"Well, who is going to train you two?" asked Chen Zhou.

"Of course me," said Chang An.

"No, you can't, Chang An. I know everything about you, it won't be fair if I win because I know how you are going to train them while you know nothing about how I train people. How about I appoint a trainer for them?"

Chang An was about to say something but before he could, someone from the back said, "No you don't have to, Chen Zhou. I will train them."

Everyone turned to their back while Chen Zhou's expression changed to the opposite of what it was earlier.

It's you again. Why do you always have to be against me?

"And if I train them, it will be fair because you know nothing about me nor about how I train people," said the man.

"Do you really think you will be able to train them? After all, you have grown old," said Chen Zhou.

"You are right. I have grown old, but it doesn't mean that I can't train people anymore. I am still that same person whom many of the martial arts halls still want."

"Right," said Chen Zhou sarcastically. He went near that person and said, "So, it's finally you versus me... Father versus Son."

"How? I am not the one fighting against you... Ting Hao is the one who is fighting against you," said Elder Chen.

"Yeah... but you are going to train them and I will train myself and Guang Ya. So, in some way, we are fighting against each other, are we not, dad?"

"I guess you are right. Well, I think we should leave now, after all, we all have to practice."

Then elder Chen, Chang An, Ting Hao, Bai Cao, Ting Yi, Yi Feng, Xiao Ying, and Guo Guo went towards the exit. They were about to get out of the practice hall when Chen Zhou said, "Why are you always against me, dad?"

Hearing that, elder Chen stopped and turned back. "I am not against you, Chen Zhou... I was never against you. I am against the wrong," said Elder Chen.

Chen Zhou smirked and said, "And for you, I am always wrong. Why? Why are you doing this, dad? What am I doing wrong? I am just trying to protect our Feng Yun Hall... your Feng Yun Hall, dad."

"My Feng Yun Hall...! Really, Chen Zhou?" Elder Chen went near Chen Zhou and said, "Well I am doing this because I don't want you to make any more mistakes."

"What mistakes have I committed?"

"You still want to act as if you don't know what you have done?"

Chen Zhou said nothing and kept looking at Elder Chen.

"It's better if you understand your mistake now, Chen Zhou... or else it will be too late." Elder Chen turned around and said, "Let's go."

Then everyone went out of the practice hall while Chen Zhou kept looking at Elder Chen with his eyes blazing with anger.

Why, dad... why are you always against me? I know I have done a lot of mistakes but... were you there to tell me what I am doing is wrong? No... you were not.

Guang Ya went toward him thinking that Chen Zhou must be feeling bad because his dad is also against him.

"Chen Zhou, are you ok?" asked Guang Ya.

"Yeah. I am fine," replied Chen Zhou.

"Chen Zhou, why is your dad against you? Why does he think that you are doing something wrong? I mean, looking at his reaction, I felt as if... as if..."

"As if I am wrong. As if I have done something that my father doesn't trust me. Right?"

"Yeah. I know that you have done nothing, Chen Zhou. You are doing all this to save Feng Yun Hall, but he still thinks that you are wrong. Why?"

That's a logical question. I didn't know that Guang Ya would as such a sensible question. Let's see how Chen Zhou is going to answer her. Thought Yin Xiu.

"I don't know, Guang Ya. I have been thinking about the same thing since childhood. He always treated me like this. He always prioritized everyone's happiness above mine... actually not everyone but Chang An especially. For him, Chang An was above everyone. In childhood, I thought that if I'll be close to Chang An, then maybe my dad would start liking me... loving me. So, I became friends with him but his behaviour toward me never changed. I did everything to make him accept me... but nothing worked. Maybe it's because he thinks that I am like my uncle. After all, I was brought up by him... or maybe, something is wrong with me only," said Chen Zhou.

"No, Chen Zhou. There is nothing wrong with you," said Guang Ya while keeping her hand on Chen Zhou's shoulder.

Chen Zhou removes Guang Ya's hand from his shoulder and says, "You don't have to show any sympathy for me, Guang Ya. I am sure that there is something that my dad found in Chang An but he couldn't find it in me. I don't know what is missing inside me."

Guang Ya was about to say something when suddenly, she heard someone saying, "I guess that is a heart."

Chen Zhou, Guang Ya, and Yin Xiu turned their faces toward the source of that voice. It was no one else but Bai Cao.

Bai Cao smiled and went near them and said, "Actually, a pure heart."

"What do you mean, Bai Cao? What are you talking about?" asked Guang Ya.

"Were you guys not talking about what is in my brother which is missing in Chen Zhou? I am sorry but I could not help but overhear your conversation."

