“A brothel? What’s that? What do you think it is, Liu?” Feng asked.

“I don’t know, and I don’t care.” Liu said.

“You two don’t know what a brothel is? Are you two from the countryside?” The woman asked.

“Just get us food.” Liu said.

“You’re right. I can ask questions later, can’t I? Let’s go inside.” The woman led them into the brothel, whatever that was.

Inside the brothel, Liu saw evil seducers lounging around on comfortable-looking seats. They wore loose kimonos that showed off their cleavage and exposed their shoulders. But it hung tight around every indecent curve and indent the scandalous woman had. Men talked to the sultry women and looked idiotic as they tried to seduce the seducers. Other men sat at a bar with drinks lined up in front of them. Some of them smiled as they drank out of their mugs and others looked like they were trying to drown demons. The air glowed orange from candlelight and made the room feel homey. But the home Liu saw around her resembled more a den of lust than a welcoming home. Lewd, filthy, paintings hanged on the walls, they showed nude women in compromising positions and Liu felt disgusted. If any of the evil seducers tried anything, Liu would kill them. Their bodies looked soft and weak. One good punch and splat, their organs would decorate the floor.

“Oh, who are these two?” One of the evil seducers said as she walked up to Liu and her group. She had black hair and brown eyes that reflected the orange candlelight that lit the brothel. With her pale and smooth skin, she looked like a winter beauty.

“Lost children.” The woman who led Feng and Liu said.

“Hungry children.” Liu said.

The pale-skinned seducer laughed. “Funny children too.”

It irked Liu to be called a child, she was eighteen already, but there was no point in arguing.

“What are your names?” The pale-skinned woman asked.

“My name is none of your business and,” Liu pointed at Feng, “his name his screw off.”

“Feisty.” The pale-skinned woman said.

“Cute, isn’t she?” The woman who led them said.

“Sorry about my friend. She’s a cranky girl. But my name’s Feng. What’s yours?” Feng asked.

“This one’s polite. My name’s Yuan.” The pale-skinned woman said. She stared at Feng a little longer. “And kind of cute.”

“And my name is Wenling.” The other woman said. “Nice to meet you, Feng, and I’m assuming your name is Liu,” Wenling said towards Liu. “Feng said it earlier.”

“Whatever, food. Now.” Liu said.

“Yuan, can you fetch our guests some food? I’ll take them to my room.” Wenling said.

“Yes, my lady.”

“Good. Let’s get going you two.” Wenling began to lead Liu and Feng up a set of stairs. Liu tightened her fists and prepared her Ki. Wenling’s room, a secluded place. That screamed danger. There could be traps and help would be hard to find. Liu didn’t trust Wenling. It was too soon to trust her. She thought about taking Feng and running. Going hungry was better than getting killed.

“I can feel you Ki, Liu. Smart, it seems like you’re prepared for the city life. Always be careful, but you should be quieter about it. Don’t let the other side know what you’re thinking.” Wenling said.

“I don’t care if you know what I’m thinking about or not. Just know, we’re not weak and if you’re planning anything, watch your neck.” Liu said.

“Liu, say sorry. This nice lady is getting us food.” Feng said. “Never mind, I’ll do it. You’re a klutzy tiger, you’ll probably screw it up.” Feng bowed his head. “Sorry, Miss Wenling.”

“It’s okay, Feng. I don’t mind it.” Wenling said. “I like it. I love feisty women. Every time you speak, Liu, I fall more in love with you.”

“Don’t. Once we’re fed, me and Feng are out of here.”

“If that’s what you want, but let’s talk it over food first. I find that a full stomach often makes a person think clearer.”

Liu grunted and followed Wenling. As long as Liu stayed aware, everything would be fine.

They walked up multiple flights of stairs. Each floor they passed had a hallway lined with doors. It reminded Liu of her father’s inn, just bigger.

“Do you run an inn? Is that what a brothel is? A massive inn? You know, Liu’s father runs an inn. I bet he’d be jealous at the size of this place. There sure are a lot of sleepy people in the city though. I can’t believe an inn could ever get this big.” Feng said.

“It’s something like an inn.” Wenling said.

Liu stayed silent. She wasn’t going to get chummy with a potential enemy.

After a long climb, Wenling stopped at the top floor. She then led Feng and Liu down a hallway and opened a door. “Welcome to my room.” Her room had wood flooring, a cabinet with porcelain plates and cups on the wall, and a dining table in the center with a chandelier hanging down from the ceiling. “Have a seat, Yuan should be here soon with food. In the meantime, why don’t we talk?” Wenling said.

Liu and Feng took a seat. Even if Wenling wasn’t trustworthy, Liu needed any scrap of information she could get. “Where are we?” Liu asked.

