Never Let You Go, Again

45: Coincidence... or not?

"A-Ying, wake up." 

A gentle hand gently shook the whimpering Wei Ying up. "A-Ying? Are you alright?" 

Wei Ying sat up and looked around to see they were in Guanyin's garden again. The second night out of their home.Lan Zhan was staring at him, sweat beads highlighting the fear evident on his face. "A-Zhan?" 

"A-Ying!" Lan Zhan hurriedly hugged him.

"A-Zhan, what's wrong?" 

"A-Ying's awake."

"How is that wrong?" 

"No, A-Ying was whining while sleeping. Did A-Ying see a bad dream?" 

"No, no I didn't! I was whining?" 

"Mn. Must be the chest pain."

"Ah, yes. A-Zhan, you brought us here?" 

Lan Zhan cocked his head. "A-Ying doesn't remember?"

Wei Ying was shocked. What the hell was going on? "Well, I remember us seeing the old lady at the inn, telling her to come to our home for compensation, talking with the villagers, then walking back home since you said I'm too ill. We were... we were walking... Lil' Apple... Oh," Wei Ying sighed. "We rested in the forest, didn't we? Fell asleep?" 

"Mn. It's only been a few hours. But A-Ying began whimpering in sleep, so I woke you up. Come, let's go home."

"Now?"

"Yes, now." The sternness in Lan Zhan's voice and worried look shut Wei Ying up. The two woke themselves up in the forest and Wei Ying teleported themselves to the Cloud Recesses gates. 

**********

"Good. Very good. You may sit. Now you! Yes, second from the left. Now, read the second passage." 

A little boy in white read the second passage from the open page on his book. Once that was done, their teacher nodded. "Good. Now that you've read those two passages, I want all of you to focus. Do what I told you these days. First, you read. Second?"

"IMAGINE!" 

"Good. Then focus. Shut your eyes and imagine the move described here. I'll read it another time, you little ones listen and imagine, alright?"

"Yes, Laoshi!" 

The teacher, or Laoshi, read the passages again, slowly, giving the little ones the time to form perfect images. Once he was done reading, he shouted again. "Done?" 

"Yes, Laoshi!" 

"Hm? If you're so sure... then tell me what's the third thing to do?" 

"Practise!" 

"Excellent!" Their teacher nodded, eyes full of amazement at their wonderful memory. "Then that's what you'll do! I won't teach you this move, you have to visualize it and do it. Imagine, execute." The little students nodded and rose their sticks, fake swords. Their Laoshi watched them train themselves for a good while before smiling. These kids are real good! As good as my ones! But less daring. Of course, caring Lans are worried they'll hurt another. The teacher rolled his eyes. "Come on, exert yourself. Don't worry, nobody will get hurt, I'll see to that. You all just put all your effort in this." 

He went around correcting their movements with the tip of his sword's sheath. But the children, though small, were exceptionally quick, and hence, were done with just practising in no time. "Ready for the fourth part?"

"Yes!" 

"Which is?" 

"FIGHT!" The little ones grinned from ear to ear out of excitement.