Snake (Five Ancestors #3)(7)
Author: Jeff Stone

“Good,” Mong said. “Now, what are you doing here?”

Seh felt his face begin to flush. “Ying came back to Cangzhen. With qiangs. The temple has been destroyed.”

“I see,” Mong said. He looked Seh up and down. “I recognize that outfit as NgGung’s. Is that how you found us?”

Seh nodded.

“NgGung does not give up his secrets easily,” Mong said. “And I’ve never known him to give up his clothes. I’m impressed.”

Seh shrugged.

Mong cleared his throat. “It’s good that you escaped, Seh, and that you came looking for me. Did Grandmaster make it out alive?”

“I don’t know,” Seh said.

“I can see why NgGung shared my whereabouts,” Mong said. “If Grandmaster is dead, that would be very, very bad. Grandmaster is the glue that keeps the fragile pieces of this region together.” Mong shook his huge, bald head. “Did any of your brothers survive? The youngest among you, I mean.”

“Grandmaster saved all of us,” Seh replied. “He hid me, Fu, Malao, Hok, and Long. Why would he do that?”

“I’m sure Grandmaster had his reasons,” Mong said. “I will not speculate on his motivations.”

Seh’s jaw tightened. “I remember one time you visited and asked Grandmaster if my brothers and I were ‘ready.’ Ready for what?”

Mong paused. “Cangzhen meant everything to Grandmaster. He knew he was growing old, and he knew Cangzhen was at risk because of the shifting politics in this region and throughout China. He wanted to ensure Cangzhen’s survival. To do that, he needed a successor. Ideally, several successors who would complement each other and keep Cangzhen a dynamic place. You five were to be Cangzhen’s future.”

“But… why us?” Seh asked.

“You are all the offspring of powerful warriors,” Mong said, “and fate planted the five of you on his doorstep at roughly the same time. Grandmaster took that to be a sign. You are my son and have inherited many of the same skills. Fu is the son of a great tiger-style kung fu master named Sanfu. The list goes on.”

“Sanfu is Cantonese for ‘Mountain Tiger,’” Seh said. “Was Fu’s father a Cangzhen monk—like you?”

Mong’s pale forehead wrinkled. “I see you got more information out of NgGung than just my whereabouts. Good for you. Yes, Sanfu was a Cangzhen warrior monk—just like me.”

“Who is Tonglong, then?” Seh asked.

“Tonglong is one of the Emperor’s top soldiers,” Mong said. “But he has nothing to do with Cangzhen. I do not know why he has a Cantonese insect name. Why do you ask?”

“NgGung told me to tell you that he saw Tonglong with Ying yesterday.”

“What?” Mong said, folding his enormous arms. “Did you ask NgGung if he told anybody?”

Seh nodded. “He said he told Grandmaster.”

“Before the attack?”

“Yes.”

“Did NgGung say anything else?” Mong asked.

“He suggested somebody warn the monks at Shaolin Temple.”

Mong stared at Seh. “That’s a very good idea. Someone should warn them.”

“Me?” Seh asked.

“I can’t think of anyone better,” Mong said. He unfolded his arms and placed a hand on Seh’s shoulder. “I need every one of my men to help transport our shipment back to the stronghold. You are young, fast, and silent. You are also intelligent and resourceful. You could get there without Ying finding out.”

Seh stared at Mong, unsure how to respond. Mong had just given him more compliments in a few sentences than he had given him his entire life.

Mong slapped Seh on the back. “I’ll give you directions to Shaolin. It should take you about ten days if you travel only at night, which is what I suggest. Spend a day or two at Shaolin. The monks there are good people. After that, join us at the stronghold.”

Seh nodded. He wasn’t sure how he felt about joining a bandit gang, but at least it meant he might be able to get the bandits to help him.

“You look like you could use some rest,” Mong said. “Spend the day with us, sleeping atop one of the carts. We eat our main meal just before sunset. You can leave after that. Remind me to give you directions to the stronghold, too, so that you can find us later. I should warn you, though, as you did with NgGung, you may have to fight my men to see me.”

“I’m not afraid,” Seh said.

Mong smiled. “Good. We should get moving, then. Why don’t we—”

Mong suddenly straightened and snapped his head in the direction of the trail.

Seh felt it, too. The pit of his stomach began to tingle. A little at first, then more and more until it seemed a thousand ants were crawling beneath his belly button. He had experienced this same sensation only one other time—while hiding in the water barrel during the attack on Cangzhen.