The stillness of the early morning was abruptly shattered by the sudden splash of icy water cascading over Anchhi's body, soaking her in an instant. She gasped, jerking upright in bed. Her heart racing as the freezing cold snatched away her breath.
"Who dares—!" she shouted, eyes wild as she scrambled to make sense of what had just happened.
Shuo Jin stood at the foot of the bed, with bucket in his hand. She wondered if someone better at reading faces would be able to tell what he was thinking.
"It's past our training time," he said calmly, as though dousing her with freezing water was a perfectly acceptable way to start the day. "Can't you wake up on time?"
Anchhi glared at him, her teeth chattering as she pulled the soaked blankets tighter around her body. "That—was completely unnecessary!"
Shuo Jin simply placed the now-empty bucket down beside him, unfazed by her fury. "Get dressed," he instructed, tossing her a neatly folded pile of clothes. "You'll need these."
Anchhi grumbled under her breath. Her body still trembling from the cold as she reluctantly peeled herself out of the bed. She eyed the attire he'd thrown her way, unsure what to make of it at first. It was a simple, yet practical set of clothing—dark, form-fitting trousers made of thick fabric, paired with a long-sleeved tunic that was both sturdy and warm. Unlike the elegant Hanfu she usually wore, this outfit was meant for action, for movement.
She frowned, holding it up to the light. "Is this what you expect me to wear? It looks like something a soldier would wear."
"You'll thank me when you're not freezing to death outside." He shrugged a little , as if he couldn't argue with that.
Anchhi scowled but didn't argue further. It was true—the cold mountain air bit harshly, and she wasn't about to risk hypothermia for the sake of vanity. She quickly changed into the outfit, tying the tunic's belt tightly around her waist. The clothes were surprisingly comfortable, the fabric warm but not restrictive, allowing her the freedom to move easily.
She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and hesitated. This wasn't her usual look—gone were the flowing robes and intricate hairpins. Instead, she tied her hair into a ponytail, securing it with a ribbon. The simplicity of the attire made her feel... different. Less like the noblewoman she had once been, and more like someone preparing for battle.
She adjusted the collar of her tunic, and a knot of anxiety twisted in her stomach. She had never been trained for anything like this. What did Shuo Jin expect her to do? Fight? Defend herself? Survive?
Her eyes flicked back to Shuo Jin, who stood by the doorway, waiting for her. Stone faced but he did narrow his eyes looking at her. He looked at her with that same intensity, as though her fears and doubts were irrelevant.
He cocked his head, a slow curl brushing his lips. "Are you ready?"
Anchhi took a deep breath, forcing herself to push the anxiety aside. "As ready as I'll ever be," she sighed, though she wasn't sure she meant it.
Outside, the cold was biting but not unbearable. Though the sky was clear and it had stopped snowing, the wind cut through the mountain air with a sharpness that made Anchhi instinctively wrap her arms around herself. Shuo Jin led her to an open ground not far from the manor, a patch of flat ground surrounded by towering trees, their branches dusted with snow. The sun had barely risen, casting a pale light over the landscape, but the cold was ever-present.
Anchhi glanced around, her breath visible in the morning chill. "So, what are we doing?" she asked, trying to sound nonchalant though her heart raced with apprehension.
Shuo Jin faced her, his stance relaxed but commanding. His arms folded across his chest. "First, we'll begin with basic forms. You need to understand how to move, how to control your body before you can do anything else."
She blinked, confused. "Forms? Like... dancing?"
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips, though it was more sardonic than amused. "If you like. But this isn't a dance for show." He stepped forward, demonstrating a slow, fluid movement, his hands slicing through the air with precise control. "Every movement has purpose. Balance, control, strength. Without these, you are nothing in battle."
Anchhi watched, trying to mimic the way he moved, but she felt awkward, stiff. Her limbs didn't seem to want to cooperate, and the cold wasn't helping. She stumbled through the form, frustration bubbling up inside her as she tried to keep pace with Shuo Jin's graceful movements.
"Relax," he said, his voice low and even, though there was a hint of impatience. "You're too tense."
"I can't help it!" She snapped, shaking her head in frustration. "This is ridiculous. I'm not... I'm not a warrior."
"No," Shuo Jin agreed, his eyes narrowing as he circled her slowly, like a predator watching its prey. "But you will be. Or you won't survive."
The weight of his words hung heavy in the air. He wasn't exaggerating. Out here, in the wilderness, she couldn't afford to be weak, to rely on anyone else to protect her. Shuo Jin was offering her the tools to survive, and if she didn't take them, she knew the consequences.
She swallowed hard, focusing on the movements again, trying to let go of the tension in her muscles. This time, when she followed his lead, she felt a slight shift—her body moving a little more fluidly, the rhythm starting to make sense. It wasn't perfect, but it was progress.
Shuo Jin watched her closely, his gaze never leaving her as she practiced. For the first time, he spoke with a softer tone. "You're overthinking it. Trust your instincts."
Anchhi shot him a glance. "That's easy for you to say. You've been doing this your whole life."
A small smile flickered across his lips, gone in an instant. "It wasn't always easy for me either."
She paused, surprised by the admission. It was rare for Shuo Jin to reveal anything about himself, and it intrigued her. But before she could ask, he turned away, his face once again unreadable.
"Again," he ordered, his voice firm.
She gritted her teeth, her determination flaring. She wouldn't let him see her fail. Not again.
By the time they finished, the sun had climbed higher into the sky, though the cold still clung to the mountain air. Her muscles ached from the unfamiliar movements, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She wiped the sweat from her brow, shivering as the wind bit at her skin.
Shuo Jin stood a few feet away, his expression calm and collected, barely winded. He regarded her with quiet intensity, as though he was measuring her progress, weighing her potential.
"You did well," he finally said, and Anchhi almost laughed at the unexpected compliment.
"Is that your version of praise?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "You don't exactly shower people with encouragement, do you?"
His gaze flicked to her, a faint glimmer of amusement in his eyes. "Encouragement doesn't keep you alive."
Anchhi couldn't help but roll her eyes, though there was a small smile on her lips. "You're impossible, you know that?"
Shuo Jin didn't respond, but for a brief moment, his gaze softened. Just enough for her to wonder if perhaps, beneath all that cold, there was warmth waiting to be discovered.