Voyage In Blizzard

Thunder pt3

"What he will make me do? Run all night?"

"Keep running. Just keep running. Even if you are tired, don't break the line."

"Running for three hours, isn't it too much?!"

"Shut up and run."

Soon, after a few rounds around the forest, Longwei's feet became numb out of coldness. Unable to run anymore, he was hardly breathing. Because, it was already a very long time since he was engaging in physical activity. Being all alone in the wilderness, being busy with the planting vegetables, he did not have time for training. And now after so many years, his body was so weak that he was about to fall down at any moment.

A drops of sweat appeared on his forehead, but also the goosebumps out of cold wind were on his back. Hardly moving his legs forward, he crashed into Baofeng-Xue and loudly sighed.

"Brother Longwei what are you doing? Keep running."

Longwei out of tiredness said, "Brother Xue, help me. Help me."

Noticing Longwei's slow running Lei said from behind, "Don't slow down! Run."

Baofeng-Xue in spite of tiredness and numbness in feet kept running, turning his head back he said, "Hold on. If you stop now Lei won't have a mercy."

Without saying anything he just closed his eyes, feeling like the ground was disappearing from under his feet, before his eyes appeared his father. His kind, bright face which never was distorted by any other emotions except happiness. Seeing him so clearly Longwei whispered, "Father."

Feeling such a warmth, loving kindness which was coming from his father's heart, Longwei smiled and now gaining some kind of energy was able to inhale deeply.

Opening his eyes, he looked forward, the white snow all around was slowly sinking into the darkness. The night was coming. It meant that already an hour has passed. How many rounds did he already run?! How far away are his dreams from his now?!

"I didn't want to become the part of the clan." He thought, clutching his fists he collected all his might.

Running as usual, fast and energetically, he wiped off the sweat from his forehead. Feeling Lei's gaze on himself he did not dare to look at him.

The steam was coming out with every exhale.

Baofeng-Xue feeling tired, almost fell down but Longwei caught him. "Brother Xue, keep running."

"And you are strong as usual. You were always like this."

"Don't say anything, you're wasting your energy."

Running in front of them, Delun not showing any tiredness said, "Hold on guys. One more time and we'll finish."

Longwei kept thinking about his father, about how they were walking together, how they were fighting together, playing and chasing the birds. Thinking about his happy past, he was gaining more and more energy. The past was like a fuel with which he could live now, in the present.

The sky finally covered with darkness. But still the pale clouds could be seen. There were no stars, no Moon. Only the reminder of eternal winter, only the fact that here, there could be nothing but a blizzard.

When three hours had passed, Longwei leaned back to the tree and sighed with great relieve. Two soldiers approached him, rubbing their feet, trying to warm them up they angrily looked at Longwei but did not say anything.

Lei walking slowly, with his head up stopped in front of them, not looking at Longwei he said, "You shouldn't rest right after the running. It is harmful."

Saying this he slowly walked away.

Two soldiers who were sitting on the snow now suspiciously looked at each other and said, "What is it? Did he just tell us an advise? How is it possible? Is he capable of caring after his students?"

Longwei looked at Lei's tall figure, his movements and the fact that he was barefoot did not show even the slightest tiredness. There wasn't even the sweat on his face.

Sitting to the snow, he quietly asked, "You're saying that he never showed any signs of caring?"

The young man with very red face answered, "He never talked to us, except about the training and martial art."

"Yes. He is always silent and scary. But I am hearing the words of care for the first time from him."

The red faced man noticing that Longwei was sitting close to them, pushed him and angrily said, "It is your fault that we were running barefoot. Don't think that we'll leave it just like this."

Longwei did not say anything.

The next what was coming after the running was the fight. Namely a sword fight. Standing in the center of the white field which looked like a boxing ring, Lei took out his sword, a silver sword with the hilt in a shape of the wolf. Proudly looking at it he said, "Prepare your swords now. I'll call you name and one by one you'll show me your skills and strength. While others will be playing the role of the beasts."

Baofeng-Xue approached Longwei, worryingly he said, "You'll have problems now. Brother Longwei what should we do?! You don't have a sword."

Longwei ignoring his words asked, "Better tell me what's going to happen? We will fight with each other?"

"Yes. The Teacher will call us one by one and you'll be standing all alone in the field, other soldiers will begin to attack you. Like a real beasts. And you'll have to attack them back otherwise they'll hurt you. Here, on this field, everyone forgets about their friends, their gentle feelings, they just become your enemies. And no one's gonna stop until you defeat them or they defeat you."