Roen had a few new tricks up his sleeve and he unloaded all of them at once. Some of them even worked. A particularly sneaky spinning back elbow popped Lin right on the mouth. Unfortunately for him, Lin spat out the blood and smirked.
“Cute,” was all he said before they engaged again. The rest of Roen’s tricks were decidedly less successful. His Superman punch left him exposed and rewarded him with a bloody lip. His Fanzi fist combination got him popped in the ear, and his flying scissor takedown attempt actually left Lin standing over him roaring with laughter.
You should break. This is a losing situation.
Tao was right. Their fighting styles were too similar and Lin was smarter, stronger, and faster. He was able to predict what Roen was going to do before he even thought of it. Slowly, Roen was forced to retreat. He was landing one for every ten against Lin. Every time he tried to break away, the old fox was right in his face. Finally, he made the mistake of overreaching on a left hook. Lin trapped both of his arms, gave him one measured grin, and then slapped him hard across the face.
“That’s enough,” Lin said calmly. Roen’s face contorted into a snarl before another slap hit him so hard he ended up facing backwards. “I said that’s enough.” Then his master locked him in a choke hold and dragged him to the ground. Feeling himself losing consciousness, Roen tapped Lin’s leg.
“I don’t know what that means,” Lin’s chuckled. “It’s terrible foreplay though.”
Just as Roen’s vision darkened, Lin released his grip. Roen collapsed onto his back and heaved huge gulps of air. Lin stood over him and waited for him to recover.
“Don’t you know that tapping is the universal sign of surrendering during a submission?” Roen gasped in between breaths.
“Maybe in your professional wrestling, but in combat, we wait until our opponent is dead. I just saved your life by not killing you.”
And then for the first time, Roen saw something new in Lin’s eyes: sadness. He was actually pitying him! Lin was not one to get emotional, but to show pity was the worst thing he could do to Roen.
“I have failed you as a teacher,” Lin looked resigned.
Roen sat up, legs still sprawled on the floor. He gingerly touched the right side of his jaw. “I don’t know. I thought I was doing pretty well, at least for a while.”
Lin snorted. “I’m not talking about your fighting. You’ve been good at that for years. Never good enough to best a true master, but adequate enough for me to acknowledge you as my student.”
“Thanks, I think.”
That is the nicest thing he has ever said to you.
“Really? That’s it?”
What do you want, a colorful belt?
Lin put a hand on Roen’s shoulder. “I have given you the skills to be great, but not the mind. Your focus is weak. Too easily angered and you are fighting for the wrong causes.”
“I’m fighting for the Prophus!” Roen protested. “That’s what you trained me for.”
“I did not train you to be Master Tao’s puppet.”
I resent that.
“Yeah, so do I!”
“I am no one’s…” Roen snapped.
“Come,” Lin interrupted him. He turned and walked away, leaving Roen to hurry after him.
“Where are we going?” Roen asked.
“I am hungry. I was waiting for you to have dinner but it took you too long to find me.”
They left the house and walked down the mountain to a line of street vendors in a small market. There, Lin ordered two hot bowls of congee and they feasted on the mushy rice filled with strange-looking herbs and spices. It took Roen a while to get used to using chopsticks with the porridge. Lin enjoyed watching him drop half of his meal onto his lap.
“Two left hands and ten thumbs,” he smirked.
“Eating congee with chopsticks is unnatural,” Roen grumbled.
“Do you have a picture of your son?” Lin asked, mouth full as he slurped the soupy meal.
Roen pulled out his family picture and showed it to Lin, his chest swelling with pride.
“Strong legs,” Lin observed. “A good base. Perfect for Hsing Yi.”
“I’m not letting him anywhere close to the Quasing,” Roen said sharply.
You do not want to pass me down like an heirloom?
“I’ll get him a Rolex instead.”
I come far cheaper. Will only cost your life.
Lin finished his breakfast and picked his teeth with his fingers in a way only an old person could get away with. “Why not? You do not approve of yourself?”
“What kind of a father wouldn’t want their kid to fight an alien war. And not only that, they get zero benefits, crappy health care, and a paycheck a paperboy would laugh at.”
“I see,” Lin replied thoughtfully. “You fight for your wife and son?”
“Of course.”
“Then why did you leave them?”
Roen felt his anger boiling up inside again. “First of all, she left me. And second of all, because I had to. Tao told me-”
“Why is Tao dictating your life? Isn’t that what the Genjix do?”
Hey, I resent that even more. Tell Lin he is dead to me.
Roen opened his mouth to tell Lin exactly what Tao thought of his words but his master had already finished his meal and stepped away from the counter. Roen looked down at his three-quarters eaten bowl and then back at Lin already walking back up the hill. Finally, he scooped one last mouthful of congee, paid for both meals, and hurried after Lin.
“That’s the final lesson you must learn,” Lin said without turning when Roen caught up. “A true master must know when to do the right thing. You are lazy and just listen to Tao.”
“Shouldn’t you be on his side?” Roen asked.
“I’m on humanity’s side,” Lin replied. “Always have been. It’s just that the Prophus usually fight with us. Now go away. I am tired.”
“What about that final lesson?”
Lin grinned. “That was it.”
“What does that have anything to do with Tai Chi?”
Lin shrugged. “It doesn’t. Your Tai Chi is good enough. The lesson is about being a good person.”
They stopped at the intersection and Lin held out a hand. Surprised, Roen shook it. “After this mission, boy, go home. Your family needs you more than the Prophus do. No matter what, they should come first.” And with that, Lin turned to go.
“Hey, Master,” Roen called out. “You know, we’re a little short-handed. Think you’re up for helping your old pals out one more time? You know, for old time’s sake?”
Lin turned around and for the first time that Roen could recall, his smile was genuine and warm. And then he shook his head. “My fight is over. I do not expect to ever see you again, Roen Tan. Good journey, my son. Honor your ancestors and Master Tao. Now, you have a war to fight and I have a retirement to enjoy.”
Before he could leave again, Roen tapped him on the shoulder. “One last request, Master,” he said as formal and deferential as possible.
Lin gave him a wary look. “Yes?”
“Can I borrow some money?”
TWENTY-FOUR
TIBET
Huchel, one of our brightest, once inhabited a scientist named Charles Darwin. His vessel claimed to discover evolution, but the truth is, all he discovered was our kind’s millions-year-old methodology. Humans are our children, and are only alive by our mercy. We made them the fittest to live, and for that we are owed everything.
Zoras