They travelled for three days straight with little stops for rest on the journey. At night, they would find suitable grounds to camp and lay their heads.
The trainees would sit around the fire and discuss about interesting things they had experienced on the journey, although nothing had really been 'interesting' except for the swinging monkeys they liked to watch and chirping birds they liked to listen to in the forest.
They had met couple of old men with cattles on the journey who claimed to be Nomads searching for green pastures for their livestock - there had been nothing dubious about them.
For some reason, the travel had been peaceful than they had expected. Perhaps it was the calm before the storm, or, all the stories about how it was dangerous travelling to the mighty Mt. Chi were over-rated?
Deep down in the hearts of the trainees, they seriously wanted to witness attacks from the enemies to personally show off the skills they had been taught; to impress their Master Lu.
On the night of the third day, they arrived at Mt. Chi.
Dragon Fist received them personally with a stern look on his face. He had an idea of what this meeting with Master Lu would be about.
As they dismounted their horses, the trainees could not stop looking around; marvelling at how gigantic and well- guarded Mt. Chi was.
"...awww... So this is the legendary Mt. Chi..."
"it looks so huge. I'm sure it runs larger than our Academy..."
"idiot! of course it does. I hear even the king is interested in acquiring this place"
"you have never left the Academy, how do you know of this?..."
"sshhh... of course I have my ways to get informations" The trainees had silenced dialogues amongst themselves.
The warriors at the entrance immediately saluted Master Lu.
"Master!"
They rarely saw the Master around here except he had an important undertaking to execute. Perhaps, Master Lu had come this time regarding the latest invasions. 'What if he decides to replace everyone associated with Mt. Chi? 'here for a visit right after an attack, what if he had plans to transfer ownership rights of this place to the king?' 'What if...?',
They were all full of what ifs...
Everyone was on edge, including the elders who came out with Dragon Fist to welcome the sojourners.
"Master Lu, what a visit!. It's been years since we last saw you here. You look not a day older... and are these the new trainees at the Academy? hahaha... such witty kids"
Dragon Fist managed to give a soothing welcome speech to ease the nerves of everyone.