(This chapter contains a sex scene in the later part. I've marked where it begins, and where it ends, for those who wish to skip it.)
"Ha...Ha..." I'm panting with exertion, sweat covering my entire body and dripping down my face. My whole body is in pain, and my lip is bleeding from where he struck it, but I'm barely holding on, and I'm starting to get used to his attacks.
I received two notification after the first hour, but I've been too busy to look at them. Wu Cai is a relentless and skilled warrior, who attacks me from all angles, giving me no time to recover; though I'm certain he's going easy on me, and he hasn't been aiming to seriously wound or disable me.
I'm holding the sword level in front of me as I wield it with both hands. Wu Cai steps forward and goes to strike at my side, so I dodge slightly and flick my sword out to parry. He uses his superior strength to withstand me, and slides his sword down mine to hit at my hands. I step back out of the attack and regain my stance.
As I stand with my guard ready, Wu Cai drops his stance, then looks over to my master, who nods, "Time." He calls, "Well done. You've managed to last the two hours without collapsing." He nods at me with approval, "I will teach you. For now, get some rest. We'll begin tomorrow, after breakfast."
I drop down to the ground in exhaustion and lean back on my hands, then sigh with emotion, "...Everywhere hurts." Master Hong walks over to me with a cup of water and hands it to me. I take it and nod to her with gratitude, before taking a gulp.
Master Hong laughs at my state, "You're not the first to feel the tender teachings of Wu Cai, disciple." She looks over at him as he stores the swords, "Shi Min once wanted to become a warrior, and learned under him for a time when he was a resident. Of course, she later realised that she can't deal with pain all that well, and didn't like inflicting it, so chose to become a healer."
Shi Min wanted to become a warrior? An image of a muscled Shi Min appears to me as I think of it, causing a faraway look to appear on my face.
...I'm too tired to be horny.
Master Hong gives me a gentle push as she sits beside me, "Disciple... While the Quanzhen school mandates celibacy, it wouldn't be fair of me to hold you to that." I give her a startled look, "I know you took your vows, and I believe you mean to uphold them, but I also understand that the Taoist life isn't for you." I lower my eyes, not wanting to see her disappointment.
"I don't hold it against you." She reassures me, "When I see how hard you train, and feel the fire burning inside you, I know that you will one day leave to find whatever it is you seek."
I look up at her, as she gives me a small smile and pulls me into a side hug, breaking formality, "No matter how far you go, or what you do, I will always be your master. You can return to me anytime, and I will accept you, no matter your condition." I lean into her with tears in my eyes.
She's the mother I've never had, but always wanted.
"...Thank you, master." She gives me a small squeeze.
We sit in silence as Wu Cai bows and leaves the courtyard, before Master Hong whispers to me, "...So, Shi Min?" She asks with a teasing note in her voice, causing me to give her a small glare. Master Hong laughs, "I won't stop you, or tell you how to feel, but don't push her. Shi Min took her vows, and is serious in them... But, she's still young, younger then you. It's her decision to make."
Master Hong's words ring in my ears as I listen to her. She's clearly seen, somehow, how I feel about Shi Min, and is advising me to be careful. She's right, of course. Shi Min is a devout Taoist, and I would hate to be the one to cause her any emotional distress. At the same time, master wouldn't tell me any of this if was any chance of that, right?
Should I tell her how I feel, and hope for the best?
...No, it wouldn't be fair. I plan to leave the temple soon and seek the Masters of the Mystic Arts, I can't throw this on Shi Min and then run off.
I look at my master, with sadness written on my face, "...It's not fair to her." Master Hong stares at me for a second, the gives me a small nod.
"I suppose your right." She says in a quiet voice, "Still, don't live with regret, disciple; it's a sickness, one that will slowly start to eat away at you." She gives my arm a quick rub, then goes to stand, "Get to bed, Disciple. You need the rest." I wipe my eyes and follow her in standing, then give her a deep bow.
As I reach the entrance to her courtyard, I turn back to her and call out, "Master?" She gives me a questioning look, "...I love you."
Master Hong takes in my words, then looks at me with sadness in her eyes, "Goodnight, Sarah."
