Malao looked at Seh. “Mong? Is he talking about the bandit leader? How does he know about the bandits?”
“I don't know,” Seh replied.
Tsung grinned at Malao. “So, you've heard of Mong? Don't you find it a strange coincidence that he has a Cantonese animal name, just like some of your brothers from Cangzhen? What was the name you mentioned a moment ago? Was it ‘Fu’? Tell me, little one, what's your name?”
Seh looked at Malao. “Don't answer him. I don't trust him.”
“You don't trust me?” Tsung said. “But you are from Cangzhen and I am from Shaolin. We are practically brothers.”
Seh didn't respond.
“Would it change your mind if you knew that I saved your sister's life?” Tsung asked.
Malao's eyes widened. He stared closely at Tsung and noticed a wound on one side of Tsung's face. It looked like a large bird had tried to peck his eye out.
“Hok!” Malao whispered to Seh. “He means Hok!”
“I know,” Seh replied. “I see his face.”
Malao punched Seh in the arm. “But he said our sister!”
“My ears work fine, too,” Seh said. “You know how pale and delicate Hok looks. He's just jumping to conclusions.”
Tsung grinned at Seh. “Am I?”
“Yes,” Seh said, looking sideways. “What happened to your face?”
Tsung rubbed the spot next to his eye. “Hok and I had a little … misunderstanding.”
“A misunderstanding?” Seh said. “Tell me what you know about Hok!”
“I know that she has a Cantonese name and fights like a crane,” Tsung said. “She arrived here on horseback before the attack, badly injured. She spent most of her time sleeping.” He paused. “She talks in her sleep, you know. I believe she mentioned you once or twice.”
Malao saw Seh's eyes narrow to slits.
“He's telling the truth, isn't he!” Malao said. He punched Seh again. “How long have you known that Hok is a girl?”
“I don't have time for gossip right now.”
“Gossip?!” Malao said. “I can't believe you! How come you never told me?”
“It was none of your business,” Seh replied.
“None of my business!” Malao said. “What else do you know that's ‘none of my business’?”
“That's enough!” Seh hissed. “We'll talk about this later.” He glared up at Tsung. “You said you saved Hok. Where is she now?”
“I wish I knew,” Tsung replied. “Even in her condition, she fought bravely during the attack. She managed to escape, but she was in very, very bad shape. I've been looking for her ever since. Unfortunately, I'm afraid she may have crawled into a hollow tree somewhere and … well … just never crawled back out. When I say that I'm the only monk to have escaped the attack alive, I am obviously not counting her. I've given up hope of finding her among the living.”
“What?” Malao said.
Seh seemed unconvinced. “Why should we believe you?” he asked.
“Because I've given you no reason to doubt me,” Tsung said. He looked at Malao and purred, “You believe me, don't you, little one?”
Malao paused and scratched his head. Something about Tsung's tone of voice suddenly seemed different.
“I'm sorry I keep calling you ‘little one,’” Tsung said. “I hope that doesn't offend you. If you would simply tell me your name …”
Malao twitched. He realized Tsung was talking to him in the same tone the bandit Hung had, right before Hung turned on him.
Malao covered his mouth with one hand and whispered to Seh, “I think we should get out of here—”
Tsung sprang out of the tree and slammed into Malao's chest. Malao found himself pinned to the ground with Tsung sitting on his midsection. Tsung grabbed the front of Malao's robe with one hand and formed a perfect leopard fist with the other. He brought his straightened fingers together and curled them down and in at the first two knuckles. Tsung cocked the fist back as Malao wiggled and squirmed.
Seh spun around and lashed out at Tsung's head with a powerful roundhouse kick. Malao's eyes widened when he saw Tsung duck the kick with plenty of time to spare.
Nobody is that fast, Malao thought.
Seh followed up with a lightning-quick side-kick. Again, Tsung dodged it easily. Only this time he twisted to one side and Malao's robe was yanked open. The two dragon scrolls Malao carried fell to the ground, along with the decorated stick.
“What's this?” Tsung said.
Malao reached for one scroll while Seh dove for the other.
In a series of movements so fast Malao barely saw them, Tsung snatched up both scrolls and raced back up the tree. Malao was left with nothing but a handful of dirt. Seh held nothing but air.