27. Sapphire Summit
Chapter twenty-seven
Sapphire Summit
Lei
Two decades ago, my dad created Sapphire Summit up on Mount Utopia. It was a long-term camp, sprawled across the summit and accommodating over sixty people.
In the center was a vast square, marked by a monumental statue of him cast in bronze. There, he stood as some egotistical sentinel over the camp. Well-defined paths radiated out from this center, paved with smooth river stones and lined with paper lanterns that would be lit at night.
Each of the sixty tents were grand structures of royal blue canvas stretched over sturdy bamboo frames. At every entrance, gold lines glimmered against the blue fabric. Opulent quilts, sumptuous furs, and silk draperies lay inside the tents.
I can’t believe I’m back here, and. . .to practice to fight my father.
Once we made it to Mount Utopia, it had been a nonstop routine to practice maintaining physical and mental prowess while I fought my father.
Chen took me on a fifteen-minute jog. We jumped rope for several minutes after that. Once done, it was back to strength training—push-ups, squats, planks, and pull-ups.
Finally, Chen allowed me to eat breakfast. Instead of my usual morning meal of oolong tea, shrimp dumplings, and a large bowl of congee topped with black mushrooms and a splash of sesame oil, I ate scrambled tofu on whole grain toast with a banana smoothie.
I sneered the whole time.
Meanwhile, Chen reminded me that I needed a breakfast rich in protein and complex carbohydrates to provide sustained energy throughout my training sessions. And I explained that, while I was getting ready to battle my father. . .I may be beating him up too.
Chen ignored my comment and after breakfast, I worked on flexibility and balance. This meant yoga, leg stretches, and balance drills.
Then, it was all technique practice—shadow boxing and even some bag work.
Now the afternoon had arrived.
Chen guided me along the perimeter of the camp. “Are you ready to fight?”
“I’m excited to punch many.” I munched on a protein bar. “Is Monique here yet?”
“I told you that I would tell you as soon as Duck brought her.”
“They are late.”
We passed the camp’s meditation zone, marked by a ring of ancient, gnarled pines that whispered serenity.
Chen glanced at his watch. “I will check again.”
“Make sure Duck gives you an update.”
“I have been on it, Mountain Master.”
“Meaning?”
“I already have been trying to get in contact with Duck and have not been successful yet—”
“What?” I stopped and glared at him. “Duck has not answered the phone all this time?”
“I already sent men to the hotel. All will be fine.” Chen gestured for me to continue walking and headed off.
“Find out where they are,” I spoke through clenched teeth. “Now.”
“Your training is more important.” Chen pointed to the wide sparring area. It was already crowded with men waiting for me. That massive area was the main reason why my father had started the camp. Here, all Four Aces honed their skills amidst the cloud-kissed peaks.
“You go up.” Chen pulled out his phone. “I will meet you there. Phone reception is better here.”
“Make sure you have an update for me soon.” I knew that Duck and Monique would be fine. God had already shattered my heart enough this year. There was no way harm had come to her or my cousin.
Therefore, that left another option.
Where the hell did Duck take her? Is he showing off again, like with the damn meatball?
The sun warmed my bare skin as I got to the sparring area.
A gust of wind ruffled my hair.
Then, I glanced over my shoulder and spotted Chen. He must have walked off in the other direction because he was now over forty feet away, yelling into his phone and pacing back and forth.
I gritted my teeth.
Whatever had happened with Duck and Monique, I wouldn’t be happy about it.
I made it to the first makeshift ring. It was an expanse of dirt surrounded by a circle made from large rocks.
“Good afternoon, Mountain Master.” Hu stepped to the center of the ring.
Usually my Straw Sandal ’s job was solely my top security officer. Today, his job shifted to cruel sparring trainer. Hu’s orange and black striped AK-47 lay next to his shoes, outside of the rock circle.
Amusement covered his face. “How was your morning, Mountain Master?”
“Annoying and aggravating.” I frowned and crossed my arms over my chest.
“Unfortunately for you. . .” Hu gestured for men to enter the rock circle. “I do not plan to ease your day.”
“Good.” I flexed my fingers in and out. “I’m just hoping you will be in the ring a few times too.”
Hu grinned. “Are you saying that you would like to hit me today?”
“Those neck exercises were ridiculous in the van this morning. Due to that, I plan to do more than hit you.”
