In the following days, as their journey continued, Lang Huan spent most of her time training with Lang Ruhua.
Noticing Feng Yao's possessive streak, Lang Ruhua wisely chose not to tease Lang Huan, treating her with the dignity of a true disciple.
Lang Huan never would have expected the playful and mischievous Lang Ruhua to be so strict when it came to teaching. Her entire demeanor changed, and her patience was as thin as paper.
Compared to Lang Yuyan's gentle guidance, Lang Ruhua's methods were brutal, demanding perfection in every stance and movement.
By the end of each training session, Lang Huan's arms and legs were covered in bruises, her body aching as though she had been thrown into battle. "Is this really teaching, or are you just trying to kill me?" Lang Huan groaned. Yet, despite the harshness, she could feel her strength and speed improving day by day—proof that her master's fierce training was effective.
"Watch your head, your feet—head again, and your stomach!" Lang Ruhua's voice was sharp as the wooden stick in her hands cut through the air with lightning speed. Thwack! Lang Huan tried to dodge, but the strikes came too fast.
Lang Huan couldn't keep up—she was completely beaten up, sweat dripping down her face as she struggled.
A Li, who was fanning the Eldest Princess nearby, wrinkled her nose. "Your Highness, Miss Lang looks more like she's taking revenge on Young Master rather than teaching him."
Feng Yao, who had been reading calmly, put her book down and glanced at Lang Huan's battered figure. "Hmm… A Li, bring the medicinal wine. Lang Huan will definitely need it after this."
"Yes, Your Highness," A Li replied quickly, hurrying off to fetch it.
"Stupid! Can't you move faster?!" She was half teaching, half venting her anger. Lang Huan had killed the serpent she had raised since it was little… and even skinned its golden scales. After hitting Lang Huan multiple times, she still felt it wasn't enough to calm her fury.
From the side, Xiao Lan let out a long sigh. "Big brother… why did you choose this evil woman to be your master…" she muttered under her breath.
Later, Lang Ruhua calmly roasted a wild chicken, her inner energy forming a controlled flame that danced in the air. Lang Huan's eyes widened in awe at the sight of the fire itself, her mouth slightly open as she watched the meat sizzle. "Master, can you teach me that?!" her eyes sparkling with excitement."
Lang Ruhua held out her hand, and a small flame floated above her palm, perfectly controlled. "Your energy is like your breath. If you panic, it will run wild."
"Feel the center of your dantian. Guide the Qi to your fingertips—don't force it," she said calmly.
Lang Huan followed her instructions, furrowing her brow in concentration. A flicker of warmth sparked at her fingertips but quickly vanished in a small puff of smoke.
Soon after, she began practicing on random targets. One shot accidentally hit a shadow guard's robe, setting part of it on fire. The poor girl screamed and ran in circles, trying to pat out the flames.
Another fiery spark flew toward A Li, who was peacefully cooking nearby. "Aaaah!" she shrieked as her stew went up in smoke.
Even Qiu Yue wasn't spared—her hair tips got singed. "Lang Huan!!"
Lang Huan grinned mischievously as her eyes drifted toward Feng Yao, who sat quietly reading under a tree. She raised her finger, aiming for the book. But Feng Yao's sharp glare froze her on the spot.
"...I'm just kidding," Lang Huan muttered, quickly lowering her hand.
Her grin returned as she turned toward Xiao Bai. With a pop, a flame singed his snowy fur, leaving black patches. Enraged, the wolf lunged at her.
Lang Huan, laughing, tried to shoot the flame again—accidentally burn Lang Ruhua's perfectly roasted chicken.
"You little monkey!" she snapped, chasing Lang Huan while shooting tiny fireballs at her.
Lang Huan ran in circles, her hair frizzled, face covered in soot, and robe full of holes. Everyone around burst into laughter.
As night fell, Feng Yao helped Lang Huan apply the medicinal wine to her bruised body. "Take off your clothes," As the robe slipped off, Feng Yao's expression darkened—there wasn't a single patch of unmarked skin.
"Didn't Lang Ruhua know you're a woman? Why make the training so harsh? Even a man wouldn't last through that,"
Lang Huan smiled faintly. "Your Highness… I want to protect you. Even if I have to walk through fire, I'll endure it and keep training."
"She's the master you chose. What more can I say?" Feng Yao sighed. She poured a small amount of medicinal wine into her palm, then pressed it against a dark bruise on Lang Huan's shoulder.
