《At the Water's Edge [在水邊]》 Pronunciation Guide Ԓ (Zyu/Zh Language) Meaning ''pearl'' and named after the Kingdom of Zyu, this language has been transliterated according to Cantonese Jyutping principles and is the most common language as of I''m not the Saviour! but had become a secondary language as of At the Water''s Edge, Eitsu''s Nine Lives, and Ginseng and Yew. I have chosen not to provide the tones for Zyu words within the text, as these are indicated through numbers, there are six of them, and they would disrupt the flow of the story. The tones are: 1 - Can actually indicate two different tones - High and flat, or starting high and falling 2 - Starting middle and rising 3 - Middle and flat 4 - Can actually indicate two different tones C Very low and flat, or starting low and going lower 5 - Starting low and rising 6 - Low and flat Words from the Zyu tongue do not have accents above the words, and the following pronunciations apply: An example with multiple rules:
#Ԓ (Xing Language) Meaning ''to think/wish/dream'', this language was the most commonly used across the eastern countries of the Jade Road, by the time of At the Water''s Edge, Eitsu''s Nine Lives and Ginseng and Yew. It has been transliterated according to the rules of Mandarin Pinyin, with tones indicated by the use of accents. The following pronunciations apply: Glossary Glossary
Zyu Xing Meaning
Bou B Approximately 1.5m
Daan-tin Dntin One of three points in the body where energy is focused during meditation, cultivation, martial arts and medicine. They are located in the head, the sternum and the stomach.
ܵ Dai dai ܵ D di Younger brother, or a younger man who is not related to the speaker.
Goh goh G ge Older brother, or an older man who is not related to the speaker.
Hei The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Q ''Breath''/''Vitality''. The vital energy and force found in all things. Hei is produced during cultivation in the central daan-tin through refining of zing (see below), and can be purified into the higher level san (see below) in the middle daan-tin.
Zing Jng ''Essence''. All people have zing, first provided by the parents during the creation of the child, then continually acquired through life through food, water, oxygen, etc. Once zing has expired, the person will die. Jing can be purified into the higher quality hei (see above) in the lower daan-tin.
Li L A distance of approximately 500m.
Mei mei Mi mei Younger sister, or a younger woman who is not related to the speaker.
San Shen ''Spirit''. Also a term used to refer to gods or divinity. San is the highest level of energy state before one attains the ultimate ''mou-wai'' (see below). San transmutes to mou-wai in the upper daan-tin.
Si dai ʦ Sh d A younger male disciple.
Si fu ʦ Sh fu Master
Si hing ʦ Sh xing An older male disciple.
Si mei ʦ Sh mi A younger female disciple.
Si ze ʦ Sh ji An older female disciple.
o Mou-wai Ϊ Wwi ''Effortless action''. The absolute state of being. A transcended plane of flow and harmony.
Ze ze Ji jie Older sister, or an older woman who is not related to the speaker.
1 - Appear like a god and disappear like a ghost û (shnch gum) C to come and go mysteriously.
Night around the lake was ominously dark. Two night watchmen nervously trod through the forest as close to the water as they dared, casting fleeting glances as though afraid of what they might see. The hands that held the lanterns trembled, and they were silent, as if speaking might bring the attention of something unwanted towards them. To an outsider, their behaviour seemed unusual. The lake was beautiful. A thousand lotuses bloomed across the still surface, glowing white with the borrowed light of the moon. Even the stars seemed to be reflected across the crystal surface. But on closer inspection, one would notice the absolute silence - no frogs or insects called, no nightbirds stalked the grass on the banks or the reeds at the edges. The lake might as well have been a graveyard. "What''s that?" one of the night watchman hissed suddenly, swinging his lantern up. The next moment, his companion literally tackled him down. "Are you insane? What are doing? Don''t draw attention to yourself! We just flash our lanterns around and go, no looking left or right!" As his voice ceased, they heard something. From the direction of the lake, they seemed to hear the faintest hint of water sloshing, like something was slowly and carefully making its way through the water towards them. The blood froze in their veins and they stared at each other in horror. "What have you done?" the second watchman whispered. "Run!" his companion screamed. Surging to his feet and seizing a fistful of his colleague''s clothing, he sprinted faster than he had in his life. Driven by fear, they rapidly disappeared through the ferns without looking back. The movement in the lake stilled and stopped. After a moment, a small figure moved onto the bank, towards where one of the watchmen had dropped a lantern. Its movements were slow and weary, but it eventually came to the lantern and stood motionless for a while, staring at the faint drift of smoke. The lantern had gone out when the watchman had dropped it, luckily, or the vegetation by the side of the lake might have been smouldering into flame by now. The figure bent down carefully and picked up the ruined paper-and-straw construction, turning it over and over in its hands. Eventually, it put the lantern down with the same level of care, and slowly retreated back into the water.
"A demon?" the woman repeated with interest, sipping a cup of tea. She gestured for an assistant to come forwards and take some documents from her. "Or a ghost! Or a monster!" The man sitting uncomfortably in the chair in front of her was pale and sweaty. "The whole town has been terrorised. We can''t go anywhere near the lake, our once thriving fishing industry has died, strange things have happened in the town..." "Maybe it''s the lake spirit trying to prevent you from overfishing?" The man paused. "I never thought of that. Could it be...?" "Unlikely," the woman responded with a small shake of her head, as she organised papers. The man stared at her, unsure if she was making fun of him or not. "Miss..." "Fn(1)." "Miss Fn, we''re really at our wits'' end. It''s been far too long and no one''s been able to help us. We''ll take any assistance we can get, try anything." Miss Fn clicked her tongue and put her paperwork to one side, finishing her tea as she did. She had only just arrived in town the day prior, thinking she had found a quiet place to wrap up the loose ends of her last case, and to rest, and already someone had come knocking on her door asking for help. She interlocked her long fingers and leant on the desk before her to consider her visitor. In return, her visitor, an older man who sat on the village committee, looked a little flustered. Miss Fn was slender as a willow, with long chestnut-coloured hair and unusual grey-brown eyes. Her whole appearance gave a sense of length and flow, like a slow river. She seemed at home in the rich, earth-toned clothing she wore, the warm and intense colours enhancing her features rather than overwhelming them. Two perfectly round pearls glowed at her earlobes. The man swallowed nervously, but Miss Fn smiled easily at him. "Alright, you have my attention now. How long has this been going on for?" "At... At least a century now..." Miss Fn stared at him, deadpan. "A century?" The man nodded helplessly. "Stories from our great-grandparents say that one day the demon... or ghost... or whatever it is... arrived suddenly at the lake. No one knows how or why. They suddenly starting hearing screams in the night, seeing things moving in the water. The only person who ever saw the creature refused to speak. His hair turning white overnight, and he died young too - clearly the creature cursed him because he saw it." "And now?" "Nowadays things are much quieter, but only the other night, two night watchman caught a glimpse of the demon as they patrolled near the water. It has everyone on edge, we can''t use the water and we fear for our lives, especially the children''s." Miss Fn leaned back in her chair and gazed out through the window without seeing anything, her slender brows furrowed in thought. Her hand unconsciously drifted down to the flask at her hip, and she absent-mindedly tipped some of its contents into her mouth. The man held his breath and watched her closely. "Aside from the gentleman who died early, has the ghost done anything else?" "It continues to frighten us and -" "But it hasn''t actively harmed anyone?" The man sniffed but grudgingly agreed. