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Chapter 12

Jinzhou Lu Wang Wei wasted no time in summoning the soldiers under his command to find and gather the men on the conscription. Most of the men in the list up to this critical time, did not show up yet. Aside from tracking the names in the conscription, he campaigned in every village of Chixian Shenzhou - near and far. He called upon all men, noblemen or peasants, to join the Imperial Army.

After a tough and tiring campaign around the Empire, Jinzhou Lu Wang Wei returned to the Imperial Army training ground. He saw only a few men lining up to have their names registered. He felt disheartened with what he saw for he expected a great number of men willing to offer their lives for the safety of the Empire. He quickly came down his horse, and handed the bridle to a servant boy who rushed to assist him.

He sighed deeply as he watched the boy put his horse to the cavalry stables. He riveted his eyes to the afternoon sky and, hopelessly, contemplated on its pink and orange hues.

Time was dwindling.

"Jinzhou Lu Wang Wei."

He heard a soft and low voice calling his name, extricating him from his thoughts. He quickly turned to the direction of the voice, and was stunned with whom he saw.

"Ninja boy," he exclaimed in awe. The boy's presence in the imperial army training ground was indeed unexpected.

"I came here to offer my help to the Imperial army in fighting against the Hsein Army," the ninja boy declared as he raised a poster for Jinzhou Lu Wang Wei to look at. It was the poster that was posted in all walls of the Chixian Shenzhou calling for men to join the Imperial army.

Jinzhou Lu Wang Wei was momentarily silenced by ninja boy's statement but he also felt curious. Why did his voice sound odd? It was as if that the boy was controlling the timber of his voice. Was he an ally or an ememy?

"Shall I fall in line and write my name on the list?" The ninja boy gestured his hand to the direction of the registration table.

Jinzhou Lu Wang Wei frowned absentmindedly. He was still skeptical as to the real intentions of the Ninja Boy. Could he be trusted?

"Do you still need to drape yourself in your ninja costume? The imperial army can provide you with better armors and weapons."

Yan Mei Ling was not surprised with Jinzhou Lu Wang Wei's question for she had anticipated that and thus came prepared.

"I will remove my mask," Yan Mei Ling offered without any trace of hesitation.

Jinzhou Lu Wang Wei's body became taut with anticipation. He could hear the strong and furious beat of his heart like a hammer upon a metal.

When the ninja boy finally removed his mask, Jinzhou Lu Wang Wei's eyes widened in shock. It was unbelievable. Truly, unbelievable.. He could not believe that the warrior he had fought on the arena was still a child - possibly a boy of 12.

Jinzhou Lu Wang Wei's gaze narrowed with disbelief as he stared intently at the ninja boy. Judging from the boy's thin and slender body, he almost looked like a female.

If not for the boy's short hair and flat chest, Jinzhou Lu Wang Wei would have swore that he was staring at a girl. Of course, the boy's slender appearance looked deceiving; for in reality, his strength was unbelievably great.

"How old are you?" Jinzhou Lu Wang Wei asked. He thought that his curiosity about the Ninja boy's identity would be alleviated after seeing the boy's face but then he was wrong; in fact, it was intensified.

"I'm 15 years old, Jinzhou," the ninja boy answered in his oddly low voice.

"15?" Jinzhou Lu Wang Wei skeptically asked then he looked at the boy's face to check if he was lying.

A sudden jolt of familiarity came to him - those beautiful eyes, the small wonderfully-shaped nose, and the lips, why were they so temptingly pink?

He felt like running to the Yangtze river and drown himself to death there when he realized that he had been staring at the ninja boy's cheeks for too long. The boy's face flushed deep with embarrassment.

'What could he be possibly thinking? This is absurd! What is happening to me, am I becoming a lunatic like Lord Hsein Mao Dong?'

Jinzhou Lu Wang Wei turned his back at the ninja boy to calm himself. He softly inhaled and exhaled several times before continuing his queries. "What is your real name? Who is your family? Where are you from?"

"I'm Tang Lao Fang. My family - I. . I have no family anymore. They all died after the Hsien clan attacked our village. I lived at the Eastern border of Chixian Shenzhou" Mei Ling answered, trying so hard to hide the nervous quiver in her voice. What if he recognized her? What if he realized that she was lying? Heaven forbids!

Jinzhou Lu Wang Wei could hear the lonely inflection in the boy's voice and, felt sorry for what had happened to the boy's family. He was too young to experience such pain; such loss.

"How about the other ninja, where is he?"

Yan Mei Ling heart almost leapt from her chest due to nervousness but she persisted in appearing and sounding brave. "He is my father. I lose my family - all of them. I am the sole survivor."

"I am sorry, Lao Fang," Jinzhou Wang Wei said sadly when he faced the ninja boy. Genuine remorse was etched on his handsome face.

Yan Mei Ling was momentarily tongue-tied when she looked at the Jinzhou.

Why did he have to be so kind?

Why did it have to be him who would head the campaign where she planned to enlist herself to?

