12 Chapter 12

Brother Mo glanced at the door as it creaked open, swallowing the food that was in his mouth.

"Heyo," Brother Gong said, shutting the door behind him.

"Hey," Brother Mo replied, going back to eating his food. Brother Gong walked over and took the chopsticks from Brother Mo, grabbing a piece of meat and putting it in his mouth.

"Hmm, not bad," Brother Gong said. Brother Mo took back his chopsticks and scowled, hiding his food from Brother Gong.

"How are you feeling?" Brother Gong asked. Brother Mo coughed as he choked on some food. Brother Gong quickly gave him water and patted his back.

"I'm fine, the nurse said I've been recovering faster than the doctor thought," Brother Mo coughed out as he inhaled the water.

"That's good. Has the doctor said that you can participate in the Monster Hunt Competition?" Brother Gong asked.

"Yes, she said that I can participate in it," Brother Mo replied. The door opened, interrupting them. In came Sect Elder Hao Qui, her lips pursed.

"Sect Elder Hao Qui," Brother Mo said, bowing his head towards her. Brother Gong's fingers flexed against the cotton sheets, his heart speeding up at the appearance and mood of Sect Elder Hao Qui.

"Disciple Gong, please follow me," Sect Elder Hao Qui said in an ominously even voice. Brother Gong got up and walked after her, giving a small smile to Brother Mo.

The door shut behind them.

Brother Mo looked at his hand where a small slip of paper had been pushed into it by Brother Gong. He unfolded it and read the contents of it, looking at the door with nervous eyes.

'I stole from the treasury. If I get caught, I might die. (I'm joking about dying, of course),'

Brother Mo lit a fire in his palm and burned the paper, watching the blackened ashes slip through his finger and dirty the clean, white sheets.

~~

"Disciple Gong, we need your help," Sect Elder Hao Qui said, her robes rustling softly in time with her footsteps. Brother Gong's fingers strummed at empty air, the hair on the back of his neck rising.

"What can I help with?" Brother Gong asked, his voice cracking. Sect Elder Hao Qui chuckled, glancing at him.

"Why so nervous?" she teased. Brother Gong grinned tensely, his hand continuing to jitter.

"Wouldn't anyone be nervous around a figure with authority?" Brother Gong replied with his own question.

"Yes, but it's not in your character to fear people with authority," Sect Elder Hao Qui said. Brother Gong said nothing, opting to stare straight ahead.

"Well, anyhow, we need you to talk to Disciple Feng. He hasn't left his room and he refuses to talk to us. As his friend, maybe you can figure out what's wrong with him," Sect Elder Hao Qui explained. Brother Gong's hand froze, his figure relaxing as he realized he wasn't in trouble.

"I guess I can help with that. And I'm guessing you can't let Brother Mo try because he is injured?" Brother Gong asked. Sect Elder Hao Qui nodded, stopping in front of Brother Feng's room.

"Please, talk to him," Sect Elder Hao Qui asked. Brother Gong nodded, knocking on the door.

"What do you want? I already told you to leave me alone," a muffled voice sounded from the other side.

"It's me, Gong An," Brother Gong replied. There was silence before the door opened slightly, the eye of Brother Feng appearing in the crack.

"Why are you here?" Brother Feng asked coldly. Brother Gong was taken aback. The bags under Brother Feng's eyes were apparent as if he hadn't slept in days. His eyes had lost their mirthy luster, all that was left was eyes that were dull like coal.

"The sect elders are worried about you, so they brought me to talk to you," Brother Gong replied truthfully. Brother Feng's eye narrowed before he opened the door fully, letting Brother Gong in.

Brother Gong surveyed the room. The normally neat room was now in a state of disarray. Dirty robes had been shredded onto the ground, forgotten and abandoned. Brother Feng sat down on the messy bed, pulling his knees up and resting his head on them.

"Are you okay?" Brother Gong asked. Brother Feng scoffed, gesturing to his room.

"Does this look like someone who is 'okay' would do?" Brother Feng asked.

"I guess not, but even neat people have their off days," Brother Gong said.

"Yes, they have their off days, but it's been an off two weeks for me," Brother Feng said.

"Alright, stop being rude. What happened? I'm just trying to do my job," Brother Gong snapped at him.

"What happened? Dad's mistress is dead and my mother is missing, that's what happened. My dad sent me back here since he found out and he hasn't reached out to me again," Brother Feng spat out. Brother Gong stopped, his face softening.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know that," Brother Gong said, guilt in his voice. Brother Feng scoffed, frowning.

