An Unexpected Blessing (2)

*TL Note: this chapter is both cleaned and translated a little bit better than the previous chapter.

*Editors Note: fixed a missing part of the chapter in the first 3 paragraphs. Thank you for your understanding!

[The Heavenly Martial Arts Techniques]

Han couldn't believe his eyes when he laid his hands on the scroll. It was as if the Gods themselves had placed it on the top shelves of that dusty old library, waiting for someone worthy to claim its secrets.

He carefully inspected the scroll, feeling the rough texture of the ancient parchment between his fingers. It was a treasure that had been lost to time, and Han knew that it held the key to unlocking his true potential.

As he sat down at the reading table, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The energy of the scroll was already flowing through him, filling him with strength and determination. He knew that this was his destiny, to become a master of the Heavenly Martial Arts.

With a steady hand, he unfurled the scroll and read the ancient text:

[Heavenly Martial Arts Techniques]

(Qi Meditations - Root Awakening):

A meditation technique that can be used to awaken the user's root by drawing in ambient energies to jump start the user's own.

- Directions: practitioners should meditate in seclusion for at least three minutes while trying to feel for the ambient energies around them, once you can feel the energy in the world around you must pull it into your body with no physical effort. As the energy is pulled into your lower dantian it will force open your Root while also opening your Qi nodes.

(Qi Meditations - Channeling)

(Martial Art - Air Palm)

(Consecutive Air Steps)

(Thousand Raging Fists)

(Tiger God Aura)

[More techniques are listed below.]

"I have heard these terms before," Han murmured. "The 'root' is said to be the core of a person's being, while 'qi' is the life energy that flows through them."

Han nodded in agreement with himself, a slight look of disbelief etched on his face. "Every child hears stories like these when they're young, but I never knew they were real," he admitted out loud, his voice tinged with wonder.

"So I just meditate like this?" Han crosses his legs on the seat of his chair and closes his eyes but before he can attempt to use the practice mentioned in the scroll, he hears a noise.

*knock* , *knock*

Hans face turns red in embarrassment as Yue pokes her head through the library door. "How's it going in here?"

"All good, I just finished actually." Han tries to hide his embarrassment with a wry smile and wave.

"Okay, you're done with your chores today so you can go rest if you'd like."

"Haha thanks Yue." As Han waves, Yue leave closing the door behind her.

'That was close, I should keep this to myself for now and continue reading when I get back to the guest house.'

*inhale*

Inside the guest house Han sits cross legged, breathing deeply with his eyes closed.

As Han returned to his meditative position, he heard a slight creaking noise. With a quick reflex, he opened his eyes to find Tsun, the lord of the castle, standing in the doorway with a puzzled look on his face.

"What the hell are you doing?" Tsun asked.

Han tried his best to obscure the scroll in his hand. "Oh eh haha, this is a tradition in my family."

"You meditate? Whatever, I'll leave you to it."

As Tsun turned to leave, he remarked, "Did you need something, Han?"

Han hastily wrapped the scroll and hid it under his bedroll before answering, "Nevermind, it's nothing. But now that you mention it, this place is filthy. Clean it up sometime."

Tsun swiftly closed the door, leaving Han alone again. As he breathed a sigh of relief, Han thought to himself, "He almost caught me. I can try this again in the morning. I'm too tired and too afraid someone will walk in on me at any time."

Looking around the room, Han realized that Tsun was right. "I really should tidy this place up," he thought.

After finishing his dinner, Han went to sleep. As his consciousness began to fade, he found himself thrust into an all-too-familiar dream. He was standing on a large battlefield between the mountains, with various warriors fighting on either side.

Warriors wearing various light shades of blues were fighting against warriors wearing dark shades of red. "Don't let up, charge them!" A young soldier in the front gave a rousing command to his comrades before pressing forward against their enemies.

About two or three li away from the battlefield was a small castle with a young boy watching the battle from one of the towers.

"Son, it's time for me to go." A gentle yet strong hand rested on the boy's shoulder, and he turned around to see his father's face wrought with anxiety and worry.

"Father, please don't go." Tears began to fall from the boy's eyes as his father wiped them away.

"I'm sorry, Han, but I need to protect the territory. But do not worry, my son. I'll banish these invaders just like we always have."

A young Han hugged his father tightly, who was dressed in fine armor and robes with a sword dangling from around the back of his waist. "I love you, my son. Now please, I must go."

Han's father wore a worried face as he pulled away from his son and patted him on the head one last time before heading out to battle.

A young Han watched as his father left the castle on horseback, charging headlong into the battle raging in the valley outside.

"FATHER!" With a shout, Han rose from his bed, gasping for air and sweating profusely from his entire body. "That damn dream again… why can't the past just leave me alone?"

As Han used his hand to wipe a bead of sweat from his brow, he heard the door into the guest house open and looked up to see a familiar face.

"Uh? …Lady Mina?" Han's face wore a flustered expression as he turned beat red like a tomato.

"Shhh." Mina pressed her finger to her lips as she swung around the door and closed it behind her.

"I need to ask you a favor."

"A favor? Really, what is it?" As Mina walked into the guest house, Han pulled the scroll, [Heavenly Martial Arts Techniques], from underneath his bedroll and into his robe.

"Yes, Lady Mina, sure thing, m'lady, anything you ask," Han said, bowing respectfully. "That's how a servant is supposed to respond, you ingrate."

Mina stood before Han with her head held high, her long dark hair cascading down her back like a flowing river.