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. "Mm." Miss Fn''s grey-brown eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "And that''s all you know?" "That''s the general gist. Everyone has their own stories but they all say the same sorts of things. People being frightened near the lake, screams and cries at night. Oh..." "Hm?" Miss Fn quirked an eyebrow. "They say that since that day, lotuses have bloomed across the lake. They were never there before, only reeds and sedges. But now, there are giant white lotuses at all times of the year." "Hm," Miss Fn said again, this time with an air of knowing. She returned to gazing out through the window. "What have you tried so far?" "We''ve tried exorcisms from priests of all sects and denominations. We''ve tried hunting the demon with various weapons, but everyone is too frightened to look at it properly after what happened to that other man, so we''ve never succeeded." "Have you hired other demon hunters before?" "We''ve tried, but most of them laugh at us, either because... Well, you''re right, the demon has never really done much. Or because they feel the job is beneath them..." "So you''re asking me to take on a job that''s beneath me?" Miss Fn asked with a smile. She took another sip from her flask. The man turned pale. "No no no-" Miss Fn flashed her teeth in a smile, her canines a little longer than expected. It was as though a sleepy lizard had momentarily revealed itself as a dragon in disguise. "I believe you have a ghost on your hands, not a demon, and I will accept the job." "You will?" The man seemed stunned. "That poor ghost needs to be moved on to its eternal rest. It must be very tired." Miss Fn stood and retrieved a slip of paper from a bag by the desk. The man was surprised to find he had to look up a little to see her face. "My fees," Miss Fn said, handing him the paper. The man grimaced at the cost but nodded. "I will bring this back to the village Elder, but I''m sure this is no problem. When can you start?" "There''s no time like the present." Miss Fn smiled and retrieved a sleek travelling straw hat from a hook behind the door. "Which direction is the lake? I want to see it now." The man immediately looked nervous again, but he did not dare question the bold Miss Fn. He pointed. "In that direction, but please be careful." Miss Fn laughed and showed him out of the little house she was renting for her stay. "Of course." She closed the door behind him, and sighed. Dealing with people was tiring to her. Ghosts were much better. She reached for her flask again to find it was empty. Refilling the flask was the start of her preparations. Then, the basics - a belt of herbs and powders in vials, salt and rosemary, sticks of cinnabar, a pouch with slips of yellow paper. Into another pouch she slipped a bronze bell the size of her palm and a glass vial filled with some darkened liquid. This she shook critically before stowing it away, making a note to gather more. She buckled a silver knife sheathed in a strange blue leather to her belt, and sprayed rose water over her face and neck. Finally, Miss Fn, Demon Hunter, donned her straw hat. With an approving nod and a tilt of her hat, she sailed forth to find herself a ghost.
In the afternoon sun, the water of the lake glittered peacefully. A gentle breeze stirred the white lotus blooms, creating a beautiful, tranquil scene. One might set out a picnic and compose poetry here. Miss Fn stood easily by the water''s edge, her long ponytail gently flowing in the breeze. She stood with her arms crossed and a stalk of grass in her mouth that she chewed contemplatively. She bent and dipped her hands in the water, taking an experimental sip. There was nothing to suggest demonic or supernatural activity. The sun was warm, the water was clear but deep. In short, everything looked perfect. A little too much so, perhaps. Miss Fn''s eyes narrowed. She could sense behind her the watching eyes of villagers who had tried to secretly follow her to the lake. They had no concept of stealth so their efforts were in vain, but Miss Fn had not bothered to confront them. Suddenly she let out a strangled yelp and fell forwards, her red-brown robe instantly soaking with lake water and deepening to a blood colour. The watchers gasped as one and huddled anxiously together. What was happening to Miss Fn? What should they do? Trembling, Miss Fn managed to draw a piece of paper from her pouch and began to desperately make markings on it with a piece of charcoal. She staggered to her feet, the paper clutched between the second and third fingers of her hand, muttering strange words under her breath. A sudden cry of pain escaped her lips. The hidden villagers, their nerves at breaking point, stumbled back several paces. With supreme effort, Miss Fn renewed her chanting. The paper in her hands seemed to melt and suddenly, a huge blast of energy seemed to explode from nowhere, sending the watching villagers tumbling backwards! Struggling upright, they turned to find Miss Fn racing towards them. "Run! I can only hold it off for a few moments!" The villagers ran in blind panic from the lakeside to the safety of the village. As the last villager disappeared from sight, Miss Fn suddenly stopped, perfectly calm and composed, and addressed the lake aloud. "If I made it look too safe and easy, they would all be here in a second to disturb your peace. I''ve scared them off now, won''t you come out?" There was no response. The sun still shone warm and bright, and the white lotuses drifted serenely on the lake, but Miss Fen received no response. She shrugged acceptingly. "Perhaps you only come out at night, so I''ll come back then. See you later, little ghost!" She turned her heel and marched away, her dress already remarkably dry. In the lake, between the lotuses at the furthest end, a pair of dark eyes appeared above the water. They watched avidly as Miss Fen left.
The village was in uproar. Miss Fn stumbled in behind the other villagers a few minutes later. Although dishevelled, she looked triumphant and placated the villagers. "Not to worry, not to worry. I''ve dealt with things like this before, no problem. But it is too dangerous for ordinary people to go near. Until I have exorcised the ghost, please keep away from the lake!" The villagers nodded fervently and excitedly. The ghost would be gone soon! They could use the lake again, for the first time in one hundred years! Miss Fn took a dramatic swing from her flask and the villagers wondered what kind of hard liquor she was consuming after such a frightening experience. "I''ll finish the job tonight," Miss Fn announced. "Everyone must absolutely stay inside." The villagers were cheered up endlessly. They rushed to thank Miss Fn. The village Elder offered to pay Miss Fn in advance, but she magnanimously accepted only half of the full payment, saying she would take the rest after the job was done. Then she returned to the house she was renting and called out for the girl who had been assigned by the Elder to assist her. "I need you to bring me some things. Some decent rice wine, some incense, and a lantern. And if anyone is slaughtering a chicken for dinner tonight, the chicken''s blood as quickly as possible. Best if it''s a black chicken," she added thoughtfully. The girl swallowed her questions and repeated the grocery list back before promising to retrieve the items. Once she left, Miss Fn counted her money with satisfaction, then pulled out a pendulum and a board which she also placed into her small bag. She sat back in her chair, slender brows creased in thought. Something still didn''t seem right about the situation. Other than the abnormal lotuses, there were no other typical ghostly signs, such as ectoplasm, chilled air or strange sounds. If it weren''t for the terrifying apparition that frightened several years off a man''s life, Miss Fn might have thought she was dealing with some sort of nature spirit. It didn''t appear to be a demon. Demons would not suffer anyone who annoyed or disturbed them to live for much longer than a few minutes. The most likely conclusion Miss Fn could draw was of some kind of gentle and timid ghost that was frightening away villagers to keep itself safe, like a hissing kitten. After thinking for a moment, Miss Fn put a few more items in her bag, refilled her flask, then threw herself on the bed. She had enough time for a nap before her date with the ghost tonight.
The creature lay at the very bottom of the lake. If it didn''t concentrate, it could not stay there - its body would float about aimlessly. Each hand had been pushed under a heavy rock to assist with the submersion. The water around it was clean and still. But in its mind was a different kind of water, the grey-brown of a slow river, the grey-brown of Miss Fn''s eyes, peaceful on the surface, deep and powerful below. I''ll come back. How long had it been since someone had spoken to it in this way? It couldn''t remember. It didn''t even know who it was, or what it was. It didn''t even know what to call the feeling that was creeping up inside its heart. Is this, perhaps... Hope? 2 - Hungry Ghosts I (gu) - the suffering ghosts of people who were bad during their lifetimes.
