sa order, her performance would fall laughably short of Zheng Luos for there were a myriad of minor details contributing to this exquisite display. Her shimring hair, soulful eyes, shapely body, and gorgeous features only added unnecessary ornantation to the performance, for its beauty went beyond the physical. There was sothing about the way she flowed that aligned with the natural order of the world, like how the grass swayed and wind blew to accentuate her movents, or how her weapon ca to life like a partner dancing alongside her, or how the tilt of her neck and angle of her fingers seed to twist sunlight and shadow about her, as if the Mother herself were taking part in Zheng Luos awe-inspiring demonstration of the Forms.
To call it beautiful would be to do it a disservice, but Yan couldnt find it in herself to appreciate the performance, because she was far too busy being jealous and catty.
Illogical is what it was, irrational and absurd, but Yan couldnt help it. Only now did she realize what love did to a person and she hated it with a passion. Every ti she looked at Zheng Luo, Yan saw a woman so unreasonably flawless it drove her mad with envy. Beauty and brains, usually wrapped up in a tight, alluring dress, Zheng Luo couldnt be more perfect if she tried, yet here she was, doing exactly that. It didnt matter if she had her beautiful hair done up in twin buns, or if she wore bulky, protective leathers and wielded a heavy, unfamiliar weapon, Zheng Luo still danced with effortless charm and stunning refinent, and Yan hated her for it.
Still, Yan had never purposely sabotaged Zheng Luo during their week of training sessions, though she admitted she didnt try as hard as she should have. While giving the Imperial Servant a taste of the switch was satisfying at first, Yans soft-hearted empathy prevented her from using it as much as shed like. The hateful woman was too damned charming and lovable to hurt and her teary, weepy eyes made Yan feel like an inhuman monster for gently correcting her mistakes. Yan did her best, but Zheng Luo seed utterly hopeless as a Martial Warrior, so why put her through more physical pain than necessary? Yan was no sadist, so she eased back and waited for Zheng Luo to quit, but the woman was stubborn and driven to succeed. Now, in light of her consummate dance, it looked like Yan had tried to suppress Zheng Luos skills and prevent her from becoming a Martial Warrior, which was completely untrue.
Stupid Rain. Why did he have to be so damned smart sotis?
Seeing her lover so enchanted by the sight of another woman, Yan elbowed him in the ribs and Sent, Leave your tongue out any longer and the sun will turn it to jerky.
Confused, Rain studied her for long seconds before his eyes lit up in genuine surprise. Mother in Heaven, he Sent, the ssage delivered through their intertwined fingers. Youre actually jealous! Idiot. Elbowing him again, Yan looked away so he couldnt see her cheeks burning with sha, but Rain kept on Sending. I thought you were kidding around, but youre seriously mad.
Of course I am, shit-for-brains!
...Is this why youve been so... affectionate lately? Because youre worried youll lose to Luo-Luo? Yan hated how he called her that, so sweet and sickly, and she especially hated how he almost seed delighted by her jealousy. I an, I get Mila being jealous because shes jealous about everything, but I didnt expect this from you. How am I supposed to survive with two jealous wives?
Whose fucking fault do you think this is, you smug, insufferable twit? Turning around to gently headbutt her idiot lover, Yan hit Rain a bit harder than shed planned, though still lighter than he deserved. Kissing his forehead in apology, she went right back to being angry. Its not like I want to be jealous, but you keep collecting lovers like you want one for every night of the week. I hate what it does to and I hate you for doing it.
Clearly trying not to laugh, Rain pulled her close and nuzzled her neck. Dont be ridiculous. Lin already set a hard limit of five wives. When he finished laughing at his own stupid joke, he continued, You have nothing to worry about, not from Luo-Luo. I didnt collect her, she was forced on , and Ive no intentions of being with soone I cant trust, much less not in love with.
Yan scoffed. You say this now, but how long will it last? What happens once Zheng Luo proves herself trustworthy? Or if she becos a proper Martial Warrior?How am I supposed to compete with your beautiful, brilliant, hardworking, and compassionate concubine?
First off, its not a competition. Punctuating the statent with a kiss on her neck, he continued, Seriously, I will not play favourites or assign any hierarchy, because I truly love all three of you equally. His lips brushed her shirt collar aside to kiss her shoulder, and Yan found herself yearning for more. Also, if this were a competition, Luo-Luo wouldnt even be a participant and youd be in the lead, solely on account of what we did last night and earlier today. This ti, she elbowed him like she ant it, but he grinned and waggled his eyebrows. If youre still feeling insecure, then why dont we sneak off and widen your lead?
