Wolf King And His Fox Consort

Xiao Zai could tell that Chu Yun was having a hard time imagining his brother as part of a secret martial arts academy. His eyes were wide as moons, as he muttered the word, "assassin" to himself.

Part of Xiao Zai was shocked as well. He could still see Chu Hean -- slim, waifish, Chu Hean, almost half a head shorter than Chu Yun -- throwing those flying daggers as if he'd been doing it all his life. Slinking out of the window like a cat, disappearing into the night like a ghost.

But, an even bigger part of himself, remembered being hidden in an armoire by his dam, before his father stormed into the room and started raining blows on him. When he was still a child he used to hope that his dam would just hit back, return all of his father's violence. It was only later that he realised that his dam would never be strong enough to fight back, even if he wanted to.

When Xiao Zai became older, old enough, strong enough to protect his dam, he came to the harshest realisation of all. Strength and power were different things. His dam had no strength and no power. Xiao Zai had strength but no power.

His father had both strength and power.

Harmonious Resonance, gave its disciples strength...but was it giving them power?

Xiao Zai kept all those thoughts to himself. Instead he continued observing the elderly master as he kept explaining just what it was exactly they were hiding from everyone, up here in the mountains.

"Some of our students are offered the chance to learn martial arts, as you've seen for yourself, and the opportunity to carry out assignments."

Chu Yun interrupted him at once. "Who decides what these assignments are?"

Master Chen smiled faintly, running the tips of his fingers over the knotted wood of his staff. "Whoever commissions them, naturally."

The elderly master couldn't see Chu Yun's triumphant grin, but he could probably hear the self-righteousness in his voice when he said, "So, they're paid to do someone else's dirty work? I fail to see how that can be considered freeing."

Xiao Zai was inclined to agree, but he thought there might be pragmatic reasons behind it.

"How else are they supposed to survive in case their families disinherit them when they refuse to comply with their wishes? Or if their marriages turn sour and they need to escape?" Master Chen asked, that benevolent smile never leaving his lips. "They earn money with every successful assignment, money they can access whenever they need. And our institution can live on."

His explanation was just as pragmatic as Xiao Zai expected, but it also raised in him a terrible fear. "Who knows about what Harmonious Resonance really does?"

"About our location? And the identity of our people?" Master Chen shook his head. "No one. Those who contract our services never see us." He smiled again, stretching his paper-thin lips. "But if you're asking who knows about the services we offer. Then a lot of people do."

Xiao Zai's heart skipped a beat. "People in Zui, for instance. Important people?"

Like his father, for instance.

Master Chen continued smiling pleasantly. "Of course, our achievements precede us in several territories."

He chanced a look at Chu Yun who had gone several shades paler. "Then...did my father ever request your 'services'?"

"His highness should know that we take our client's privacy very seriously." He raised a finger towards the ribbon covering his eyes. "Besides, all our contracts are hand-delivered by curriers who work as intermediaries, between us and our patrons -- ensuring our continued anonymity. As you can imagine I'm unable to read anything. The disciples take on contracts as they come and keep their contents secret."

Chu Yun scoffed loudly. "How efficient. And how convenient for you. Master Chen could be lying to our face and we would have no way of disproving him."

The old man laughed, slender white eyebrows drifting up towards his hairline. He wore his white hair in a tight queue on top of his head, adding to his ascetic appearance. Xiao Zai didn't think Master Chen was trying to hide the fact that he was an omega, but even if he were, his musical laugh would betray him. Below the ravages of time, it was obvious he had once been a great beauty.

"I'm under no obligation to tell his Grace and his Highness anything at all. The two of you were found trespassing on the grounds of a private learning institution." He closed his fist around his staff and set it upright against the floor, using it to raise himself from his chair. 

"This is a courtesy I'm extending his Grace, and his Highness by association, due to his relation to one of our most promising disciples, and the great things he has always said about him."

That declaration astonished Chu Yun, a muscle in his jaw jumping. "Chu Hean talked about me?"

Master Chen hummed. "At length. A very common case of hero-worship."

Xiao Zai could almost see the entangled thoughts swimming behind Chu Yun's eyes, as he tried to reconcile Chu Hean's recent actions with the revelation that he supposedly thought so highly of him. "Then why did he--"

Master Chen cut him off right away. "I would rather not know what Chu Hean might have, or might not have done. As mentioned, anonymity and secrecy are part of how our organisation runs."

"Well, I still have plenty of unanswered questions." His accusing words were met with another of Master Chen's benevolent smiles. "I want to know if my brother has gotten himself involved with something dangerous."

"Oh yes, almost definitely." Master Chen chuckled. "But he did it completely aware of the risks going in, and perhaps even welcoming them. There is great satisfaction in defeating the adversary who underestimates you." 

Xiao Zai still had one hand shoved into his pocket, fingers curled tightly around the letter Chu Hean gave them. He wanted to read whatever was in it, as soon as he could.. He had an inkling they might find some more answers in it.