Lei's gaze shifted towards her father, her eyes flashing with a mixture of resentment and wariness. "Father?" she said, her voice stern and cold.
General Fei's expression remained impassive, his eyes narrowing slightly as he took in his daughter's demeanor. He stepped forward, his movements deliberate and controlled.
"I see you're awake. You must be recovering well," he said, his voice firm but detached. "I trust the healers here are taking good care of you?"
"As if? I can tell you were just standing at the door with Sifu Yagushi, complaining about the poor quality of the healers here, it's so like you, " Lei said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
General Fei's expression turned stern, his eyes flashing with disapproval. "Lei, that's enough," he said, his voice firm but controlled. "I'm here to check on your well-being, not to argue with you."
Lei's gaze didn't waver, her eyes blazing with defiance. "Save it, Father," she spat, her voice venomous. "I know exactly why you're here. You're not concerned about my well-being. You're just here to make sure I'm not embarrassing the Hanzo clan."
General Fei's face darkened, his jaw clenched in anger. "How dare you," he growled, his voice low and menacing. "I am your father, and I will not be spoken to in such a manner."
Lei's eyes flashed with anger, but she refused to back down. "You've never been a father to me," she spat, her voice trembling with emotion. "You've always been more concerned with the Hanzo clan's reputation than with my well-being."
General Fei's expression turned cold, and he turned to leave, but not before delivering a parting shot. "Lei, I brought you to this academy for a reason," he said, his voice firm. "As a Hanzo, it's your duty to excel, no matter where you are. And as my daughter, I expect you to take over this academy one day, to be the best, to dominate. That's the legacy of the Hanzo clan."
Lei's eyes flashed with anger, and she cut him off. "That's enough, Dad," she spat. "Newsflash: I stopped caring about your expectations a long time ago."
General Fei's eyes narrowed, his face a mask of controlled anger. He took a deep breath, his voice low and even. "Very well, Lei. I will leave you to your... rebellion. But know this: I will not give up on you. You are a Hanzo, and you will live up to the clan's expectations, one way or another."
With that, General Fei turned and walked away, leaving Lei to seethe in anger and frustration. The door closed behind him with a soft click, and Lei was left alone with her thoughts. As General Fei departed, a subtle movement caught Lei's attention - a small, deliberate flick of his wrist. A sheet of paper slipped from his hand, floating gently to the floor. It was a message note, penned in a familiar handwriting. The deliberate drop was a clear indication that General Fei had intentionally left the note for Lei to find.
Lei's gaze lingered on the door, her anger and frustration seething beneath the surface. The soft click of the door closing broke the spell, and her eyes drifted to the floor. That's when she saw it - a sheet of paper lying on the ground. She strode over to pick it up, and her heart skipped a beat as she recognized her mother's handwriting on the note. Her eyes widened, and her expression softened, but tears of anger and hurt rolled down her cheeks. Her eyes turned a deep, foreboding red, a faint dark hue emanating from them once more.
General Fei's expression turned contemplative as he walked through the corridor, his footsteps echoing off the stone walls. He emerged into the bright sunlight, where his team of Wulin warriors stood at attention, their eyes scanning the surrounding area for any signs of danger.
"Has your meeting with your daughter concluded, Sir?" Wulin 1 asked, his voice firm and respectful. "Can we make arrangements for our exit from the North Region, Sir?"
General Fei's gaze drifted off into the distance, his mind still reeling from the confrontation with Lei. "Let's..." he began, but his voice trailed off as he seemed to reconsider. His expression hardened, and he nodded curtly. "No.. We're heading to the Iron Fist headquarters. I wanna to have one more chat with Yagushi."
Wulin 1 nodded sharply, his expression a mask of professionalism. "Immediately, Sir. I'll inform the others and prepare for our departure." He turned to relay the orders to the rest of the Wulin warriors, who sprang into action, mobilizing for their journey to the Iron Fist headquarters.
Yagushi looked up, a hint of surprise on his face. "Why are you still here, Fei?" he asked, his tone neutral. "I didn't expect to receive word that you would be waiting for me. You must have seen your daughter, Lei. What's troubling you?"
General Fei's expression remained calm, but a hint of tension underlay his words. "I merely thought I'd take the opportunity to inspect the establishment where my daughter trains. It's been a while since I've had a chance to visit."
Yagushi raised an eyebrow, his skepticism evident. "Last time I checked, you couldn't even get a glimpse of this place. Now you want a personal tour? Sorry, Fei, but I'm afraid I'm too busy to accommodate you."
General Fei's expression turned dismissive. "Never mind, I won't bother requesting a tour," he said, his tone dripping with disdain. "In any case, my assessment of this academy remains unchanged. It's still decidedly... subpar."
Yagushi's eyes narrowed, his tone taking on a serious edge. "I'm not sure I follow, Fei. What exactly do you mean?"
General Fei's gaze swept the surroundings, his expression unimpressed. "It's quite evident, really. The environment is lacking, the training facilities are inadequate, and the security in this region is woefully insufficient. Furthermore, most of your warriors are barely competent. I've seen no discernible improvement in this institution since its inception."
Yagushi's face remained impassive, but a hint of tension crept into his voice. "I see," he said. "And I suppose you must be the expert on what constitutes a worthy academy?"
General Fei's smile was thin and condescending. "I think my own experience and reputation speak for themselves, Yagushi. I've built the Golden Elite Academy into one of the most respected and feared organizations in the land. I know what it takes to produce true warriors."
