Bodyguard

Lan Du gazed at her clothing, it was all dusty and filled with holes.There was also blood stains over it, making her appearance look haggard.Her head was still hurting from the previous strike and she could have a constant feeling of dizziness.

Her room mates were especially worried and concerned about her wellbeing.They have never seen Lan Du so battered before apart from the time she broke her arm.

"Lan Du, who did it anyways?"Fatty asked curiously

Lan Du shook her head

"Dunno, some random kids from another academy, I think...they weren't wearing the uniform, whatever, whoever it is, I'll visit them in the hospital tomorrow"She took out some bandages and a new set of clothing from her bag.She then headed to the toilet as she touched the back of her head.

"If I don't give each and every one of them a concussion, my headache will be in vain"Lan Du smiled coldly and walked into the toilet.

Her room mates shivered when they felt the smile.

She took of her cloths slowly, her arms shook as she did so from the bruises.She then slowly undid the bandages around her chest.

Her smooth skin was covered in bruises and blood, her usually pure white hair was dyed red in the back from blood.

She opened the water and began washing herself.Every once in a while her body would feel a light jolt of pain when she washed herself.

She also rinsed her mouth in the process so remove the iron taste in her mouth.The water that she spat out was completely red.

She wiped her mouth and dried her body.Her bruises was much better after she applied the medicine.She wrapped her chest up with a new set of bandages and changed into the new set of cloths.

When she walked out, she held a towel by the side of her face as she dried her hair.

"Fatty, get me a cup noodle, after a good fight, I'm feeling hungry"Lan Du said casually, her expression was carefree as she boiled the water.After cooking the noodles, she took a big slurp.

"mn, nothing beats a good meal after a shower"Lan Du said happily, she licked the side of her lips and continued to eat.

'He seems so...cute...why does Lan Du change so much when he is eating?'Fatty thought to himself, he turned to the other two and they glanced back at him.As if they understood him, they shrugged their shoulders with confusion as well.

"So, about the people you beat up, how did you clean up the mess?"Ling Shou asked

Lan Du turned over

"Clean up?ah, I left it to the random students around, why would I clean up something like that?"Lan Du replied and took another sip at the soup.

'yep, thats how he is...'They nodded their heads and thought to themselves.

After they talked for a bit more, they climbed onto their beds and began doing their own things.Lan Du read over the guide book she received from instructor Lu while the other three played on their phones.

She looked down and saw that the three of them were playing the same type of game so she grew curious about it.She turned to fatty and asked:

"Is it a popular game?"She asked

Fatty nodded as his fingers tapped his phone and replied

"Yep, it came out recently, although it isn't as advanced as the other games, it is simple and addicting, there is a computer version as well, that one has much more combos you can do unlike this game, its hard to even follow up after three hits"The tapping sound could be heard from all around her

Lan Du rubbed her chin, she took out her phone and downloaded the game.She spent most the time reading so she didn't spend much time playing any games so she decided to join them in the game.

After downloading, she tapped the game and began loading.She looked down as she waited, it seems to be a sort of combat game.It was a mech fight in a 1v1 stage.

Lan Du began the tutorial and found it a bit strange to play as she wasn't used to such devices.She fiddled with the controls until she felt comfortable with it and tried some fights.

The game allowed the player to design their own mechs and fight.To make the mech stronger, the player wins fights and spins for better parts of a mech to improve it.

Lan Du smiled and when the fight began, her fingers began to tap the screen.The movement of her fingers were unnaturally fast and the sound could be heard by Tie Wang.

"Lan Du, I don't think this game requires that much tapping, does it?"He asked

Lan Du nodded and jumped down from her bunk.She then sat on Tie Wang's bed

"Then you tell me, I just started so I might be doing something wrong"She said embarrassingly

She designed her mech the exact same as the one from the virtual training as she took a liking to it.She then equiped the same weapons.Tie Wang leaned closer, when he did, his nose caught a nice fragrance.

'Lan Du...smells so nice'

He quickly shook his head and looked down to Lan Du's screen

He saw lan Du's fingers tap the screen at an extreme speed, but the strange thing was that all the attacks she used connected.

'Is this even possible!Whenever I try to connect attacks, they would knock the opponent back, making it impossible to combo properly!'

Then he saw Lan Du's pattern change, when the opponent was knocked into the air, she somehow dragged him back down onto the ground and continued her combos.

'This-This is insane!Did he really just start today!'

