The Mark (Chi Warriors Book 1) Page 35

  They talked well into the night. Wong made fire puppets to entertain them.

  When morning came, they rode off again and by day’s end, they could see the outlines of mountains in the distance. As they continued on, signs of life sprang anew—a patch of grass here, a flowing plant there, all becoming more prevalent the closer to they got to the mountain.

  Soon another important detail came into focus: a brilliant white temple sitting atop a mountain. Its walls reflected the sunlight and served as a beacon. The sight of it not only gave them a bearing to travel to, but it also meant that their journey had finally come to an end.

  45

  BEN AND MAE beamed when they saw their son. Kai ran over to them gleefully, but did not collapse in tears as they had expected. Instead he embraced them fully, and though his eyes watered, he was for the most part composed.

  Something about him had changed; he was no longer the fragile boy they once knew. The change in his behavior was made even more apparent when he finally asked them if they were okay and had arrived at the temple without incident. He was asking them if they were okay. Mae wondered nervously about what Kai had been through that would have caused such a transformation, but was happy enough to be holding him in her arms again. As she embraced him she looked toward Wong thankfully, who did not say anything but smiled at their reunion.

  Grandmaster Tienkow appeared. His eyes flashed back and forth as he tried to decipher what had happened to them, when his gaze finally settled on Wong. He looked at him at length, surprised to see him still alive.

  Wong noted his reaction. “It’s a long story.”

  “And I shall like to hear it.”

  “Soon,” he nodded. “But first there’s the matter of a mark that needs removing.”

  “Fortunately, I have some experience with that.”

  Wong laughed.

  “It’s good to see you back in the temple again,” Tienkow said.

  “It’s good to be back,” he replied, though somewhat unconvincingly.

  The elder approached Li and leaned over to whisper, nudging him with his elbow. “Our wayward child has come home.”

  The two grinned in Wong’s direction.

  Wong shot them a look. “I’m going to assume you’re talking about Kai.”

  The elder refocused his attention on the boy.

  Mae finally let him go and turned him toward the grandmaster.

  “Master Tienkow, this is my son, Kai.”

  “Hello,” Kai said.

  Tienkow stooped and squinted. “Hello, little one. We’ve been waiting for you for quite some time.”

  BY INO LEE

  CHI WARRIORS

  The Mark (Book 1)

  Demon Hunters (Book 2)

  War (Book 3)

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