With those words lingering in the fading light of the setting sun, I make my way back.
...
The next day, as I head to my first lesson with Wu Cai, I check the notifications I ignored yesterday,
[Pain Resistance (Skilled): You have begun to learn how to compartmentalise your pain, and ignore it in the moment. You still feel any and all pain inflicting you, but you can push it away, allowing you to focus on what's happening.
At your current stage, your pain resistance is increased by 40%.]
I did feel my ability to take hits from Wu Cai had improved. While this doesn't improve my actual defence, I can see it being immensely helpful to my survival.
[Ability Learned – Swordsmanship (Basic): Through the gruelling teachings of a sword master, you have started to learn how to properly wield a sword in combat. At this stage, you'll barely be able to defend yourself from a single opponent.
This skill grants a small improvement to your muscle memory, reflexes, and dynamic vision.]
This skill might be the reason I managed to pass the test. By the end of it, I started to be able to react to Wu Cai's strikes and defend myself, if only a little.
I shift my focus from the notifications as I come to my masters courtyard. It's a little after breakfast, meaning Wu Cai should already be inside, but I knock anyway, to be polite, and the voice of my master to call me in.
Entering, I find Master Hong standing in the doorway to her home, watching a topless Wu Cai train with a sword, his robe falling over his hips, hanging on by the belt that secures it. I walk around him to Master Hong, where I look at her a pointedly and gesture with a little nod at Wu Cai. She rolls her eyes at me and swats me on my arm, causing me to laugh.
I stand beside her, enjoying her presence, and settle in to wait for Wu Cai. After ten minutes, he finishes and walks over to us, where Master Hong hands him a towel.
Once he's finished wiping himself down, he turns to me, "Are you ready?" He asks, the question loaded with meaning.
I give him a resolute nod. He stares at me with a deep look, then turns and moves to grab a second sword, which he tosses to me. This time, I keep up my guard as I catch it, leading me to dodge his opening attack. He steps back and nods at me approvingly, then starts to seriously teach me.
"Your master tells me you wish to use a Jian, correct?" I nod. "While a Jian is not my preferred weapon, I have more then enough experience in swordplay to be able to teach you." He lifts his sword to point it at me. "The Jian is a weapon of precision, finesse, and agility, and doesn't require a specific style for it's full potential to be drawn out."
"For one who wishes to wield a Jian, there are thirteen techniques that must be mastered. With these thirteen, all opponents can be dealt with if one is sufficiently skilled. Now," He waves his sword at me, "guard, and receive."
I do as he says, just in time for me him to stab at me. As he does, he explains, "Thrust, the most essential move of the Jian. A direct, linear strike that uses the power of your legs and waist, channelled through a straight arm, to stab the tip of the sword at the throat, chest, or abdomen."
He lifts his sword, and brings it down in a quick strike, which I barely manage to block. "Split, a downwards strike that relies on speed rather than weight. You send out your Jian in a snapping motion that uses the front third of the blade, to target the top of the head, or the shoulders."
His sword is pulled back, then he moves his wrist in a way I miss, before the tip is a centimetre from my left eye, "Point. A hard to parry move that uses a rapid flick of the wrist to target the eyes or wrists."
My heart is beating frantically in my chest as he moves back. I look over at Master Hong who is watching the lesson, but she just nods. Slightly reassured, I refocus on Wu Cai.
He notices my fluster, "No need to worry. These three are all we will be focusing on today." He walks up to me and adjusts my stance, before moving back to his spot. "Good. When you have an understanding of these moves, we will move on. Ready?"
"Yes."
No.
...
My body is aching in places it didn't know it could as I walk back to my quarters. As I plod along home, I spot Shi Min walking in my direction, at the same time that she notices me. Her face breaks out into a smile, as she quickens her pace to reach me.
She stops in front of me and notices my state, going by the frown on her face, "Sister Sarah, are you okay? What happened?" She looks me over, taking in my ruffled and bruised appearance.
I give her a reassuring smile, "Wu Cai." I explain, simply. Shi Min gets a look of realization on her face, then lets out a quiet laugh.
