Chapter 74 - Training (1/2)
In the morning, Xinyi woke up feeling peckings on her cheeks. She slowly opened her eyes and saw a nightingale.
”Kuaille!” She excitedly spoke and opened her mouth wide, yawning as she stretched her body.
”Good morning, Xinyi. Welcome back. I could not greet you last night because of that strict panda. He won't allow us to come and help you.”
Xinyi's brows rose. ”Xionmao, forbade you?”
”Yes, he said to leave you alone and sent me to the mountains to watch for the dragon and the little beings' arrival,” Kuaille complained. ”But when I left him, he went to watch you fight. Grr, so unfair.”
Xinyi snickered and tapped the bird's beak. ”Ooh, you poor thing, but I bet you were also watching the fight.”
Kuaille lifted his beak. ”So what? Can I not watch too?”
Xinyi giggled. ”I'm happy to see you. I'm also happy to know that Xionmao was there last night.” But was curious, thinking, Was he planning on helping me if I was in danger? Then she looked back Kuallie. ”You're here. So have they arrived?”
Before Kuaille could speak, ”Good morning, Lady Lei.” Gu Dai came in the room with a basin of water.”
”Good morning, Gu Dai,” Xinyi smiled at the enthusiastic maid. Gu Dai also assisted her when she came back last night. Xinyi stood and went behind a divider. The maid followed, helping her wash her face and changed her clothes.
Suddenly, she heard a commotion outside. Before she knew it, colorful specks of dust gleefully zoomed in and flew around her with indistinguishable chatters. Xinyi closed her eyes and thought of them as animals. When she opened them, she chuckled looking at the floating inch size hippos, ostriches, pandas, and others.
They were so adorable like little animal stuff dolls. She wanted to hug them because of their cuteness but clenched her desire, afraid she might crash them by the time she touched them.
”You're back, my babies. Where's Nianshi?”
”I'm here, my lady,” Nianshi entered, in human form with his hairy chest exposed and belt lightly fastened.
Xinyi walked out of the divider wearing a red dress. ”Welcome back.”
Their presence comforted her and realized she relied so much on them lately. That fight last night made her see the reality that she might face stronger enemies someday. She also saw how complacent she was after moving to Fengfu.
She sharpened her gaze and pointed a finger at Nianshi. ”Nianshi, Skrider told me you can train me. Teach me how to use my powers. Most of all on how to manipulate time.”
Nianshi gave her a sinister grin, giving her chills. ”Oh, ho. I'm not a kind instructor, my lady.”
”Bring it on. I can handle it,” Xinyi said, clapping her hands with glee.
Yet, an hour after...
Xinyi sat on the grassy garden outside Nufang pavilion. She was sweating bullets and gasping for air. ”You're not charming at all,” Xinyi grumbled.
”I already told you. I'm very strict. Use all your senses to catch these wee Hutyuns.”
”Why do I need to catch each of them to learn how to manipulate time? You also make them fly very fast, making it harder for me.” Xinyi pouted as she hugged her knees.
”Remember this. Your training is not only for you to learn how to manipulate time. It's also for you to learn how to use your power hidden inside you. If you can harness that power, you can not only manipulate time, you can also send fires, command raging storms, and others.