Hu chuckled. “You weren’t focused in the van so I had to wake you up.”
“I was focused.”
“There is a certain new beauty that has your mind distracted.”
I glanced back at Chen who was still screaming into his phone. Meanwhile, his jacket was now unbuttoned and flapping back and forth as he paced, telling me that he was at the highest level of aggravated.
What the hell did Duck do?
I returned my view to Hu. “I’m not distracted.”
He shook his head. “We will see.”
Ten men entered the rock circle, ready to fight me at once.
I unfolded my arms and cracked my neck.
My heart raced with excitement.
Hu clapped. “Time for some fun.”
The first man charged at me, but I easily moved to the left, dodged his attack, and landed a powerful punch to his gut. He stumbled back, dropped to his knees, and gasped for air.
Fast, I moved on to three men, surrounding me and wildly swinging their fists in every direction. I took hits in the back, sidestepped the punches on my side, and punched the first one so hard in the face that he crashed to the ground.
The second and third men came at me with renewed aggression, but I was too fast for them. I ducked under the second man’s right hook, delivered a sweeping kick to his feet, and knocked him off balance. Before he could recover, I slammed my elbow into his neck, and he crumpled to the ground.
The third man was tougher, though, and he managed to land a solid punch to my jaw.
But I didn’t even flinch.
Instead, I countered with a swift kick to his abdomen that sent him reeling.
I moved onto the next set of men, effortlessly taking them down one by one. Just like my father had taught me. My movements were fluid and calculated.
More men rushed my way.
Sweat dripped down my face as I fought, my muscles burning with exertion. But I pushed through the pain, feeling a surge of adrenaline as I knocked the final two men to the ground.
Several Four Aces standing outside of the circle cheered and urged me on.
“Get out of here.” Hu waved at the injured guys on the ground and pointed to another group. “Alright. We are done. Next.”
I blinked. “More?”
“Uncle Leo could have got rid of these guys in half a minute.”
I rolled my eyes. “Bullshit. He is not superman.”
“Next.” Hu clapped his hands.
Groaning in annoyance, I wiped sweat off my forehead and prepared for this new group.
They hurried in and began circling me like ravenous wolves. Their weapons of choice gleamed under the midday sun. Five of them held hard wooden sticks, their knuckles white from the strength of their grip. The other five gripped thick whips.
I frowned. “Are you fucking kidding me?”
“Practice is practice, Mountain Master.”
I tightened my fists.
Hu raised his hands, signaling for them to attack me.
Without hesitation, the men lunged forward. The sound of their sticks and whips cut through the air.
Grunting, I dodged their attacks, spinning around them with ease. One of them managed to land a painful hit on my left arm, but I ignored the ache and kept fighting.
Another lunged at me with his stick. His face was twisted into a snarl.
My reflexes kicked in as I sidestepped his blow, grasping his wrist and using his momentum to hurl him to the ground. His body skidded across the dirt and stirred up a cloud of dust.
“Good job.” Hu clapped. “When one against many, never remain stationary.”
I stayed in constant motion, ducking and rolling, my eyes never fixed on a single opponent. I darted between them like a swift current, striking quick, hard, and retreating before they could regroup.
This is ridiculous. Hu and Chen will end up killing me before my father gets a chance.
On my right, the crack of a whip split the air. I pivoted, caught the tail end of the whip, and yanked the man forward. He shrieked as my fist connected with his jaw. He crashed to the ground.
Someone slammed me in the side with a stick.
“Remember, Lei!” Hu yelled. “A crowd is both shield and sword. Make use of it.”
Exhausted, I pushed one assailant into the path of another’s swinging stick.
The man crumpled.
The cheers of my men echoed through the mountain peaks.
Chen’s voice carried on the wind. “Damn it, Duck! Did you really?! Are you insane?!”
Wait. What?
I looked Chen’s way.
Someone slammed me in the leg with a stick, making me buckle in pain.
Fuck!
Next, a whip curled around my neck and yanked me to the ground.
Ah!
I choked on my breath and grasped at the whip with both hands.
Hu called out, “Your mind is as much a weapon as your fists and feet. Stay focused, Lei.”
But I couldn’t stay focused.
My mind was racing with thoughts of Duck and Moni.
My grip tightened on the whip around my neck as I struggled to get back on my feet. The few remaining men with sticks and whips continued their assault, their attacks growing more vicious by the second.
