2328 A.D. Neo Asia. District 13 Airport.
Kang stepped out of the terminal and took a deep breath, inhaling the air of his homeland. To be honest, it wasn't much different from Neo Europe. They had solved the air pollution problem completely about a century ago, so the air felt the same everywhere, especially in the upper-level Cities.
Kang had already learned about how they built megapolises in this era. They resembled an enormous stilt house structure, with the upper level—the City—where citizens lived a hundred meters above ground, and the lower level—the Slum—where slummers toiled on the ground, handling the grim tasks citizens preferred to ignore. In other words, little had changed from his time, only now the divide was starker and more efficient. Instead of old city centers and surrounding suburbs, society now made it blatantly clear who belonged to the upper class and who to the lower, quite literally. Well done, future society.
Gazing at the dazzling futuristic city before him, with flying cars and towering skyscrapers, the scene once again reminded Kang that he was, indeed, three hundred years in the future.
-----
One week earlier.
Rosaline stretched her arms lazily on the bed, her voice tinged with sadness.
"So, you've already made your decision?"
"Yeah…" Kang replied, pretending not to notice her disappointment.
"Why not just stay here? You could still open your… doji or whatever here, couldn't you?"
Rosaline made one last attempt, knowing his mind was set.
"Dojo," Kang corrected.
"Yeah, right, dojo~"
Rosaline didn't care what it was called—she knew it wouldn't work. This man was stubbornly devoted to his "martial arts," a kind of combat techniques, she supposed. Probably another oriental tradition or something like that. Some people in Neo Europe were also obsessed with such things, but they were a minority. Most people nowadays dismissed "tradition" as just another word for "obsolete."
Kang knew what Rosaline thought of his profession, too. That was one reason he didn't want to stay. Sure, the world was united under one government, but cultural differences would never fade. He didn't feel he could be at ease living among Neo Europe's white communities. Asians—Neo Asians now, he supposed—were racists at their core, anyway.
"My family isn't here," Kang said softly.
"Of course, your family was three hundred years in the past," Rosaline snapped back, her voice sharp with frustration.
Kang smiled. He cherished his time with Rosaline. She was his first woman, and that held a special place in his heart. But they weren't meant to be. Their values and ways of thinking were too different.
"We have something called heritage. My master is gone from this world, but his life's work, his martial arts, lives on…"
"You don't need to remind me," Rosaline groaned.
She regretted it deeply. She'd only been trying to show him he had no ties to the past when she asked her friend in Neo Asia to search for a "Hidden Tiger Dojo" belonging to the Liu family. To her dismay, there really was one in District 13. Rosaline couldn't even convince herself it was mere coincidence, let alone Kang.
"Three hundred years… damn you crazy Neo Asians and your blasted heritage!" Rosaline cursed loudly.
"Thank you, Rosaline. I appreciate everything you've done for me!"
Kang hugged her tighter, struck by her irresistible charm. Perhaps because she'd spent most of her life in an ivory tower and now a research center, she retained her innocence like a teenage girl. Though, to be fair, Kang didn't know any teenagers that were this perverted. Maybe he hadn't met enough teenagers, or perhaps it was just another cultural difference.
Rosaline seemed over her fit now, as she swiftly climbed on top of him. She loved this position, he guessed.
"Well, I suppose I'll have to get my fill of you before you leave, then. Ready, Mr. Kang Liu?"
She gazed at him like a ravenous tigress eyeing a succulent piece of meat, her eyes glistening with desire—and, truth be told, her eyes weren't the only thing glistening.
"Liu Kang. I'm Neo Asian," Kang corrected her again.
"Then let the final match between Neo Asia and Neo Europe begin."
Needless to say, victory went to Neo Asia, as it always did.
-----
Kang strolled along the asphalt of Area 9 after the sky cab dropped him off. The driver mentioned that sky cabs couldn't enter the business area due to some restriction, but Kang didn't bother with the details.
District 13, like every other district, was split into twelve Areas in both the upper city and lower slum. Area 9, where Kang now walked, was a quieter business zone compared to the bustling Area 1 and Area 5. Perhaps because of this, the population density was lower, lending a relaxed, casual vibe with more greenery than the dense forest of buildings in other Areas.
Kang had heard the high-class residential Area was even more impressive, like living in a true forest within the city. That was remarkable, considering they were a hundred meters above ground, creating a man-made forest up here was no small feat. Rich people seemed to enjoy the best of life, no matter the era.
Rosaline had promised Kang such a life if he stayed in Neo Europe. But he had no interest in becoming her sheltered pet, living without a purpose. He wanted to carry on his master's work, spreading their heritage by teaching martial arts to others. That was why he'd left behind a promised comfortable life to come here, seeking his master's descendants.
"My dear citizen, do you need help?"
A sweet voice startled Kang. A blue hologram of a stunning girl in a qipao—traditional oriental attire—stood beside him, eagerly awaiting his response.
"A Guide, huh?"
Rosaline had told him about them, virtual assistants with built-in AI, designed to aid citizens with everything from directions to explaining government policies. But this was his first encounter with one.
"So technology has advanced this far…" Kang muttered, impressed.
If not for the flickering blue hologram, he might have mistaken her for a real person. Her expressions were remarkably lifelike.
"Excuse me, dear citizen?" The Guide tilted her head slightly.
Damn, it should be illegal for an artificial being to be this adorable. Kang coughed to mask his embarrassment.
"Can you give me directions to the Hidden Tiger Dojo?"
"Certainly, my dear citizen," the Guide replied cheerfully, her eyes sparkling.
Kang didn't know if they designed her this way on purpose, but damn, they did a fine job.
"Go forward fifty meters, then turn left at the crossroad. Continue another seventy-two meters, and you'll find the Hidden Tiger Dojo between Nyan Nyan noodle shop and Pink Honey massage parlor. Any further inquiries, dear citizen?"
"No, thank you," Kang replied, his mind lingering on "Pink Honey massage parlor." That name could make any healthy martial artist's blood race. He made a mental note to visit later. As his master always said, to turn your back on your neighbor is to turn your back on good fortune. He couldn't defy his master's teachings, could he?
The Guide bowed and said goodbye.
"Wishing you a pleasant day, dear citizen. If you need assistance, find me at any intersection."
With that, she vanished.
"I'm already liking this era," Kang said with a grin. "Now, time to go meet my master' descendants, as their great elder!"
A few minutes later, he stood between the Nyan Nyan noodle shop and the Pink Honey massage parlor. But there was no dojo here.
Or rather, there used to be.
All that remained now was a construction site, filled with the broken remnants of what once looked like training grounds and living quarters.
A fat man in gaudy, luxurious clothes was barking at a construction worker.
"Why's this dump still a mess? The client's coming next week, and I want this turned into a pristine plot of land!"
The worker started to reply, but Kang's trembling voice cut through.
"What the hell are you doing to this place? Who gave you the right to tear it down?"
He clenched his fists, forcing himself to stay calm. No matter what, he needed to understand the situation before letting his anger take over. That, too, was one of his master's teachings.
The fat man turned, eyeing Kang with naked contempt.
"I should be the one asking you that. What are you doing on my property?"
"Your property? This is the Hidden Tiger Dojo!"
"That was three months ago," the man sneered. "The owner used it as collateral for a loan. Couldn't pay up. Now it's mine."
Kang froze in disbelief. Rosaline hadn't mentioned anything about this. Then again, she probably hadn't known either — or she would've told him to keep him from leaving. Guess even in this era, information didn't travel as fast as people claimed.
"Where's the dojo owner now?" Kang demanded, his voice low.
"Dead," the man said, his tone ice-cold.