Together 2

63. Worry

"You've worked hard." Xiao Jianmin said as he patted one of the knights' shoulders. "Thank you, your grace!" The knight said while smiling as he bowed in gratitude. 'Honestly, he's impossible.' Xiao Zhan thought as he smiled. "Feng Ming Jing your grace! I've always looked up to the tales of your accomplishments!" Feng Ming Jing beamed happily. "Master Feng, I'll look forward to your performance." Xiao Jianmin said with a smile as he gently patted the young knight's shoulder. "I won't let you down!"

Finally, it was Xiao Zhan's turn. The omega smiled and bowed to his father. "Tang San, your grace. It is an honor to meet you." Xiao Jianmin didn't say a word and looked at his son in worry. "He placed first in the entrance exams, your grace. We have high hopes for him." Gao Tai Yu said. "That's true!" Sun Jian agreed while beaming and threw his arm around Xiao Zhan's shoulders. "He may be scrawny, but he's amazing!"

'H-how dare he!' Xiao Jianmin almost growled in anger when he saw a random alpha place his hand on his son's shoulder so casually. Xiao Zhan quickly pushed Sun Jian away and smiled awkwardly. "My apologies your grace. He's a very close comrade." "It's good that you don't put on airs but control yourselves. You're in the presence of the duke." Gao Tai Yu said making Sun Jian nod dejectedly. "Yes sir. I'll be mindful." Xiao Zhan, however, tried hard to keep a calm demeanor.

"I'd like to have a word with Tang. Would you mind?" Xiao Jianmin asked, making Xiao Zhan nod. "By all means, your grace." Xiao Zhan said and left the room along with Xiao Jianmin, while the other knights stared at him in awe and jealousy.

***

"Young Master!" Yu Bin beamed happily as he ran towards Xiao Zhan. Xiao Zhan smiled widely and held Yu Bin's hands. "Yu Bin! Did you come to cheer on me?" He asked. "Master got me here specifically just so I could!" Yu Bin replied. "Thank you for coming too, commander Yi Zhou." Xiao Zhan said to Wang Yi Zhou in gratitude. "As your master, I can't miss seeing my pupil in action." Wang Yi Zhou said with a smile.

"Honestly, father. Do you know how surprised I was to see you?" Xiao Zhan said as he sat down next to His father on the couch. Xiao Jianmin laughed awkwardly. "I'm sorry." He apologized before his face turned sour again when he remembered the alpha boy who kept his hands on Xiao Zhan's shoulders. "Who was that alpha? How dare he put his hand on my son's shoulder!"

"Don't worry father." Xiao Zhan said, trying to calm down his father. "It's just a gesture between alphas. It's proof that I'm adjusting well here, right?" Xiao Jianmin sighed in defeat. "That's... true but-" But before Xiao Jianmin could complete, Xiao Zhan butted in. "It's been long since we've last seen each other. Smile, please?" Xiao Zhan said as he held his father's arm.

Xiao Jianmin smiled as he looked at his son. "You've grown. Do you feel confident about the tournament?" "Yes. I'll show you the results of my hard work so far." Xiao Zhan said happily making Xiao Jianmin pat his head lovingly. "When you first said you wanted to be a knight, I was very worried. But now... you've become an illustrious knight. I'm proud of you." Xiao Jianmin said as he lovingly patted Xiao Zhan's head.

After sitting together for a while, Xiao Zhan eventually stood up. "I should get going father." Xiao Jianmin nodded. "Hm. Be careful." Xiao Zhan nodded and left. He was just at the door when he spoke up again while turning around. "Oh right. I have something to tell after the tournament." "What is it?" Xiao Jianmin asked. "You can look forward to it." Xiao Zhan replied with a smile as his cheeks became red. "I'll see you after the tournament." Saying so, Xiao Zhan left without letting his father speak to him. Xiao Jianmin was shocked. It couldn't be what he thought it was, right?

***

The tournament started. The first person from their team to go was Feng Ming Jing. "Get 'em Feng!" Sun Jian cheered for his best friend along with the other knights. After a long fight, Feng Ming Jing won the match, earning a cheer from the crowd and his teammates. "Nice one Feng!" Sun Jian said as he happily patted his friend's shoulder. "Let's keep this going!"

"Hey. If anyone is free, grab the spare armor from the waiting room." One knight said. "I'll go." Xiao Zhan volunteered and quickly made his way to the waiting room. 'Where are they?' After searching for a while, Xiao Zhan eventually found the spare armor box and took it with him before leaving the room. 

'The mood has gone up ever since father visited us.' Xiao Zhan thought with a smile. "At this rate-' As Xiao Zhan was walking, he suddenly saw He Peng coming from the opposite direction. 'He Peng?' Xiao Zhan thought as the two of them made eye contact. They just crossed each other when He Peng spoke up. "Enjoy it while it lasts. Yong An will reach the top soon. That's something bottom feeders like you can never imagine. The knights of honor ends here!" He said arrogantly making Xiao Zhan scoff in disgust.

"What a creepy stalker." Xiao Zhan said, turning He Peng's face red. "What?! How dare you?!" He shouted. "This is why Lord Xiao finds you overbearing." "W-what? How do you know Lord-?" "We're veeery friendly and very close. Bye." Xiao Zhan said arrogantly and walked away. "You're lying! HEY!" He Peng shouted but Xiao Zhan didn't turn around and walked away.

"Here it is." Xiao Zhan said as he placed the box on the floor. "Thank you, Tang San." As the other knights were looking through the armor, Xiao Zhan looked down, feeling worried. 'From how smug He Peng was acting, the infiltration of the black market where the piercing green trade is happening might not have gone well.' Xiao Zhan's mind kept thinking of the worst possibilities of what would happen to Wang Yibo. 'Did something happen to Yibo?' However, Xiao Zhan quickly calmed himself down. 'No. I shouldn't worry about that. Yibo... is fine.'

"That marks the end of the first day of the tournament!" One person announced. "First place, The Knights of Yong An! Second place, The Knights of Honor!" The Knights of Honor all cheered loudly while clapping one another on the backs... except one.

Xiao Zhan stood away from his group as he kept thinking. 'The first day has ended but Yibo is still not here.' Suddenly, he spotted Shu Hao, making his eyes widen. 'Hao gege!' "Hey Tang, you're not leaving?" Sun Jian asked. "I have something to take care of. I'll be right back." Saying so, Xiao Zhan quickly followed Shu Hao, making his way through the people.

'There's no way Yibo would break his promise.' Xiao Zhan thought as he continued following Shu Hao and finally reached a corner. Shu Hao was talking to someone who was wearing a black cloak. "What do you mean you don't know where he is?" Shu Hao asked. "We lost contact once he infiltrated the villa." A messenger said. "Send someone else. We must find him!" Shu Hao ordered.

"What... do you mean by that?" Xiao Zhan asked, stunning Shu Hao. He quickly turned around and looked at the omega, unable to say a word, making Xiao Zhan suck his breath.