by A Sick Frog
“Yin Xu Dong.” Qin Ke Xuan shouted behind him.
“Wahh!” Yin Xu Dong got a scare. Why was it that Xuan Xuan always appeared and disappeared like a ghost? “Xuan Xuan? How come you’re here? Don’t you need to go back to the military now?”
“Not for a few days no.”
“Really?!”
“Enh.”
“Then let’s go play! We haven’t played together for a long time!” Yin Xu Dong exclaimed in excitement.
“I don’t dislike you.” Qin Ke Xuan suddenly said.
“Hah? Oh, I know I know, you’re not someone who judges by the appearance.”
“The last time you were looking for me, you said you got these pimples because you’re worried about me. So they popped up because your pent-up anxiety damaged your health?”
“Aye? Did I say that? I must have been joking. You don’t need to mind it, it’s not your fault.” Yin Xu Dong scratched his head, saying in embarrassment.
“Stretch out your hand.” Qin Ke Xuan commanded.
Yin Xu Dong obediently stretched out his hand, asking in curiosity: “What’re you going to do?”
A hand gripping his wrist, Qin Ke Xuan’s other hand check for his pulse. With his sluggish vessels and inner balance was all over the place, it was no wonder so many pimples sprouted on his face. “I’ll help you straighten out your inner balance and unclog your vessels. It might hurt a little but hold it in and don’t scream.” At that, her thumb pressed on his Hegu* acupuncture point and rubbed heavily.
* Hegu (合谷) acupuncture point is in the middle of the 2nd metacarpal bone on the radial side; basically somewhere between your thumb and index finger
“Ow! It hurts it hurts it hurts!” The pain caught Yin Xu Dong off guard, and so he howled in pain.
“Shut up.”
Yin Xu Dong quickly shut his mouth after being fiercely glared at by Qin Ke Xuan and nodded his head, holding it in as he clenched his teeth. Qin Ke Xuan pressed at his Hegu and went up his arm along each and every acupuncture points, heading for his shoulders. When she reached the Zhongfu* acupuncture point, she stopped and kneaded his other hand the same way. When she was done with the two arms, Qin Ke Xuan had him sit with his back towards her. After which, she pressed both her hands on the back of his shoulders and started kneading.
* Zhongfu (中府) acupuncture point is on the upper lateral chest, the crossing point of the Lung and Spleen Meridian.
Yin Xu Dong felt Qin Ke Xuan’s hands moving downwards from his shoulders before her hands stopped at the two sides of his waist. The moment her hands slid forward to knead his lower abdomen though, his head exploded.
Where, where, where was she touching?!
Before long however, he didn’t have the effort to mind such an ambiguous question. Qin Ke Xuan’s thumbs that were pressing into the two sides of his lower abdomen had him beading cold sweat from the pain, and so, he couldn’t help but lightly moan.
Qin Ke Xuan continued, her face thoroughly flushed. She seriously wanted to slap herself a few times. Why was it that she had to feel him down over such a small case! Why was she so rash! Clenching her teeth, she warned: “Shut it!”
“But, but it… it hurts… ow…”
“One more word and I’ll make it hurt more!” Qin Ke Xuan threatened.
“Enh…” Yin Xu Dong suddenly recalled from the biology book that some girls would experience pretty bad pains during their period. This was probably how it felt huh? Poor things. Whether it was him trying to distract himself or he was brain-farting, he asked Qin Ke Xuan: “Does your stomach hurt as much as this when you’re on your period?”
“…”
“…”
Yin Xu Dong felt like fainting from the pain right now. Meanwhile, Qin Ke Xuan, who wanted to just kill him with the pain, pressed down even harder.
Following this, no matter how painful it got, Yin Xu Dong didn’t dare make a sound. He was afraid his brain would cramp again and he’d sprout something embarrassing. Qin Ke Xuan also remained silent as she kneaded his entire body. After finishing, she said: “For the next few days, come here at this time.” After that, she left.
Yin Xu Dong howled after Qin Ke Xuan’s figure disappeared before his eyes. Goodness, how long were these painful days going to last for?!
