Chapter 8 — Giao Giao’s Covenant

I let out a soft, dismissive laugh. "Does this count as using public office for private revenge?"

"It certainly does."

She let go of me, wiped her face, and resumed her usual sunny, squinty-eyed smile. "But I am taking my revenge fair and square."

Not far away, Van Tu, who was being carried on a stretcher, signaled for his bearers to stop. He looked at my sister, his voice frail and weak. "Thank you." My sister arched an eyebrow. "Thank you for what?"

"Thank you for saving me. If not for you, I would not have survived the night."

She stared at him intently for a long moment before finally speaking. "If you want to thank someone, thank your own stubborn vitality. Once you recover, drag yourself to my house. It is time we settled the debts of the past three years, once and for all." Van Tu nodded. "Agreed." The stretcher was lifted and carried away. She watched his receding silhouette, the corner of her mouth curling into a faint, fleeting smirk before she regained her composure.

"Let’s go," she said, taking my hand. "Let’s go home."

"Sister."

"Hmm?"

"The things from the past—they are over now."

She did not reply, only squeezed my hand, tighter and tighter.

Sixteen

Back at the tribe, Van Tu became the object of special protection. He had a deep chest wound, exacerbated by the backlash of his own volatile powers, leaving him incredibly frail. Yet, every day I visited him, I witnessed a truly bizarre spectacle. Van Tu would be propped up against the headboard, clearly in enough pain to make his complexion turn ghostly, yet the moment he saw me walk through the door, he would force his face into a stiff, awkward grin.

"Giao Giao… you are here."

Watching that expression—which looked even more painful than if he had been weeping—I felt a mix of heartache and amusement. "Honestly, your smile makes you look a lot less cool, you know."

His eyes immediately dimmed, his ears drooping until he looked exactly like a giant leopard that had been abandoned. Van Tu began to recover at a remarkable speed.

Seventeen

When night fell, I prepared for bed. Phong Diem was sprawling across the doorway, his massive, fluffy tail blocking the entire frame. "I want to stand guard tonight!" I heard, while A Lam rose from the nearby pool, resting his upper body against the edge of the bed. "I wish to do the same." Van Tu appeared out of nowhere at the window, casting a chilling glare at the two inside. "Both of you, get out. Tonight, I am taking watch." The three men glared at one another, the air heavy with enough gunpowder to spark an explosion at the slightest touch.

Phong Diem erupted first. "Master, I want to sleep with you!" He lunged forward, wrapping his arms tightly around my waist. A Lam said nothing, but his hand snaked out, gently yet firmly gripping my ankle. Van Tu vaulted directly over the windowsill, seizing my wrist. All three pulled simultaneously; I staggered, nearly falling face-first onto the floor.

"All of you, let go!"

My temper finally flared. Yet, none of them budged. Phong Diem roared, "Let's fight for it! Whoever wins gets to sleep with Master!" Van Tu’s gaze turned sharp as a blade. "Very well." A Lam silently drew a razor-sharp bone knife from the water. I looked at the three of them, poised for battle, and gave a dry laugh.

"Fine. Go outside and fight. Whoever wins can come in tonight and serve me."

They exchanged looks, and in the next heartbeat, they all scrambled out into the courtyard. Sounds of heavy thuds, growls, and splashing water filled the air. Phong Diem’s wolfish howl echoed through the night. "This punch is revenge for when you stole my prey last time!" Van Tu’s leopard roar followed immediately: "It was obviously mine first!" A Lam made no sound, but I could clearly hear the whistling of his blade cutting through the wind, followed by Phong Diem’s miserable yelp. "A Lam, how dare you cut my tail fur! That was the most beautiful strand! It took me ages to grow that back!"

Half an hour later, the three of them stumbled back inside, covered in bruises. Phong Diem’s face was a map of contusions, yet his tail wagged furiously. "I won two rounds!" Van Tu wiped blood from the corner of his mouth, replying coldly, "You played dirty. We agreed that biting was forbidden." Phong Diem argued stubbornly, "What is wrong with a wolf using his teeth in a fight? If you are so good, transform into a leopard and bite me back!" Van Tu: "I am of the Leopard tribe." Phong Diem: "Then transform into a leopard and bite me!" Van Tu: "..." A Lam silently raised a hand, clenching two tufts of fluffy fur. I scanned the three of them. "So, in summary… all three of you won?" All three nodded in unison. I rolled my eyes toward the ceiling.

"There are only three of you. Fine, I will take all of you."

The End.