act23side

My, what a coincidence.

I heard a commotion at the edge of the city earlier in the evening, and I figured something big must've happened. And now that I find you here, Mr. Lin, I'm <i>sure</i> something big must've happened.

So what you are saying is, an old rat like me might as well be a plague?

Of course not. I was only joking.

Yühsia, let me have a few words with Mr. Lee in private.

Please excuse me.

From the looks of it, your search in Yumen hasn't been too successful?

Don't get me started. The man has been gone for well over a decade, I was never banking on finding him within a month.

But it doesn't matter how long it takes. We still have to look for him.

You are a carefree man. It's only when it concerns this old friend of yours that you burden yourself so much.

Maybe I owe him from a past life...

Since you aren't in a hurry, may I hire Lee's Detective Agency for a job?

How could I refuse a job from Mr. Lin himself?

That gets me thinking though. Haven't I been taking on a few too many troublesome jobs lately?

It goes to show what a capable man you are. We'll say I owe you one, if you do this for me.

Well, with such a generous offer on the table, looks like I really have to think this over and see if I can manage it.

Heh, only a crafty fellow like you could manage this.

One, two... nine, ten...

Urgh... All the names above me on the rankings look pretty tough...

Okay... Calm down... Just do your best...

Why can't I leave the city? Two of my brothers just died out there...

The gate is closed. Please leave.

Hey, be reasonable, can't you—

You?

Whoa, the Forte hunk with the golden mace got kicked right out of the arena.

That Feline girl has won five straight matches now!

Phew—

Hey. Ni hao. I watched all your matches today.

You've got amazing kung fu. Want to come work for me and my escort association?

Escort association?

Not interested.

Don't be so quick to refuse. With your skills, I can give you a more than decent wage!

I'm not planning on making a living with my fists. I have a degree in mechanical engineering, I'll have you know.

Mechanical what...?

Never mind that! That just means you're something of a scientist, right? Yeah, science! The escort association I'm talking about is a new kind of logistics company. Science graduates like you have a bright future with us.

Hey, don't just walk away. I'm serious.

So, that just happened...

It sounds you're going to have to wait till the lockdown is over before you can take your friends' belongings and news of their deaths back home to Shangshu.

I'm the one who brought them here. No matter how, I will bring them home.

Before I came to Yumen, I ran into Mr. Zheng in Shangshu by chance.

He told me that when the day comes that no one needs kung fu to protect themselves, that's when we will finally have true peace.

Dad is right about that, but for now, I'm more fond of another saying. An eye for an eye.

I will find the one who did this.

What are you two doing here?

Yühsia?

The government official lady from earlier?

I thought you said you'd get to the bottom of this? How are you going to get to the bottom of anything now that we're on lockdown?

You two know each other?

There's been a turn of events. Things are apparently trickier than I thought.

Then let me investigate with you!

I-I can help out, too...

It's too dangerous. I can't drag outsiders—

W-What's that sound?

Drums from the outer city district?

Look! The beacons are lit on the city walls.

It's the Wangfeng Festival, one of Yumen's traditions. It's a ceremony held every year at the beginning of spring, and it lasts three days.

The drums at the barracks are beaten for the citizens' benefit. Each beat tells them the city, the lands, and all Great Yan are safe.

As for the signal fires on the city walls, they are lit to guide the soldiers who gave their lives on the battlefield home.

Home...

Catastrophes sweep across the country, barbarians terrorize the borderlands, and bandits stir up trouble...

The drums are beaten seventeen times, representing the trials and tribulations that befell Yumen the past year, both big and small.

This border city has crossed the country's northern regions for centuries, and its citizens are hardened by these disasters.

The great wind cannot extinguish the flames in the meadow, the men's eyes fix upon their homes through the night.

Anasa

The word means 'one without roots' in an ancient language.

My people say that all things are uncertain, except life and death. Trying to cling onto something only brings trouble.

That's why we drifted from one place to another, living with the barrenlands. There is always water and game to be found, and at the end of our lives, we return to dust, return to the earth.

But a Catastrophe destroyed our camp, and most of us lost our lives in the migration.

A woman from a nomadic city happened to pass by, and guided us to safety.

She taught us how to fight, shared knowledge, and told us stories of the cities.

She said that everyone should have a place to call home.

Stay down.

(Ancient Sarkaz language) Who are you? Why am I here?

Can't understand a word. Not that it matters.

You're here to heal your wounds. You'll do exactly as the doc says, if you want to see the sun rise again. If the don't want to die here, do as I say.

(In hesitant Yanese) Where am I... who are you?

This is an infirmary and you're a patient. I'm a helper at the infirmary.

Where's my sword?!

The girl reaches around her in a panic, only calming down when she finds the weapon beside her.

It's there... thank goodness...

We found you passed out at the door of the infirmary yesterday, but you wouldn't let the sword go. Did you get hurt fighting over it?

...Doesn't concern you.

No need to look at me like that. I could've taken it while you were passed out, if I wanted to.

I've seen so many people die over so-called masterwork weapons.

Did you really think wielding a weapon like that would make you strong enough to beat enemies you couldn't?

I don't trust weapons. The only thing I trust is my fists.

A true warrior shouldn't entrust victory to something else.

You don't understand!

I'm not trying to fight with this sword... I... I want to repay a debt.

The sword is a weapon for killing.

My mentor told me the sword means a lot to her.

I promised her that I would bring her the sword, or bring it to her grave at least.

Has your mentor passed away?

Yes...

Well, I'm not interested in listening to people talk about their debts and grudges.

If you say you fought over the sword to repay a debt, I'll believe it. A woman who's almost died has no need to lie.

So it means you see your obligations as being more important than your life. That's not a bad thing.

Why did you help me?

What's an infirmary for, if not to help people?

But I don't have any money. I know that money is required in exchange for kindness in the nomadic cities.