Chapter 99
The next day I woke up blurry eyed but the soreness in my body was no longer present which was a relief. Maybe I was finally getting used to all of this training and sleeping on the hard floor.
Although remembering what happened yesterday aroused a lot of questions in my head, I decided to push them back a bit. I did not quite wanting to know the answers to those questions just yet. At least not this early in the morning. Procrastination is a human's guilty pleasure after all.
I quickly freshened up, knowing Mr. Huang was probably already up and in the kitchen, preparing something organic to eat. The second I step foot into town, I'll be hunting down some meat for myself.
This healthy food diet was driving me crazy, I need some fattening junk food in my system. I think I deserve some for having dealt with all of the absurd situations I've found myself in so far.
I walked with the pace of a sloth to the kitchen after my shower. I don't know when they'll be knocking at our door but they did say it will be noon so we have some leisure time. That's assuming that Mr. Huang didn't plan anymore training for today. I guess we'll find out.
I pulled out one of the stool and sat on it, watching Mr. Huang cook us some breakfast in an undershirt and shorts.
"Wŏ zhī dao nĭ yŏu hĕn duō wèn tí dàn shì wŏ men xiān chī ba." (I know you have a lot of questions but let's eat first.)
I didn't bother answering and simply waited for him to finish cooking. I was starving anyways so I wasn't about to argue over his priorities. It might not be a greasy pizza but it's edible food and my stomach's been grumbling since I woke up.
Silence surrounded us during breakfast. I was there, barely keeping in all the questions that seemed to be budding into other questions in my head while Mr. Huang enjoyed his breakfast. I didn't know where to start with all these questions and I'm not entirely sure that I wanted to know the answers to them.
When I gulped down the last drop of water from my mug, I gathered the plates and did the dishes. That was when Mr. Huang decided to start talking.
"Your brother fought Klovski during one of his visits here. He's not a good man, very competitive and cunning.
We used to train together. He turned his back on me and our teacher and joined a gang. He's a man who will not hesitate to play dirty so you have to be extra careful."
Under no circumstances should you trust a man who would turn his back on his teacher.
I listened quietly while I continued to apply soap to the sponge and started washing the dishes. I tried to absorb every detail I can about this Klovski dude.
"Every time rumor goes around that I have someone looking for me to study martial arts, he'll somehow get wind of it and pays a visit. None have been pleasant so far. In case you were wondering, I did notice his arrival when he came yesterday and yes, I purposely tried to fool him into in thinking I was you." I snorted, he should consider being an actor or maybe that Klovski dude needs to consider getting prescriptions.
"You really do want to get rid of me, don't you?" I joked and he let out a deep laugh. I continued my chore and turned the tap on to rinse the soap covered plates.
"I had to test your skills at some point, why not then? I knew you were more than capable and since Klovski was more or less an idiot, I was pretty confident you'd be alright and I was right!" I shook my head with a small smile.
"How confident is ‘pretty confident' on a scale of 1-10?"
"Probably an 8?" I rolled my eyes, holding the plates under the tap one after the other.
"That's not very reassuring, now is it." I argued.
"Well, if it helps you feel better, your brother beat every apprentice Klovski has brought here and since you are your brother's sister, I believe it runs in your genes; just like how your brother and you are both fast-learners." He stated in a matter-of- fact tone.
"Well we've got a small problem this time. My ‘opponent' is a friend from back home." I pointed out to Mr. Huang who simply gave me a small smile.
"A friend should be trusted, Xiao Fu, and the fact that he doesn't know your real name says a lot about the trust you have in him." I stayed quiet at that, grabbing the cloth and wiping the plates dry instead of answering him.
Well at least now I knew a little bit about Klovski. He's competitive, has some sort of losing grudge against Mr. Huang and has quite the temper, judging from yesterday's events. Question is, how did Levy get stuck with him?
"So do I train before I go against my opponent?" Mr. Huang smiled at me with approval for some reason and I gave him the look that says ‘I don't understand why you're smiling and it makes you look mental in my eyes'.
"You didn't say ‘my friend' meaning you've learnt how to detach yourself from personal emotions. It's a good start. Facing an opponent that's a friend will not end well for someone who can't set aside their personal feelings. You hesitate to hurt them and that hesitation may be your undoing." He lectured and being the smart person I was, I listened to him. I felt a newfound sense of pride in me. I did something that he approved of unconsciously. That has got to mean something right?
"No, you don't need to train. You rest. You've done enough training. Wŏ xiăng xīn nĭ huì yíng." (I believe you can win)
I nodded and excused myself out of the cabin to get some fresh air to prepare myself.
