Zhan Lan watched Mu Yan quietly, his posture in drawing the bow and placing the arrow was just too carefree and unrestrained.
For a moment, she was so transfixed that she thought to herself, this man must be the reincarnation of a captivating demon.
Mu Yan’s arms extended, his eyes fixed on the bullseye, and whoosh—a shot was fired.
However, the next moment, Zhan Lan saw the arrow veer off course, hitting the edge of the target and falling.
She really hadn’t expected Mu Yan’s archery skills to be this poor!
What a waste of the blossoming girlhood fantasies she had just entertained while watching him draw the bow.
A bit embarrassed, Mu Yan looked to Zhan Lan, his tone defeated, "What to do, do I really have no talent at all..."
It was rare to see such an expression on Mu Yan’s face, Zhan Lan chuckled as she walked over and stood behind him, helping him to correct his archery stance.
Then, Mu Yan felt Zhan Lan’s arm lift from behind, taking hold of his hand.
Guided by her, Mu Yan drew the bow, and with a thump, the arrow shot out, hitting the bullseye squarely.
"See that?" Zhan Lan said with a touch of pride as she released Mu Yan’s hand. "That’s the feeling. Practice a few times and you’ll get the hang of it."
Mu Yan nodded earnestly, "Alright."
With arms folded, Zhan Lan stood beneath a tree, watching him think to herself, ah, the feeling of being a master is so satisfying to mind and body!
Especially upon seeing the slightly admiring look in Mu Yan’s eyes, Zhan Lan felt even more delighted.
Her gaze never left Mu Yan as he drew the bow and released another arrow, and the moment the arrow flew, her eyes immediately followed it.
Thud—a hit, but again only the edge of the target.
Zhan Lan deeply doubted herself—was she a terrible teacher?
Seeing the slightly disappointed expression on Mu Yan’s face, she said, "It’s alright, I’ll keep practicing with you, and you will definitely be able to do it."
Mu Yan smiled and nodded, shooting again and again, yet each time the arrow hit the edge of the target, and several times it even fell to the ground.
It was Zhan Lan’s first time teaching archery and she suddenly realized her overconfidence—Mu Yan wasn’t an easy apprentice.
"Mu Yan, your posture is wrong!"
Zhan Lan stepped behind him, took hold of his hands, and patiently showed him how to hit the bullseye with an arrow.
Mu Yan said with a smile, "It seems I’m not a good disciple, but you are a good master, patient enough to teach me."
Zhan Lan smiled appropriately, "It’s okay, when I was practicing, my master used to scold me every day."
"I will demonstrate a few more times." Zhan Lan took Mu Yan’s hand once more to help him find the right angle and strength.
In front of Zhan Lan, Mu Yan felt her soft hands guiding his, the slight smile on his lips revealing his tender and warm gaze.
Finally, under Zhan Lan’s hands-on instruction, Mu Yan’s arrows no longer strayed, and although they didn’t hit the bullseye, there was undeniable improvement.
Smiling, Zhan Lan patted Mu Yan’s shoulder, "I’ll teach you another day, I’m a bit tired today!"
Mu Yan said earnestly, "Master, you’ve worked hard..."
The next moment, Zhan Lan lightly lifted off the ground as Mu Yan picked her up, Zhan Lan nestled in his arms and said, "What are you doing?"
With a light smile and the beguiling mole at the corner of his eye, Mu Yan whispered hoarsely into her ear, "Disciple wishes to rebel against his master..."
The warm breath carrying the wooden scent from Mu Yan immediately quickened Zhan Lan’s heartbeat, she murmured, "Put me down."
Seeing her cheeks reddening, Mu Yan stroked Zhan Lan’s fingers, "Are you very afraid of your disciple’s insubordination?"
Zhan Lan glared at him, "Be careful or your master might whip you!"
Mu Yan smelled the daughter’s fragrance carried by the Qiufeng and hooked his lips into a smile, saying, "I couldn’t ask for more."
Zhan Lan was rendered speechless by his thick-skinned shamelessness, and just as she was about to get off Mu Yan, his gaze suddenly turned cold and serious, "Aren’t you tired? I’ll carry you back."
Zhan Lan looked at his eyes becoming gradually gentler, her heart still fluttering from the teasing words he had just said.
Mu Yan was truly able to turn on and off his charm at will!
But heaven knows, when Mu Yan held her, how much he wanted to betray his Master and extinguish the ancestor, but now was not the time.
He had to keep waiting, waiting for his little girl to completely open her heart to him.
When Zhan Lan was carried back by Mu Yan, not a single Hidden Guard along the way dared to look, all turning their backs.
As Zhan Lan swayed with his steps, she wrapped her arms around Mu Yan’s neck and actually fell asleep comfortably.
Mu Yan carried her into the room, placing her in his own bed.
When Zhan Lan woke up, she found it was already midnight.
Mu Yan was sleeping on the opposite soft couch, with closed eyes seeming to be in deep sleep.
Zhan Lan glanced at the bed beneath her; she had once again taken over Mu Yan’s bed.
However, although Mu Yan was somewhat frivolous, he hadn’t crossed the line, and the corners of Zhan Lan’s lips curled up as her eyes softened while looking at him.
She quietly covered Mu Yan with the blanket and tiptoed out the door.
Mu Yan on the soft couch slowly opened his eyes, a smile forming on his lips as he saw the blanket on him—it seems the little girl had learned to care for him.
He dragged his tired body back to bed, for tomorrow he needed to attend court; it’s time to sleep!
Tiptoeing back to her own room, Zhan Lan saw that the lamp was still on, with Liu Xi and Xiao Tao slumped over the table waiting for her.
She gently patted them, saying, "I’m back, you should go to sleep now!"
Xiao Tao opened her eyes sleepily, "Miss, where did you go?"
Liu Xi nudged Xiao Tao’s arm, and Xiao Tao closed her mouth.
"I went to take care of some things, go to sleep now!" Zhan Lan lied calmly.
"Yes, Miss!" Liu Xi and Xiao Tao both left.
Zhan Lan lay down on her bed, closed her eyes, and Mu Yan’s whisper echoed in her ears.
"A disciple wanting to betray their Master..."
Zhan Lan’s cheeks flushed red as she covered her face with the blanket.
The next day, Zhan Lan got up with a weary face, having dreamt about a disciple betraying their Master.
After washing her face with cold water, she muttered, "To be moonstruck at eighteen?"
She scoffed coldly, "It’s all his fault..."
She wiped her face with a cloth and thought secretly: There’s serious business to handle, I can’t be seduced by Mu Yan’s allure anymore.
Zhan Lan got ready, put on her veiled hat, and left the house.