The morning sun streamed through the windows of the private dining room as Du Kongqing knelt before me, his eyes filled with reverence and gratitude.
"Master Hayes," he said, his voice trembling with emotion. "You have given me more than my life back. You have given me my soul."
I helped him to his feet, uncomfortable with such formal displays. "Stand up, Du Kongqing. We're equals now."
"No," he said firmly, remaining in his bowed position. "You are my master. You are my savior. Everything I am from this moment forward, I owe to you."
The other doctors watched in stunned silence as the notorious Poison Doctor King declared his allegiance to me. Dr. Finch cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Perhaps we should give you gentlemen some privacy," he suggested.
"That won't be necessary," Du Kongqing said, finally rising. "I want everyone to witness this. From today forward, I serve only one master."
