The Female Soldier

Chapter 36 - Learn to Share

"Relax your fingers."

Commander Xu adjusted her grip on the bow. "Do not use too much of your arm muscle, instead, relax your arms and straighten your posture," he touched her shoulder.

Falyn allowed his hand to guide her shoulder, as she pulled the arrow back. Commander Xu may be strict and often reprimanded her, but he always did ensure that she got right back up. For that, she was sincerely grateful.

She held her breath when she felt his body unexpectedly pressed on her back, his right hand pulling the arrow with her.

"More strength," he said beside her ear, eyeing the target.

He was too close to her that she squeezed her nervous eyes shut when he released the arrow.

The arrow stabbed into the grass, before the target. Commander Xu looked at her.

"When shooting the arrow, did you...close your eyes?"

The soldiers around her snickered.

"Again," Commander Xu said, unperturbed by the soldiers' laugh. This time, he stepped even closer to her, his hand wrapping completely around hers while his other hand encircled her body to pull the arrow back.

Fwoot!

The arrow landed at the bull's eye.

The soldiers cheered for their commander. Smiling, Commander Xu looked at Falyn.

"Remember that feeling," he said, handing her another arrow, "I can show you one more time –"

An arrow flew past them, almost scraping Commander Xu's ear and pierced right on the wooden pole. The soldier that nearly got hit, fainted at its proximity to his face.

"Whose arrow was that?!" Commander shouted, staring angrily at the deeply embedded arrow. When he turned around, everyone was pointing at Shou.

"You did this?" Commander asked, his anger slightly mixed with confusion. A new soldier that had just joined the army had the strength to almost pierce through the wood? Such deadly skill. But the soldier looked confused, almost a little unapologetic.

"I do not have steady hands like you, Commander," Shou said, looking helpless with his bow, "Do you mind also giving me some lessons?"

"I would like a lesson too, Commander," another soldier said.

"Me too," two more joined, while Shou quietly smirked at the back.

Commander Xu exhaled angrily, trying to calm down. His students only wanted to learn. He must have mistakenly judged the new soldier .

"...Let me go grab my bow," he told the class, before turning back to Falyn and said, "Keep practising."

"Thank you, Commander," she bowed and watched him walk away, fuming. She then glared annoyedly at Shou's direction. As expected, he was looking at her with a playful grin. Did he also wanted to get in the way of her practice now?

"Annoying," she mouthed the words at him.

"Learn to share," he mouthed back at her, his unsightly grin plastered on his face.

She rolled her eyes and looked away, sighing to herself.

So annoying.

It was the evening, and their last training included a daily five miles run. Falyn was jogging through the plains by herself when suddenly, 'annoying' decided to turn up beside her.

"Why are you so angry with me this morning?" Shou asked.

She noticed he was barely out of breath though they were already near the end of their long run. Annoyed, she ran past him.

"Didn't you have a good time last night?" Shou asked, easily catching up to her.

"Shut up, will you?" Falyn kept her focus ahead, trying not to look weak in front of him. Since when did he become so talkative around her?

"Angry and rude. What have I done to deserve this?" he chuckled.

Honestly, she didn't know.

"Just run," she said, closing her eyes. Maybe if he kept quiet, he could somehow disappear –

"What if I beat you to the finish line?"

Falyn's eyes flung open.

A competition?

"If I win, you must answer three questions."

Falyn looked at him like he had lost his mind. "That's so...childish."

"You are the childish one. Getting angry for no reason."

"Why does it matter to you anyway?" Falyn gave up running, coming to a slow walk. Shou had inadvertently spoiled her rhythm; she might as well just stop running completely. Her insides were starting to hurt. She turned around, hoping to see him run off into sunset but instead, she was surprised to see him walking back to her. What was his deal?

"I thought we had a good time yesterday," he said beside her, "So why the attitude?"

"Why not?" Falyn snapped back.

"Did someone...hurt you?" Shou observed her face.

Shou knew from his guard at least, after the courtesans sang and drank with the two innocent boys, they had left them both asleep. Nobody entered their room; nobody left the room. So, how did he sustain that injury on his left arm?

"Well, then, yes," Falyn answered as a matter of fact, "Someone did hurt me."

"Who did?"

"You."

"Nonsense. I did nothing of that sort. Was it one of the women last night?"

Shou had meant that if any of them had harmed her physically, but Falyn misunderstood.

"No, but why do you ask? Did they hurt you?" she asked.

"What?"

Seeing his confused reaction, Falyn began nodding her head, realizing the reason he had been so chatty with her since this morning. This boy actually wanted her help. "You got rejected, didn't you? That's why you are bugging me for advice. Let me guess—you crushed in Go so badly that you made her cry all night?"

"What are you even talking about –"

"That flag over there—that's the finish line. If I win, you'll have to answer my three questions. One, two—"

Falyn took off in a full sprint, leaving Shou behind to finish counting.