Chapter 15: Cheng Fu

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. Have our circumstances changed from what we're used to every day? From what I see, it's 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; 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 usually 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 Cheng sitting on the same seat during their academy days in this very hall. That was eight annui-cycles ago, but it felt like a different lifetime.

Back then, their days had been filled with lessons on combat, climbing, mathematics, science, literature, history, and philosophy. 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, they were thrown 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 asked Cheng as he searched his face for any inkling of insight he'd come to expect from him.

Cheng thought to himself 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 remaining at their fort and only rushing into the university building after the Ibilis finished his speech – it certainly didn't sit right with me. This is atypical of Ho Man Ting's seasoned ruler, Warlord Xinjian. 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 all the south; tardiness isn't a characteristic we associate with them.' 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 Yau, had sniffed out suspicious activity a couple of cycles prior. But let's entertain the idea that such a huge event on their home turf just slipped under their radar. Why, then, did the Tien Tao only alert us hours AFTER the crowd began to gather? There were well over five hundred individuals in the courtyard when I arrived with General Denzhen. We should have gotten the call way sooner. There is supposed to be heavy surveillance in that square!'

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,' Cheng replied. 'Throughout history, they've been the first to raise their voices, the first to bear arms. The roots of protest and struggle are embedded deep in that side of the world, to the point where it has defined their culture and identity. And, in the aftermath of each conflict against the Yaozhi's, the Emperor's grip always tightens 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. I hope it wasn't all in vain.'

Cheng merely shook his head in reply. 'Chances are it was.'

'When did you become such a pessimist?'

'I'm not going to deny the gravity of our situation. It's bleak. That isn't my pessimism speaking, it's my gauge of reality,' Cheng said. His voice took on an edge of steel, 'but I refuse to accept that we won't handle whatever comes our way. We will, sir! We always do.'

Keung nodded as he sank deeper into his swivel chair, a sense of calm washing over him. 'You're right, my brother. As always.'

He glanced at his holocommunicator to check the time - they were an hour away from dimming. 'With any luck, they'll start heading this way soon. Knowing our team, a few of them will probably be late.'

Suddenly, a knock echoed through the otherwise silent room, on the opaque glass door at the rear. '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, you two. 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 interest of preserving confidentiality, they won't be directly interacting 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 silently throughout the middle rows and sat down.

'Good to see you two,' Cheng greeted from his seat. 'Where's Tao and Ushi?'

'I think they got held up with something, but 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 responded with a dismissive roll of his eyes, leaning back in his chair with an elbow on the backrest. The room was thick with anticipation, each individual seemingly lost in their own thoughts with either eagerness or boredom. The only sounds present were the hum of the dormant holo-screen and the distant sounds 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 alright?'

'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 frustration was mounting, 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.'

Keung switched on the projector, casting an empty blue screen on the board. Its glow illuminated Cheng and Tao's face, sitting near the front. Shing, Ushi, and Yutai were only somewhat visible from the blue glow, while Han and Jin remained dark silhouettes.

'We've convened here tonight with a clear and pressing objective: to dismantle the Yang.' Keung slowly walked back and forth. 'In the room, we have some fresh faces, unfamiliar with our operations and intel. So, to level the playing field and reacquaint ourselves with the game, I'll be taking us through everything we 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, seeking silent affirmation. Cheng 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 do know is that 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 strength. 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.'

Keung pressed a button on his holocommunicator and another face appeared - Jian's, 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 that they have since divided the 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 shiver 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 may be equal to Siu-Bak and Bijun, but his influence far exceeds them; he is seen as the true leader of their cause. What's more worrying is that he manages the Yangs of South Kowloon, the most violent branch of them all,' Keung's voice cracked, the talk of the terrifying 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 anything to share that could help us?' Keung asked.

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

'I'll take that as a no, then,' Keung uttered with a note of disappointment in his voice.

Snapping back to the present, Yutai hurriedly replied, 'I'm 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 totally unfamiliar with his combat style, but he seemed very knowledgeable about mine. I barely held my own against him. I wouldn't be surprised if he's ex-King, or was trained by one.'

'That's impossible,' Tao interjected. 'All retired Kingmakers live here in Yu and are accounted for.'