Yagushi's eyes flashed with a momentary spark of anger, but he quickly suppressed it. "I'm well aware of your accomplishments, Fei," he said. "But that doesn't necessarily qualify you to judge our academy. We have our own methods and standards."
General Fei's smile grew wider, his condescension palpable. "Ah, but that's where you're wrong, Yagushi," he said. "As a fellow leader in the martial arts world, I believe it's my duty to ensure that all academies maintain a certain level of excellence. And I'm afraid your academy falls short in many areas."
Yagushi's expression remained calm, but his voice took on a slightly sharper edge. "I understand your concerns, Fei," he said. "But I assure you, we're doing everything in our power to provide our students with the best possible training. Perhaps if you spent more time observing our methods, rather than simply criticizing them, you'd gain a better understanding of what we're trying to achieve."
"My daughter doesn't have the luxury of time, and she certainly can't afford to be laid up in a sickbed," General Fei said, his voice laced with disdain. "As a potential Dragon Warrior, she's destined for greatness, and one day she'll take the reins of this... academy." His gaze swept the surroundings, his expression unimpressed. "You claim to know what you're doing here, but the fact remains that one of your students and a sensei are being held captive by a tyrant. What's being done to rescue them? The lack of progress speaks volumes about the efficiency of your organization."
Si-Fu Yagushi maintained his composure, his voice measured and calm. "General Fei, I believe you're allowing your emotions to cloud your judgment. You've always held our academy in high esteem, which is why you entrusted us with Lei's training in the first place. We, too, recognize her immense potential and are committed to ensuring her safety and well-being, protecting her from any harm or enemy.
Regarding our missing Sifu and student, I assure you that our team of skilled Wulin warriors is tirelessly investigating the southern region, gathering intelligence and following leads to determine their exact whereabouts. We've made significant progress and have established a collaborative effort with the Phoenix Academy in the eastern region and the Golden Academy in the Western Mountain Region to aid in their rescue and safe return."
General Fei's eyes narrowed. "Oh, really?" he said, his tone laced with skepticism. "You've established connections with the Golden Elite Academy without my knowledge? I'm sure you must have instructed Feng to keep me in the dark about this development."
Yagushi's expression remained neutral. "Not at all, General Fei," he replied. "I think it's simply a matter of your being unaware of the events unfolding around you."
General Fei's face darkened, and he shot Yagushi a stern glance, struggling to maintain his composure. "Hmm, I believe it's time for us to conclude this meeting," he said. "I'll ensure that the Golden Elite Academy does its part in assisting your rescue mission."
Yagushi nodded graciously. "Thank you, General Fei. I appreciate your willingness to help."
General Fei's voice took on a ominous tone. "But let this be clear: the next time I come here for my daughter... might be my last."
Yagushi's expression remained unruffled, but a hint of wariness crept into his eyes. "I understand, General Fei," he said. "I'll take your words into consideration, but I doubt you'll be back here anytime soon. "
General Fei turned to leave, his movements purposeful. "See that you do, Yagushi," he said over his shoulder. "I expect significant progress in the rescue mission and in the training of my daughter."
With that, General Fei strode away, his Wulin warriors falling into step behind him. Yagushi watched them depart, his expression thoughtful and his eyes narrowed in contemplation.
As Yagushi watched General Fei and his entourage disappear from view, the sound of the door sliding open broke the silence. Sifu Mei entered, her eyes scanning the room before coming to rest on Yagushi.
"Ah, Sifu Mei," Yagushi said, his expression neutral. "You've arrived at a timely moment. General Fei was just here, and he was as irascible as ever. Prolonged exposure to his demeanor can be quite draining. How are you feeling, by the way?"
"I've been fine for a while now," Mei replied. "What did you discuss with General Fei?"
"A great deal," Yagushi said. "But the most pressing matter is that time is of the essence. We must initiate our rescue mission for Sifu Hibiki and Lian immediately. The one positive outcome from our conversation is that General Fei has agreed to collaborate with us, committing the Golden Elite Academy's resources to our mission. Fortunately, Feng required General Fei's approval to proceed, and I was able to secure his consent."
"Very well, and I've received word that the students have completed their training, coinciding perfectly with the timing of our mission," Mei said. Yagushi's expression shifted to one of concern.
"I'm sure you're aware, Mei, that those students aren't ready to handle a mission of this magnitude," Yagushi said, his brow furrowed.
Mei nodded understandingly. "I understand your reservations, Grandmaster. However, the students won't be thrust into the front lines. This battle will likely appear to be an all-out war, with numerous villages gathering to face off against our common enemy. Providing the students with this firsthand experience will be invaluable, and I'm confident that one or two of them will surprise you with their efforts."
Yagushi's expression remained skeptical, but he nodded thoughtfully. "I hope you're right, Mei. I truly do. But we can't afford to have any of them get hurt. Not now, when we're so close to achieving our goal."
Mei's expression turned reassuring. "Don't worry, Grandmaster. I'll personally oversee the students' involvement in the mission. We'll ensure their safety while still providing them with the experience they need to grow."
Yagushi's eyes narrowed, his concern evident. "But you're not fully recovered, Mei. You've only just finished your recuperation."
Mei's expression turned resolute, her voice firm. "I'm fine, Grandmaster. Please, don't worry about me. Our priority is rescuing Hibiki and Lian. I promise you, we'll bring them back safely."