Nightfall brought a coldness with it that saw Miss Fn wrapped warmly in a wool cloak, with a bear fur collar. In her long-fingered hands she carried a tray on which were set a small jar of rice wine, an incense stand, and a bowl of still warm rice with a pair of chopsticks stuck directly upright within. She stopped once more at the edge of the water where she had played her little charade that morning to frighten away the villagers, at ease and humming as she sat and set down the tray, lit the incense, and poured the contents of a bottle in her bag into an empty bowl on the same tray. The scent of chicken blood and incense melded and drifted across the lake where the lotus blooms floated, glowing even in the scant light of the crescent moon. Then she waited. There was no sound. She felt it keenly, the silence of the natural world around her as if everything were holding its breath, also waiting. She emptied her flask of its contents, then dipped it into the lake to refill it. All she had been drinking was water. And then she heard it C a faint rustle amongst the lotuses at the far end of the lake. Lazy ripples spread slowly across the previously still lake surface, creeping towards her. Miss Fn made no indication that she had noticed. Something was approaching. A dark shape moved between the lotuses. From where she sat, it looked to Miss Fn like the head of someone swimming towards her. Long black hair trailed like oil through the water behind the figure. So far, so normal. This would be a simple ghost exorcism, surely? Miss Fn called out gently to the figure. "Are you hungry? Please come and eat. I''ve brought blood and rice and wine for you." The figure paused, hair drifting around it. Miss Fn raised the tray in front of her. The figure slowly began moving again, swimming closer and closer. When it reached shallow water, it slowly stood up, hiding its face behind the long, lank hair that now hung around it without the support of water. A pale hand pushed it upright. The standing figure was only a little taller than the height of Miss Fn''s elbow. Miss Fn''s gaze focused sharply on the hand. This really wasn''t right! A tiny hand, the very bones showing through skin so thin it was almost translucent. The skin was wrinkled from soaking in water for so long. That hand was shaking, the figure''s shoulder lifting and falling as they gasped for breath, as though swimming had taken a huge effort. Ghosts don''t need to breathe! The hair was far too fine to belong to a weak little ghost trying to project a fake image of normalcy. And when the figure finally crept to the shore, white robe clinging to a terrifyingly thin body, bones jutting, shivering in the cold air, Miss Fn could clearly see a pair of little feet, bruised to blueness. Ghosts don''t have feet. This... This is a living being! Miss Fn showed no surprise. She put down the tray and quickly mixed the still warm chicken blood with the rice, then offered the bowl to the figure. Hesitation, so much hesitation. But Miss Fn held the bowl aloft without wavering, and slowly, slowly, the figure reached out to take it. Their fingers met. The figure''s hands were freezing, and weak, and Miss Fn could tell immediately that if she handed the bowl over, it would fall almost at once. She patted the ground next to her. "Sit and let me feed you." The figure hesitated, as if unable to believe what it had heard. Then it nodded, and shuffled to the spot Miss Fn had indicated, crouching with excruciating slowness. Miss Fn reached out a hand to steady the figure, so light they could blow away with the slightest breeze. She took the chopsticks and picked up some rice, and held it out patiently. The figure paused, then gingerly swept its hair to one side to access the food. What she saw made Miss Fn''s eyes widen. There was a little face under that long, matted mess of hair that could barely be described as human. Skin the colour of a fish''s underbelly and wrinkled by years of exposure to water, even sloughing off in some places. Bloodshot eyes, crusted half shut with sand and mud. She could see the figure was missing teeth through the torn lips, and there were gashes and scratches everywhere, some weeping an ugly-looking fluid. The figure did not notice Miss Fn''s look. It desperately shoved its mouth towards the food and swallowed instantly without chewing, opening that terribly damaged mouth again to demand more. "Don''t eat too fast," Miss Fn said, trying hard not to stare that the discoloured cracked tongue. "You''ll throw it all up if you eat too fast." But she fed the figure more rice and she could see that the hungry creature made an effort to chew once or twice before swallowing. Bit by bit, the rice was consumed. At one point Miss Fn even threw her cloak around the figure''s shoulders, and although shocked, the creature even leaned in closer, desperate for warmth and food. Miss Fn let it nuzzle up to her. She had seen and experienced worse. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Eventually the rice was gone, but the creature was attempting to lick the bowl clean. Miss Fn extinguished the incense, seeing it had no purpose, and with one deft movement swept the figure up into her arms. Those bloodshot eyes stared at her, stunned. "Well now that I know you''re a living thing and not a ghost, you can''t stay here," Miss Fn announced. "I''m taking you somewhere warm." She began to walk back towards the village, but the creature clutched at the collar of her robe desperately. "What is it?" A scratchy sound escaped from the creature. It coughed and growled until eventually, a tiny voice crept from that long unused throat. "... Can''t..." "Can you tell me why?" The creature looked lost. Having not conversed in so many years, it seemed to have lost its abilities to communicate. "You can''t leave?" Miss Fn asked. The creature nodded. "Is something forcing you to stay?" The creature nodded again. Miss Fn felt like she did when communing with ghosts via the pendulum and board. Swing left for yes and right for no... Her grey-brown eyes swept the forest around them. Well, why would anyone want to stay rotting in a lake for one hundred years? Clearly this creature is being held here against its will. She didn''t sense that anyone was watching but she asked anyway. "Is someone watching you? Will they hurt you if you leave?" The creature initially shook its head but then began to look a little bewildered after the second question. "Is it a curse?" Nod. Right. Still wrapped in Miss Fn''s luxurious wool cloak, the creature was carefully lowered into a shallow depression at the foot of a tree. "You''ll be safe there. I''ve frightened the villagers enough that they shouldn''t come looking, and you need medical help. I will call a friend of mine. "Don''t worry, I''ll be back soon," she added, when the creature clutched anxiously at the hem of her robes. Reluctantly, it let go, but its eyes clung to her as she darted rapidly back through the forest towards the village without once touching the ground. "Wake up," she called relentlessly outside the window of the girl who had been assisting her that day. "Miss Fn? What is it?" The girl tumbled sleepily from her house. "Did you exorcise the ghost?" "Almost, but I need some assistance from an expert friend of mine. I need a message delivered immediately." "I''ll get my brother," the girl replied, pulling herself into wakefulness. Within a few minutes, the young girl''s brother was dressed and mounted on a horse, a piece of paper tucked into a pouch around his neck, and galloping west. Miss Fn patted the young girl on the head gratefully, and the girl in her turn happily accepted this reward. She was much in awe of the tall and slender Miss Fn, who carried herself with a grace and boldness she had not seen in anyone before. "Miss Fn, I want to grow up to be like you." Miss Fn broke into a good-natured laugh. "That''s flattering. Do your best, little one." She shooed the girl back into the house and as soon as the door closed, she shot away back in the direction of the lake faster than the eye could see.
