The Birth of the War Goddess

An arrow gets shoot beside me and I dodge it by a fraction of second

I turn to see where it comes from but the vegetation is too dense

"Hear the air Lai'Er, as Chao taught you... Or you won't dodge next time"

But it's difficult to concentrate with so many idiots running and screaming beneath.

I should cover my eyes but I never walked from tree to tree without seeing...

I keep on going and hear a swoosh

I hop higher, landing with one leg bent down and one arm reaching out to regain control of the bucket, just before another arrow hit exactly where I was standing a moment ago

"They are testing me..." I smirk "Let's return the favor"

I take the arrow before throwing in in the air, just above my head, then with a jump I hit it and send it back to where it came...

I hear a very light gasp above all the screams and feel the man moving away to dodge...

"This is amazing"

...

I see the top of the mountain and give it a last sprint...

A man comes out from the forest beside me, looking me in the eye with his emerald-like stare smirking

"Oh, It's a challenge..."

We both run at our full speed jumping over rocks and fallen trees, trying to be quicker than the other

A rock begins to roll down toward him and he easly dodge it, the rock proceed toward a tree before it finally stops.

Upon hitting the tree, the wood begins cracking and soon it's falling down on me

I jump on it walking for the whole length of a branch while it falls untill hitting the floor so i begin to run like mad again

We both reach the flag of our section together, placing our hands on it at the same time

-Well done both of you...-

The man in front of me bends down, offering me his congratulations, so do I.

The instructor show us a little pagoda where we can wait for our companions to finish the track.

...

-Dong Hu- I stare doubtfully at him for a moment, still catching my breath, so he rise both his hands

-I come in peace Miss, You did extremely well...

I trained my whole life in my family armoury, To think you are at my same level is an exiting challenge-

-Ying ChangLai- I reply watching a trio of guys walking toward us, plopping their tired bodies of a bench

-Can I possibly know what Master trained you?-

-Nobody, it was... Practice-

-Interesting...

I would really love to compete against you again, in the future- I just nod as an answer and sit down looking away, towards the Royal Capital...

...

-Come on guys...- I murmur as the sun has almost completely disappeared behind the horizon...

-Bring Hua here... There's no much time left- I keep switching from one foot to another looking at the end of the forest just below my position.

I begin to see some peoples in the distance and I approach the sect flag

It's not them

I look at the sun again and then the pagoda, where that Dong Hu dude is talking with some fellas

He's good, really good...

I will have to train more to surpass him and stand out as the best of the sect

He feels my eyes on him and turns around waving

-Tz!- I turn facing the trees while scraping my neck flustered -It's not like I'm here to compete anyway-

...

-Lai'Er!!!- I see a dark-haired figure running toward me, followed by 4 other guys

-Yes!!- I rise my fist in excitement

-Uh?- the instructor turns to me and I retract my hand

-Oh... Hehe...- definitely awkward

The guys keeps running trying to beat the sun and place and hand on the flag just as the sun completely disappear.

We all take a breath of relief...

-You guys have been lucky... But next time you must be faster- I tell them taking the group toward the pagoda

A few guys exist the forest watching as the General take away the flag

-Damn!- someone yell behind us.

...

We get our clothes ready for bathing and finally manage to slip into an empty bathing room...

I seat in the hot water leaning on the sides, quite tired honestly

-And then whoooosh! She jumped on a tree without making any sound at all!

If only you were there Xiao!- says Kasuo

-Uhm yeah...- answer the other guy listless

-Can you guys not move the water so much? We are supposed to rest- I ask them

-But...!- he squint up to rebate but as he stands up the towel around his hips falls down, leaving him completely naked and red from the embarrassment

One of the guys cover his mouth while Hua makes an interested "ohh?"

-Shameless-

-I I am sorry! It wasn't my intention Miss!- he sits back down in the water till it covers his mouth even

-How to blame her if she wants to relax... She arrived first, she must be tired- comments Hao smiling

-I said I wasn't first...- I turn away with a slight flush from my hurting pride

-You would have been if it wasn't for the tree I sent over you head...

I hope you will accept my apologies Miss Ying...-

The moment this velvety deep voice reaches my ears, a tall muscular man with dark-chocolate hair and Emerald eyes enter the water

-Do you guys mind? I couldn't find space in the other bath rooms-

-We do not mind at all- says Hua elbowing me under the water, happy to feast his eyes on an handsome man

-And who is this beautiful man?- he asks toward Hua

-Oh! Don't flutter me heheh...-

"He's clearly enjoying it" I dead-eye him

-I'm Feng Hua... A close friend of Lai'Er-

-A pleasure to make you acquaintance- he closes his eyes, smiling, with his chest on full display... Wei grab his own tiny muscles with disappointment at the sight of the perfectly toned man beside me

-So... What is you name Mister?- ask Hua twisting his hair with that fake angelic expression of his

-I'm Dong Hu- he says pointing toward me -I'm the soldier who reached the flag along Miss Ying...

She would have actually won but thanks to a rolling rock, send from our instructors, a tree fell slowing her down... I hope next time we will have a more fair challenge-

-It was fair enough, that tree was part of the training so it's not something to apologise for... And it is not a metter of who win or not, we'll all reach that speed eventually before going to war. That is our ultimate goal-

I stare right into his eyes, something seems off with this dude

-Oh come on Lai'Er... Hehe, no need to bite- Hua tries to ease the situation while the man looks back at me

-Straight to the point... I like it- he smirks with fierce eyes

-Don't you guys feel some tensions...?- whisper Kasuo

-Shh!- hit him Wei

-Well anyway it was a pleasure- he stands up walking away

-See you tomorrow... My dear rival- there's a hint of a warning in his eyes as he turns his head one last time before leaving...

Hua whistles -Daaaamn, wow... You got a hottie to lay his eyes on you Lai'Er-

-Ah what?!- askz Kasuo

-Have you seen how perfectly sculpted he was...? You may be big, but he's perfect man!- rebate Wei

-Who cares! I'm twice his built! Haha look at this! And this!- he begin posing to show off his muscles

-Ohhh cool!- claps Hua, actually mocking him...

-Tz...- I stand up and leave -Let's get ready for dinner guys- I say closing the door