Stoically, Gan Wen stared and hid his bafflement as he tried to make heads or tails of the pandemonium. Chickens flooded the main gathering space reserved for the members of Ying Xiong Hui Ju. Equally surprising, it seemed Sa Mi was at a loss for words. Senior Sister Claire stood equally stunned beside him and Brother Gu Te Sha approached them very nervously, wringing his arms under his white flowing robes. Do Son was not far, raising and lowering his recording construct as he battled an internal debate of whether or not to document the event.

  “Respected brothers, I would like to confirm that my eyes are not playing tricks… Do you witness the chickens racing hither and dither?” Gu Te Sha asked.

  “I do.” Brother Sa Mi pointed with his Grasping Shadow.

  “And… It would be wise to believe that the poultry are not my father?” Gu Te Sha clarified.

  “Indeed.” Gan Wen nodded.

  “Of course!” Gu Te Sha forced a laugh and slapped his plump gut.

  “I am surprised the sect leaders have not put a stop to the birds,” Gan Wen mused, eyeing the trail of bird remains joining the mess of feathers in the main courtyard.

  “Elder Ay Pex seemed undisturbed by the appearance of the birds,” Sa Mi claimed. “I believe that is an indication that we are not to be concerned by their appearance. Though, I did notice they attempted to converse.”

  “The lead bird is called ‘Bach.’” Senior Sister Claire pointed.

  “Your Path of the Seen Sounds allows you to translate the words of a chicken?” Gu Te Sha asked, amazed.

  “Your idea is absurd and I will not entertain it,” Senior Sister snapped, her flowing white robes and golden hair shifting in the motion. “I used my Path on the Sect Elder when he spoke to it. They have located the Underground within the village district to the south.”

  Sliding the intricately carved door with calligraphy above a landscape painting, Elder Steve emerged from within the inner courtyards. Robes flapping as he approached them, Gan Wen lowered his head in respect. The Path of the Molding Clay was perhaps the most incredible he had ever seen, and Elder Steve had an easy mastery over it. Despite his rather nervous demeanor and constant stains of sweat on his robes, Gan Wen knew he was capable in battle, rushing in to protect others. Interestingly, he wore a ring of clay on a finger, but Gan Wen knew better than to point out the new apparel without prompting.

  Wiping sweat from his brow, Elder Steve came to a halt in front of them. “Gan Wen, the Elders and I intend to gather and challenge the Sect of the Underground immediately. Can we leave you as an interim leader in our stead?”

  “The Sect of the Underground!” Sa Mi stepped forward excitedly. “Grant this one the honor of joining, respected elder!”

  “Denied, Junior Brother,” Elder Steve asserted, arms folding into his robes.

  “This one asks you to reconsider! The danger is of no concern!”

  “This is not a question of danger, Young Sa Mi. Without the elders at the sect, Ying Xiong Hui Ju will have no one remaining to assist in matters of the village. So long as Li Li and Da Rus may send people out, someone must remain available.”

  “But surely Hui will manage fine with only one less member of the sect,” Sa Mi pleaded.

  Elder Steve looked upon Sa Mi with softness. “I do apologize, Junior Brother. But I trust you to be prepared for a deployment more than I think you will bring benefit to the confrontation.”

  “Very well.” Sa Mi’s robes shifted lower as his shoulders slouched and he looked to the floor.

  “Gan Wen?” Elder Steve addressed him once more.

  “This one will do all within this one’s power to maintain the operations of the sect. This one assures you that the village will not notice the absence of the sect’s elders while you take on the incredible adversaries.” Gan Wen lowered his head slightly.

  Pursing his lips, Elder Steve shifted his head slightly and Gan Wen’s heart dropped. He thought his response was perfect, but evidently he had disappointed the elder.

  “In truth, your manner of speech concerns me, Gan Wen… Sister Claire, can we place you as leader in our absence?”

  “Whatever the sect requires,” Senior Sister Claire replied confidently.

  Gan Wen closed his eyes and buried his frustration as not to show his annoyance with the elder. No matter how he spoke, it seemed his “manner of speech” was his most formidable opponent. Even when Sa Mi or Senior Sister Claire spoke with impunity to the elders, they were never chided for the “manner” in which they spoke. Cycling his core through his frustrations, Gan Wen wondered why it was that he always seemed to be mocked when he believed he sounded exactly the same as the others.

