Chapter 44 The Xin People

Deming walked out of the library and toward the training ground. He saw the Guozhao brothers. He was happy. He quickly ran toward the four hunters.

Deming looked at the hunters and said, "You're back."

Zheng Yaozu looked at Deming and asked, "We're back, is there anything I can help you with?"

Deming asked, "Brother Zheng, Zhiqiang is back too?"

Zheng Yaozu teased, "No, we didn't see him." He saw Deming's sad face, which made him giggle.

Zheng Tingfeng shook his head and said, "He was just teasing you. Senior brother came back with us."

Deming asked, "Where is he?"

Zheng Yaozu said, "He and Junjie went to the medicine shop."

Deming smiled and grabbed Zheng Yaozu's left arm. He said happily, "Thank you brother Zheng."

Guozhao Bolin watched Deming rush out of the gate quickly. He looked at Zheng Yaozu and said, "Thank you, Brother Zheng. Do you know him?"

Zheng Yaozu was confused, "I don't think so."

Guozhao Shaquan, "Then he must know you."

Zheng Yaozu smiled and said, "Everyone knows me. I'm too handsome to ignore.

Seeing Zheng Yaozu admiring his handsomeness, the three hunters shook their heads at the same time.

Deming ran from the school to the medicine shop. Once he gets there. He could hardly breathe. He walked in and saw Tam Qiu. He smiled at Tam Qiu and asked, "Sister Tam, is Zhiqiang back?"

Tam Qiu smiled at him, "Student Dong, he's back and was just here."

The smile on Deming's face disappeared quickly. "What do you mean by was here?"

Tam Qiu, "He's back, but he's gone."

Deming asked, "Did he tell you where he went?"

Tam Qiu shook her head and said, "I already told him that you are looking for him."

Deming, "Did he say anything?"

Tam Qiu shook her head again, "No. He didn't say anything."

Deming sadly said, "Thanks." He walked out of the door into the crowded street. He murmured softly, "What's the matter with you, you left without saying a word?"

Deming want to go up to Guozhao Zhigiang's house to find him, but the sun had already set. He wondered what if Guozhao Zhiqiang went to his dormitory to find him. Then he rushed back to the school. As he approached his room, he saw that the light was on. He knew that it must be Guozhao Zhiqiang. He happily walked towards the door, opened it and walked in. He was a little disappointed to see Li Bingqing sitting at the table waiting for him.

Li Bingqing sat at the table smiling at him, "You are back."

Deming, "Bingqing what are you doing here?"

Li Bingqing, "I'm here to take you to my uncle's house to have dinner."

Deming, "It's okay. I've eaten."

Li Bingqing, "Teacher Huang is here, he wants to see you and talk about your studies."

Deming smiled, "Okay."

Inside Guo Baiyu's study room. One by one, Shan grabbed the books and put it on the table. Shan said expressionlessly, "This is all the books how to tame a demon." He put ten books on the table. He picked up the books that Guozhao Zhiqiang had already read and began to put them back on the bookshelf. "Have you read the book I gave you this afternoon?"

Guozhao Zhiqiang said, " Yes."

Shan asked, "Do you have any opinion about the book?"

Guozhao Zhiqiang said, "It says they are extinct."

Shan said, "You're still here, so your kind has not face extinction yet."

Guozhao Zhiqiang quickly changed the subject, "These fire demons are not animals, I don't believe these books can be of any help."

Shan, "Maybe you can write one?"

Guozhao Zhiqiang, "I need some decent guidance."

Shan, "Sometimes an open-hearted conversation is worth more than you read a thousand books."

Guozhao Zhiqiang said, "You sound just like first master just now."

Shan, "This is from the late Master Zhao. When he was alive, he treated everyone equally. He once said, 'You never know a person's authenticity unless you put on their shoes'." He looked at Guozhao Zhiqiang. "If you want to train this fire demon, don't let him follow behind you. Train him like you treat your junior brothers and sisters."

Guozhao Zhiqiang closed the booked and sighed, "Shan, you are right. Thank you. I will go to town tomorrow and ask third master and Teacher Lee for advice."

Shan, "Good idea. Then I'll send Master Fang a message."

Guozhao Zhiqiang, "Thank you, you can read my mind now."

Shan, "Your way of thinking is like Master Baiyu. I've been with him for many years, and most of the time I can figure out what he wants without him saying it." Shan disappeared.

Early the next morning, Guozhao Zhiqiang and Fang Yaoting were in Lee Dachin's study room.

Fang Yaoting said, "If that's the case, then you can write it down and let the rest of the disciples learn."

Guozhao Zhiqiang asked, "Third Master, do you think I did the right thing?"

Fang Yaoting said, "I'm not sure if what you're doing is right or wrong. For most people, there's only a thin line between black and white. Let just say you did the best you can think of." He patted gently on Guozhao Zhiqiang left shoulder. "Zhiqiang, you and Ah Bao are my proudest apprentices. Through action or discission, you two have never let me down." Fang Yaoting sighed. "Train the little one like we trained you. You may not know it, but your first master always worried that since you were scarred as a child and that you would turn into an evil being, but he was willing to give you a second chance. He said all children are born innocent. Evil depends on the instruction they receive. If we teach Zemin the right way, then when he grows up, he will be another you."

