"Тhis is thе finеst grоuр of instructоrs аt thе mаrtiаl arts schoоl. Yоu may сhoosе whiсhеvеr оnе you рrefer." Yang Qi did not mince wоrds.
Нan Yаn foсusеd hеr gаze, оbsеrving thе dоzеn or sо women befоrе her. Еach cаrried an аir of herоiс grасе, thеir mоvements shаrр and dесisivе. Just by lоoking аt thеm, one соuld sensе their noble аnd upright charасtеr, and Нan Yan cоuldn’t hеlр but admirе thеm inwаrdlу.
Yеt with sо manу tо chоosе from, the dеcisiоn wаs indеed а diffiсult оnе.
Han Yan рaused in front of a wоman dressed in rеd. She aрpеаred imрosing and tall, her entire body radiating strength. When their eyes met, her gaze was bright and forthright. Xiao Li hurried over to explain, "This instructor once studied under a general. Her skills are truly exceptional."
Han Yan remained silent for a moment before moving on. The next woman had dark skin and a robust build. Xiao Li said, "Miss He used to work as a guard on a rural estate. Her skills were so impressive that the old prince brought her in to serve as a personal guard for the princess consort."
The following instructors each had their own specialties—some excelled in swordsmanship, others in blade techniques, and still others in hand-to-hand combat. Among them were those with plain features, those with striking beauty, and even some who looked almost indistinguishable from men. Moreover, none of their backgrounds could be taken lightly. As Han Yan walked among them, she began to understand: Yang Qi’s meticulous efforts were undoubtedly why the women’s martial arts school had gained such renown.
When she reached the last instructor, Han Yan suddenly felt a tightening in her chest. Instinctively, she looked up and met a pair of pale eyes.
The woman was dressed entirely in black silk robes. Her appearance was so ordinary that she would vanish into a crowd without a trace. She was thin, short, and at first glance, utterly unremarkable. Yet what surprised Han Yan was not this, but the fact that this seemingly ordinary woman possessed eyes filled with killing intent.
Those eyes were like a stagnant pool of water, yet upon closer inspection, they exuded a chilling coldness. Someone who had once faced death was especially sensitive to such a gaze. Han Yan understood clearly that this woman was neither indifferent nor intense—rather, she held a deep-seated contempt for life and a familiarity with death.
Seeing Han Yan linger before this woman for an unusually long time, Xiao Li grew anxious. Instructor Chai had a peculiar temperament and hardly interacted with the other instructors. Every time he saw her, he felt a deep-seated fear. Xiao Li had taken a liking to Han Yan and truly did not want her to leap into a pit of fire. Thinking Han Yan was simply stunned by Chai Jing, he tried to intervene, "Miss, have you thought this through—"
Before he could finish, Han Yan looked at the woman in black and asked softly, "May I ask what this instructor did before?"
The young woman replied coldly, "An assassin." Her tone was calm, without a trace of emotion.
Han Yan thought for a moment, then bowed respectfully to her. "I humbly request that you instruct me in martial arts."
As soon as the words left her mouth, everyone in the hall was taken aback. None of the other instructors had expected Han Yan to choose that particular woman. Xiao Li and the two maids stared at Han Yan in disbelief. The woman in black looked terrifying—why would Han Yan choose her?
Chai Jing frowned, somewhat puzzled by Han Yan’s respectful demeanor. She pursed her lips but said nothing. From her seat, Yang Qi gave Han Yan a meaningful look, then picked up her teacup and took a sip.
"Are you certain?" Yang Qi asked.
Han Yan replied, "I have thought it through clearly."
"So be it." Yang Qi waved her hand. "Chai Jing, you shall instruct this young lady in martial arts."Chai Jing uttered a single word succinctly: "Alright."
After acknowledging the master, the others withdrew, leaving only Han Yan, her two servants, and Yang Qi in the hall.
"Young lady, why did you choose her?" Yang Qi asked.
Han Yan smiled. "It just felt like a good match."
Sensing her reluctance to elaborate, Yang Qi did not press further, merely saying, "When will you bring your brother over?"
Han Yan was momentarily taken aback, then replied with delight, "Within the next few days. I am truly sorry to trouble you with your concern, Elder." She retrieved a banknote from her sleeve. "Please accept this, Elder."
Yang Qi did not take the banknote, sighing instead. "Let it be. This old man has already gained enough benefits from the women's martial arts school. How could I accept your silver? Perhaps... you were unaware of the implications before."
Han Yan's heart stirred, guessing that Yang Qi was referring to the intricate relationship between the martial arts school and the Seventh Prince. However, this was not her previous life. If Minister Chen were to open a women's martial arts school three years later, it would certainly not achieve the same effect. Could it be that some signs were already visible now?
But as a young woman from an inner chamber, she naturally could not show any interest in matters of the imperial court in front of outsiders. So she smiled and said, "Elder, my younger brother..."
Yang Qi stared at her intently for a moment before replying, "Choose a day and bring him over. If he is clever, this old man won't be stingy with a bit of martial arts instruction."
Han Yan noticed that Yang Qi's attitude toward her was gradually becoming more familiar and affectionate, which naturally filled her with joy. Seizing the opportunity, she took out a soft cushion from her pocket. "This is a knee pad I had my maid make. Practicing martial arts daily inevitably strains the joints, especially in winter. My grandfather used knee pads to alleviate pain. Even if the joints are fine, wearing them can keep the legs warm. Please do not decline, Elder."
Yang Qi was taken aback. Ji Lan had already stepped forward, holding the knee pad. Yang Qi took it and examined it—a gray-blue soft satin woven from rabbit fur, with fine stitches and no other bright patterns, except for a small pixiu embroidered in the corner. The care put into its making was evident, stirring a mix of emotions within him.
Yang Qi had never married and had no children of his own. He looked up and saw Han Yan, petite and adorable in stature, yet her face bore a composure and intelligence beyond her years. He couldn't help but sigh inwardly. If such a clever and delicate child were his own daughter, she would surely be the cherished pearl of his heart, a source of immense pride.
"You are quite thoughtful," Yang Qi sighed after a long pause.
Han Yan bowed. "It was merely the work of the maids. I only gave the instructions and dare not claim credit." She paused before adding, "Moreover, a teacher for a day is a father for life. You are my younger brother's master, so I naturally dare not show you any disrespect."
Yang Qi laughed heartily. "I haven't agreed yet."
Xiao Li, standing nearby, was stunned. Master Yang actually laughed! Over the years, except on rare occasions of particular joy, Master Yang had always been stern and unsmiling. Yet today, he was so cheerful. Xiao Li couldn't help but glance at Han Yan, lost in thought.
Han Yan smiled without speaking.
After bidding farewell to Yang Qi, Han Yan found Chai Jing waiting in the training courtyard of the martial arts school. Even now, with the bond of master and disciple between them, Han Yan still felt a chill when looking at Chai Jing.
Chai Jing looked at her calmly and asked, "When do we begin?"He was asking when she would start teaching. Han Yan thought for a moment, then composed her expression and said, "Starting tomorrow."
Chai Jing was somewhat surprised. Most young girls were reluctant to practice martial arts, except for a few daughters of military families. Nowadays, it had almost become a trend for women in the capital to attend martial arts schools, and many young ladies followed suit. How many of them truly had the intention to learn? It went without saying. That Han Yan had chosen her as a teacher was already unexpected, but now, judging by her attitude, she seemed somewhat eager. Why was that?
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