177 Salute from the hear (2/2)

Controlling her watery eyes and blabbering mouth, Yinri kneeled respectfully on a single knee showing her respect to Xia Lian.

Xia Lian lowered her head and Yinri raised her head, their eyes making contact and almost immediately both of them closed the fists of their respective left hands and placed them on their chest in a swift motion.

It was their signature salute, which they followed in their training. After the completion of match the loser of the match goes down on one knee and places his fist on his chest respecting and acknowledging the other party's skills, irrespective of their cadres and rankings. In a similar way, the winner also follows the motion in a standing position, respecting the other party and reminding themselves that humility is a redeeming quality for the soldiers and that they should remain down to earth not letting pride getting over their hearts.

It was a sign of mutual respect...

Yinri lost many times against her but Yinri was the only woman who managed to make her kneel three times while the others never managed to last even a few minutes on the ring. Xia Lian was quite proud of Yinri, like a teacher proud of her student.

” You fought well...” both of them spoke at the same time and there were traces of smile in both Xia Lian's and Yinri's eyes.

The days in the army training grounds and the daily matches were like a part of Xia Lian's life and if she said that she was not missing any of that, it would be definitely a lie. She was an expert in concealing her emotions. Her funny and frivolous front is one of her many masks. Only her sub-ordinates knew the decisive and sharp girl beneath her facade.

And Yinri was one of the few who could guess her hidden emotions with a single glance. Truth be told, she missed this man hating girl, but that does not mean that she was happy on seeing her here. Yinri being here meant only thing, the girl had died. Xia Lian was current having bittersweet emotions on seeing the girl here.

But how and when did she die? There are many things that Xia Lian was curious of and she would take her sweet time interrogating this stupid girl later. But now...

” Get up...” Xia Lian sighed helplessly on seeing the girl not moving from her kneeling position.

Yinri got up form her squatting position and dusted her flowing black robes. Not knowing what to speak she eyed the present Xia Lian who was short and younger than her by a few years. But, that did not diminish the regal air around her. The predatory eyes of hers resembling that of an eagle sub-consciously gave birth to respect in her heart.

And at that moment, she knew what to speak...

Standing upright with an assertive and correct posture, Yinri opened her palm and saluted Xia Lian in a loud and deep voice ” Commander!”