"Ah, I understand." She grabs my good hand, and starts to lead me off somewhere, "Come on, I'll treat you. I can't have you going to bed with these injuries." I squeeze her hand, and let her pull me along.
After a couple of minutes of walking in silence, with a certain tension around us, we reach her quarters. Shi Min enters and gestures me in, before she closes her door. She moves me over to chair and guides me into it, then walks over to a chest in the corner, from which she pulls out some bandages and small, circular pot.
She walks over to me and kneels before me, then gently grasps my bruised right hand. She opens the pot, revealing a paste of some kind, and scoops some out with her fingers, then slowly rubs it in.
--- Sex Scene Starts ---
Her fingers clutch on to mine as she shyly looks up at me, her cheeks rosy, "...Sister Shi." She whispers my name. I interlock our fingers, feeling her pulse quicken through our touch. She starts to stand, her warm hand in mine, before she give me a shy look.
I stare into her dark eyes, and start to pull her onto me, asking for neither permission, nor forgiveness. Her knees balance her on both sides of me, using the chair for support, as she tilts her head down and slowly starts to lean in.
Her soft lips touch mine.
I bring my good hand up to her thigh, and start to run it up. As my hand reached her hip, I pull back my lips and give her questioning look. She gives me a small nod, causing me to start untying her belt. I carefully undo it and pull it from her, leaving her robe unsecured.
I gently pull it open, exposing her to me. I look upon her body and take her in, from her soft looking stomach, to her small breasts, their nipples hard. Shi Min gently lifts my chin until we are staring at each other, our breathing quick, then pulls me in until our lips touch again. I move down and start to kiss at her neck, before working my down to her breasts.
Shi Min steps back off me, grasps my hands, and starts to walk backwards to her bedroom. I follow her until she hits her bed and falls back onto it, then climb on and support myself over her. I lean down to kiss her, then move back to her chest and kiss around her breasts, giving her nipples a lick, causing her to let a quiet gasp.
I chuckle and start to kiss down her stomach until my head is level with her vagina. I stop and look up at her, waiting for her to signal if she wants to continue.
Shi Min gives me a shaky nod.
I lower my head and kiss at her clit. She lets out a surprise gasp, causing me to smile up at her. Her face is flushed as I stick out my tongue and start to eat her out, kissing her lips and gliding my tongue up slit as she moans.
I take my time with her, making this as pleasurable for her as I can. When I start to feel her wetness on my tongue, I bring my fingers to her pussy and start to rub them in circles, causing her to buck slightly. I eat her out slowly as I push my fingers in, curling them in her.
Shi Min grabs at me and clutches her thighs around my face, moaning quietly, as I start to finger her. She starts shake as I speed up, before she starts to let out little gasps.
She tightens down on my fingers as she starts to cum, her hips rising off the bed; her moans bouncing off the walls the room. As she finishes, she releases me. I give her one last kiss, then start to rise back up, leaving a trail kisses until I'm laying over her. She's red in the face, and her hair is matted with sweat, but she's never looked more beautiful.
She looks up at me with tired eyes, as I lean down and kiss her, sharing her own juices with her. Her arms come up and wrap around my neck as she pulls back. With a slight breathlessness, she whispers, "...I've never done that before."
--- Sex Scene Ends ---
I let out a quiet laugh, "I have."
Shi Min laughs with me, "I can tell." She releases me and rolls me over, until we face each other. "Do you want me to return the favor?" She asks me, a little nervousness in her voice.
I shake my head at her, "Tonight was about you."
As she stares at me, I can tell her thoughts are racing through her mind. She has just willingly broken her vows, with someone she must suspect is going to leave, no less.
Shi Min shuffles into me and leans her head on my robed chest, "...I didn't want this to happen." She pauses, but I let her gather her thoughts, "I know you're eventually going to leave." She hugs me around my stomach, "...and I can't come with you."
I hug her back, and start rubbing her back, "I wouldn't want you to." I start drawing circles, "The life I'm pursuing... It goes against your beliefs. I would never force you into such a choice."
She nods into my chest, her body relaxing "...I'm going to miss you." She whispers, her voice heavy with tiredness.
I hold her until she falls asleep, then soon follow.
I'm going to miss you too, Shi Min.