Table of Contents
The Serpent lies on the carpet, alone.
The city lights shine through the windows.
It raises its head and tastes things gone;
it drops its head and returns to the sea.
The Turtle raises its head from the water;
the lake stretches around it.
People point and talk, excited.
It goes to the bottom and settles in the mud.
CHAPTER 1
Leo and I sat on the mats across from each other in the Fragrant Lotus training room. His dark face was rigid with concentration as he held the chi on his outstretched hands.
I held one hand on his forearm, watching as the energy flowed through him. ‘Float it to the other hand.’
He lost it and it snapped back, hitting him in the middle of the chest. He bounced backwards but didn’t fall; then sagged, leaning on the floor. ‘This is so damn hard.’
‘That was a pathetically small amount of chi for anybody to generate, especially an Immortal,’ I said. ‘You ate meat, didn’t you?’
He didn’t reply but his face said it all.
‘Alcohol too?’ I said.
‘Not alcohol.’
I felt the answer through his arm. ‘Well, I’m glad you’ve forgiven him.’
He pulled his arm away. ‘That is none of your business and you’re not supposed to be able to do that.’
I didn’t pursue it. ‘You have a choice here, Leo. Either give up trying to do energy work or give up meat, alcohol and sex. You can’t do both.’
‘But I’m a Shen,’ he said, softly protesting.
‘Shiny new and green as grass,’ I said.
He grimaced.
The door flew open and my secretary, Chang, charged in and planted himself in front of us. ‘They’re taking away my job!’
Leo waved one hand and his wheelchair rolled to him. He pulled himself into it. ‘You salute your Master when you enter. Where is your respect?’
Chang fell to one knee and saluted me and Leo. ‘Lord. Lady.’ He rose and gestured impatiently. ‘They say I am no longer to serve you, ma’am. Stop them!’
Yi Hao came in, her expression desperate.