  But rather than let it defeat him, it drove him to greater heights. Gan Wen constantly improved his Path of the Radiant Sun, to the point that even his respected Elder Ay Pex saw promise in his abilities. Brother Sa Mi and Senior Sister Claire seemed rather impressed by his progress in the Path, only ever making note of his manner of speech. More and more he drove himself to reach the zenith of the realms, breaking through the second realm faster than all but the True Elder Lei Keun.

  If he continued to place focus on increasing his core and bringing use to the sect, he hoped that they would soon trust him regardless of the concerns they had about the manner in which he spoke. Though the problem of his communication was invisible to him, much as he tried to understand.

  Others could call the sect of Ying Xiong Hui Ju simply “Hui,” but Gan Wen was told it was said improperly when he attempted the shortening. To avoid further humiliation, he only ever referred to it as “the sect.” Senior Sister Claire refused to have her name spoken with an honorific, even when she continued to refer to him as “Brother” Gan Wen. Senior Sister Claire chastised him when he referred to the Village of Gong Zhen by its full name, so he was forced to say only “the village.” Maddening restrictions of speech were seemingly only placed upon him, but members of Hui still gave him due respect when speaking to him.

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  Gan Wen had often seen how the other members would speak of Gu Te Sha regarding his absentminded attitude and father strangeness, or even Do Son regarding his flagrant disrespect. Never had they attempted to shame him in the same manner, and he appreciated that aspect of the sect. They were strangely strict, but his honor was upheld.

  Perhaps he needed to cycle enough to perform a second body cleansing, and this invisible speech impediment would finally be put behind him.

  The beautiful sliding doors around the courtyard slid open in rapid succession, and several impressive elders gathered to speak, the chickens surrounding them. Elders Ay Pex, Ru Di, Steve, and Ma Ge Nu Si the Magnificent communicated in quick succession, before turning to address the Junior members of Hui.

  Elder Ay Pex looked upon them all with a serious expression. “Respected members of the sect. We are off to challenge the Sect of the Underground. Elder Sister Nao Mi must remain protected. Check on her every few minutes and ensure that none of the constructs by her side run out of their supplied energy. They are crucial for keeping her from slipping into the arms of death. We will return as soon as we are able. Elder Sister Nao Mi should always be listened to, but Senior Sister Claire is the interim leader while we are away. Are there any questions?”

  Brother Sa Mi raised his Grasping Shadow.

  “You may not join us.” The elder smiled at him.

  Sa Mi lowered his hand, grumbling. Gan Wen raised his arm and Ay Pex nodded to him.

  “Why are there chickens?” Gan Wen asked, unsure how to phrase the question.

  One of the chickens clucked, while others around it preened feathers or pecked the floor.

  “It is unclear to us.” Elder Steve admitted. “I believe they will disperse once we exit.”

  “They will guide us to the rival sect,” Elder Ay Pex corrected.

  The room went silent with a mix of bafflement and skepticism.

  “To be clear…” Sa Mi said. “The chickens may go, but I may not?”

  “Indeed.”

  “I am both bewildered and vexed. My honor is sullied by the chickens and their mocking humiliation.” Sa Mi spoke with playful sarcasm.

  One of the chickens pooped on the floor in response.

  With that, the impressive group of elders radiating with energy made their way to the exit of the Hui courtyard, led by a parade of marching chickens. Gan Wen stared, eyes tracking them until the last talon exited the courtyard, leaving nothing but the mess of dozens of birds in their wake.

  “If we are imprisoned, then I shall continue my training,” Sa Mi said, beating a fist into a palm. “Brother Do Son! We shall cut it again!”

  “Are you certain?” Do Son looked concerned. “Does it not pain you?”

  “I am confident. I must reform the Grasping Shadow in mere moments if I wish for it to be most useful in a frenzied duel.”

  Reluctantly, Do Son raised an arm that turned razor sharp at his will. Sa Mi approached, holding out his arm of the Grasping Shadow and offering it to his ally. Wincing as he did so, Do Son slashed the arm clean off, and the shadow plopped to the floor before dissipating. Sa Mi worked his jaw in frustration, wiggling arms under his flowing robes as he concentrated.

