Translator: Larbre Studio
Editor: Larbre Studio
It was in Hebei, a little town barely visible on the map.
She looked out of the car window, observing the filthy, dusty night market, where the loud voices of the crowd could be heard from far away and the streets were filled with the greasy aroma of hotpot restaurants.
The barbecue stall owener’s face was slicked with oil and passersby huddled tight in their coats as they walked through the thick smoke.
Tight, cramped, rigid, and rough.
This was what the woman had heard of this place, but had yet to truly experience.
This could be her last chance. She let out a sigh, “It’s here, Uncle Bai, let’s go.”
The northern wind was strong at this time of the year. She covered her body with a baggy windbreaker. A man with a crew cut around thirty years old stood behind her.
They stepped into an old, worn video store one after the other.
These stores were disappearing as the industry faded.
The CRT TV was slightly moldy, and a young Dou Wei was shouting on the greenish screen.
There were stacks of martial arts novels everywhere, from works of Liang Yusheng to others by Gu Long. There were even Ni Kuang’s works. Old albums and records from the last century were kept in a glass cupboard with old, grainy monochrome pictures, one which showed Teddy Robin, Sam Hui, and Alan Tam looking at one another holding their microphones, captioned “The Journey to Space concert, 1984.”
A poster on the wall had the word “Rouge” printed on it, with a faded image of a cross-dressing Anita Mui.
“Looking for something?” A crisp, warm voice asked. It didn’t sound like that of a rough northern man.
What was more unexpected was that such an old shop was owned by a tall, skinny man who did not look more than twenty-five years old. He was wearing a black T-shirt, his face pale.
“Are you Mr Li Yan?” The lady asked, smiling.
“Yeah, I am.”
The woman in a windbreaker standing before him had beautiful, prominent features. She was both elegant and sharp.
Li Yan flitted a glance towards the man standing behind her before she replied, “I am the director of the Chinese Martial Arts Association. I’m from Guangdong, and my name is Lei Jing. Lei Hongsheng is my grandfather.”
The lady smiled, showing a set of white teeth, “I shall address you as my ‘senior’ then.”
She held onto Li Yan’s palm, which was warm and strong.
Li Yan’s eyes lit up at the name “Lei Hongsheng.”
“Oh, please have a seat. Make yourself comfortable.”
The lady sat in a nearby chair as she silently observed Li Yan. She couldn’t quite connect the bright, alert youth in her grandfather’s photograph to the owner of this video store standing right before her.
“Grandpa talked about you all the time, senior. He always said he never met anyone as talented as you are.”
The man turned to retrieve a kettle and asked as he was pouring water, “Is he still in good health?”
She looked down and replied, “He passed last year.”
Li Yan didn’t falter at her words, but put down the kettle and looked deeply into her eyes.
He then asked, “Is there anything I can help you with?”
She bit her lips and muttered, “I was hoping Senior Li could come with me to Guangdong and be a consultant for the association.”
Li Yan raised his eyebrows, “I’m sure Miss Lei has heard of my background, and to be honest, Li Yan is an infamous name in the Martial Arts community. Why did you think I could help you?”
Lei Jing remained silent for a while and then smiled as she replied, “Instead of saying ‘infamous’, I would say your name is feared by the community. Though some may not respect you, they are still scared by the sound of your name.”
Li Yan could not contain his laughter, “Fair enough, but you’re too late.” He picked up the cups and asked, “How much do you know about modern medicine, Miss Lei?”
“Uhm, what are you referring to?”
“AML.”
Lei Jing was stumped but a dark thought crossed her mind. She asked carefully, “Is that Acute Myeloid Leukemia?”
Li Yan swallowed slightly, “A month ago, I was diagnosed with this disease. Your grandfather knew that I have no family. So I’m afraid I can’t be of much help”
The girl looked down at her nails, then said bitterly, “Healthcare services are far better in the South. I know a few famous doctors. Leukemia isn’t a terminal disease, and you can definitely find someone with matching bone marrow, even with no family members.”
She lifted her head swiftly, “Maybe my presence has put you in a difficult situation, but…”
Lei Jing deliberated on her choice of words, “The association is the blood, sweat, and tears of Grandpa. I don’t want to watch it spiral to become a tool for the corrupt and power-hungry.”
“The corrupt you say…”
Li Yan suddenly interrupted, fidgeting with his cup as he finished his drink. He directed a smile at the girl, a little more aggressively than before.
“Why is it not corrupt to hand the association down to you? Can you tell me the difference between you and the politicians you despise?”
The man with the crew cut frowned at Li Yan’s impoliteness.
Her demeanor was calm as she slowly explained, “The Martial Arts Association was founded by my grandfather. I have been involved in the association since I was sixteen. No one loves or understands it more than me.”
Li Yan shook his head and put down his cup. “When I shook hands with you, Miss Lei, your hands were soft. You have probably never practiced martial arts.”
She pursed her lips tight.
“I have been ill since a young age. The family’s kung-fu was too demanding for my body, so I only practiced kung-fu that could help regulate and rehabilitate me.”
“So,”Li Yan looked down and changed the topic suddenly. “Miss Lei, do you enjoy Martial Arts Novels?”
Lei Jing was taken aback by the question and blurted, “Jin Yong?”
“The Soul-breaking Spear, by Lao She.”
She clearly didn’t understand what Li Yan meant, but the man beside her squinted at his comment.
“Anyways, a sickly man like me won’t be able to help you out. I appreciate your intentions though. If you don’t mind staying for dinner, I have some dumplings ready to serve. If not, you are free to leave. And also, I would appreciate it if you could help me light a joss stick for your grandfather.”
By saying this, he made it clear that he had no intention of continuing the conversation.
Moments later, Lei Jing quietly stood. But instead of leaving. She took out a business card and left it on the table, right before Li yan’s eyes.
She said, “Many people told me about how condescending Li Yan was. They would’ve never thought you would end up like this.”
Li Yan thought to himself but didn’t say a word.
“My grandfather always admired you, for the longest time. Do you know how highly he thought of you?”
Lei Jing stared straight into the man’s eyes, trying to imitate her grandfather’s tone of voice, “A martial artist should always have just enough fire in them. I’ve seen so many people in my life, and this rascal was the only one who’s had the right amount of fury.”
“Regardless of whether you agree to my request, I sincerely hope that you, Senior, have not lost that fire in you.”
Lei Jing turned and left the middle-aged man with that parting statement.
Li Yan sat for a while, his mind blank. He bent over to finish the water left in the two cups and puffed out a small laugh. “That incredible brat.”
He wiped his nose with a tissue, unbothered by the bright red stain on it, and carelessly tossed it aside. He laid on the sofa and puffed, “The fire in me…heh.”
He held his right hand over his forehead and thought back on the bright, alert old man with thick brows, smiling bitterly to himself.
“I can’t do this anymore, old man…”
Just then, a pair of brightly shined black leather shoes appeared in his house. Li Yan recognised the owner of those shoes. He was the man with the crew cut who had been following behind Lei Jing.
As Li Yan sat and looked up, chills ran down his spine and the pupils of his hazel eyes shrunk uncontrollably.
The man crushed the doorframe in his hands. It looked like a beast was eating him from the inside out as the flesh on his face fell off bit by bit, rotten beyond recognition.
Hearing Li Yan’s words, the man lifted his head slowly, his bloodshot eyeballs bulging out from his face, savage.
Li Yan breathed in the cold air. The violent, staccato noises from the TV screen matched the man’s shouts, each delivering percussive blows.