Two weeks have passed since Liam Kang and Ailee Bai have been arrested. Many things have taken place then.
Ailee Bai was stripped from her title as Madam Bai of the Bai family, and a legal divorce document was filed before she was thrown in prison for life.
Her belongings were moved out of the residence, and since then, many other truths have been unearthed.
It turns out she also liked to scam money from distant relatives as well...no wonder they were so cautious and wary around her...
Evelyn Bai didn't take the news so well, but Edison remained his cautious steps, careful not to speak out against anyone or create more drama.
He wasn't interested anyway. After 'Uncle'(Liam Kang) left, there wasn't any real mentor for him anymore, so he had to train by himself.
And he decided to work harder with all of them gone.
The Heads and their children each dropped by at the Bai residence to pay Master Bai a visit, trying to console him to be happy for the change.
And there was no exception for the twins. Master Xia convinced them to go.
"Just this once," he had said. "If you don't want to do it for Old Bai, consider doing it for me as a favor. Just come along! Alan would cheer up significantly if you'd just visit."
The twins agreed, but the moment they arrived, they went to separate themselves from the group, and instead, walked around the residence.
It was much quieter around here without Ailee Bai, and it also seemed many of the servants were replaced.
As they walked, a servant boy nearly ran into them, almost spilling his bucket of water. "Ah! Sorry, young master! Sorry, miss! I wasn't watching where I was going..." He looked up at them, chewing on his bottom lip nervously.
"It's okay," said Eryn. "Do you need help?"
"Huh?- Wait, no! I can do it!" he protested as Eryn picked up the bucket effortlessly.
Eryn smiled. "Where to?"
The servant boy hesitated. "To- to the First Young Master's courtyard," he answered.
"Alright." Erin turned to Elias, and said, "You can go look around first, I'll be back. Ah, wait. And also, check that little courtyard we used to live in, I want to know what happened to it."
Elias nodded before he turned and left. "Okay."
Elias glanced down at the servant boy. "Lead the way."
The two wove through the paths and through the gardens to a bigger courtyard near the main one.
The servant boy ran through the gates and exclaimed, "Young master! I brought the water you wanted!"
Eryn followed them in and saw Edison laying flat on the ground, his eyes closed and his chest heaving up and down. His dark hair stuck to his face from the sweat, and he was only wearing a shirt and trousers.
A few attendants stood at the sides, careful to not interrupt whatever he was doing.
"Great," he said without opening his eyes. "Now pour it on me, I'm so tired."
"Eh..." The servant boy glanced over to Eryn.
Eryn released a breath and placed down the bucket.
The servant boy reached to take it but she stopped him. He stepped back, confused.
"Were you training?" she asked.
Edison's eyes suddenly flew open and he scrambled to his feet. He straightened up the moment he saw her. "E- elder sister..."
The servant boy darted his eyes between them. "Huh?"
She didn't say anything.
Edison fidgeted. "Yes- yes, I was training," he said, answering her question.
"Really?"
"...Yeah."
Eryn nodded at the bucket of water. "What's that for?" she asked.
"It- it was hot, and I'm all sweaty, so-"
"It's not good for your body if you suddenly pour water on yourself while sweaty," she interrupted.
Edison lowered his head. "Okay, I'll remember that."
Erin paused. "...Did you improve?"
Edison looked up, his expression is eager. "Yes!" he said excitedly. "I think so! Does Elder Sister have any pointers for me?"
Eryn stepped forward, brushing down her sleeves. "First. Let's see if you can dodge my punch."
"Huh?"
"I said. Dodge my punch."
Edison quickly dropped into a fighting stance, preparing for the attack. "Now?" he asked. He was excited. Though he didn't know what she was doing here, he was thrilled by the fact she could possibly help him with training.
But she was wearing such a long skirt and robes, he couldn't understand how she could possibly move in that. He was used to the way 'Uncle' had taught him, which was showing him the steps one by one.
"Focus," she said. "You're not focusing. Stop thinking about other things. In a fight, the opponent will take every chance they get, they won't wait."
Edison clenched his fist and shook away his thoughts, focusing on his older sister. He was determined to succeed in whatever she was trying to test him with. "Yes!"
