Shi XinNian stopped abruptly, almost as though he had been hit by a blast of ice. He was deathly pale, but bright red splotches coloured his cheeks. She took a few steps to come closer to him and stopped at his side.

“What is going on?” she asked in a whisper.

“I am sorry, Shizun, it is my own fault. I did not practise enough.”

Bullshit.

“Do you have the time?” she asked instead.

The boy widened his eyes, as though he had been caught with his hands in the cookie jar.

“Of course, Shizun. It is because I am not well organised.”

“It has been weeks. How can you be this far behind?”

She was actually irritated for once. She had hoped to give Shi XinNian the weapons to defend himself from the attacks he would face. Was the novel really putting a spanner in her work to make sure he survived? The boy bent his head.

“I… I have practised the thirteenth movement.”

At those words, everyone around them, even those more far removed, almost let their mouths hang open in surprise. The thirteenth movement was one of the three most difficult movements to master, topped only by the first and ninth of the HuangLong school, the most powerful of the celestial peaks. Even Zhang YueLiang was confused for a moment. He could execute the thirteenth movement? No, it was not possible. It had been his weakest point because the Mistress had never given him the chance to master it by only teaching it to Liang HaoHan later on in the narration. The hand holding the pipe almost dropped to her side. She looked at the boy for a few moments more, you would have been able to hear a pin drop. Then she turned.

“Show me.”

Everyone baulked. Was she really asking a greenhorn to execute the thirteenth? Even she could not believe she had uttered those words. On top of being young, some steps of the movement required a certain physical strength to be executed, strength that body did not have. At least, that was what her knowledge of the plot told her. And yet, when she turned to face him once more his eyes were bright and she almost smiled at him.

“Of course, Shizun, but I…” he hesitated there.

“But?”

“I could only practice those steps I remembered from your performance… so only the first ten.” He finished in a whisper.

My what?, she remembered then the look on the boy’s face as he looked at her after she had finished executing the movement a few weeks before.

“Show me what you can.” She said in the end, waving her hand distractedly.

He nodded and stepped into position. Everyone started whispering immediately. The start was perfect. Muscles and hips, arms and legs, everything was aligned perfectly. The boy performed the first lounge to then step back on one leg as he lifted the other, he pirouetted and lounged behind him.

Zhang YueLiang was mesmerised by those movements. They were fluid, she felt like she was looking at a moray eel slither between jagged rocks of a barrier reef. A creature of the abyss, elegant and deadly, that advanced on its prey to then hit it without hesitation.

When he finished, trying to catch his breath, she felt as though she had been launched back into reality. How could that twig of a body, made entirely out of tendons and no muscle, appear so elegant when performing those ten steps? She had even forgotten to check if all of his limbs were in harmony with each other. Had she really just asked that question? Of course they were, or it would not have appeared as the deathly dance it was.

Obviously, he still lacked some finesse. His control over his breath was pitiful seeing how he was still trying to catch it, but he had been able to memorise those movements and mimic them with emphasis and willingness, as though he were truly fighting against a terrible enemy for his life.

He was unrefined and almost savage, but in that moment his dark eyes were staring at her with a hint of hope. He could become a terrible weapon if shaped with wisdom. She lifted her pipe and pointed at him.

“Join me in the garden behind my lodgings later.” 

Shi XinNian’s eyes widened in surprise, as did everyone else’s. The resolution to being invited to her personal garden were few: one, to be punished, two, what everyone craved, to have additional lessons on the Wujian Long movements and - if the immortal granting this privilege went above and beyond in their generosity - on the thirteenth movement. The disciple bowed his head in acceptance and joined the line the others had formed. Liang HaoHan gave him a pat on the back with a smile.

“See? Trying cost you nothing, and you obviously have some talent!” she said enthusiastically.

She looked at them both, then she noticed Ming ZhenYa observing him and she shook her head. And here was the snake in his garden.

-龙-

+10 points for Empathy!

Congratulations, five more points and you might unlock the right to creative freedom.

We will also point out that you might briefly obtain the object needed to satisfy the system’s requirements for that matter!

She was lying down, staring at the ceiling, and the pop-up almost gave her a heart attack.

