"That…" The man didn't know what to say, or how to say it. Still, when Yang Lin's gaze grew suspicious, the man nodded his head and turned around, giving his consent.
After all, visiting other rooms wasn't a ridiculous offer, but Yang Lin wasn't the only one who visited Xiao Ming's room, and it was precisely because of that did the guard feel a bit off. As he opened the door, he then said, "Do you want to make a detour and wash up, get a new set of clothing, you know? You look… Uh…"
"No need," Yang Lin shook his head. His priority now was to clear any misunderstandings with Ming'er, his looks were the least of his worries. Be it the torn robes, coagulated blood, or his messy hair, it mattered little to nothing. The guard silently clicked his tongue, sighed inwardly, and led the way.
The ship wasn't that large, and it consisted of basically four levels. Engine, Storage and Facilities, Dorms, and the uppermost level, the surface, and the Navigation Chamber. The dorm level seemed to be deserted at the moment, the guard had perhaps gone to find Yang Lin once everyone went down into the facilities.
It didn't take long before they reached a door with a nameplate that had 'Xiao Ming' engraved unto it. Seeing that no one was around, the guard heaved a sigh of relief. Growing impatient, Yang Lin took a step forward and gently knocked on the door.
Knock!
Knock!
Knock!
As the knocks rippled through the room, the young woman within flinched ever-so-lightly. She eyed the door, thinking to herself, why did they return already?
She sat on her bed in the corner, hugging her knees to her chest, and ignored the knocking.
A moment later, the knocking continued. She expected the knocking to become violent, just like a moment earlier, but the knocking had actually stopped. Instead, it was replaced by disembodied voices, there seems to have been a discussion breakout outside her door, to which she ignored and buried her face in her knees even the more.
Behind the door, it was actually the Senior Brother with blazing red eyes, crimson hair, and a smug look on his face. On the way, Yang Lin found out that this guy, in particular, was from a Western Origin. His name was Richard.
Behind Richard was a group of what seemed like lackeys, they also had some surprise over their faces as they saw Yang Lin standing before Xiao Ming's room. Has he already finished his assignments? They wondered. Some of them had even suspected that he was brought from a separate Orphanage, it was simply incomprehensible to study the Four Alien Tongues within four months, let alone two.
They knew that this whole assignments thing was a conspiracy orchestrated by Richard, just to separate between Yang Lin and Xiao Ming the entire voyage. Now, seems that Yang Lin also had bribed one of the guards, they just wondered what sort of a relic did Yang Lin relinquish. Nonetheless, as they whispered amongst one another in anticipation, Richard yelled out at Yang Lin.
"Scram!"
Although he yelled out at Yang Lin, his eyes were on the door behind the youth. Obviously, he intended for Xiao Ming to listen in on the riot outside, this could bait her out. By Yang Lin's side, the guard frowned lightly, this is going south pretty quickly.
Howbeit, Yang Lin ignored Richard, faced the door, and called out for Ming'er softly. Of course, he told her that he has four hours of free time, and he would like to talk to her. The declaration was loud enough for all to hear, and the kids in the background nodded as if they understood something. Indeed, this new orphan was too broke, he could only bribe out four hours, unlike Richard who basically bribed out the entire four months from the guards.
Some of them even looked at Richard's back with admiration.
Not a moment after Yang Lin finished speaking, Ming'er said, "Go away, I don't want to see anyone."
Her voice was soft with a twinge of crisp sadness. Apparently, it was distinctly different from her charming tone back in the forest, under the blanket of darkness and winter. Something must have gone wrong, Yang Lin thought. Was she bullied again? Under the nose of these guards?
Unintentionally, Yang Lin scanned the expression of the guard who accompanied him here. As expected, there was a hint of guilt in the latter's eyes. As Yang Lin was thinking, Richard, burst into laughter and yelled out.
"Come on, slut. It was just a slap, this is nothing in comparison to the City Lord's temper!"
In the room, Xiao Ming's shoulders shuddered, she peeked out from her knees with a hateful gaze, as if she could see Richard from behind the door. In the Orphanage, the bullying she had received had only gone to name-calling, and occasionally she would be pushed around. However, she never expected to actually be hit across the face in front of so many of her peers.
Even the guards seemed to tolerate it, which stuck a nail in her heart. Just as she was staring at the door, she heard a loud noise and a bang.
Slap!
Bang!
With widened eyes, she looked at Richard's head which breached through her door, blood trickling from his cranium, and a clear handprint radiating off his left cheek. From the crack, she saw the guard and the group of kids, standing petrified in shock.
Amongst the group, Yang Lin stood there with a cold gaze directed at the now passed-out Richard. Still, the mild shock could be seen in his eyes. Why was the protection array on this room shut down? He expected Richard's head to bounce back, but it actually smashed right in instead.
Looking into the room, he saw Ming'er, her porcelain face had a red handprint marking the cheek, that sight clenched his heart. It was silence all around, no one saw this turn of events. Richard had the protection of most guards, he thought he was untouchable on this trip, but there he was with his head nailed through the door of Xiao Ming's room.