Chapter 90 (2/2)

Feng Luodi nodded in greeting and shot a glance at Zuo Lang. She turned back to Zhang Xin. “What is happening, General Zhang? Why are you chasing a young boy around?”

Zhang Xin pointed a finger at Zuo Lang. “I'd wanted him to take a bath and have a change of clothes before I bring him to the training field. How was I to know that he'd have such a huge reaction? This fella' here bolted faster than a rabbit as soon as he saw the bucket of water!” He reached to grab Zuo Lang by the corner, but the skittish boy leaped sideways and hid behind Feng Luodi.

Feng Luodi's voice was gentle. “General Zhang, will you treat your future child in such a manner?”

“Huh?” Zhang Xin scratched his head, confused. He smiled. “Just speak your mind, Miss Feng. I am an uncouth man, and I don't understand all these things you and s.h.i.+fei talk about all the time.”

Feng Luodi bent down to eye level with Zuo Lang. “Why are you refusing to bathe? Was the water too hot or too cold? Are you afraid of water? Or do you not like it when others touch you?”

Zuo Lang avoided her gaze. “I don't like when people are around me when I bathe.”

“d.a.m.n son! You should've just said so earlier! Let's go now; you can shower on your own.” Zhang Xin took a step towards the boy but was quickly stopped by Feng Luodi.

She continued to look into his eyes. “Is there any other reason?”

Zuo Lang hesitated for a moment. “I don't want to listen to him.”

Zhang Xin had a look of utter disbelief, his eyes as big as saucers.

Feng Luodi continued. “You don't have to listen to anyone.”

Zuo Lang's eyes lit up. “Then I don't want to bathe…”

Feng Luodi cut him off. “I haven't finished my sentence.” She paused for a second. “You don't have to listen to anyone, but that will depend on the situation. Why don't we play a game? If you win, you don't have to listen to anyone, and you wouldn't have to bathe. But if you lose, you'll have to bathe, but you still do not have to listen to anyone. Do you get what I mean? n.o.body is forcing you to do anything because you got a say in the matter. The final result lies in your hands.”

Zuo Lang did not understand a single word of what she said, but he heard the key phrase: you don't have to listen to anyone. He nodded reflexively.

“Come over here.” Feng Luodi walked to the table in Situ's tent, inverting two teacups and laying them on the table. She took an ornamental bead and placed under one of the inverted cups. She looked at Zuo Lang.

“I'll swap the positions of these two cups quickly. If you can tell me where the bead is when I end, you win. Are you up for it?”

Zuo Lang nodded, his eyes focused on Feng Luodi's hands. Feng Luodi's fingers were dexterous and nimble, a result of her endless practices with the zither. Her movements were deft and swift, her fingers a blur to the two men who watcher from the side. Finally, she stopped and looked at Zuo Lang.

“Which is it?”

Zuo Lang hesitated for a second, pointing at the cup in Feng Luodi's left hand.

Feng Luodi smiled and lifted it up, revealing the empty table top. She lifted the cup in her right hand to reveal the ornamental bead, still spinning from the fast movements.

“What do you say?” Feng Luodi asked Zuo Lang, seeing the disappointment in his eyes.

“I lost the bet. I'll bathe.” His eyes met hers briefly, but quickly dodged away again when he saw the laughter in her eyes.

“Stay close to General Zhang, and learn whatever you can from him. You'll learn to ride a horse, to shoot a bow, and the art of war.” She raised the ornamental bead. “By then, you'll realize that this is nothing in comparison.”

“Why can't I learn from Situ?” Zuo Lang raised his head defiantly.

“It's General Situ to you.” Zhang Xin raised his arm high as if to slap the boy, but it landed softly on his head. “Why do you need Situ when you have me as your mentor?”

Zuo Lang did not dodge his hand this time. He pouted his lips. “Situ is stronger than you.”

“What a kid.” Zhang Xin chuckled. “You have no idea what you're asking for, do you?”

Feng Luodi smiled. “You'll have to get through the training of General Zhang before you can get to Situ. Or do you think that you can't make it through General Zhang's training?”

“Of course I can!” Zuo Lang turned to head out of the tent. “I'll bathe right now.”

Zhang Xin looked at the young boy's retreating figure in relief. He turned to face Feng Luodi. “You have a way with kids, Miss Feng.”

Feng Luodi smiled, but did not reply.