White Hawk and Sable Swan: A Martial Romance of the Far Future - Part XII

This is the twelfth part of an ongoing serial, written in honor of the Swords of St. Valentine initiative. Here are Parts One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, and Eleven. Updates every day.

It was two months and two weeks since she’d seen Li Wei last. She’d blocked him out of spite on email, phone, WeTalk and GuoBlog, hoping for some sort of penitent apology. A serenade outside her window, perhaps, or a surprise night-time visit.

Only three weeks later did she remember that he had no idea where she lived, and that even if he did, he probably wouldn’t be able to get in, anyway.

Every single message she sent across bounced.

Hey, she emailed again, fingers flashing across the projected keyboard. It’s me. Xu Hai. Do you want to meet up for the Spring Festival?

She bit her lip, winced, and continued.

Father’s out for the week, drinking with some of his business friends in Duobin. If you’re fine, I’d love to meet you back at the Peony Nightclub. Remember, where we first met?

It felt almost bad-mannered to mention that she’d kicked his ass there, too. The formality creeping into her every word and phrase… it felt stifling.

I’ll be there. Same time, same place. And I won’t be waiting tables, either.

She gave a pained grin, hit Send, then scrolled up to stare at the reams and reams of undelivered messages.

#####

“I have a surprise for you, Hai-er! Come here and say hello to Uncle Guan.”

Dressed in her best, a red gown about as expensive as her entire room, Xu Hai wended her way as best as she could through the party guests and smiled politely at her father. The fat man at his side nodded, before taking a great puff of his e-cigar.

“Hello, Uncle Guan,” said Xu Hai, bowing. “It’s good to see you.”

“My, my,” said Uncle Guan. “It’s just as you said, Brother Xu - your daughter is the picture of health! Take this, my pretty. May you excel in your studies and find a good husband.”

“Thank you, Uncle Guan!” smiled Xu Hai, taking the red packet with both hands and bowing. “May you have long life and good health, and may all your endeavors bear fruit!”

He was most definitely not her uncle. She’d never seen him in her life. No doubt he was another of her father’s shady business contacts, brought here and courted with lavish gifts and extravagant New Year’s presents to ensure good prospects.

You didn’t wish prosperity on anyone. Not really. You just bought and sold it.

“If I can ask, Baba, what is the good news?”

She smiled, doing her best to be sickeningly sweet. Father smiled back and ruffled her hair, but there were hard points at the corners of his mouth.

Uncle Guan smiled at her, too.

A pit began to open in the bottom of her stomach.

“I think Uncle Guan should be the one to tell you,” said Father. “If you will, Big Brother?”

The lion-dancers trooped through the door in a thunder of drums and cymbals, flipping and leaping in a dramatic display. Uncle Guan looked at her, his shapeless face spread in a shapeless smile. His e-cigar hung in his fingers like a stub of flaking paper.

“Your father and I have been talking about you, Miss Xu. I understand that you have all his talent in martial arts.”

His soft, gormless voice was completely audible, even in the roar and clatter of the drums and dancers. The bright red-white lions jumped, ringing in dissonant cascades, ushering fortune.

“Oh,” said Xu Hai, “you’re far too kind, Uncle Guan. I only dabble…”

“Now, Hai-er,” said Father indulgently. “There is such a thing as being too humble.”

He was smiling wrong. Something wasn’t right. Xu Hai took a step back, staring at both of them, trying to control the cockroaches in her stomach. Her polite look of bewilderment stayed frozen on her face.

“You see,” said Uncle Guan, taking another languid draw at his e-cigar, “we have a certain proposition for you.”

“We?” she asked, stupidly.

“The Tientang Aggregate,” said Father, a warning in his handsome lips. “Pay attention, Hai-er.”

There was no way she couldn’t, not now. Next to the Nishin Conglomerate, the Tientang Aggregate was the largest provider of holotech in Neo-Quming, if not the entire continent. The money involved was astronomical.

“You see, Miss Xu, as you no doubt know, people all across the motherland tune in to watch the Trial of Fists and Wills. Your Father and I, along with many others, have discussed your own long-burning desire to participate in this tournament, and, well…”

“We want you to fight the White Hawk in two weeks’ time,” said Father. “Right in the championship bout.”

The cymbals and drums rolled in an enthusiastic flourish, accompanied by a shower of candies and auspicious messages from the mouths of the lions. The applause felt like fingers in her gullet. She closed her mouth and eyes, completely white, trying not to hyperventilate.

“How… how is that possible? I haven’t… I haven’t even entered the tournament yet, how…”

“We have our ways,” said Uncle Guan evenly. “Besides, the viewing public would love to see the Sable Swan’s daughter take up his mantle.”

Father smiled again, but with murder in his mouth. His jaw was as tense as a tightened noose.

“I’ve already had simulspace projectors installed all across this house, Hai-er, just so you can practice in your new synthsuit. It’s just like mine, only smaller. You have no idea how much it cost. Now, kiss Uncle Guan and tell him how much you…”

“No,” said Xu Hai.

Uncle Guan blinked. It was a slow, wet motion, like the sliding of a snail.

“Hai-er,” said Father. Don’t do this, Hai-er.

“I can’t,” said Xu Hai. “I’m sorry, Uncle Guan, but I can’t fight in the…”

A hand shot out, faster than she could almost see. She reached out to trap it, but it slipped straight past her grasp and struck her just beneath the neck, thrice, in a swift sideways triangle.

The Three-Point Flash-Fre-

Her meridians froze.

Her chi swelled like stagnant blood, threatening to burst her skin. Despite her agony, her muscles refused to move.

She choked, stiffened, and fell straight into the arms of her father.

“I’m sorry,” said Xu Deng. “My daughter doesn’t seem to be herself today. She must be ill.”

“That’s fine,” said Uncle Guan. “Bring her to me again when she’s feeling better, will you? She is very valuable, after all.”

“Of course, Big Brother,” said Xu Deng.

Paralyzed, barely able to breathe, Xu Hai watched as her father carried her out of the living room and up the stairs like a stiff sex-doll.