Chapter 127 - Not Exactly An Angel

The ride to the training grounds was quiet. Qing Chen and Feng Xuan had spent the last couple of days making preparations for her temporary departure. Things about Gretel's had already been turned over to Wang Yimin and after a quite lengthy talk with Jiang Lijun, he agreed to handle it with her cousin.

It was a great thing that the semester was over and she could get out of school. As for the next one, she thought she would not be returning for the mean time. She couldn't even believe she enrolled for another two years in school. Talk about how boring her old life was.

She had no idea where the nameless training camp was. She thought it was going to be a long ride until finally, they were heading up a slope and stopped in front of an arc.

"This is farthest we could go. You have to be on your own from here," said Qing Chen.

She suddenly felt a pang. It was just now that she suddenly realized that she was going to be alone for the next three months. She shrugged in her mind, trying to build her confidence. After all the 'weaker' version of herself had managed to live alone in a foreign land for the last six years. This should be easy as breathing.

Qing Chen had pulled out her bag from the trunk and passed it to her. "Well, I guess this is it," he said and wiped his hands on his pants. "I'll see you when we're allowed to visit."

Feng Xuan bit her lips, kind of wanting to stretch the moment. But there was no more escaping it. "Yes, I guess this is it."

They nodded at each other and she was about to walk away when she dropped her bag and wrapped her arms around Qing Chen's neck. She felt his body gone rigid in surprise but she just tightened her hold on him. "Don't miss me so much."

Qing Chen smiled before returning her hug. "I'll try my best." But he knew he'd fail. "You should get going. You still have a long day ahead of you."

Feng Xuan let go of Qing Chen. She grabbed her bag and started walking up hill. The building was nowhere in sight. She huffed a breath. Don't complain, she thought, just get there. With a wave, she started jogging upwards with her bag strapped to her back.

**

When Feng Xuan was finally a dot in his view, he got in the car and instructed the driver to take him back to his father's house. Their own trainer should be on his way to them today or tomorrow.

"It's a really great idea that you decided to stay with us for the time being," said Wuming over lunch. It was a weekend and everyone was home. "How was the goodbye with the wife?"

"Full of tears," he answered. "I almost got down on my knees to beg her not to go."

Wuming let out a scoff and glared at his lies. "That's okay, Chen. Big boys cry too."

At that, Qing Chen rolled his eyes. "I'm sure you've done a lot of crying when you were—"

"Ah!" their father groaned at the head of the table. "Both of you came crying when you first broke bones. Stop trying to push each other in the bottom. You're both already there."

Wuming gave a pout. "Aw, Father, we're just having some playful banter."

"I've had enough three boys causing trouble and constant fighting. It's in times like these that I wish I had a sweet little girl," he scoffed. "Chen's wife was not exactly an angel. It's up to you and Lok to bring someone peaceful in this family."

"Every girl would go crazy when they join in this family," muttered Qing Lok at the end of the table. "It's lucky Chen got married to a girl who's already familiar with the mafia. Where can I find a girl that won't leave when they hear this side of the family?"

Qing Chen grinned. "Are you thinking of getting married already, Lok? I have to say you're still too young."

His tongue clicked. "It's not that. It just seems impossible to find a woman who would be okay with the way that we do things."

Qing Chen sipped on his soup. "Before you think about that, why don't we visit some schools this afternoon and look if you want to get in one of their programs?"

"I'll come with," said Wuming.

Their father only continued eating. "Stay the hell out of trouble."

**

Feng Xuan felt like her muscles were about to give up when she finally saw the roof of the training house. It had the traditional slanting roof, ending in a swirl or a head of an animal, and sliding wooden windows.

She groaned loudly and pressed her palms on her knees. The sun was beating down her entire body, like it was scorching her soul. Her lungs burned and she felt itchy in her own skin. Sweat slid down her skin and made her clothes stuck to her. 

She pulled out a water bottle and drank its last trickles. Let's go, she screamed in her mind and started running to the finish line.

She almost collapsed on her knees when she reached the front door of the red building. The Master was there patiently waiting for her with both hands behind his back. 

"Are you here now, daughter of Feng Lizhao?"

She was trying to catch her breath, but it was still running away from her. "Y-yes."

"I see," said Master. "When you get in that door you will no longer be the daughter of one of the richest man in Chengshi. You will be a normal student like the rest. Limit conversation that focused on your life outside these walls. You are to comply and follow every order and method of training. Do you agree?"

Feng Xuan felt herself msile. "Yes."