And so, this would happen in a certain wall corner after school every day…
“Xuan Xuan, are you doing it right?”
“Enh.”
“But why is it that my pimples are worsening?” Yin Xu Dong cupped his red and shiny face, looking at Qin Ke Xuan mournfully.
“In the face of death, the pimples will fight to live.” Qin Ke Xuan drank Yin Xu Dong’s tribute—a packet of milk. She heard that drinking milk makes you grow taller.
“Oh. Is today the last time then? There’s no more in the future?”
“Enh, after tomorrow, I need to train every day.”
Yin Xu Dong sighed in pity: “It’ll be hard to meet in the future.” The times where he could meet her dwindled ever since she joined that burdensome RS. He’s heard that soldiers from the military usually wouldn’t be able to come out from their base. So after she actually does join the military, he probably really wouldn’t be able to see her for at least two to three years. At that, he felt even worse, and so he started glumly: “You like being a soldier?”
“I don’t.”
“Then don’t be one then! Just look at your small limbs, how can you handle the training at the military! It’ll be super hard for a girl like you!” Yin Xu Dong upon hearing that became excited.
Qin Ke Xuan leant against the wall and looked at the sky. “I need to find a way to go back.” Her tone was wispy but firm.
Yin Xu Dong didn’t understand. “Is this some philosophical quote? What does it have anything to do with joining the military?”
“Enh. If I find it, I’ll tell you.” If there was a day where she could really return to her original world, she would definitely bid this “disciple” and “ge ge” farewell.
“So ultimately, you still want to join the military. Do you know that you can’t wear those pretty clothes, you can only wear those military uniforms in military, and you can’t go out shopping for at least eight to ten years? …” Yin Xu Dong rattled off an entire list of disadvantages of being a soldier. “The most most important thing is that there is a possibility for you to be deployed to the frontier, then that’ll no longer be a question of whether we can still meet; it’ll be so dangerous!”
“Don’t worry about that.” She’d experienced much more dangerous things that risked her life every time.
“But, you were injured so badly the other time!” Even after so long, he could still clearly remember how piercing the bloodied bandages she’d taken out was. He could completely imagine how severe her wound was.
“That won’t happen again.” After learning her lessons, she would not be so naive to try to clip a bullet when it’s being shot at her.
“Why not I join the military too. I’ll be a military doctor so I can treat your wounds for you.” Yin Xu Dong suddenly made up his mind. That way, not only would he be able to see Xuan Xuan, he would also be able to help her in a time of need instead of helplessly looking on.
“You sure?” Qin Ke Xuan raised her brows.
“I’m sure!” Yin Xu Dong nodded his head firmly.
“As far as I know, you’re currently in second year, class 15.” She could already tell how terrible his grades were from his class.
“What’s wrong with class 15? Aren’t you from class 15 too, didn’t you become an SF soldier? In that case then why can’t I!” Her words hit Yin Xu Dong’s tender spot so he immediately imploded.
“Then work hard. I hope you won’t let me down.”
“I definitely won’t! Just wait to be blown away!”
And so, Yin Xu Dong who’d always been sloven and fooled around turned over a new leaf. From then on, he started studying hard and making progress every day, determined to become an o
utstanding military doctor. And his change could very well be credited to Qin Ke Xuan!
Qin Ke Xuan also began her training life. She was still undergoing training together with the RS at the base led by their SF seniors. After all, she still had to attend lessons in the day so only the RS training would fit her current situation.
If there was anything she was unsatisfied about, it would be being chased around every day by Chi Qu Qi and being questioned about stuff that happened during the surprise attack test like where she went and what she did. Her joining the MI6 was a classified information, so she cannot reveal it to anyone. Chi Qu Qi didn’t believe anything she said, and so, she was stuck with being tagged around by Chi Qu Qi.
One day when they were practising hurling hand grenades, Chi Qu Qi secretly asked Qin Ke Xuan: “Did you join one of our country’s secret military organisation? Tell me tell me, I promise I won’t leak to a third person!”
Even though he was just guessing randomly, he’d gotten it right. Qin Ke Xuan continued hurling her hand grenade, not planning to respond to him.