  “I must become faster,” he told himself, straining.

  The determination on display inspired Gan Wen and he focused his breathing to cycle his core. Sa Mi would not surpass him. He needed to become the best to be unquestioned. He would show the village that rejected his mannerisms that they were wrong to hesitate when it came to his growth and sincerity. Gan Wen would become the best there was, even greater than the fallen True Elder.

  A strange scratching sounded at the carved door to the main courtyard, breaking Gan Wen’s focus. Quickly retaining his composure, he cycled once more until he heard more pats and scratches against the frame. Opening his eyes, he glanced at the door and saw it shaking slightly.

  “What is that?” Gan Wen asked.

  Sa Mi glanced up from trying to reform his hand. “What is what?”

  “There is something tapping against the entrance,” Gan Wen pointed an arm from under his robes.

  Eyes followed his indication and the group within Hui saw the slightest bulging from the door, as though something was knocking from the other side. Raising an eyebrow, Sister Claire retrieved her miraculous communication construct and began tapping into it. Gan Wen could not understand the intricate symbols on the device, but understood from context that it could communicate with similar constructs. Also, strangely, it could play games.

  Sister Claire held it up to her ear. “Li Li, is there a disturbance on your end?”

  A small hint of Li Li’s voice reached Gan Wen, sounding a mix of annoyed and frantic.

  “A chicken has remained behind, attempting to reenter the courtyard,” Claire explained to the others, then placed the construct to her ear again. “Did it not see the gathered chickens leaving with the elders?”

  More communication on the other end.

  “Very well. Allow it inside. Perhaps once it sees a lack of chickens, it will know to leave in search of its brethren.”

  With a light beep on the other end, the door slid open, revealing a chicken that entered immediately, looking less confused than Gan Wen would have expected it. He thought it was lost, but it looked quite pleased to enter the sect’s main courtyard.

  “Apologies,” Li Li remarked. “The creature was going to scratch the frame. I tried to direct it to the outside where its family had just left, but it had no interest. In fact, it came in after they left, as though it was a straggler.”

  “May we keep it?” Sa Mi asked, approaching with a wide smile as the chicken clucked.

  “Why?” Sister Claire asked.

  “We are lacking a symbol for our sect. Colors are pleasant, but they are more an aesthetic than a symbol.”

  “A chicken would not do well to promote the strength of the sect,” Do Son said knowingly.

  “Watch your tongue, brother!” Gu Te Sha said boldly, taking a step toward Do Son. “I will have you know my father is a chicken.”

  “What are you saying?” Gan Wen asked impatiently. “That does not make any sense. Why is your father in a constant state of change?”

  “Apologies, I neglected to inform you Brother Gan Wen. We recently discovered that Gu Te Sha is on the Path of the Paternal Exchange,” Sa Mi informed with a smile.

  Gan Wen’s eyes narrowed, his face flat. “I do not find this amusing.”

  “There is no humor to be found,” Gu Te Sha explained earnestly. “My Path is a Curse. It declares that my father must change intermittently.”

  “That is absurd,” Gan Wen said instinctively, then he saw the shame in Gu Te Sha’s stature, a hint of color in his cheeks. There was truth in the mortification. “Apologies. That sounds difficult to endure. I wish you the best in dealing with it.”

  “I someday wish to know if my real father still lives,” Gu Te Sha said, looking out.

  The chicken clucked again more forcefully, flapping its wings to the members of Hui. They looked between one another.

  “Do any of you have bird feed?” Sa Mi asked.

  “It looks as though it attempts to communicate,” Do Son said.

  It clucked again, but did not look as though it understood Do Son, merely attempting to converse with another. The Senior Sister kneeled down, looking at the chicken at eye level.

  “Forgive me, Gu Te Sha. You have my sincere apologies.”

  “I do?”

  “It seems my Path of the Seen Sounds does work on chickens.”

  The chicken clucked, scratching the landscape painted on the ground.

  “I see. Such eloquence for a bird. It claims to know the location of the one who killed the True Elder!” Sister Claire said, astonished.

  Gan Wen would have been amazed, but he was more upset that the literal bird was described as eloquent when he was only ever told he had a confusing manner of speech.

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