The Birth of the War Goddess

For today's free night I decided to go out alone.

It not like I had any other option anyway...

Hua went for a horse ride or something with my brother, Wei will be meeting his family since they live close to the capital, Hao and Kasuo were staying at the dorm to rest and Shun needed to "catch his breath".

He kinda took the role of the leader is our room and it really is tiring him out...

I would like to help but it seems like I am part of the trouble too.

They keep wanting to work together but, for how much I try to not overdo, I'm always one step ahead and they push themselves to keep up with me...

The first weeks I even saw some guys of our sect going to spit poison on Shun because of me, he pity me but he shouldn't mind those words too much.

Lately things got better but he keep having peoples asking him facts about me, to train together or for him to introduce us and so...

A few group of guys still despise me tho, they always stare at our table while eating, whispering in the corridors or even try to sabotage our daily training...

But tonight I'm not caring about anything or anyone.

Since a couple of weeks ago, when I saw that mysterious men at the Qixi Festival, I tried to search for him as much as I could on our free nights but with no results...

Maybe today if I dedicate my entire time and focus i will be able to find him again.

-Not here!- I yell leaving the main street

-Nor here!- I bang the door of a restaurant

-Of course not even here...- I leave the brothel, followed by a tons of curious eyes and shoked maids

-What did I expect- I almost laugh out of hysteria -He couldn't be in a gambling house for sure-...

-Where is he hiding?- I ask to myself seating by a river feeling the cold grass under my bare feets

I'm sure of what I saw, that was his bracelet... My eyes aren't bad, why should I be mistaking right now?

I rise my gaze to the skies before closing my eyes.

If only stars could talk...

"Is he even real in the first place...?" What a stupid thought.

But still...

I'm loosing hope.

I hear a light step so I open again my eyes.

Him

-Again following me...? Peoples will think you have an obsession- I stand up turning around -Dong Hu-

-Oh what a coincidence Miss Ying... We always end up meeting eachother lately, isn't that amusing?-

-It's not a coincidence and we both know- I put back on my shoes and proceed to leave

-Miss Ying!-

-Just call me ChangLai- I say pinching my nose bridge as he begins to follow me

-ChangLai... I haven't yet offered you my congratulations for the war simulation we had...-

-You did actually, but it doesn't matter... Aren't you just trying to save your face?-

-Save it from what exactly?-

-You... Haven't heard the rumors?- I ask turning to face him...

His face now enlighten by the street lanterns is showing a questioning expression

-Many says this month I will be the one chosen as the best soldier... It will surely be a shame for the son of a Minister to be beaten by a woman of lower rank.

They are starting to say you want to either threaten me or seduce me so I will get distracted and you can take that title.

If you keep following me, rumors will only augment... And it's never good when the subject of those is a Noble of your Rank-

He is listening with crossed arms and a rised eyebrow

-I couldn't care less about that title, even less about rumors and we both know that-

-Do we? I honestly don't know anything about you while you keep stalking me everyday-

-Once you find a rival that make you enjoy life it is only normal to be interested in them-

-That's your opinion, now leave me alone for once- I just leave, not letting him say any more words...

I'm really tired of him, I don't understand what he's after.

Whether it is to beat me or to win me over, or to shame me in some kind of way, it must not be good...

I never liked him, I feel uncomfortable around him... I am not able to relax when he's around, as if something might happen.

From the day the General told me those things about the Qi and Dong weird aura, I couldn't manage to stop overthinking.

For some reason he is like an enemy to me

...

The next day the instructors decide to switch things up a bit, forming new pairs on the physical training hours.

It is supposed to help us challenge ourselves more as they will pair us with someone of our own level, apparently training always with the same group of peoples made some guys to relax too much...

Of course I ended up in pair with Dong.

-Tz for real?- I roll my eyes -Why you of all the other 58 peoples-

He smirk taking a fighting position

-We are the best two of the sect... Of course the General wants us to train together-

...

-Slow down!- yells an instructor toward us -Remember this is just a training-

...

-Stop doing that- I get slowly hit on my arm my the instructor while I am aiming heavy at his neckbones -Why?!-

-You are not supposed to hurt eachother-

-I'm not hurting him, I'm giving him a changes to improve-

-This is not...!-

-It's fine, I'm not going easy on her either- stops him Dong

-Fine! Do whatever you want as long as nobody get hurt-

We don't even notice the other students slowing down to look in our direction as we train

I turn myself to stand in my hands and hit Dong with my legs, but he blocks me and turn the tables pushing me down on the ground

-Is that all you can do?-

-You do not want me to go harder trust me-

-Who said I don't? You can go all out on me...- he whispers maliciously before faking to aim at my ankle turning instead around to kick between my shoulders, I dodge by a second rolling on my back under his rised leg to press on the back of his knees making him kneel.

Around us everyone stopped to enjoy the show

-This is amusing... Miss Ying- I hate how he says my name, I throw a punch on his cheek trying to shut him up

-Tz... So weak- he giggles before sending me to lay on my stomach with a punch

It leave me shocked for a second, did he got stronger just now...?

I shake my head and use my arms to prevent me from falling completely...

-You are good yes but women are still women I suppose...-

He turns around to leave. Thinking to have won

I stand up kneeling before risings my eyebrow annoyed...

-You shouldn't have said that...- I spit some blood, smirking while I clean my lips...

-That made me angry-

In one single motion I turn around and jump kicking him to the ground, I block his arms to the sides of his body using my thighs, before starting to punch his face

He laughs

He seriously dare to laugh!

I want to ruin that smile

-Yes more...! Hahaha! Come on... Woman-

-You want me to go even harder? I can!- I use more strength making his face bleed as much as my hands, but before I can land another punch someone grabs me by the arms taking me off of him.

-Stop now Lai'Er!- yells Shun to one side

-Separate them! And take her away!-

An instructor rushes to Dong's side who sends him away -I'm all good don't worry, we were just...-

-Let me go!- I free myself from the other instructor who ask for permission at the General, he nods so I turn around to leave

-The lession is not finished yet...!- Shun tries to stop me but the instructor place and hand on his shoulder -Let her go, it's not like this training is useful for her anyway-

-But Sir...!-

-Mmh! Back to lesson now!- he orders.

"I lost control, but he provoked me intentionally..." Is my only thought when leaving the camp.