"Cheng! Are you sure it's morning? It looks like midnight!"
"Worry not my dear Xiu! I've checked and rechecked my clock!"
"Then why is it so dark? Why can't I see the sun?"
"Princess! Don't tell me you've never been up at 4 am? It is always dark at this time!"
"Is your brother playing a joke on us? How can we train in the dark?"
"Xiu! Sometimes I feel you're an alien that has just landed on our planet Earth! Your Highness! I have told you again and again that this time is best for undivided attention and also the air at this time is the freshest as compared to the rest of the day. And I believe that you would know this saying; 'Early to bed, early to rise. Makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise!"
"Pffft!" Xiu giggled, "I can understand rising early in the morning, but rising at mid night? This is beyond my understanding!"
Their chatter continued till they reached the training ground. Students were quietly doing their own training at a distance from each other.
"What should I do Cheng?"
"I'll start my own training. Dong would come over and guide you himself."
Cheng started her training. Her stances and moves were fluid. They looked majestic and perfect to Xiu. 'Wow! Cheng is amazing! Studying at university, and training in Martial Arts! What a combo!' She wondered how long would it take her to reach Cheng's level.
"Good Morning Xiu"
"Good Morning Teacher Dong! Should I copy Cheng and repeat what she's doing?" she asked eagerly.
"Lady Xiu! You need to first build up your stamina and muscles to undergo this training. We'll first start with exercises to condition your body and increase your strength."
"Teacher Dong! Please go easy on me. I've never had any training before and I need to report at the clinic at 8 am, too!"
"Miss Xiu! Here I'm just your teacher, and you, just my student. Whatever you do outside the training-ground, is of no concern to me at the moment. Quick! Down on your hands and start push-ups. I need perfect push-ups! No bent knees, no slouching, perfect straight back! Hurry up! Start NOW!"
By the time the sun rose, Xiu was drenched in sweat, and still her push-ups were way below the standard level.
"All right Xiu! Now you need to run 5 laps of the training ground."
"WHAT? 5 laps?" Xiu almost fainted as she took a look at the huge training ground once again.
"6 Laps!!"
"What the…"
"7 Laps! Keep protesting and the number is going to keep on increasing."
By the time she was allowed to leave, she could barely stand. Cheng had to drag her to home to have breakfast.
Mom was furious.
"Why didn't you stop him Cheng? Look at her! She can barely stand!"
"Mom! You know Bro well. He listens to nobody while he's training students."
"Let him come home! Let's see how he can have his breakfast today!"
"Xiu! Child! I know that you're really tired and your body must be aching like hell, but my dear! This is for your own good. You'll get used to the pain in a week or so. I'm sure you've put in hard work to become a doctor. I just wish you would put the same hard work and dedication in the training, too. It would not only benefit your health, but also provide you with a skill to help you protect your self, God forbid, if the need arises."
Uncle Ming explained patiently.
Xiu realised that he was right. The training would be beneficial to her. It wasn't going to help them. So, she agreed grudgingly.
"But if it doesn't improve by the end of this week, I'll stop training! Also, I really can't go to the clinic today. Can I just take a holiday today?"
"Not at any cost, Lady Xiu!" chipped in Dong, who had just walked in.
"We've lined up patients already, who need to be checked, and their medicines prescribed. Who's going to check them up?"
"Teacher Dong! ..."
"I'm Teacher in the training ground only! At home, I'm just Dong!"
"Bro Dong! You should be ashamed of your self! First you made her work out so much that she's exhausted. Now you're still expecting her to go to the clinic," Cheng was angry beyond words.
"You keep out of it little kitten! I'm just trying to make her strong enough to look after herself well, and to be responsible towards her commitments. She has to learn this, even if it is the hard way. Otherwise, others would still take advantage of her, like her family has been doing for so long."
Everybody went quiet for some time. Strangely, Xiu felt warmth enveloping her heart. 'So that's how one feels like when their family takes care of them.' To have someone to look out for her was something new for her. New, but over-whelming!
It was Xiu who broke the silence in the room.
"Brother Dong! I am very grateful that you are looking out for me. I will put my heart and soul into whatever you instruct me. You are right. I need to grow up, become strong and face the world. Hiding behind someone's back is not going to work for me anymore. I need to become independent and strong."
"Good girl! That's the spirit! We'll always support you Xiu, but you need to be strong for yourself."
"I understand Brother Dong. Please take care of me in future, too!"
"We all would! Now can you please request my Mom to let me have breakfast, otherwise I'll have to remain hungry till lunch time!"
And laughter soon filled the room.
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A young man entered their hideout in a messy state. His clothes were dirty and wrinkled, and hair was a mess, too.
"Have you found her yet?" the older man asked.
"I would have brought her with me if I had found her," said the young man bitterly.
"Then leave and come back only when you've found her!" the older man was indignant.
"You know what? YOU made me marry her. I just found out that the Amah had been instructed by you to force me into marrying her. I did not want to marry her. No! I did not want to marry ANYONE at all. You MADE me marry her. Right now I am so annoyed, I could kill her the moment I see her!"
"And you think I'd leave you living after that! She's my goddaughter, and I dare you to harm even a single hair on her head. I'd forget that you're my only disciple!"
"Teacher! How could you do that?"
"You know very well that I can't meet her, but I love her as much as I would have loved my biological daughter. I could only look at her from a distance, look out for her from a distance. I thought you'd be a good candidate for her as a husband and would look after her when I'm not around, but may be I was wrong!" the older man was utterly disappointed.
The young man was quiet.
"Teacher! I don't hate her, but I feel I'm not ready for any responsibility. I don't know her well….."
The teacher interrupted joyfully, "I'm glad you don't dislike her. Spend some time with her. May be you'd like her. You have seen her as much as I have from a distance, but may be if you stay with her, near her, you'd like her. Promise me, you'd give her a chance!"
The younger man thought for a long while and then said,
"I promise I'll give it a try."
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