Mu Feng woke to the call of a rooster, unsure where he was. He was staring into an empty flask flipped over and wedged against a stack of plates.

Among the martial arts of ancient China, Taoist and Buddhist arts are known for their deeply rooted traditions.

“Hold still, grandfather,” Sochai said, lifting his knife.

The old man closed his eyes, released a deep sigh, his soul escaping with every breath.