The next morning, after a long and cold night Longwei got up before everyone. Arranging everything around comfortably, putting the books and his papers on the table, he poured the hot water from the kettle and drinking it looked at the window. The pale sky was the same but what was good about this place was that here, there was no blizzard. It was calm. Only a large snowflakes were swirling in the air.
Wooden houses were scattered everywhere. There was nothing except these houses. Longwei opened the window and looked out. Trying to see the warrior's house, he stuck out his head but Baofeng-Xue said from behind, "Brother Longwei what are you doing? You'll catch cold. Close the window."
Rubbing his eyes Baofeng-Xue went back to his bed and covered his face with blanket. The air in the house was cold and it was hard to wake up. Feeling always sleepy, everyone tried hard to get up and go to the fields.
Longwei went up to the furnace and lit it. Pouring down the hot water to another iron cup he gave it to Baofeng-Xue.
"Brother Longwei, why are you up so early?"
"I can't sleep in a new place."
Baofeng-Xue took a few sips and then smilingly said, "When you were a child, you were also like this. When your father was sent away, he left you in my house. Even if we were good friends, you didn't sleep for three days."
"And you were telling me fairytales. But it didn't help. I was very scared. New places are always affecting me like that."
The man named Delun who was sleeping on the bed between them angrily murmured, "Stop talking, let us sleep."
Baofeng-Xue kicked him on the back, "Get up! You lazy man. Get up!"
Sighing loudly, Delun angrily throw his pillow towards Baofeng-Xue. "Why are you so angry? What makes you so angry?"
Throwing back the pillow, he said, "I am angry because I have such a stupid roommate."
Delun angrily stood up and went towards the bathroom. Kicking everyone on his way, he said aloud, "Get up! It is time!"
When they finished drinking water, Baofeng-Xue said, "Today, we will run for five hours and then we will be fighting with each other, then late at night we will be climbing to the mountain with a heavy bag on our backs. You must eat your breakfast, don't leave even a piece of food, you'll need a lot of energy today. I hope you are strong enough to endure this. When you were a child, you were always stronger than me."
"I was stronger mentally. I was smarter than you while you were always stupid."
Hearing this Delun broke into laughter. Baofeng-Xue cast an angry glance at him and then pushed Longwei so hard that he almost fell down. "Brother! What are you talking about?! I was always smart!"
"You couldn't even read how can you say that you were smart?!"
Saying this Longwei took his black cotton vest and ran out of the house. Baofeng-Xue followed him.
Fighting like they used to fight when they were children, both of them entered to the canteen. Taking Longwei by the collar he slightly pushed him and he almost fell down. Stepping onto someone's foot Longwei quickly apologized and stood up.
"Playing in the canteen is prohibited. Fighting outside the field is not allowed."
Hearing familiar voice Longwei looked up and saw the warrior.
Looking at him with curiosity, Longwei did not say a word.
"Our apologies Teacher. We were acting silly. Please forgive us" Baofeng-Xue took Longwei's shoulder and headed towards the long table.
The breakfast, surprisingly enough was very good. There were so much food that the breakfast looked like it was a lunch. Eating such different food after a long time, Longwei already finished three plates full of beans with potato.
And then eating the bread with sweet butter, he looked around. A simple canteen with many long tables was comfortable enough to sit here and enjoy with the delicious food. Looking at every soldier, Longwei said, "There are so many people. How many soldiers does the clan have?"
Baofeng-Xue eating an apple replied, "I don't know. I didn't count. But every week we have a newcomers. Here, everyone is the heir of the mountain. We are turning 25 soon, so we should leave an heir too."
Longwei sharply almost shouting answered, "No! I won't leave an heir. No way!"
"Be quite. Brother Longwei, but this is your duty. You can't ignore your duty."
"I said I don't want to do that. I don't have any duties. I will leave this place soon."
Saying this so loudly that everyone's attention was on him now, Longwei caught the warrior's glance on himself. Sitting in the corner, by the round small table he was holding a book in gold binding.
Baofeng-Xue took his hand and whispered, "Calm down. Here, drink this."
Feeling the warrior's gaze on himself, Longwei stood up and went towards the door.
After the breakfast, the weather became colder. The cold wind was piercing through the cotton vest. Walking through deep snowdrifts hundreds of soldiers were following The Warrior who was walking in front.
Baofeng-Xue noticing that Longwei didn't have a sword approached him and whispered, "Where is your sword?"
"What sword?"
"I told you that you must go the house where the head of clan lives and choose the sword. You had to do it yesterday. I told you that. Brother Longwei did you forget that?!"
Longwei looked at other soldiers, everyone had swords.
Baofeng-Xue with a worried expression continued, "Brother, what should we do now?! You can't train without sword. The one who forgets his sword will be punished. What should we do now? You can't go to the field without sword." Taking him by the hand he led him away, when everyone walked a little further, he whispered, "Here, take my sword. I'll tell that I forgot mine."
"No. Brother Xue, no need of that. Don't worry I'll be fine. I think this warrior will understand me. He is not that scary. He is even kind I think."
Widening his eyes Baofeng-Xue whispered, "You know him? Did you talk to him?"
"Yes. Yesterday. His wolf took my book and ran out. So I chased him and he led me to warrior's house."
Baofeng-Xue almost shouted out loud but closed his mouth with hand, "You were in his house? In Lei's house?"
"Lei? His name is Lei?"
"Brother Longwei, how did you get there? No one even dares to look into his eyes, but you entered to his house. And what did he say? How did he behave? Did he threw you out or did he hurt you?"
"No. None of these things happened. He was kind, but very serious and tensed. But still kind. We talked about books and then he gave me some of his books, but he is very bold. He took my book and did not want to return it."
Baofeng-Xue stepped closer and said, "You are really something brother Longwei."
Noticing that everyone was far away ahead Longwei said, "Let's go. Hurry up."
"Wait, here take my sword."
"No. I'll be fine."