Sotis, Yan wondered what cris she committed in her past lives to warrant falling in love with a buffoon. Still, his words lifted Yans spirits, though now she felt bad for Zheng Luo. The Imperial Servant had no say in the matter, but it sounded like Rain blad her for intruding. Looking back, she realized his attitude towards her did seem unusually distant, sothing shed overlooked in her haze of jealousy. Rain barely even glanced at Zheng Luos exquisite, hip-hugging dress last night, a sight which even Yan had difficulty tearing her eyes from, which spoke to the depths of his resentnt. This newfound understanding made Yan feel even worse for being so antagonistic with the poor woman, so she ignored Rains proposition and turned her attention back to their problematic student.
Neither fast nor slow, the dance continued at a moderate pace on the grassy plains of Central, lasting under an hour from start to finish. Barely restrained by her dark leather vest, Zheng Luos chest heaved with exertion and her skin glistened with sweat as she gazed longingly at Rain, her eyes full of hope and expectation. Barely giving the alluring enchantress a second glance, Rain said, Okay then. What have you learned?
Crushed by the lack of praise or applause, Zheng Luo visibly deflated and hugged her weapon close. ...Apologies Lord Husband, but Luo-Luo does not understand. What sort of answer is Lord Husband looking for?
A little harsher than necessary, Rain shook his head and sighed, making Yans heart ache even more for Luo-Luo. She was trying so hard, but Rain couldnt even spare a kind word or soft smile. He didnt even say anything about how amazing her performance was. Rember what I told you earlier? He asked, his tone mildly impatient. It all cos down to what you perceive. Its not a pretty dance you do to impress people, the Forms are ant to guide you along the Martial Path, so you must seek Insight within them. What do you think about when youre dancing?
Her head hung low, Luo-Luo couldnt even bring herself to speak and Yan yearned to spring forward and take the poor woman in her arms. Mother in Heaven, was she going to have to help her rival win her lovers affection?
Completely without rcy, Rain continued lecturing Luo-Luo as she fought back her tears. You know the Forms, and thats a good start, but knowing isnt enough. It is literally the first step along the Martial Path, so now you must take the next. Performing the movents through rote morization is useless, you must explore the movents and delve into their mysteries. Think of it like... mathematics. Addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division are your basic Forms, and with enough study, you can discover how to derive the volu of a wagon based on its dinsions or calculate the interest on a two-percent loan.
...But why cant you teach Luo-Luo these things? Even her petulance was endearing, and Yan had to resist the urge to demand Rain treat his concubine better, because watching a grown woman pout and stomp her feet was too much. Tell Luo-Luo how to hold her weapon, where to place her feet, and other simple instructions she can follow. Going by Lord Husbands example, those mathematical formulas are already in existence, so what point is there in having Luo-Luo rediscover them on her own?
Because the formulas change from person to person. Smiling like an idiot, Rain smacked himself on the forehead. I cant believe it took this long to figure out. The answer was right in front of , but I never pieced it all together. Listen closely Luo-Luo, because this took seven plus years to figure out: I cant tell you how to fight because its better if you learn on your own. What works for might not work for you, and the sa goes for Yan, because we are each our own unique individual. You might find success following in anothers footsteps, but the only way to realize your full potential is to forge your own path using the Forms to guide you.
...Which was the foundational basis of the Peoples teachings. Why was Rain only learning this now?
Understanding dawned upon Luo-Luos fair face, but she still seed unconvinced. But... Luo-Luo does not understand the ways of war, so how is she to find Insight in the Forms?
Seeing an opportunity to chi in, Yan said, Maybe you already have. Do you always dance with a weapon in hand? Blinking in confusion, Luo-Luo shook her head and Yan continued, Then how did you know what to do with the sceptre?
...Luo-Luo rely did what felt right.
Exactly! Excited to finally make progress, Yan bead from ear to ear. You keep asking us to tell you what to do, but while you were dancing, did your sceptre ever get in your way? Did you stop and think about how to hold it, when to twirl it, where to move it, or anything along those lines? No, you followed your instincts and did what felt natural. In other words, you let the Forms guide you. Rember this feeling the next ti you sit down to bind it, because thats what it ans to beco one with the weapon, treating it not as an object, but as an extension of your body.
Between the physical exertion and ntal acrobatics, Luo-Luo seed ready to fall to pieces, so after a few more words of advice, Yan suggested she take a break to rest and think things over before going through the Forms a second ti. Dragging Rain away for a quiet stroll around the field of cattle, Yan voiced her misgivings through Sending. You should be kinder to Luo-Luo. Dont speak so harshly and maybe complint her every now and then. Her performance was phenonal but you skipped right over it to lecture her.