"Y'know it's not nice to insult someone when asking them for a favor, what if I turned you down,"

"My help, wait what do you mean in danger, aside from your attitude why would anyone care about you?" he asked with a sharp tone.

Mina's face reddened with embarrassment. "Ugh fine, I apologize.. hear me out won't you? …I need your help, I believe my life may be in danger," she said, her voice softening.

Han sighed, relenting. 'I guess she does have manners' he thought. "Fine, tell me what's going on."

Mina took a deep breath, her eyes flashing with emotion. "I guess there's no point in 'not telling' you any longer, you do already work for me and all. My full name is Mina Joon, as in the 5th princess of the Junoon territory."

Han's face contorted with surprise and embarrassment. "PRINCESS? YOU?" he exclaimed.

Mina glared at him, annoyed. "Ahem, I wasn't finished you know. Look, I need your help because Tsun doesn't believe me but, there's a-"

Suddenly, the sounds of people shouting and metal clashing filled the air, interrupting Mina's words.

Mina's eyes widened in alarm as she rushed towards the door.

"What's all this ruckus? I didn't want anyone to see me here but I'm about to give them a real yelling…" she said, her voice rising in anger.

Han quickly grabbed Mina and pulled her against the wall. "Shh, …I think there's fighting outside," he whispered urgently with his hand covering her mouth.

Mina's heart raced as she listened to the chaos outside. She felt Han's strong arms around her, holding her close. Despite her fear, she felt a sense of safety and comfort in his embrace.

As the sounds of violence died down a sudden voice boomed outside the guest house, "Where is she, I know you're her protector… lord Tsun."

Lord Tsun sat on his knees as the the intruder-in-charge spoke down to him.

"Go to hell, coward… hiding your face like that." Tsun spit towards the feet of the intruder ringleader.

The ringleader swung his leg striking Tsun's face with almost superhuman force, causing blood to splatter from his lip against the gravel.

And then the ringleader spoke again, causing Mina's heart to skip a beat. "Come out, come out wherever you are, princess!" The sound of the man's voice was enough to send shivers down her spine.

"They're here for me," Mina whispered, her eyes wide with fear. "I knew something would happen, but not here in the city."

"Search door to door!" the man barked. "Find her before the city guard shows up. Boss's orders!"

The intruders, dressed in all black garbs, began to ransack the mansion, as they tear through each room and search for any sign of Mina, the intruders pull out the house servants and remaining guards while organizing them into a group of hostages in front of the house.

Mina gasped as her expression turned to a mix of shock and fear, "they're here for me, I knew something would happen, but not here in the city."

"Search door to door!, find her before the city guard shows up, boss's orders!" The man who spoke before pipes up again.

"What are we gonna do?" Mina's words are muffled by Han's hand.

One of the intruder's starts walking towards the guest house, his hand placed gently against his waist on the hilt of his sword.

Han slowly lifts his hand off Mina's mouth, turning her head in fear Mina can only let out a faint whisper "You're gonna turn me in aren't you?".

Han whispers something in Mina's ear before moving towards the front of the room.

*crack*

As the intruder's hand reaches for the door handle to the guest house, he hesitates when a short cracking sound comes from inside the guest house.

While the intruder placed his hand on his sword the door swings wide open, Han standing in the door way chuckles nervously.

Han stood before the intruder, his body trembling with fear as he tried to mask his anxiety with a feeble laugh. "Sorry, I was scared. There's no need to kill me, right? I'm just a lonely house servant," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

The intruder recoiled slightly, his eyes narrowing as he surveyed Han. "Are you alone?" he asked, his tone laced with suspicion.

Han nodded quickly, his eyes darting around the room in search of a means of escape. "Yes, haha," he chuckled nervously, trying to play the part of the hapless servant. "You really think a girl would have any interest in a guy who lives in a place like this?" he added, hoping to throw the intruder off the scent.

The intruder's gaze lingered on Han for a moment longer before he relaxed his posture and pulled his hand off his sword. "Guess not," he muttered, his voice dripping with contempt. With a dismissive wave of his hand, he motioned for Han to follow him towards the hostages.

But as they walked, the intruder suddenly stopped in his tracks. "Girl?...hmm," he muttered, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. With a swift motion, he gripped Han by the shoulder and tossed him to another intruder before turning back to face the guest house.

Han landed with a thud, his heart racing as he watched the intruder unsheathe his sword and point it towards the guest house. "Bastard, you almost had me," the intruder said with a smirk, his eyes shining with a triumphant gleam.

Han struggled to get to his feet, but the intruders held him down, their swords at the ready. Fear coursed through him as he watched the intruder approach the guest house, his sword held high. There was no telling what fate awaited Mina within those walls.

"You can come out now... girl," he called out, his voice pounding against the blood stained gravel and ringing through the night.

Han's heart skipped a beat as he realized what was happening. A young girl with long, silky black hair emerged from the guest house, dressed as a servant. Mina had disguised herself well, but there was no telling if her gambit would pay off.

"I'm sorry, I was just scared so I hid," Mina said, her voice trembling with fear.

One of the intruders leans down to Han's ear and lets out a quiet "you're a dog my man".

*sigh* the intruder's expression turns to disappointment as he gestures for the 'servant girl' to follow him towards the rest of the hostages.

The ringleader looks over, slightly tilting his head towards Mina who is disguised as a servant girl.

"Well isn't this interesting…"

END OF THE SECOND CHAPTER