"You want to what?"
It's been three months since she fainted. Throughout that time she reacquainted herself with this body's grandfather.
"I want to go to a martial school."
"What?" Her Grandfather stared at her wide-eyed.
"I'd like to learn martial arts."
Her Grandfather blinked.
"What?"
She knew he had no. hearing deficiencies in his healthy condition, and that it was most likely due to shock so she licked her lips and closed her mouth.
"What did you say? ... M-martial School?!"
It seemed to have sunken in after half a minute ticked by.
"Yes."
He fell silent. "...Do you have any in mind?"
"No...but one that's good of course."
Her Grandfather blinked at her, for the first time it was as if he was staring at a stranger but then suddenly he grinned.
"My dear," He started. "In order to enter a martial arts school, you have to be tested based on your ability first....mmm"
This was news to Guiying. Her hopes plummeted.
"That's not quite the case." Fang Euren, god knows where he was lurking emerged out of nowhere and seated himself adjacently from the two who were sitting across from each other.
Fang Landan scowled at him. "What you mean?"
"There are entrance level martial arts schools these days. Inexperienced commoners and nobles alike start from ground zero together. It's nothing like the barbaric military academy training you're thinking of Father. They don't train children like that anymore... parents complain its abuse these days."
The old man cleared his throat.
"Exactly and it's no wonder the youth are so weak these days." He sighed. "When in the age of war where were such thoughts? Now in the times of peace people suddenly try to play the saint." He grumbles. "Fine! I suppose I could entrust them with my Xiao Ying!"
Guiying blinked at the oldman, Fang Landan.
His hypocrisy hadn't changed either. Although he preferred the spartan military academys and saw them as a neccessity he also in the same breath was nearly against sending her to one because of the same "saint" mentality.
The ends of her lips curved as if they were holding in honey.
He wouldn't feel the same if she were a man but it was fine. She didn't want to be enrolled in a spartan academy anyway.
Fang Euren offered. "If you'd like I could look into a few. I have business in the capital and will be departing soon."
A thought occurred to Guiying then.
This man he was always here or away on business. Even though he had a family... she knows his daughter is problematic but she couldn't help wondering if he ever visited them.
Guiying lowered her eyes.
"If Uncle would be so kind, this one would be most grateful."
She pitied his wife. What good was a handsome husband if you couldn't even see him?
Fang Euren seemed pleased. His swift smile was small like a slight stroke of watercolor on paper. "Seeing you like this finally having wants and requests... makes my heart feel lighter. Don't you agree, Father?"
Fang Landan listened with folded arms but nodded.
Guiying smiled. Anyone hearing him would think she was his biological Father.
Fang Landan nodded. "It would seem the fall awakened something within you. Seeing you cry all those tears makes me wonder if your body had relieved itself of all the pent-up emotions you never showed." A light flickered in the old man's eyes as he spoke and he nodded to himself even though no one spoke. "Yes. It was for the best, but knowing that you want to leave also makes me wish you had never changed."
"Father?"
"It's time for me to let you go... someday you'll meet a fine man to marry... and I'll have to let you go a second time."
"Father?"
"What?! Don't interrupt me!"
"Don't be greedy. We must do our utmost to grant her first request. Don't you have colleagues in the city? There is one that opened a school that is quite famous right now."
"I know! You rude brat, never showing me the respect. Who taught you to interrupt your elders?!"
"You did."
"You-
Guiying lowered her head while trying to hide her smile. She had assumed the relationship between the two was stiff but it seems that wasn't the case. How cute.
"Thank you Grandfather, Uncle."