Public Display of Affection

The next day…

The sun rose around 6 hours in the morning, and Beifong Li was up already for at least one hour, brandishing his shinai. The weather was starting to b good, fortunately, today wasn't going to be a rainy day.

Beifong Li grabbed his towel and wiped out the sweat from his face and arms. That was his last training before leaving the Bunker, he wasn't sure what he was going to do. If he would camp near the gate and keeping bringing food and selling items to the people inside or just stay outside and bring somethings when he was coming back, because one day he would have to come back, plus he was leaving with the intention to bring back some meat to his parents and items, so they could make some money out of it. Thanks to his parents he had a good life, now it was the time to return the favor.

He left for the bathroom where he took a good and cold shower. Although he preferred the hot one, he wasn't going to have that luxury outside, and he knew that. That's why since the beginning of the year he chose to take cold showers, so could get used to it. That was the idea, although no matter how long he did that, he couldn't get to like cold showers, but there was something good on it, he noticed that after a cold one, he was always alert, never sleepy.

After a long and cold shower, he left, he used the towel to dry himself, after wearing his underwear he wore his gift, it was a beautiful robe indeed, and the tiger's face on the back was well done a really good job.

He put the other robe in a sack, put it in only one of his shoulders, his shinai was on his left leg, so if anything happened he could take it off quickly, with his main hand, the right one, although it was made of wood, maybe in the danger he could turn it into a real one.

With a fast pace, he arrived at Sun Mei's house, a big and majestic one. He did know she was a wealthy person, but he didn't care about it, he only discovered that a few days of being her friend, when he walked with her to the house.

When he arrived there the only thing he could do was waiting for her.

After some time was possible to see some lights, and windows being opened, the whole family was woken up to see their child leave for her adventure, what they didn't expect was what happened after she left the house. With a happy voice, she said goodbye, to each one of them.

When she opened the front door, she saw him. It was Beifong Li in a black robe, sleeveless for some reason with quite some muscles, and a wooden sword by his side.

When she saw him two things happened, first, she got a little bit red, she appreciated his act and her second action was to mock him because they were that close.

"Ohhh, I see a knight, he is going to protect me with a wooden sword, just be careful to don't break it" After that she laughed.

She got close to him and when that happened, her father appeared at the gate. Watching them with his eyebrows frowned and crossed arms, he spoke out of the sudden.

"3 months Sun Mei."

She got a little sad, then grabbed Beifong Li's hand and walked away, their hands were interlaced and she was holding tight, they went to the Jade Dragon's gate. They were the only living form over there. The gate was huge, and as in its name had imprinted on it a Dragon, made out of Jade, it was a green and long animal. All the gates were considered somehow sacred, that's why they weren't stolen or destroyed.

Sun Mei spoked while looking down.

"Later I can explain why I did what I did."

"No problem." He smiled.

After seen that scene of those young too, Sun Tzu punched the wall and went back to the house. There, where he had hit, it was destroyed. That was the strength of a man who took the Golden Tiger path.

*********

Back to the gate, Sun Mei looked into their hands interlaced, like a couple. She got a little red and let go of his hand. She turned to Beifong Li with a sad face, and her chick was blushed, the tone now was a soft pink.

"I don't even know how to tell you that Beifong…" she was looking at the floor.

"Just do like I do, say it straightforward." He smiled at her, raising her head by holding her chin. Obviously, after a small eye contact, she looked away. She then interlaced her own hands, and with a sad and pretty low voice, she said it.

"My father arranged my marriage…"

"What, my father didn't tell me he talked to your father."

"That's exactly the problem, it isn't with you they are marrying me. It's with Xiao Yan…" The sadness was visible on her face as well.

"Xiao Yan, I know that name from somewhere..." Beifong Li knew this name but didn't who belonged to.

"It's the one that went talk to you last night."

"Why? He is not smart, nor strong. I have no idea what your father is doing."

"He thinks he will follow his grandfather steps, and become mayor, what probably will happen…"

"So?"

"So, he thinks that the best for me, which I can't agree with. I can't let him decide who I'm going to marry, and I told him that, sort of."

"Well said, you are learning to stand on your own feet." He continued.

"So, should I kill your bestowed or your father?" his face was neutral.

"My bestowed…" she said without think

"No! wait, no one, you are not going to kill them. I have to figure this out by myself." Said Sun Mei closing her fist.

"Alright, then I'm going to help you." Replied Beifong Li with a smile on his face.

"No, you can't intrude on this, I'm not going let you get in trouble because of me." She said. Her eyes were sharp. The intention to deny this marriage was real."

"They can't kill me, they are not that strong…" The Beifong boy answered like he didn't care about the others.

"Some of them are Golden Tiger, including my father… Although you might think highly of yourself, I won't let you even try this. And that's it." She was with a cute mad expression now, after that she left to the gate, Beifong Li tried to speak.

"But…" She looked at him with her eyebrows frowned and that was enough, the young man from the Beifong family was quiet. Li ran towards the girl which was going ahead, and grabbed both of her hands, he interlaced them with his own and looking at her eyes he said.

"When we were younger we were sworn to help each other, in any circumstance. I can't go back on my word, Sun Mei."

"How could I look at you if I did that?" He asked her with tenderness in his eyes. This time she didn't look away.

She looked at him, and the bow that was on her shoulder fell to the ground. After a few seconds, he hugged her tight. And she did the same to him he took a little bit of space and kissed her forehead, while she suddenly reddened.

"Now it's time to go. We can't stay here forever…and we will figure something out…I promise."

"Yes!" she answered while almost crying.

Both went through the Jade Dragon gate, Beifong Li was holding his sword already, while Sun Mei was with her bow, and an arrow was already in place, in case she needed.