The first boy lunged at her, but his movements were sloppy and slow. She sidestepped easily, using his momentum to trip him. He hit the ground with a grunt, clutching his arm in pain.
Another rushed her from the side, swinging wildly with his knife. Xia Yan ducked, grabbed his wrist, and twisted sharply. The knife clattered to the ground as he yelped.
By the time she dispatched the third boy with a precise kick to the shin, the remaining two hesitated, their bravado evaporating.
"What the—how is she doing this?" one of them stammered, his wide eyes darting between his fallen friends.
Xia Yan stood amidst the groaning boys, her breathing steady despite her frail body's limitations. She glared at the remaining two, her presence alone freezing them in place. "Do you want to continue, or have you had enough?"
The two dropped their knives and raised their hands in surrender.
Once they'd recovered enough to sit up, the boys began to plead.
"Please don't report us to the police!" the leader begged, clutching his injured arm.
"We didn't mean any harm! Honest!" another chimed in, his face pale.
Xia Yan frowned, her gaze sweeping over them. Despite their apparent incompetence, she noted their potential. Their movements, though unrefined, showed promise—they had speed, agility, and an understanding of teamwork. But their desperation was evident, and their malnourished appearances spoke volumes.
She crossed her arms. "Why are you doing this?"
The leader hesitated but finally admitted, "We've got no choice. No family, no money, no home. This is all we can do to survive."
Xia Yan's expression softened ever so slightly. Her own memories—both as Aurora and Xia Yan—flashed in her mind. The helplessness of being abandoned, forced to fight for survival, was something she understood too well.
After a moment of silence, she said, "Your technique is sloppy. Your approach is predictable. If you tried this on anyone else, you'd be in jail—or worse."
The boys looked at her, confused and a little hopeful.
She continued, "If you really want to survive, you'll have to do better. Much better. If you're willing to listen, I might be able to help you."
Their eyes widened. "You're serious?"
"Do I look like I'm joking?" she asked, her tone colder than ice.
Her mind churned with possibilities. In her previous life, many at the organisation wanted her to be their mentor. If anyone from the underworld discovered that she— Aurora had taken five puny, inexperienced youngsters under her wing, they would have laughed themselves hoarse. Aurora? Training a bunch of nobodies? The absurdity would have been a punchline for weeks. Who was she, after all? A figure who had once coldly refused her own master's suggestion to take on disciples, even when they were the most promising talents the organization had to offer. Back then, she had deemed them distractions—unworthy of her time, unworthy of her skill. And yet, here she was, deciding to take these five unpolished stones under her wing. Even planning to turn them into something sharper, stronger, deadlier. The irony wasn't lost on her.
Of course, Aurora wasn't training these youngsters on a whim. She needed manpower, and not just any kind—she needed unwavering loyalty, individuals who would stand by her side without question, even in the face of death. If she planned to take her revenge on the ones who had betrayed and killed her, she couldn't do it alone. She required an army of her own—loyal, skilled, and ready to lay down their lives for her cause. These five youngsters were more than a project; they were her first recruits, her foundation. They were raw now, but Aurora saw their potential. With the right guidance, they wouldn't just be followers; they would be weapons honed to perfection, soldiers whose loyalty couldn't be bought or broken.
…..
The next morning, the five boys stood in a small abandoned warehouse, their expressions ranging from cautious optimism to outright fear. Xia Yan stood before them, her arms crossed, her imposing aura making them feel like they'd just enlisted in a military boot camp.
"All right," she said, her tone brisk. "You want my help? Here's the deal: you'll follow my orders without question. If you complain, you're out. If you slack off, you're out. Understand?"
The boys nodded nervously.
"Good." She gestured to the first boy, the leader. "You, introduce yourself and others follow his suit."
The boy scratched his head as he said, "Jiang Zichen."
Xia Yan nodded, a glint of inspiration in her eyes. "Bear."
Jiang Zichen blinked. "What?"
"That's your code name. Bear." She nodded firmly, like it was the most obvious decision in the world.
"But I don't want to be called Bear!" he protested, shaking his head with such ferocity that one could imagine a loose brain cell ricocheting inside his skull.
