Read Online Black Jade by Kylie Chan - Free Book Online

‘Hello?’ Nothing but static. I shrugged and put it away, with a mental note to talk to Gold about it.
    â€˜You can do energy as well?’ I asked Andrew.
    â€˜I can, but Greg says I need more training to control it,’ Andrew said.
    David shook his head. ‘I can’t.’
    â€˜I want to learn!’ Matthew shouted, and Jen hushed him.
    John’s Serpent walked into the room in female human form. She was taller than the Turtle’s human form, nearly two metres, and lither and more athletic, but with the same dark eyes and sculpted face.
    â€˜How about I take the older boys, and Emma can teach little Matthew the beginnings of the modified energy set?’ she said to my family.
    They stared at her, confused.
    â€˜This is . . .’ I dropped my voice. ‘Geez. Will it always be this hard to explain? This is the Serpent part of John. Where’s the Turtle, John?’ I asked her.
    â€˜Back at the office signing the orders for the supplies from the Earthly,’ John said. ‘Our guests are eating more than the Celestial can provide for them.’ She smiled around at the family. ‘But I want to see what the kids can do.’
    My father pointed at John, then dropped his hand when he remembered. ‘This is John? Half of John? How does that work?’
    â€˜Jonathina,’ my mother said with amusement.
    â€˜I can only do it when the two halves of me aren’t doing anything terribly complicated,’ John said, coming to me and putting her arm around my shoulder. She kissed the top of my head to my nephews’ fascinated horror. ‘The Turtle’s just signing Imperial Orders so I should be able to concentrate.’ She smiled down at me. ‘Start teaching Matthew the modified set. The Turtle’s bringing Jade’s and Gold’s children to learn it as well.’ She concentrated for a moment. ‘Only five more requisitions to do, then I’ll be right over.’
    â€˜You wanted the God of Martial Arts to teach you. You have her,’ I said to the boys.
    I turned to my sisters. ‘Does Matthew have your permission to learn a modified tai chi set, Jen?’
    â€˜Out of the way, Emma,’ John said, and I moved closer to the rest of my family. She summoned some training swords for the boys and handed them out.
    â€˜Modified in what way?’ Jennifer said.
    â€˜It’s simpler, which makes it easier for littlies to learn, and it takes advantage of the fact that small kids are so flexible. It’s a way for them to keep that flexibility and gain strength withoutstressing their growing bodies too much, and at the same time gives them a good basis for energy work.’
    â€˜I want to learn!’ Matthew shouted. ‘I can do energy too!’
    â€˜Greg?’ Jen said, obviously confused.
    â€˜It’s not fighting, it’s more like gymnastics. Really good for him,’ Greg said. He put his hands under Matthew’s arms and lifted him to his feet. ‘Go and learn some kung fu.’
    â€˜Yay!’ Matthew said, and ran to stand in front of me. He took a basic horse stance, thumping his feet on the mats, and put his little fists at his waist. ‘I’m ready to learn!’
    â€˜Oh, he’s so adorable,’ my mother said.
    â€˜Don’t start yet, Emma, I’m just outside,’ the Serpent called from the other side of the room. ‘Centre line, Colin! Tidy that up.’
    The Turtle entered in male human form, with Gold and Amy’s twins and Jade’s three dragon daughters, also all in human form. The dragons were young teens, and Little Jade and Richie were both four, slightly older than Matthew.
    The sight of Gold and Amy’s kids coming to learn from us hit a memory inside me like a bell and my heart leapt.
    The Turtle smiled into my eyes. ‘I thought you’d react that way.’
    He put his hands on the shoulders of the two smaller children. ‘Jade and