Eryn sighed. This kid...now he was focusing too much.
Whatever.
Edison frowned, wondering why she hadn't attacked yet. "Whenever you're-"
Suddenly, Eryn vanished from where she was standing earlier, and before Edison knew it, she was standing right before him, ready to deliver her blow.
He only had enough time to throw up his arms in defense before he felt her hand collide with his stomach, sending him flying back in the air.
The attendants called out in distress, and he could've crashed through the wall to his quarters if the white threads hadn't caught on to his torso and legs, stopping him in midair.
With a wave of her hand, Edison was lowered to the ground safely, and the cords disappeared once his feet hit the ground.
He slumped to the ground on his knees, his head down.
The servant boy and the others were concerned. "Young master? Are you okay?"
Eryn waved them off and went to stand in front of him. "Get up."
Edison shook his head. "I'm not good enough, aren't I? I'll never be as good as you want me to be," he muttered. "You just had to hit me once and I was done..."
Eryn raised an eyebrow. "Did I say anything yet? I haven't right?" she said. "Get up."
Edison did as he was told, fidgeting with his fingers quietly. "So..."
"Your reaction time isn't that bad," she told him.
Edison looked up, hope sparkling in his eyes. "Really?"
"Of course. Not many people would be able to dodge that anyway..."
"Oh..."
"But remember, you are an eagle. Your advantage is being in the air...don't you have a sparring partner?"
Edison scratched his head and rubbed his stomach where he was punched. "Uh...Evelyn stopped practicing with me after Mother was...arrested," he mumbled.
Eryn shook her head. "Never mind her. If she doesn't want to, then it's her choice. But if you practice with a sparring partner, then it would be the best," she said. "That way, you can get the experience of being in a fight, even if it's not real."
Edison grinned. "I'll definitely find one! I can have Terry help me since he came back-"
"Who's Terry?"
Edison stopped, puzzled. "You- you don't know Terry? He's- he's our cousin! Terry Bai-"
He stopped talking when he saw Eryn's blank look of disinterest. He looked away awkwardly. "Right, right," he said under his breath. "Sorry."
"It's fine."
Suddenly, Elias appeared inside the courtyard. "Eryn, they-"
He stopped when he saw Edison and immediately lowered at him.
The fourteen-year-old shrunk under his gaze and looked away.
Elias turned to his sister. "They're getting ready to leave."
Eryn soared Edison one last glance and headed to leave the courtyard. "Alright, let's go."
The both of them left, leaving Edison and his attendants staring after them with mixed emotions.
Once they reached the main courtyard, they saw Master Xia waiting for them with Master Bai.
"Ah! There they two are!" he exclaimed. "Come! Come here!"
Elias grumbled while Eryn didn't say anything. They'd hoped to avoid the whole meeting, but it seems that Master Xia had intended to push them into a corner, making them have no other choice but to come face-to-face with Alan Bai.
Reluctantly, they trudged over to them, keeping their distance, but Master Xia took the initiative to push both of them in front of him, making them stand directly in front of Master Bai.
Elias wrinkled his nose and crossed his arms, looking to the side.
Eryn looked elsewhere as well.
Alan Bai sighed, wringing his hands. "Well...I first just want to say...thank you."
Elias snorted. "For what?"
Alan Bai held his breath. "You know...for uprooting the truth about...your mother, and...for coming."
Elias rolled his eyes. "Whatever."
But that answer seemed satisfactory for Alan Bai and Master Xia.
"Can we go now?" Eryn mumbled.
"Okay, I won't bother you then," Master Bai said, backing away. "If...if you ever want to come back, I'll be here with open arms."
Elias shook his head as he turned around and headed to the exit with Eryn on his heels.
Master Xia gave Master Bai a pat on the back. "Progress," he said.
He nodded.
Master Xia turned to leave. "Eh, don't forget. Next week, Master Jing will hold a birthday party for San. The girl will turn seventeen!"
He winked. "If you know any nice young men...hehe, bring them! I'm sure Master Jing is looking for a future son-in-law."
Master Bai snorted. "Alright, then. See you next week."