The Disappearing Disciple
Euden: Hraaah!
Ku Hai: Hah!
Fiend: Graaah!
Euden: All right! There's just one fiend left in the village!
Ku Hai: I don't see it. Where could it be?
Girl: Whiskers just ran outside! Come back, Whiskers!
Mother: No! Get back here!
Fiend: GRAAAAGH!
Girl and Her Mother: EEEEEEK!
Euden: It's over there! Watch out!
Ku Hai: The distance is too great to cover on foot. This is a gamble, but... Haaah!
Fiend: Graaagh!
Euden: It stopped moving!
Ku Hai: If one can control the flow of air itself, any foe is but a rock. Now fall! Haaah!
Fiend: Graaaagh...
Euden: Nicely done, Ku Hai! Was that chi kung?
Ku Hai: Indeed. It is a binding technique in which one releases their chi to immobilize a distant opponent. My command of it is somewhat shaky, so I usually refrain from using it. I am pleased it turned out well.
Mother: Oh, thank you so much!
Girl: And Whiskers is fine! Yaaay!
Ku Hai: I am relieved to hear that.
Girl: You're pretty great, mister. You're like that traveling man we met!
Ku Hai: You met someone else who can wield that technique?!
Girl: Yeah. Whiskers runs away a lot, see? And one time, this man said "HAH!" like you just did, and she froze in place so I could run over and pick her up.
Ku Hai: Tell me more about him! TELL ME!
Girl: Y-you're scaring me, mister!
Euden: Calm down, Ku Hai.
Ku Hai: ...My apologies. I should not have lost my composure in such a manner.
Mother: A while back, a traveling swordsman came to stay with us. In return for room and board, he worked the fields and looked after my daughter.
Ku Hai: What was his name? And do you know where he was headed next?
Mother: Oh dear. It was three years ago, so I'm not sure if... Oh! Your sword! He had one just like it!
Ku Hai: By the heavens... That was Haoran!
Euden: Someone you know, I take it?
Girl: He was super nice to us, just like you! ...Well, except when you get all yell-y.
Ku Hai: Thank you for telling me this. Where could he have gone...?
Euden: Can I ask you something, Ku Hai?
Ku Hai: Is it about this afternoon?
Euden: Yes. I've never seen you lose composure like that, and it got me wondering about that Haoran fellow you mentioned.
Ku Hai: He was a student at the dojo in Peng Lai, and a fellow disciple of Master Xuan. He was more skilled at releasing his chi, while I excelled at using it to strengthen my body. Our skills became a natural complement to each other.
Euden: Releasing chi was what you did earlier, right? Is that how you knew the girl was referring to him?
Ku Hai: That, plus the fact he had a sword the same as mine. Such weaponry is given only to those who attended my dojo.
Euden: So why are you searching for this man? Judging by your reaction when you heard about him, I'm guessing it's nothing good.
Ku Hai: Do you remember when I told you that my master had passed away? He did not suffer a natural death. He was murdered...by Haoran.
Euden: What?!
Ku Hai: One day, several years ago, I left the dojo to attend to some other business. The next day, I returned to find my master's lifeless body. His wounds were clearly the work of Haoran's skilled swordsmanship, but I have not seen him since. After that, I turned my back on my homeland and struck out on a journey. This was partially to inherit my deceased master's will, but in truth, I also wanted to track down Haoran.
Euden: And what will you do when you find him? Do you plan to avenge your master?
Ku Hai: Haoran respected our master more than anyone else. I do not understand why he would kill him, so I plan to ask and find out.
Euden: Then let me help you find him.
Ku Hai: No. This is my own matter, and I will not trouble you with it.
Euden: But the more people searching, the better the chance of finding him. Besides, the problems of my friends are my problems too. I can't just ignore them.
Ku Hai: I cannot believe you would go so far to aid a simple wanderer such as me. But as you seem bent upon it, I will accept your kind offer.
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