"Yeah, we were. But what did you mean by saying what you said?"

"Actually, I just told you what is missing in Chen Zhou."

"So, you are saying that Chen Zhou does not have a heart?" asked Yin Xiu.

"No. I am not saying that he does not have a heart. He does have a heart. Well, he has a cold heart... a stone heart without feelings but... he does have a heart... I am not denying it. I am just saying that he does not have a pure heart. A heart that can feel others' pain especially... their dear one's pain. A heart that knows the value of family... parents... friends, and love. And I guess that elder Chen found that kind of a heart inside my brother which was and is obviously missing inside Chen Zhou."

"If you have forgotten, Bai Cao, then let me remind you that your brother too was once a heartless person... a stone-hearted person," said Yin Xiu in Chen Chou's defence

"Just say one thing, Yin Xiu. Was he a heartless person or a stone-hearted person? He can't be both."

"Why? Are they not the same thing?"

"No. They are not. A heartless person means that he does not have a heart and a stone-hearted person means that he has a heart but of stone. So, answer my question now."

"He was a stone-hearted person like Chen Zhou."

"Yeah. You are right. He was a stone-hearted person but not like Chen Zhou. He was stone-hearted towards the Feng Yun Hall students and his enemies, but he was soft-hearted at the same time towards the people he cared about. For example, Chen Zhou. Am I not right, Chen Zhou? Was he not soft and good toward you?"

Hearing that Chen Zhou smirked and lowered his head.

Looking at his reaction, it felt as if he knew what Bai Cao was going to say.

"Yes, he was," replied Chen Zhou while raising his head.

"I proved everything I said, right. Now, I'll do for what I came."

"Wait a minute, Bai Cao," Yin Xiu yelled. "Are you saying that Chen Zhou does not care about others?"

Chen Zhou kept looking at Bai Cao with a smile. Even though Bai Cao was not looking at Chen Zhou, she could feel that he is looking at her and it was weirding her out. Even Guang Ya noticed Chen Zhou gazing upon Bai Cao but she did not think about it much.

Bai Cao shook her head and said, "I never actually said that, Yin Xiu. I just said that my brother cares for people he loves because he has a pure heart and elder Chen saw that."

Chen Zhou was still looking at Bai Cao and Guang Ya was looking at Chen Zhou. Guang Ya could see that Chen Zhou was slowly and slowly getting impressed by Bai Cao. She was finding it strange and somewhere, she was jealous because of how Chen Zhou was looking at Bai Cao.

"But you indirectly did mean to say that Chen Zhou is not caring. Didn't you?" said Yin Xiu.

Bai Cao was about to answer Yin Xiu's question when suddenly, Guang Ya said, "Enough, Yin Xiu. We don't have time for this. And you Bai Cao, why did you come back?"

Bai Cao said nothing and went near a bench kept behind Guang Ya.

Guang Ya turned back and saw Bai Cao picking her bag up.

"I came back because I forgot to take my bag. Well, I'll be leaving now," said Bai Cao.

She was about to walk out of the practice hall when suddenly, she heard Guang Ya calling her by saying, "Wait, Bai Cao."

Bai Cao turned back and asked, "What happened, Guang Ya."

"Nothing. Just want to inform you that... I won't show any mercy."

Bai Cao smiled and said, "Nor will I. Well, Yin Xiu, maybe I indirectly did mean to say that Chen Zhou does not care about anyone."

After saying that, Bai Cao went out. Chen Zhou looked impressed by Bai Cao.

There is something in this girl which I have seen in no other girl... and it is attracting me a lot.

On the other side, Guang Ya went out of the practice hall and was walking in the corridor while thinking...

Why was Chen Zhou looking at Bai Cao like that? He never looked at me like that... Then why did he look at Bai Cao that way? Ahh!!! I need some fresh air.

She went towards the garden.

Soon she reached there. She was about to go out in the garden but suddenly, she stopped when her eyes fell upon a girl.

She was no one else but Bai Cao. Bai Cao was buying some ice creams for everyone.

After a few minutes, the ice cream man stretches his hand to give Bai Cao ice creams kept in the packet. Bai Cao takes the packet with one hand and gives him the money with another. The rain started pouring as Bai Cao gives the money to the ice cream man.

Bai Cao was about to untie her scarf to protect herself from getting wet but before she could do that, she realized that the raindrops were no more falling on her. She raised her head to know the reason and saw a black jacket held by someone.

Bai Cao smiled as she knew who it was. She turned her face to her right and said, "Thank You!"

The person smiled and said, "You know that you don't need to say that."

That person was no one else but Ting Hao.

