714: Perfection in it

Perfection in it

The carriage stopped outside the Xu Residence. Huo Jin got down from his horse. He opened the carriage's door and asked Yin Na to come out.1

He extended his hand out to let Yin Na support it but then Xu Wenhai pushed him away and grasped Yin Na's hand. Huo Jin chuckled and stepped back.

Yin Na landed her feet on the ground and thanked Xu Wenhai. She adjusted her skirt and then looked at Huo Jin.

"Are you leaving?" She asked him.

"I am," Huo Jin replied.

Xu Wenhai was happy that Huo Jin would not be around them.

"But Father wants me to be around you," Huo Jin suddenly changed his statement and gazed at Xu Wenhai, whose smile disappeared. "Since Yin Na is not married to Minister Xu, I don't think she should stay alone," he told Xu Wenhai.

"Why not?" Xu Wenhai said and laughed hysterically and stepped closer to Huo Jin. "You must remain within your limits," he whispered in her ear.

Yin Na wondered what they both were doing.

"I am within my limits, but you are overstepping your boundaries," Huo Jin retorted and walked to Yin Na. Xu Wenhai glared at him and then gazed at Yin Na.

"Come, Yin Na. Father and Mother had gone to the Buddhist Temple, so they will return late. My younger brother has gone to the academy to study," Xu Wenhai informed her as they ascended the stairs.

Huo Jin was glad that he did not leave Yin Na alone with Xu Wenhai. After yesterday's incident, he hardly had any faith left in him. They walked in when Xu Wenhai took them to the training ground.

Upon seeing the pavilion, Yin Na's eyes glistened. She could see varieties of arrows, mostly from the arrowheads. She picked on and almost put her pointer finger on its arrowhead when Xu Wenhai told her to be careful.

"It is sharp. Your finger might get hurt," Xu Wenhai stated.

"Minister Xu should not have ordered so many arrows for exhibition," Huo Jin taunted him and took a seat on a chair.

"Before beginning anything, a person must know the basics. You may get defeated if you have limited knowledge. The varieties of arrows are put here not just for a show but to make Yin Na aware of them," Xu Wenhai asserted.

"Did you receive my message yesterday?" He asked in his polite tone from Yin Na, who nodded her head.

"That was a beautiful message," Yin Na said while fidgeting with her fingers. Huo Jin tilted his head to look at them and found how brightly she was smiling at him.

"Minister Xu, it was odd that you sent her a handwritten apology when you were well aware of the fact that Yin Na cannot read words," Huo Jin said with skepticism. Xu Wenhai and Yin Na both looked at him.

"I think you want me to read it, particularly for Yin Na," Huo Jin said while scowling at him. Yin Na wondered why he was speaking this way with Xu Wenhai.

'Why has he taken a seat already when Xu Wenhai is still standing? Doesn't he know it's rude?' Yin Na thought and knitted her brows.

"I thought a handwritten apology would be best. Sometimes you cannot speak your heart out, so it is better to write them down," Xu Wenhai gave the explanation to them.

Huo Jin did not agree with his words. Xu Wenhai did not like his presence around Yin Na and he wanted Huo Jin to stay away from her.

Huo Jin stood up and went towards the table on which some bows were placed. He picked one and then picked the arrow. He came near the pavilion's wooden railing and pulled the bowstring. He released the arrow and it hit the center of the target.

"Minister Xu, you should start teaching Yin Na," Huo Jin said and handed him the bow. He came back to the chair and settled on it.

Xu Wenhai was furious at Huo Jin's behavior but kept his cool in front of Yin Na. He took Yin Na towards the table where different varieties of arrows were put. He explained to her about them.

"There is a shooting technique that is famous among the shooters of Mongolian highlands," Xu Wenhai told Yin Na.

"In Han, only a few are aware of this technique. The way they shoot arrows is quite amazing. Even their arrow-making style is amazing. If one gets shot, your death is written," Xu Wenhai described to her. Yin Na was amazed to hear about it. Huo Jin did not tell her about all this and it made her wonder if he did not want her to learn.

"My brother must have knowledge about it," Yin Na said proudly.

"Indeed. The Emperor, the First Prince, the two Generals, and the Commanders, along with a few high-class soldiers are aware of this technique," Xu Wenhai told Yin Na.

"What about the Empress? I heard that in the South-Western Province, Her Majesty saved His Majesty magically by shooting down many assassins while she was on the horse. Does she also know about it?" Yin Na queried him with a curious look.

"I am afraid but I don't think that the Empress is aware of this technique," Xu Wenhai answered. "Her Majesty is from Juyan, which is a peaceful city and they hardly got themselves involved in the war," he opined.

"The Empress knows this technique," Huo Jin interrupted between them. "Minister Xu has only limited knowledge. Also, it takes years to get perfection in it," he added.

"That's why I told you that you need at least a year to learn it," Huo Jin affirmed and stood up from the chair.

"Do you also know this technique?" Xu Wenhai queried him.

Huo Jin did not answer his question and looked at Yin Na. "I am leaving. General Wang is not at home, so my presence is necessary around Father and Sister Bai. I will come to pick you up later," Huo Jin informed her and left without looking at Xu Wenhai.

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