Chapter 62 - SIXTY-TWO

Chapter 62: Chapter SIXTY-TWO

"What’s going on?"

"Beats me."

"I think Xin Linhua started it. Phantom isn’t such a person, Xin Linhua must have pushed him this far."

"Well, I’ll be damned."

The team slowly walks towards the duo. The Pyromancers and the Geomancers haven’t left yet. Mostly to watch how the others train, and partly because they’re sick of the Infirmary smell.

They stop a few distance away. Partly to keep themselves away from the scuffle and partly to ensure Xin Linhua doesn’t take out the anger on them in any way.

"Here’s what I don’t get." Rong Yizhan stands slowly to his feet "Why are you so angry? You’re always so calm and collected, never ever gets your riled up. So this...is your weak spot, isn’t it?"

"Well, you just got on my fucking nerves." Xin Linhua throws off his coat "Congratulations. It takes a lot for that to happen."

"We haven’t beaten each other up in a long while." Rong straightens up "You really want to do this? Right now?"

"Don’t worry, as always, I’ll try not to hit your face. I’ll be the one at a loss."

The whole thing escalates faster than anyone can even process.

Someone tries to intervene, maybe pull them apart before things escalate even more, but Gao Shi drags them back.

"Why are you stopping me!?"

"Don’t intervene." Gao Shi pulls him back "It’s not our place to do so."

"Are you crazy? Fighting is prohibited–"

"They’re in the Stadium." Gao Shi cuts him off "It’s legal now. They can kill each other if that’s what it takes for them to calm the fuck down."

"Seriously...What if they injure one another?"

"He’s right." Hirano sighs "Don’t intervene. It’s not like it’s the first time they’re clawing at each other’s neck. They do this all the time inside the dormitory, you can hear it from outside."

"Okay, but Xin Linhua can’t exactly fight off a C-Rank, maybe a D-Rank. How’s he supposed to beat up a triple S-Rank? His Sentinel, no less?"

"You’re a fool." Naka shakes his head in exasperation "They’ve been fighting for minutes now, yet Phantom hasn’t won nor lost. Xin Linhua refuses to subdue him with guiding. You call that fighting? I call it playing around. They’ll be done soon."

Indeed, since the squabble started, Xin Linhua only strikes at non-fatal areas. He’s avoiding the face like he said he would, but that doesn’t mean he’s holding back at all. Unlike the previous fights, he might actually try to kill Rong Yizhan!

His opponent however, is extremely relaxed. He’s on the defense, watching how his Guide moves fluidly without hindrance.

Can a wastrel who does nothing but chase after women be this good at fighting? Absolutely not.

Xin Linhua wasn’t like this before, as far as he found out, the man couldn’t even take a punch. One strike to the head and he collapsed, only to wake up later and break off his engagement and drag him into a game of cat and mouse.

Yeah, that’s not normal. Especially since Xin Linhua woke up with zero side effects, a clear gaze and functioning brain. If he wasn’t proactive, one night suspect he has a double personality.

"Xin Linhua." Rong Yizhan grabs his right wrist "You have a lot you’re hiding, don’t you?"

"Let go!"

Xin Linhua grabs the man’s shirt, tripping him over. He pins Rong Yizhan beneath him, folding the man’s arms down on his chest.

"I still don’t get it." Rong Yizhan doesn’t fight back to take control "How did someone who was raised with love, and everything he could ever ask for end up becoming this? Trauma, self harm, insomnia. Xin Linhua, what exactly are you hiding?"

Xin Linhua’s jaw ticks slightly. Every single question he asked Rong Yizhan every time they fought has been thrown right back in his own face!

"What’s it to you? What right do you think you have to feel sorry for me?"

"And what right do you think you have to act like you know every damn thing?" Rong Yizhan counters "I can’t feel sorry for you, I can’t ask you questions, but you can do those things to me? What right do you think you have, Xin Linhua?"

Xin Linhua has no words. His grip tightens so much, Rong Yizhan’s pale wrists have two red ring marks on it.

"Fine." Xin Linhua stands "I won’t ever question you again. Your life, your business, your issues have nothing to do with me. From now on, don’t cross the line you just drew between us."

Xin Linhua dusts himself off and walks towards the stand.

"I drew a line?" Rong Yizhan’s words stop him "Xin Linhua, look within yourself and ask, who exactly drew a line between us? You started this, you don’t get to put an end to it."

Xin Linhua clenches his fists. He resumes walking, shutting himself off from whatever noise comes from behind.

Rong Yizhan watches his retreating figure silently. Maybe it’s a good thing he can’t see anything. He doesn’t want to see Xin Linhua turn his back to him.

"Hey..." Hirano walks to his side "What just happened?"

"Nothing." Rong Yizhan quietly dusts himself off.

"I know you don’t talk much, but it’s unlike you to provoke someone, especially Xin Linhua. Did something happen?"

"Nothing you should be worried about. Everything is under control."

"Well, if you say so." Hirano pats his shoulder "We should get going. It’s almost night fall."

"Head out first. I’ll lock the place."

"Alright."

With questions in their hearts and curiosity gnawing at their souls, the Sentinels file after one another and exit the stadium, glancing back once to check on him.

Rong Yizhan is left alone in the large, quiet and open space.

"You...are in distress?"

That familiar, yet distorted voice echoes from deep within him.

"I am..." Rong Yizhan stares at his hand "Why do I keep doing this to him?"

"You...are foolish. You mean...one thing and then...you do the opposite."

"I don’t need the likes of you to tell me what to do, so shut the fuck."

"Do you think...this is helping either of you?"

"I don’t know...I truly don’t know...but I have to try...I have to."

"I...hope you do...not regret your...decision."

"Funny..." Rong Yizhan clenches his fist "I’m already regretting everything."