The next day, the loud flap of wings echoed outside their wisteria-adorned hut. Perched on a low tree branch was Feng, the sleek hawk that Long Fei had introduced to them. Its dark feathers shimmered in the morning light, a tiny bamboo scroll holder hanging around its neck. It spread its wings, then rustled its feathers, eyes gleaming at them.
Shui Yi dashed out of the hut as she noticed her azure companion reaching for her slingshot nestled in her belt. "Ling Yue, don't even think about it!"
The guardian gritted her teeth. "I'm going to have a gamey bird for lunch." With one eye closed, she aimed at the hawk, her expression dark with irritation. "I'm Master's favorite pet, not him."
"No, you can't! Long Fei will never forgive you if you kill Feng." She placed a firm hand on her companion's, the one holding a pebble in the sling.
"I get you're frustrated. I am too. But Feng's here with a message."
Her companion's grip tightened on the slingshot; after a moment, she let out a sharp exhale and stormed off.
The mermaid watched her go before turning back to the hawk. Taking a deep breath, she carefully untied the bamboo tube from its neck. She unfurled the note inside and read:
"Long Yan has escaped. He's probably not far from you. Be careful. I'll be there soon—Long Fei"
Her stomach churned. The pirate captain had escaped? The memory of his crew throwing her in the brig, his piercing cruel gaze as he interrogated her. She shuddered at the thought of running into him again. She folded the note and tucked it into her sleeve. "Thank you, Feng. You'd better leave before Ling Yue changes her mind."
As if understanding, the hawk let out a sharp screech and soared into the cloudless sky.
She was still lost in thought when the guardian returned, carrying a bundle of straw and rope over her shoulder. Her eyes gleamed with mischief, a devilish grin spreading across her face. "I have a surprise for you."
"That smile never means anything good." The mermaid glanced at her warily.
Ling Yue dropped the bundle onto the ground, revealing several straw figures with crudely drawn faces.
"Who's that supposed to be?" Shui Yi peered over her companion's shoulder, who was fiddling with the straw figures.
"Isn't it obvious? It's Long Yan of course."
The mermaid stifled laughter. There was no resemblance at all.
"These are your new training targets," the guardian announced, folding her arms with a satisfied smirk. "It's time you got used to taking down your enemies. And don't even think about holding back. If we run into Long Yan again, he'll be fighting you, not me."
Shui Yi hesitated, staring at the straw dummies. "How did you know what was on the note?"
"Pfft. It doesn't take a genius to figure it out. The Crown Prince is my Master, after all. Of course, I would know what he's thinking. Now, time to train. I can't fight all your battles."
A knot formed in the mermaid's stomach as dread overpowered her. She gingerly gripped the weapon the guardian handed her. "But I'll never be as strong as you."
Ling Yue raised her brow, scratching her chin with a scoff. "Can't fault your logic. But you don't have to be. He's just a very strong mortal who remembered most of my moves. Based on our sparring, I'd say you could defeat him if you get serious. Just be grateful he doesn't have his fire elemental right now—he would have toasted you on the spot."
"Why didn't you finish him off at the Imperial Palace?"
"Before we met you, Master told me to leave his brother alone. So I'm not allowed to kill him. I only jumped in because he would have killed you both right then and there."
Knowing her companion took her orders seriously, Shui Yi took a deep breath and lunged at the first target, her hand trembling slightly as she aimed for its head. The impact sent the straw figure swaying but not falling. She hunched her shoulders, bracing for a scolding.
"Oh, come on. For Ocean's sake, get angry. You're a trained warrior now! Your father could make the ocean tremble with his rage. You should be able to make a straw man fall."
The mermaid's heart pounded. She turned to the next target, forcing herself to strike harder. This time, the dummy collapsed with a satisfying thud. But the sight of Long Yan's smirking face, crude as the drawing was, made her freeze.
The way he had torn Long Fei's cloak from her shoulders, leaving her bare in the brig, made her blood run cold. She shook her head to break away from the stupor.
Ling Yue snapped her fingers, sharp as a whip. "Long Yan's coming for Master. You're just going to stand there?!"
Something inside Shui Yi snapped. The image of Long Fei shielding her flashed before her eyes—his body taking the blow meant for her, his blood dripping on the ground, his pained expression as he held his wound. She had been weak. She had hesitated. And because of that, he had suffered in this lifetime for her. He had already died for her in the last life.
Not again. A raw, burning rage surged through her veins, setting her muscles alight. She tightened her grip on the weapon with both hands.
"AARGGHH!"
She moved in a blur, slicing through the straw figures with precision and fury. One head was severed cleanly and bounced on the ground. Then another. Ling Yue barely dodged a stray strike. She flipped back, kicked the blade away, and landed lightly on her feet.
With no more targets in sight, Shui Yi halted, breathing heavily. She stared at the scattered remains of the targets, her hands shaking.
Ling Yue chuckled, brushing off stray strands of straw. "Now that's what I'm talking about. I want this rage on the battlefield."