“You did what?” Marcus came out of the show just to run into the trio of Kevin, Keryn and Mick.

  “Please don’t be mad. I insisted we o check out the Kshiti Temple, and they were gracious enough to apany me.” Kevin immediately stepped forward: “Something’s really off with that temple, I couldn't really tell why. So I suggested we go.”

  “But at least they’re safe! They’re here!” Elvin tried to help Kevin and the rest of the trio.

  “And we weren’t followed. We made sure of that.” Keryn nodded: “And Marcus, I think yonna wanna know what we found.”

  “... fine. But please be careful.” Marcus shook his head. He was frustrated at first but in his heart of hearts there was no way for him to stop them from looking into things ected to the whole situation. “Alright, what’d you find?”

  “The temple is empty, well, basically empty - only one person was watg over the temple. But he’s sleeping in one of the side rooms.” Keryn sat doicked up a small cup of tea on the coffee table: “And - I think the really bad news should be left to Kevin.”

  “Kshiti Temple is one of the biggest temples in the South-Eastern District, it has more than a dozen small prayer pces and they own a lot of spare nd. They also have at least three elders and some famous schors bag them. They also dohousands of talismans to people who ot afford it every month.” Kevin read from his note: “So, what we’re looking at is one giant, powerful temple with hundreds of people w for them. Thousands if we t the volunteers and tractors. And even they are having trouble dealing with whatever’s going on - so. I’m worried.”

  “What did they do to deal with it?” Marcus asked.

  “They set up a prote array using ropes, talismans and - and this strange figuration that will redire energy into the wall, or the ground below.” Kevin sighed, finished his tea and then poured himself another: “This is fug ridiculous, all of this and no one is watg the temple itself? What if someoampered with the setup? Something must have happened.”

  “And - you’re sure no ohere to observe you? Or put some kind of spell on you?” Marcus asked again.

  “Pretty sure. I’m ohe whole time.” Keryn shrugged.

  “I also checked, the people living around seem kinda scared. ” Mick sighed: “Some of them have their windows blockaded and some have pced Bagua Mirrors on their windows and doors.”

  Marcus sat down by the coffee table and picked up an uea cup: “Okay. Did you happen to check whether there are people living there?”

  “No, we haven't checked. We came back as soon as possible because everything’s just creep us the fuck out.” Keryn shrugged.

  “Okay - okay. This is - this is actually kinda timely.” Marcus id ba the sofa: “Hey, I’ve got some really bad news for you guys. But hey, thank you for the iigation. It actually gives what I’m about to say a lot of text.”

  “Wait, what are you talking about?” Mick was stunned for a moment.

  “Yeah, I told you I was there to seek guidand wisdom. So I went to the Temple of Fetfulness.” Marcus rubbed his temples: “And - Master Liaoran, the one and only monk there for the loime. He gave me some knowledge about - the history of the city. And a pn to - to kick off the cure and solution to everything.”

  Marcus then proceeded to summarize aell everyone everything he heard from Master Liaoran - including the master’s role iy before everything, the initial source of flict betweey and the South-Eastern District, and their pn.

  “Tomorrow evening?” Mick opened his eyes wide.

  “Yes. Tomorrow evening, and even then our ces of success would be low.” Marcus sighed: “Now - I don’t want to ask too much of you. But I would really need your help when - whe.”

  “I’m in.” Kevin raised his hand.

  “What - are you sure?” Keryn narrowed her eyes at Kevin: “Don’t take this the wrong way, Kevin, but you’re a civilian.”

  “aken. But still, I am at least a half det shot, I know about rituals, talismans and the paranormal.” Kevin ted with his fingers: “And - I know puter stuff. If you get ia ter, do you even know what to do without me?”

  “Yes. But Mick do that as well. And he’s actually a certified shooter.” Keryn shook her head: “We ’t just bring a civilian into a.”

  “That’s not gonna matter right now.” Kevin shrugged.

  “Wait! - wait a sed.” Elvin raised his hand: “Before you make any decisions, you might want to hear what I recorded off the radio.” He clicked the button on the s, then out pyed a rec, with the tone of a public servinou.

  “This is a public safety alert. All residents of Poison City, please be o for these fugitives that are on the loose: Marcus Cai, male, 31 years of age, average build; Bck hair, brown eyes. Kevin Loo, 25 years of age, slim build; Bck hair, brown eyes. Keryn Lance - ”

  “Okay, okay, we got it.” Keryn stopped Elvin’s broadcast: “So they have put us in the wanted list already?”

  Before anyone else could say anything, someone knocked on the door. Marcus and Keryn jumped before Kevin, Elvin and Mick.

  “Don’t be armed. It’s me.” It was a familiar voice, it was the voice of a mature woman, who proceeded to open the door with her own keys.

  “You’re the ndlord?” Keryn asked as she lowered her hands, only by a little.

  “Yes.” The woman came in and locked the door behind her. Her clothes looked slightly torn and dirty, as if she just came from a fight: “Gloria just went on an iigation. I thought I’d che you. I could have called the ndline first, but I was nowhere near a phone … Oh - and catch, asshole.” She tossed a small item at Marcus before finishing her sentence.

  Marcus caught it - it was the wooden pque from Luo Zhuge.

  “Don’t leave foul and unlucky things at my shop ime, got it?” The woman’s sharp gaze left Marcus embarrassed and temporarily out of words.

  A huge thank you to all my patrons:

  mant06,

  Jonathan

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