Chapter 443

Of course he went first. Telling his story took quite a bit, and eventually, it was not just his tsifu but most of the school gathered around, listening raptly. The only person allowed to interrupt was his tsifu, of course, though Jan never stopped interrupting with her own colourful commentary. The first time she did it, Kao tsifu had glanced between Arthur and her. Seeing that Arthur made no motion to stop the woman, he kept mum himself. 

Once everyone realised that both Yao Jing and Jan were Tower climbers too, a few more enthusiastic members began to pester the man at the weight rack. Mostly, though, they hung onto his words, excited to listen to his stories. Of course, Kao tsifu being who he was, the questions directed at Arthur had him elaborating on the less glamorous aspect of climbing. The losses, the number of individuals trapped on different levels, the lack of food options and even his own confrontations with the various other groups within the Sect.

Arthur was more than glad to elaborate on many of those aspects, though he kept talk about his own alliances vague. He was certain Kao tsifu had realised it, and so had a few of the faster kids, but no one complained. In the end, though, the discussion trundled to a stop with Arthur making sure to ask about the school.

For the most part, not much had changed. At least, not in the beginning. The school continued to trundle along, classes being taken and dropped by the casuals, a few long-term students making their way over and a few others dropping out. The ratio of drop-outs had drastically increased recently, as the Ghee Hin began to apply pressure, of course.

"Why?" Arthur grumbled, arms crossed. "They have to know I'd learn about it."

"So what are you going to do about it?" Luke snapped. "They keep coming by, harassing our students. We've lost nearly a third of the regulars and two thirds of our evening students."

"Two thirds?" Arthur's eyes widened. He did not, of course, know the exact details of the school's finances, but he also knew enough to know that it was not much of a money making endeavor. More than once, they'd had to take part in various demonstrations or free exhibitions in an effort to drum up money. In a particularly memorable event, they'd even taken to doing demonstrations in malls for a year, before others took their places, being somewhat more showy than the school.

Kao tsfiu had always taught substance and efficiency over style.

"Tsifu?"

"It's fine..." the old man grumbled. "I have some savings."

"That's-"

"None of your problem."

"Actually, it will be." Arthur said, cutting the old man off. He noted how the other students bristled, and blinked, recalling what he had said. He bobbed his head in apology. "Sorry, tstifu. I didn't-"

"You're a Clan Head now. Not just my student. I understand," Kao tsifu waved the apology aside. "But what do you mean?"

"Well, I need my people trained. And those who want to go in trained." Arthur sighed. "I know some of it won't matter, the Thorned Lotuses all went in because they don't have a choice, so having a trainer inside the Tower will be necessary. But whoever we can get training here, now? That's definitely something we need to do."

"Thinking like a Clan Head." The small smile on his tstifu's lips helped take the sting out of his words. "But what makes you think I'll work for you?"

"Nothing," Arthur said. "I don't want you to work under me. Just give classes to my people."

“Okay.” His tsifu tapped the table, frowning. “Will you want evening classes?”

“Not sure. To start, no. Everyone coming in will be Tower climbers who have made it through, so they’ll be training here during the day. Those who want to join the Clan itself will need time on their own, at some point, but they can probably start at whatever class fits them.

“Eventually…”

“We’ll want our own classes. Things to learn to work together,” Jan said. “Probably our own building too and training ground.”

The look that she gave the space wasn’t dismissive, which was good since Arthur was certain the beating she would receive from the other students would be quite impressive. On the other hand, it wasn’t particularly impressed either.

“I’m working on it,” Arthur grumbled, fishing at the rojak for more keropok. He always liked the crunchy, fried bits, though the local hawker stall had given them the school special – extra protein in the form of tofu, eggs and beans.

“The Ghee Hin.” Luke reminded the pair.

“They’re really trying to get my attention.” He fell silent, contemplating the ways he could hurt them. It was not like they were in the Tower where their bosses and gang members were easy enough to pick out. As populous as the floors had gotten, they were still only small villages in truth. Nothing like the bustling metropolis of a few million that was KL and its environs.

Finding the lower level bosses was easy. The big bosses? Even the government were not certain of them. Which was something the triads had gotten very good at hiding, what with being technically illegal after all.

“Boss…” Jan said, warningly.

“What?”

“You got look on your face.”

“What look?”

“Not the good one.”

“What does that mean!” he huffed, only to see Kao tsifu grinning.

“Fine, whatever. I’m not going to fight them or anything…” He frowned at his tsifu, knowing the man wouldn’t let him just give him money. “But I probably need to pay for some lessons anyway. You, me, Yao Jing.”

“You’re paying for them?” Luke said, surprised.

“They’re my Clan members.” Arthur shrugged. “Also, my bodyguards. Got to have some benefits of following me around.”

That had Luke look at Jan and Yao Jing who had gained an even larger number of adherents, especially as he had taken off his shirt to show the Clan seal while he pumped some iron. The fact that he was using all the weights they had in place was rather impressive.

“I’ll have to buy you all some new weights too. Or maybe get Yao Jing to do it,” Arthur muttered. “Or else he’ll complain.”

Before he could plan other additions, he felt a rap on his knee. He turned to see Kao tsifu withdrawing a hand, pointing at him.

“Pay me later. First, before training, let’s see what you learnt.”

The look he turned to the sparring floor was answer enough of what he meant.