"You don't get a say in this," Xia Yan replied sharply, crossing her arms. "Bear suits you." She gestured to his broad shoulders and slightly lumbering stance. "It's accurate. Next."
The next boy gulped audibly, like a cartoon character about to face doom. "Yi- Yi Zixin," he stammered.
Xia Yan squinted at him, her brow furrowing as if appraising his very soul. "Red," she declared.
"Red?" Yi Zixin asked, his voice a squeak.
"Yes, because you're blushing so hard you look like a ripe tomato. Next!"
The third boy, who was already sweating, stepped forward. "Qi An," he said, trying to sound confident but failing miserably.
"Jet," Xia Yan decided, tilting her head as if she could see him soaring through the skies.
"Why Jet?" he asked, frowning.
"Because you talk loud enough to break the sound barrier when you're nervous. Don't argue."
The fourth boy, stepped up hesitantly. "Fang Haoyu," he said cautiously, like he was trying not to provoke a lion.
"Silver," she said, almost instantly.
"Silver?" he repeated, blinking in confusion.
"Yes. You've got a kind of… shiny vibe." She didn't elaborate.
Finally, she turned to the last boy, who was trying to blend into the wall like a chameleon.
"And you?"
His shoulders sagged, knowing he couldn't avoid it. "Gu Huan," he muttered reluctantly.
Xia Yan leaned forward, studying him like a hawk sizing up a mouse. "Rabbit."
His jaw dropped. "Rabbit?!"
"Yes," she said, smirking. "Because you look like you're about to bolt any second. Perfect."
The room erupted into laughter as the other boys, no longer terrified, began to snicker and nudge each other.
"Rabbit!" Jiang Zichen—Bear—chortled, slapping Gu Huan on the back. "That's way worse than Bear!"
"Hey!" Gu Huan shot back, his cheeks turning the same shade as Yi Zixin—Red. "At least I'm not a walking zoo exhibit!"
"Calm down, Rabbit," Xia Yan said, her voice dripping with mock authority. "Or I'll rename you Fluffy."
The boys doubled over with laughter, while Gu Huan buried his face in his hands.
"Alright, settle down!" Xia Yan clapped her hands. "Your code names are final. No take-backs, no swaps. Own it."
Rabbit groaned. "I'm doomed."
"Correct," Xia Yan said, she too had the faint trace of a genuine smile for the first time since she was reborn.
After the naming ceremony, Xia Yan gestured to the leader, Jian Zichen, "Bear, run ten laps around the building."
He blinked. "Ten laps?"
"Make it fifteen for questioning me."
"But—"
"Twenty."
The other boys quickly shoved him forward, whispering, "Just do it before she adds more!"
As Jian Zichen began his reluctant laps, Xia Yan turned to the others. "You three, push-ups. Fifty each."
The smallest boy—Red, who could barely manage one push-up, whimpered, "Fifty?"
Xia Yan's cold glare silenced him.
By the time the boys were gasping for air, sweat pouring down their faces, they began to realize they'd signed up for something far more intense than they'd imagined.
"This… this is crazy," Jet muttered between gasps.
Bear now slumped against a wall after his laps, groaned. "I thought she was just going to teach us how to fight!"
Xia Yan overheard and smirked faintly. "If you can't handle this, you're not worth my time. Discipline and strength are the foundation of survival. Without them, you're useless."
The boys exchanged horrified glances but said nothing, too exhausted to protest.
Despite their initial struggles, the boys began to show improvement under Xia Yan's brutal regimen. They grudgingly admired her strength, cunning, and unrelenting discipline.
"She's scary," Red whispered.
"She's amazing," Silver replied.
The leader—bear, rubbing his sore arms, muttered, "She's a demon. But at least she's our demon." The rest nodded their head agreeing with what he said.
For the first time in their lives, the boys felt like they had a purpose. And though they didn't dare say it aloud, they were already loyal to their new leader—a woman who had taken them from the streets and given them a shot at something greater.
Xia Yan, watching their progress with a critical eye, allowed herself a rare, faint smile. These boys might be rough around the edges, but with her guidance, they would become something formidable.
Because Xia Yan never accepted failure.