2:: Challenge

Qian Yuxi observed the man who had just entered her office. Noticing how he had contorted his lips into a startled expression, she glowered at him queerly.

It wasn't the first time a man would stare at her, and he wouldn't be the last. She was used to it ever since she set foot in the capital. Every man, and even some women, would gaze unendingly at her.

She gave up on knocking sense into them and considered it appreciation. After all, she was the future Imperial Advisor! What were a few stares compared to the glory and reverence she would receive from the civilians?

However, this man's expression was a little different. It was that of shock, and he seemed genuine. What was so appalling about the sight of her?

She tossed her hair back arrogantly and walked to him, chest up. Regardless of class, he was a potential mercenary for her to use in a mission, and treated every civilian, no matter commoner or noble, with due respect. That was one principle she had learnt while growing up with Du Hui.

"Mister?" she called out to him, and he quickly responded with a bow.

"Madame, I apologise for being distracted. You just remind me of someone I know."

That same old excuse? She contained herself from sneering at him and just smiled.

"I was asking if you were here for the job," she stated coldly, ensuring she sounded as solemn as she could. She needed to show the man she was serious about hiring a mercenary.

He extracted a scroll from his sleeve and promptly handed it to her.

"I am here for the mercenary position."

"For that, I need to test you for your skills," she replied.

"I'm ready. Any time."

"First, I'll need you to fill up the paperwork," she showed, pointing towards a stone desk in the vicinity, where a pile of scrolls lay accompanied by an inkstone and a brush. The man nodded, walking towards the desk and took a seat on the wooden chair.

He finished filling up his name and other information, setting the scroll down on the desk. Yuxi neared him and read what he had written on the scroll. His name was Zhan Peng, a surname that was uncommon in the island city. She ignored the other information, merely focusing on his age and his skills.

"So, you have been practising martial arts for about fifteen years now?"

"Yes, I've been practising since I was six." He answered the question naturally. That there were only a few people who would have learned at such a young age daunted Yuxi. She suspected he was lying. There were few martial arts masters on the island, and most of them isolated them from the public to focus on cultivation.

"Okay. I'll take it as it is." She disregarded what he had answered. Maybe he had forgotten the age he started practising. There was no reason to lie. If he could parry three blows from her without getting thrown aside like a grass blade in the wind, then she would shortlist him among the final candidates to join her on the mission. His ultimate fate would depend on the other potential recruits.

He looked at her blankly for a few seconds, before conforming by following her. They moved on to the training grounds outside the office. This was where her colleagues, the other guards and some of the newer recruits, worked on their martial arts. Yuxi was a master at archery, but was vulnerable in direct melee combat.

As an imperial guard, it placed her at a disadvantage. Hence, she opted for weapons like whips and spears that allowed for some distance between her and her opponent. So far, she had not lost a single battle. She also owned a long sword, which she inherited from the Qians' predecessors, and she barely used it. Despite how she excelled at the art, it didn't change the fact she had a weaker constitution and thus, couldn't handle more powerful enemies.

Once outside, she threw on her blue-and-black uniform before reaching for her whip. Her uniform was unique from the other guards present, basically because she had a special appointment with the king. The other guards sparring saw her and greeted her nervously.

Yuxi just smiled falsely and took her place in a space, before she gestured to Zhan Peng.

"Pick up a weapon."

"So, we are sparring?"

She realised that his voice sounded familiar suddenly, but she couldn't recall where she had heard it before. Brushing her thoughts aside, she rolled her eyes at him.

"What do you think we are doing here, discussing the weather?"

She had always been a feisty girl. Whether then or now, she wouldn't lose to any man. And Zhan Peng was no exception. Even if he ended up becoming her appointed mercenary, she wouldn't go easy on him. All he had to do was just take three blows from her. If he was skillful enough, he could evade them.

He didn't reply, instead; he strode over to the weapon rack and scrutinised the weapons closely to make his pick.

Her eyes roamed about, watching the man select his weapon. She could tell he wasn't an ordinary fighter. He ignored the light weapons, moving towards the heavier weapons: the greataxes, greatswords, a ball-chain-like weapon known as the meteor hammer, a bludgeon, and many others.

"What if I say my desired weapon isn't among the ones available here?" He questioned in a deep, confident voice.

Ah, the audacity! She thought irately, but just plastered a false smile in pretence over her face.

"Then you are free to use whatever you want."

"I have brought it with me." He reached to grab the sword dangling over his back.

She hadn't asked him to use his own weapon because the rules didn't permit so. There were chances a strange person would pose a security risk, but this man seemed genuine enough. Even then, if she sounded the alarm, her colleagues would immediately come to her rescue. But she hoped it didn't have to go up to that. She was capable of defending herself.

She was astonished by what she heard from him next.

"Are you sure that you want to spar with me?"

"Quit the talk and get to action," she uttered crossly.

He unsheathed the sword, which gleamed with a bright golden ray like she had never seen before.

"Bring it on," she challenged him, brandishing her whip so vigorously that it let out a sound.

"As you wish, Madame."

"You just need to take three strokes from me. If you can do that, I will consider you," she stated firmly.

A look from the man assured her of his confidence, and she shifted into a fighting stance before charging towards him cautiously.