Li Mei stood in front of a middle-aged man with a bald head and a scar running across his right cheek down his chin. He looked utterly cold and ruthless in his black and silver attire, especially when she saw him endowed with an armor.
Wasn't he merely here to teach her? What was the point of dressing up so thoroughy to the point of making her feel intimidated.
Uh….. maybe that was the point of it all?
Li Mei stood straight in front of the man and stared head-on. Even though she was a bit intimidated, she wouldn't back down no matter what. She had alreay decided on her path.
In any case, she didn't even know what kind of path she wanted to choose after running away, and being here would be way better since she could hide herself here in this place without getting caught by the brothel again. So why run away when an opportunity was dumped right on her lap like this?
Thus, despite feeling a little afraid, she stood in front of the man with a trace of determination in her eyes.
Hr action stunned the middle-aged man as he gave out a laugh the next second. "Your highness, this seed is very determined. It looks like we will have a good relationship in the future!"
Cao Haoran also didn't expect this to happen. Honestly, this person he brought to train the youngster whom he had stalked all day and night was so powerful that even ordinary imperial soldiers would feel threatened by the man's presence.
This middle-aged man, Zhang Wei, was a well renouned general who managed to kill thousands of enemies with his own brute power and nothing else. His training methods were so strict that several ordinary soldiers left the military just because of this man, and even upto this day, Zhang Wei was still the official trainer and military general of the top batch who commaned all other generals.
The most important thing was that this was the same person who personally taught Cao Haoran and made the man so powerful that no one could stand in front of the prince for long. So he knew what kind of a monster this Zhang Wei actually was!
Li Chen could actually stand like this even after facing that kind of deadly and intimidating aura?
This was a first.
Cao Haoran's eyes turned serious as he stared at the 'man' looking all determined. He could see the man's face remaining sombre and serious without a trace of emotion.
On the inside, Li Mei actually felt a so afraid feeling that cold and dealy aura of the general that her face had paled a long time ago. Her legs also trembled a little as she gritted her teeth and stood her ground.
In her mind, facing this military man and train herself to be stronger than ever was probably the bestest choice she had ever made. At the very least, she didn't have to open her legs for random strangers just to keep her lowly life.
Zhang Wei, however, was very happy seeing such a diciplined student brought to him by the third prince himself. Sure enough, since the man was strong, people recommended by him also wouldn't be weak!
He nodded at the young 'man' and said, "Let's start with the basics. Today, I shall only test your skills and strength. Why don't you run ten circles of this entire ground first? If you can do that without getting tired, I'd consider teaching you."
Li Mei clenched her fist. She glanced around as she pursed her lips.
This kind of thing wasn't hard for an ordinary man, but she was a woman. No matter how much fit she had been, there were days in a month in which she would be weak no matter what. Thankfully, it wasn't that kind of day for her right no, but she couldn't promise that in the future.
She would have her days, but she still felt a trace of determination filling up her body so much so that despite knowing she would regret this, she still nodded. What other choice did she have anyway? It was either opening her legs for severa men out here.
Running ten rounds of this big military ground where the third prince brought her was way better than suffering as a prostitute. She would choose fighting in a war as a soldier over that kind of lowly lifestyle.
In any case, she was currently a 'man' who didn't belong to a demon race. So why should she back away?
She nodded and said, "Should I start?"
Zhang Wei was surprised seeing the 'man's' determination and laughed once again. "Alright. I'll stand here an watch you run."
Li Mei nodded and started her marathon.
Cao Haoran's eyes stuck to her like a glue as he frowned. He couldn't understand why this young man was so determined for this. Wasn't this person brought here forcibly? Then why was this youth so determined? He should be pleading for mercy and to let him go.
"He's at the end of his wits." Zhang Wei pointed his chin at the 'man' running and folded his arms acorss his chest. "He has something after him he's running from, and now that he thinks he has a purpose, he's doing his best to stay here. Don't wory, he won't cause trouble if he is that determined to become a warrior."
"But general," Cao Haoran's face looked serious as he asked, "What if…."
Zhang Wei's expression also turned serious. Even if the prince hadn't uttered a word, he still understood. What if this young man was a demon in disguise?
The corners of his lips ticked up as he said, "That's more of a reason why we should keep him here. If he's a spy of the demon race, we need to learn what's their motive of sending him to the palace."
Cao Haoran nodded, feeling relieved. Now that he thought about it, his unnatural attraction toward this man could be a result of those demons' schemes and nothing else. If he let this guy go so easily, Cao Haoran knew it would be difficult to find out their plans.
Thus, he decided he would endure for the time being and look at what was going on.