“Golden Mountain City. It’s the biggest city in the Spring Blossom Empire.”

“The Spring Blossom Empire? I’ve never heard of it. We’re from the Dragon Fire Empire. How far are we from home?” Liu said. She didn’t know any other empires existed. How far away from home were they?

“The Dragon Fire Empire? How did you two end up here?”

“We got teleported.” Liu said.

“Teleported!?”

“Yeah, and we’re trying to get home.” Liu said.

“Like anybody would. Luckily, The Dragon Fire Empire isn’t that far. It’s the next country over. Let me go grab my map. The major roads are marked on it. That should help you two make it back home.” Wenling got up and entered another room. She came back with a piece of paper and placed it on the table. On the map, a huge piece of land was drawn and split up into six different pieces. Each piece was labeled, and Liu saw the words “Spring Blossom Empire” on the western coast of the continent, and “Dragon Fire Empire” touched its border on the right. From what she knew about Hilltop Village, it was on the eastern side of the Dragon Fire Empire. Golden Mountain city was marked on the western side of the Spring Blossom Empire. That meant a long, treacherous, and most definitely dangerous walk back. Liu didn’t know if she and Feng could make it home by themselves.

“Far, but we’ll be fine.” Liu said. Even if they needed help, Liu wouldn’t ask for it anytime soon. Help was an emergency. The danger of betrayal outweighed the positives of a helping hand. Who knew what that hand really wanted?

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

“No, you won’t. I felt your Ki earlier, Liu, you have potential, but there’s no way you can survive a journey back that far. How about this instead, why don’t I go along with you two back home?” A helping hand. Could Liu trust it?

“No, I don’t trust you.” Liu said.

“And why is that?”

“I don’t know you. I don’t know what you want, and I have a feeling you aren’t helping us just because you have a kind heart. So, forgive me if I’m a bit skeptical, but I’m a woman who likes to stay alive.”

“You remind me so much of him.” Wenling whispered. She probably said that to herself, but Liu’s ears picked up things that didn’t want to be picked up.

“Remind you of who?”

“Oh, dear me, I said that out loud? It’s nothing, you just remind me of an old friend. He was rude, brash, and untrusting just like you. I wonder what he’s been up to.”

“Sounds like Liu’s dad.” Feng said. Liu punched her friend in the arm. Why did everyone seem to have a problem with her father? He was a good man, a strong man. A man someone could depend upon. “Ow!” Feng said.

“Is that so? What’s your father’s name, Liu?”

“I’m not telling you.”

“Zhao Shan.” Feng said. That bastard, Liu thought to herself. She would have to punish him later.

Wenling looked strange. Her face was crossed with so many emotions that Liu had no idea what the woman was thinking. Happiness, worry, sadness, anger, relief, all of it. “What?” Liu said.

“Why didn’t I realize it earlier? You look so much like him. You have his hair. That hair redder than blood. His eyes filled with passion that burned like the sun, and his look, like the world’s going to jump at you. You’re just like him, cuter though. Your father was never blessed with great looks. No, I think that’s from your mother. I see her beauty in you. How I miss you, Meifeng.”

“My mother? You knew my mother?” Liu didn’t remember Zhao Meifeng. She died a few years after Liu was born. Her father didn’t like talking about her. A wave of sadness always took his eyes when Liu brought her up. He would smile and say she was the most beautiful and kind woman he had ever met. That’s all he would say about her, anymore and it seemed like he would break.

“Do I know her? She was my best friend, practically my sister.” Wenling’s eyes teared up. “When I heard the news she died, I broke. How could a strong woman like her die? Especially, when a man like Shan protected her. I cried for weeks. I never knew she had a daughter though. It’s good to see you.”

“What was she like? My father never told me much, only that she was beautiful and kind.”

“That’s an understatement. She was the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met. If you think I’m beautiful, I’m nothing to her. I’m nothing but a small candle to her sun. But more important than her beauty was her kindness. She could be the ugliest woman in the world and people would still worship her. Her smile brought life into the world. Her presence spread warmth wherever she went. After meeting her, I knew there was good in the world. After meeting her, my frozen heart melted.”

“Wow, it sounds nothing like you, Liu.” Feng said.

“Shut up, dragon boy.”

“I’m going along with you two. I won’t let Meifeng’s daughter die. And in a way, I’m your aunty, Liu. Me and your mother were sworn sisters. I’m not going to let my niece and her little lover die.”

“He’s not my lover. Just an idiot dragon I like to drag around.”

“I like you too, Liu.” Feng said.

Could Liu trust her? While great to hear about her mother, Wenling could have made it up. But how did she know Liu’s mother’s name?

“Still don’t trust me, Liu?” It seemed like Liu’s face betrayed her thoughts. Stupid face.

“I want to. But I just don’t know if I can.”

