His Scarred Bodyguard

"Follow me." Boss Li said to Scarface as he instructed his assistant and the guards to commence the trial for the elimination process.

The expressionless assistant who had been standing like a statue the whole time : "Understood, Sir."

He glanced at the disfigured sloppy figure following behind the straight figure of his superior, his eyes hidden behind his silver rimmed spectacles.

He turned his head to glance at the enthusiastic crowd of men like nothing happened.

Rows of fully armed masked men surged out from the tall building, quickly making the loud and clamouring crowd to quieten down at their serious appearance.

The sleazy man was dragged away by the guards like a bag of rotten potatoes.

The first test in the selection procedure was the elimination round.

The trial was basically a competition for skills in fighting. Only those who could defeat the largest number of opponents in the shortest time frame would be selected for the next round.

The arena once again erupted into loud roars of fighting and fist clashing sounds of exchanging blows invigorating.

Leaving behind the clamouring arena, Scarface leisurely followed Boss Li to the second floor.

Her big eyes with dark pupils crinkled with amusement as she looked at the tall and straight back of the man in front of her.

They entered a study which was furnished in an ancient Chinese style, low-key yet furnished with luxurious and expensive materials.

The calm and sophisticated room looked vastly different from the bloody arena outdoor.

The room gave off a calm and soothing vibe with an exquisite silver incense burner at the corner, a low table made of sandalwood in the middle with cushions lying around the table.

In one corner facing the arena was a low desk piled with books and documents, a set of jade calligraphy brush and ink stone lying pristine on the desk.

Behind the study desk was a low elongated chair with soft brown cushion.

A tea set of exquisite porcelain painted with bamboo leaves sat on the table in the middle, set specifically to serve and entertain guest.

Boss Li sat down on one side of the table and gestured Scarface to sit opposite him.

He picked up the tea pot and prepared the tea with calm and precise measure, evidently from years of practice.

The guards stood outside the study. Only Boss Li and Scarface sat inside the study.

Boss Li poured a cup of fragrant tea and placed it in front of Scarface who picked it up leisurely to take a sip.

Her every movement was suffused with grace and elegance, a rare harmony with her indolent posture. Her refined and regal mannerism which appeared to be deeply ingrained was a huge contrast to her earlier rugged and roughish appearance.

She remarked subtly, " Good tea."

Boss Li took a sip as he observed the rugged disfigured girl in front of him savouring the tea elegantly and gracefully with familiarity with a gleam in his eyes, "A friend gave it to me. Only ten tin of tea leaves are produced a year."

"Good stuff. My old man will like it." Something flickered in her eyes but quickly vanished as Scarface turned back to her nonchalant self.

"Now, tell me why you're here." Boss Li's gaze turned sharp and cold as he asked Scarface, his left hand under the table curved into a deathly claw, his leisure stance ready to attack his target any moment.

"What does Boss Li mean? Am I not here to be a part of the most elite bodyguard team under Boss Li ?" chuckling softly, Scarface asked as she observed the middle aged man before her, eyes filled with mirth.

Indeed. He got a good eye.

"Little girl, I'm afraid my humble abode cannot accommodate such a great tiger like you." Boss Li said in a low voice as he sipped the tea.

"I'm no great tiger, Li Boss. At most I'm just a small kitten that popped out from the crack of the rock." Finishing the tea, Scarface stood up and walked towards the oil painting hanging on the wall.

The painting was a woman. But the painter did not draw her face, capturing only the elegant and beautiful view of her back. She was dressed in a Chinese traditional qipao, her curves elegant and graceful. Even from her back, one could tell that she was a great beauty.

Scarface stroked the woman in the painting absentmindedly.

She took one look at the oil painting and turned to glance outside at the boisterous crowd in the arena.

Boss Li paused for a minute, his eyes observing her every movement and expression.

She just mentioned her old man. And now she's claiming to be an orphan who popped out of rock.

Does she take him for an idiot?

Just what is her purpose in coming to his territory?

"Miss, I don't think we've crossed path before. My Li family welcomes all our guest with great hospitality. The others, with a gorefest." Boss Li said in a deep voice tinged with sharpness.

His meaning- if you're a guest, you're welcome. If you're an enemy, we'll chop you up and feast on your flesh and blood.

The air turned thick with tension as Scarface and Boss Li looked at each other with deep eyes across the room, one standing and the other sitting.

Scarface chuckled lightly as she bend over and poured herself another cup of tea and said playfully "Boss Li, shouldn't you show this guest your Li Family hospitality then?"

Her light tone dissipated the thick tension in the air.

"Why my Li Family?" Boss Li couldn't help asking.

"Because you pay well, Old man. And I'm poor."

Pffft-

"Cough... Cough...."

Boss Li choked on the tea he just drank.

"Ahem-"

Old Man!!!????

Boss Li opened his mouth to say something when the corner of his eyes caught the reflection of something sharp and shiny in Sacrface's hands, sending out beams of broken light as it twirled in the air when flicked up by the tatted small hands.

"Who are you?!"