Was this how fate planned to mock her?

"There is no need to apologize for tragedies that can never be undone, Jinzhou. Please allow me into the army so that I can seek revenge and bring back honor to my murdered family."

Jinzhou Lu Wang Wei curiously frowned at the boy's words. "Did you only want to join the army just to seek revenge? For someone as young as you, that is not a good reason. By law, we admit only men who are at least 17 years old and above to the army. I am sorry but I can't allow you to join the army, Lao Fang."

Yan Mei Ling was flustered upon hearing the Jinzhou's refusal to admit her into the army. "Really? I thought you are looking for able-bodied men who are willing to lay their lives for the safety of the Empire. I am a man, and I am able-bodied. Have I not proven myself enough in the arena?"

"Of course, you are a wonderful warrior but you're not a man," Jinzhou Lu Wang Wei said firmly - his eyes doubtful.

Yan Mei Ling stiffened in fear at the Jinzhou's vague statement. Had he discovered her real identity? "What do you mean that I am not a man?"

The Jinzhou critically looked at her for a moment before saying, "You are a still a young boy, a child, and I know you are not 15 years old as what you claimed to be. Judging from the way you look, you could be 12 or possibly younger. Don't concern yourself with the war; enjoy your childhood and let the adults take care of this serious matter. I promise you, Lao Fang, the revenge you seek for your family will be realized."

"Enjoy my childhood?" Yan Mei Ling echoed with incredulity. She opened her mouth as if she was about to blurt a caustic missive. Eventually, she decided to settle for a different approach. "The war does not choose what to destroy or kill. It is hard to be sanguine during that time because all that it presents to you are nothing but deaths and utter destruction. I have lost the ones I loved because of the evil Hsien clan and, then you are telling me not to seek revenge? I lose my family and friends, and you are telling me to enjoy my childhood and leave the matters to you, adults?" She scoffed in indignation. "Tell me, what have you, adults, done to prevent the carnage that happened in my village? Will it not be a bit hypocritical on my part to be so positive considering everything that has happened to me?"

Jinzhou Lu Wang Wei was momentarily struck speechless upon hearing what Tang Lao Fang had said. Truly, he never expected to hear such wisdom nor such biting accusations for one so young. "I apologize for your loss, Tang Lao Fang. But there are things, no matter how dark they may be, that should only be left to adults. Even if tragedy has came into your life, it does not mean that you let it embitter you. You are young and, life has so much to offer you."

"It is so easy for you to say because you are not in my position."

"Oh, trust me, Tang Lao Fang." Jinzhou Lu Wang Wei said with grave seriousness, a cloud of memory crossed his eyes. "I understand you but that still won't change my stance about denying you a slot to the Imperial army."

Yan Mei Ling looked at Jinzhou Lu Wang Wei for a moment before her shoulders slumped dejectedly. She looked into his eyes. She could sense that no amount of persuasion could change his mind but then, it would not hurt to try once more, "Is there nothing that I say or do that will make you change your mind and allow me to join the imperial army, Jinzhou?"

"No," Jinzhou Lu Wang Wei said resolutely. The firmness of his voice matched that of the serious glint of his dark eyes. His mouth pursed in a taut line.

"I respect your decision and your adherence to the law, Jinzhou. However, it doesn't mean that I am going to sit down and do nothing while the Hsien clan destroy everything in the empire. If you won't allow me to join the imperial army, then I don't need your permission to fight the evil Hsein clan nor your consent to exact revenge against them for all the things they did to my village." Yan Mei Ling said with bitter determination. She clenched her fists together; her body shaking with acrid disappointment. She wanted to fall on her knees and bury her face in her palms to cry but, at the same time, she would not.

Before Jinzhou Lu Wang Wei could see just how much his refusal terribly wounded her heart and pride, she hastily bowed respectfuly to him and started to walk away.

Upon hearing the graveness in the voice of Lao Fang, guilt and sympathy mingled in Jinzhou Lu Wang Wei's heart.

As if he was in a delusional trance, he remembered the girl in the market. He knew that what his mind seemed to conjure was insanity but he couldn't help but feel this insensible concern toward the Ninja boy. Was this because of his stark resemblance to the girl his mind couldn't help but remember? Before his sensible self took over him, he called the ninja boy, "Lao Fang!"

Yan Mei Ling turned her stare back to Jinzhou Lu Wang Wei. Hope and anticipation had filled her eyes. "Yes?"

Those eyes. His resolve was weakened. Now everything was too late.

His mouth uttered the words before he knew what those are:

"Go to Chou, the one who is in-charge of the imperial army registration and have your name listed. He will tell you what to do next." Jinzhou Lu Wang Wei said stoically before he turned his back and took his leave.

Upon hearing the Jinzhou's words, joy had came into Yan Mei Ling's heart was too much that she seemed dazed for a moment. She looked at the pinkish silver sky and uttered a silent prayer of thanks to her ancestors.

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Just finished this Chapter, Feb. 14, that's 2 week since I last updated the story.. :)