“It’s okay, I understand. But also understand that I’m strong. If I wanted to kidnap you two, I would have already.” Wenling let her Ki out and the air around Liu glimmered in white light. It felt kind, warm, protective, and massive. Liu never felt so much Ki before. Then the light died, and black flames surrounded Wenling. It was hot but cold at the same time. Evil, it was evil! Liu knew she couldn’t trust Wenling. She let her own Ki come up and prepared for battle. It would be for nothing. Liu’s Ki was a speck of dust compared to Wenling’s. If they fought, Liu would die in seconds. Wenling’s flames intensified and the room got hard to breathe in. “It’s fine, Liu.” The flames died.

“What the hell was that!” Liu screamed.

“My Ki.”

“Wow.” Feng said.

“Why was it so evil?”

“It’s not evil. That’s just the path of hell. It feels scary, but don’t mind it. It’s really quite cute. See?” Wenling snapped her fingers, and one of the flames on the candles that burned on the chandelier died. A black flame took its spot. Wenling did something with her fingers and the flame jumped down to the table. It had stubby little legs, fat arms, and a cute pinchable belly.

“What is that?” Feng asked.

“It’s a tiny flame demon. Isn’t it adorable? The Path of Hell allows a person to summon things from hell. Whether that’s its flames, a flame demon, its ice, or any other thing else from down under. The holy light you saw earlier, that was the Path of Heaven. You get to summon things from the holy angels above. I don’t like it as much, the spirits I’ve summoned from heaven are a lot less fun.”

“It’s not right. Hell should belong in hell.” Liu said. Summoning hell onto the earth? Craziness. Bad omens and death could only come from that.

“A lot of people use the Path of Hell; the world hasn’t died yet.”

“What’s a path?” Feng said.

“Do you two not know? Wow, I thought your father would at least teach you that much, Liu.”

“He taught me how to throw a punch. That’s all I need to know.” Liu said.

“That Shan, always so soft on the women in his life. Or maybe, he never thought you would need to learn about it living in the countryside. There aren’t many world-ending wars happening there after all. If you two are going to survive the journey back home, you’ll have to learn how to survive. Luckily, I’m a good teacher.”

“You’re going to train us?” Liu said. Strength didn’t come easy, and Liu needed it desperately. Even if she had to go into the pits of hell to gain it. No matter what, she and Feng would make it home. If Wenling did plan to turn on them, she better not teach Liu too much because Liu learned quick. And she killed quick too.

“I will. But your training is going to take time. At least a month or two to get you both into shape. So, you both will be staying with me for a while.”

“Gross. Can’t we stay anywhere else? I don’t want to be surrounded by your kind.”

“And what kind is that?”

“I don’t know, but I know it isn’t anything good. No decent woman would dress like you. You’re an evil seducer. My father told me about you types.”

“Did he now? First rule of me training you, respect the woman working here. Hear that, Liu? If you can’t learn to respect my workers, I won’t train you. Even if you are my best friend’s daughter.”

Who cared about getting trained by a hussy anyway. Liu would just find another way. “Fine! Let’s go, Feng.” She dragged Feng up with her.

“Stop! Stop! I was just kidding. Sit back down.”

“That’s what I thought.” Liu sat back down.

“Still, what’s wrong with me and my women, Liu?”

“What you all are doing is evil and immoral.”

“Why? You don’t even know what we do?”

“It doesn’t matter. No self-respecting woman would dress like you. It’s filthy and wrong. Save that for marriage.”

“I think it's okay.” Feng said.

“Feng seems to like it.” Wenling said.

“That’s because he’s a pervert. I’m not. And I don’t particularly trust you yet. So, I don’t have a reason to change my mind on your kind. What’s wrong with me and Feng staying at a different place? I want to train, but I don’t want to be here in this lair of lust.” Liu said.

“The city’s dangerous. Where will you stay other than my brothel? You don’t have any money, right? You can trust me, Liu. Please, stay. You don’t have to like me or my women. But I like you, and I want to protect you. I want to protect my dear friend’s daughter. So, can’t you give us a chance, Liu?”

“She’s right, Liu.” Feng said.

Liu stared at the woman ahead of her. “Fine. Just know that I’m keeping my eye on you and your little pack of harlots.”

“Thank you.” Wenling said. As soon as she finished her sentence a knock cracked against the door.

“Wenling, I’ve brought the food.” A muffled voice that sounded like the woman Liu met earlier, Yuan, said.

“Come in.” Wenling said. The door opened, and a beautiful black-haired woman entered carrying plates of steaming food.

“I made Xin cook his best dishes. It’s been a while since we’ve had such cute guests.” Yuan said as she placed the plates on Wenling’s table, sweet pork belly, steamed dumplings, hot rice, and stir-fried vegetables. It smelled delicious. Liu’s stomach growled and she wanted to devour the food in front of her like a starving alley cat in winter.

