Chapter 309 - One Hundred and Nine - They spar in the woods (2/2)

”You're quite far from the road, friends,” Bowyer mentioned amicably, causing the ground to exchange glances.  The angry youth went as red as his hair, while his blond friend's smile seemed to deepen.

The tall youth adjusted his glasses and stepped forward.  ”We intruded unintentionally.  We were not aware that this place might be off limits.”

Bowyer shook his head.  ”It isn't off limits to be here,” the man denied, ”but there isn't much to see here.  Beasts and game tend to stay away and the wild herbs were long since frittered away by alchemists or first years.  Not many come this way.”

”You're here,” a youth with dark skin and an exotic handsomeness pointed out.  In fact, none of the five men and two women could be considered plain wallflowers, each had their own particular beauty and aura and would stand out and over others like sunflowers over violets in a crowded field of flowers.  However, the two youths before them were also far from ordinary in both appearance and temperament.

”Just for training,” Bowyer admitted.  ”We'll return to our school once done.”

”You'll return,” Jin Li couldn't help but mutter as he retorted against Bowyer's statement.  Bowyer rolled his eyes over the other's words wanting to suggest that Jin Li's affections will make his sword dull if not careful... only if anything, the youth's blade had only become sharper in these few months.  He could only sulk inwardly, swallowing his thoughts whole.

”You are martial artists,” the cold woman called Ling by her friend stated.  There was no denial.  ”You attend the martial arts school here.”

A noble never asks, just demands, Bowyer didn't bother letting these obvious sons and daughters of the wealthy elite skirt around their point until he volunteered to direct them; it was too tiring.  He bluntly took the lead.  ”Oh, your destination was the martial arts school?  The outer school is just a short way in that direction.”

”What of the so-called inner school?” The red haired youth demanded equally blunt.

The blond haired youth chuckled lightly and stepped forward to intercede; ”My apologies for my friend.  What he meant to say was that we had heard that your martial arts school was split in two and we were intrigued.  Our curiosity did indeed lead us here to look into it more.”

”I understand,” Bowyer took on an amicable stance in response.  ”As it happens, the way to the inner school is through the outer school.  We are both from the inner school, it is no trouble for us to guide you in the right direction.”

”We would appreciate it,” the blond haired youth replied, appreciatively.

”Then we're done with the spar?” Jin Li turned to Bowyer to state, causing the man to freeze in hesitation.  A small curve appeared at the corner's of Jin Li's lips momentarily before he leapt away.

”Jin Li!” Bowyer yelled after him without thought, but he was far too late.  He returned his attentions to the Qilin Academy students after exhaling a sigh.  ”Please excuse my friend.  He has... other business to attend to.  Come with me now.”

The group paused for only a breath before following the man closely.  However, the girl with peonies on her silk clothes stepped back a pace and came to the side of the one youth that had remained silent all of this time.  She tugged the sleeve of his white robe.  ”Ji Ji...”

The youth with long black hair and equally dark, Phoenix shaped eyes shook off his startled surprise and glanced with evident coldness at the girl before removing his sleeve from her light touch.  ”I know,” he responded in the next moment, starring off in the direction that the man called Jin Li had rushed off to.