Seven's Secret

***LEI***

"By the way, where's Chen?"

Before I could answer Coby's question, the door to the room we were trapped into opened and a man stepped inside. He flipped a switch by the door and the lights went on.

"You're awake, that's good." he slowly made his way towards us. "I would like you to answer a few questions of mine. You know... protocols."

The man had a big build and I was pretty sure under the suit he was wearing, he had strong muscles that could easily take us out if we fought him the normal way. I could also feel a dangerous aura around the man. If we weren't careful, he could as well snap our necks.

"First, where's my brother?" I asked, my tone a little dangerous since I was unable to find my brother anywhere in the room.

"Oh, so he 'is' your brother." he took his phone and dialed a number. Moments later, another set of lights turned on and I saw my brother tied up under the light. I noticed that we were separated by a wall of glass and it looked sturdy. Chen was still asleep and two men in casual clothing were standing beside him. "I think this conversation will get smoother than expected."

"I swear, if you hurt my brother I'll-"

"Enough with the empty threats and answer my questions." he pointed a gun at us then motioned to the other room. One of the men held a dagger at my brother's neck.

""CHEN!"" we all called.

"Now, how did you know about Shadow Garden?"

"We-"

"Five, four-"

"Liu Fen!" Calvin yelled.

"What?" he asked, obviously taken aback at Calvin's answer.

I turned to Calvin and gave him a glare for giving out sensitive information.

"My grandfather's ancient. He was there when Shadow Garden was formed so maybe they know him." he whispered and then he said out loud; "Liu Fen told us!"

"Liu Fen? It's not the same Liu Fen I know, right?" he looked at us skeptically.

"Maybe. If you're talking about the Liu Fen who can perform magic and had been living in this world for two thousand years!" Calvin exclaimed.

The man looked at us like he couldn't believe it. "You're lying. Do it!"

I saw the man get the knife dig into Chen's flesh and I could see blood trickle down from the wound. An expression of pain flashed on my younger brother's face.

"We're telling the truth!" I yelled. "Liu Fen really did tell us!"

But the man wouldn't listen. Having enough of it, I drew out Advos and sliced the gun he was pointing at us. Leo flicked his finger and the man was thrown away across the room. Calvin used lightning to blast the glass window and broke it to pieces. Coby and Seven immediately retrieved my brother by knocking out the two men guarding him. I noticed Chen seemed to be still heavily drugged. I pointed my sword to the man.

"We're not lying." I said with gritted teeth.

"I can see that." he slowly stood up, but my sword was still trained at him. "Now how did you kids get tangled up with that old man?"

"You asked us how we knew Shadow Garden, are you part of Shadow Garden?" I asked.

He hesitated answering at first, but our threatening expressions probably scared him off. "Yes I am affiliated with Shadow Garden. And so were the two guys you just knocked out. I'm also in-charge with the protection of the Chen Family. Xiao Rong Yi should recognize me."

"I do, Uncle Chu Mo."

""Uncle Chu Mo?""

"He's the head of security of the Chen Manor."

"And you're part of Shadow Garden?" Coby pointed out. The man, Chu Mo, nodded.

I held my sword tighter while still pointed at him. "Why did you abduct us and threaten us?"

"Security protocol. Famous idols suddenly visiting the Chen Manor and asking the old madam about Shadow Garden, of course we had to do something." he explained.

"You hurt my brother." I snarled.

"We would've healed him after we got the truth from you. Who knew that ancient guy was the one who revealed our existence." he sighed in disbelief. "We're supposed to be a secret sect that operates in the shadows."

After a few seconds of silence and Leo's confirmation that Chu Mo was 'okay', I hid my sword.

"Can we talk in a more civilized way this time?" Coby suggested. "And probably somewhere nicer?"

Chu Mo led us to a dojo not that far from where we were. He said we were in an old and abandoned part of the Chen Manor, and he made it as the sub-HQ of Shadow Garden. As we made our way there, I was wondering why he wasn't seem to be shocked by the sudden display of our powers.

'Maybe Shadow garden has their own powers as well?'