Oh? Its Luo-Luo now, is it? Rains smug smile made Yan want to headbutt him again, but she graciously let him be. What happened to Zheng Luo? Were you swayed by her phenonal performance? Youre free to court her if youd like. I dont mind so long as I get to watch.
Rethinking that headbutt, Yan rolled her eyes and Sent, Idiot. I dont understand you at all. A gorgeous woman is desperate for your approval, but every ti you speak you almost bring her to tears. Its like youre trying to make her hate you.
Im not that an to Luo-Luo. Seeing the look she gave him, Rain blinked and asked, Am I?
an might not be the right word. Cold perhaps, or distant. You treat her like a stranger, but when you treat everyone else in camp like a dear friend, the contrast is obvious.
...She is a stranger. We t three months ago and spent two of those months apart.
...Fine, but how can you bear to make her cry? Heartless cad. Callous fiend. Cruel beast.
Oh please. Crouching down to let an insistent bunny hop into his arms, he showed her its adorable face and Sent, Dont get taken in by her deception. Luo-Luo changes moods faster than Thumper here twitches his nose. She is a master manipulator and knows exactly what to say and do to get you on her side. Thats why Im so guarded against her, because I know shes trying to play . Even after I told her I didnt want a loveless relationship, shes still pushing for sex so she can wrap around her little finger.
Much as she appreciated Rains sentint, Yan was mildly horrified by what he considered proper behaviour. You told Luo-Luo you didnt love her and didnt want a physical relationship? Okay, now Id say youre an. Taking the bunny away because Rain didnt deserve its sweet kisses, Yan gave it a quick nuzzle while it settled into her embrace, inwardly gushing at its adorably angry expression. What did you expect to happen? For her to accept your words and do nothing? Shes a young woman who was thrust into a scary and unfamiliar situation, one trained in the arts of diplomacy and seduction. Of course shell rely on what she knows. You cant seriously be blaming her for trying to make friends and seduce her Lord Husband, are you? What you call manipulative, I say is adapting to circumstances. Only an idiot like you would try to impose their will in unfamiliar surroundings.
His expression darkening with each sentence, Rains grimace was both adorable and darling. ...This isnt fair!
How so? Have I said anything that isnt true?
No, but youre twisting the facts and making feel bad. Stop bullying , I dont like it. And whyd you change your mind so quickly? First you hate her, now you love her. You were jealous, but now youre supportive. How am I supposed to keep up?
Laughing at Rains childish tantrum and sullen pout, Yan decided that was enough for today. Perhaps Rain was right and Luo-Luo was a manipulative charlatan, but Yan would find out for herself. Fine. Lets talk about sothing else. Whats your secret to success on the front lines? Healing cant account for all your accomplishnts. Over the last week, Yan made great strides in utilizing the miraculous Panacea with Lin as her teacher, and she already intended to beg Akanai to share it with Grandpa. A sha she couldn't share the secret with her retinue, but she understood why.
Half-expecting him to laugh off the question, Rain answered, Crossbows. Want so? Talk to Luo-Luo, shell outfit your whole retinue with them. Your hubby will foot the bill.
How generous. Wishing hed given a different answer, Yan sighed. Sadly, I dont think I can accept your offer. If I ard my retinue with crossbows, theyd toss them in the latrines and mutiny. Stupid Martial pride. Grandpa even made her give up the bow, called it a weapon unbefitting for an Officer.
Well, theyre super helpful. Point, fire, and a bunch of Defiled die. Armour and discipline helps too, and so do good scouts, but so far, range is king. Having picked up an escort of cattle joining them on their stroll, Rain patted the closest one on the flank, a shaggy, reddish-brown behemoth with white patches around his eyes. You want a couple war-bulls? Theyre not all suitable for the battlefield, but wild cattle like Big Mac here are sothing fierce. Give Luo-Luo a few days and shell have them hitched to chariots, or if youre feeling less daring, wagons.
Though Rain claid not to trust Luo-Luo, he certainly had faith in her skills. Suppressing her jealousy, Yan bit her lip and sighed. The chariots I want, but the war-bulls... not so much. I think your cattle are adorable and their fierce reputation precedes them, but if I ride into battle in a modified ox-cart, Ill be laughed at by the world over.
What?Why?
Because theyre cattle, the ans of conveyance for peasants who cant afford horses. I have enough problems with my reputation as it is without adding fuel to the fire. And, despite their darling dispositions, cattle were notoriously difficult to train and also stank to High Heaven.
Luckily for him, Rain knew her better than to try and fix her problems or convince her his thods were better. Yan didnt want a hero to sweep her off her feet, but a partner to support her, and Rain played his part perfectly. Squeezing her hand, he gave her a reassuring smile and Sent, ...Okay, no cattle then. Trained warhorses are in short supply, but since I dont have to worry about public opinion, Ill use the cattle and you can have my Guonei Chargers and Acasian Trotters.
