The next morning, a sharp prick at Long Fei's nose stirred him awake. He groaned, swatting at the nuisance, but it persisted. Ling Yue's grinning face hovered above him, holding a stalk of wheat grass. "Rise and shine!" she chirped, twirling the stalk playfully before tickling his nose again.
He sneezed, jolting awake with a frown. "Must you?"
She had already grabbed his arm and hauled him up. The cool morning air nipped at his skin as she dragged him across the clearing. Before he could shake off the haze of sleep, he found himself standing before an elaborate obstacle course: logs balanced precariously on posts, ropes strung between trees, and uneven stone pathways winding into a twisting maze.
"Tada!" She pointed both arms to the training course. "It's training time!"
His eyes widened as he scratched his chin. He had been sleeping under the stars just a few meters away. How had she managed to set all this up without him noticing?
"How did you...?" His voice trailed off as he examined the design, deeply impressed.
She grinned devilishly. "It's time to jog your memory. Introducing your trainer." She stepped aside with a flourish.
Shui Yi stood there, arms crossed, her gaze sharp as a blade. Gone was the hesitant, wide-eyed woman from yesterday. In her place stood a stern drill instructor, unyielding and unreadable. "Begin," she commanded.
He barely had time to process before he was thrown into the fray. The moment he hesitated on the first log, her voice rang out.
"Again."
He gritted his teeth and leaped back, barely balancing himself before moving forward. A hanging rope swung toward him; he reached for it, but his fingers slipped, the coarse fibers burning his palms. His feet hit the ground hard, pain jolting through his knees.
"Again."
He pushed himself up, panting, forcing his aching muscles to comply. Each time he faltered, whether it was slipping on a moss-covered rock or misjudging the distance between jumps, her voice cut through the morning air like a whip.
"Again."
His arms trembled, his shoulders burned, and his breath came in ragged gasps. Sweat dripped down his face, stinging his eyes. By the time he dragged himself to the end of the course, his body felt like a battlefield of aches and bruises. He turned to her, expecting a nod of approval. But her expression remained impassive.
"That's it for now," she said coolly, and walked away without a second glance.
He gawked after her, his breath still labored. That was it?
Ling Yue clapped a hand on his shoulder, shaking her head in mock sympathy. "Master, it's kind of weird to say this to you… but this is how you would have done it."
She somersaulted onto the first log, landing on her hands. Like a seasoned acrobat, she shuffled her hands along the log with her legs suspended straight up. Still upside down, she hooked the first rope with her legs, swung across, caught the next with her hands, then shot through the stone maze. She launched herself out, backflipped mid-air, and landed beside him. With a casual flick of her hair, she stood tall. Her breath was steady.
He stared, dumbfounded, still catching his breath from his own attempts.
She chuckled, clapping him on the back. "The disciple has outdone the Master."
He clenched his jaw, his pride stung.
Over the next few days, Long Fei repeated the course. His muscles protested, and his limbs bore fresh bruises, but he moderately improved.
Shui Yi remained stoic. No matter how much faster he completed the run, she never looked impressed. But he refused to give up. He sharpened his footwork, controlled his breathing, and adapted to the terrain. Pain became familiar. Exhaustion became routine.
***
One morning, Long Fei completed the entire course flawlessly. His body moved instinctively, muscles remembering every motion, every shift in weight. He landed at the final point without a single mistake. He turned to Shui Yi, sweat streaming down his face, but his eyes shone with fierce triumph. Finally, surely now he had earned her approval.
She met his gaze, appraising him with cool detachment. "Now that you've got the warm-up down pat, we can commence training."
His eyes and hands twitched. His aching body screamed in protest. That was just a warm-up?!
Ling Yue burst out laughing, holding her side. He exhaled sharply and turned to her, still catching his breath. "I have to admit… I never expected the unassuming, delicate Enchantress to be such a strict trainer."
Ling Yue smirked. "I thought she acted well. That's exactly how you trained her. If I were you, I'd probably address her as 'Shui Yi' to get on her good side."
***
Long Fei stood beneath the relentless torrent of a waterfall, his muscles trembling from exhaustion. Each droplet felt like a sharp sting against his bruised and battered skin, as though the waterfall itself was trying to sweep him away, dragging him into the depths. The pressure of the water was unyielding, and the sheer force left him struggling to keep his balance. His breathing was labored, his body ached, but he refused to cave in.
He gritted his teeth, trying to ignore the mounting pressure on his body. He had to endure. He had to prove to himself he was strong enough to keep going. He would be the future Emperor of this kingdom and he must be strong enough to shoulder all burdens. His fists tightened. The bruises burned with each pelt of the waterfall.
The water continued to pound against him, and soon his vision began to blur, his exhaustion overtaking him. Just as he thought he might falter, a gentle touch on his back. Soft, almost imperceptible, it pulled him from the haze.
Shui Yi had reached into the water, her fingers barely skimming the surface. Her face was serene. She closed her eyes and began to sing. The melody was gentle and ethereal. It had a warmth that seemed to wrap around him. Her voice was like a balm, soothing deep into his chest, healing more than just his external wounds.
Slowly, the sting of his bruises and cuts faded, as if her song carried the pain away through the water. His wounds healed, bruises faded, cuts sealed themselves. A sense of calm washed over him; the ache in his body began to ebb away. He couldn't take his eyes off her—her quiet power and the way she could heal not only the body but also the spirit held him spellbound. She opened her eyes; their gazes met briefly before she averted her own, her face flushing.
He stepped out from under the waterfall, his skin tingling with the aftereffects of her healing. The air around them was crisp. The scent of fresh water filled his senses as the sound of the waterfall echoed throughout the valley. A shadow swept across the ground, and the flapping of wings filled the air. A majestic hawk swooped down and landed gracefully on his outstretched arm. His gaze softened as he stroked its feathers—his trusted companion, Feng.
Ling Yue stood a few paces away, letting out a low growl as she narrowed her eyes at the hawk. Something about the bird unsettled her. The hawk puffed his chest, glaring back at her.
"Don't worry," said Long Fei. "He won't bite. This is Feng, my favorite pet."
Shui Yi quickly covered her growling companion's eyes. "Perhaps you might want to send your pet away—unless you want Ling Yue to have him for dinner."
Long Fei untied the small tube around Feng's neck, and the hawk took off into the sky with a powerful beat of its wings. His expression darkened as he read the message inside:
Her Majesty's condition has worsened. You must return to the palace immediately.
His chest tightened, and he took a deep breath, looking up at them. "I'm sorry," he said, voice strained. "I need to return home. I came here to ask you to help my mother... Her condition has worsened."
Ling Yue turned away with a scoff, crossing her arms. "Nope. Nah-uh. I'm not going to help Zhen Hua. Over my dead body."
He was taken aback by her harsh refusal. He turned to Shui Yi, searching her face for help.
She paused, her expression thoughtful as she gazed at him. Then, with a soft sigh, she spoke. "I've never met Zhen Hua before, so... if you truly wish for me to help, I will. I'll go with you."
Gratitude flooded him, and his heart lightened. "Thank you, Shui Yi. Let's head out right away."