Chapter 10

"What's the matter?"

"What if something dangerous happens? If we act ourselves, someone is bound to figure out the VIP's true identity."

"Hmm…"

Nangong Yan stroked his chin.

Although the VIP had insisted on going alone, and this was the Nangong Manor, any problem would still tarnish the manor's reputation.

"Perhaps we should assign some guards…"

Nangong Yan nodded.

"Try to choose those who can move quietly. Instruct them to avoid drawing attention if possible."

"Understood."

"Very well."

It had been a whole year since the VIP from the Thousand Guests Hall visited Nangong.

During the VIP's stay, nothing must be lacking.

"Prepare tea and new food in time for the VIP's return. Also, have the bath and clothing ready just in case. Make sure everything can be prepared immediately if the VIP requests a meal."

"Yes."

Nangong Yan reiterated.

"We must be extremely cautious to ensure the VIP's comfort."

"I will keep that in mind."

* * *

Nangong has six martial forces.

The direct subordinate force of the Manor Lord, the Swift Wind Sword Corps.

And the Five Directions Corps: the Yellow Dragon Corps, the Blue Dragon Corps, the Red Dragon Corps, the White Dragon Corps, and the Black Dragon Corps.

Among them, only the 1st to 10th squads of each sword corps, who have proven their skills, can enter the inner hall as guards. The rest are called the outer hall guards, or the Sword Teams.

The training ground Yihua found was the Red Dragon Corps' training ground, where the members wore red martial uniforms and red plain sashes.

Inside the training ground, there were also young children in red martial uniforms, and in the center, on the sparring platform, the Red Dragon members were in the midst of sword technique practice.

"First Form of the Great Linked Sword Technique!"

"Ha!"

The one with a red sash and a single golden line shouted, and the guards with plain sashes simultaneously performed the form.

Despite a dozen or so people performing the form, their movements were precise and orderly, without a single flaw.

Yihua watched them for a moment.

In her previous life, these people were mere cannon fodder, not worth her attention. But now, things were different.

These were the roots that supported Nangong. A tree with strong roots does not easily fall.

These people would be the starting point for strengthening Nangong.

Yihua, who was seriously observing the outer hall guards' sword training, gave a brief thought.

'It's not the sword.'

The movements, honed through countless practices and repetitions, were clean and full of spirit.

As the foundation of Nangong's sword techniques, their skills were flawless.

However, there was a significant problem with their swords.

'Have they never fought in a real battle?'

The techniques (術) are perfect, but the swords (劍) are lacking.

What they have learned is not the sword, but merely the movements.

To those who do not know the sword, it might seem fine, but to Yihua, who had faced Nangong's swords all her life, the problem was clear.

'If they were to fight in a real battle, they would die before they could even use their sword techniques.'

Even though Nangong's sword techniques are basic enough to be shown to outsiders, they are not weak.

Yet, these people were weak. Very weak.

'This will be a long road.'

Yihua sighed briefly and headed towards the weapon rack on one side of the training ground.

Knowing the problem but unable to do anything about it immediately, she decided to focus on her own training.

Just as she was about to pick up a wooden sword, someone called out.

"Hey, you there!"

Yihua turned her head in the direction of the voice.

Sure enough, the one with the single golden line, who had been leading the members, was approaching her.

He was the squad leader of the Red Dragon 11th Squad.

Without even bothering to wipe the sweat from his body, he approached and glanced at the wooden sword Yihua was about to pick up.

"You can't just touch anything. We didn't bring you here to play with the kids, so put it down."

Yihua looked at one side of the training ground.

In the spacious training ground, children around her age were practicing sword techniques.

The Red Dragon squad leader snorted when he saw the children Yihua was looking at.

"They're different from you. They are formally learning the sword. You, on the other hand…"

He scanned Yihua's appearance.

She wasn't wearing the uniform of a member, and her clothes didn't look particularly high-quality.

'Probably just a young servant…'

Did she fail the martial arts exam?

Occasionally, there are such children who want to learn Nangong's sword techniques but fail the exam and come in as servants to learn secretly.

The way she watched their training with bright eyes earlier, and the way she was wandering around the training ground, fit the description perfectly.

Training ground cleaning duty.

