Rolling his shoulders, Keung confessed, ‘Cheng, I feel cornered, trapped. The energy to fret over the surface has all but left me, and now I have to solve this entire Yang problem within 100 cycles!’

  Cheng’s calm voice cut through the gloom in the lecture hall. ‘We’re all in this together, sir. Isn’t it business as usual? We’re swimming in leads, more than we’ve had in the last two annui-cycles. We have more allies and more resources than ever before; sir, we’ll weather this storm. The revelations about the surface? Emperor Puyin’s problem, not ours.’

  Head propped on his hand, Keung sat at the front, occupying the spot reserved for the lecturers. The holo-screen beside him lay dormant and silent. Cheng was perched in the front row, barely visible. Keung couldn’t help but remember his friend sitting in the same seat during their academy days. That was eight annui-cycles ago, but it felt like a different lifetime.

  Back then, lessons on combat, climbing, mathematics, science, literature, history, and philosophy filled their days. They were moulded to be Kingmakers, expecting their toughest challenges to be resolving petty politics and squabbles between nobles. A Kingmaker’s role was to mediate in disputes, protect private property, track violent criminals and on rare, momentous occasions, carry out a royal regicide. But now, the Emperor had thrown them into the brutal darkness of counterterrorism. How Keung wished they’d had a class for that in the academy.

  ‘Did anything strike you as… odd that night?’ Keung searched Cheng’s face for any inkling of insight he’d come to expect from him.

  Cheng was silent for a moment. ‘Well,’ he finally said. ‘It would probably be more challenging to overlook all the oddities of that night in Ho Man Ting. Let’s go over everything that happened. First, the Tien Tao remained at their fort until the Ibilis was nearly done with his speech. Them storming into the university so late didn’t sit right with me. Mr Enji is known to deploy his infamous Rioters like unleashed wardogs. I assumed he’d dive in headfirst to get his Tien Tao in position to catch the Ibilis. These are the most skilled operatives from the south and they let an easy target escape.’ He paused for a moment, lost in thought. ‘Next, I don’t buy the Tien Tao’s claim they knew nothing about this grand Yang event happening, while the Tai Li, hundreds and hundreds of kilometres away in central Kowloon, had sniffed out suspicious activity a couple of cycles prior. But let’s entertain the idea that such a monumental event on their home turf just slipped under their radar. It’s been less than 48 hours since the incident, and Warlord Xinjian has yet to make a single arrest in connection to the speech. But two nights ago, that courtyard held nearly 10,000 Yang sympaths. Now they’ve scattered to the wind around the city, and every one of them has grounds for arrest. Yet nothing’s been reported to us. Makes me wonder what the hell he’s playing at.’

  Keung took a moment to process Cheng’s theories before voicing his concern. ‘Do you think the southern warlords are conspiring with the Yang?’

  ‘If there are districts we should worry about, the south would be top of the list. Throughout history, they’ve been the first to raise their voices and bear arms. Protest and rebellion is a strong part of their culture. And, in the aftermath of each protest against the Dynasty, the Emperor always tightens his grip around their necks. Like a parent handling a troubled child.’

  Keung’s shoulders slumped. ‘I wish our relationship with the south wasn’t always this strained. Emperor Puyin has made a lot of effort to strengthen ties with the Zhaisheng. He’s invested billions of Hongs in the south building universities and stadiums. Thought those southerner’s would feel a bit grateful.’ He glanced at his holocommunicator to check the time – they were an hour away from dimming.

  ‘With any luck, the Tai Li and the others should be here soon,’ Keung said.

  Suddenly, a knock on the opaque glass door at the rear echoed through the silent room.

  ‘Come in!’ Cheng called out, prompting the door to slide open and reveal the figures of Han and Jin, the two Tai Li representatives from Yau. ‘Ah, welcome. Please, have a seat,’ the tribune greeted.

  The two Tai Li bowed and slipped into the last row of seats, where the shadows of the room were the darkest.

  ‘Shouldn’t there be six more of you?’ Keung asked.

  ‘Yes, but in the interests of preserving confidentiality, they won’t be interacting directly with you Kingmakers,’ Han explained. ‘Ying and General Denzhen made it clear how vital it was to maintain the secrecy of this operation. We’ll be the buffer for all knowledge shared between us and the rest of our team.’

  ‘Sounds like a plan,’ Cheng chimed in. ‘I hope to get a glimpse of your team in action someday, Han.’