Guozhao Zhiqiang, "I understand. Thank you, third master, for your guidance."

Fang Yaoting said, "Shan is right, have an open-heart talk with the couple." He laughed, "I really want to see his learning ability when he grows up." Fang Yaoting walked towards the door. "Oh, yes, Dachin wants you to stay for lunch."

When Fang Yaoting and Guozhao Zhiqiang walked into the dining room, both Lee Dachin and Wang Shuchun both smiled at them.

Lee Dachin smiled and said, "Zhiqiang come and sit next to me."

Deming and Li Bingqing looked at him. Deming was both happy and angry at Guozhao Zhiqiang. He held the chopsticks tightly in his right hand. What was even more angry was that Guozhao Zhiqiang did not make eye contact with him, and Guozhao Zhiqiang walked directly between him and Lee Dachin and sat down.

Guozhao Zhiqiang looked at Wang Shuchun, "Fang shimu."

Wang Shuchun smiled and said, "Zhiqiang, it's been three years, how are you?"

Guozhao Zhiqiang replied, "I'm doing well. How is Fang Shimu?"

Wang Shuchun smiled, "I am doing well too."

Lee Dachin said, "This is teacher Huang."

Guozhao Zhiqiang greeted, "Teacher Huang."

Teacher Huang smiled.

Fang Yaoting looked at everyone on the table and said, "Let's eat."

Li Bingqing picked up some food and put it in Deming's bowl. Deming glanced at Guozhao Zhiqiang from time to time, but Guozhao Zhiqiang did not look at him. Deming was angry with Guozhao Zhiqiang, and he decided picks up some food and put them in Li Bingqing's bowl, to furthering anger Guozhao Zhiqiang. Deming decided since Guozhao Zhiqiang did not make eye contact with him, he would not have eye contact with Guozhao Zhiqiang either.

After lunch, teacher Huang and teacher Lee will share more knowledge. Li Bingqing wanted to see the market. The three young people said their goodbyes.

Once, Guozhao Zhiqiang, Deming and Li Bingqing walked out of the house into the busy crowded street, Guozhao Zhiqiang partway with Deming and Li Bingqing. When Guozhao Zhiqiang walked away, Deming grabbed his right wrist.

Deming squeezed Guozhao Zhiqiang's right wrist on purpose and said madly, "We need to talk."

Guozhao Zhiqiang took Deming's hand away from his wrist with his left hand, without making eye contact. He said, "Sorry, not today. I'm in a hurry. Maybe another day." He took Deming's hand away from his wrist with his left hand. "Enjoy your day with your special someone." He walked towards the medicine shop.

Li Bingqing heard Guozhao Zhiqiang last sentence 'Enjoy your day with your special person. Her heart began to beat violently. She asked, "Is he okay?"

Deming said, "No, I'll take you back to your uncle's house."

Guozhao Zhiqiang walked into the shop, and Xiao Mei came up with a smiled.

Xiao Mei smiled and said, "Senior brother, the operation was successful. Now we only need to wait for it to heal, and we will know if Gen can walk or not."

Guozhao Zhiqiang said, "If Gen can walk, you and Ah Bao should be proud of yourself."

Xiao Mei, "I'm only the assistance, the full credit should go to second senior brother. He worked the hardest. It might be because Gen situation is personal to him."

Guozhao Zhiqiang said, "I'm going to see Gen."

Xiao Mei looked at Guozhao Zhiqiang and asked, "Senior brother, why do Gen and Wan call you boss?"

Guozhao Zhiqiang, "They took a blood oath to the spirit of the sword. This is the only way to keep them alive." Guozhao Zhiqiang walked towards the back.

After a while, Deming show up at the medicine shop. He looked around the shop and did not see Guozhao Zhiqiang. He invited himself to the back of the shop.

Xiao Mei chased after him, "Student Dong, you are not allowed to come back." She chased after Deming. "We have a patient who recently had surgery and he is not to be disturb."

Deming didn't care what Xiao Mei said. He ventured into the backyard. Just when Yang Chuntao bit off the thread on Guozhao Zhiqiang's chest with her teeth, he and Xiao Mei walked in. To Deming and Xiaomei, it was like Yang Chuntao put her arms around Guozhao Zhiqiang's neck and kissed him. Deming clenched his fists in both of his hands. He felt his fingernails penetrate the palm of his hands. Deming turned and walked out.

Xiao Mei called out, "Senior brother."

Yang Chuntao turned around, "Sister Xiao Mei."

Xiao Mei asked, "What are you two doing?"

Yang Chuntao, "I'm mending his torn robe"

Xiao Mei said, "Student Dong was here."

Yang Chuntao, "Where is he?"

Xiao Mei, "He just left." She turned to Guozhao Zhiqiang. "Senior brother, student Dong comes here almost every day to ask when you will come back. I think he has something urgent to tell you."

Guozhao Zhiqiang, "Mm." He walked into Gen and Wan's room.