"I hope you''re not thinking I''ll be working for free." It was a few hours later, and a woman had appeared from between the trees beside the waiting Miss Fn and the ''ghost'', still wrapped in her cloak. This newcomer was simply but elegantly dressed and had a cold and dignified appearance. When she lowered the hood of her cloak, her long hair was pinned back in a relatively severe hairstyle that didn''t match her young appearance, but it shone astonishingly silver in the moonlight. The sleeves slipped a little to reveal a bracelet of pearls, smaller, but very similar to those at Miss Fn''s ears, around her left wrist. "Dzue Yi-sand" Miss Fn rose energetically to her feet with a smile. "Fan Ah Yi," Dzue Yi-sang replied with a cool nod. Miss Fn''s smile suddenly became much sharper as her oddly long canines appeared. "What did you call me?" "Dze," the doctor amended hurriedly. "Fan Dze." "Good." The ''ghost'' watched, bewildered by the familiar yet strange language the other two had conversed in, but stayed quiet and shrank a little as Dzue Yi-sang turned towards it. Without wasting any more time, Dzue Yi-sang sat down and extracted a handkerchief from her bag. With it, she picked up the figure''s hand and felt for a pulse, grimacing at the state of the skin. A breeze blew through their hair and ruffled their clothes. "Female, human, and it''s weak but I can feel a spiritual core. Meridians seem to be sealed. A cultivator." She put the ''ghost''s'' hand down and wrapped the handkerchief up carefully. "It''s certainly hard to tell just by looking at her. I would say she''s over one hundred years old." "Not a child? And a cultivator, huh?" Miss Fn looked sympathetic, sipping from her flask. "Did you run into some trouble, shmei(4)?" "Now who''s showing their age?" Dzue Yi-sang murmured under her breath. "Miss Fn... older than me?" the cultivator asked scratchily, looking confused. Dzue Yi-sang smirked. "Enough of that," Miss Fn interrupted. "As far as I can gathered, she has been cursed to be unable to leave the lake, but she needs medical treatment. Can you do anything for her?" "Can you even afford my services?" Dzue Yi-sang asked bitingly. "Would you have come here if I couldn''t?" Miss Fn countered with a cheerful smile. "You don''t have to keep smiling at me." Dzue Yi-sang pulled a sheet of paper from her bag. "This." Miss Fn scanned the paper several times without the slightest change of expression. "I can go now." "Thank you." "Behave yourself, shmei." Miss Fn turned a dazzling smile towards the cultivator still wrapped in her cloak. "I just have some errands to run for Zh Y Shng. She''ll do a good job on you, so don''t worry!" She was gone before the cultivator could even nod in response. Instead, the patient turned to her new doctor politely, despite resembling a horrifying female ghost. "Zh Y Shng? Pleased to meet you." The doctor responded with a non-committal sound as she dug into her bag. "So... could you tell me... I mean, I know my health isn''t good." Her voice conveniently rasped at this point, and she coughed painfully, clutching her stomach as the unexpected food tried to rise again. "You''re evidently severely malnourished, and your twelve organs are practically non-functional, so it''s a miracle that you''re alive, even if you have some cultivation. It was foolish of Fan Ze to give you food, you''ll probably throw it up soon. You''ll have clear soup for a week first." The cultivator rubbed her aching stomach regretfully. She had suspected the rice would not remain within it for long. "Your moon cycle is long gone, so you''ll be infertile. Your whole body is filled with damp Yin energy." The cultivator responded by painfully vomiting the rice. She shivered and retched, a desperate groan slipping from her damaged throat. "S... sorry." Dzue Yi-sang watched dispassionately. The cultivator tried shamefully to sweep the rice away with her bare hands, still trying to be polite as she did so. "H... how do you and Miss Fn...?" The doctor didn''t respond. She gathered water in the bowl Miss Fn had used to hold the rice, and washed away what the ''ghost'' had thrown up. The cultivator awkwardly cleaned her hands in the lake and made shapes with her bony fingers as she thought of something to say. Dzue Yi-sang filled the bowl again and gave it to her to rinse her mouth. "Is Miss Fn sick? Is that why you know-" "What makes you say that?" The doctor asked abruptly, staring at the cultivator. Her eyes were sharp and deep brown. "I... I was just... making conversation..." The doctor stared at her for another uncomfortable amount of time, then rolled up her sleeves despite the cold night air. She began to palpate the cultivator''s body from head to feet, noting when the patient reacted and where she had seemed to have lost all sensation. "Were these piercings for earrings?" she asked as she efficiently checked the cultivator''s ears. "I... don''t remember." The doctor looked at her tongue, spent several minutes minutely examining the skin on her back, and listened to her cough. Without a word, she turned to her bag and began pulling all manner of strange objects and weird-smelling herbs from her bag. Her pearls flashed ominously. The cultivator swallowed nervously and slowly retreated under the cloak. Please hurry back soon, Miss Fn! 3 - Buy the Box (midhunzh) - to buy a box and refuse the pearls inside it, i.e., show poor judgment.
Dzue Yi-sang worked through the night, her acupuncture needles flashing as a pot of medicine soup brewed nearby. The ''ghost'' had to swallow all kinds of strange pills and tonics, some that tasted worse than the mud at the bottom of the lake! It was only as the sun was coming up and Dzue Yi-sang was putting her needles away that Miss Fn suddenly appeared beside them, looking a little rumpled but otherwise cheerful. She handed a bundle over to Dzue Yi-sang, who silently raised an eyebrow but said nothing and packed it away without opening it. "Here, sh mei, I bet you''re still hungry." Miss Fn was carrying a basket in her other hand, inside of which was a still-warm pot of congee, rice porridge. The ''ghost''s'' stomach gurgled in response. She tried to rise and bow to hide the embarrassment she felt in front of this attractive woman. Her eyes had almost become heart-shaped from the first moment she had seen Miss Fn at the edge of the lake that morning. "This is too much... Please, this food..." "Is it plain?" Dzue Yi-sang demanded. "She''s already thrown up all that rice you gave her before-" "It''s plain, it''s plain." "... and... I do not deserve the honour of being called sh mei..." "What should I call you then?" Miss Fn asked, blowing on a spoonful of congee before offering it to the bashful cultivator. "Oh... I don''t... I... can''t remember my name-" Before she could speak another word, Miss Fn had pushed the spoon into her mouth. "Well, if you don''t want to be called sh mei... Hm, a little ghost... I know, ''Mi Gu''! What do you think?" A pink tinge appeared on the cultivator''s ravaged face. "Please stop teasing m-" She received another spoon of congee. "I need to sleep. Where are you staying?" Dzue Yi-sang asked, ignoring the antics of the other two. "A little house in the village to the west of here. I put a talisman on the door, you''ll see it straight away." Dzue Yi-sang left without another word. "Is she upset?" the cultivator asked nervously. "No, she''s just a very serious and taciturn person. She was born with a strong Metal element. You''ll get used to it. How do you feel?" "Better." Miss Fn nodded. The cultivator was already starting to look less like a ghoul and slightly more human. A pink tinge was appearing in that awful sallow skin and the wounds on her face had been patched up. She was, of course, still terribly thin and undernourished, and that would take time to remedy. "How is your memory now, Me Gu?" The cultivator pushed aside her embarrassment to answer, "Still not too good. I think I have been here for a while, so things are very hazy. I can tell you every hollow in the lake bed, but my name, and why I''m here..." Miss Fn listened carefully, while her eyes darted all over Me Gu''s body. Me Gu couldn''t help but wrap the cloak a little tighter around her, but Miss Fn reached out and deftly plucked up the tattered hem of Me Gu''s white dress. "Fine silk," she was murmuring to herself. "Delicate stitching, what remains of it. This is high quality... But it looks like a funeral robe..." "Miss Fn?" Miss Fn sat back with a cheerful grin. She winced as her dry lips cracked and immediately dipped her hands in the lake to