Spring Winds

"Psst! Psssst! Senior Sister!"

Taking a deep breath, Ye Lian Hua slowing opened her eyes to see her junior staring right at her.

Precariously balanced, her junior sister leaned in front of her; invading her personal space by a margin.

"Senior sister, hehe, hi!" The girl grinned brightly, and her round eyes turned into a pair of crescents.

Inhaling once more, Ye Lian Hua used the palm of her hand and some spiritual energy to grab her junior sister's face and push her to the side.

"Ow," Landing with a thud, Zhu Na Ran groaned and rubbed her sore bottom. "Senior sister, you can't just grab a girl so roughly. I have a reputation to uphold, you know," she called out coquettishly.

"Focus on mediating." Closing her eyes once more, Ye Lian Hua focused on absorbing more spiritual energy, letting it flow like a river into her veins and throughout her body.

"But it's so boring! I can't just sit here all day," Zhu Na Ran groaned exasperatedly. "And we've been here for so long. Aren't you tired of just sitting?"She muttered, folded her legs once more, and sulked whist played with her hair.

The two have been sitting beside a small and isolated waterfall for a few hours.

After conceding to Zhu Na Ran's endless pleads for going outside to explore the peak, did the two venture out to see what was out there. What they had stumbled upon was this relatively secluded waterfall and a bit off the path. Nonetheless, it was a tranquil location. With lush foliage and a quiet atmosphere, it's an ideal location for mediation. After that, Ye Lian Hua decided to settle here for the day, and her poor junior sister had to follow suit.

"Can I at least swim? I promise that it won't disturb you at all. It would be like I'm not even here," she clapped her hands together in a pleading gesture. She even included her signature pout and puppy eyes.

Looking over at her, deadpanned, she couldn't resist her junior's begging. Sighing, she gave in. "Well, I suppose you could swim, but - "

"Yahoo!"

Eyes wide, Ye Lian Hua witnessed Zhu Na Ran jump into the lake.

N.a.k.e.d.

"S-shameless!" Covering her face from the water and the sight she had witnessed. How could she respond to something as spontaneous as that? She still peaked through her fingers to see her junior sister swimming around like a fish in the water.

Zhu Na Ran swam up to where Ye Lian Hua. Leaning back, Ye Lian Hua attempted to avoid more water getting onto her clothes.

Pushing herself up on the where Ye Lian Hua was seated, Zhu Na Ran resembled a seductive siren lurking her prey into the water. The water droplets trickled down her shoulders and hair. Reflected in the light, it was if she were shimmering. Almost like a demon that was made to tease Ye Lian Hua endlessly!

She couldn't help the furious red blush spread across her cheeks and at the ends of her ears. Honestly, it was an embarrassing sight.

Pushing back her hair, Zhu Na Ran sputtered into laughter after seeing her senior sister's expression. It's almost too easy to tease her senior.

"Senior Sister, was I that shocking?" Zhu Na Ran giggles before attempting to calm herself down. Though, her jovial grin remained regardless.

As if Ye Lian Hua's momentary shock was a trick of the light, her cold and collected expression returned in a blink of an eye. Standing up, she brushes herself off. "I'm going," she stated curtly.

"Hey, wait!" Grabbing onto Ye Lian Hua's robe, however, Zhu Na Ran must of underestimated her strength as she pulled back a bit to hard.

Splash!

Ye Lian Hua broke through the surface and gasped for air as she grabbed onto Zhu Na Ran for support. She was busy hacking her lungs to notice or care that her junior sister was carrying her.

"I'm so sorry! Senior Sister, are you ok?" Zhu Na Ran asked with concern. She was angry at herself for assuming that her senior sister could swim.

"Cough, cough, I'm, cough, okay," Ye Lian Hua replied between coughing out water. "Cough, never do that again."

"Eh, I'm sorry," bring her senior sister to the edge of the pool Zhu Na Ran helped Ye Lian Hua sit down.

After regaining her pose, she once again curtly stated they had played enough for the day. Feeling guilty, Zhu Na Ran conceded.

Climbing out of the pool, Ye Lian Hua suddenly shouted. "Don't get out!"

"Huh?" Zhu Na Ran was confused. How were they going to go if she didn't get out of the water?

"Just, just don't get out until I'm out of view, ok?"