"Let's go before we get drenched," said Ting Hao.

They were about to run towards the car but before they could, they saw their car coming towards them and Chang An was driving it. They waited there for a few seconds for the car to reach and as the car reached near them, they sat inside it.

"Oh my God!! You both are all drenched," said Ting Yi while giving Bai Cao and Ting Hao some tissues to wipe themselves.

"Yeah, we are, but your ice cream is safe," said Bai Cao.

Hearing that everyone started laughing and Chang An drove the car toward their house.

Guang Ya was still looking at them thinking, Should I be happy seeing her happy, after all, she is still like my sister, or should I be sad seeing her happy, after all, she is my enemy now.

She smiled and said, "It looks like I am happy seeing her happy." Then she went out into the garden.

While on the other side, everyone was on their way to their home. Bai Cao was looking outside the window enjoying the cold breeze after the rain. that's when her eyes fell upon a hospital. as she was looking at the hospital, suddenly her eyes widened.

"Stop the car, brother. Right now," said Bai Cao.

Hearing that Chang An stops the car immediately and turns his face to ask, "what happened, Bai Cao?"

Bai Cao kept looking outside the window while saying, "Is that senior brother Ruo Bai and senior brother Chu Yuan?"

Everyone started looking outside the window.

"I believe they are," said Xiao Ying.

"But why are they coming out of the hospital?" said Bai Cao.

Hearing that Ting Hao turned his face toward Bai Cao. He could see Bai Cao's concern in her eyes and it was obviously for Ruo Bai.

He sighed and said with a smile, "Let's go to them and ask these questions to them only."

"We don't really need to do that, I suppose, Ting Hao," said Chang An.

"We have to, Chang An. We must."

"As you wish."

Saying that Chang An drove the car towards the hospital and stopped just in front of Ruo Bai and Chu Yuan. They all came out of the car except for Elder Chen and Guo Guo as they were still clueless about what is going on.

"What are you guys doing here?" asked Ruo Bai.

"This is what we want to know. What are you guys doing in the US and when did you two come here?" asked Ting Hao.

"It has been a week since we came here," replied Chu Yuan.

"But why? And why did you two come to this hospital? What is going on?"

"Actually, we came here..." Chu Yuan could not finish saying as Ruo Bai stopped him by holding his hand.

"We came here to the hospital because I fell to the ground and hurt my hand badly. So, we came here just to check whether I have any fractures or not," said Ruo Bai.

"But why are you two here in the US?"

"We came here because of my check-ups. You know that I have been in the US when I was in a coma. So, the doctor who was the head of my treatments told me and asked me to come here for a final check-up."

"But was Senior Chu Yuan not the head doctor for your treatment?" asked Yi Feng.

"Yeah, he was and he still is. He is the only one who asked me to come to the US for the check-up."

"So, where are you two living right now?" asked Ting Hao.

"In a hotel nearby," said Chu Yuan.

"Well, why don't you both come and live with us?"

"Senior Ting Hao, we really don't need to do this," whispered Yi Feng.

"We must," said Ting Hao.

"As you wish."

"Actually, it's not necessary, Ting Hao. We can live in the hotel only," said Ruo Bai.

"No, Ruo Bai, you are coming with us. Why waste money when you can live in your friends' house? And we have a lot of rooms."

"Okay. Then you just send me the address. We will come there with our stuff."

"Okay. Come before it's very late. Or else we won't eat dinner."

"Done. We will reach there before dinner."

"See you guys soon."

Then they all went on their way.

In the night.

Everyone was waiting for Ruo Bai and Chu Yuan. The dinner was almost ready.

On the other side, in the hotel. Ruo Bai and Chu Yuan were checking out of the hotel when a receptionist came to them and said, "Sir, your cab is here."

"Oh! Thank you so much for informing us," said Chu Yuan.

Then both Chu Yuan and Ruo Bai sat in the cab and went toward Ting Hao's house.

"Chu Yuan, don't tell them anything about my condition," said Ruo Bai.

"But why, Ruo Bai? For how long are you going to hide this truth?" asked Chu Yuan.

"Chu Yuan, they already have a lot of problems right now. I don't want to add to it anything which will create more problems for them. And yeah, I won't be hiding it for very long. I will tell them everything when this Feng Yun Hall problem is finished."

"Ruo Bai, I hope you know that according to the doctors, you don't have much time left."

"I know that, Chu Yuan. But I need to wait till their problem ends."

"And what if your time ends before their problem? What if they will get to know about your condition after losing you?"

"Then I will be the only person in the world who is happy because he died. At least I died without giving my friends any stress."

