CHAPTER 18: FIRST LESSON

Lee He Song frowned but he was glad he had the chance to talk to Yue Jie and Yue Xin.

Yue Xin couldn’t wait any longer and asked, "Uncle Lee, how is my father? Have you seen him?"

She said and waited while holding on tight to the corner of her sleeve.

Yue Jie also waited anxiously for Lee He Song’s answer.

Lee He Song closed his eyes, recalling what Liu Ju Zheng had told him.

"Don’t let my daughters know of my plight and don’t let them risk their lives for me.

"The best you can do is to help me take good care of them.

"And when I die, help to bury me somewhere in nature.

"I’ve had enough of being trapped, old friend."

Liu Ju Zheng’s words that were said to him in the prison echoed in Lee He Song’s mind.

He opened his eyes and said, "I’ve seen your father, and he is doing fine.

"He wants you to focus on serving your master and living your best while he thinks of a way out."

"That is great news. Has he lost weight? He doesn’t like to eat fish. I hope they don’t have that on the menu too often..." Yue Xin fired off more questions and pondered on the living conditions of her father.

Yue Jie lowered her head and Lee He Song gave out a long sigh.

Deep in their hearts, they wished that they could be like Yue Xin.

But it wasn’t possible, and they had to face reality.

"He is looking the same and don’t you worry about getting fish on the menu," Lee He Song said.

"That is good to hear," Yue Jie chimed in and held onto her sister’s hand.

"Uncle Lee, can you teach me martial arts?" Yue Xin asked.

She didn’t know how to approach Lin Xuan Qi, but she definitely knew how to approach Lee He Song.

"No. That is out of the question. Your father would be angry if I did that." Lee He Song instinctively knew what Yue Xin was up to.

Yue Xin lowered her head and sighed.

It seemed like Lin Xuan Qi was her only chance now, she thought.

...

Meanwhile, Xue Cong and Lin Xuan Qi were inside the main hall when the conversation took place.

Lin Xuan Qi wasted no time, and he did check on the budget with Xue Cong.

"Here it is, Master Lin." Xue Cong took out a piece of paper, passed it to him and lowered her head.

Her face was flustered as she got anxious and her heart thumped, making her blood race fast throughout her body.

Lin Xuan Qi frowned when he saw what was ’written’ on the piece of paper.

There were different shapes drawn and markings that Xue Cong had made.

No one else except Xue Cong could understand it.

He slapped his forehead and shook his head.

It was on him.

Xue Cong had tried her best.

But she wasn’t like him with an education up to university.

He might have to reconsider his arrangements.

Yue Jie might have to help with the accounting.

In the meantime, he could only teach Xue Cong as much as possible.

Lin Xuan Qi passed the piece of paper back to Xue Cong and said, "It’s all right. Just let me know how much you have left."

Xue Cong thought that he was disappointed in her, and she lowered her head.

"I’ve still got nine pieces of silver and five copper coins left."

Lin Xuan Qi nodded his head and said, "Well done. Let me know if you need more."

After that, when he heard the conversation in the dining hall die down, he led Xue Cong back into the dining hall.

"It’s getting late, tidy up and get to rest early." Lin Xuan Qi said, and Xue Cong got to work, tidying up the plates with the help of Yue Jie and Yue Xin.

When Lee He Song saw Xue Cong’s face that was blushed red, he narrowed his eyes and was getting convinced now.

He then glanced at Yue Jie and Yue Xin, pondering.

...

Next morning.

"Master Lin, wake up." A voice whispered by the side of Lin Xuan Qi’s ear.

He opened his eyes and saw that it was Xue Cong.

She had gotten his clothes ready and warm water for him to wash his face.

He glanced out of the open door and saw that the sun was not up yet.

"Master Lee is waiting for you. He said he told you yesterday."

Lin Xuan Qi nodded his head.

He recalled that Lee He Song asked him to learn martial arts from him in the morning.

"Morning, but I didn’t expect it to be this early in the morning," Lin Xuan Qi said silently to himself.

But since he had promised Lee He Song, he was not one to go against it.

He washed up, changed into his new clothes and got out of his bedroom.

Lee He Song was at the front of the main building when Lin Xuan Qi arrived.

He stood and took a deep breath.

After that he took a step forward and at the same time gave out a punch.

As the punch broke through the air, the leaves on the ground were stirred by the gust of wind it brought about.

Crack.

Lee He Song lifted his left leg and did a side kick to the air, making it crack like a whip.

This time, some of the leaves that were stirred from the ground got hit by his feet and they turned into smithereens.

He stopped next and blew out a long breath.

In the morning cool weather, white mist rose from Lee He Song’s body.

The water vapor in the air turned into mist when it had contact with the heat emitting from Lee He Song’s body.

Lee He Song glanced back at Lin Xuan Qi and said, "You are here. Come join me in the first lesson."

Lin Xuan Qi bowed to him and Lee He Song began.

"In martial arts, the breathing and use of the dan tian is crucial. So, in the beginning, we will have to start from the foundation."