| abstract
| - It is a bleak and blustery winter day - snow is in the air, but a sky of grim stone-grey rather than light white promises cold, biting winds rather than a light sheen draping the Earth. Lan Di is driven through the town of Dobuita in a forbidding black limosine and arrives at the Hazuki mansion. Ryo, returning back home after spending time with Nozomi at the flower shop where she works, is perturbed to see the limosine drawn up outside the mansion and rushes through the grounds to the family dojo, where he is confronted by the shocking sight of seeing Fuku literally flung through the doors by a savage strike. Fuku sprawls across the grass outside, stunned. Ryo steps over him to investigate what's going on inside, to discover his father fighting Lan Di. Displaying consummate skill, Lan Di smartly steps back from an axe kick delivered by Ryo's father, before stepping forward and delivering a powerful smash to Hazuki's abdomen, the casual, economical movements belying the formidable power contained in the blow. Horrified at the sight, Ryo attempts to step forward into the dojo and intervene, but he is incapacitated by a neck-chop from one of Lan Di's black-suited henchmen. Continuing without interruption, Lan Di pulls the Dragon Mirror from Hazuki's body and sweeps out, his only words a reminder to Hazuki's fading life that the name of the man he killed in Meng Cun was Zhao Sun Ming, signifying that Hazuki and Lan Di evidently have some troubled history together. Lan Di does not even acknowledge Ryo's presence, such is the gnat's insignificance. As the limosine roars away, the promised ill-weather breaks, with stinging rain sluicing along the streets of Dobuita. As it hammers against the roof of the dojo, a fearful, meancing drumbeat of dark resolve, Ryo swears revenge for the death of his father. He will track Lan Di down, and when they next meet, his father's murderer will notice him for sure.
|