What was night life like in the modern city? Martial Kim always wondered.
Usually he would sleep in early, because that was what everyone in the Jade Empire would do. The moment the farmer finishes his work ion the fields and fill his belly with a warm meal, he flops to bed and snores. Even the most genteel of scholars would read a book or two until their eyes feel heavy, puff out the candle and sleep in their bed before the leaping moon leaves the tip of the mountains...
...That, and there really was nothing much to do when night fell. Life in the Jade Empire wasn’t like the 24/7 casinos of Las Vegas, Lan Gwai Fong bar streets in Hong Kong, or even the nightly luaus for Hawaiian tourists.
Besides, everyone grew up believing only assassins, vagrants, vagabonds, ruffians, or even criminals would lurk in the shadows of the night. To carry out misdeeds that should never see the light of day.
So, Martial Kim didn’t know what category to flag such a ‘naughty man’ like Professor Stone, who was well past his ‘bed time’.
“Teacher, what was this place called again?”
“Cheers and Beers Pub. My favourite place to hang out after a long day of work. Come to think of it, Kim, I should have brought you here sooner. I had an inkling you would love places like this!”
The young master had travelled far and wide during his early days wandering the lands of the martial arts world. He had his fair share of visiting tea houses that serve in-house liquor, hearty taverns, and of course the numerous winehouses on and off the roads. With those memories and experience in mind, how else would Moon Tavern thrive in the Capital City.
Why, it even evolved to become a gathering place for many martial arts masters, young and senior, to bring their sworn brothers and sister to celebrate life and victory, or even rivals touching wine cups to resolves disputes.
So looking at things right now, this hang out also doubled as a good learning opportunity. The young master was captivated by the design, the architecture, the clients that the pub served, and the functionality of this food and alcohol service.
--- That window hanging above the bar, is that what i think it is? A television? I thought they usually reside in the house? Out here in public, wouldn’t it be a distraction? And why is everyone crowded around it, as if a courtesan was dancing with her clothes off? And what is with their cheering, the moving images simply projects a man kicking a ball into a net. What is so fascinating about that? And the noise, gods!
Still the atmosphere was decent, don’t you think. Professor Stone seemed to agree with that.
“Come on Kim, raise a glass! To Beer o’Clock!”
“To uh...Beer o’Clock?”
German Lager. Nothing like the rice wine he had drank back in the Jade Empire – and he was a fanatic about wine. This alcohol had a strong and curious flavour that swirled in his mouth, making him smack and lick the foam off his lips with mixed delight...well mixed because--
--- What did they ferment in this drink? Clearly not rice, the taste is completely different... I wonder, if they even use the same process. It’s completely different even to the red wine Teacher shared with me. Curious, most curious. I wonder, even if I do figure out the key ingredient, would I be able to replicate this drink with normal means?
The drinks, the cheers, the singing, and the haze in the air was quiet a scene. Never before had the young master seen such chaos and melancholy mixed in with joy and relaxation. Loud, mostly loud, louder than any vagabond back home...but it was fun.
In saying that, Prof. Stone had this worried look on his face after downing half his drink.
“Come on, Kim. You still can’t let it go?”
“...Teacher. The Burn Victim was killed over an inheritance. By his own flesh and blood brother. Do you really think, I can truly put this case to rest in my heart?”
“Yes. Yes, I know you’re not used to this type of thing, but killing for family fortune has – and possibly always will be – a major motivation of murder in our society. Too common to be funny.”
“Fratricide, Teacher. It was fratricide. All for the sake of wealth?”
“Brother or not, being neck deep in debt can spur a man to do all sorts of strange things. If it’s not for money, it can be for women, or even petty revenge. And you should forget about it, Kim. File is closed and done, the suspect arrested and will be put to trial soon. We’ve done our duty.”
“Still...”
“Kim. I brought you to my favourite pub to celebrate our success. Not mope and grope.”
“....”
“What!? It rhymes!”
“Teacher. You’re drunk.”
Martial Kim sipped his beer. He had more things to say, to get it off his chest, but in the end he knew he shouldn’t be the one to spoil the party. So he did what his mentor always taught him: roll with the punches.
“By the way, lover boy.” Prof. Stone popped some roasted peanuts into his mouth. “When are you tying the knot with Keekee?”
Martial Kim choked, “Teacher! Wh-what are you talking about?”
The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
“You know perfectly well what I mean. Surely you two lovebirds have reached the stage where you go down on a knee and ask her the big question, right?”
“..........”
“...Kim. Why the stare?...Don’t tell me you completely forgot about Keekee!?”
“Of course not. I just do not see myself in her future.”
“Tell me straight. Is this a fling for you?”
“NO! Absolutely not! I-I respect Miss Keekee, as an equal! N-not as an object of, of...raw intimacy!”
Although Prof. Stone had some faith, he still couldn’t keep a sigh from coming out, “Kim. Kim, Kim, Kim. I respect the fact you are taking things nice and slow, worthy of praises – but if you keep dragging your feet in the mud, you’ll lose your girl to boredom!”