  ‘That may yet come to pass.’

  A brief knock came from the door and it slid open, revealing Yutai and Shing shuffling into the dimly lit lecture hall. They dispersed into the middle rows and sat down.

  ‘Good to see you two,’ Cheng greeted from his seat. ‘Heard from Tao and Ushi?’

  ‘I think they’re on the way,’ Yutai said as he made himself comfortable in his chosen seat.

  ‘Let’s just get this started; those two can catch up when they get here.’ Shing’s tone was brisk and devoid of patience.

  Keung gave a stern shake of his head. ‘No, we need all of us here. This is too important.’

  Shing rolled his eyes and leaned back in his chair with an elbow on the backrest. The air in the room was thick with anticipation, each individual seemingly lost in their own thoughts. The only sounds present were the hum of the dormant holo-screen and the distant murmur of the world outside the tower.

  ‘How was the trip here, Han? Jin?’ Cheng asked.

  ‘Yeah, it was all right,’ Jin responded. ‘Managed to get a quick nap in.’

  ‘Sounds great. The Luen siblings doing all right?’

  ‘As good as they could be under the current circumstances.’

  ‘I suppose in times like these, that’s all we can really hope for.’ Cheng directed his attention back to the front.

  Awkward coughs echoed in the room as they waited for Tao and Ushi. Keung’s foot started tapping of its own accord, when the door finally slid open to reveal a flustered Ushi and a dust-covered Tao.

  Apologies and excuses tumbled out of Tao’s mouth, ‘Shit, so sorry we’re late. Had to fix this cooling unit, and then some rodents attacked me, and then Ushi needed to pray and—’

  ‘It’s fine, Tao,’ Keung cut him off. ‘Take a seat and we can get started.’

  As they settled, Keung switched on the projector, casting an empty blue screen on the board.

  ‘We’ve convened here tonight with a pressing objective: to dismantle the Yang.’ He walked back and forth. ‘In the room, we have some fresh faces, unfamiliar with our operations and intel. So, to make sure everyone is on the same page, I’ll review what we already know. Our objective, our strategies after tonight, our plan moving forward – everything that will get us closer to our endgame of a safer Kowloon.’

  He glanced briefly at Cheng, who offered a supportive nod. This small gesture bolstered Keung, steadying his breath as he pivoted to face the luminous board behind him. After a tap on his holocommunicator, the board flickered to a presentation Keung had prepared. The lecture board glowed white with two familiar faces in the middle – separate photos, taken from a distance, capturing a man and a woman engaged in business dealings.

  ‘Siu-Bak and Bijun. Information on them is scarce. What we their fathers fought in the District Rebellions but, after rejecting the peace terms, retreated into the Huang Wildlands with other combatants. For two decades, they rebuilt their numbers. Now, their sons and daughters have returned to South Kowloon, claiming to have found Dong’s lost trilogy and using its teachings to drive recruitment around every district.’

  Keung pressed a button on his holocommunicator and Jian’s face appeared, crossed out in red.

  ‘Until recently, Jian led the Yangs in Central Kowloon, with Bijun in the west, Siu-Bak in the east, and the Ibilis in the south. But with Jian’s passing, the remaining three have reclaimed their positions at the top of the Yang hierarchy. Our data indicates they have since divided Jian’s central Kowlooni clusters among themselves, but their operations are a mess. This is the best time to strike.’

  Another tap on his wrist and a fourth face appeared on the board. It was a masked figure, standing with his arms stretched atop a high ledge. A collective murmur rippled through the room as everyone recognised the image from the recent spontaneous rally in Ho Man Ting Square.

  ‘The Ibilis, or as the Yang call him, Mogwei. We know more about No Man’s Land than we do about him. His authority might equal to Siu-Bak and Bijun’s, but he wields far greater influence. To many Yang throughout Kowloon, he is seen as the true leader of their cause. What’s more worrying is that the Ibilis heads the Yangs of South Kowloon, the most violent branch of them all. He seeks to set an example for the rest.’ Keung’s voice cracked, the talk of the Ibilis choking him.

  And none felt more choked up than Yutai, seeing the man he had fought against not so long ago.

  ‘Yutai, given you’re the only one here who’s encountered him, do you have any useful intel to share?’ Keung asked.