Yan wanted to refuse them, but she wasnt sure she could afford to. Even Grandpa would find it difficult to purchase trained warhorses within the year, especially considering his bleak financial situation. Still, she couldnt let Rain cripple his retinue and cast aside reputation to help her, so she Sent, You keep them. Pretty boy Dastan wont look quite as dashing sitting atop Moomie.
All the more reason to be rid of the horses. Dastan keeps making look bad. His troubled smile cast a pall over the joke as he added, Dont worry, Ill keep enough mounts for his people and give you the extras. At this point,I have more horses than horsen. This ti, it was her turn to support him and she did her best, resting her head against his shoulder as they wandered aimlessly around the field of grazing cattle. It didnt feel like she was doing enough, but she knew Rain would only retreat if she pressed him to open up, so instead, she focused on avoiding the many cow turds in their path while giving him ti to recover. It didnt take long, but he quickly changed the subject. My turn to ask questions. Whats your secret to using Chi externally? Ive been trying for weeks and this is the best I can do. Pursing his lips like he was about to whistle, Rain spat out a small stream of water which dissipated before hitting the ground.
Pretending to swoon, Yan Sent, Oh such a daunting attack, I fear I will never be your match! When she finished cackling, she kissed his wet, pouting lips and smirked. What happened to reaching your full potential by forging your own path? Or is it do as I say and not as I do? His pout darkened even further, but the lines around his eyes told her he was faking, shaking with barely contained mirth rather than unrestrained fury. Honestly, what you did was fairly impressive. You already know how to materialize your Elent, so now you need to focus on manipulation.
...and how do I do that?
Im not sure itll help, but heres how Grandpa explained it. Taking a mont to gather her thoughts, Yan shared Grandpas lessons with Rain. One cannot ta the wind, only shape the setting so the wind chooses to follow your will. Wind is a capricious elent, and while many believe it embodies freedom, it follows a strict set of rules like any other force of nature...
Hand in hand, they circled the field while Yan expounded on the intricate mysteries of the Divine Wind. Each ti they completed the circuit, they checked in on Luo-Luo and picked up more followers until the entire herd of cattle and bunnies were accompanying them on their quiet stroll, but Yan still wasnt finished. Rain had plenty of questions and when she didn't know the answer, they discussed the possible answers together, during which Rain had many insightful remarks to further Yans understanding. While they continued their discourse with their entourage of cattle and bunnies, Luo-Luo perford her dance twice more, but she seed to have exhausted herself after the last iteration. There she sat with her mace laid neatly across her lap, while Yan and Rain circled the field three more tis. As they ca around the fourth ti, Yan opened her mouth to chide Luo-Luo for shirking her training but before she could speak, the Imperial Servant sprang to her feet and struck an elegant pose. Arms out at her sides, her mace dangled loosely from her fingers as she arched her back and stared up at the sky, a mortal standing in supplication of Heaven above.
And then, using her body and weapon as instrunts, Luo-Luo perford a piece composed by the Heavens itself.
Steps light and strikes heavy, the beautiful warrior leapt and pranced about the field, wielding her mace with spirited purpose in a deadly dance of destruction wholly unlike her previous performances. Swiping the Rushes paired with Gliding Wing, Parting the Underbrush followed by Fluttering Raindrops, Raising the Winds lded with Darting Fang, her movents announced themselves before Yans disbelieving eyes, the secrets of each underlying Form laid bare in these intrinsic configurations. Simple, yet sophisticated, rudintary, yet intricate, at first glance Luo-Luos movents all seed easy to learn, but each hid a myriad of complexities within which made them difficult to master.
While Yan struggled to commit each detail to mory, Luo-Luos performance continued unabated, her weapon gradually transforming from primitive mace to refined flail and her simple movents evolving into elaborate compositions. The flail howled as it spun through the air, one mont graceful and flowing, the next, twisting and snapping. A creature given life through Luo-Luos exhaustive efforts, body and weapon working in concert to strike down their foes. The weapon soared high and struck low, circling and spiralling like a serpent given wings, a formidable beast which struck fear into Yans heart, for were this creature to bare its fangs towards her, then she saw death as the only possible outco.
And when the consummate performance ended, Luo-Luo stood with arms at her sides, weapon coiled about her feet, and eyes facing skyward, an arrogant warrior standing in defiance of Heaven.
Fuck my life, Rain muttered, thoroughly ruining Yans appreciation of the mont. Why are all my wives more talented than I am?
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