Chapter 3 - THE NIGHT ETHAN DIEDThe dojo was empty the next morning.
Rain tapped against the windows.
Han sat alone.
Daniel entered.
“You said you'd tell me.”
Han nodded.
“Sit.”
Daniel sat across from him.
Han looked toward the rain.
“Ethan Cole was the most talented student I ever taught.”
“What happened?”
“He wanted to be unbeatable.”
Daniel lowered his eyes.
“Like me.”
“Yes.”
“But Ethan was worse.”
“How?”
“He believed losing was humiliation.”
Han paused.
“One night, Ethan challenged a man outside the dojo.”
“Who?”
“A gang leader.”
Daniel's expression changed.
“Why?”
“Because the man insulted him.”
“So Ethan fought him?”
“Yes.”
“Did he win?”
“He killed him.”
Daniel stared.
“What?”
Han closed his eyes.
“He didn't mean to.”
“But he did.”
“Yes.”
“And you?”
“I tried to stop him.”
“What happened?”
“Ethan ran.”
“Where?”
“An abandoned warehouse.”
Han's voice became quieter.
“I followed.”
“What happened there?”
“Ethan was surrounded.”
“By the gang?”
“Yes.”
“How many?”
“Eleven.”
Daniel swallowed.
“And you fought them?”
“Yes.”
“Did you save him?”
Han looked down.
“No.”
Daniel's heart sank.
“What happened?”
“Ethan attacked the leader.”
“He was already injured.”
“Yes.”
“He refused to stop.”
“Yes.”
Han's eyes became distant.
“I reached him too late.”
Daniel whispered:
“How did he die?”
“He fell.”
“Was he killed?”
Han shook his head.
“No.”
Daniel looked confused.
“Then?”
“His own attack caused the injury.”
Silence.
Daniel understood.
“That's why you said he couldn't walk away.”
“Yes.”
Han stood.
“Ethan didn't die because he wasn't strong enough.”
He looked at Daniel.
“He died because he believed strength meant never backing down.”
Daniel lowered his head.
“What about Victor?”
“He blamed me.”
“Why?”
“Because Victor was Ethan's brother.”
“And he thinks you let Ethan die.”
“Yes.”
Daniel stood.
“Then why is he back?”
Han looked toward the window.
“Because he wants revenge.”
“On you?”
“No.”
Han's eyes hardened.
“On everyone who carries my teachings.”
Daniel felt a chill.
“What are you going to do?”
“Nothing.”
“What?”
“Victor wants a fight.”
“So fight him.”
Han shook his head.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because revenge doesn't end with one fight.”
Daniel remembered his first lesson.
When to walk away.
But then the lights went out.
The dojo fell into darkness.
A sound came from the hallway.
Daniel turned.
Han raised one hand.
“Stay behind me.”
A voice echoed.
“Still protecting your students?”
Victor.
The doors opened.
Men entered.
Eight.
Armed.
Daniel's body tensed.
Han remained calm.
Victor appeared behind them.
“I gave you twenty years.”
Han looked at him.
“You gave yourself twenty years.”
Victor smiled.
“Tonight, I collect.”
The first man attacked.
Han moved.
One step.
One strike.
The man fell.
Another charged.
Han turned.
The attacker collapsed.
Daniel watched.
No wasted motion.
No anger.
No cruelty.
Just precision.
Within seconds, the room was silent.
Victor stared.
“You're still dangerous.”
Han replied:
“No.”
He lowered his hands.
“I'm simply experienced.”
Victor pulled a gun.
Daniel froze.
Han looked at him.
“Put it down.”
Victor smiled.
“You don't control me anymore.”
He raised the weapon.
Daniel moved instinctively.
Han shoved him aside.
The gun fired.
Han staggered.
“Master!”
Daniel caught him.
Blood spread across Han's shirt.
Victor stared.
For the first time, fear appeared in his eyes.
“You…”
Han remained standing.
“You still don't understand.”
Victor backed away.
“What?”
Han looked at him.
“You think killing me will make Ethan's death disappear.”
Victor's hand trembled.
“It won't.”
Han collapsed.
Daniel caught him.
Victor turned and ran.
Daniel shouted:
“Stop!”
Han grabbed his wrist.
“No.”
“He shot you!”
“Let him go.”
“Why?”
“Because if you chase him now…”
Han looked into Daniel's eyes.
“…you become him.”
Daniel froze.
Sirens sounded outside.
Victor escaped into the night.
Daniel looked down.
“Master?”
May you like
Han smiled faintly.
“Now you understand.”
