Swinging the sword a few times, and following her master's lead, she could be called the Shiãchi master. She wasn't proud of it, and rather prefer they resume the next stage.
"I can hold up Master, you don't need to be bothered. Besides, you want me to learn and be independent so I don't have to give in or wait for someone to save me" she pointed. She doesn't want any room for weakness. She knows her returning is certain but whether it was going to come soon, was purely uncertain.
The next Master Wu told her was too easy to remember the [QIANG].
The Qiang was the most least difficult, which is mostly slashings and cutting. It was easy to remember and with the fact she's learnt the Shiãchi, Qiang, wouldn't be as hard .
Master Wu was surprised that she's quite fast to learn. It took others months or probably years to learn, but it took her just three days just like summoning her spirit animal.
"How did I do?" Wenli asked not sure if she was really good enough for the next sword training..
"You're ready to to go into the next step."Master Wu announced.
"Like I did well?" She asked wanting to hear the compliment from her master's mouth.
Master Wu only nodded with a proud smile plastered on her face.
Wenli was more than happy that she swong the sword around.
"Let's stop for today, just have fun..."pausing to rethink was she has already thought about " just get along with the other candidates, I'll leave you to get along with them.
"Yes Master Wu." She thanked while trying to hide her excitement it has been literally a month since they have been in that other world of emptiness, and she wants nothing but get some fresh air and tour the academy with Hualia.
Outside the empty training ground to her room, Hualia was waiting for her to come out.
"Li- jie, lunch is ready" Hualia announced immediately she came out, with Master Wu.
"How did you know I'm starving ?" Wenli sat down and looked at her master.
"Aren't you eating?" She asked inviting her for lunch.
Master Wu took a quick unsuspecting glance at Hualia before saying. "No, not hungry I'll leave you two to yourselves" she said and left quietly.
Wenli has always thought about how she managed to give sound less walks, she herself is good at it, but she preferred to use it on the enemy rather than an ally.
"Okay, if that's what you want" she said, she didn't try to stop her.
"Li- jie, are you done with training?"
Wenli shook her head and continued dawning on her food. After nibbling on the one in her mouth, she said "Hualia, let's tour this place"
"Isn't it against the rules?"
"Why should it. You're making me pounder on where your thoughts really go to sometimes" she said drinking water.
"I'm sorry..."
Wenli looked at her maidservant and shook her head, she wasn't really in the mood to talk to her. All she knows is that, Hualia won't be the only friend she has in this academy.
In her timeline, she really didn't make many friends only her colleagues that she talks to, not a friendly chatter, but work related issues. 'hell!!' she muttered within her.
My life was a boring one. I'm not going to live like that again. Make many friends and trust few.
___
Outside their room, Wenli and Hualia strolled the environ, eager to know all the academy like the back of their head.
They, came across a group of people both male and female. They were laughing proudly. Wenli paused, she knows that smile, it was the most popular smile, laughter and giggling in her timeline, she has heard of it countless times though no one has ever given her any, she could still know because people, set mates and even colleges have given that kind of giggles to someone else. The most painful smile and laughter of bullies.
"What's going on there?" She asked ignoring the fact that she knows fully well of what was happening.
"I'll make inquiry" Hualia offered.
"No need, let's try to ignore it" she concluded. She could pretend that she saw nothing. That was all she did in school to avoid being a victim. In fact, she was a ghost member of her class. People who talks to her, often refer her as a ghost. But she wasn't bothered so long as you didn't target her.
Some bullies have often told her that she was beautiful. Wenli always interpreted it as 'they won't do anything to my pretty face'
"Yes,let's go "Hualia said obeying the command of her master.
She's taken as many steps almost far, far away from the evil chatter, when she heard something that made her stop at her pace.
"Li- jie, is something wrong?" Hualia asked noticing the sudden halt.
"That person, go and find out what's going on there" she ordered.
"But..."
"Hurry!!!" She shouted interrupting her. Hualia felt a pang of anxiety at the sudden command, her master haven't ordered her like that for such a long time, so, she hurried to the arena.
From where she was standing, she saw Hualia asking questions and nodding at the answers taking notes. Moments later, Hualia came back to her Master
"So, what did you find out?" She asked eagerly.
"Name, Rong Wen Ru an outcast. His father died of a plagued disease and her mother abandoned him to cater for himself, to marry another man" she said giving her the details of what she heard.
"I thought no one is allowed at the academy,with out the letter?" Wenli asked curious.
"People said her mother did got the letter from the academy, but not for training..."
"For what then?" She interrupted.
"That.." she pointed at the group.
"And the academy allowed that?" Wenli was utterly shocked. How could that be. Enrolling your child to a school, for him to be bullied? That doesn't settle well with her.
"And?" She asked looking at the crowd. She vowed that if that was her younger brother she would deal with those bastards that mocked and laughed at him.
