The bell rang as Master Lin finished speaking and the students rose, bowing politely before they left the class, chattering as they went out. Jin Lu walked up to Master Lin and waited. When Jin Lu reached Master Lin, he waved for Jin Lu to follow him. They walked out of the building, the sun high in the sky, showing it was near noon.
"Once you are done eating, follow the path around the cafeteria to your right. Keep going until you reach a "T", and turn left. You will be at Martial Field at the end of the path," Master Lin said before leaving Jin Lu at the class's entrance. Jin Lu continued on her way to the cafeteria, repeating Master Lin's instructions until she was sure she could remember them.
The students continued to ignore her as she grabbed her tray, Jin Lu's face dark at the lack of meat.
What is this place's aversion to protein?
Jin Lu sighed, disheartened, as she sat with her back against the wall in the corner she had sat the night before. She could hear Fan Genji's voice in the crowd, though she wasn't able to make out what she was saying. Jin Lu finished her food quickly, trying not to spit it out all over the table, before she washed it down with sugar-filled tea.
Picking up her tray, she put it away before making her way outside. Jin Lu followed the path Master Lin had told her to go down as she let her thoughts wander. Long Yin showed up in her thoughts more than she was comfortable with, and she lifted her hand up to touch the earring unconsciously.
"Yes, my Yang?" Long Yin's voice sounded in Jin Lu's ear, making her jump and look around in alarm. Many of the people walking by looked at her strangely, and she could feel her face burning in embarrassment.
"Where are you?" Jin Lu asked quietly, her lips barely moving.
"Taking care of matters," Long Yin said with a bored tone. "I can come back if you're bored?" Long Yin teased.
She understood now that the earring was like a Bluetooth device, allowing individuals to speak to each other from long distances.
"No!" Jin Lu yelled, startling those close to her. She apologized, embarrassment flooding her. "No, I'm fine. You can stay away," Jin Lu whispered.
Forever.
"As you wish, my Yang." Jin Lu caught the hint of an amused chuckle, and she growled low in her throat.
Coming to the "T" at the end of the path, she followed Master Lin's directions, throwing thoughts of Long Yin out of her mind. He had a way of frustrating her within an inch of her sanity without doing anything.
Why is he so… so… GRRRR!
Not watching where she was going, Jin Lu ran into someone's broad back.
"Sorry!" Jin Lu stumbled back, bowing frantically in apology. The person she had run into turned around with a scowl on his face until he saw who it was that hit him. A slow smile appeared on his lips, making a shiver of dread run down Jin Lu's spine.
"Well, if it isn't the little fairy. Come to give us a show?" the man said, his hint more pronounced when his amber eyes lit with lust, and he ran his calloused finger down her face. Jin Lu backed up hurriedly, his touch making her stomach roll in disgust, worse than the food she had just eaten.
"Excuse me." She darted around him and his circle of friends, their mocking laughter following her until she reached the edge of Martial Field.