“Aye, say, why didn’t they choose such a genius like me? Why did they have to choose you?” Chi Qu Qi complained self-righteously.
“Chi Qu Qi! You’re talking again! 200 more grenades!” A captain standing on the side berated.
“Yes! I will make sure to fulfill the task!” Chi Qu Qi immediately straightened up and carried out his punishment.
Pity was that Qin Ke Xuan was unwilling to give him any bit of information no matter how much he tried to trick her into talking afterwards. Angered by that, Chi Qu Qi would call Qin Ke Xuan stingy every time he saw her afterwards.
Chapter 44 - Hell
* * *
Qin Ke Xuan’s journey alternated between her school and the base. She would occasionally head over to the MI6 gathering point to do some missions. The missions at MI6 were divided into five ranks, namely A, B, C, D and E. The further down it went, the harder the missions got. Probably concerned over the fact that she had just joined and was still not very experienced, all the missions she had been involved were only A and B. She had not participated in anything above B to date.
That day when Condor Team A had finished their A-ranked mission and was heading back, Xu Tian Xian asked Qin Ke Xuan: “Le Le, is it going to be your finals soon?”
“Enh.” Qin Ke Xuan was currently using her phone to browse the web. Yin Xu Dong had taught her how to do this not long ago. This had also made things a lot more convenient for her as she would be able to source for information whenever and wherever she was about things she didn’t know.
“Take note then. Remember to properly revise and get a good grade. Even though grades are not everything, it is the standard upon which your basic knowledge is assessed. If your grades are a little too far from our required standard, things will get a little worrying.”
“Enh.”
“Le Le, you’re a pretty decent comrade so I don’t wish for you to be kicked out of our team. You need to work hard.” Xu Wu said. Xu Qiang also nodded his head silently along, agreeing with Xu Wu’s words.
Xu Mei Li, on the other hand, squashed her entire being over and latched onto Qin Ke Xuan’s elbow, swinging it around. “Le Le, I know you can do it! If you can’t pass this, I’ll be the only female left in our team, nooo! I don’t want to go on missions with this bunch of guys all the time!”
“Enh.”
“Miss Mei Li, can you not so bluntly pronounce your disdain for us gentlemen!”
“…”
Before Qin Ke Xuan left, she was nagged by them for a while longer. When she could no longer stand them, she pulled open the car door and jumped off, escaping.
The day of her finals dawned very quickly. The SF had very caringly given Qin Ke Xuan a day off for her to revise. She was also not required to attend training on the days she had exams.
Qin Ke Xuan had long finished reading all her textbooks. Hence whenever she met with questions she didn’t understand, she would ask Yin Xu Dong. When Yin Xu Dong didn’t understand them as well, he would run over to the Year Two Class 1 and haul the guy that topped their level over to Qin Ke Xuan and have him teach her. During which, Yin Xu Dong would also very attentively listen on the side. He had not been kidding when he said he wanted to become a military doctor. He had really made up his mind to follow Qin Ke Xuan, so he was going to do whatever she was going to do!
The innocent guy that had been dragged into the equation out of nowhere to serve as free labour had tried to resist. However, after being frightened by Yin Xu Dong’s bodily threats, and after the teacher he had complained to about Yin Xu Dong’s menaces was thoroughly touched by Yin Xu Dong’s “classmates ought to be nice to each other and help each other out; those with better grades ought to help those with poorer grades and work together to honour the school” speech, he gave in and explained to Qin Ke Xuan and Yin Xu Dong questions they didn’t understand.
“Oi, say why are you two class 15 people working so hard for?” The level-number-one propped his spectacles, gazing at the Qin Ke Xuan and Yin Xu Dong seated before him in question.
“None of your business! Hurry now, what’s the deal with this question?” Yin Xu Dong pointed to a math question in the exercise book.
After the level-number-one explained, he asked again: “How did the pimples on your face suddenly disappear? Even your skin became super good, I don’t see a single scar left behind, what did you use? I want to get rid of mine too.”
