Chapter 28: Missing Cousins

“Late night snack?”

Zen jumped at the voice, almost spilling his food. He thought he was alone in the hallway leading to his empty dorm room. He looked back at Hue Yi who was leaning against a wall, hands in his pockets. “Hue Yi? When did you get there?”

“Maybe I’ve been here the whole time but you didn’t see me.”

“I’m sure I would’ve seen you.”

“You having a party with all that food?” Hue Yi nodded towards the food in his arms.

“A little get together with a friend.”

“Awe, and I wasn’t invited?”

“Uhm… well… you can join us. If you don’t mind spending time with…” Zen began, flustered.

“I was kidding kid,” he said with a smirk. “I’m just here to collect on my property.”

“Huh?”

“My Bingo Card?”

“Oh! I haven’t gotten that from my cousin yet.”

“You’re really starting to annoy me, kid.” He said. “You know I’m a real busy guy. I have to find time to come here and get my card from you.”

“I’m sorry. It’s just that me and my cousins are not on speaking terms.”

“Then get on speaking terms, or you’ll be on screaming terms with me… and this is screaming in pain, by the way.”

“Why am I getting so many threats,” Zen said under his breath. “Uh… we can go now.” Zen made to leave.

“Go put the food down first.”

“Oh yeah,” Zen turned around and walked to his room. He opened the door to his dorm where Jiahai and Shibi were. Jiahai was cultivating on the ground while Shibi rested on the bed, watching him. Shibi looked at Zen when he entered and dumped the food on the bottom bed. Jiahai opened his eyes, surprised to see Hue Yi in the hallway.

“This looks cosy,” Hue Yi said, looking into the room. “You two having a sleepover?”

“Students aren’t allowed to sleep in rooms that aren’t theirs. We’re just hanging out for a while.”

“Your Hue Yi.” Jiahai said.

‘Yes, sorry I don’t know your name.”

“This is my friend, Chu Jiahai.” Zen gestured to Jiahai.

“Wang Zen, why don’t you ask Master Hue? He knows everything, right?”

Hue Yi smiled at this. “Finally, someone with brains. He knows I know everything.”

“No, he won’t be able to help me.” Zen said.

“Shows how much you know,” Yi said.

“Try him,” Jiahai said.

“Yeah, Zen’er, try me.”

“Okay,” Zen said, with an unsure tone. “Do you know about a place called the Emerald Snak in downtown?”

“Yes I do.”

“Can you tell me about it?”

“No,” Hue Yi smiled at Zen’s sad look. “Come on, Wang Zen. By now you know me and my policy on information.”

“It comes with a cost,” Zen said. “Then why did you encourage me to ask you.”

“Just because you ask, doesn’t mean I have to answer.” He said. “Now let’s get moving.”

-

“Jao Fuu!” Zen shouted. “Jao Fuu!”

He and Hue Yi had hiked up the mountain to the spacious cabins. With Hue Yi’s help, who seemed to know the cabins, he was able to navigate to Jao Fuu’s cabin, A18.

“We’ve been here for a while, Wang Zen.” Hue Yi said. “Are you sure she didn’t go home for the holidays?”

‘No, I got a letter from my father saying the family is busy this year. That’s why I didn’t go home.”

“Maybe their parents are different and want them home even if your family is busy.” Yi said. “And besides, remember that your only cousins, so when your father says he is busy, ti doesn’t mean they are too.”

“Oh?” Zen said.

“Hey,” Yi called out to a passer-by. “Do you know who lives in this cabin?”

“Yes, Jao Fuu,” the passer-by said.

“Is she in?” Yi said.

“No, she went home with her brother.”

“Thanks,’ Hue Yi said and looked at Zen. The boy turned his head down, sadness etched into his face. Hue Yi groaned loudly, “I don’t know what it is with you, kid. I don’t like you much, in fact, I find you annoying but still, I want to help you. So, I’m going to give you an extension on returning my Bingo Card.”

“Thanks,” Zen gave him a half-hearted smile.

“And, I’m going to give you a freebee.” He continued. “The place you asked about earlier on…”

Zen’s face lit up with excitement, “Emerald Snake!”

“Yes, it is an illegal gambling and brothel place run by a man called Ma Xinqi. He’s a bad man, so the fact that you’re asking about him worries me.”

“The girls, do you know anything about them?”

“He recruits them young. They usually stay in his employ until adulthood and they don’t leave… well unless their dead.” Hue Yi dug in his pocket, producing his deck of Bingo Cards. “What I know about that place is mainly from rumours. I’ve never really taken the time to collect proper information on the, but if you want accurate information, there is one person who knows more about the dealings of down town than I could ever.”

He handed the Bingo Card over to Zen, who looked at the details that appeared on it.

“You probably saw him hanging out with that jerk Hao Meng and the city lord’s daughter, Xu Hau.”

Zen looked at the name under the profile picture of the men before saying the name, “Yang Tai.”