Duel at training grounds

At the Army Camp, training grounds...

Princess Jingxi changed into her training attire and wore her silver mask, taking her sword she entered the training area.

Commander Shen was instructing the new soldiers on their moves.

"Commander Shen, would you mind a duel?" She asked the young commander Shen Bin.

"Your Highness.." Commander Shen started but stopped immediately on noticing her cold glare.

"I mean.. Commander Xia. It wasn't my intention to spy on you. I got orders from His Majesty and had no choice but to obey." Commander Shen explained himself.

"I didn't say anything about that. I'm just simply asking you to duel with me." She said as she pulled her sword out of the sheath.

Commander Shen said, "I hope Commander Xia won't bring the anger into this."

Princess Jingxi laughed and said, "Let's step inside."

Commander Shen picked up his sword and stepped inside the area and the duel started.

Shen Bin stepped close and striked first, Xia Jingxi blocked the strike effortlessly and both of them took two steps back circling around.

"Did you investigate the matter with the horse?" Xia Jingyi asked as she bent down and attacked his legs.

Shen Bin jumped and avoided the sword, striking at the bent Xia Jingxi.

She rolled on the ground avoiding him and stood up effortlessly.

"I did, a new soldier deliberately fed the horse some drug so it lost control." Shen Bin answered.

He kicked Princess Jingxi's leg and when she stumbled, he was about to put the sword to her neck.

Xia Jingxi struck his sword making him take his steps back.

"Did you investigate his motive?" Xia Jingxi asked.

Shen Bin stood up properly and raised his arm ready to strike, "You beat him badly in a duel and he was embarrassed on being defeated by a woman."

Xia Jingxi laughed and jumped up striking Shen Bin who hastily blocked her attack and attacked back immediately.

Xia Jingxi diverted the direction of his sword with her own making both of them fall down.

"It's his own incompetence, nothing to do with me being a woman." Xia Jingxi said standing up.

Shen Bin stood up and said, "He was new and didn't know you were the princess. He wouldn't have taken it so hard if he knew every soldier here has been defeated by you in a duel atleast once. Unfortunately I'm the only one still undefeated."

"Commander Shen flatter me." Xia Jingxi said charging at him.

Shen Bin took few steps back and stepped aside attacking her back.

Xia Jingxi jumped up and struck him making his sword fly out of his hand and land in dust as he fell down.

She stepped closer and put her sword at his neck, "Another thing changes today Commander Shen."

The sound of applause made them see outside the arena where General Shen was standing.

Shen Bin stood up and picked his sword as he said, "I was a little distracted today so Princess got a chance."

"Distraction can lead to death on battlefield, commander Shen." Princess Jingxi said and walked out as Shen Bin followed.

"Battlefield is for us, It's not like Princess has to lead in a war." Shen Bin mumbled but Princess Jingxi heard it clearly.

As they exited the arena, General Shen looked at them both and said, "It was really an exciting duel I have seen in a while."

Princess Jingxi nodded in acknowledgement and Shen Bin greeted him, "Father, what are you doing here?"

"Just came to take a look at how these soldiers are doing under your training." General Shen said to him.

"One of them caused trouble for the Princess a few days ago, I have dealt with him." Commander Shen reported.

"They are transferred from the eastern unit to train here recently and doesn't know about your identity. How about I introduce you to them to let them know?" General Shem suggested to Princess Jingxi.

"No need for that, knowing I'm the Princess will only bring restrictions to them. It's better for them to know me as Commander Xia." Princess Jingxi replied.

"Problem is that most of them think Commander Xia is a man, that one person got to know you are a woman by accident from some old soldier." Commander Shen said.

"What's the problem in this? If they think I'm a man let them think. It doesn't matter to me, only thing that matters is the speed of my sword." Princess Jingxi said.

"As Princess wishes to do." General Shen said.

"I've told General Shen many times to address me as Commander Xia in the training camp." Princess Jingxi said to him.

"My mistake, Commander Xia is right." General Shen said.

"You both can talk, I'll go and see how the training is going on with soldiers." Princess Jingxi said and left them to talk.

"She is a great fighter." General Shen complimented looking at leaving Xia Jingxi.

"There is a lot of difference in fighting at the training camp and fighting real threats." Commander Shen said to his father.

General Shen turned around, looked at him.

"There is indeed a big difference. If it was a real threat you would be lying in blood right now." He said pointing to the scratch mark left by Xia Jingxi's sword on Shen Bin's neck.

Shen Bin touched his neck and said, "I was going easy on her."

General Shen laughed and said, "You can say words to deceive anyone, but you know in your heart whether it's true. Her temperament reminds me of a person."

"Who? General Yan of Red River army." Commander Shen asked.

General Shen nodded, "He is known as the Blood wolf. It been a year I saw him but everytime I meet the Princess I'm reminded of him."

Commander Shen scoffed and said, "What's so good about them? I'll be far better fighter than them in coming years."

"You still have a lot to learn, my son." General Shen said patting his shoulder.

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