208 Appointed Captain (1/2)

In Jinping's army training grounds, the clang of steel echoed through the yard. An Sun was showing a fellow recruit by the name of Xiong Chu how best to perform a sidestroke.

”You don't want to lose your balance. Better. Now rotate as you deliver the stroke, get all your weight behind the blade.”

Xiong Chu had nodded his head and gripped the sword in his hand before he swung with a turn in his body. He looked at An Sun hesitantly as if waiting for approval.

”Was that good?”

”It's better than before,” An Sun nodded and drew out his sword. ”Now test it on me.”

The previous accomplishment Xiong Chu felt crumbled when he heard An Sun's words. Taking a deep breath, he clutched his sword. It was An Sun who moved first, Xiong Chu barely got his sword up in time. An Sun drove him backward, attacking with every blow, keeping him on the heels. He slammed a sidestroke into the young man's ribs and received a muffled grunt of pain.

The fight lasted less than a minute before Xiong Chu was on the ground, his whole body shaking as he regained his breath.

”You need to work on your reflexes. If I offer you to fight, then you should always be on guard.” An Sun stepped forward to help Xiong Chu to his feet.

Stroking the side that An Sun poked with his sword, Xiong Chu grumbled.

”At the very least you should go easy on me until I get used to it.”

An Sun snorted. ”If I do that, you'll never learn. All you need to do is adapt.”

When An Sun raised his arm to sheathe his sword, the pain made him grit his teeth.

”Did you get hurt?” Xiong Chu's face showed concern.

”It's nothing, just a small scratch.” An Sun shrugged his shoulder a little. ”Anyway, keep practicing everything I taught you. We can practice again tomorrow.”

Xiong Chu's eyes brightened, and he nodded his head eagerly.

”Yes!”

...

After helping some of his other troop members train, An Sun practiced an hour by himself. His sore shoulder made the training go slowly, but he nonetheless tried his best.

It had been late afternoon before he finished training and walked to the barracks bathroom. While walking there, he watched the sun go down, turning the northern sky the color of blood.

It oddly gave him a feeling of warmth to see the sun go down. Though, he preferred the night sky where he could see the stars.

Arriving at the bathing quarters, his eyes met with heavy steam. It enveloped him as he entered. An Sun shed off his clothes, completely ignoring the countless eyes of his other recruits. The bathroom was like a large spring, but with one large bath in the center, and stools along the side of the walls for separate washing.

An Sun was used to being stared at, but that did not mean he liked it.

”What are you looking at?” Was all that was spoken by the expressionless man, but it was enough to send chills down the other men's spines.

They coughed and looked away with shame.

It was only natural for them to stare. The moment he entered, the man moved with the trained grace of a warrior. His muscles had much the same solidity as well-seasoned oak, and long hours on the training field had gilded his previous pale complexion with faint bronze.

His very presence was incredibly overwhelming.

The corners of An Sun's mouth twitched. After he finished rinsing, he stood up to walk into the large bath with other men. Everyone within the bath had sat a few feet apart from one another, yet as if not distinguishing this, An Sun comfortably sat himself a few inches away from one of the men. The person next to him immediately stiffened but didn't dare move.

Spreading his arms on the side of the tub, An Sun tilted his head back with closed eyes. It was as if he was in his own world, oblivious to the other naked men glimpsing at him with odd, tense gazes.

”How...How's your injury doing?” A stuttering voice sounded beside him.

When An Sun shifted his head to the side, he saw a young man with big dark eyes that moved nervously in a great round moon of a face. He looked vaguely familiar, though An Sun could not place him.

”Ah, your arm I mean. After the bear. I was on the same team as you during the second hunt. My name is Zi Bingwen.” The young man clarified.

An Sun remembered him now.

”Sore, but better. It's just a scab now.” An Sun answered with no particular change in tone. He gazed at him with boredom in his eyes.

”I see.” Zi Bingwen smiled crookedly.