"Uh, okay. If you say so, Senior sister." Why was she embarrassed? They were both women. Figuring that Ye Lian Hua wanted to dry herself somewhere else, she agreed.

Ye Lian Hua stood outside the grotto waiting for Zhu Na Ran, arms wrapped around herself. Though she had an affinity to ice, she still felt the chill of being in wet clothing while outside.

"Here." Dr.a.p.ed onto her shoulders was a dry robe. "It's my fault you got wet anyways. We can't have you be sick the day before Master teaches us something."

"Eh let's head off."

The two girls made the trek back to the residence. By the time they had arrived back to the manor, the sun was about to set, and the crickets were already beginning to chirp.

Walking through the main hall, Master Luo almost laughed out loud to his disciples wet and sorry figures. But after he has his fun, he told them that they should get warm and take some medicine to prevent from catching a cold.

Afterward, they continued to the central courtyard before going their separate ways.

Come morning light; it was finally the day that Master Luo would begin his training on his new disciples.

Standing in attention on the training grounds, the two girls dressed in a gray stood side by side, waiting for instruction.

"Hmmm," Master Luo stroked his bread in thought. Now he could have them each learn a technique from their department, but that seems counterproductive. "You know what? I'm going to be switching your departments."

"What!"

"Disciple is unsure of what you mean, Master."

"What I mean is that you two girls are excellent, no superb, at your department. However, both of you lack balance in your ability." He then gestures towards Zhu Na Ran. "Take Ran'er, for example. You are a superb martial artist, but lack the motivation to cultivate."

"And Hua'er," gesturing to his senior disciple, "you have a great foundation in cultivation, but by lacking in martial arts, your body is considerably weaker."

Taking in a breather break, he continued, "Therefore, both of you will help each other cultivate each other's ability. Hua'er will help Ran'er with her cultivation and vice versa."

"Huh?" They both revealed a mixture of shock. How eccentric as their Master? Well, he was crazy enough to make a martial artist learn a cultivation technique.

"Whelp, that about everything! Take this and help each other out. I'll be checking your progress in a week. " Master Luo tossed them each a jade scroll and disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Each was holding a technique that's based on their weakness; it's not hard to say that they weren't nervous. After all, no one wants to do something that they are bad at. Not that they had a choice anyway.

—

"Senior Sister, you need to stand wider apart and keep you back straight."

"Like, like this?"

"Here, let me help you."

Standing in the training ground was where the rare fl.u.s.tered Ye Lian Hua was present.

Awkwardly squatting in a horse stance, Ye Lian Hua attempt to maintain her shaky horse stance.

Thankfully for Ye Lian Hua, Zhu Na Ran took instructing her senior sister very seriously at didn't attempt to aggravate Ye Lian Hua for her subpar skills. After all she herself was rather a joke in her own cultivation level.

"There, you got it Senior Sister." She smiles with pride and appreciation.

"Whoa, finally," standing up right, Ye Lian Hua was finally able to relax.

"Since Senior Sister is a quick learner, I think we will able to cover the basics by the end of the week."

"But, wouldn't master be disappointed in our progress, we haven't even touched the scroll he gave us. Not to mention learn it." Master would probably regret taking us in if we didn't even start.

"Relax, learning martial arts is not something you can develop in a day. Not even geniuses would be at the apex at something they just started, " Zhu Na Ran explained. "Plus, pushing your body to something it's not really for would only hurt you and your overall progress. It's best to take things slow at times."

"You're right, I'm just nervous since, well I want to impress Master," Ye Lian Hua quietly stated. She didn't like the look of disapproval and disappointment on others.

"Senior Sister, did you hit you head whilst falling into the pool? Master is already impressed with us. He just wants us to expand our tool belt of ability. Who cares if you let him down or not, this is not something that be rushed."

"I know," She already knew that fact with cultivation. If someone was to forcefully attempt to rush the process of breaking through, it could have heavy consequences.

"Hmm, this isn't I side I have of you I've seen before," Zhu Na Ran teased. "Surprisingly there is a timid woman under that frosty exterior."

Catching herself, Ye Lian Hua returned back to her usual cool expression. "What nonsense."

Laughing at the sudden transition, Zhu Na Ran brushed off the topic. "Ha, whatever you say Senior Sister," and revealed her signature smile.

This girl, Ye Lian Hua thought, how can she be so shameless.