Feng Wen's PoV
After that evening the tension grew between me and my parents. I began to spend the majority of my time in my room, only coming out to retrieve my meals. Not like they would have left me alone anywhere else, I thought irritably as I threw on my jacket, my room dimly lit by my bedside lamp. That's why I've been driven to this point, sneaking out in the middle of the night to the most irregular places.
I knew that getting out of the house without notice was going to be difficult, especially since Lei Qiang's cronies had broken in. A scowl tugged at my lips as I softly opened my bedroom door. The sheer knowledge that his goons slunk around my home disgusts me.
"Feng Wen?" Hong Peng's pellucid tone called out from within a memory. "What are you doing?"
"I'm playing this artifact of a game, what does it look like I'm doing?" I had joked months ago within the comfort of my living room. It had been a much simpler time where my only worry was winning the tournament to face Prince. "Mom suggested that if I wanted to get better at fighting, I should play Mortal Kombat and take note of their signature moves. Apparently, that's where Prince gets a lot of his moves from!"
Hong Peng chuckled, "That's interesting. I wonder how she knows that?"
I grimaced. "Probably Dad, knowing my luck..."
Hong Peng flashed a warm, knowing smile as he sat beside me on the couch. "I wouldn't worry about it too much." He picked up the spare controller that sat on the coffee table, "but I do think you'll learn better if you spar with a friend!"
"Ha, like a weak priest can beat me! Bring it on!"
I stared at the garage door in front of me, lucky to not have attracted attention from anyone that might still be awake. I gently guided the door open and made my way inside. Not so weak after all, was he... I rubbed my right hand at the thought. My gaze fell on the transporter, the soft glow of its display the only source of light within the garage. Stop getting distracted, Feng Wen, I reminded myself as I walked forward. Remember where you're going. He isn't the only one you lost that day. I punched in the coordinates of my destination which was followed by the machine roaring back to life. Shit, I forgot it would be so loud! I bit my lip anxiously as the seconds it took to ready felt like hours. Please, please let no one have heard it... I prayed, hastily getting into the transporter. Upon entering, I was greeted by crisp air. My eyes adjusted to the new change in lighting and the scenery of my destination came into focus.
Cemeteries are somber enough during the daytime with pictures of the departed decorating the memorials and family shrines. In the dead of night when the only source of light is the moon and the distant city glow, it truly brings to life what "haunting" can mean. If I'm honest with myself, I'm not sure how I'll find Nan Gong Zui's grave. I kept a weary gait as I moved through the sea of headstones. My sense of direction is bad enough in the daytime when I'm aware of where I am. It's 1 am and I barely even remember being present when we were here a month ago. Nevertheless, I was determined to find it. Nan Gong Zui deserves so much more than I can give, for everything he did. The least I can do is properly show my appreciation for him.
Moonlight reflected off countless polished stones; each featuring the name of someone who lived a life of several ups and downs, trials, and triumphs that I would never know. I didn't really know Nan Gong Zui that well, truthfully. I took note of each name as I walked, pondering on each unknown story I passed, Mom and Dad knew him for a long time, though. Mom especially was close to him, as I recalled that Mom told me that Nan Gong Zui was an "old drinking buddy" from the "good old days". I know she doesn't want to admit it, but I think Nan Gong Zui's death has affected her more than she shows.
As I continued deeper into the cemetery, the Nan family name started to appear on some of the memorials. That's probably a good indication I'm getting close, I thought as I turned the corner to the next aisle of graves.
Crunch!
My heart fluttered and I froze. What was that? I listened, completely motionless. I could make out the faint rustle of footsteps in the grass up ahead. I'm not alone.
My mouth went dry, as my brain scrambled to think of what to do. Who else would be out here? Did someone from home follow me? As I considered the alternatives, I decided that hiding would be the best-case scenario. The footsteps stopped, marking that the individual had reached their destination. I became curious. Maybe they're not here for me?
I tiptoed towards the direction of the footsteps, careful to be as soundless as possible. The owner of the footsteps was much closer than I had thought, and I leapt behind a larger memorial to stay unnoticed. The individual appeared to be a strangely dressed man, judging by his tall stature and long black coat. Such attire was better suited for the mainland mountains than the mild winters of Taiwan. Even though the man's face wasn't visible from where I was crouched, the name on the grave was.
Born 13/02/2075
Died 26/12/2138
Nan Gong Zui
Buried 02/01/2139
I was as transfixed with the man as he was with Nan Gong Zui's grave, his body absolutely still. Then he spoke.
"Uh, hey, Nan Gong Zui."
My stomach went cold at the sound of that all too familiar voice, no... that's impossible...
"It's me, Hong Peng."
I watched in apprehension as Hong Peng continued, "I know I didn't know you that well. Or for that long, really... But I wanted to say sorry, and thank you. I'm sorry I wasn't able to come to your funeral." Hong Peng gave a sad chuckle. "I'm sure you understand why. That's why I came out here tonight because this would be my last chance to pay my respects to you." My chest tightened, last chance?