"That's all " Hualia replied.
Zhao Wenli felt herself moving. No, she was actually moving to the scene. The laughter was getting louder in an annoying way.
She pushed away some spectators to take a closer look at the bullied. One was holding his hair tightly and another pulling his legs, another hands while two people a man and a woman of her age holding whips in both hands ready to hear another cry when it's been landed at his back.
Wen Ru was her brother who has been pampered all his life. She doesn't care if it was her real brother or not, the torture was torturing enough for a boy a little younger than Hualia.
She was still in thought when a woozling sound entered her ears and a loud screech of a cry echoed and laugher increased.
Whether voluntary or not, she suddenly felt a sharp pain on her back and no laughter. It was as painful as a whip. Though she has never been flogged in her life. A little bead of tear dropped down from her cheeks. It was only a moment later after she looked up at the crowd, that she realized, she has involuntary became a shield for her brother.
And looking down, saw teary eyes peeping a hole in her body.
"Are you alright?" She asked ignoring the pain she's still feeling.
The boy nodded confused.
"Are you all done? I want to take him with me"she asked standing up from her position, dusting her robes though it looked neat enough. Then, helping him up.
Having received the whip unwilling, Wenli realized that she has been a dick head. It felt good for people to be indebted to you.
"Where do you think you're taking him?" The girl holding the whip asked arrogantly.
"To the physician's house for treatment" she replied nonchalantly.
"We're not yet done with him yet" the male whip holder said.
"But I'm done. Is it that difficult to understand" her nonchalant response was getting at the peak of these bullies.
That boy is her brother. Who would watch, her brother being bullied and does nothing.
"Who are you?" One girl from the crowd asked. She was a new face. She's could have been very familiar with all of them if not for her master's intensive training and her great zeal to learn more. Hualia might not know any body except from the kitchen and the members in it.
"Sorry for the late introduction, I'm Zhu Wenli, " she paused for them to digest what she said. Before continuing. "The family name is quite popular. Since I've introduced myself, he needs treatment or..."
"Like we care of anything happens to him?" One elegant feminine figure came out of the crowd.
Wenli had no time to admire beauty.
"What?" She asked shocked.
"That's what he was brought here for"
"Is it?" Wenli couldn't understand. Hualia didn't even receive any of the letter but was was told to stay. Why can't a person with that sort of invite change things?
"I know you're family and I'm sorry for your loss, but.. you shouldn't meddle with matters that concerns you not" the girl said giving her the look that she wasn't purely sympathizing with her.
"Thanks for the sympathy but, I think I'm going to reject it. "
"But you need it more than I do" the girl added.
Wenli swallowed hard, holding her brother by the hand.
" If I refuse?" Many gave a 'you dare' look, while the rest gave a ' you're strong or, you can make it ' look. But that isn't her priority. Her priority is to take her brother away and get treated.
"Isn't it better you mind your business? Why are you saving him... Don't you like him?" She mocked.
"Huh? You're unbelievable. I've been damned. " She laughed loudly almost waking her brother, who suddenly slept on her shoulder.
"Then, are you crushing on him?" Wenli threw back at her.
"Why should I?" She sneered at her feeling irritated.
"Well, I can understand. Many people gathered here to see a man being beaten up by a woman and a man. Judging from the look of things, his face isn't even as bruised as his body which means some of you here, came to admire him, in the name of seeing him bullied... Or, am I wrong?" She asked inspecting the faces.
As expected, many people's faces flushed red with embarrassment even men.
"Is he that handsome? He looks average to me " Wenli thought. Maybe, that was because, she always looked at him as a brother. "If looked at him as an admirer, i would really think like these bunch of perverts"
"I'll report you to the old monkey "
"Are you that ashamed that you really can't bear to watch me insult you. Though it wasn't an insult but a fact " she muttered to her hearing.
There was an uproar in the crowd that gave Wenli an uneasy thoughts,
She began to remember what Master Wu had always told her. "No no no. I'll get an ear ful of my master." she thought.
"Do you know who you just insulted? " A girl of Hualia's age asked
"Should I?" She asked wanting to brief all the things she wanted to say, in one sentence.
"You..." The lady of her age groaned.
"Me what? Are you Bill Gates or Elon musk for me to fear you? Look at this good for nothing perverted asshole " she cursed in English. It was always her habit of cursing in English when she was mad, that was another thing she learned from her nanny and she was glad. At least, having an upper hand.
Every one with wide eyes looked at her.
"What did you say? What language was that?" Everyone also have their eyes fixed on her.
"It's called English you fool." She said in the language, that was familiar with everyone there.
"You..." The girl pointed.
"We're done here right, I'll be taking him" she looked at Hualia calling her out to help her.
"Aren't you coming?" She asked and Hualia came out of her position to help her master. Everyone glaring holes on them.