Master Above

East of Kyoto.

This stretch of verdant mountains ran on without end. Whenever emperors of successive dynasties expanded the capital's borders, they had never pushed eastward.

Because those in the know said that beside the imperial city, amid green mountains and seas of pines, lay hidden fortune.

A place blessed by nature's finest craftsmanship, with dragon veins coiling beneath the earth.

If any emperor dared to flatten this forest, the dynasty would change within three years, and he would become a prisoner.

Even today.

Those in power still held this place in awe.

The scenery of these mountains retained its natural appearance.

There had been no excessive development, no glittering nightlife.

Yet no one could understand why a ticketed tourist attraction had been opened atop the central peak. Its sights were practically a scam.

But it had to be said that the owner of the attraction had extraordinary means.

Where emperors of every dynasty had feared to tread, he had carved into the mountain, built a temple, and even charged admission.

His backing was insanely powerful. Case closed.

Screech.

A bus with a human-shaped hole punched clean through its cabin slowly stopped at the foot of the mountain.

Ming Wan, the troupe leader, stepped down slowly like a gentleman, holding a cane, wearing a top hat, and dressed in a suit.

He gazed up at the mountain before him.

He took a deep breath of the pure mountain air.

A smile appeared at the corner of his lips.

Ming Wan turned back. "Volcano, there's no road ahead. I'll have to climb the mountain myself."

Volcano, the strange man in the driver's seat whose entire body was covered in mud, gave a muffled grunt.

Ming Wan straightened his suit. "Volcano, your baleful aura is too heavy. Going up the mountain would