drink some water. "In order to break your curse, I need to have some idea of its nature. And since your memory isn''t good, it''s imperative that we find out more about you to get some clues. Me Gu, I''m sorry, this may take a while, but I promise that I will free you from here." Somewhere in the words, a bird was calling, sweet piping notes that fell like shining gems through the fresh morning air. In the pink and gold light that surrounded them, Me Gu felt a rush of some emotion she had not felt in a long time, a kind of warmth like the touch of sunlight that reached within her and brought tears to her eyes. Before Miss Fn could say anything else, she began to cry. Me Gu bowed stiffly to Miss Fn until her head touched the ground. "I... I have nothing to give you... but if you can free me from here, I... I will follow you for life!" "I don''t need your life, Little Me," Miss Fn said, bemused, lifting the crying Me Gu up. "Think of this as... a good deed for you to pay forwards. I help you in the hope that you will help someone else in the future." "I will! I will! I will follow your example and help those in need. And that includes you, Miss Fn. If you are ever in need and I can help you in some way, please call for me." Miss Fn laughed. "Thank me when I free you." "I know you will." Me Gu smiled, though it hurt her damaged face and mouth. But her eyes, beginning to heal under Dzue Yi-sang''s ministrations, were already shining and showing signs of a kind of gentle and vital beauty. Miss Fn squeezed her hand very gently, careful not to injure her further. "Why don''t you sleep now? I''ll build you a camouflaged shelter so you can rest in the future without fear." Sleep! How long had it been since Me Gu had slept properly? The constant fear of being caught or harmed by the villagers, the discomfort of her injuries and the cold water of the lake - all these things had made sleep unpleasant and fleeting. But now, lying on the steadily warming grass by the water''s edge, wrapped in Miss Fn''s comfortable cloak that smelt of her, Me Gu, although so happy that she wanted to stay awake forever, finally fell into a peaceful sleep. * If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. "Hm... this looks like Old Chn style. A little rough, but very long lasting. Of course, it would have been top class at the time it was made." Miss Fn was standing in a fabric merchant''s shop, a long way from the small village and the lake where Me Gu now slept in a hidden shelter. The merchant in front of her was carefully inspecting a scrap of white fabric with a hand lens. Miss Fn had cut it from the hem of Me Gu''s dress. "Old Chn, huh?" "Certainly. Being pure white, and with this quality, this resembles Old Chn funeral wear for nobles or royalty." "So our Little Gu is someone like that... Perhaps..." Miss Fn murmured to herself. She smiled at the merchant and slipped him a silver coin. "Thank you for your help, Uncle." "That fabric is not worth much now," the merchant shrugged, but he pocketed the coin. "One hundred and fifty years ago it would have been a different story, but textile production has advanced rapidly since then." "What''s the fastest route to the Chn Kingdom?" The merchant gave Miss Fn a dubious look. Here was an attractive young woman, dressed in adventurer''s garb from leather boots to boyishly tied-back hair. Rich pearls glowed at her ears, so she clearly had money. She didn''t look like a scholar or a merchant, so why was she so curious? Still, she had given him a nice payment, so he offered generously, "You will want to head south first. The border road between our kingdom and G Kingdom in the south will get you most of the way, so follow it east until you reach the border post. The guards can direct you from there." "The G Kingdom?" "Yeah, you know. ''G'', the Criminal Kingdom. The Kingdom of Empty Stomachs. No?" He looked at her quizzically. "I guess you''re not from around here. Have you not heard of the Zh Kingdom before?" Zh! Miss Fn''s pupils dilated rapidly but she held herself still with all her willpower and in the relatively dim light in the shop, the merchant did not notice. She toyed with the flask at her hip. "Ah, of course. I have heard of that name. Those nicknames...?" The merchant spat. "How dare a place like that have such an auspicious name? ''G'' is more suitable for them." Miss Fn straightened herself quickly, merely saying, "Well those instructions sound very simple. Thank you again, Uncle." She replaced her hat as she left the shop, this time drawing her hat veil around herself to hide her appearance. Slipping through the crowded streets like a spirit, anyone who noticed her would not have thought her the same person who had arrived in town bold and carefree, almost everyone''s eyes on her. But no one noticed. She tried to keep her thoughts formless too. She did not dare to look at them too long. She doubted she would like what she would find. Nightfall found Miss Fn skimming through the forests near the border road, without once touching the ground. She had not gone back to the village to tell Me Gu and Dzue Yi-sang of her findings, as she felt that if she didn''t leave immediately, she would never go. She had to pass the border of Zh as soon as possible. Miss Fn almost didn''t realise she had run out of forest, so intent was she on outrunning her own thoughts. She reined her rapid flight quickly, pulling back under the cover of the trees, but not before a voice rang out: "Who goes there? Come out and be identified!" Miss Fn breathed slowly and deeply, letting the energy and tension in her diffuse. There was no point in acting rashly. Rashly is exactly how the guard would act, the longer she hid in the woods. She could feel his nervousness radiating between the trees towards her like a mouse that knows the cat is nearby, but can''t tell where. With a casual smile on her face and a sweeping flourish of her veil, she stepped into the open, almost directly into the guard''s spear. She had gambled correctly - he was a young man, surely a fresh recruit. His hands were shaking so much she thought her might stab her on accident. "Who are you?" he demanded squeakily. He cleared his throat, embarrassed, and tried again. "Why were you hiding in the woods?" Miss Fn smiled coyly, and with mock discreteness, adjusted her clothing a little. "I had some business to attend to, sir." The guard turned so red he almost illuminated the evening air. Miss Fn took advantage of his state to step forward, so that he was forced to step back, spear still held in front of him. "I''m headed to the Chn Kingdom. Am I headed in the right direction?" "Yes... yes! This is the correct way. But it will take you another two days, and it''s dangerous to travel at night, Miss. You should stop at the border town where our soldiers stay. Just watch out for those G dogs, they''re always sneaking around." He shivered. Something seemed slightly odd, as if something inhuman were staring coldly out of Miss Fn''s grey-brown eyes. But her smile broadened and that momentary sensation disappeared as she replaced her hat. "Thank you. I''ll do that." She did not, in fact, stay at the border town. She did, however, observe it from a nearby tree. Unsettled, was her first though. Like gunpowder, was her second, like all it needed was the slightest spark and the whole thing would explode. Even in the deepening night, she could sense the unease and restlessness of the inhabitants. The Zh people were obvious - they slunk about like beaten dogs, each wearing a black cloth somewhere on their person. Miss Fn was unable to get a clear look at the shape that was emblazoned on the cloth, despite her excellent eyesight - the Zh tended to try and shamefully hide it as much as they could. Usually, she would have dismissed this from her mind and continued on her way, but something itched at her brain and she had to know what it was. She dropped down from the tree and slipped silently into the shadow of a house just as a rowdy group of drunk men, still in military uniform, burst from a nearby tavern, evidently finally turfed out by the exasperated publican. They immediately stumbled into a Zh man and laid into him, beating him until he stopped moving. Then, congratulating themselves on a job well done, they stumbled home. Miss Fn immediately slipped out to the man''s side. He was still conscious, having laid still and pretended to have fainted to save him from a worse beating. Still, both of his eyes were swollen and some of his ribs cracked, and his nose dripping blood incessantly. He was trying to stand as Miss