"What do you mean you're from 300 years ago?" Xiao Yun questioned Kang.
"You think this is a sci-fi sim or something?" Lena smirked.
Kang didn't know what a sci-fi sim was, but from his point of view, he really was in a sci-fi world.
"See? I told you so. You wouldn't believe it!" Kang sighed.
"That's because it's so fragging unbelievable!"
Lena slammed the table. In response, Kang just shrugged.
"Not my fault. You asked for the truth, you got it. Whether or not you believe it is not my concern."
Seeing his indifferent attitude, Lena could only give up.
"Okay then, what about the made-up lie?" she asked, half amused.
"I'm from a branch of the Hidden Tiger Dojo in Neo Europe, founded a hundred years ago by a wandering disciple who settled there..." Kang said, completely making things up as he went. "And I came here to find the original dojo and learn more advanced techniques. How's that sound?"
Lena and Xiao Yun looked at each other. That explanation actually lined up perfectly with their first guess. And to be honest, it sounded far more believable than his supposed "truth."
Xiao Yun suddenly stood up.
"Wait here for a minute."
Then she hurried off, leaving Lena alone with Kang.
The room fell into an awkward silence. Lena took the chance to study him more closely. He had black hair and dark eyes, his hair trimmed short in a clean undercut with a single thin braid hanging behind his right ear, something that gave him a distinct, almost old-fashioned look. His body was lean but well-toned, balanced like that of a seasoned fighter.
Well, from what she'd seen, he was definitely a seasoned fighter. Stronger than her, even with her cybernetic legs. Lena could feel her heart beating faster every time she looked at him. She couldn't help it, she had a weakness for strong men, as long as they were good-looking too. And the fact that he was a purist, with no augmentations at all, only made him more attractive.
He wouldn't be interested in a Razorgirl like her, though. Lena sighed quietly. She knew she was attractive with a figure and face that could rival Xiao Yun's, but her chrome legs always ruined things when it came to men. Even that idiot Dick John had mocked her for them. Not that she'd ever wanted that drek's attention, but still... she wasn't ashamed of her legs, yet she couldn't stop that small tinge of sadness whenever she thought about them.
Damn it, that reminded her... After such a heated fight, her legs were definitely going to act up tonight. The thought made her grimace. What should she do when that happens?
Lena glanced at Kang again, her cheeks reddened as a bold idea began to form in her mind.
With the sound of approaching footsteps, Xiao Yun returned. She was slightly out of breath, probably from running too fast. Seeing that, Kang frowned.
Note to self - Increase Xiao Yun's stamina training.
She sat down and carefully placed what she had been holding on the table. It was an old scroll, something that looked completely out of place in this high-tech era, yet somehow felt perfectly at home in this ancient temple.
Kang's heart clenched the moment he saw it. He knew exactly what it was.
The Liu Family Scroll of Genealogy.
Xiao Yun watched his expression closely. She could tell the instant recognition in his eyes—he knew what this was, and that alone told her a lot.
"Liu Kang, right?" She asked quietly. "Is it the 'Kang' written as in 'steel'?"
He nodded, unable to calm the pounding in his chest.
"If what you said is true," Xiao Yun continued, "then your name should be recorded in this scroll. And that's not something anyone can fake. The scroll is always kept by the Liu family's successor. Outsiders don't even know it exists, let alone get to see it."
She spoke while keeping her eyes fixed on Kang's face. He clearly recognized the scroll, which made his story sound more believable now. But then... why did he look so troubled?
Kang finally looked back at her, swallowing hard. His voice came out faint and heavy.
"That... I'm not sure about that."
Lena blinked, taken aback. She had actually started to believe his wild story, so she didn't expect that answer. Xiao Yun looked just as confused.
"You see," Kang said slowly, his tone distant, "I know about this scroll. But as for whether my name is in it or not... I'm not really a member of the Liu bloodline."
Both girls froze.
"What?!" they shouted in unison.
Kang gave a small, bitter smile.
"I'm an orphan. My master adopted me from an orphanage and gave me the family name Liu."
That's why the moment he heard about the Orphans gang, he had felt nostalgic. Simply because he used to be one too, an orphan.
"He treated me like his own son. Everyone in his family also accepted me as their family, and I thought of them as mine too. But I'm not of Liu blood... and that's why..."
His voice trailed off, trembling slightly. He looked at the scroll lying before him, his eyes filled with a mix of longing and fear. How he wished his name would be written inside, forever tied to the family he cherished. But he was afraid, too afraid to find out. Because if it wasn't there, then the family he had always believed he belonged to might have never truly accepted him. In the end, he would still be nothing more than an outsider.
The two girls stared at him, unable to believe how such a strong, confident man could suddenly look so fragile, like a lost boy. Then Lena reached out, took the scroll, and handed it to Xiao Yun.
"You know what? I don't really care whether your story is true or not. You helped us, you saved Yunyun's life. That's enough for me. You're one of us now!"
Kang looked at her with mixed emotions but said nothing.
"You're right. This is meaningless. Sorry for bringing it up…"
Xiao Yun murmured as she started to rise, wanting to end the matter there. But Kang stopped her.
"We do not run away from our fear," he said quietly, meeting her eyes.
"...we confront it!" Xiao Yun whispered back.
"What are you two talking about?" Lena asked, utterly confused.
"It's one of our dojo's teachings," Xiao Yun replied gently.
"Can I ask you to open it for me, sister?"
Kang said, his voice steady now, his decision firm.
"It would be my honor, senior brother."
Xiao Yun answered, bowing her head slightly.
-----
Time seemed to crawl as Xiao Yun slowly unrolled the scroll, her fingers tracing the worn parchment while her eyes searched carefully for Kang's master's name.
"Liu Xing, written as 'star,' right? And his wife, Cao Mei?" she asked quietly, seeking confirmation.
Kang nodded, bracing himself for what would come next.
"Liu Xing, third-generation Master of the Hidden Tiger Dojo, and his wife Cao Mei had… two children."
Xiao Yun continued in a hushed voice.
"The elder daughter is Liu Xiao Lin, and the younger son…" She hesitated.
"…Liu Tong," Kang finished for her.
After that, he said nothing. He just sat there with his eyes closed.
Lena covered her mouth, her vision blurring with tears. It was cruel, far too cruel. The man who, just hours ago, stood like an unshakable warrior now looked impossibly small and lonely. She wanted to hug him, to tell him it was all right, but she knew that kind of pain couldn't be soothed by touch or words.
Then Xiao Yun spoke again, still reading.
"Liu Xiao Lin had a husband, but they had no children…"
Kang flinched. Xiao Lin's gentle face surfaced in his memory. So she had married. He couldn't blame her—he had been gone for centuries, officially dead—but hearing it still twisted his chest. He didn't want to hear about that. He didn't need to hear about that.
"That's enough. Stop… please!" He said, struggling to keep his tone calm.
But Xiao Yun continued, her voice steady.
"Her husband…"
"Yunyun, stop!" Lena cried, lunging forward to snatch the scroll from her hands before she could hurt him further.
"…Liu Kang."
Lena froze mid-step. Kang lifted his head, eyes widen, as if the world itself had stopped moving.
"Kang, written as 'steel,' husband of Liu Xiao Lin. He was twenty-one years old when he passed away in an accident," Xiao Yun read softly, then looked up with a faint, knowing smile.
"That would make him the son-in-law of the Liu family, I guess. Isn't that right… grandpa Kang?"