"So, Liu Fen told you." he said and sat comfortably in front of us. We were gathered around a table. I was healing Chen's wound, but he still had not woken up.

"You know him?" Calvin asked.

"Who wouldn't?" he digressed. "He's a troublesome guy back in the old times. He wouldn't want anyone following him around, but he causes mischief the moment you take your eyes off him."

"So, I suppose my grandfather really is a troublemaker. Hn. Guess it runs in our blood?. Calvin mumbled.

"You're a Liu?" asked Chu Mo.

"Distant relative. I grew up in South Korea."

"Still. And you have powers too. Having one means you're either a cultivator or a Special Latent Individual."

"Cultivator, I have an idea, but what's a 'Special Latent Individual'?" I asked. 'So that answers my question.'

"It's a term we coined to call people with special abilities."

"That's a mouthful. So, we're Special Latent Individuals?" Coby questioned.

"Some of you, am I right?" he eyed Seven. "You look familiar."

"Maybe."

Seven's demeanor suddenly changed. He became more serious. Authoritative even. He was staring at Chu Mo with unblinking eyes.

"Maybe you should tell us how to get to Shadow Garden?" Seven asked.

"Maybe you should tell me why you want to get there first?" was the older man's reply.

The two continued staring at each other intently, and it was getting really awkward so I decided to break the ice by telling him what was going on. Chu Mo listened to my narration, although, I left out Artemis and Pingjing's background.

'Hey! I remember Pingjing!' was my passing thought.

Just as we almost finished narrating the events, Chen woke up. Seven finished the story as Leo and I took care of my drugged younger brother. I noticed he never mentioned Artemis and Pingjing either. I understood that Artemis' other identity is a dangerous secret, but I speculated that he didn't remember Pingjing.

"I see. So it's like that." Chu Mo said after listening to the story. "But why would a Demon Catching Gourd capture the souls of two humans? And that book, The Codex of Souls, it sounds familiar, but I'm afraid the knowledge of such thing is only available to the Master."

"You mean the leader of Shadow Garden?" he nodded. "We need to talk to him."

"Uncle Chu Mo, can you bring us to meet the Master of Shadow Garden?" Leo asked.

Chu Mo looked at us with uncertainty.

"I'm sorry, but Shadow Garden's Headquarters must remain a secret."

"This is a matter of life and death!" I yelled. "Can't you just help us?"

"I am very sorry I know you're in an emergency situation but it is a rule to never reveal our HQ to outsiders. It is punishable by exile or worse, death."

We all started to argue with him, but I noticed that Seven remained calm and silent. His hand was balled to a fist and it seemed to glow.

"What if…" he interrupted. "Someone with a high rank vouches for them and orders you to bring us to HQ, will you do that?"

"Well, that is-"

Seven opened his once closed palm and revealed some sort of badge. It was a circle made of jade with a tassel just below it.

"Ugh, Jade again." I groaned.

At one side, traditional Han characters that read 'Shadow Garden' was placed and on the other was the character for seven.

Chu Mo was wide-eyed a he examined the badge.

"This is-" he suddenly kneeled down with his hands held together in front of him. "This disciple is ignorant. Please forgive me. I didn't know I am in the presence of the Seventh Successor Disciple."

"Seventh-" –Coby.

"Successor-" –Calvin.

""Disciple?"" all of us said with wide eyes.

Our beloved leader just looked away. Our gaze landed on the two.

"Uhm, Seven?"

"This disciple wants to know what seventh disciple is doing here in the mundane world?" Chu Mo asked, still crouched to the floor.

"The Rite of Passage every successor disciple undergoes." Seven answered calmly. "I'm on my ninth year."

"I see."

"Please stand Mister Chu Mo." Seven assisted the older man. "I don't usually use my status to get what I want so please don't be too formal."

"Still. The seventh successor disciple is the only grandson of the Master. Utmost respect is still due."

The rest of us were only awkwardly watching their interaction. The two probably noticed the atmosphere, our reaction, and stopped.

"Err…"

"Seven, you have some explaining to do." Leo commented.

"Uhm sure. We better get comfy then."