Snake (Five Ancestors #3)(42)
Author: Jeff Stone

I wonder…, Seh thought as he gently pushed on one side of the green medallion. Yes! The medallion pivoted up the slightest amount. Seh pressed his eye to a small opening and was able to see inside a surprisingly large, well-lit room. He could hear clearly, too.

Mong, Sanfu, Hung, Gao, and a well-dressed man Seh didn’t recognize sat around a circular table. Yuen bent over and opened the trapdoor, then dropped a rope ladder through the hole. “Ugh!” she said as she began to climb down. “I’m getting too old for this.” Her wide hips stuck briefly, but then she was free and clear.

“Thanks for the tea,” Sanfu called after her.

“Anytime, dear,” she said. “Anytime.”

The well-dressed man leaned over and pulled up the ladder, then silently closed the trapdoor. “Where were we?” he asked with an air of authority. “Ah, yes— the new emperor. He is now letting all manner of riffraff into our region. I’m concerned.”

“Me too,” Sanfu said. “Did you know that Old Man Butcher and his wife are back in business?”

“The cannibals?” Mong asked.

“The very same,” Sanfu replied. “Seh and Fu stumbled into their establishment on our way here.”

“It’s true,” the well-dressed man said. “The Emperor reversed my decision to keep them in prison.”

Seh’s eyes widened. That man is the Governor! he thought. Wait until I tell Fu!

Sanfu turned to Mong. “Seh took care of both of them single-handedly. It was impressive.”

Mong smiled. Seh felt himself smile, too.

“And another thing,” Sanfu said. “Seh discovered that the dragon scroll he carries is a map.”

Sniff. Sniff. “A map?” Gao said. “Of what?”

“We couldn’t tell,” Sanfu replied.

Mong rubbed his huge, pale bald head. “Seh arrived at the stronghold with three scrolls. What happened to the other two?”

“Seh gave them to AnGangseh,” Sanfu said. “I’m surprised you don’t already know this.”

“AnGangseh!” Hung growled. “What is she up to now?”

“Hush,” Mong said. “She probably took them for safekeeping.”

“Safekeeping, my—” Hung began to say.

“That’s enough,” Mong interrupted. He turned to Sanfu. “I haven’t seen AnGangseh since the night of the attack. I know nothing about the scrolls.”

“Isn’t she at that hiding place of hers?” Sanfu asked. “The one where she keeps her enormous pet.”

“No,” Mong replied. “She’s disappeared. So has her snake.”

AnGangseh has a pet snake? Seh thought. Interesting. He considered the snake on his wrist, which was anything but a pet. Well, if her snake is gone, perhaps she collected it and went to hide somewhere else. That’s a good sign.

Sanfu sat back in his chair. “That’s the only news I have to share. I reported everything else to NgGung when he slipped into the village a week ago.”

Seh frowned. That’s how Mong knew Sanfu would be traveling with us, he thought. I can’t believe NgGung snuck in and out of the village without saying hello to us. Sanfu should have given us an update on the bandits, too. Seh felt his heart begin to beat faster. He was irritated. He took a slow, calming breath.

Sanfu looked at Mong. “Do you have any news to share with me?”

“As a matter of fact, I do,” Mong replied. “NgGung is looking into it as we speak, but we have heard news that Ying is in prison and Tonglong now controls his troops—”

The news was so unexpected, Seh’s breath caught in his throat. Mong fell silent and stared at the medallion.

Seh knew he’d been caught. Embarrassed, he pivoted the medallion all the way up and poked his head inside. He nodded hello.

Everyone in the room burst into laughter.

“You must be Mong’s son, Seh,” the Governor said with a smile. “I am the governor of this region.”

“I figured it out,” Seh said, lowering his head. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“The pleasure is mine,” the Governor said.

“You’re blushing, Seh,” Mong said.

Seh raised his head. “Sorry.”

Mong chuckled. “Don’t be sorry. You did well. You found a hole in our security. The iron latch that secures that medallion must have rusted loose. I’ll mention it to Yuen.”

Seh shrugged.

“How long have you been up there?” Mong asked.

“Long enough,” Seh replied.

“I see,” Mong said. “I’m sorry if you’re feeling like you’ve been kept in the dark. We’re discussing something that is much bigger than the destruction of Cangzhen or even the destruction of Shaolin. It’s a problem that may extend well beyond this region. The new emperor is making life unlivable for everyone except a select few, and we’ve vowed to do something about it. The Emperor knows about me, but he knows nothing about the Governor’s involvement. Nor does he know anything about the Jade Phoenix, Sanfu, or you boys. We’d like to keep it that way.”