The younger man in a taoist robe picked up the two mats used by the two younger women and threw them out of the sanctum. Then he came back and announced to Alex Pearson: “Your turn, sir.”

  Alex Pearson took a deep breath and walked over: “Can I have three incense sticks?”

  “Oh?” The older man in a taoist robe frowned: “It’s a bit late, don’t you think?”

  “No, you misunderstood.” Alex Pearson shook his head then tilted his head at the two young women: “I want to collect the last bit of good karma I have - however much that is.”

  “I see.” The older man sighed, then took out a small pack from under the table and picked three for Alex Pearson.

  Alex Pearson lit up the three incense sticks, then held them with both hands, stood straight and bowed to the two young women before handing them back to the older man.

  “You know you stink, right?” The older man asked as he raised his peachwood sword.

  “Yeah.”

  “There’s no guarantee you’ll survive this, unlike them.”

  “Yeah.” Alex Pearson took another deep breath: “I’ve made my decision, and I’ll accept the consequences.”

  Eve Kim and Tanya Su exchanged looks. Neither of them knew exactly what they were referring to but they both had the same rough idea. This smuggler that transported them out of the city definitely was no stand up citizen. The only things good about him were that his charge was reasonable and he had not done anything bad to them, not yet at least.

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  “The just and loving heavens, the righteous and stern hells. The fruit is ripened; the bird is grown; the rain is gone; the fawn is ready to live. New start, new end, new life and new death. Be at peace and burden no more. Be gone. Let go.” It was the same chant, yet when it was applied to himself, the words became heavier and lower in tone to Alex Pearson.

  Eve Kim and Tanya Su sat by the foot of the wall, watching the ritual and wiping the sweat off their faces and shoulders. Their legs were still sore and the muscles on their extremities were still powerless as if they were drugged. Smoke rose from the head, shoulders and the back of the man who brought them here. It looked just like a normal ritual at first, until Tanya Su noticed the abnormal movement of the smoke - when coming from the man’s lower back, the smoke appeared to move around something - an invisible pole-like object, coming out of his back and going upwards at the sky.

  “The warlords in heaven. Bless this blade.” The older mon raised his peach wood sword higher as he chanted a new verse: “Tai Shang Lao Jun, Daode Tianzun, we as your student ask for your assistance in this ritual. ”

  Both men in taoist robes raised their non-sword-wielding hands and threw a handful of brown dust at the space above the man. Not a grain of the dust fell below the man’s shoulders. Instead, all the grains were pulled to the same invisible pole-like object protruding from Alex Pearson’s back, rendering it visible and its shape more apparent.

  It was a chain, coming directly from the middle section of his back and going upward. Neither Eve Kim nor Tanya Su could tell where it led or to what it was connected.

  The younger man in a taoist robe gasped lightly, while the older one sighed.

  “This is not Poison City anymore. All the old, all that unwilling to let go, all that held on for too long and with too much obsession and grudge - ye shall BREAK!” The older man roared and leapt forward. His peach wood sword glowed in a bright orange light, leaving a trail of glowing arc as he swung it at the chain.

  “Clunk!” The same kind of metal cutting sound exploded, only less deafening to both Eve Kim and Tanya Su. Alex Pearson, on the other hand, grimaced and hissed while covering his ears with his hands.

  The chain was cut and burst into a puff of light green flames. It burned for less than a second before turning completely into smoke and ashes. The man sitting on a mat lost almost all of his strength and fell backwards. His head would have hit the ground if not for the younger man in a taoist robe.

  The older man’s peach wood sword smoked and burned, before crumbling into several charred pieces.

  “Okay, okay, you’re okay. You’re fine. You’ll be alright.” The younger man in a taoist robe pulled Alex Pearson to the foot of the wall near the door: “Deep breaths, deep breaths. And wipe your nose - you’re bleeding.”

  “Thank you - ” Alex Pearson gasped for air and brushed his nose with his right forearm, smearing blood all over his sleeve: “How long will this last?”

  “You’ll be able to walk in about an hour. But you still need to rest and avoid anything unclean for around a month.” The older man answered: “I’ll call someone to get you and bring you some congee and hot water. Remember to eat some fruit and drink more hot water when you find a place to stay. ”

  “Thank you sir.” Alex Pearson took a quick peek at the two young women, then nodded.