182 Show Me What You Know (2/2)
Hearing his approaching footsteps, she instantly turned around with a bright smile that paralyzed his heart.
Well, there goes the calm—out the window.
”Where did you go?” Li Xueyue blinked, confused by his tightened jaw and clenched fist. Why did he look so irritated?
”My guards followed me without my consent.” Yu Zhen grunted. He had noticed their presence no matter how well they attempted to conceal it.
”Oh,” she said, believing it was the reason for his frustration.
”Don't worry, you won't even know they're here.” Yu Zhen scowled, his eyes lingered on her clothes.
'Look away you damn scoundrel,' he thought to himself before taking one last peek at her. He forced his attention elsewhere, focusing on the sword in her hand. Thick and long, he swallowed deeply.
”Show me what you know,” he commanded whilst scanning the training field for a practice mannequin.
”I don't practice with mannequins. It's always with someone, whether it's the instructor, a guard, or Wenmin.”
Li Xueyue wondered if she was getting ahead of herself. She rarely won against Li Wenmin, who was a similar height to Yu Zhen, but her brother's build wasn't as large as Yu Zhen's.
Yu Zhen towered over her. He was all strength and muscle. Strong shoulders, broad chest, his sharp figure was perfect. She instantly looked away when his attention returned to her.
He was staring intently at her.
”Let��s start,” he said through gritted teeth, for reasons she was unsure of. He didn't like the idea of sparring with someone half his size. She was a young lady and he'd be damned if he injured her. Just as he was distracted by his thoughts, she sliced at his upper arm.
Yu Zhen let out a loose laugh, the jab did slice through his clothes but it barely nipped his skin.
”Rookie mistake.” He scowled, aiming his sword right towards her while her guard was lowered.
It was a trap.
Right when he lunged his sword forward, she side-stepped him and twisted her sword to aim for his throat. He was also tricking her.
They were both schemers.
Her sword barely reached his throat when he turned his body and met her sword in a rough clash. Her eyes widened, caught off guard. She lacked strength, but made it up in speed, easily jumping back, dodging the swing of his sword. He didn't waste time. Lunging straight for her, she ducked and aimed for the knees only for his sword to block her in the nick of time.
He was going easy on her.
Li Xueyue gritted her teeth and swung her sword upwards, throwing his force off of her.
He did not fall for her trap. Instead, he brought his sword down onto hers, forcing it to the ground, suppressing it. Placing pressure onto his sword, she struggled against his weight, her wrist burning with pain.
”Tsk, that move was predictable,” he chided her.
Who said sword fighting was only about wielding your weapon?
She dropped her weapon and struck a leg out, tripping him forward slightly. She ducked and grabbed her sword seconds before he fell, and brought it back up in a swing that aimed for his throat.
But he was merciless.
He twisted his sword against hers, pinning her sword. It was yet another clash and he forced her to block the harsh blow. Her knees were forced to bend from his immense strength, her muscles screaming. Sweat gathered on her brows, her body soaked from head to toe, but his form was perfect regardless. This was just a warm-up to him.
”Be mindful of your position,” he said upon noticing her trembling arms.
She could not win against his strength but that did not stop her from attempting a trick she had learned from a book.
Li Xueyue loosened her grip on her sword in an attempt to use his own weight against him. She swiftly moved her upper body, hoping to dodge his sword, but it was to no avail. In an instant, he toppled over her. He moved faster than she could blink. Tightly, he gripped her wrist, pinning her own sword against her neck whilst he angled his sword on top of hers, pressing her into the ground.
It was an inevitable defeat for Xueyue.
A single gulp and her throat would be slit open.