Vincent looked at his students and said,
"We've arrived."
Sai, staring at the airport, said,
"Wow, what a huge airport!"
Vincent added,
"This airport is called Beijing International Airport. It's quite big. Alright, guys, we're landing soon, fasten your seatbelts."
Following Vincent's orders, everyone fastened their belts as the plane began its descent. Five minutes later, the plane landed, and the students started leaving one by one.
Vincent was the last to exit and noticed men dressed in black. Approaching them, he greeted,
"Hello."
"Hello, Mr. Vincent. We've come to pick you up and take you to the Awakening Academy."
"Alright."
"Then, please, get in the car."
After getting into a black car, they drove off. Looking at the city, Noy said,
"Dude, this place is beautiful."
Leo added,
"This is China, after all. It has many beautiful cities, especially Beijing."
"Yeah," Noy replied with a blank expression.
Twenty minutes later, they arrived at the Awakening Academy. It was massive, just like the one the students came from. The gates opened, and they all walked inside.
As Vincent stepped out of the car, he saw a man who looked about sixty. He was as muscular as Vincent, maybe even more. His body was covered in scars.
Vincent frowned and said,
"Stubborn old man. Don't you think it's about time you got in your coffin?"
"Hahaha! Vincent, my friend! You haven't changed a bit since the last time we met. Still the same fool."
"What did you say, Chhol?"
"I said, you're a fool."
Vincent scowled,
"Heh, today we'll see whose students are better."
"Vincent, you still don't get it. Even in the past, whatever I did, I always did it better than you."
"Old man, it's about time you went to the grave!"
Seeing this, Leo said,
"Um… Master Vincent, maybe it's time we went inside, don't you think?"
Clicking his tongue, Vincent said,
"Fine, old man, show us our rooms."
"Hah, that's more like it. Follow me."
As Vincent and his students followed him, Chhol spoke,
"I don't want your students staying inside the academy."
"Yeah, I get that too. There could be fights."
Chhol added,
"So, I'll place your students in the academy's hotel."
"Wait, what? A hotel? What the hell is that?"
"You don't have one? Hmmm… well, I guess that shows which academy is better," Chhol said with a smug face.
"Damn… and what's the point of this hotel?"
"It's mainly for rich people. The higher-ups insisted we build it. They say it's all about money. Some of the wealthiest families in China live there. Their sons study here, and their parents want to keep an eye on them."
"Tough life, huh, old man?"
"Who's old? I still have plenty of years ahead. Unlike you Americans, Chinese people live up to a hundred, while you barely make it to seventy," Chhol said with a smirk.
"Is that so, old man? Unlike you, I'll live to a hundred and ten. Hahaha!"
"I hope you think about that, my friend," Chhol muttered to himself.
Five minutes later, they reached the hotel.
Chhol spoke,
"Tonight you'll rest here. Tomorrow there will be an exchange competition. I hope stupid Vincent has explained everything to you."
"Who are you calling stupid, you old bastard?!"
"Hah, sorry, sorry."
Sai whispered,
"Wow, they're really good friends…"
"Yeah," David replied.
Watching them, Noy thought,
Ohhh, how touching, I feel like crying.
"Alright, guys, the competition will take place in the Labagou National Forest Park. Its circumference is about 180 kilometers, but we'll narrow it down to twenty. So you can go rest now, someone will show you the way. Come in."
As they entered, a woman greeted them and said,
"Please, follow me."
Sai, Noy, Emma, and Leo were placed in their rooms.
David was also given a room. It was large and designed in a traditional Chinese style.
After putting his things down, David sat in a meditation pose and began training his energy. More than an hour passed before someone knocked on the door. Opening it, he saw his team—though Emma wasn't with them.
"What happened?" David asked.
Sai said,
"Let's go eat."
"And where's Emma?"
Leo answered,
"She's asleep, and we didn't want to wake her."
"I see," David replied. "Alright, let's go."