“Come on in then, we don’t have all day!” The Elder waved her hand at everyone, ordering them to come into the camp.

 

The man in a ritual robe asked: “Elder - are you sure they don’t need to - ”

 

“Luoshan, do you know them?” The Elder turned to Luoshan Zi.

 

“I know HIM.” Luoshan Zi pointed at Senior Deng: “He - he - uh - ”

 

“It’s okay. ” Senior Deng shrugged and sighed: “I came back here, with no intention to keep anything hidden - ”

 

“He’s - he WAS a senior for the Association of Local Churches, working with the city.” Luoshan Zi nodded: “Until - ”

 

“Until what?” The Elder asked.

 

“Until they came for us in the middle of the night. The same night where they - after they got a hit on HIS family. ” Senior Deng could not help but take a quick peek at Liaowu: “A few of us had made preparations for when something like that would happen - we just didn’t expect it to happen so soon and without any warning signs.” He looked Luoshan Zi straight in her eyes: “And - we had to leave. For our own safety, and for the safety of those who were affiliated with us, we had to cut contact and keep a very low profile, even when we’re out of the city, even when years had passed.”

 

“Is that why ?” Luoshan Zi’s voice was calm, but one could still hear a little suppressed shaking: “And why have you come back?”

 

“There are some business we need to finish. And some karma we need to conclude.” Senior Deng sighed: “ - and debt we must pay.”

 

“Okay. Pat the others down.” The Eldern narrowed her eyes and waved at the armed men around, before turning to Senior Deng: “Those are your men? Tell them to give up arms, we’ll keep them secured for now. And they can get them back once we’re done.”

 

“Do as the Elder commands.” Senior Deng nodded at his followers.

 

The three followers did as the senior commanded. Liaowu hesitated for a brief moment before throwing his hands in the air: “You’ve already got all the weapons off me, okay? What more do you even want?”

 

The Elder scanned Liaowu up and down, before narrowing her eyes: “You have a dagger on your waist.”

 

The three armed men immediately pointed their guns at Liaowu, but the Elder just waved them to back off: “It’s okay. I know who you are. Come in with us. ”

 

Chills ran down Liaowu’s spine. He looked to Senior Deng for help, who simply nodded at him before fixing his sight on Luoshan Zi. Apparently, this woman and the Senior had more personal history than they let on.

 

“And that prisoner, put him in detention.” The Elder ordered again.

 

At the center of the camp was a large tent through the front door they could see a table with what looked like a map on it. Two other armed men were inside, apparently waiting for the Elder. The Elder went into the tent, then gestured Senior Deng and Luoshan Zi to come in with her.

 

“Sorry. But we have something to discuss.” The Elder sighed at the two armed men: “Can this wait?”

 

“We need your order for the next move - ” One of the men asked.

 

“Hold still for the right time.” The Elder shook her head: “Until then, keep watch and report to me if there’s anything worth noting.”

 

The two armed men bowed and headed out.

 

“Okay. Who’s that guy?” The Elder sat down on a chair and lit a cigarette: “He brought a ritual dagger, with the smell of old forging techniques and styles. Don’t tell me you haven’t noticed it, Senior.”

 

“I have noticed. But I’d prefer not to say who he is. He needs to make that decision for himself.” Senior Deng sighed: “And he’s not here for the same business here as we are. His is more - casual, and personal.”

 

The Elder blew out a puff of smoke and studied Senior Deng’s expression for a brief moment, before shaking her head: “Fuck - it might as well be the occasion. Luoshan, why don’t you and Senior Deng here accompany the guy on his - his tour here. And catch up a little while you’re at it?”

 

Luoshan Zi exchanged looks with the Elder, and then Senior Deng: “It would be a pleasure, Elder.”

 

Senior Deng and Luoshan Zi accompanied Liaowu on his “tour”. In fact, in order to not draw too much attention to what they were doing or who Liaowu was doing, she sent out a few orders that would make certain areas around the camp less populated.

 

“You know - ” After making it into an area with only a few people around, Luoshan Zi sighed and said to Senior Deng with a low voice: “I don’t blame you. I understood, I was worried, and I kept worrying - ”

 

“I’m sorry.”

 

“I wanted to know. But many have told me it’s not safe to ask about you. They came knocking on my door a few times - I was lucky that I was not so deeply involved. And I was glad we didn’t discuss too much about the research you were doing - ” Luoshan Zi sighed again: “I just - I’m just glad you are safe. And you DID come back.”

 

Senior Deng fixed his eyes on Luoshan Zi, who was looking away to the side, checking on an empty wooden bucket half hidden by grass.

 

“We’re here.” Liaowu stopped at a slightly elevated patch of land. The concentration of grass was sparser than the area around. “This is where my father’s grave was - is.”

 

“No gravestones or anything?” Senior Deng asked.

 

“No - there wasn’t even one when I first visited.” Liaowu looked up at the sky: “I found it only because - I could just feel it. I can still feel it, and it still looks the same as it did.”

 

“Do you need a minute?” Luoshan Zi asked.

 

“Yeah.” Liaowu let out a long exhale: “Yeah, that’d be great.” He hesitated: “... thanks.”