Seeing their prince suffer another silent defeat, Qiu Dongfang didn’t dare linger and quickly chased after Jiu Yue.
Jiu Yue had returned to the rooftop to bask in the sun. Qiu Dongfang caught up and lowered his voice, "Since when did you become so bold? That’s the prince we’re talking about..."
"I didn’t say anything wrong. It’s just the truth," Jiu Yue retorted, pursing her lips. She then pulled out the token from earlier and asked, "Is this the training camp you mentioned before?"
Qiu Dongfang nodded. "The prince’s personal guards are all selected from there... though you’re an exception now."
Jiu Yue: "..."
Her expression suddenly turned serious. "Then why did the prince agree to let me into the manor?"
Everyone else was personally trained by Sima Qing—pure insiders. But she was an outsider! Given Sima Qing’s noble status, he shouldn’t have even considered hiring her.
"Unless..." Jiu Yue’s tone grew contemplative.
Regretting his loose tongue, Qiu Dongfang’s eyelid twitched repeatedly. Seeing her expression grow increasingly suspicious, he quickly patted his head and forced a bright smile.
"Why else? It’s obviously because of your skills!" Qiu Dongfang declared righteously. "Look, on the day you arrived, you effortlessly took down Mo Jin and Fu Yu. With talent like yours, how could the prince let you slip away?"
Jiu Yue: "..."
She stroked her chin, her eyes gleaming with approval. "That makes sense."
If the people he trained weren’t strong enough, of course he’d seek someone stronger!
Ah.
Jiu Yue chuckled and patted Qiu Dongfang’s shoulder. "Don’t feel too bad. Before meeting me, you all were plenty strong too."
Qiu Dongfang: "..."
He didn’t want to stay with her any longer and stood up, dusting himself off. "Once your hands heal in a couple of days, I’ll take you there."
Jiu Yue watched him leave with a grin. After sunbathing a while longer and working up a sweat, she decided to head out—dog in tow.
Nan Xun was always fully immersed in his storytelling. It wasn’t until sunset that he reluctantly concluded with, "Stay tuned for the next installment."
Amid the applause, he heard two sharp barks.
Looking up, he saw Jiu Yue clapping her bandaged hands while the little dog on the table happily devoured its meal from a plate.
Nan Xun: "..."
His lips twitched in disapproval. "Business is good enough—no need for you to drag your battered self here just to support me."
Her hands were in such a state, yet she was clapping? Was she trying to ruin them completely?
Jiu Yue didn’t bother explaining that her hands were nearly healed. On their way back to the courtyard, she lowered her voice and said, "About that note you slipped me last time—I got answers."
Nan Xun’s steps faltered.
Last time, when Qiu Dongfang got drenched in dog urine, Nan Xun hadn’t had the chance to probe further. But something in his gut told him the man wasn’t simple, so he’d slipped Jiu Yue a note.
A warning: the regent prince might be setting a trap for her.
It wasn’t baseless suspicion. From the perspective of both the martial world and the imperial court, even if Sima Qing had close ties with martial artists, caution was still necessary.
But now Jiu Yue claimed she’d figured it out.
Nan Xun could hardly believe it. "...You didn’t just ask the prince directly, did you?"
"I’m not that stupid," Jiu Yue whispered. "I subtly probed Qiu Dongfang. He said Sima Qing hired me purely because of my skills."
"I’m not bragging, but none of the manor’s guards can match me in a fight," she added, a hint of pride in her voice.
Nan Xun’s expression was complicated. "Do you really believe everything he says?"
Jiu Yue paused. "But it’s the truth."
"...Never mind." Nan Xun sighed and shook his head. "Just make sure you leave yourself an escape route. Don’t repeat the same mistakes and end up like last time."
"Don’t worry about that," Jiu Yue replied breezily. "I don’t plan to stay in the regent’s manor forever. When the time’s right, I’ll disappear."
Nan Xun glanced at her. "As long as you’ve got a plan... So, why did you come find me today?"
Jiu Yue remembered her purpose. "The regent has a private training camp. Have you heard of it?"
The courtyard gate closed behind them. After a moment’s thought, Nan Xun said, "I’ve caught wind of it. A while back, many from the gangs wanted to join for a steady living, but the selection was too strict. Eventually, the rumors died down."
Jiu Yue’s curiosity piqued. "So it’s full of skilled fighters?"
"Of course. You should know—someone of his status wouldn’t waste resources on useless people." Nan Xun raised a brow. "Why the sudden interest? Are you going there?"
Jiu Yue nodded. "Qiu Dongfang said I could get a custom weapon there. I want a new blade."
The broadsword she currently used was one she’d picked off a dead body when she first arrived in this world.
Nan Xun chuckled. "That’s not bad... But don’t get your hopes up too much. It might not be that easy."
Jiu Yue wasn’t concerned.
—Until the day she entered the training camp.
The moment she fumbled for her token, the dog in her arms was snatched away.
Jiu Yue froze, then looked up to see a black-clad youth perched on a tree branch, dangling her dog by the scruff of its neck with a taunting grin.
She turned to Qiu Dongfang, who offered a stiff smile.
"Here in the training camp," he said simply, "strength speaks."
Jiu Yue suddenly laughed.
Should’ve said so earlier.
"Then I won’t hold back," she said coolly before darting after the youth.
The man at the entrance watched the two vanish, momentarily impressed. "Dongfang, this newcomer’s fierce! Her lightness skill might even rival yours!"
Qiu Dongfang’s expression was complicated, his gaze almost pitying. "Not ‘might.’ She’s already better than me... Old Tao, you’d better warn the others not to push their luck."
Old Tao scoffed, slapping his shoulder. "What’s with the lack of spine? You’re embarrassing the prince! Just watch—no matter how arrogant they are, everyone leaves this training camp humbled!"
Qiu Dongfang: "..."
He shook his head. "Don’t say I didn’t warn you."
Old Tao paid no heed.
Meanwhile, Jiu Yue was hot on the thief’s trail.
The little dog yelped in terror, dangling mid-air before promptly wetting itself.
The youth’s face twisted in disgust as he felt the warm dampness seep into his clothes. He raised his hand, ready to hurl the dog away.
"Try it," Jiu Yue’s voice suddenly rang out above him.
A chill shot down his spine. Before he could react, she snatched the dog back with one hand and drove her other fist straight into his face—without holding back.
The punch sent him reeling. Before he could steady himself, a crushing kick slammed into his chest.
He couldn’t even fight back.
With a deafening "boom," dust and debris filled the air.
By the time Qiu Dongfang and Old Tao arrived, all they saw was Jiu Yue stepping out, cradling a dog in her arms.
As the dust settled, the only thing left on the ground was an unconscious young man, half-buried in the dirt.
Qiu Dongfang: "..."
Old Tao: "..."
