“Rise and shine,” WanSow said as she stepped up to his bed. “Time to get back to your training.”
Ying opened his eyes and faked a yawn, which wasn't all that difficult to do.
“You look exhausted,” WanSow said. “Perhaps you should sleep some more.”
“I'm fine,” Ying said. He sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed. He was fully dressed in his black silk robe and pants.
WanSow took a step back. “I see that you are all ready to go. I will meet you outside.”
“Wait,” Ying said. He stood and leaned toward her. “I want to show you something.”
WanSow took another step back. Ying was invading her personal space.
“Why don't you show me outside?” WanSow said. “There isn't much room in here.”
“It will only take a moment,” Ying said. He took a step forward.
WanSow took a third step back, and Ying heard her heel bump into the trunk at the foot of his bed. He lunged toward her, thrusting both of his palms into her shoulders.
WanSow wilted like a flower, her upper body absorbing much of the impact. However, her knee buckled against the trunk, and she toppled over.
WanSow looked up at Ying from the floor, a look of disgust on her face. “Tripping me over the trunk was not an honorable attack. A dragon would never have done that.”
“Not even a vengeful dragon?” Ying asked.
WanSow's eyes narrowed. “Your father gave you that name, not me.”
Ying shrugged. “It doesn't matter anymore. My name is Ying now.”
“So it is,” WanSow said. She pushed herself to her feet. “What is it you want to know, Ying?”
“Grandmaster had a collection of secret dragon scrolls that he stole from my father. One of them had a sketch of the human body on each side. Do you know anything about it?”
WanSow frowned. “You can ask me anything you'd like and the first thing you want to know about is a treasure map?”
“You do know about it,” Ying said.
“I do,” WanSow replied. “But what makes you think Grandmaster stole it and the other scrolls from your father?”
“I saw him do it. I might have only been a toddler, but I remember. He took them right after he killed my father.”
WanSow shook her head and sat down on Ying's bed. “You saw Grandmaster taking back what was rightfully his. Those scrolls had been in his family for many generations. Your father was the real thief. He'd stolen them from Grandmaster.”
“What?” Ying said. “You're lying.”
“Why would I lie about this?”
Ying didn't have an answer.
“Ying, what do you know about your father?”
“I … I don't know,” Ying said hesitantly. “Not much, I suppose.”
“Well, your father was not a nice man. In fact, he was a very bad man.”
Ying swallowed hard.
“Your father led a band of cutthroat thieves. They stole indiscriminately, often harming innocent people. Grandmaster had had enough of their deplorable actions. More than that, he'd had enough of his oldest son damaging the family's reputation—”
“Oldest son?” Ying interrupted. “What are you talking about?”
WanSow's large eyes widened. “Oh, my. You don't know, do you?”
“Know what?”
“The relationship between your father and Grandmaster?”
Ying shook his head. “Wait … you mean—”
WanSow lowered her head. “Grandmaster was your father's father. I'm sorry. I thought you knew. I'd always assumed Grandmaster would tell you.”
Ying sat on the bed next to his mother. He was beginning to feel dizzy. “So, Grandmaster was my … grandfather?”
WanSow laid a hand on his shoulder. “Yes. But you keep talking about Grandmaster in the past tense. Has something happened to him?”
“You haven't heard?” Ying asked.
“I don't hear much these days,” WanSow said. “We are quite a long way from Cangzhen, and I am no longer part of any network.”
“Grandmaster's dead,” Ying said.
“What happened?”
Ying looked away. “I killed him.”
WanSow lowered her head again. “Oh, dear.”
“If I had known he was my grandfather—” Ying began.
“What's done is done,” WanSow said, raising her head. “Past is past. All that matters now is what you do in the future.” She looked at him. “What is it you plan to do, Ying?”
Ying straightened. “I don't know now. I need to think about some things. I had planned to find the dragon scroll treasure.”