“Thank you. Tell him, I appreciate it.” Wenling said.

Yuan bowed her head. “Of course, madam, enjoy your meal.” She made her way out.

“Dig in.” Wenling said.

“Thank you for the food, Miss Wenling. I think I love you.” Feng said.

“I can’t be stealing my niece’s man now, can I?” She looked Feng over again. “Or maybe I can?”

Feng probably didn’t hear a word from the hussy. He was too busy eating. If he did hear, Liu couldn’t tell. Food stuffed his mouth and food held his gaze. Liu wanted to eat like her friend, but what if it was poisoned?

“You’re not hungry, Liu. I thought you wanted food?”

“I want to see you eat it first.”

The woman grabbed a large spoonful of rice and ate it. “See? It’s fine. Eat up, little girl.”

Liu waited a few more seconds just in case Wenling decided to spit out the rice before the poison could kill her. Nothing happened. She chewed and swallowed. Liu looked for anything, anything that could point to the woman somehow tricking her. Eventually, Liu gave in to her stomach rumbles and ate. The pork belly was sweet and succulent. The rice combined with the meat was heaven. The dumplings bounced and popped in her mouth. She never knew dumplings could be so good. She usually hated vegetables, but the sauce covered ones she ate now made her tongue dance.

“I see you enjoyed it.” Wenling said.

“It was great!” Feng said.

“It was okay.” Liu said.

“Now that your bellies are stuffed, why don’t I give you both a little lesson in the Paths?” Liu and Feng nodded their heads. “So, how many paths do you think there are?’

“Twenty-Five.” Feng said.

“Wrong.” Wenling crossed her fingers and stuck her tongue out.

“No idea. Get to the point.” Liu said.

“Fine, you rude girl. There are ten main paths. There’s Water which lets you drown people. Fire, which can light a candle or burn a man alive. Earth, which can summon boulders. Sky, which controls wind and lightning. Body, well, it makes you strong. Mind, which can fool your enemies with illusions and maybe make you a tad smarter. Heaven, which cannot only summon things but can heal people too. Hell, my personal favorite, which lets a person summon demons and suck the life out people. War, which is the path of weapons. I always like a good whip to spank with. And Space, which can let you teleport, manipulate the space around you as long as it doesn’t disturb the natural order of the world too much, and helps you create your own little plain of existence. The path of space is probably how you two were teleported. All the paths originate from the ten Kis, they share the same names as the Ten Paths. Like Water Ki for the Water Path. Everybody can use all ten different Kis, but each person has a Ki they’re better at using. Like me, I’m good at using Heaven and Hell Ki. Or like your father, Liu, people used to call him the Great Blaze of the East, at least in the Spring Blossom Empire. Or that piece of shit fire tiger. That’s what I called him. Anyway, our first training session together will be to test what type of Kis you two are proficient at.”

“They used to call my father the Great Blaze of the East?” Liu asked. She was curious about her father’s life before he settled down in Hilltop Village.

“He was a general in the Dragon Fire Empire.”

“Isn’t that great, Liu? Your father’s like one of the people in the stories. A great general. Maybe he isn’t just a good-for-nothing angry little man after all.”

Liu glared at her friend and Wenling laughed. “You have a mouth on you, little Feng.” Wenling said.

“And a face that’s about to get caved in.” Liu said.

“No, I don’t think he does. Because that goes against my second rule of me training you two, no violence against each other.”

“I like that rule.” Feng said. “But I don’t think that’ll stop her. So, if I can get a room, that’d be great.”

“I think Feng’s right. It’s getting late and the day is catching up with me.” Liu said. Her body and mind felt exhausted.

“That’s fine with me. Here, wear these too.” Wenling handed Liu and Feng a pair of earplugs.

“Suspicious. Anything you don’t want me to hear, like a plan on selling me and Feng into slavery?”

“Slavery!? You won’t do that now will you, Miss Wenling? I don’t want to be a slave!” Feng said.

“Don’t worry. I’m not planning anything like that. Where do you even get these ideas from, Liu. Your imagination sure is active. But no, it gets quite loud at night here, the earplugs should help you sleep.”

“Okay.” Liu would take them, but she wouldn’t wear them. She would keep her ears open all night. Nothing would get the jump on her.

“Great, let me take you two to your rooms. They’re on the same floor as mine, so if you have any troubles, knock.” Liu’s room was reminiscent of Wenling’s just with the furniture rearranged a bit. The bedroom had a massive bed in the center and Liu fell in, the day’s journey wore on her. That night, no traps or kidnappings occurred but Liu heard things, moaning women and loud bangs. Liu would have a word with her aunty tomorrow.