South Central City, Fengde District. Changsheng Hall, the Celestial Forgiveness Gang's headquarters.
Inside the Inner Hall, Yu Hongming, an elder of the gang, sat beneath a calligraphic scroll bearing the two words "Heart Patrol." A small boy knelt before him, repeatedly banging his head on the floor.
He had the appearance of a man in his fifties or sixties, but he was actually one hundred and ten years old. As one of the gang's founding elders, he had largely stepped back from managing its affairs forty years ago to dedicate himself to teaching his disciples.
He looked at the little boy. "Did Xiaowu send you?"
The little boy said, "Yes. The master sent me to find you, honored elder."
"If Xiaowu sent you, your talent must be considerable."
Yu Hongming spoke in a slow, gentle manner and seemed quite amiable, but the two men standing behind him were stone-faced, exuding an invisible pressure.
"What is your name?"
The little boy said, "Honored elder, my name is Guan Chengqi."