"Of course, I know it's my fault you're... " he gasped, "here in the first place. I... I think about it every day. I wish that I could change what happened, every day. With you, with my family... With Feng Wen." My breath became erratic. "But," he continued, "I know you died with honor, protecting the ones you loved. I wish I could be as courageous as you were— " His voice began to crack, "to even be half the man you were. So thank you— thank you for protecting them since I couldn't."
I ran out from behind the memorial.
"Hong Peng!"
"Feng Wen!?" He exclaimed, his head swiveling to face me. No wonder I didn't recognize it was him at first... I could now see his once short hair had grown out, which had now started to curl and wave like... his father... Now that I had met that bastard face to face, I understood why Arctic Fox saw the resemblance immediately.
The shock in his eyes was only second to the fear, an expression I had only seen once before, back at the villa. Neither of us moved, both waiting on the other to make the first move. I don't understand. A wave of nausea hit me. Why is he looking at me that way? I took a cautious step forward.
He bolted.
"Wait!" I cried out, but he didn't stop as he sprinted down the aisle. I quickly gave chase, "Hong Peng!"
He took a sharp left turn and I followed suit. Yet when I rounded the corner, he was nowhere to be found. I continued frantically looking around for any sign for him. "Please! I just want to talk!" I begged. As I searched, it became apparent that I was aimlessly wandering. I have no idea where he is... I looked around, the memorials now aged and indistinguishable from one another, or myself, for that matter.
The grass behind me rustled with movement, and my heart with it, "Hong Peng?"
Swoosh!
I dropped to my knees, narrowly avoiding the light sword aimed for my head. I rolled to the right as another strike came, this time downward in an attempt to cleave me in half. I scrambled to my feet and ducked behind a gravestone. A shower of sparks erupted as the blade hit the stone. The failed strike allowed me to put distance between me and the unknown assailant. It isn't Hong Peng, that's for sure, I admitted begrudgingly. Had it been him I'd been oblivious to my own death.
My chest ached with fatigue as I sprinted forward, my brain starting to feel fuzzy and disoriented. I didn't know if the footsteps that pursued me had multiplied or that it was just my imagination. In my daze, I missed my footing and fell forward into the cold dirt. With a start, I flipped around to find a group of six masked men brandishing light swords. This is bad...
"His Highness has been located, and the Báihǔ apprehended," one of the men relayed into his comm. His companions raised their sabers towards me. "We will proceed with termination of the target—"
"LIKE HELL YOU WILL!" A fierce voice called out.
The men turned around before they were met with the overwhelming glare of a flashbang. The blinding light was joined by its thunderous boom, disorienting my senses. The smell of singed grass accompanied the hot gust of air from the explosion. My sight quickly returned, albeit impaired by the aftereffects of the stun grenade. I was greeted with the blurry image of my mother rushing towards me, still in her pink pajamas. Kenshin followed her, preoccupied with the remainder of Lei Qiang's thugs.
Her mouth moved with urgency. Yet I was unable to hear due to the ringing in my ears. She grabbed my arm and jerked it upwards, motioning for me to get to my feet. Clumsily I stood up, my instability causing me to stagger and cling to her for support. With every small wobble, the Earth's rotation seemed to intensify. Eventually, I stumbled— taking both of us to the ground with a muffled thud.
Huh. I shakily lifted myself onto all fours, the nausea from earlier now tenfold. I wonder if this is what it's like to be drunk. A drunk Zhi Sano's pained expression flitted through my mind. I started to retch.
"Feng Wen!" Mom's voice broke through, though distorted and muffled. "Are you okay!? Please, honey, say something! Anything!" She begged.
Once I finished emptying the contents of my stomach, I let out a shaky cough. "I'm never going to get drunk, that's for damn sure," I remarked half-jokingly. Mom let out a cry of relief and grappled me into her embrace. I returned her hold in the surreal moment.
"Prince," Kenshin said. We both turned to face our inscrutable housekeeper. "We are safe for now, but we should not stay for long."
Mom let out a sniffle as she pulled herself together, "You're right, Kenshin. I'm sure Lei Qiang will send reinforcements to look for Feng Wen."
Kenshin glanced around for a moment, "I do not believe they came here for Feng Wen."
Hong Peng. My stomach knotted.
"What?" Mom asked in disbelief. "Why would they come to a graveyard, of all places?"
I recalled the haunting words, "His Highness has been located." My gaze drifted to the ground as the knot settled into my throat. Why was he here?
Mom's voice seemed so distant, "Feng Wen, why are you trembling?"
Why did he leave? I opened my mouth to reply, yet I could only muster a rattled breath. My eyes welled up.
"Answer me!" She demanded.
"Why was he afraid of me?" I sobbed. I turned to Mom, "Why did it have to be him?"
She titled her head, appearing confused. "Him?" Her eyes suddenly grew wide. "Feng Wen, are you saying Hong Peng was here!?"
Hesitantly, I nodded. Why does this hurt so much?