Fn approached, and he cringed back when he saw she was not wearing a black cloth. "Hey, hey, hey. It''s okay. I''m a friend," she assured him softly in the Zh tongue, spreading her hands to show them empty. The man stared dumbly at her, not sure what to make of the situation. His black cloth had come loose from his shoulder and slipped to his elbow, and at last Miss Fn could see the image on it. It was a worm. A common, lowest of the low worm, useless and incapable compared to the excellent and outstanding. A rush of comprehension filled Miss Fn''s mind and for a moment, her vision went black. Something must have shown on her face, as the man before her had scuttled backwards in terror, dragging his injured body and leaving a trail of blood. His hands were clutched to something at his neck, but he had to let it go to hold his damaged ribs. The rushing vortex in Miss Fn''s mind ceased as her eyes fell on the pendant he wore. It was crudely carved from very low quality soapstone, and threaded with an old worn cord, but the shape was unmistakably that of a dragon. A coiled dragon, holding what could only be a pearl, never mind that it was misshapen and rough. Miss Fn saw it, and all her anger was extinguished in the soft rain of sadness. They hung in silence for a moment, she with her eyes fixed on the dragon, he breathless and frightened, watching for her next movement. "Leave," she said at last. "All of you, all the Dzue people. You need to leave now." He stared, uncomprehending, until a few drops of rain began to splash down on his face. The faint smell of rising petrichor began to permeate the air. He looked at her eyes and saw that they were the grey-brown of a slow moving river. His lips moved, as if he were about to speak, but he closed them against without a sound, and bowed deeply before her, his head to the floor. They both left, he to gather the others and race, frightened, into the night, and she down to the nearest stream. The border town was flattened by a typhoon that night. Howling winds tore through streets, snatching roof tiles and thatching and gouging at the walls. Water slewed down in sheets, picking up everything and everyone, and carrying them away so that for weeks afterwards, as the kingdom''s meteorologists scratched their heads over this strange and unseasonable storm, and so localised, clean-up teams were finding bodies hundreds of kilometres away, carried by floodwaters. All night, surrounded by screaming gales and the inexorable beating of rain, Miss Fn stood in the swelling water of the stream, and cried, and cried. 4 - Overflow Back in the woods by the lake, Me Gu slowly healed. Dzue Yi-sang supplied her with tonics and applied salves and brought good, wholesome food, but never answered any questions. Why was she helping Me Gu? Was there, perhaps, a favour she owed Miss Fn? Was there anything Me Gu could do in return? What sorts of things did Dzue Yi-sang and Miss Fn like? Dzue Yi-sang merely raised her eyebrows coldly and shook her head. "Just heal and don''t cause me any trouble." Her visits became fewer and fewer as Me Gu became better. The cultivator could understand, but having taken a sip from a cup of wine, the return to drinking plain water was hard - she may have been trapped alone in the lake for a hundred years, but now that she knew companionship, solitude was bitter. And Miss Fn continued to be absent. Me Gu tried to return to her cultivation, what she could remember of the techniques, stilling her heart when it tried to rage. Sometimes fear, and even anger, threatened to overwhelm her. Each time, she returned to the scene of the tranquil lake before her, bringing the dark thoughts back down. It helped the lonely hours pass. But sometimes she felt herself slipping into trances where reality merged with fantasy, where the lake and woods faded away and she found herself in half-remembered or half-imagined places, palaces and city streets emerging between the trees surrounding her. Someone called out - who? What name had they called? And then when she turned her face, there stood a figure by the lotus pond (what lotus pond?), shimmering a rich bronze as though their clothing was made of fish or snake scales. The figure spread its arms in greeting, and the words burst from Me Gu''s lips before she even knew it. "Taai Wong! Your Majesty!" "How do you know the Dzue tongue?" Dzue Yi-sang demanded behind her. Me Gu thought her heart would leap out of her mouth. The trance collapsed in an instant. "How do you know?" Dzue Yi-sang demanded, dropping her bag to fall to her knees and seize Me Gu''s shoulders. Me Gu was speechless. The doctor''s cold and impassive exterior had cracked to reveal a desperate woman clutching at her robes. "I don''t know," Me Gu said quickly, taking Dzue Yi-sang''s arms to reassure her. "I was meditating and I saw... Perhaps they are memories. I don''t know. Did something happen to the Zh Kingdom?" "What did you see?" Dzue Yi-sang snapped urgently, ignoring Me Gu''s question. "A palace... A lotus pond... Someone dressed in shining bronze robes. They''re the one I called ''Your Majesty''." "Shining bronze robes?" Dzue Yi-sang mused, looking puzzled. She retracted herself suddenly and stood, but she remained pensive, apparently oblivious to all of the pills and other items that had spilled from her bag. Me Gu began to diligently pick them up. "She''s been gone a long time," the doctor said suddenly. "Who...?" "Fan Dze, of course." She impatiently swept her belongings from Me Gu''s hands and back into the bag. "Perhaps she was caught up in something?" Me Gu suggested peaceably. Dzue Yi-sang ignored her words, evidently having returned to her usual cold self, and said instead, "Have you worked out your cultivation method?" "I''m still not sure. The most I''ve determined is that energy flows easier when I''m closer to the lake. But it''s not Water-based... I think?" "Well, hurry up," Dzue Yi-sang ordered, extracting a balm from the jumble in her bag. "And apply this to your joints." "Are you worried about Miss Fn?" Dzue Yi-sang left. And so the weeks passed. Late spring warmed into summer, the lotuses burst into bloom, and Me Gu barely saw Dzue Yi-sang, or any other being for that matter. She stilled her heart, and pushed down her anxiety. And then, as the days finally began to ever so slightly shorten, Miss Fn returned.
It was late afternoon, warm and hazy, and Me Gu sat cross-legged by the edge of the lake, cultivating diligently. Things had changed so much since Miss Fn had fished her from the water. As summer had lengthened, her cultivation had improved markedly, and she had begun to suspect that something about the season had brought about this improvement. A passerby would not believe for a moment that she were anything but human; although she was still somewhat frail and underweight, and her skin still marked by her time underwater, she was clear-eyed and alert, her damaged hair regaining its shine, her wasted muscles fuller and her movements smooth. The miraculous hands of the doctor had implanted new teeth where the old ones had been lost. In fact, villagers who had begun to return to the lake had met her and identified her as a cultivator. Heartened by the apparent disappearance of the ''ghost'', they would visit every day, bringing Me Gu food and talk. These visits did a great deal to help her recovery, nourishing her lonely heart such that she no longer felt such sadness over the infrequency of Dzue Yi-sang''s visits. The figure in her trances would still appear occasionally, along with others - a cheerful girl in servant''s robes who brought her osmanthus cakes, an older woman in rich attire with gentle hands and a soft voice, a cheerful man surrounded by horses. Their faces were blurry, and she didn''t know their names, but she was sure, so sure, that she had once know them, in a different time and place. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. She thought about Miss Fn a lot, especially in the moments as she was slipping into sleep, lying alone by the side of the lake, and she remembered how Miss Fn had held her securely even when she had been at her most wretched. She missed being held. She wondered where Miss Fn was and hoped she was safe, although the idea of something bad happening to Miss Fn seemed absurd. So she dreamed and cultivated and talked to the villagers and her body slowly healed, and when at last Miss Fn stepped out into the last of the golden sunlight by the lake, the woman who sat alone by the lake barely resembled the emaciated creature that had crept trembling from the water.
