Chapter 55

"Is something wrong with Duan Cai?" Lester asked as he gazed in front of himself and Leon at Duan Cai who was silently practicing his swordsmanship outside behind the mansion.

"Do you ever go home?" Leon glared Lester down with fire in his eyes. For him it was starting to feel like Lester never went home and took advantage of every chance possible to be at the Nexus Mansion to try and run into Duan Cai.

"I think that's irrelevant right now!" Lester tried to defend himself as he refused to turn his head in Leon's direction causing Leon's body to shake slightly from how furious he felt with Lester.

"Don't take the question too lightly!" Leon shouted before pausing for a moment to consider the morning he'd had. Duan Cai had barely spoken to anyone all morning and he had not seen a hair of Bullet around the mansion since he stormed off the property this morning. "I have no idea what's wrong with him and that guy and I'm the last person he'll tell even if I tried to ask."

"Guy?" Lester's mind caught on to the hint of something that made his chest tighten.

"That guy, Bullet. I saw him storm off this morning but I have no idea what happened so don't bother asking me about it. If you want to know anything why don't you just try to find out yourself. I can guarantee you that he wont give it up willingly to me." Leon sighed as he grabbed the back of his neck and turned his head to look away from them both.

"If he wont tell you I doubt he'll tell me anything." Lester forced a smile to his face as his own words hurt as he spoke them. Lester felt well aware of the fact that the others have never truly thought of him as one of them. It was not hard for him to notice how hostile some of them could be while others avoided him every way possible if they could while trying not to be noticeable. The more he thought of it he had already known Duan Cai disliked being physically touched by others on a whim so he did not take Duan Cai's actions as a sign that he disliked him at all but that did not mean that he felt any less hurt by the action. If he walked over and tried to ask any questions about personal matters like Leon had suggested he was already aware that he would be pushed aside if Leon wasn't even able to get an answer so he felt no desire to try and pry.

Lester slowly walked up to where Duan Cai was practicing the sword while trying not to interrupt him. He looked beautiful in the sunlight as his aura gave the sword a shimmering golden glow that was cast along the blade. His movements seemed perfectly graceful and swift as his focus never left his movements in the slightest to glance in their direction.

"Duan Cai?" Lester asked softly as to not startle him while he was holding a blade.

"Hm?" Duan Cai paused in his movements to glance over at Lester.

"Perhaps it's about time to take a break?" Lester asked him while at the same time he felt the desire to watch him further. As much as he desired to continue watching him practice with the sword, however, he knew that Duan Cai had things to take care of today that could not wait for him to enjoy other things.

"Is he back yet?" Duan Cai asked while he tossed his sword to Leon. The sword landed perfectly into Leon's grasp as the man shook his head silently in response to the question.

"Very well.. we'll be heading out. If he arrives as well or not will be up to him this time." Duan Cai spoke the words but the other two were confused as to why he was letting Bullet so easily leave the mansion on his own. They knew about the soul connection however they were also aware that Bullet hadn't become a member of the Dragon Syndicate by choice. He had been pulled into it by force and if he chose to do something he was always close by to learn many things that could be dangerous to the group.

"You're just letting him go without even questioning it? What the hell happened last night?" Leon grit his teeth at the idea of letting that man roam around as he pleased.

"Nothing. What are you thinking about?" Duan Cai glared at both of them suspiciously and they both shuffled to change the subject.

"I'll be heading out as well, I got things to do!" Lester blurted out as he tried to escape quickly. His face slightly flushed from his own imagination on a night with Duan Cai.

"No. You. Dont." Leon grabbed Lester by the back of his collar as he had tried to leave to stop him. "You're with us today, light boy."

"Huh? Huuuhhh?!" Lester felt extremely confused and flustered at the thought of spending a day around Duan Cai.

Leon could tell by the look on Lester's face what he was thinking and tighten up his fist. His fist quickly came down hard right on the top of Lester's head causing him to yelp out in pain slightly. One of Lester's eyes teared up slightly as his head turned to look in Duan Cai's direction. He seemed to have no interest in what the two of them were doing and more focused on gazing off into the distance. Was he day dreaming or cloud gazing? Lester desired to know the answer but felt it was best to hold the question in close to his heart.

"That's enough you two.. Matters are serious right now." Duan Cai said as his head slowly turned towards them again. His gaze felt heavy as his eyes looked almost dangerous to go against. It almost felt like they were being stared down by a territorial beast.

"You got it." Leon put both his hands up in the air in defeat. He was not willing to go against Duan Cai even on a good day so when he was upset about something he felt like there was nothing that would make him push the limits with him.