The moment came to a stalemate as both were surprised at the other's behaviour.
Seeing this, the steward coughed, attracting their attention, and then introduced them to each other, "Young miss, this is the honoured Official Jie of the capital's Ministry of Revenue. He has been invited by the master."
He turned to Yunyin and introduced her, "This is our young miss, the sole daughter of the assistant minister, Miss Ying Yueling."
"Greetings Miss Ying!" Yunyin cupped his hands, his expression one of genuine respect.
"Greetings Official Jie!" Yueling also greeted him. Looking at her own attire when she did so, she felt it was a bit inappropriate. Usually no one would be here, so practicing in loose martial arts robes was fine – most martial artists did so. But her education of propriety and other matters made her lose her composure for a moment.
Yunyin, coming from a modern age where people's sports and jogging wear were but thin elastic fabric, naturally didn't think much of it.
This 'loose robe' still contained two layers of robes, it was just that the outer robe was tight around the ankles and waist while loose elsewhere, making it look more like a tracksuit with the feeling of a robe.
The steward saw how the atmosphere became quiet once more, both people casually looking at each other, saying nothing.
"Ahem," he attracted their attention again, "Honoured Official Jie, shall we go back to the pavilion and wait there?"
"Isn't it possible to wait here?" Yunyin turned to him and asked.
"This…" the steward was at a loss. Why was this official so… casual? It was as if he was visiting an old friend and not a higher up…
"Why does Official Jie wish to be here?" Yueling interjected and asked Yunyin instead.
Yunyin turned back and replied as casually as he asked, "I thought Miss Ying's martial arts are truly graceful, so I wanted to ask whether it was possible to observe it a bit more!"
This time, Yueling wasn't quiet but simply stumped!
Watch her? A sense of confusion appeared in her mind.
"Official Jie, usually… usually outsiders aren't allowed to observe a martial artist's practice…"
"Oh" Yunyin reacted simply, awaiting an answer.
Yueling looked a bit confused, not knowing what to say. Usually she should reject it, but this official's curiosity was so genuine, as if he truly wished to observe her martial arts practice, without second thoughts…
"Official Jie, do you like martial arts?" she asked when she thought of this. Was this guy maybe one of those officials who wanted to be martial artists all along?
"No, not particularly." Yunyin shook his head, "It's just that Miss Ying's martial arts… are not only graceful yet also fierce, not only ruthless yet also soft. If possible, I would really like to draw a painting right here!"
Naturally Yunyin really didn't think much of martial arts. Being a student in his past life, he had lived the life of 20 years of education, so he was much more closely drawn to the path of an official.
Maybe he thought of trying out martial arts when he was younger, and even now he was considering learning them as a supporting profession… but he never seriously considered becoming a martial artist.
Going out into the Jianghu, fighting villains and competing with fellow heroes! This was but just an illusion. 90% of martial arts were struggling fighters who become guards or yamen runners if they are lucky, or have to enter an escorting agency or take various tasks if they are unlucky.
Each of them works part time as robbers and thieves, and even under all these circumstances, they rarely live well, with death's door not far away.
Martial Arts Clans and Sects would be fine entering the Jianghu, everyone else, without a foundation, was just gambling their life on the hope of making it big and establishing their own academy or sect.
While Yunyin was considering these, Yueling was once again stunned – in the many years she's been practicing martial arts, she heard many things –
"Women shouldn't practice martial arts!"
"Acting fierce and looking like this, which man would want that?"
"The assistant minister's daughter should learn how to manage the family and take care of her husband rather than waste time on this!"
Her father dealt with these people one by one. He was initially unhappy about it and only gave in when he saw her talent and dedication, saying that people's paths shouldn't be forced. Later he even praised her and told her how proud he was of her.
But when she looked at her mother, she could still see disappointment appearing occasionally. She was proud of her and loved her, but how could a mother not want her daughter to take the same path as her?
Just as fathers want their sons to take that path too… it's like master and disciple having incompatible paths…
Later on she became stronger and was gradually able to accept it at heart that her parents were simply worried about her, even unwilling to allow her to enter the Jianghu no matter how strong she became.
Hearing such genuine praise from this group of stuck-up officials, who always talked about propriety, filial piety and manners, was a bit confusing. Yet at the same time, a feeling of happiness welled up inside of her.
"Official Jie's observation is quite special," she commented, a slight smile appearing on her face, "My martial arts are indeed layered and fused together, focusing on not one but all three.
Graceful and fierce, ruthless and soft – these are indeed the remarkable qualities of my Water Dragon True Martial Art!
If Official Jie is really curious, he may stay and observe." She said one last time before taking several steps back, raising her white whip again.
As she raised her whip, a blue light spread from her hand, extending towards the whip, rapidly forming the image of a water dragon around the whip!
Splash
Crack
She resumed her training, seemingly forgetting Yunyin's presence…