“It’s … complicated,” I said. “Bottom line is—I’m not the Heaven Breaker now, but I know him.”
“So what if you know the Heaven Breaker?” Ashley snorted. “It’s not like that’s going to get you into the Ninety-Sixth Duels tonight.”
I didn’t want to talk about the Heaven Breaker anymore. “Tell me more about the Duels,” I said instead.
“What do you want to know?” Jordan asked.
“Anything. Everything.”
Jordan shrugged. “We haven’t hosted one in decades. No reason to. Until today, the gods haven’t set foot in the New Order for years and years, much less called the warriors to answer to a quest.” He exchanged a glance with his sister and then shrugged. “We don’t really even know what’s supposed to happen at the Duels.”
“Yes we do,” Ashley insisted. “You and I will show up with our swords, knock everyone into the next century, then win the right to go on the quest.” She lunged forward and dug the tip of her sword into the wooden surface of the coffee table. “Easy.”
Jordan eyed the table wearily. There were several holes shaped suspiciously like sword points on its surface. “Yup. We’re gonna need new furniture soon.”
A sharp knock at the door rang through the apartment.
“Open up. This is Xiong shī fu.”
Jordan jolted to attention, crumbs falling off his shirt and onto the carpet. Ashley tossed aside her empty bag of shrimp chips and scrambled to her feet.
“Wh-what’s Xiong shī fu doing here?” Jordan stammered.
I stared back at him cluelessly. I guess Xiong was done speaking with Ren. Hopefully he hadn’t chewed out the poor kid too badly.
Jordan continued. “He’s scarcely left the temple except for the occasional training session, not since … you know … with Jinyu …”
Jinyu. There was that name again. The name of the beloved warrior who’d sacrificed his life so that I could live. Xiong’s son, his pride and joy. I really didn’t want Xiong to see me here.
“I don’t know what’s happening,” Ashley hissed, “but go get the door!”
Jordan shot off toward the door. Xiong strode into the apartment, grumbling and scolding Jordan the whole way.
When Xiong entered the room, Ashley bowed her head toward the master, so I did the same.
“To what do we owe the pleasure of your visit?” Jordan asked in an uncharacteristically deep, stiff voice.
“Why are you lowering your voice like that?” said Xiong. “You sound like a buffoon.”
“S-sorry,” Jordan stammered in his normal voice. Ashley snorted.
“I came to speak with Faryn,” Xiong said. “Ah Qiao told me he saw you come here with Ashley and Jordan.”
I snapped up my head. Xiong’s unreadable black eyes met mine. Why did he want to speak with me? Was it to say something about his son, Jinyu? Also—
“Where’s Ren?” I blurted out.
Xiong smiled, though he showed no teeth. “Ren went to take care of some business for me.”
Oh no. I knew exactly what that meant. Poor guy was taking ten laps around Chinatown.
“Don’t look so scared, child. I’ve come with a simple request. I have a change of clothes for you, too.” Xiong brought his arms out from behind his back to reveal a white training robe. “I can’t allow a guest of the New Order to go around stinking like two-week-old trash.”
I guess my smell matched how I felt inside.
“Thank you,” I murmured, taking the robe in my hands.
“As you know, I’ve just returned from the annual meeting of the warrior societies—the Yuē Huì. Mao attended.” Xiong stroked a hand through the long white strands of his beard. “The Jade Society is still recovering from the demon attacks of the Lunar New Year, but they’re safe.”
Even though I didn’t have the fondest memories of the Jade Society, I was relieved to hear that.
Xiong continued. “Now, to protect the New Order, I hope I can ask for your help, Faryn Liu.”
The master of the New Order wanted my help? I didn’t know why, but this was my chance. If I could get on Xiong’s good side, I could prove myself. I could make up for the horrible first impression I’d left on everyone. Make amends for Jinyu’s death. “Name it. I’ll do anything.”
“Outsiders are barred from participating in the Duels, but I’ll make an exception just this once. You must not only participate—you must win the right to become one of the warriors who embark on the gods’ quest.” Xiong’s eyes were glassy and emotionless, almost as empty as Jinyu’s had been in his last moments. “The gods have sent me a vision. You have a very difficult choice to make, child. If you take on this quest of the Hungry Ghost Festival, you will lose someone very dear to you—again. But if you aren’t the one to lead this quest, the warriors will fail, and every last one is sure to die.”
CHAPTER
6
Someone up there must’ve really hated me.
With those words, Xiong squashed all hope I had. Of restoring my father’s memory. Of finding my brother.
I should’ve known this quest would have something to do with me. The gods wouldn’t let their old Heaven Breaker walk free so easily. I had to go, as much as I didn’t want to—or others would pay the price.
An old ally will return from the brink of death, Erlang Shen’s poem had said. My gut screamed at me with certainty that that line referred to my former ally: Alex. Or maybe Moli. It was either one of them or Uggs.
If there was even a chance that I could find and save my friend and my brother, as well as prevent many other warriors’ deaths, then I had to take this quest. I had to enter the Ninety-Sixth Duels. And not just enter but win.
A nasty red shade rose to Ashley’s face. “But, shī fu—she’s not one of us. She can’t participate in the Duels. This goes against the ancient laws of the New Order!”
“Insolent child,” Xiong spat. Ashley stumbled back, and her brother steadied her. “I am the master of this society. I am the laws of the New Order.”
A deafening silence followed his outburst. Jordan and Ashley wore the same stunned expression on their faces. Xiong wasn’t his usual calm and collected self, which wasn’t a good sign. I guess he sensed there was real danger on the horizon, even though the gods and I hadn’t told anyone the full truth of the Jade Emperor’s wrath.
“But … how?” I asked quietly. “How would it even be possible for me to participate in the Ninety-Sixth Duels?”
“Good question,” said Xiong. “Many ancient laws and magic guard this sacred ritual. There are three ways for a New Order warrior to enter the Duels. First, the warrior is chosen by his or her family to represent the family name. There can be multiple chosen per family,” Xiong said, nodding at Jordan and Ashley. “Second, the warrior is claimed by an unrelated warrior family to represent their family name. And third, the warrior takes the place of a fallen warrior.”
Option one was out of the question. Even though Ba was here, he wasn’t a true New Order warrior. Plus, no one knew he was my father—not even Ba himself.