Chapter 139 - I Thought I Was Going To Die

Qing Chen barely slept that night. Half of Feng Xuan's body was on top of his because of their limited space. She was already sound asleep and he was left staring at the moon. He had wanted to take a look if Shao Fang had already came back from his trip to the woods.

But more importantly, what was he doing there? Was Shao Fang hiding something? If so, what was it?

It would be a stretch to say that Shao Fang was connected to The Zookeeper. The guy had been here for the last few months. There was no way that The Zookeeper could've known that they were going to attend this training ground… could he?

Did The Zookeeper hired assassin students to spy on them?

Qing Chen shook his head. There was no way he could be that smart and see that far ahead in the future. Besides, Master had known his father for a long time. He couldn't be working for their enemy. Clearly, he would've ran some background check on his students before accepting them here.

The following morning, it was Qing Chen's plan to know more about the origins of Shao Fang. As they continued their stay there, the brothers had been assigned duties around the facilities. With a slight endors.e.m.e.nt from Feng Xuan that she had thought him how to cook, he was given the kitchen at lunch hour. Qing Lok was to sweep and mop the first two floors of the building and Wuming the third and fourth.

He decided he would go straight to the source of information. He didn't want to go around asking about Shao Fang. If word got to him, it would be harder to control the fire. It would raise a thousand suspicions. Another thing, this people's loyalty weren't his. 

As if luck couldn't make it easier for him, it was Shao Fang who was assigned at kitchen duty as well. He was already starting to gut the fishes and putting them in a small basin.

Qing Chen started to wash the inside of the fish before transferring to another plate. "You seem to know what you're doing with that knife," he joked.

"My father and I used to go fishing a lot."

Raised near a body of water. Outside the city. "Is your father still well?"

"Yeah, still up and running," Shao Fang smiled. "What about yours?"

Qing Chen groaned. "My father heavily smokes. I'm afraid that he'd just plop down and die from it."

"Yeah, smoking could probably be the worst vice. Almost everyone in my family smokes. My grandmother had a minor stroke when I was younger. Didn't stop her anyway," Shao Fang laughed. 

"Is she still alive?"

Shao Fang shook his head and his smile got smaller. "She passed away before I entered here."

Died smoking… body of water… smoking people—probably for heat? It must be cold from where he was from. "Have you ever left this country?"

Shao Fang laughed. "You know, we're not really supposed to be talking about our lives outside these walls."

Qing Chen looked around. "It's just us here. I'll tell you my story if you tell me yours."

Shao Fang looked like he was thinking as he continued his work with the fish. Qing Chen thought he would never speak again but he did. "I came here because I want to earn decent money without having to go through the troubles of being an employee to a rich company bastard."

Qing Chen shook his head. "I think I'm that rich company bastard."

Shao Fang lightly laughed. "I was asking Feng Xuan about you and your brothers. Are you that Qing who owns that huge company?"

He nodded. "My father owns it. How do you know about us?"

"Your company started a project near our home. A resort, I think. The company logo was attached to the steel panels around it."

Qing Chen's mind ran. Resort? They have dozens of on-going projects. Which one was in a cold place? There were about six of those. "How did you come to find this training ground?"

For a second Shao Fang's hands stopped. "Master came to me," he said and continued working. "Said he needed a student. I came without knowing what it was really about. He said I could earn money beyond compare if I would be able to do my job properly. My father only nodded and sent me away." His hand started working. "If you're some rich guy, what are you doing here? Are you just here for fun?"

"I wish," Qing Chen answered. "My family and I have received death threats constantly. We just want to make sure we wouldn't just surrender to death when it comes knocking on our door."

"It's to keep guys like me away from you, huh?" said Shao Fang with a small grin.

"Something like that."

Qing Chen and Shao Fang closed their discussion on that and started talking about the training programs. They exchanged tips with different weapons while cooking lunch for the rest of them.

**

Qing Chen was supposed to be at the firing range but he was watching his wife balance herself on the rails of the second floor. She was trying to control her breathing as she lightly stepped on the thin railing. She couldn't lose focus or else she would plummet down the first floor—hopefully still alive afterwards.

When Feng Xuan reached the opening from where he was, he snatched her from the air and pressed a hand to her mouth before she could yelp. She crashed to his chest and struggled. He released her.

"You're crazy!" she glared at him before her lips showed a smile. "I thought I was going to die for a second there."

"I just came to tell you I'll be a little late tonight."

"Why is that?"

"I have something to do." Confusion was written all over her face. "I'll let you know when I come back." He kissed her cheek.