10. Chapter 10

Chapter ten

Chen

" U gh, I just got back from my lessons, can I get settled in first before you start harassing me?" Yìchén fussed as he swung his book bag from his shoulder to the chair in his bedroom.

Chen was standing in the doorway wearing a black shirt, sweatpants, boots, and fingerless gloves. "You've got ten minutes, then meet me in the backyard. If I have to come get you, I'm going to take it out on your ass in training. Oh, and wear something comfortable to spar in." He walked away to leave Yìchén to get situated. Last night, he'd gotten a little taste of Yìchén's fire when the man punched him instead of his uncle. Yìchén had taken his rage out on him and it caught Chen off guard and he let his mask slip for just a second. He knew he couldn't let that happen again.

The conversation that he had with Da Han following their basement activities didn't question his moment of weakness. Instead, Da Han praised him for getting his son to step up to prove himself. However, Da Han did warn Chen to keep it professional and he promised that he would.

He made his way to the backyard and began his stretches and right when he was about to go fetch Yìchén, the young man stepped out into the yard, a frown on his pretty face. Chen had to admit, no matter who the child's mother was, Da Han produced beautiful offspring. Three boys and one girl, a great contribution to the Jade Dragon Triad.

"So, what are we going to be doing?" Yìchén asked with more attitude than what Chen would accept.

"Watch your tone when speaking to me, boy," Chen warned.

Yìchén snarled. "I'm not a boy, and least of all, yours."

"You sure as fuck aren't a man," Chen retorted.

Yìchén scoffed. "That bruise on your cheek would say otherwise."

Chen stared at him.

Yìchén raised both eyebrows. "What? Nothing to say?" he asked in Mandarin.

Chen caressed the bruise he had on his jaw thanks to the punch he took from Yìchén while he wore brass knuckles. He smirked and nodded. "If you actually knew how to punch, you could have knocked me out, or at least a few of my teeth. This bruise..." he tapped it, "it's all you got and nothing to be so proud of."

Yìchén squared his shoulders. "So what? I'm not like you."

"A skilled fighter?"

"I can fight!"

"Then show me."

"I won't hold back," Yìchén warned.

"I would hope not or else I fear I would hardly feel anything."

Yìchén growled and charged forward, swinging lefts and rights, all of which Chen dodged or blocked with ease. That only added to his frustration toward his father's right-hand man. "Son of a bitch," he snarled, then let loose a few kicks.

Chen blocked one kick with his hand, then parried the other with a kick of his own, then reversed it to catch Yìchén on his chin with his heel. Yìchén grunted and fell to one knee as he caressed his aching jaw. He looked up at Chen with venom in his eyes.

"Your moves are wild and clumsy," Chen chastised.

Yìchén huffed, then rose to his feet and swung, which Chen leaned back to dodge, but before he could follow it up, he caught a jab to the nose. The blinding pain that shot across his face put a pause to his sparring. Blood seeped from his nose and he looked at it coloring his fingertips. "What the fuck?" He glared at Chen with all of the accusations he could muster.

"Like I said, your moves are all over the place and you leave yourself open to attacks." Chen walked up to him and grabbed his chin, tilting Yìchén's face up so he could examine the injury. "It's not broken," he said and released the boy.

"And if it was?" Yìchén asked, his tone heated with the rage he felt.

"Then you'd have a broken nose because of your foolish actions and lack of skill," Chen said.

"I don't have to take this," Yìchén cursed, then stomped off toward the back door.

"You walk away, then it better be to go pack your bags and that's if your father will allow that much. Everything you own was purchased with the money your family shed blood, time, and energy to earn. You're expected to do your part, or you won't be a part of it. Or did you forget?" Chen kept his gaze on the man and when Yìchén turned to face him again, he cocked an eyebrow.

"I didn't forget," Yìchén snapped.

"Master."

"What?" Yìchén asked, his face contorted in a mixture of annoyance and confusion.

"From this moment on, you will address me as 'Master'," Chen instructed.

Yìchén smirked. "Maybe you're confused, but you work for my family. Meaning, you work for me."

"I'm training you, therefore you will give me the respect of your master," Chen said. He lifted his chin and put his hands behind his back. "Now, if you're done throwing your tantrum, how about you practicing throwing a punch that will land."

Yìchén's pretty face twisted in a grimace and he charged Chen again, giving it his all, and time and time again, he took a blow, a throw, a slam, and a kick, until he was left on his back, looking at the sun setting as his aching body simmered in the pain of his failure to land even one hit.

Chen's shadow covered him first before the man appeared over him. "This was disappointing, Yìchén. You're a Mujin and this was the best you could do? No wonder your father is now demanding more of you."

"Shut up," Yìchén snapped as he struggled to his knees.

Chen smirked, then gave Yìchén a snap kick to the face, knocking the man out completely. He then walked away to shower. He knew he had his work cut out for him turning an ill-tempered, irrational, and selfish boy into a man who was worthy of the tattoo on his flesh. The real training would begin tomorrow.

***

He looked at Yìché n as the boy stood before him, several bruises on his face. He noted that he didn't have to send for him, Yìchén came to the yard on his own. "You look like you're ready to take this seriously now," Chen said.

"I owe you for that kick you gave me, Master," Yìchén said.

Chen smirked. "Is that so?"

Yìchén nodded. "You kicked me in the fucking face, then just left me here like I was some chump."

"You are a chump."

"Fu—grrmm," Yìchén growled as he held back his anger. "Please, teach me how to kick your ass, Master."

Chen studied the boy, and he could tell he was ready to step up to the plate. Either it was because he didn't want to lose his livelihood or he wanted his payback. He could work with the motivation. "Good. Now, we train."

For the next two hours, Chen had Yìchén doing physical training, running around the yard and sit-ups. At one point, Yìchén ended up puking as he jogged around the vast area of the backyard's walkway. Still, Chen didn't cut him any slack. After his endurance training, he focused on his martial arts for another two hours.

"Oh my god, I can't take it... please... please... master," Yìchén begged as he collapsed to the ground in a sweaty, heaving mess.

Chen was also sweating, but this type of exertion was what his body was conditioned for. His breathing was steady, but hard as he kept his heart rate up. "Fine... let's do some cool-down stretches," he said.

Slowly, Yìchén climbed to his feet on weak legs. The only thing keeping him from falling over was the fact that it was over. At least for the day, and he couldn't wait to take a shower, eat, and then sleep in that order. After their cool-down, he felt much better and proud of himself that he'd lasted as long as he did.

Chen patted his back. "You did better than I had expected."

Yìchén looked at him and stepped up a little closer. "I'm just wondering how long you can last in bed with all of this stamina." He gave Chen a flirty smile.

Chen's expression remained stoic. "You will never know."

"Ahhh, come on. We're both grown adults."

"That's debatable," Chen said with a snort.

"My ass is nice and tight. I like it rough, too. You can tie me up and all that," Yìchén said imploringly.

"You are my boss' son and this conversation is inappropriate," Chen said, then walked away before Yìchén could go any further. But more importantly, he didn't want Yìchén to see the bulge growing in his pants. His libido was something he'd trained hard to keep in check, but hearing such sexual advances from someone so fucking beautiful put a strain on Chen's reserve.

Fuck! This wasn't going to be easy. Training Yìchén and fending him off at the same time, especially now when he truly wanted him. But Da Han would probably kill him if he did pursue his son. It was one thing to just fuck Yìchén the way most men would. It was another to want to conquer the offspring of Da Han Mujin. The Dragonhead of the Jade Dragon Triad. That was a game too dangerous to play.