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At first glance, there doesn't seem to be much to him. The man wears all black and a cutting glare that dissuades the Haixingren boxers, trailed by a stuttering young man. For all Ye Huo knows, it could all be an act, like so many of the men and boys put on that walk through the doors.
His tone is terse and should be off-putting when Ye Huo addresses him, but Ye Huo hears something in his voice that calls to him. An echo of violence barely contained by the walls the man has in place. A violence that hungers for release.
Ye Huo hopes they meet in the ring.
When all is said and done, Chu Shuzhi's eyes peer into him as he hands back the championship belt. It's an easy enough message to interpret. They've come to a mutual understanding and respect.
They are each sons of Dixing, trying to make the best of the hand dealt to them. Though Chu Shuzhi's freedom, it seems, comes at a hefty price. His eyes reflect pain and his laugh is hollow.
His sentence is given and the arrangements are made. Ye Huo accepts it with some semblance of grace.
But he never knew how to leave well enough alone.
Fighting with Chu Shuzhi ends up more satisfying than fighting against him. When he glimpses Chu Shuzhi leaning weakly against the truck, something shakes inside him. His breath constricts and he's suddenly fed up with all the loss. He didn't do enough before, but now he has been given a second chance. He needs to do more with it.
Ye Huo puts his all into pressing the advantage against Zhu Jiu. It would have been an easy takedown with Chu Shuzhi at his side, if not for the bomb.
As he lies on the ground, the pain in his chest is incomparable to the regret he feels for not doing more for those kids.
It's funny how the sub zero temperatures managed to kindle a fire far stronger than the cold that tried to wipe them out. They part ways, now sharing something more than a sense of duty.
Later as Ye Huo watches Chief Zhao beseech the citizens of Dragon City for compassion towards their Dixingren neighbors–towards Ye Huo– he knows he must join the ranks of SID to calm the people.
The fire inside him blazes high as Chu Shuzhi smiles at him and claps his shoulder. His thanks and his touch sending a jolt down to his bones. A sense of urgency overtakes him as Ye Huo pulls Chu Shuzhi aside. His frown makes Ye Huo want to laugh, his mouth opening on a question that never comes.
The kiss is short and sweet, pressed to the corner of Chu Shuzhi's mouth. Ye Huo grins, as he walks backwards away from the stunned Chu Shuzhi. An answering spark in Chu Shuzhi's eyes sends him off.
He feels ready now to face the unknown that looms before them.