Senior Brother

As noon drew near, Chen Chong slid his blade into its sheath inside the stone chamber. It settled with a faint click. He was about to head to Elder Yang's courtyard, as he did every afternoon without fail.

A young man with a kindly, honest face tapped on the stone chamber's door. He knocked so lightly it was as if he feared a harder tap might break something.

Chen Chong opened the door. Outside stood a man of twenty-five or twenty-six, of average height, with broad shoulders and a sturdy back. His face was round and his features unremarkable, but there was something reassuring about him.

He wore a blue-gray robe faded from washing, its sleeves rolled up to reveal thick forearms. A cloth bundle hung from one hand.

"Senior Brother?" Chen Chong was a little puzzled. Still, the only person likely to come looking for him now was his senior brother.

"That's me." The young man rubbed the back of his head and grinned, showing a mouthful of white teeth. "I'm Zhang Yide. I was one of the first to follow Master."

"Greetings, Senior Brother." Chen Chong bowed.

Zhang Yide hurriedly caught Chen Chong by the arm before he could bend. "No need for formalities, Junior Brother. I just do odd jobs for our master. I happened to arrive a little earlier."

He still wore that guileless smile, rubbing his hands together in front of him as though he did not know where to put them.

Chen Chong paused, unsure how to start another conversation. Fortunately, Zhang Yide took the initiative and explained the assignment.

"The task isn't hard. We just have to deliver a shipment to Anyang Commandery." Zhang Yide took a sheet of paper from his bundle. It listed the goods and the person who would receive