Miss Fn paused a moment, to simply look while she was still herself unobserved. The simply-dressed woman before her had a gentle face. Her full lips and heavy eyelids gave her a na?ve appearance, yet she had chosen not to remove the silvery scars criss-crossing her pale skin. The hair, that had been rough as straw, and as brittle, was now growing glossy and smooth and was long enough to brush her shoulders. "You have high cultivation, to maintain such a youthful appearance," Miss Fn called out, teasingly. A pair of dark eyes flashed towards her. "Miss Fn!" Me Gu rose up instantly, checking herself when she realised she had almost flung herself into the demon hunter''s arms. How strange, she hadn''t realised she had missed Miss Fn so much. In many ways, they were complete strangers. But there was something very reliable about Miss Fn, a kind of warm assurance that... Something seemed wrong. "Miss Fn... Are you well?" "Me? I''m a bit hungry, but that''s it." "Oh, please, go and get some food first, we can talk later." Miss Fn shook her head. The afternoon light set sparkling lights in her hair and glimmered in her grey-brown eyes, but something seemed wrong. Me Gu didn''t know what it was. "You''ve kept these?" Miss Fn gestured to the scars. Me Gu smiled and shrugged. "I have no illusions of vanity. These scars show what I have experienced. Miss Fn..." Are you okay? What''s wrong? She barely knew Miss Fn. But she knew enough. She was the kind of person to come to decisions quickly and stick to them, and she had decided that Miss Fn was a very important person to her. Then Miss Fn lowered her head, and knelt gracefully before Me Gu. It was a strange scene, the elegant figure of the demon hunter kneeling before the smaller one of the cultivator, clad in her simple borrowed garments. "... Miss Fn?" "Your Highness."
"What?" Dzue Yi-sang demanded. "I''m almost certain that our Xio Gu is the Second Princess Chn Zy, Divine Lotus, the Benevolent Ancestor of Chn-" "Not that," Dzue Yi-sang cut in acidly. "When did you say you were at that border town?" "I don''t remember." Miss Fn shrugged, and offered Me Gu a plate. "Would you like a strawberry, Your Highness?" "Fan Ah Yi!" A cold aura rolled off Miss Fn and froze the bones of the two women beside her. Dzue Yi-sang gritted her teeth. "Stop that! Let me feel your pulse." Dzue Yi-sang had arrived after sundown, as if she had received some kind of telepathic message that Miss Fn had returned. She had brought food for Miss Fn, including the very berries that Miss Fn was carelessly offering to Me Gu as they all sat, or in the doctor''s case, stood, by the lake. Part of Me Gu wanted to laugh raucously, the other part was supremely embarrassed. "Miss Fn..." "You don''t want a strawberry, Your Highness?" "I''ll take a strawberry if you get your pulse checked," Me Gu conceded with mild exasperation, trying not to laugh. Still holding out the plate to Me Gu, Miss Fn extended her free arm in Dzue Yi-sang''s direction. "Done!" The doctor cast a sour look at the other two women, but began to carefully check Miss Fn''s pulse as Me Gu took a strawberry to uphold her end of the bargain. "So... What now?" "I''ll escort you to Chn." "You won''t do anything of the sort," Dzue Yi-sang hissed. She broke into a rapid string of rebuke in the Zh tongue, which Miss Fn calmly ignored and Me Gu was mostly unable to understand. "Well?" Miss Fn asked, as if Dzue Yi-sang had not said anything. "What''s the problem, Y Shng?" Me Gu in her turn ignored Miss Fn''s question and turned to the doctor. "She''s overworked herself. She will need months of recovery -" "I''m fine." Dzue Yi-sang unleashed a torrent of angry Zh again. "Um, Miss Fn?" Me Gu managed to ask as Dzue Yi-sang drew a breath. "Yes, Your Highness?" Me Gu squirmed at this title but pushed on. "You said you would escort me... Does that mean... You''ve found a way to release me from the lake?" A crooked grin crept onto Miss Fn''s face. "I have. And so, once you are released, you can return to your homeland." Me Gu''s heart quivered a little, and she realised, in amongst the joy of her almost-freedom, and the knowledge of who she was, that... "Are you not happy, Your Highness?" Miss Fn asked. In spite of the long journey she had just returned from, and the low state of health that Dzue Yi-sang had diagnosed her with, she looked bright and strong and Me Gu could not ever imagine her being unwell. "Ah, no. I... It''s a lot to take in." "Do your name and title not bring back any memories?" Me Gu shook her head. "Second Princess Chn Zy, daughter of the Third Regent Chn Shnzh and his Consort Mn Jang..." "Oh... Regal Mother." The image of the older woman from her trances rose up in her mind, and those gentle hands, her soft smile... An unusually loud "Huh" escaped her throat, then she shook herself, and said, more normally, "Is she...? Well, it''s been so long..." "Yes, she passed away several decades ago, Your Highness." "Please don''t call me that. We don''t know... For sure..." Miss Fn crouched on her heels, and looking up at Me Gu, offered her hand. Me Gu hesitated a moment before taking it. "Little Gu," Miss Fn continued, and the little endearment made Me Gu want to smile and cry all at once. "It has been over one hundred years since you were cursed. Your elder brother, who became the Fourth Regent of Chn, has also passed. In fact, the kingdom is now in the hands of the Sixth Regent, since the Fifth Regent died early from illness. Regent Chn Yl is your brother''s second grandson, your grandnephew, younger brother of the Fifth Regent." Me Gu''s hand was limp in Miss Fn''s gentle but firm grip. She had known that she had been in the lake for a long time, but it was only now that it felt real... She closed her eyes. "So that''s how it is... How do we break the curse? Who cast it?" "I only have part of the answers for those questions, and a lot of conjecture... Xio Gu, do you think you''re ready?" Her eyes still shut tight, Me Gu sighed. "Miss Fn, if the things you will tell me are as concerning as you suggest, then I will never be truly ready to hear them, which means I am currently as ready as I will ever be." She flashed strange smile and said cheerfully, "I''m a grown adult. Let''s do this!" Dzue Yi-sang stood abruptly. "I have no interest in hearing any of this, and since Fan Dze refuses to be treated, I seem to have no choice. You can try and find me when you stop being foolish." She glided away into the forest with a flick of her sleeves. "Never mind her." Miss Fn''s smile brightly returned. She pulled her flask from her belt once more. "Let me tell you what I know." 5 - Flood Chn Kingdom, 108 years ago. This is a place of fresh beauty, with low plateau meadows, vast basins of green ringed by distant, rolling hills. A good country for pasture, with plenty of food and slow slopes amenable to hoofed animals. The horses of Chn are prized as suitable for noble children and for pulling light carriages, due to their peaceful temperament. The third Chn king, Shnzh, was a fierce-looking man, with a face as fearsome as General Zhng Ku, but well-liked by his subjects. His main wife, Queen Mn Jang, was as soft-mannered as the Chn horses, and had given him two children; the Crown Prince, and the Second Princess Zy. The king had numerous concubines and children, but the children of the Queen stood out in particular. They were not the most beautiful, but the Crown Prince was lively and athletic, reckoned a great hunter and excellent strategist, and the Second Princess was pious and altruistic, constantly seeking to assist the poor and suffering. At fifteen, she had almost fully embraced a nun''s life, eating no meat, dressing simply, praying to the gods and volunteering her time at temples to assist the monks and nuns. So dedicated was she to her cause that she would have shaved all her hair off if her mother had not begged her to keep it. And so it was that at the age of twenty-four, she was unmarried, while her elder brother and several of her younger siblings already had children. Her nieces and nephews adored her, and she was content with looking after them and the Chn people. She had been cultivating all the while, a Water elemental path of temperance, righteousness and piety known as Still Heart, and her care of the people and her increasing abilities made her appear almost like a living goddess. She gently turned aside any attempts at worship, requesting that proffered offerings be used for the good of those in need. It was an idyllic life. Such things never last. At