Dance Lessons

“Why didn’t you tell me!?” Meng Mei demanded as soon as she actually processed what the system was saying. “What does this mean for me? Is it someone in the core cast? Will it affect my goal?”

[A-Mei please take a deep breath! ( ﾟдﾟ )]

“Don’t you tell me what---”

[This system will explain what it is allowed to explain!]

[A-Mei was brought to this world because she had unfulfilled desires when she died. This world will allow her to change that.]

[User2 was brought here because of a system error. This world was not meant for them so they are struggling with their tutorial (~_~;)]

“Will this affect me?” Meng Mei pressed. This life as Meng Xiāng was supposed to be her fresh start. Her adventure. She hadn't even made it past the tutorial and some stranger was already disrupting things.

[This system will take preventative measures to ensure that it doesn't!]

[This system’s only job is to make sure that A-Mei accomplishes her goals (๑`^´๑)]

Meng Mei finally took a deep breath.

“You'd better be telling the truth.” She sighed as she tiredly rubbed her forehead. “So I have less than a day to complete the tutorial now?”

[Correct]

“Okay. Okay I can work with that. It's already been what, five days? Surely I won't mess it all up in the home stretch.” She rambled as she picked at the edge of her sleeves.

[At the conclusion of the Quest this system will assign you a score based on your performance! Just keep up the good work!] 

Meng Mei nodded. That made sense. All she had to do was go to her dance and etiquette lessons to finish this day. Tomorrow was a normal day of classes and so she wouldn't have very much time to mess up the final stretch of the Tutorial Quest.

A quick knock on the closed door cut through the silence.

“Little Miss, are you in there?” Amah’s voice carried through the door. Meng Mei cursed and quickly smoothed out her expression.

“Yes Amah! I'm here!” She called back. She shot one last look at the system, promising eventual vengeance. She wasn't going to forget about there being another transmigrator. Especially not if they kept messing up her missions.

“It’s time for your dance lesson dear.” Amah said as she gently pushed open the door. She didn't mention Meng Mei’s sudden escape. Instead she tactfully guided her towards her class.

Meng Mei was slightly worried that she'd messed up the Tutorial Quest in regards to Amah. Meng Xiāng was the poster child for perfect behavior, excluding her apparent forays into the reeds.

‘It’s fine. I still have twenty four hours.’ She reassured herself as they walked in silence. After her dance lesson she'd figure out how to patch things up.

Before she knew it she was being deposited in front of Guang-laoshi’s designated classroom.

“I will be back when you are done. Then we can check on your fan before your etiquette class alright?” Amah's lightly weathered face was kind as she looked down at Meng Mei. In response the girl felt her throat close up and she could only nod.

Amah smiled and pushed open the door. Meng Mei walked into the large room, scanning the area for Guang-laoshi.

She found her stretching against the far wall, a thin sword propped up next to her.

Everyone referred to Guang-laoshi's lessons as dance lessons, but in reality they were much more than that. Of course she learned all of the ceremonial dances that she'd perform in front of the entire sect one day. Her main lesson however, was how to make every single one of her movements as fluid as a dance move. That included her sword skills.

“Ah! Young Miss!” Guang-laoshi's musical voice filtered across the room when she spotted Meng Mei. “Come! Let us warm up!”

Wordlessly Meng Mei took up a spot beside Guang-laoshi. She followed all of the gentle directions she was given until she felt a pleasant stretch in her legs and arms.

“What are we working on today laoshi?” Meng Mei asked as Guang-laoshi picked up the thin sword.

“We're going to work on your rudimentary sword skills.” Guang-laoshi answered easily. “The second young master has been pestering me about it lately. Apparently he wants you to start taking actual sword lessons with him.”

Meng Mei's cheeks heated.

“If that is what laoshi wishes to teach, this student has no objections.” Meng Mei mumbled. Did Meng Yong know no shame? How could he go around and demand things from their teachers?

“So formal!” Guang-laoshi laughed as she handed Meng Mei a smaller blade. It had clearly been sized down to an appropriate size for Meng Mei's smaller body.

“We'll just practice some more ways on how to wield your weapon gracefully today.” She explained as she demonstrated the first stance. Meng Mei clumsily copied her.

Most of Meng Xiāng's muscle memory was still ingrained in her, but her body was still only eight years old. She hadn't learned the poise and grace that made up most of Meng Xiāng's character yet.

“Good. Now follow my lead.”

Guang-laoshi slowly moved from one stance to the next. It was clear that every minute movement was purposeful and they made her look effortlessly graceful.

Meng Mei's attempt lacked a lot of that grace, but Guang-laoshi’s eyes just crinkled in a smile.

“Let's do it again. This time watch my feet.”

For the rest of the lesson Guang-laoshi walked her through every step of the movements. She was a patient teacher who took Meng Mei's every mistake in stride. She offered encouragement in her soft voice and used gentle hands to correct Meng Mei's posture whenever it was needed.

By the end of the lesson Meng Mei was only a little less clumsy than when she started.

“I'll have to tell the second young master that it might be a while before you can join him.” Guang-laoshi said with an apologetic tilt of her head. “Madam Meirong won't let me recommend you to the swordmaster until you've mastered these skills.”

“If Er-ge starts crying it's not my fault.” Meng Mei insisted petulantly. Guang-laoshi nodded amicably.

“Of course not. Though I'm sure the second young master will find the strength to calm himself.”

Meng Yong’s face flashed through Meng Mei's mind.

“Yeah… I'm sure he will.”