Chapter 138 - What's In The Woods?

After the long day of swords, Feng Xuan finally took a shower. The cold water ran down her body and seemed to have cooled her muscles. If only she would not be sick, she would have stayed there and let the knots in her relax.

She had just gotten out of the shower when she saw that Qing Chen was already waiting for her on the sill of her window.

"May I come in?" he asked.

"I was just about to get up to you," she said with a chuckle and pulled some clothes out of the closet. "What are you doing here?"

"Let's stay in your room," he said. "I feel much more at ease knowing that you're not clutching two-inches of crevices just to see me."

"Oh please, it's nothing," she laughed. She put the shirt over her head and towel and slipped her legs in the shorts before pulling the towel away from her body.

"Impressive," Qing Chen commented.

"If you want a peek you can just tell me," she teased. "Get down here."

Qing Chen lightly landed on his feet. He thought it was just the lack of light but Feng Xuan had not really took a lot of stuff in her room, aside from the stack of books on her table. "What are your reading?"

"Unusual ways of assassinations," she grinned. "Come here, I'll return the favor and read you some."

For the next few days, it had become their routine. They spent the rest of their days training and at night, they had their little moments reading about assassinations. 

How a poison could be put in a pellet and sealed with a wax then when it penetrated a person's body, the wax would melt and the poison would take place. Or how you could commit mass murder by using balloons—instead of using helium, you can use gases that would explode. Or the plain stuff of luring your subject on a tub and throwing a plugged hairdryer on the water. If you were too lazy, then poison would be your best friend.

They talked about some of the most gruesome and brutal ways to die. Like in ancient times, people used to get sawed apart as punishments, beheadings and letting your head rot on a spike, and burning at the stake.

Some books talked about the art of camouflage, of poisons, of herbal remedies for emergencies, or stealth. Some plainly talked about war tactics.

They easily worked their way through the library. When they had enough of reading, they would sleep side-by-side. Sometimes not touching, but the weather was getting colder and colder that in their sleep, their bodies would wrap on each other for heat.

One night, after Qing Chen was finished showering and got clothed, he made his way to Feng Xuan's room. With his long limbs, it took him just a few movements to be able to cross the wall and finally swing himself inside of Feng Xuan's window.

This time, while he was climbing down, he saw a light from the distance. He thought something just caught his eyes, but he was not wrong. A dot of light was moving in the middle of the grounds.

Was that… Shao Fang?

"Hey," he asked Feng Xuan who was drying her hair with a towel on the bed. "Is it Shao Fang's turn for the rounds tonight?"

"Ah yeah," she replied, distracted, already taken on a book about cases of food poisoning. It had been really popular since the ancient times, especially in the talks about monarchies. "I think he was already done with it. Are you scared we'd get caught?" she laughed.

"Not really," Qing Chen answered, his head tilting to the side. He leaned forward. What on earth was Shao Fang doing on the grounds? They were not allowed to leave the building after lights off.

Shao Fang was looking at both his sides and back. But he did not bother looking upwards. Something fishy was going on here.

"Say," he began, "what lies beyond the woods?"

"The woods? I don't know. I have never been in the woods a lot," she shivered. Every day she had been rushing with her run. As she got more familiarized with her route, it had been easier for her. She knew where the obstacles were. The first time that she had run there, her ankles had been swollen like a pregnant lady's with the uneven ground. She felt like she had wanted to detach her feet from her body for a short while to escape the pain it brought her. 

"I'll change my question," Qing Chen said. Shao Fang was looking at the small opening in the trees, carrying a small lamp with him. Clearly, he was armed. Qing Chen could see the silhouette of the sheath of the sword strapped to his waist. "What's IN the woods?"

Feng Xuan shrugged. "I don't think there's anything there." She looked at his back. "Why? Why are you asking so much about it?"

Qing Chen dropped to the floor and put a smile on his face. "Just wondering what's in it. I feel like I want to explore."

Feng Xuan only gave him a funny look. "You are joking, right? There's a lot of bugs and insects there."

"Just curious." He sat with her on the bed, changing the conversation, "What are we reading tonight?"

**

Shao Fang swallowed before he made his way in the woods. His hand was in front of him, carrying a heavy iron lamp. He was looking for his flashlight earlier but he could not seem to find it. It had been a while since he had to do this again.

The sound of crickets filled his ears and he was careful with every step he took. He did not want to make a single sound, afraid that even at this distance, he would wake the other assassins.

**

Later, in the middle of the woods, a message was sent.

THEY ARE HERE.