Lung

My fist sailed through empty air as the creep sidestepped. The room kept spinning, multiplying him into four identical creeps.

"UGH! I'll jus' rough up ALL of you!" I grabbed a nearby chair and hurled it. He deflected it with a casual wave of his hand, sending it crashing into the wall.

"Such barbaric behavior." His voice stayed irritatingly level. "As expected from someone of your... caliber"

"Caliber? I'll show ya caliber!" I lunged forward, using a table as a springboard. My punch whooshed past his head as he leaned back, barely disturbing his perfect posture.

"As one of the Dragon's Eyes, I cannot allow such disorder in our city."

"Dragon's what now?" I snatched up a bottle, squinting as all four of him merged into two. "That supposed to mean somethin'?"

"It means," he caught my wrist before I could throw the bottle, "that I am responsible for the city's safety."

"Yeah? Well yer doin' a shit job!" I headbutted him, immediately regretting it as stars exploded behind my eyes.

But that didn't stop me from I launching myself forward, fists ready to turn this pompous ass into paste. My right hook sailed toward his jaw before a hand caught my wrist. I whirled around, ready to deck who dared stop me, but froze when I saw Qing Qing's face. Her eyes were downcast, shoulders slumped.

"What the hell? Let go!"

Her grip tightened, but her voice came out small. "Please... no more."

Something in her tone made me really look at her face. Her eyes glistened, not with anger but sadness.

Fang finally stepped forward. "Thank you, Qing Qing. Your consideration for public order is admirable." He placed a hand on her shoulder. "As expected of my betrothed."

Huh? Betrothed?

"Get your hands off her!" I shrugged Qing Qing away before connecting my fist with Fang's jaw in an uppercut.

His head snapped back. The punch echoed through the bar as he staggered, his perfect posture cracking for just a second. Blood trickled from his split lip.

I pulled back for another swing, riding the high of that hit, but my foot caught in the stupid borrowed hanfu. The long hem tangled around my legs as I pitched forward. The last thing I saw was Fang dabbing at his nose with an embroidered handkerchief, looking annoyed. Then everything went black.

***

I cracked open one eye, wincing at the harsh light. Some bureaucrat in a pressed uniform sat across from me, reading from a tablet with the most punchable face I'd ever seen.

"Destruction of private property at the Golden Dragon Bar, estimated damages: thirty thousand feng."

Like that fancy ass place needs more gold trim anyway.

"Public intoxication and consumption of alcohol by a minor."

Hey, Qing Qing bought those drinks! Buuut I probably shouldn't mention that.

"And assaulting Dragon's Eye officer Fang."

A grin spread across my face. Worth every second of watching that perfect nose crunch.

The interrogator adjusted his wire-rim glasses before peering at me. "Given the severity of these offenses against both civil order and Feilong Corps, you're looking at a minimum sentence of twenty-five years."

"Twenty-five-!" I lunged forward, chains rattling as they caught me inches from his face. 

"Nice try. But those restraints are rated for-"

A crackle from his earpiece cut him off. His face went white.

"Now? But the prisoner-"

The thundering of boots filled the hallway outside. I caught snippets of shouts and what sounded like a group of people scrambling away from something.

The door burst open with enough force to rattle my chains. A man stepped in like some ancient emperor who'd wandered out of a history book and into this interrogation room, his layered brown and white robes sweeping the floor.

My heart skipped when I spotted what he carried. In one hand, a miniature wooden pagoda. In the other-

"Peng!" I yanked against the chains, nearly toppling the table. The stupid penguin sat in his palm.

"Let him go, you bastard!"

The corner of the man's mouth twitched upward, like my attempted assault amused him. His single jade eye studied me with barely any interest.

"How dare you show such disrespect!" The interrogator rose from his chair. "Apologize to Master Lung immediately or-"

"You may leave us." The man - Lung apparently - waved him off without even looking his way.

"But sir-"

"You are dismissed."

The interrogator's mouth snapped shut. He bowed so low I swear his forehead scraped the floor, then scurried out.

Lung set Peng and the pagoda on the table with deliberate care before taking a seat. His movements were precise, like every gesture choreographed decades ago.

"Well then. Shall we discuss your rather spectacular debut in my city?"

"Depends. Ya gonna give me back my penguin or what?"

"I don't believe you're in a position to make demands. Or perhaps you haven't noticed who's wearing the chains?"

A growl rumbled in my throat. "What do you want then?"

"Qing Qing tells me you single-handedly decimated an army of Black Legs." Lung traced the edge of his pagoda with one finger. "A feat typically reserved for my Dragon's Eyes."

"Qing Qing?" The name sparked fresh anger in my chest. "Why's she hanging around with your stuck-up asshole and that creep? She deserves better than-"

"Need I remind you," Lung cut in, "which of us is currently in chains?"

"Tch." I kicked the table leg, making Peng wobble.

Lung leaned forward, folding his hands under his chin. "Now then, about those Black Legs-"

"Not talking. Go interrogate someone who cares."

"Fascinating. Most people show more... humbleness when faced with their own imprisonment."

"Yeah? Well I'm not most people" I slouched further into my chair, chains jingling.

"How about a compromise then?"

My head snapped back at his words. "What kind of compromise?"

"Simple. What is it you want?"

The answer burned in my throat. Inorin.

"I'm searching for someone," I said carefully, watching his reaction.

"Oh?" Would this someone happen to be from a group of thirteen?"

"How the fuck do you-"

"Language." He tsked. "Though I suppose proper etiquette is too much to expect from someone who punched one of my Dragon's Eyes."

Then it clicked.

"You're one of them, aren't you? A Heavenly General?"

A low chuckle filled the room. Lung rose from his chair, the ends of his robes brushing against the floor as he gave an elaborate bow.

"My apologies for the late introduction. I am Lung, General of the Second Heavenly Realm. And you, my dear, have stumbled into my domain."