Four Years Later....

After four years, Tang Ning had grown into a stunning young woman. She had clear porcelain skin, beautiful black eyes, and flowing black hair. Her features were exquisite. Her grandfather had always dragged her to the Emperor's banquets and had always taken her to parties. Although she had always tried to keep it a secret, her grandfather had leaked the fact that she had mastered the Blood Arts. Ever since then, there were countless men begging her to fight them to see if her grandfather was telling the truth. She had beaten all of them up using her legendary skill. Nobody had bothered her about competitions anymore. Instead, grandfathers and uncles had come to their estate, trying to get Tang Ning engaged to their grandsons or nephews. Each time, she would think,

'Although I'm a female in this life, I was a male in the past. I AM NOT GAY.' She thought.

*****

Tang Ning was pacing in her room.

'I feel restless for some reason. Maybe I should go practice.' She thought.

As she went to the field behind her room, she recalled that the setting was just like it was exactly four years ago. It was a starry night, with no clouds. The moon shined upon her and the cherry blossom tree. A cool breeze was gently flowing through the air, and cherry blossoms started to fall. She felt warm and content. Slowly, she had unsheathed her sword and begun to practice her Blood Arts. As she had reached the middle, she felt a familiar intense stare scrutinizing her movements. Suddenly, she stopped.

'That's not Tang Luo...' She thought.

"You're the third person that was judging me four years ago today, right?" She said softly.

When she had first practiced the Blood Arts in this body, she had felt three gazes, not two. One was her grandfather, the other was Tang Luo, but the owner of the third gaze never revealed himself. It was only today that she had felt the familiar gaze judging her movements while remaining hidden.

"You do know that I can find out what a person looks like just by listening to their breathing, right?"

No response, but the person seemed to make an effort to minimize the sound of his breathing.

"Don't believe me? Well, let me try it out. You're a male, about 6'1, and you're injured heavily. I'm guessing you returned here after four years to ask for help with your injuries?"

"Y-yes." He said, before falling from the cherry tree and staining the grass red with his blood. He had lost consciousness.

Tang Ning looked at him in wonder.

"What makes him think that I'd help him?" She wondered out loud. She squatted by his head.

"He looks quite strong. After he recovers, I'll make him one of my soldiers as payment." She said.