Wing finally turned. His eyes hadn’t softened. They’d just learned to hide in the steam.

The boy pulled up his sleeve. No tattoo. Just a fresh scar—a character carved with a broken bottle: (Righteousness).

The boy was Lo, son of Monkey Kuen—Wing’s sworn brother, executed three nights ago for “talking to cops.” Except Monkey never talked. He chewed glass before swallowing a lie.

The note read: “Uncle. They killed my father. You’re the only ghost left who remembers the old oath.”