Martial Kim didn’t realize he was stammering at this point, “N-nonsense! Miss Keekee and I get along just fine as they are.”
“‘Fine’ my foot. When was the last time you two been on a date?”
“...................”
“Movie night out?”
“...................”
“Dinner at some fancy Italian restaurant?”
“What is Italian, Teacher? A district?”
Prof. Stone face palm, breaking his personal record of face palm collections. “Oh my god, Kim. Do you want to be single?”
Martial Kim just pouted, not commenting on this dangerous question.
“You got to do something for your lady. Else she feels you don’t care. Doesn’t have to be grandiose, or expensive, something as simple as giving her flowers, o-or telling her how much you love her. Even a peck on the cheek...make her feel wanted!”
“I do make her feel wanted.”
“How?”
“By protecting her.”
“Hah. Is that all you can think about? Your Kung Fu?...Give me your phone...Give me your phone, that’s an order!”
Although Martial Kim could easily flip the forensic chemist off his bar stool, over the bar counter, and into a cupboard under the desk...he surrendered his phone with difficulty. Prof. Stone swiped it up and he pressed some buttons. Before anyone could stop, or change his mind, he pushed it back to Martial Kim.
The screen glowing with some words the young master had to squint to read.
“I called Keekee for you. You’re welcome.”
“TEACHER! YOU’RE REALLY DRUNK! THIS IS BEYOND THE PALE!”
Prof. Stone hooked an arm around his protege while waiting through the ringing, “Kim. Oh my buddy Kim. We have a chance to turn this around in your favour. Tell Keekee that you miss her and invite her out to drinks! Why in fact, a whole dinner set! I haven’t had any food since we sealed the deal on the Burn Victim, so let’s all eat out tonight!”
Martial Kim was trying to figure out how to cancel the call, but being the peerless martial arts cultivator that he was – he failed miserably. And it wasn’t like the phone had meridians he could poke and freeze it with an Acupoint Pressure Move, that would be silly.
“T-Teacher. I-it’s late. I don’t want to disturb her rest!”
“What do you mean late, Kim? It’s only 9:45 PM. We still got time to get some food and party at a club until 1 in the morning. Not like we got work tomorrow.”
“S-still, Teacher this isn’t a good idea! What if she says no and—”
The ringing stopped, because a voice picked up the call.
[Keekiriiii! Wassup, it’s your best friend Keekee!—]
“M-Miss Keekee! A-apologies for disturbing you. I—Er, Teacher and I were wondering if—”
[—so leave your message after the tone. Beep.] BEEP.
“OW! M-Miss Keekee, you don’t need to make a loud noise like that......Miss Keekee? Miss Keekee hello? Miss—T-Teacher. Why are you taking my phone away? D-didn’t you want me to call her out?”
“Kim. It’s a voice mail.”
“...And?”
“Meaning, call again until she picks up. Don’t take no for an answer! Be assertive!”
Martial Kim never felt this cornered in his life. It was like the fighting tiger inside of him chose to say ‘Welp, I guess I’ll die then’. His hands were shaking trying to hit the dial button over and over, palms sweating close to puddles or a tiny river if this kept up.
Every ring, every voice mail, every heart beat nearly drove the young master mad.
And all he was doings was calling out a girl for drinks.
[Keekiriiii! Wassup, it’s your best friend Keekee!
A little tied up right now, so leave your message after the tone. Beep.]
BEEP.
[Keekiriiii! Wassup, it’s your best friend Keekee!
A little tied up right now, so leave your message after the tone. Beep.]
BEEP.
[Keekiriiii! Wassup, it’s your best friend Keekee!
A little tied up right now, so leave your message after the tone. Beep.]
BEEP.
“Kim! Kim!” cried Prof. Stone as he reached over to his protege, “That’s enough. Do you want to blow up her voice mail?”
“...Teacher. I have no hidden weapon nor skill to make a remote detonation.”
Prof. Stone cracked a heavy sigh. He stole his protege’s phone once more, only this time instead of dialing he was typing with his thumb. A few seconds and he gave it back to the young master, and took a sip of his beer as a reward.
“...TEACHER! PLEASE STOP SENDING MORE KISSING AND HEART SYMBOLS TO MISS KEEKEE! I-if this continues, I-I may have to marry her on principle now!”
(Oh. How scandalous of you, Martial Kim, to be ‘flirting with a girl through text’. Oh la la.)
“P-Please," the young master pleaded, as if for mercy, "Can you cancel this message again! Before it reaches Miss Keekee’s eyes!”
“Rule number one Kim,” Prof. Stone hummed. “If the girl don’t pick up the phone, send in the marines.”
“...The what!?”
“I meant text. Sorry, Beer o'clock got me a bit. Everyone looks at their text, it’s innate. It’s kind of like baiting a fish with a live worm or goading a greedy man with gold coins.”
“Both are completely different creatures to begin with! I can’t just—OOF!”
Oh dear god. What ran into our young master? It seems, the young master had a sudden encounter with a fair maiden...but...
Was this person a jade skinned beauty touched by the heavens?...Or a timeless ghost?
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