'This is so annoying. Do the servants not even manage the young servants?'

"Kid."

The Red Dragon squad leader stood close to Yihua.

His large shadow loomed over her.

"Swords are not something you can master just by imitating. So, don't get hit by a wooden sword fragment and go clean up quickly."

The man snatched the wooden sword from Yihua.

After a brief moment of looking at the taken wooden sword, Yihua moved towards the weapon rack again.

'Huh?'

Despite his attempt to scare her off, the child was heading towards the weapon rack without hesitation. The Red Dragon squad leader looked bewildered.

"This little brat…"

The Red Dragon member stomped over and snatched the wooden sword from the child again.

Yihua's brow furrowed slightly as she looked at the wooden sword in his hand.

"Are you ignoring an adult? Where did you learn such bad manners! You need a good lesson to come to your senses!"

"…"

"Where is your assigned servant? I'll tell your supervisor to give you a good scolding…!"

"Ha…"

Yihua sighed.

She had come to the training ground to avoid causing a commotion, but somehow ended up drawing more attention.

'Should I leave?'

Maybe she should have gone to the Thousand Guests Hall's training ground from the start.

While she was thinking, the Red Dragon squad leader's forehead began to redden with anger.

Yihua's contemplative expression seemed to him like a display of dissatisfaction.

"This…"

His hand tightened around the wooden sword.

"This disrespectful brat…!"

The Red Dragon member swung the wooden sword at Yihua's calf.

However, the moment the wooden sword was about to hit her calf—

Thud. Thump.

Yihua lightly jumped and stepped on the swinging wooden sword, then landed back on the ground.

She didn't even look at the swinging wooden sword.

'Huh?'

The force in the wooden sword seemed to vanish instantly.

A moment of eerie silence.

Thud!

The Red Dragon squad leader, losing his balance, fell awkwardly to the ground.

"…?"

What just happened?

Why am I…?

The Red Dragon squad leader, unable to understand the situation, lay on the ground, blinking in confusion.

Meanwhile, Yihua, who had caused this, picked up the fallen wooden sword and calmly walked away.

"Ha ha ha! Squad leader! You said you were going to discipline the kid, why are you lying there?"

"Did you trip and fall on your own? You're going to catch the kid, not the other way around! Ha ha ha!"

His colleagues, seeing him fall, burst into laughter from a distance.

'…!'

The Red Dragon squad leader's face turned bright red.

This was the most embarrassing moment of his life.

To fall flat on his face because he couldn't catch a mere young servant?

Fortunately, the squad members didn't think he had been bested by the child.

Unfortunately, the Red Dragon squad leader didn't think so either.

"Stand there!"

The Red Dragon squad leader pushed himself up from the ground.

No one had seen what had happened, which meant no one had seen the child's actions, but his judgment was already clouded.

'Whatever trick you used…'

It must have been a mistake on his part.

"Stand there, I said!"

After the second shout, the child stopped and turned to look at him.

There was a hint of annoyance in her expression.

The Red Dragon squad leader's eyes blazed with anger.

"Come here, you brat!"

Maybe it was luck that he missed the first time, but not the second!

"I'll teach you what respect is, even if I have to break your legs!"

Whoosh!

The Red Dragon squad leader's wooden sword sliced through the air again.

A fierce sound, like a gust of wind, filled the air—

And his wooden sword swung towards Yihua's leg again.

Clack!

A crisp sound echoed as the wooden sword spun through the air.

The onlookers, who had gathered to watch, followed the parabolic path of the flying wooden sword.

It was the Red Dragon squad leader's sword.

'Huh?'

The Red Dragon squad leader was bewildered again.

Before he could understand what had happened, the child swung her arm.

Thud!

"Ugh!"

A dull pain shot through his groin.

It felt like being hit by a thick club.

Thud!

By the time he realized the cause of the pain, he was already kneeling in front of the child.

At the same time, his sword, which had flown far away, landed on the ground, and the onlookers turned their attention back to the two of them.

"Ah!"

"…!"

The onlookers' eyes widened.

The Red Dragon squad leader was kneeling in front of the child.

It had all happened in an instant.

Before he could even process what had happened, a dark shadow loomed over the bewildered squad leader.

"Anything else?"

It was an incredibly young and innocent voice.