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 King. 'A martial art long faded into oblivion, it was once prevalent in the ancient towns of the Huang Wildlands. Its roots trace back centuries, far preceding the Hongwu era, and it's highly likely our enigmatic Ibilis is versed in this extinct but deadly 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 be uninformed about what Old Tai Chi looked like, sir,' Han said calmly. 'Old Tai Chi was a highly sought-after martial art, demanding years of rigorous training. 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, Cheng Fu.'

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

'Boogiemen wandering in sewers, extinct martial art forms that could destroy Kowloon with the flick of a finger,' Ushi noted out loud. 'These are all bedtime stories we grew up with, and they all started out as 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'd 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 that 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 was clawing its way back from extinction. And now, it's become a weapon for the Yang.

Keung swept his gaze around the room, eyes connecting with the gazes nailed onto him. He inhaled, steeling himself, and pressed another button on his holocommunicator

The display blinked and morphed; new information splashed across its surface like a digital mosaic. Raw brainstorming, nascent plans, and strategies were strewn across the projection in stark, incandescent lines.

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, challenging its worth, testing its mettle.

'I have a gut feeling we can't ignore Dr Chinh's murder. It's clear the dam has the Yang spooked. There's no question the Ibilis' appearance at the square and the mysterious call from there are connected. If there is some active Yang operation going on related to Chuan Wan Dam, our investigation into Dr Chinh's murder might catch them with their pants down.'

Murmurs of agreement rippled through the air. Yutai nodded the most fervently. Blending these two investigations is a good move, sir. I'm confident it's all connected.

'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 missing, and the Aunt thinks it was the Yang who took her.'

'Brilliant. Ushi and Shing, you two are tasked with finding Dr Jode and questioning her. Find out anything that may tell us what the Yang are planning with Chuan Wan Dam,' Keung instructed. 'The dam's security is a priority.'

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 disliked each other, while Yutai and Shing had the best field-synergy of the entire detachment. Moreover, 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 negatively 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 may not fully trust or like. We've grown too comfortable working in isolation, and that has to change. The Tai Li won't be the only outsiders working together with us. The Tien Tao Rioters will also —'

'Yeah, fuck that,' Shing cut Keung off with a scoff. His chair creaked as he leaned back, the air around him bristling with nonchalant defiance. 'First, the two fools behind us, and now the Tien Tao? Count me out of any operation with those sheh's.'

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

'I'm sorry,' Ushi called out. 'Are you seriously implying the Rioters have gone rogue?'

'That's exactly what he's implying, genius,' Shing snarked

Ushi shook his head in disbelief. 'Not the Tien Tao. They're one of the most seasoned special ops units in Kowloon. They'd never fall to corruption!'

'What if the Tien Tao haven't gone rogue, but the top-level Ho Man Ting government they serve?' 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 enough time to conclude his speech. And his escape? The Ibilis slipped right through their fingers. Are these really the legendary Southern Rioters we've heard 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 get close to 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 worked towards.'

Yutai knew Ushi was being irrationally 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 do have our reasons for pulling them into the fold. Yesterday, General Denzhen had a long conversation with Warlord Xinjian, the Lord of Ho Man Ting. Xinjian stood by his innocence, attributing the failures of the Rioters to a lack of training. He has offered to share vital information to aid in the capture of the Ibilis. The General thought this was a good idea to gauge their loyalties up close. 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 vested interests in 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, brothers, is the most sensible course we have,' Keung tapped on his holocommunicator and the next slide appeared. 'The Generals insist on tangible proof of treachery before we take measures against 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 accepting the possibility that the Tien Tao Rioters have indeed allied 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 do 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 exactly what a Royal Regicide was and what it meant - the original, sole purpose of the Kingmakers. The last regicide was said to have been the catalyst for the bloody District Rebellions.

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 need to work on collaborating effectively. Your task is clear, so focus on combining your strengths.' 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.

'Probably Tien Tao scum,' Jin spat. Tuwan Nwin and Chan Ng. Names that you wouldn't find anywhere else, distinctly Southern.

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

'You both are reserved for the time being,' he explained. 'These are the opening moves of our chess game; the board is still being set, so our movements will be limited 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.

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

Keung was not surprised that his plan was full of detractors in the room. 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 loudly, momentarily breaking Keung's flow.

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

Keung's lips twitched before continuing to explain his strategy.