"Oh, stop with the pitying voice," Brother Feng snarled. Brother Gong pulled a face of confusion and offense.

"What pitying voice? Of course, I'm pitying you, your mother is missing and your father isn't telling you anything. Why wouldn't I sound pitying?" Brother Gong asked.

"All of you people always looking down on me. I don't need your damn pity," Brother Feng snapped back. Brother Gong took in a deep breath and went to the door.

"Nobody will stick with you if you keep that attitude of yours, little white face (1)," Brother Gong said. Brother Feng scowled as Brother Gong left, the door slamming behind him.

"Fuck your ancestors to the eighteenth generation, Gong An (2)!" Brother Feng shouted, not even caring that he had used a vulgar word.

Brother Gong sneered, Sect Elder Hao Qui looking at him with concern.

"What happened?" she asked.

"His dad's mistress is dead and his mother is missing. He's taking it hard with his father sending him back here and not giving him any updates," Brother Gong said, calming down the rage that had risen from his heart.

"Oh, we haven't gotten word of that yet," Sect Elder Hao Qui said. Brother Gong nodded and walked away.

"Disciple Gong!" Sect Elder Hao Qui called out. Brother Gong stopped and turned around, facing her.

"Did you steal from the treasury?" she asked. Brother Gong's heart leaped out of his chest, pounding painfully against his ribcage.

"Such a small and insignificant sect actually has a treasury room?" Brother Gong asked, a quirky smile playing on his lips. Sect Elder Hao Qui felt like throwing up blood.

"You..." Sect Elder Hao Qui was about to scold Brother Gong, but he had already left. Sect Elder Hao Qui sighed and looked at Brother Feng's door, worry in her eyes.

'What a poor soul. He truly can't get a break in his life,"

Brother Gong walked back to Brother Mo's room, opening the door. Brother Mo, who was gazing out of the open window turned to him.

"What happened?" he asked. Brother Gong sighed and lied down on the bed.

"It feels like I've been asked that question a million times today," Brother Gong whined. Brother Mo sat next to him, pulling Brother Gong's head onto his lap. He ran his fingers through his hair.

"Why? Did you get caught?" he asked. Brother Gong closed his eyes with content, enjoying the feeling of Brother Mo's long fingers massaging his scalp.

"Brother Feng's father took up another mistress, but she's dead. His mother is also missing," Brother Gong said. Brother Mo's fingers stopped, his eyebrows furrowing.

"If his mother is missing, then why is he back here? Shouldn't he be back home?" he asked. Brother Gong tapped his hand, gesturing for Brother Mo to continue.

"He said his father sent him home and hasn't told him anything," Brother Gong replied, humming in satisfaction.

"That's quite odd. You'd think that his father would keep him there if someone is targeting his family," Brother Mo mused.

"Why?" Brother Gong asked.

"Well, if someone is targeting the most influential family in this city, then keeping him at home where the guards are would be a safe bet," Brother Gong opened his eyes and thought it over.

"But, wouldn't it make more sense to send him back here? With so many people here and a shield barrier cast by the person that owns the sect, then the assassin wouldn't be able to even touch him without getting caught," Brother Mo thought about it.

"True, but if the assassin is a powerful person, then would it be better to keep him at home where there are fewer soldiers, but they are very powerful, or at the sect, where there are more people, but they aren't nearly as powerful as the soldiers?" Brother Mo asked.

"A good question, but one that we can't answer," Brother Gong replied.

"Do you think that Brother Feng will be okay?" Brother Mo asked suddenly.

"Maybe. But I will only help him if he truly wants help. He's very annoying," Brother Gong said. Brother Mo nodded and settled down, enjoying the scent of Brother Gong mingling with the fresh air coming from the window.

"Are the days getting shorter?" Brother Gong asked. "It's already nearly sunset," Brother Mo looked out the window, seeing that Brother Gong was correct. The outline of the moon was already in the sky, chasing away the sun.

~~

(1) "A little white face typically applies to naive men. When someone hasn't experienced much in the world, this mild insult is what Chinese speakers use. This also works to wind up so-called pretty boys and older female gold diggers."

(2) "Family and history are sacred in Chinese culture. With a long-running history, the pride you have in your family is vital. That's why this one may seem like a comical mental image, but is one of the language's more impactful insults."