“Aren’t you a tad late? I don’t think these Empathy points blossomed on their own.”

-龙-

We apologise, the system was experiencing some technical issues.

“Wow, even novels have technical issues? - she asked sarcastically. She shook her head as she re-read the message. - And what would this object be?”

-龙-

We cannot reveal anything. It is part of your task.

“Of course, what else had I expected?”

She sat up and, looking out the window that overlooked her garden, noticed a shadow sitting at its centre. She crawled to the window and realised it was Shi XinNian, who had sat down and was trying to regulate his breathing. She smiled and stood up. Looking in the mirror to adjust her hair-do she then quickly left her room and walked down the corridor that would lead her to the garden. She brought the pipe to her mouth and placed her hands behind her back to arrive as silent as a cat next to Shi XinNian. She sat next to him and breathed as he was doing.

“Good, you have already picked up on your first mistake. You do not control your breathing.”

The boy jumped sky high in an uncanny imitation of a feline and, quicker than she would have imagined possible, he stepped away.

“Sh… Shizun, forgive me, I had not heard you approach.”

“You could not. I did not want you to.” she said, shaking herself and standing up.

He looked at her in wonder before standing up himself displaying the same guarded attitude of a snake preparing to slither away, or attack. She circled him, ignoring his suspicious gaze.

“I believe the main thing will be to strengthen your body. As for your spirit, I believe it has been tested enough, don’t you? - the boy blushed when she brushed her hand against his back. - Yes, you need more toned muscles, or you will not be able to sustain the more complex steps. The first ten of the thirteenth movement have already tired you out. - she pondered, shaking her head. - And about that, congratulations. It is unusual that a disciple of your age and with your training can complete the first ten.” she finished, trying to maintain a cold tone. She looked around, but not seeing any red lights, she sighed in relief.

“T-thank you, Shizun.”

“You still should not be performing it at your age.” she added curtly.

Shi XinNian stiffened.

“I’m sorry, I do not understand.”

“The thirteenth movement taxes the body too much. Performed at a young age, it might stunt your growth by shaping your muscles incorrectly and by limiting the flexibility required for simpler, if different, movements.” she stood still having finished her explanation. The disciple lifted his gaze, somewhat surprised.

“I am sorry, I was not aware of this… it is just that… - he took a nervous breath - after watching you perform it I was so taken that I had to try it for myself. You were so… - he bit his lip in a display of his unease and lowered his head. - I will follow Shizun’s instructions and not perform it again.”

She studied him while she chewed on her pipe.

“Why have you only practised the thirteenth to the point of making it so good? Hasn’t Shifu shown you the others in the programme?” 

Suddenly, the disciple’s expression changed, displaying his discomfort.

“It isn’t Shifu’s fault, Shizun… it is just that… that…”

“Don’t stutter. Lift your head. I do not wish to be worshipped, but respected. So tell me what the issue is.” she finished in a practical tone. He lifted his head, but he was staring at something beyond her, almost as though he did not dare cross her eyes. His face had turned purple.

“There were no more books available. Or so Shifu said. Because I started my lessons later than the others it was not possible to find me one.”

What an asshole. As though the QingLong school did not have enough books. She thought irritably.

“Do not move.” she ordered before turning to her living quarters.

The disciple looked at her as she disappeared from view in a flutter of clothes and he remained immobile as he attempted to calm down the crazed beating of his heart. When Zhang YueLiang returned she found the boy in the same place she had left him in. she smiled imperceptibly as she handed him a book. He looked at her in confusion and then grabbed it, but his hands started shaking when he read the name of the author.

“One of your essays?” he asked in a whisper.

“No, those are the things I studied when I was a disciple, as you are now. Nothing exceptional, but I suppose they might help you in this. Surely better than nothing. -  she said in a distracted tone. She saw a red light flash in her peripheral vision. - Do not fall behind, or I will expel you without thinking twice.” she said as she was turning around. The light dimmed.

Fine, fine. I can do this. She reassured herself.

The prolonged silence from Shi XinNian perplexed her though so she turned once more. She found the boy leafing through the book almost in veneration.

“I… I thank you from the bottom of my heart, Shizun. I will take care of it.” he said bowing.

