Chapter 42 FORTY-TWO

Chapter 42: Chapter FORTY-TWO

"How did the meeting go?"

Director Chen massages his forehead.

"Well, it was chaotic, loud and it went up in flames." He says "I even had to lie to cover for you."

"Lie? About what?"

"I told them you’ve formed a bond with Phantom." The man stares into his eyes "And bonded pairs can’t be separated."

Xin Linhua falters. His mouth hangs open in disbelief.

"You did not say that, did you?"

"I very much did." The man stands "So, Xin Linhua, you have to bond with him as soon as possible. The six month mark is almost up. Don’t tell me you can’t form a bond before the deadline."

"Says who!?" Xin Linhua grits his teeth "Fine. If the mountain won’t come to laozi, laozi will go to the mountain. By the end of winter."

"Good." Director Chen grins.

"That can’t be all, I’m sure."

"Yes." The man’s expression turns serious "The institute acknowledged Project S. They want you to train some Sentinels–"

"Wait." Xin Linhua intervenes "Train? Like, venture into rifts with amateurs? That’s dead ass risky as fuck."

"There’s nothing we can do about it. It’s the condition they gave. If you want to stay with your Sentinel, you have to train others."

"Director, I don’t do group work." Xin Linhua groans "They’ll hold me back."

"You’re training them, that’s your main focus. Don’t even think of leaving them behind in a rift."

Xin Linhua’s gaze darkens. He turns his head to the side. He was just thinking of doing exactly that!

"Seriously!" Director Chen sees through his mask "I’m telling you, if someone dies under your watch, you’ll be forced to annul your pairing with Phantom."

"Fine! Fine! Holy hell!" Xin Linhua throws his hands into the air "No one dies under my watch, got it."

"Good. Now, let’s go meet the candidates."

"They already picked them out?"

"Yes."

Director Chen guides them out of this office.

"Where are they?"

"The Central Stadium." The man replies "The institute hasn’t made an official statement yet, so the establishment of this team is known only to the selected candidates."

"Senior Asahi, is he part of the team?"

"Yes, how’d you know?"

Xin Linhua has no reply. He had spoken about the establishment of the team with Hirano more than once because he thought they made a public announcement. Since Hirano responded every time, he did think it was a secret. Now he knows.

"I took a guess." Xin Linhua lies smoothly "Naturally, he’s talented so the institute will sort him out."

"True. There are a lot of talents in the institute. Hirano is one of them."

A tram ride to the central stadium, they walk through the long hallway.

"You’ll be training C-Ranks." Director Chen explains as they walk in "For now, it’s only the Sentinels. Soon, we’ll have their guides join them."

"Understood."

The metallic hallway gives way to a large familiar space. The Central Stadium.

"Xin Linhua."

Xin Linhua turns to his left. A figure leaps down from the stands, landing right beside him.

"Senior!" Xin Linhua grins "I should probably start calling you junior now. I’m gonna be your teacher now."

"Haha!" Hirano laughs "Whatever you want."

"Xin Linhua." Rong Yizhan suddenly pulls him back.

"What is it?"

The answer provides itself. Two painstakingly familiar faces. Xin Linhua turns to Director Chen.

"Director Chen." He grits out "I might just quit the institute all at once."

"You can’t." The man brushes him off "It doesn’t matter what past you have with them, you’ll have to set it aside for now."

"Easier said than done." Xin Linhua clenches his fist "I might actually leave him to die in a rift."

"Go ahead and try."

Xin Linhua lowers his gaze. He holds himself back, trying hard not to lose control.

"I did say we’d meet again, but this was fast." An irritating voice echoes "I guess it’s fate."

Gao Shi slowly descends the steps, his hands behind his back, and a grin on his face. Obnoxious human.

"Fate? Then don’t die under my watch. That’ll be the excuse I give the institute." Xin Linhua turns to the other figure "Rong Yufei."

"Xin Linhua." The figure nods "Good to see you again."

Xin Linhua’s eyebrows shoot up. That’s it? He was expecting more– there’s always more with Rong Yufei.

"All right." The Director clears his throat "Since we’ve gotten the introductions down, take some time to familiarize with one another."

"We’ll do." Gao Shi nods.

"Your training starts any day." The man continues "There’s no rift today, in fact, it’s been real quiet compared to the other days. You can–"

"Director!" Both Hirano and Xin Linhua panic at the same time "Don’t jinx it."

"You’re both too superstitious." The man shakes his head "Just because I said it’s been really quiet for a while now, you think a rift is going to open up?"

The crew stays quiet for a few seconds. Indeed, there’s no loud alarms blaring, there’s no rift opening up, and no humans have died yet. Quiet.

"See? Superstitious. It doesn’t work."

"Whatever." Xin Linhua waves him off "Since we’re done here, Yaras? and I will leave first."

"What’s the rush?" Gao Shi blocks him "It’s not like you have anything better to do."

"I actually do."

"Really?"

"Anything’s better than breathing in the same room with you."

Gao Shi turns speechless. He blinks a few times. Then he laughs. Hard.

"Oh, you’re cute." He pats Xin Linhua’s shoulder.

Xin Linhua snaps. His eyes darts to the hand on his shoulder. His body moves immediately, his fingers wrapping around Goa Shi’s wrist. He pries the hand off his shoulder, twisting it sharply.

"Shit!" Gao Shi cusses "Let go."

"Not really good with taking orders."

"Xin Linhua. This is the central stadium. The institute’s laws don’t apply here."

"Attack me?" Xin Linhua feels incredulous "Try me. Let’s see what faster– your flames coming from upfront, or the blade I have between your spines."

Gao Shi stills. There’s really a blade fixated in between his spine.

"Okay, that’s enough from both of you." Director Chen breaks the stalemate "Stadium or not, killing is still prohibited."

Xin Linhua shoves his captive aside. The figure staggers forward, regaining his footing after stumbling seven feet. He dusts himself.

"Feisty." He turns to Xin Linhua "It’s really driving me crazy."

"Director–"

A loud, familiar and dreadful alarm blares through the air. A rift has opened.

"Damnit!" Xin Linhua cusses "I knew it. The Director jinxed it."

"I did not." The man turns and walks away "Anyway, get out there and deal with it. Your first assignment starts now."

"Got it." Xin Linhua tucks his blade back.

"Oh, and Xin Linhua?"

"Yes, Director?"

"Try not to kill each other."

"I make no promises."