  A brief silence hung over the room as Yutai sat transfixed. He could still smell the incense imbued in Mogwei’s robes. The Zhanshi mask, once just an object from a tale, was now something real to fear.

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  ‘I’ll take that as a no, then,’ Keung said with a note of disappointment in his voice.

  Snapping back to the present, Yutai hurriedly replied, ‘Sorry, what did you ask?’

  ‘I asked if you had any insights or experiences to share regarding the Ibilis.’

  ‘Oh right, yes. The Ibilis is a formidable adversary. I was unfamiliar with his combat style, but he seemed very knowledgeable about mine. Barely held my own against him. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s an ex-King, or received training from one.’

  ‘That’s impossible,’ Tao interjected. ‘All retired Kingmakers live here in Yu. We can account for every one of them.’

  From the shadows at the rear of the room, Han Shizhou entered the discussion. ‘It’s no ex-King. That, I know for sure. Yutai, sir, you had a hard time because the Ibilis is most likely a practitioner of Chung Fu.’

  ‘Chung Fu?’ Ushi echoed.

  ‘Yes, you heard me right,’ Han looked at the southern Kingmaker. ‘A martial art long faded into total darkness. It was once prevalent in the ancient towns of the Huang Wildlands. Its roots trace back centuries, far preceding the Hongwu era, and our enigmatic Ibilis likely knows this deadly but lost style.’

  ‘I know of Chung Fu,’ Cheng added. ‘It’s a distant cousin of Tai Chi.’

  Ushi let out a snort. ‘Tai Chi? You mean the meditative form we learned in secondary school? How can anything related to Tai Chi be deadly?’

  ‘You might not know about Old Tai Chi looked, sir,’ Han said calmly. ‘It was a sought-after martial art, demanding years of rigorous training and lifestyle changes. Its techniques sharpened focus and pushed practitioners beyond the limits of exhaustion. It could numb the pain of broken bones, strengthen torn muscles, and achieve feats that would require cybernetic implants today. Then there was its counterpart, Chung Fu.’

  Yutai frowned as he listened to Han’s troubling revelation. ‘It was once said to be the only martial art that could counter every other fighting form. However, it came with a life-altering catch; it required a capacity that the natural body could not offer. Chung Fu needs cybernetic enhancements. That’s why it went extinct. Fewer and fewer masters were forged.’

  Ushi scoffed. ‘Boogeymen wandering in sewers, extinct martial art forms that could destroy Kowloon with the flick of a finger,’ Ushi noted out loud. ‘These are just bedtime stories we grew up with, south Kowlooni myths and legends! How do we know any of this is true?’

  ‘Because six annui-cycles ago, on the borders between District Nam Bato and the Wildlands,’ Jin said, ‘we came up against a lone Yang combatant armed with a rough understanding of Chung Fu. His body moved like a machine as he dispatched five of our strongest before making his escape. He made sure to brag about how he did it with such ease: Chung Fu. I’m convinced there are still one or two masters out there, hidden deep in the heart of the Wildlands, imparting their knowledge to those bold enough to seek it out.’

  His gaze then shifted to Yutai. ‘If you struggled this much against the Ibilis, it’s probable our masked foe had similar skills in Chung Fu. Perhaps more skilled than the Yang Han and I encountered in Nam Bato. If we’re right, then Yutai sir, you have both Han’s and my respect. We’ve witnessed its raw ferocity first-hand.’

  Yutai nodded in relief. So, that’s why I struggled. Chung Fu. A long-forgotten myth is clawing its way back from extinction. And now, it’s become a weapon for the Yang.

  At the front of the room, Keung inhaled and pressed another button on his holocommunicator. The display blinked and morphed, in the form of raw brainstorming, nascent plans and strategies splashing across its surface like a digital mosaic.

  Dr Chinh’s name floated around. There was mention of Chuan Wan Dam and Fort Ho Man Ting. Other peculiar names were present, such as General Denzhen, Jian, Siu-Bak, Bijun, and various members of the detachment. In the centre, all lines converged on one sentence: The Ibilis in Ho Man Ting.

  Yutai watched Keung scanning the constellation of possibilities. He wasn’t simply reviewing them; he knew the lieutenant was wrestling with each strategy and testing their mettle.

  ‘I have a gut feeling we can’t ignore Dr Chinh’s murder in Kam Shan,’ Keung said out loud. ‘It’s clear the dam has the Yang spooked. There’s no question the Ibilis’s appearance at the square and the mysterious call from Dr Chinh’s quarters are connected. If some active Yang operation related to Chuan Wan Dam is going on, our investigation into Dr Chinh’s death might catch them off-guard.’