Goddamn it!
I focused on my breathing and blocked out all the noise around me. Once my mind cleared, a surge of power came.
Surely, the men with the sticks and whips hesitated, sensing the shift in my energy.
I stood up, unraveling and tearing the whip away from my neck with a fierce jerk.
In an instant, I charged forward and took them all down, one by one, with a flurry of punches and kicks.
When the last man fell to the ground, I stood there panting. Sweat poured down my body.
I checked Chen again.
He was off the phone now and giving orders to four men in front of him.
What’s going on?
Hu called out, “Alright. Next group.”
I snapped my view to Hu. “Next group? That is quiet enough.”
“Practice makes perfect.”
I spotted another wave of challengers stepping into the circle. These men bore weapons of steel— gleaming knives and swords that cut through the air with a menacing hiss.
I raised my hands. “Enough, Hu. I am more than prepared.”
“You will be fighting Uncle Leo with weapons.” Hu signaled them to go ahead. “Now, understand that against blades, distance is your ally.”
“No shit.” I gritted and wiped more sweat off me.
The first swordsman lunged at me, his blade cutting through the air in a swift arc.
My body instinctively twisted to the side and barely evaded his attack. Not missing a beat, I used the same momentum to deliver a roundhouse kick to his head.
He collapsed, unconscious before he even hit the ground.
My men roared in approval.
I grabbed his sword off the ground and faced the others.
Hu waved his hands. “Put the sword down, Lei. This is practice.”
“If I knocked my father’s sword out of his hand, I would pick it up and—”
“You will never knock a sword out of Uncle Leo’s hand.” Hu pointed to the ground. “Go ahead.”
Grumbling, I slung the sword to the side.
Two swordsmen advanced in unison. Their blades gleamed in the sunlight.
I backpedaled, maintaining the distance.
Hu bobbed his head. “Draw them forward and have a plan.”
Suddenly, the session’s intensity was cut by a harsh and rhythmic hip-hop beat. Hard-hitting lyrics rode the bass, although I couldn’t catch a word of what the artist was saying.
Huh?
The sword fighters in front of me turned their gazes toward the sound.
Hu whistled. “Let’s take a break.”
“Yeah.” I changed my direction and headed away from the sparring area. “Who the hell could this be?”
As I walked away from the circle, the beat of the music grew louder and more distinct. It wasn’t until I got closer to the source that I recognized the voice of the rapper.
Is that Tupac?
Soon the vehicle appeared. Dust kicked up around the sleek blue car. Bass reverberated, as it roared up the mountain road.
We all watched the approaching vehicle.
The music continued to grow louder.
Chen stopped ordering his men and shook his head.
I got to him and stopped on his side. “What the fuck is going on?”
Chen sighed. “A lot.”
“Do you have any idea who this is?”
“I’m pretty sure that is Yong driving the car.”
“Why the fuck is our little cousin heading here?” I held out my hands. “He chose to wear a holy cross instead of wield a gun.”
“So. . .” Tension gathered around Chen’s eyes. “Rowe Street Mob was at the hotel today.”
All calm left me. “What?”
“Duck and the rest of our men got into a. . .fight in the lobby.”
Rage boiled through me. “And Monique? Is she safe?”
“In the middle of my phone call with Duck, my father called and notified me that he would be bringing Monique to the camp.”
I let out a long breath. “Goddamn it, Duck.”
In front of us, the blue car screeched to a halt.
Its engine hummed.
The music dialed down.
Uncle Song casually emerged from the passenger side. Bobbing his head to the Tupac song, he chuckled to himself, walked to the back of the vehicle, and opened the door.
My heart twisted as Monique stepped out, dressed in a blue outfit that hugged every curve on her body.
Lust swirled around the rage rising in my chest.
The sight of her standing there, so out of place yet so incredibly captivating, made the world around me blur.
Every instinct screamed at me to stay, to ready myself for a potential fight. But the sight of her, the vulnerability in her eyes, drew me in like a moth to a flame. I felt a powerful swell of protectiveness, coupled with a rush of romantic longing I had been struggling to understand, let alone control.
“Chen.” I did my best to keep my voice down. “When Duck arrives, have him meet me in the sparring area.”
Chen cleared his throat. “I could talk to him for you and fix this—”
“Have Duck meet me in the sparring area when he arrives.”
“Yes, Mountain Master.”
I headed off to Monique.