Yin Xu Dong after hearing that immediately touched his smooth and soft face in glee, saying: “Really? I think so too… humph! Why should I tell you! Let me warn you, if you’re gonna continue being all fussy and annoying, I’mma kick your ass!” He suddenly recalled the process to how he had gotten rid of his pimples. How, how would he dare speak of such intimate process to another! Or to even let Xuan Xuan do all that massaging to another guy! Just the thought of that had him wanting to beat someone up!
“Tomorrow’s finals, can’t you guys revise on your own? I need to properly revise to prepare for the exams too.” Level-number-one implored.
“Bah! You’d been level number one since Year One! What do you need to revise for!”
Level-number-one became bitter.
After that was three consecutive days of examinations. When they finished their last subject and Qin Ke Xuan came out of the classroom, Yin Xu Dong and level-number-one, whom he had dragged along, was already outside waiting. Upon seeing Qin Ke Xuan, he waved excitedly. “Xuan Xuan, how did you do?”
Qin Ke Xuan walked over, replying lightly. “Okay.” Other than the weird comprehension questions asked in the language paper that had her utterly confused, everything else was manageable.
“Yeah! In celebration of the examination success, let’s go eat some steamboat!”
It was already winter, so it was the prime time to eat steamboat.
“You guys go on your own, I’m not joining.” Level-number-one stuttered.
At that, he was greeted with a chop from Yin Xu Dong, and was howled: “Level-number-one! Didn’t we endure through the semester together, why is it that you’re abandoning us when it’s time to have fun?!”
Level-number-one propped up the spectacles that had been slapped slanted by Yin Xu Dong, saying softly: “I, I still have something on…”
“My ass! We just finished finals, what else is there to do!” Yin Xu Dong didn’t believe him at all.
“He Yi!”
Level-number-one’s face immediately changed. He immediately escaped Yin Xu Dong’s hand pressing on his shoulders. “I really have something on, I’ll go first.” After that, he walked in the direction the shout from just now had sounded and was hooked away by a few other guys.
“Say, He Yi, you’re hanging around the two of them quite a bit huh, did you perhaps forget something?” The guy who had his hand hooked around He Yi’s shoulders patted his face. “Looks like if we don’t properly remind you, you really are going to forget about us!”
> He Yi’s face paled. His head lowered, he tried his best to contain the trembling of his body. He begged piteously: “I, I didn’t forget…”
“It’s not your position to say whether you forgot or not. We’ll have you properly remember it this time.” The guy smiled eerily. “Start.” At that, he, along with the other guys, surrounded He Yi and started kicking and punching.
“Wow wow! Campus violence performance on air here?”
The people kicking and punching He Yi stopped and turned to look up in the direction the voice sounded. A person stood on the wall, and that person was the Yin Xu Dong that had been wanting to go eat steamboat. After about half a year of guidance from Qin Ke Xuan, even though he was unable to jump across buildings and walk up walls, he could still handle flipping over walls with ease.
“Yin Xu Dong, you better not stick your nose into other people’s business.” The ringleader said in disdain.
“To see a campus violence performance right before me, how am I able to ignore it?” A certain campus bully plus problem kid with a heap of ‘criminal’ records bragged shamelessly. “Much less, the people you’re exerting violence on is my mobile answer reference book and all-purpose encyclopedia. What’re you guys gonna compensate me with if you guys accidentally break it… ah!”
Qin Ke Xuan leapt onto the wall, kicking the Yin Xu Dong who was pouring his heart out down. “Too talkative.”
Owing to his not-too-bad reaction, even after being mercilessly booted from the top of the wall to the corner of the wall, he managed to steady himself instead of face-planting the ground. Massaging his butt she’d kicked, Yin Xu Dong complained in discontent: “Xuan Xuan! Girls can’t kick people’s butt!”
“Show me your progress.” Qin Ke Xuan commanded, sweeping a bland look at the few people beneath them.
“Right on it!”
After two minutes, Yin Xu Dong patted his hands, then propped them on his waist, laughing at the sky. After being taught by Xuan Xuan, he was finally nearing his goal of becoming invincible!
Qin Ke Xuan jumped down from the wall. “I’m hungry.”