  Murmurs of agreement rippled through the air. Yutai nodded the most fervently. Blending these two investigations is a good move, sir. I’m sure it all fits together.

  ‘Yutai and Shing, what’s your next step in the Kam Shan murder investigation?’

  ‘We need to track down a Dr Jode, a critic of Chinh’s who joined him for the expedition,’ Yutai explained. ‘She’s recently gone missing, and the Aunt thinks its the Yang about to strike twice.’

  ‘Brilliant. Ushi and Shing, you two will track Dr Jode before she’s hurt. Find out about her captors. Anything that may lead to the Ibilis or tell us what they’re planning with Chuan Wan Dam,’ Keung instructed. ‘That dam is vital to Kowloon.’

  Before Keung could continue, the room’s energy shifted. ‘What? Why aren’t I going with Shing?’ Yutai asked as a frown creased his brow.

  Shing’s expression also mirrored his puzzlement. It was an unorthodox decision. Ushi and Shing despised each other, while Yutai and Shing had the best field synergy of the entire detachment. The traditional partnerships within the team had always been Shing with Yutai, Ushi with Tao, and Keung with Cheng. The sudden switch was akin to altering the steps in a well-choreographed dance. Yutai wondered if this disruption would impact their respective performances.

  ‘You two need to learn to work together,’ Keung began. ‘We’re entering a phase where collaboration is key, even with those we might not fully trust or like. We’ve grown too comfortable working in isolation. That’s what our fighting in the change rooms showed me, and that has to change. The Tai Li won’t be the only outsiders working together with us. The Tien Tao Rioters will also—’

  Shing cut Keung off. ‘Yeah, fuck that.’ His chair creaked as he leaned back, the air around him bristling with defiance. ‘First, the two fools behind me, and now the Tien Tao? Count me out of any operation with those shehs.’

  ‘Keung,’ Yutai added cautiously. ‘We can’t trust the Rioters. Did you forget how they acted that night in Ho Man Ting?’

  ‘I’m sorry,’ Ushi called out. ‘Are you seriously implying the Tien Tao Rioters have gone rogue?’

  ‘That’s exactly what he’s implying, genius,’ Shing snarked

  Ushi shook his head. ‘No, not the Tien Tao. They’re one of the most seasoned special ops units in Kowloon. I don’t believe one bit they’ve just switched sides!’

  ‘What if the Tien Tao haven’t gone rogue, but the top-level Ho Man Ting government they serve has?’ Yutai shot back. Ushi faced Yutai and listened with a frown. ‘You saw what happened with them, brother. The suspicious delay to the square provided the Ibilis with enough time to conclude his speech.’

  ‘I heard General Denzhen held a cease-fire until the speech was finished, too,’ Tao chimed in. ‘Does that make him a traitor?’

  ‘Fine, what about his escape?’ Yutai said as he straightened up. ‘The Ibilis slipped right through their fingers as he exited the building. There’s less than ten possible exits in the whole university. Are these really the legendary southern Rioter’s we’ve read so much about?’ Yutai folded his arms and regarded the rest of the team.

  ‘So, what do we do? Interrogate every Rioter till someone gives?’ Ushi’s question rang out.

  ‘Better that than allowing them to work closer with you,’ Jin retorted, his voice floating down from the back of the room.

  ‘Shame! Shame on us all!’ Ushi’s voice surged with indignation as he looked at everyone one by one, the air around him crackling with his fervour. ‘To even think of levelling such vicious charges against our allies! This should be a last resort theory, not the first dart we throw in the face of uncertainty!’

  ‘I agree,’ Tao added. ‘It’s only been 25 annui-cycles since we brokered a painful peace with the south. This accusation could unravel everything we’ve achieved.’

  Yutai knew Ushi was being overly defensive of the Tien Tao, but he understood why. Ushi was a southerner, just like the Tien Tao. Accusing southerners of being untrustworthy carried much more weight than if the accusation had been against anyone else. They were already stereotyped as dishonest and hungry for violence.