Feng Yao's cool hands touched her skin, the sensation sent shivers through Lang Huan, sparking her desire.
She grabbed Feng Yao's hand, causing the wine to spill everywhere. "Don't…" Feng Yao scolded in a low voice.
Lang Huan put the wine aside, her eyes locking on Feng Yao with a mix of longing. Her hand slid around Feng Yao's waist, pulling her closer. Her lips began tracing along Feng Yao's neck, kissing and gently nibbling at the soft skin. After her period, Feng Yao was extra sensitive to Lang Huan's touch. She moved her long hair to the side, allowing Lang Huan to kiss her more freely, her hand gripping blanket tightly.
Unable to hold back, Lang Huan started unbuttoning Feng Yao's robe one by one. When it fell halfway open, a thin bellyband was revealed, wrapping her slender figure. Lang Huan's hand slipped under the fabric, her palm caressing the warm skin beneath, kneading softly. Feng Yao's breath hitched, and her cheeks flushed, her body instinctively leaning closer.
Inside the tent, the warm glow of the lantern cast soft, intimate shadows across the fabric walls—enough to make anyone blush. The guards had been ordered to stay at least fifty meters away, ensuring their privacy. With Lang Ruhua's sharp spiritual senses, she could still catch faint traces of Feng Yao's soft moans and Lang Huan's tender whispers.
Lang Ruhua let out a loud howl, causing the wolves in the area—along with Xiao Bai—to respond in a chorus.
Feng Yao quickly stopped Lang Huan in the middle of their heated moment. "I think… we shouldn't do this," she murmured. "What if someone comes? I still want to save face…" She tapped Lang Huan's nose, then began adjusting her own clothes before helping Lang Huan with hers.
The air was still thick with lingering heat, when Feng Yao noticed Lang Huan's disappointed expression, a soft chuckle escaped her lips, breaking the tension.
"Your Highness, I'll call A Li and Qiu Yue to keep you company. I need a bath," Lang Huan said with helpless smile.
"But I just finished treating your bruises…" Feng Yao frowned.
Lang Huan shook her head lightly, the corners of her lips lifting. "Don't worry."
As she stepped outside, her eyes met Lang Ruhua's smug face. Oh, she knew exactly who had ruined her moment.
After calling A Li and Qiu Yue to accompany Feng Yao, Lang Huan walked to the spring, far from the tent. The cold night air bit at her skin as she slipped off her clothes and sank into the icy water, letting it cool the lingering heat in her body.
She closed her eyes for a moment, enjoying the quiet, until the sound of footsteps made her tense. Lang Ruhua appeared, and before Lang Huan could say anything, she began removing her own clothes.
"Hey… hey, what are you doing?" Lang Huan stammered, her eyes widening.
"I want to take a bath too. Tch… Why are you so shy? We're both women."
That's not the problem… In everyone else's eyes, she's still a man. What if one of the shadow guards sees them?
Lang Ruhua, completely unbothered, hummed a carefree little tune as she walked toward the spring, her bare form illuminated under the silver moonlight.
Her snow-white skin, slender waist, and long legs glowed as she stepped into the icy water. Gentle ripples spread around her, enhancing the allure of her movement.
Lang Huan quickly lowered her gaze, wanting to leave the spring. Lang Ruhua suddenly gasped in pain and stumbled.
"What's wrong?" Lang Huan asked, catching her before she could fall. "My foot… I stepped on a sharp rock."
Lang Ruhua, who was a head shorter, tilted her head up and caught sight of Lang Huan's flushed face.
"Your face is as red as a boiled shrimp…" she said, breaking into uncontrollable laughter. "Little monkey… are you having improper thoughts about me?"
She leaned closer, a sly smile touching her lips as her brow lifted. Her arm slipped around Lang Huan's neck, fingers gently brushing the back of it.
"You couldn't finish that burning desire with your princess, so you come to me instead?"
"Hiss non sense… is this considered as incest?" The words slipped out of Lang Huan's mouth before she could stop herself. Her own voice startled her, wishing she could take it back. But Lang Ruhua's sharp ears caught every syllable.
"You still say you don't have improper thoughts?" Lang Ruhua snorted, her wet hair clinging to her pale shoulders. "What incest? You're not my daughter, not my sister. We're generations apart, and I don't even know which branch of the Lang Clan you come from."
Lang Ruhua's shameless words made Lang Huan choke. "Hey, stop it… I really don't…"
Her face burned with embarrassment, and she didn't want to stay any longer. "Can you walk by yourself? I'm leaving…"