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Eight-year-old Seh slid his lanky body along the enor his best to disturb as little dust as possible Even in a roole particle drifting toward the floor Grandood

But Seh was better As long as he didn't lose focus

Once in position, Seh stretched to his full length and flattened hian to slow his breathing His heart rate slowed to that of a hibernating reptile beneath a sheet of ice Seh began to wait

An hour later, Grandh Grandmaster didn't say a word, Seh knew exactly who it was He sensed powerful chi—life energy— radiating from Grandmaster's body like heat from the sun

Seh slowed his breathing further He needed to keep his heart rate as slow as possible so that the chi coursing through his own nervous syste as he reon-style kung fupossessed treood at detecting it in others Snake stylists like Seh, however, werecreature

As Grandmaster stepped farther into the hall, Seh heard a second , slow breath

Seh focused on the visitor and noticed soe The man see things possessed chi This couldhis, so fu masters kne to do And the only snake-style ht was—

One corner of Seh'sface in a lopsided frown He peeked over the rafter toward the moonlit doorway and his eyes confirmed what the pit of his sto, a local bandit leader Mong meant “python” in Cantonese Seh had had antic snake-style kung futhe ain

Grand and whispered, “Do you sense that we are alone?”

Seh re scan the room Seh was enshrouded in darkness and positioned at a severe angle fro's eyes hesitated as they passed over the rafter, Seh knew he had been discovered Mong had sensed his chi Seh was about to begin his retreat when Mong turned toward Grandmaster

“Yes, we are alone,” Mong said “Nothing here but the occasional s entered the hall and closed the doors behind him

Seh clenched his teeth Pest? he thought Seh wondered whether Mong was trying to ry so that his heart rate would rise and he'd reveal hiht when he was sneaking around

Seh did his best to stay calm He needed to stay focused He suspected that Grand were both dealers of secrets They would trade theold for silk or silver for swords Seh wanted those secrets Especially if they involved him and his brothers—and Seh had a hunch they would

“What news do you bring?” Grandht you require in return for sharing it?”