“Hey,” Li Chyou drew the boy’s attention as he was pouring tea for her.

“Yes, Young Miss?” He didn’t look at her and continued pouring tea for her.

“I think…” she hesitated as though unsure of her choice and said, “I’ll start my training again!”

A smile crept upon his face and his eyes curved into a crescent shape. He happily said, “How wonderful! I’m glad to see Young Miss back on her feet.”

“Thank you,” Li Chyou slightly dipped her head and said meekly.

“There’s nothing to thank me for,” the boy shook his head, “I’m just doing my job.”

“Okay, I’ll finish my tea and then head to the training grounds!” she declared and went on to drink her tea and eat the snacks.

“Then, I’ll get everything ready,” the boy bowed and left the room.

After a while, he came back into the room and saw that she had already finished her tea. She raised her head and looked at him as he came into her periphery, “Is everything ready?”

“Just like before!” the boy smiled.

“Then let’s go!” Li Chyou got up and wiped the sides of her mouth with a napkin before leaving it on the table. She left her room followed by her butler.

They walked through the halls in comfortable silence. The disciples and servants would greet her or smile in relief when they finally saw their Eldest Young Miss again. She would smile at them and return their greetings in a way that was unlike the previous two versions of herself. The people were caught a bit off-guard seeing her bother with pleasantries.

Neither was she the cold and aloof Li Chyou she was originally neither was she childish and haughty like the Li Chyou who was under the effect of the poisons. It was a mix between the two or rather, a completely different version of her. This may be the ideal image Li Chyou wanted to set for herself.

Her actions were forced as she had never done them before. It took all her focus not to simply nod at the passersby and leave. Naturally, the boy had noticed this as well. He smiled under his mask. He was right somewhat. She did start to change now that the poisons were not in her system anymore.

Though he thought that she would revert back to her cold personality, it is naturally a good surprise to see her trying to improve herself. Despite his methods, he couldn’t help but feel…relieved and proud!

“Say, about that thing you said earlier?” Li Chyou asked as they walked. She did not turn back to look at him and paused slightly before asking again, “Do you as well?”

The boy froze. Who…asks a question like that? Which thing? Ugh… based on the atmosphere-

“Why wouldn’t I, Young Miss?” the boy replied. Hopefully, this works!

“T-Thank you,” Li Chyou said with a shaky voice.

Huh? There were question marks in his eyes. Surely, what I said was not too surprising? Oh God, I should’ve asked what she was talking about!

As the boy was lamenting about his poor choices, they finally reached the training ground. Li Chyou went straight into the weapon’s shed and got herself a suit of light armor as well as her trusty halberd.

“So, are you going to be practicing the bow again?” Li Chyou asked. And for some reason, she seemed to be diverting all of her focus on his eyes or rather, trying her utmost not to look away.

He narrowed his eyes. See, see! I did say something wrong! What the hell!?

“I will, Young Miss,” the boy nodded slightly before getting himself a longbow and a quiver full of arrows.

After that they each went on to their respective training. Li Chyou practiced her swings on a dummy made out of metal and the boy dragged a bullseye and started shooting.

His aim was getting better and better. He could now shoot from 45 meters away from the target. And that was with his original strength! If he used the strength he gained after cultivating, he could shoot from 90 meters away.

I wish I had a compound bow! The boy felt some distaste for this world’s progress in technology or, lack thereof. And truly, a compound bow would’ve made things much easier. It would’ve taken less force for the arrow to travel the same distance on the compound bow than the recurve bow he was currently using.

He wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand and whipped it to get rid of the sweat. Although it was starting to get colder, exercising would still make one sweat. He estimated that snow would start falling at the end of the month, just in time for the Inter-Clan Tournament!

Apart from the heat of the sun, he also felt something else; the burning gaze of one Li Chyou. It was as though she was trying to use laser vision on him or something!

Why the hell is she staring at me so intently? The boy wanted to cry, he really did but no tears came out. He regretted his choice of replying hastily.

He snapped his head around to look at her only for her to quickly avert her eyes even quicker. He felt exasperated. To hell with it!

“Is something the matter, Young Miss?” he asked sternly.

“Ah?” Li Chyou was caught off-guard and missed her swing. The boy looked at her dumbly. How did you miss it if you were never focusing on it in the first place?

“N-Nothing, why do you ask?” she quickly propped herself up and tried not to look normal.

“Really?” he narrowed his eyes.

“Really!” she nodded fast like a chicken pecking on grains.

“I see…” the boy turned around and continued firing his bow. Seeing this, Li Chyou concentrated on practicing her halberd moves…

…all the while sneaking some occasional glances at him.

I’m gonna kill someone… The bow creaked under the pressure from his clenched fists.

A few hours later.

They finally finished their practice, much to the boy’s relief. Now, he was serving Li Chyou as she sat on one of the tumbonas.

“I feel full of energy if you know what I mean?” Li Chyou asked him as he was wiping off her sweat.

“I understand. It’s natural since training was part of your daily routine,” the boy nodded his head. “It’s natural to be uneasy when you stop doing something you did daily!”

“Then are I some kind of muscled training freak?” Li Chyou reached down and touched her stomach which did have a bit of muscle from training.

“I believe that’s not a bad thing,” the boy smiled, “these stand as proof that your efforts have paid off. Your calloused hands are also proof of the effort you’ve put into your training!”

Li Chyou looked at her palms; they were calloused from the many years of holding her weapon, just like he said.

“But don’t people prefer gentle ladies?” Li Chyou asked somewhat insecurely.

Now, it was the boy’s turn to be caught off-guard. Why are you so worried about this? You weren’t so worried about stuff like this before. Oh…was she always like this? Even before the drugs?

“Well, that may be true,” the boy didn’t deny it which caused Li Chyou to hang her head low, “but what do other people’s opinions matter to you?”

His last sentence made her look up at him. She was listening with intrigue.

The boy continued, “There are many people who would still want to marry you even if you did gain some muscles. Of course, that’s because of your status and the Li Clan’s power but you don’t need to look at them. Many people like muscles and it’s not as though you look like a gorilla.” The boy shook his head, “I seriously do not understand where Young Miss’s concerns come from.”

“I am a lady alright!?” Li Chyou said assertively. “It is completely normal for me to have these worries, especially since I’m absolutely going to get married.”

“Haah~” the boy sighed exasperatedly, “I think Young Miss knows better than me that she’s beautiful.”

“A-Am I?”

“You are.”

Now, you would think that she would continue arguing but contrary to popular belief, she fell silent as soon as the boy said this. An awkward silence lingered between them for a good five minutes.

“Thank you,” Li Chyou said and got up.

“Hmm?” he acted as though he hadn’t heard what she said. For what? Calling you beautiful? Please, people, do that without even being asked to. Granted it’s because of your status but…

As they walked through the halls, she spoke again, “Do you remember why the Inter-Clan tournament was brought ahead of schedule?”

“I do. I recall it was because the Wuji Sacred Realm was going to open.”

“Really?” Li Chyou asked astonished, “the spiritual energy has already started fluctuating. Wasn’t it supposed to open half a month later?”

“Who knows why it would open now? The world is as mysterious as it is huge, there are not enough answers for the infinite amount of ‘whys’ in this world,” the boy sighed helplessly. “But that shouldn’t concern you, with appropriate training you can be prepared for the tournament!”

“Yes, today was very productive!” Li Chyou agreed.

“I’m glad you feel that way,” the boy nodded in satisfaction, “If we keep this up, the Inter-Clan tournament will come before you know it.”

The Day of the Tournament

“See, what did I tell you?”