"...Master Ma, may I ask what an Originator is?"
Good question!
Wu Pifu praised him excitedly, though Qing outside definitely could not hear him.
This Master Ma, named Mazda, had found Wu Pifu completely catatonic, while Qing could not explain Wu Pifu's lineage. So he simply took the two straight to the Martial Training Department in the Twelfth District. According to him, some of his fellow disciples and old friends were there, all descendants of those who had inherited the Originators' arts. They would surely be very excited to learn that a living Originator still existed.
"This isn't something you're authorized to know at your current clearance level."
At the checkpoint at the end of the passage, Mazda casually requisitioned a hover vehicle from the guards and took Wu Pifu and Qing toward the Martial Training Department.
Inside the fully armored enclosed vehicle, Qing asked carefully, but Mazda answered absentmindedly.
"Still... are you close to this kid?" Mazda asked.
Qing immediately nodded and quickly said, "We came from the same orphanage. You tell me whether we're close or not, whether we're tight or not."
"...Then are you mentally prepared?" Mazda glanced at Qing, then carefully studied the vacant Wu Pifu. His mouth kept moving as he said, "Knowing about the Originators means learning the greatest secret, and losing your freedom to choose at the same time. Ignorance is sometimes a blessing. Understand?"
Qing's face filled with hesitation. Mazda seemed to know he would hesitate and was about to speak, but Qing beat him to it. "Do they provide food and housing? Are there benefits? What about social insurance and a housing fund? A pension and all that? Oh, right, is it a government job?"
Mazda froze, then laughed. "That's what you're thinking about? At a time like this, you're actually