Untamed Hearts

Chapter 5

"Your archery skills have improved, Sizhui. Who's been teaching you? Senior Wei?" Zizhen called as he watched his friend shoot arrows in the courtyard of Lotus Pier. It was one of those rare days when he could take some time from his sect leader duties to hang out with Jin Ling, Jingyi and Sizhui at Lotus Pier.

"I did teach him some. But Wen Ning is better than me!" Wei WuXian called back from where he's practicing Suibian. He paused a moment to watch his son aim another arrow at the target.

"Uncle Ning did teach me...but..uh, someone else taught me too," Sizhui released the arrow and it struck inches away from the bullseye.

"Who?" Jingyi asked eagerly. He was staring glumly at where his arrows had struck. Most weren't even close to the bullseye.

"Jin Ling," Sizhui answered, blushing.

"Jin Ling taught you?" Wei WuXian blinked in surprise.

"I did," Jin Ling answers, his face going red as well.

"Jin Ling is the best at archery among all of us!" Zizhen said admiringly. "Even though I couldn't win the archery competition almost every single year."

"I haven't participated in it since I became sect leader," Jin Ling sighed. "Last year, someone from the Nie sect won.

"The Nie sect?" Wei WuXian cocked his head. "Who would that be?"

"Nie Miefun, Sect leader Nie's adopted daughter. He found her and brought her recently. Did you not hear the news?"

"He has a terrible memory. Why would he remember such things?" Jiang Cheng's loud voice echoed across the courtyard.

"Jiujiu," Jin Ling greeted.

"Sect leader Jiang," Sizhui, Zizhen and Jingyi lowered their bows to greet him.

"Your four, why don't you go play by the water or take a boat ride. I need to help Wei WuXian with his sword work," Wei WuXian pursed his lips into a pout, but didn't complain.

"Let's go, Jingyi. I'll race you in swimming!" Jin Ling called, breaking into a run with Zizhen hot on his heels.

"Swimming? It's not even summer yet!" Jingyi complained loudly as he and Sizhui hurried after their friends and disappeared around a corner.

"My swordwork is just fine, Jiang Cheng," Wei WuXian crossed his arms. "It's not like I've forgotten the techniques after so many years."

"Oh really?" Jiang Cheng snorted. "Are you sure you don't know Lan style swordsmanship more than Jiang now?"

"How can you say that?" Wei WuXian protested. "I've been practicing both styles very hard. I don't sit around Cloud Recesses doing nothing, you know."

"We'll see about that," Jiang Cheng smirked as he unsheathed Sandu. Wei WuXian grinned, holding Suibian steady.

"If what you say is true, I'm not going easy on you," Jiang Cheng said as he swung forward.

"Not fair! You know your golden core is much stronger than mine!" Wei WuXian ducked and counterattacked.

"I am aware," Wei WuXian noticed the stiffness in Jiang Cheng's voice. Oh right...I forgot that we shouldn't mention that. Wei WuXian ducks another sword swing and tries twisting his sword under Jiang Cheng's as well as twisting his body around his. Jiang Cheng's body turns as well and their blades scrape against one another briefly before both of them turn back around to face one another.

Throughout the rest of the training, Wei WuXian manages to disarm Jiang Cheng twice, while Jiang Cheng manages to pin him down at least four times..