  ‘I understand all these concerns,’ Keung said. ‘But we have our reasons for pulling the Tien Tao into our operations. Yesterday, Generals Denzhen and Qin Shi held a lengthy meeting with Warlord Xinjian and Mr Enji, the lord of Ho Man Ting and district coordinator for the Tien Tao Rioters. They stood by their innocence, attributing the failures of the Rioters to a lack of training. They’ve offered to share vital information to aid in the capture of the Ibilis. The general thought it was a good idea to gauge their loyalties up close. So we all have secondary orders to monitor them in action. This is a direct order and I don’t have any issue with it.’

  ‘No issues?’ Jin spoke up again. ‘Do you seriously believe Lord Xinjian doesn’t have his own interests for weaving his Rioters into Kingmaker operations?’

  ‘Oh, the irony… you, of all people not wanting outsiders,’ Shing snarled.

  ‘Keung, we urge you to reconsider allying with the Rioters,’ Han pleaded. ‘Our independent investigations have led us to believe Ho Man Ting has been sympathetic to the Yang for a while now. Perhaps even since the rebellions.’

  ‘I understand your worries, but this is the most sensible course we have, brothers.’ Keung tapped on his holocommunicator and the next slide appeared. ‘The generals insist on tangible proof of treachery before we take measures against District Ho Man Ting.’

  ‘But—’ Yutai began, his protest cut short as Cheng’s voice echoed throughout the room, dousing the spark of defiance.

  ‘You three fail to grasp the full implication of the Tien Tao Rioters indeed allying with the Yang. Our only option would be a full-on royal regicide. Do any of you comprehend the catastrophic fallout Kowloon will suffer if we decide to go down that road? If we are to fully commit, we must have the evidence to back up the conviction! What don’t you guys understand?!’

  That was enough to shut them up. Everyone knew what a royal regicide entailed – the original, sole purpose of the Kingmakers. Many agreed that the last regicide was the catalyst for the brutal District Rebellions. If there was one thing every Kingmaker agreed on, it was that this was something to be avoided at all costs.

  Finally, Keung turned to face the display board, which contained names from the room divided into two distinct teams.

  Shing and Ushi made up one, tagged with the assignment: Locate Dr Jode. The second group, an ensemble of Keung, Cheng, Han, Jin and two unrecognisable names, were tasked with an objective labelled Follow Yang Lead.

  ‘Shing, Ushi,’ Keung’s voice was firm and direct. ‘You two need to work on collaborating. Your task is clear, so combine your strengths. Go to Aunt Tong’s den and find out where this second missing scientist has gone.’

  Ushi gave a slow, thoughtful nod, while Shing barely acknowledged Keung, his indifference obvious.

  ‘Who are they?’ Tao enquired, pointing to the duo of unfamiliar names on the second team. Tuwan Nwin and Chan Ng.

  ‘Probably Tien Tao scum,’ Jin spat. Names that you wouldn’t find anywhere else, distinctly southern.

  Yutai raised his arm. ‘Why aren’t Tao and I on the board?’

  ‘You are both reserved for the time being,’ Keung explained. ‘These are the opening moves of our chess game; the board is still being set, until we discern the optimal strategy. Too many unknowns right now.’

  ‘What? But there must be something I can do,’ Yutai protested.

  Cheng glowered at him. ‘Yutai, if Lieutenant Keung thinks this is the best way forward, then it is. We aren’t in the business of thinking outside the box; we follow orders.’

  That shut Yutai up. He slumped back in his seat, his body language a wordless mirror of his feelings. There’s no talking back to Cheng.

  Tao seemed as unperturbed as ever, his serene demeanour unbroken by his exclusion.

  Keung wasn’t surprised by the pushback in the room. He knew he’d have critics at every turn. But he was resolved to see it through.

  ‘Now, I’ll briefly outline our plans. Mr Enji has generously shared the location of an abandoned Yang base his Rioters recently seized in Ho Man Ting City. Together with the Tai Li, Cheng and I will meet up with two Tien Tao Rioter contacts. Our job is to secure the base and see what we can find. Leads will be uploaded to our shared channel on the holocommunicator. Han, Jin, I’ll need to speak with you afterwards about getting you on that channel. We have 100-cycles to dismantle the Yang from the top down, and it starts with finding the Ibilis. We have a wealth of resources at our disposal to bring them all down.’

  Shing yawned and stretched loudly, momentarily breaking Keung’s flow.

  ‘Pay attention, sewer dog,’ Ushi barked from the other side of the room.

  Keung’s lips twitched before he continued to explain his strategy.