He could see that the opponent couldn't even fight back at all.On the other side of the screen, a young man was staring speechlessly at his phone as his mech was getting pummelled down without even landing a hit back.

Lan Du smiled, the match was over in matter of seconds.

"This game is fun, though the matches are a bit short"She mumbled to herself

Tie Wang by the side was speechless

'It isn't too fast, you're just too good'

Then he saw Lan Di start another match.Fatty saw that Lan Du was also playing the game and glanced over

"Lan Du, how a out a match with me"Fatty said with confidenceLan Du smiled

"Sure"

Tie Wang was secretly excited for what is going to happen.Fatty doesn't know how illogical Lan Du's techniques were, not even he understood them after watching her fight two matches.

But Lan Du was purely using reaction speed and memorisation.She memorised which move does what and what happens when it is added with any other keys.Next she uses her reaction speed to use the followups.

Lan Du later received an invitation to battle.She turned to look at the name which was Pine Lover.

"Thats fatty's account name"Tie Wang said

Lan Du clicked accept

Fatty began to laugh

"Lan Du, I may not be able to beat you in real life, but I have played this game the moment it came out"He didn't hide his arrogance and excitement when Lan Du accepted.Tie Wang's heart was thumping, he wanted to see Fatty's face when Lan Du destroys him completely.

'Heheh, fatty that fool is dead for sure'

3

2

1

The match began and the moment it did, fatty did a quick jab followed by a low sweep.In normal circumstances, this would have knocked the opponent off their feet, but Lan Du instead blocked the jab and used a qucik kick to prevent the sweep.

"Eh, Lan Du, you sure this is the first time you played?Not everyone can block that"Ling Shou leaned in on fatty's screen and said.

Lan Du nodded, the next moment, she began the assault.When he first hit landed, fatty tried to block but Lan Du prevented it with a follow up flip.When the mech was on the ground, Lan Du began tapping, fatty's mech couldn't even get off the ground.The moment he did, he was immediately knocked into the air and pulled back down to the ground.

Fatty began to sweat and Ling Shou's eyes were wide open

Fatty did his best to get out of the combo but his efforts were all in vain.Lan Du not only broke his block, but also prevented any chances of fighting back.When the match ended, fatty seemed as if he would disappear from the world.His face was blank and his face was pale.

"L-Ling Shou...was what Lan Du did even possible"Fatty questioned

Ling Shou shook his head

"I have no clue, even the world wide championship didn't have this much combos to immobilise the opponents like this"He was shocked clueless, how did Lan Du pull it off?

"Lan Du, what's your secret"Fatty asked

Lan Du tapped her head

"Play smarter, not harder"She replied

"What!Your hand speed was faster than all of ours!How is that smarter!You clearly worked harder"Fatty was confused

Lan Du chuckled

"What I mean is, don't pick a fight against someone you can't win, playing smart means know your limit, not harder means fight someone you can actually beat"Lan Du then closed the game and went back up to her bunker

"Thats it for me, I'll see you three tomorrow"She snuggled into her blankets and closed her eyes.

The three looked at each other and sighed

"Why can't I beat Lan Du even in a game?"Fatty was close to tears at this point, the game he was so confident in has let him down.

Ling Shou placed a hand on fatty's shoulders

"Don't compare yourself to him, Lan Du is just too much of a monster for us to beat"He sighed and went to bed as well.

Fatty and Tie Wang followed and also slept.After what just happened, they no longer left like playing that game for today.

When the sun rose in the morning, Lan Du woke up to here the tapping of phones.She looked around and saw the three playing the game again.She sighed and got off the bed.She changed her cloths in the bathroom and came out to see them still playing.

"You three are too addicted, class will start soon"She said

Fatty replied immediately

"Today is a free day, no classes, the instructors are having a meeting discussing the mech training for the army path students"Fatty said

Lan Du nodded

"I see"She went back to the bathroom and changed into her casual cloths and walked out the dorm.She had a small bag with all sorts of items such as the mask she normally wheres and also other small gadgets.

She then walked towards the gate and exited the academy grounds.Of course, she headed for the mercenary guild, she placed the mask on her face before she reached it and tied a dagger to her thigh.

She entered the guild and went to the missions.She began swiping through the missions to see what she could complete in short time.

One of the missions caught her eyes, she paused on it and began thinking.

[Body guard mission:The young master of the Feng family has been targeted by assassins, a body guard is required to protect him]

[Requirements:Serpent Rank]

[Reward:3 million]

Lan Du rubbed her chin, this mission doesn't have a timer so she could leave when she needs to, the day after tomorrow is also a free day so she could come back two days after.Sh scanned the mission with her bracelet and left the guild.

