Sancta Sanctorum (with tea)
The icy wind of Huangdi's plains howled across the rugged hills, propelling the snowcat toward the Shaolin monastery. The imposing structure emerged from the haze like a vision from another era, its stone walls merging with the jagged outcrops of the mountain. It was a place of isolation, untouched by the frantic pulse of the outside world. Tahani Marwan guided the vehicle steadily, her brown eyes scanning the path ahead. Clad in her blue uniform beneath a gray Lambda robe, she looked calm and composed. In truth, her thoughts churned like the blizzard outside. Beside her, Dam Hei-Su sat rigid, her pale hands resting on her lap. The green and orange accents of her pilot suit contrasted sharply with her ghostly complexion, giving her an almost spectral presence. “Do you think he’ll welcome us?” Dam’s voice cut through the hum of the engine. Tahani smirked, her gaze fixed ahead. “Xi always knows when someone’s coming. We’re not surprising him.” Dam huffed, her breath fogging up the vi...
