“My si apologies. It won’t happeime. ” Marcus bowed to the woman. This must be Luoshan Zi, Gloria’s mentor, and the “big sister” that raised her when she washed ashore into the South-Eastern District.

  Luoshan Zi huffed, walked into the kit and took out a bottle of alcohol: “Now - spill. How long are you pnning to stay here? The whole fug city is looking for you. And the targets on your backs are really hot.”

  “I - I don’t know.” Marcus lowered his head. Things could indeed get harder for them.

  “Okay. Then you’d better figure it out.” Luoshan Zi took a big gulp of the alcohol in her hand: “Don’t get me wrong, I am not gonna kick you out, not just yet. But whatever business you and Gloria are doing together, if you get caught, it could burn her. So you’d better watch out, huh?”

  “Thank you for your hospitality.” Elvin stepped in and tried to ease the tension: “We definitely won’t be staying for too long. We would be outta here whenever we find a safe pce to hide - ”

  “Actually - do you have a way to tact Gloria?” Marcus interrupted his father: “I think it would be kinda dangerous to tact her via phone or your ndline here, so I was w - ”

  “No, unfortunately, otherwise I would be somewhere else now.” Luoshan Zi sighed: “I’d suggest you call her on her mobile phone. But not from here.”

  “Noted.” Marodded: “I’ll, uh - I’ll call her in a minute. I - for now I need a break. I practically ran and rode a bike back here because I ’t just take a taxi. ”

  “You could have hotwired a car.” Luoshan Zi shrugged.

  “I don’t really know how to do that. ” Marcus sighed.

  “It’s still a pretty valuable skill, even for a copper.” Luozhan Zi took anulp: “And - if you don’t mind. I’d like to know your pn.”

  Marcus walked to the coffee table and picked up his cup: “Well, I was thinking we regroup and - ”

  “Wait - I’m not sure it’s safe - ” Kevin immediately interjected: “I’m not sure it’s safe to just share with - someo - ”

  “Share with someoside of yroup?” Luoshan Zi chuckled: “It’s okay, Mr. Kevin Loo. Gloria trusts me, and she obviously trusts Detective Marcus Cai of the 17th Prect of PCPD enough to ask me to do you this favor. So I guess I am one in the know. And besides, I myself have some es to some masters of mystic martial artists as well as powerful people in the unity collective, you may actually get some additional assistan what you’re pnning to do.”

  “Alright.” Marcus drank three cups of tea before proceeding to give a summarized answer: “I just met with aeemed monk, he provided some critical wisdom to me about the situation with the city. And we have a pn to strike those who are responsible tomorrow. Tomorrow evening, to be precise.”

  “By esteemed monk, you meant Master Liaoran, right?” Luoshan Zi chuckled: “You are being so secretive I was almost beginning to be upset with you. But yeah, if it’s involving the master of the Temple of Fetfulness, I definitely uand. And by those responsible, you mean some kind of energy building iy, right? Whipany are you going to go after? Younger brother?”

  The call of “younger brother” sent chills down Marcus’ spine, he looked up at the mature woman - she did not look much older than Gloria. But upon more careful iion, he could tell her Qi reserved and much more powerful than what he had expected. She was once a student of the master as well.

  “What? You never expected a powerful monk and master of almost all trades like Master Liaoran would only have oudent?”

  “I never asked. And Master Liaoran never really mentioned anyone.” Marcus sighed, stood up and bowed gently to the mature woman: “It’s o have finally met you, elder sister. I only wish the circumstances would be better.”

  “It’s okay. If the master had not told you about me or anyone else, that means he has his reasons. And he did not tell you to seek our help, which means he did not intend for past students to get involved.”

  “Yes. I only assume so.” Marodded.

  Luoshan Zi hesitated for a moment before relenting her pursuit of clear answers from Marcus: “Then that’s enough for me. I, too, am saddened by the circumstances of our first enter. Maybe ter we have another meeting.”

  “I’d love that.” Marodded.

  “Now, maybe in just a bit you could try to tact her.” Luoshan Zi checked the clo the fridge: “We have a tacit agreement, that when we go out for important deliveries, we should report back after a while as a codeword for people’s safety. And today - today’s special is ice cream tte. And here - ” She threw a burner pho Marcus: “Try this before using your own phohe battery’s almost out though.”