“These are our finest instructors. Choose whichever one you like,” Yang Qi said straightforwardly.
Han Yan observed carefully – all dozen or so women appeared valiant and skilled in martial arts. Just looking at them revealed their heroic bearing, and she couldn’t help but admire them.
However, choosing from among the dozen was quite challenging.
Han Yan stopped before a woman in red. She looked imposing, tall, and seemingly full of strength. Their eyes met with bright, forthright gazes. Little Li hurried to explain: “This instructor previously studied under a general; her martial arts are quite impressive.”
Han Yan remained silent and continued forward to one with dark skin and a strong build. Little Li said: “Master He used to be a guard at a country estate. Her skills were so good that an old prince recruited her as his princess’s guard.”
The following instructors each had their specialties – some excelled in swordplay, others in knife techniques or hand-to-hand combat. Some were plain, some beautiful, some nearly indistinguishable from men. Their backgrounds were equally impressive. As Han Yan walked along, she understood why Yang Qi’s women’s martial arts section had become so successful, given the care taken in selecting instructors.
Reaching the last instructor, Han Yan suddenly felt her heart tighten. She instinctively looked up, meeting a pair of light-colored eyes.
This was a young woman in plain black silk clothes, with such ordinary features she’d be impossible to find in a crowd, short and thin. Nothing about her seemed remarkable at first glance. What startled Han Yan wasn’t her appearance, but that this seemingly ordinary woman had eyes full of killing intent.
Those eyes were like dead water – approach closer, and you’d feel their bone-chilling cold. Someone who had experienced death was particularly sensitive to such a gaze. Han Yan understood clearly – this woman’s nature wasn’t simply calm or intense, but revealed a fundamental contempt for life and familiarity with death.
Little Li, seeing Han Yan lingering before this person, grew anxious. This Instructor Chai was peculiar and barely interacted with other instructors. He was always frightened of her. Having a good impression of Han Yan, he didn’t want her to jump into trouble, thinking she must be frozen with fear. He tried to intervene: “Miss, have you decided…”
Before he could finish, Han Yan asked the woman in black softly: “May I ask what the Instructor did before?”
The young woman replied coldly: “Assassin.” Her tone was flat, without a ripple of emotion.
Han Yan considered for a moment, then bowed respectfully: “Please accept this humble one as your student.”
Her words shocked everyone present. The other instructors hadn’t expected Han Yan to choose that one. Little Li and the two maids looked at Han Yan in disbelief – how could she choose someone so frightening?
Chai Jing frowned, looking at the respectful Han Yan with confusion, pressed her lips together, and remained silent. From his seat, Yang Qi gave Han Yan a meaningful look and took a sip of tea.
“Are you certain?” Yang Qi asked.
Han Yan replied: “This humble one is very certain.”
“Very well.” Yang Qi waved his hand: “Chai Jing, you will teach this young lady martial arts.”
Chai Jing tersely uttered one word: “Fine.”
After accepting the instructor, the others withdrew, leaving only Han Yan’s group of three and Yang Qi.
“Little girl, why did you choose her?” Yang Qi asked.
Han Yan smiled: “I just felt a connection.”
Hearing she didn’t want to elaborate, Yang Qi didn’t press further, only asking: “When will you bring your brother?”
Han Yan was surprised, then delighted: “In the next few days. Thank you for your concern, Elder. I’m truly grateful.” She pulled out the banknote from her sleeve: “Please accept this.”
Yang Qi didn’t take her money, sighing instead: “Let it be. I’ve gained enough benefit from the women’s martial arts section. How could I accept your money? Perhaps… you didn’t even know the full implications before.”
Han Yan’s mind stirred, guessing Yang Qi was referring to the relationship between the martial arts school and the Seventh Prince’s interests. But this wasn’t like her previous life – if Official Chen opened a women’s martial arts school three years later, it certainly wouldn’t achieve the same effect. Could the implications already be visible?
However, as a young lady from a noble family, she couldn’t show interest in court affairs before others. So she smiled: “Elder, about my brother…”
Yang Qi stared at her intently for a while, then said: “Choose a day to bring him. If he’s clever, I won’t be stingy with teaching him martial arts.”
Han Yan noticed Yang Qi’s attitude toward her becoming increasingly familiar and friendly, which naturally pleased her. She then pulled out a cushion: “My maids made this knee pad. Elder practices martial arts daily and must strain your joints, especially in winter. My grandfather used knee pads to ease the pain. Even if your joints are fine, it can keep your legs warm. Please don’t be polite.”
Yang Qi was startled. Ji Lan had already stepped forward with the knee pad. Looking at it, he saw it was made of rabbit fur and gray-blue silk, with fine stitching and no garish decorations except for a small pixiu in the corner. The maker’s care was evident, leaving him with mixed feelings.
Yang Qi had never married and had no children. Looking up at Han Yan, small in stature and adorable in appearance, yet possessing wisdom and steadiness beyond her years, he couldn’t help but feel moved. If such a bright and lovely child were his daughter, she would surely be the apple of his eye, his pride and joy.
“You’re very thoughtful,” Yang Qi finally sighed.
Han Yan bowed: “The maids did all the work. I just gave instructions – I dare not take credit.” She paused, then added: “A teacher for a day is a father for life. You’re my brother’s teacher, so I naturally must show proper respect.”
Yang Qi laughed heartily: “I haven’t agreed yet.”
Little Li was stunned – Master Yang laughed. In all these years, except for rare moments of extreme happiness, Master Yang had maintained a serious demeanor. Seeing him so jovial today, his gaze drifted to Han Yan thoughtfully.
Han Yan just smiled silently.
After bidding farewell to Yang Qi, Han Yan found Chai Jing waiting in the training courtyard. Even now, with their teacher-student relationship established, Han Yan still felt a chill looking at Chai Jing.
Chai Jing looked at her calmly and asked: “When do we start?”
She was asking when to begin training. Han Yan thought briefly, then composed herself and said: “Tomorrow.”
Chai Jing was surprised. Usually, young ladies were reluctant to practice martial arts, except for some daughters from military families. Though martial arts training had become fashionable among the capital’s women, with many young ladies following the trend, who knew how many truly wished to learn? Han Yan choosing her as an instructor was unexpected enough, but now she seemed eager – why?