Zhang YueLiang blushed imperceptibly. She waved the pipe in a nervous tic before the boy.

“Nothing like that, it’s just some paper glued together. Now go study the basics of the tenth movement. I want you to perform it by the end of the week.”

“Yes, Shizun, I will.” and, bowing one last time, he ran away.

She looked on with a smile on her face and took a puff from her pipe in satisfaction. Yes, that was exactly how she wanted the plot to move forward.

A few days later she was again lost in thought as she looked at the flower display on her table. 

She stretched her fingers forward to pick up a petal that had fallen. They were different once again. They still looked like orchids, but the number and wideness of the petals was larger than any variety she knew. And the colours changed within the stem itself giving the flower almost a mystical aura.

She sniffed the corolla. The scent was delicate, not at all overpowering. She squinted for a few moments as she observed them. Then she got up with a sigh and pinned the fallen petal to her corsage before leaving her home quickly to go out looking for Liang HaoHan whom, she knew, was still at the training field.

When he saw her the boy stopped whatever he was doing. Only then did she notice the differences in how the protagonist and antagonist behaved around her. If the first one always looked at her with the respect due to a Mistress and the admiration stemming from the fact that for the inhabitants of the Middle Realm she was basically an Immortal, Shi XinNian always appeared as a sparrow when she was around. He often avoided meeting her eyes and when she would step too close he would shrink.

Never would I have imagined that the scariest Demon of them all would have been so shy as a youngster. She thought with an internal giggle.

“I see you are still training.” she said once he was within earshot.

The boy bent his head.

“Yes, Shizun. I find the sixteenth movement to be hard.”

She stopped and gestured with her pipe.

“Show me.” she said.

He nodded and assumed the position. What he showed her was perfect technique wise. And yet, it somehow appeared to be frail.

“What you are executing is a defence technique, not one of attack. Your hips must be at the centre of the moment to ensure your balance, you do not need so much strength in your lounges but rather soundness in your parries. Try to bend the knees slightly and widen your stance, slightly wider than your shoulders.”

“Yes, Shizun.”

A drop of sweat glided down his neck as he repeated the steps. Zhang YueLiang tilted her head as she looked at him. Yes, very much the protagonist. She nodded to herself. Then she stopped as she grimaced. But please, not too much, or Shi XinNian will never stand a chance. She lifted a hand and called towards her a stick that rested at the edge of the field. She lifted it and hit him lightly on the shoulder before stepping back.

“Attack me.”

Liang HaoHan widened his eyes in surprise.

“Shizun?”

“What are you afraid of? I need to test your abilities to determine what to teach you next. - she explained  as she let the stick swing in her hands. - Do not worry, I won’t go too hard on you.” she sneered, with a clear challenge in her voice.

The boy looked at her somewhat taken aback, but he then smiled.

“As you wish, Shizun.”

He lounged, and she sidestepped him easily, barely moving away. She went to hit him between his shoulders but the boy twisted to parry and then danced away quickly. She started smiling, he truly was predestined for greatness. With a quick jerk she brought herself behind him once more and hit him, he stepped forward but did not give in, turning once more to face her. She lifted her arm and parried a side blow with her ‘weapon’, proceeding to then reverse the situation with a flick of her wrist forcing him to lower his blade until it touched the ground and with a light, but well placed, kick, she made him lose his grip.

“As I said, fragile.” she commented with a shrug of her shoulders as she stepped away.

Liang HaoHan looked at his sword reprovingly, but he then closed his eyes, smiled, and righted himself.

“Did you do this to show me how I should defend myself? Did you not use the sixteenth movement?”

She smiled at him as she rested the stick on her own shoulder.

“Well, if nothing else you understood the lesson.”

He smiled and lowered his head.

“I learned it, Shizun. I will follow your guidance to improve.”

“Good. Now you may go. Rest is as important as training.”, she encouraged him with an ethereal smile.

The disciple smiled back at her and bowed.

“Thank you, Shizun.”

She looked on as he left. And that too was done. Although that moment did not appear to be important for the plot, it would be pivotal later on, as it had reinforced Liang HaoHan trust in her.

It was impressive how the author had made her such a bitch who, however, held such an important role in the life of the protagonist.