There was a map leading to the Feng household, though she doesn't really need it.After all, it was a large mansion in the city, she naturally knew where it was.The Feng family, unlike the Wu family, the Feng family has a large influence across the whole city, they were better of in economy, but in terms of history, the Wu family has most families beat.

Lan Du walked to where the Feng family household was.The mansion was large and was as long as the street itself.There was guards stationed in almost every perimeter of the yard and walls, each armed with weaponry.

Lan Du was stopped outside the gates by the guards.

"Leave, this is a private property of the Feng family"

Lan Du lifted her bracelet

"I accepted the bodyguard mission, I'm here for the job uptake"She said

The guards gave her a suspicious look and lifted a radio.

"Sir, there is someone who accepted the mission, but he seems suspicious"

[Let him in, I'll see for myself]

The guard nodded and opened the gate for lan Du.The yard inside was filled with guards and the all gave Lan Du a glare when she walked in.They had a wary look in their eyes which gave 

Lan Du a good impression.If they gave her a warm look then she would find it detestable.After all, this was a bodyguard mission, not a theme park.

She walked into the main hall, she was then led by a butler to the lounge room where three people was seated.Lan Du stood by the side, waiting for them to say something.

"You're here for the mission?"The man asked, beside him was a woman, and a young man.

The man was Feng Yilin, the head of the Feng family.The young man should be the one she needs to protect, Feng Yan and the woman is probably Feng Yilin's wife, Sima Wen.Lan Du gave them a reverent bow and nodded

"Indeed, I am in Serpent realm so I am qualified, unless its someone who can completely suppress me, guaranteeing his safety should be possible"Lan Du replied

Sima Wen stood up and leaned closer to Lan Du.She pulled her in and whispered into her ears.

"You're a girl...aren't you"

Lan Du's pupils shrunk but she kept her composure.

"What makes you say that?"Lan Du asked

Sima Wen smiled

"Woman's intuition, I have seen many girls, but this is the first time I've seen one dress like a boy"

Lan Du chuckled

"Madam Wen, you jest"Lan Du smiled

"Are you trying to approach my son?"She asked

Lan Du shook her head

"I have no interest in your son, I'm interested in your money, but if you speak a word about what you just said...not even your husband can protect you from me"Lan Du said coldly, she whispered it all so the other two won't hear them.

Sima Wen smiled, she sat back down next to Feng Yilin and said

"He is trustworthy, as for whether he is worthy or not, just send a guard to test him out"Sima Wen said

'She's dangerous, being able to see through me in a single glance...'Lan Du thought to herself.

Feng Yilin nodded, he gestured for the butler to come up and get a guard to come over.The butler did so with haste, he came back after will a bulky man behind him.The man wore a vest and was armed with different weapons around his waist.

"Fight him, he is about average within the guards, if you beat him, you will get the job"Feng Yilin said

Feng Yan by the side pouted, he was roughly Lan Du's age currently so he seemed quite innocent.Lan Du has never seen a boy her age with such pure innocent gazes before so she was surprised.

"Father, he doesn't look that old, how can he beat the guards, how about we lower the bar a bit"Feng Yan said innocently

Lan Du smiled

"No need, this is a bodyguard mission, not a playground, lowering the bar means lowering your safety"Lan DU crackled her knuckles and walked up to the guard.

"Hello big boy, wanna know a hobby of mine?"Lan Du grinned

The guard spat

"Brat, this is no place for hairless brats like you, get lost before I toss you out"

Lan Du laughed

She walked towards the guard slowly, her gaze became cruel and full of sadism.She licked the side of her lips and stood directly in front of the guard.The guard snorted and threw a casual punch, completely looking down on her.

Lan Du hated this treatment, so she grabbed his fist and clenched it tightly.

"Put some effort into it, otherwise breaking you won't be fun"Lan Du's grip tightened and a cracking sound was heard.

"Argh!"The guard felt his bone shifting in his hand.

His grunt shocked the three in the room, they didn't expect such a small body to hold so much strength.Her grip strength alone crushed the man's hand.

"Whats wrong?You're a bodyguard, stop letting out such an embarrassing sound, get a hold of yourself"Lan Du pulled him closer and slammed her elbow into his face.

She then punched him in the guts, her fist twisted it in and caused immense pain to rush through the man.He fell to the ground holding his stomach in pain.

Lan Du clasped her hand and turned around to the shocked expressions of the family