"And what about your love? What about the girl you love, Ruo Bai?"

Hearing that Ruo Bai lowered his face and said, "I will apologise to her for everything." 

Chu Yuan shook his head in disappointment and sadness at the same time.

Ruo Bai was looking outside the window while thinking, I will try to spend most of my time with her till I am alive. But I can't let her know about my condition nor about my feelings. I will try my best not to tell her about my feelings. But... will I be able to control myself when I will see her?

Soon they reached Ting Hao's home. Ting Hao welcomed them happily while everyone was pretending to be happy including Bai Cao while Guo Guo was thinking, How many characters are there in their lives? 

They had their dinner and it was time to eat something sweet. So, the girls were going to serve ice-creams to everyone when Ting Hao said, "Girls, you all have done a lot of hard work making dinner. Please let us boys do this."

"Okay," said Ting Yi and dragged Bai Cao outside into the garden.

"Guo Guo, take elder Chen with you please," said Chang An.

"Yeah," said Guo Guo and went out into the garden with elder Chen.

Ting Hao, Chang An, and Yi Feng were putting ice-creams in small bowls.

"We will help too," said Ruo Bai.

"If you want to then, ok," said Ting Hao.

Everyone took two bowls with them. One for themselves and one for the other person whom they want to give.

Ruo Bai went out into the garden first and Chu Yuan and Yi Feng followed him out.

Yi Feng gave the other bowl to Xiao Ying. Chu Yuan gave it to Elder Chen. While Ruo Bai was looking at Bai Cao. Bai Cao was sitting where she always used to sit with Ting Hao. Ruo Bai went near her and beside her where Ting Hao used to sit.

"You should not be sitting here, Senior Brother Ruo Bai," said Bai Cao.

"Why should I not?" asked Ruo Bai.

"Because this place belongs to someone else."

"And is that someone else Ting Hao?"

"It does not matter to you."

Ruo Bai smiled and said, "Bai Cao, I am sorry... I am sorry for everything. Please give me a chance."

Hearing that Bai Cao turned her face towards Ruo Bai.

On the other side, Chang An and Ting Hao were coming out into the garden when suddenly Chang An bumps into Ruo Bai's suitcase and the bag kept on it fell to the ground. Everything which was inside the bag was now on the ground. Ting Hao didn't realise it and kept walking while Chang An started putting everything back inside the bag and that is when he found a hospital file.

On the other side, Ting Hao stopped right in front of the gate. The reason why he stopped was Ruo Bai and Bai Cao sitting together.

Ting Hao would have gone near them if he would have seen Bai Cao angry at Ruo Bai because of sitting beside her. But his feets stopped because he saw Bai Cao smiling and taking the bowl from Ruo Bai's hand. Both of them seemed happy and after seeing that Ting Hao was sad but still, he brought a smile to his face because he did not want to show his pain.

That's when Chang An came over there. He first looked at Bai Cao and Ruo Bai, then he looked at Ting Hao. He could see through Ting Hao... he could see Ting Hao's pain but he said nothing and went straight near Ting Yi.

Guo Guo was looking at Ting Hao all this while.

Now that even Chang An is saying nothing to him... I should go and console him

Guo Guo smiled and went towards Ting Hao.

She looked at Ting Hao and smiled then she too started looking at Ruo Bai and Bai Cao like Ting Hao.

"Her Ex?" asked Guo Guo.

"Yeah," replied Ting Hao while nodding his head.

Guo Guo turned her face towards Ting Hao and said, "Jealous?"

Ting Hao shook his head to say no.

"Sad?"

Ting Hao shook his head again to say no.

"Painful... to see her with someone else?"

This time, Ting Hao did not shake his head. He lowered his head and as he did that, a teardrop fell off his eyes.

Guo Guo held Ting Hao by his arm and turned him towards herself while saying, "Look at me."

Ting Hao did turn towards Guo Guo but he did not raise his head.

"Ting Hao, raise your head and look at my eyes."

Ting Hao still did not raise his head.

"Ting Hao, give me chance."

Hearing that, Ting Hao raised his head. Seeing that, Guo Guo smiled and went close to Ting Hao. She whispered something in his ears because of which Ting Hao's eyes widened. After whispering, she smiled and looked at Ting Hao then suddenly, she hugged him. Ting Hao did nothing for a few seconds but after that, he started patting her back with one hand.

That's when Bai Cao looked at them. Her eyes were filled with questions after seeing them hugging each other.

Should I give a chance to Senior Brother Ruo Bai? Looks like Senior Ting Hao is giving a chance to Guo Guo. Should I too?

TO BE CONTINUED