first, it was only for a few days when the rain seemed particularly heavy. Farmers occasionally grumbled about fodder for the animals being ruined, but this was only temporary and there was still enough food. But after a time the rain fell again, and again, falling steadily heavier and then for weeks on end. The fields began to flood then churned to mud, animals forced into increasingly small patches of land, then to swim, then to drown. Under the water, vegetation began to rot. Villages and then cities flooded, with even the lower sections of the Imperial City succumbing to the water. In this flat land, there were few places to go - some people made it to the distant hills, but many lost their lives in the floodwaters. Even with her great Water powers, the Second Princess could do nothing but place her own life on the line and bravely enter flooded areas to personally rescue those in need. Something had to be done. The King, desperate, turned to the neighbouring Zhng Kingdom for assistance. He requested temporary asylum for his people until the rains ceased, and in return, he offered his eldest daughter, the Second Princess Zy. Although she was old for a bride, her great virtuousness and abilities would make her an excellent teacher for the young Crown Prince of Zhng. Besides which, as the eldest daughter of the Chn King and his Queen, she had great status, and the two kingdoms would thus be tied together strongly. The Zhng Kingdom agreed. Although reluctant, the Second Princess also agreed to the marriage, to help the Chn people. Still, she was suspicious of the rain. There was too much, far too much, for it to be a natural phenomenon. Something supernatural had to be at work. In the month before her marriage, she investigated where she could, escaping from the lessons she was being taught in preparation for her new life, to try and determine the source of the endless rain. She skipped lessons to the point where even her gentle mother scolded her harshly until they were both in tears. There were whispers that the curse that had befallen the Zh Kingdom had now spread to Chn. Others claimed that the gods were angry that the Chn people were more reverent to a living woman than to them. In the end, the Second Princess'' investigations found nothing but rumours and conjecture, and she had run out of time. And yet, on that grey, stormy day when she exited the place in her wedding red to board the bridal sedan, veil threatening to fly away with the fierce winds, she finally came face to face with the one responsible for all the rain.
The rain fell. Everything was wet, down to the bones. There was not one person who could any longer comprehend the concept of dryness, though the servants fought hard against the black mould creeping up the palace walls and across the clothing of the nobles and royals who lived there. Even as Second Princess Zy, the Divine Lotus, stepped out of the palace in her red wedding robes, faint speckles of mould spangled the brilliant red. The servants had liberally festooned her in jewels to try and hide the damage. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. There was no way of securing auspicious weather for this wedding. How could anyone expect sunshine to grace the bride as she headed away from her family home? Yet in the bravely burning torchlight, held by servants and townspeople alike to combat the dark and the rain, the Princess gleamed like a lotus flower in morning dew and those watching could not help but feel their hearts lift... "You think this will change anything?" The woman blocking the Princess'' way to her bridal sedan wore tattered clothing that had once been very fine and of high quality. Her eyes were strange, the pupils narrow even in the dim light. Before a soldier could even shout or move, she had raised a bony hand, fingernails long as claws, and summoned a ball of boiling red light within. "Stay back," she laughed coldly, stepping towards the bride. When the soldiers flinched, she sent the burning light ricocheting amongst them, raising painful welts on their faces and hands. The Princess did not move. Completely still, her face hidden by her veil, she seemed unafraid, standing straight before the strange woman, who sneered at her. "Look at this cute little princess, playing god to the poor. How righteous!" The Princess bowed politely in the returned. "Good Auntie, please tell me if I have wronged you in any way. If I have I will do all in my power to rectify my mistake." A sinister smile appeared on the woman''s face. "Even if it means your death?" Princess Zy''s response was lost below the cry of the Queen, who rushed forwards at these words. "NO! My daughter is innocent! Please, please spare her. What has she ever done to you? A Y is a good and virtuous girl who would have been a nun if she were not of royal blood. Who are you, seeking her death? Demon!" "Are you responsible for this rain?" the Princess asked calmly, embracing her sobbing mother to her side. "No, little princess, it is you. You and your mother, and your father, and all the people here." The woman laughed, but she seemed to have lost energy. Even the burning light in her hands flickered uncertainly. "And if I die, you will release your curse?" "A Y!" her mother screamed. The woman laughed and the red light whirled wildly around her. "You offer yourself, little princess? Good, then I will take your life. Kneel and let me see your mother scream in agony!" "I swear I will let you take my life, but please let me farewell my family first." And so, although the Queen cried to the point of fainting, and the King and the Crown Prince swore to tear the demon woman apart, Princess Zy farewelled her family, and the demon woman took her life. With that, the curse was broken, the rain finally ceased, and the Chn Kingdom was saved.
"There are far too many issues with that story," Dzue Yi-sang scoffed. "Oh absolutely," Miss Fn agreed, gobbling berries carelessly. "How many demons have the power to curse an entire country? Why did the Princess so easily give up her life? Why did was the curse created in the first place?" She paused her eating. "Little Gu?" The cultivator was sitting very still, her eyes fixed on some unseen point between her and the lake. Something was stirring in her mind, scratching at her brain, screaming to be let out. "She... looked like a Queen." Dzue Yi-sang quirked an eyebrow. "What was that?" "That woman... when she stood in front of me at the palace... her clothes were damaged, almost rags, and she looked so, so sick... but she... still looked like a Queen." Miss Fn put down the berry she was holding. "Keep talking. What do you remember?" "N-nothing else, just her... just -" "Just her is fine. Tell me about her clothes. The colour of her eyes, how tall she was..." "She was... tall, I think. But she was hunched over... like I said, looked ill. Pale, thin, her skin looked greasy. So did her hair. It was loose and long." The words were coming more easily now. "She may not actually have been that old, but her fingers looked damaged and the nails were so long. Her clothes looked like they were made of expensive materials. There were patches that looked as though they had gold thread running through them... no... not quite, but something similar. Her eyes were... it was hard to see with the light. A strange mix of brown and blue..." She trailed off as Miss Fn drew a long, shuddering breath. "Miss Fn?" Dzue Yi-sang was also watching quizzically. Miss Fn shook her head. "It''s as I thought. I know how to break your curse. But it will take a lot of energy, and I''m... well... a little under the weather right now. Sorry, Your Highness, but you won''t be able to go home just yet." "Miss Fn, you''ve already done so much," Me Gu said softly. Memories were slowly filtering back in, filling the void in her mind. She stood and bowed respectfully to the demon hunter, the grace and training of a princess evident in her posture. "If you will not call me Me Gu any longer, then please call me A Lin, Lotus. My family used to call me so, and I owe you so much, I please allow me to call you Older Sister." "Then, call me Fan Dze," Miss Fen smiled. "As... As Dzue Yi-sang calls me." "Fan Dze." Lin tested the syllables of the Zh tongue, wondering if this was the right moment to ask Miss Fn about her own background. But her head was reeling with her own memories, and more questions kept arising than being answered. Not only were the questions that Miss Fn asked absolutely valid, there were so many more. Most importantly, if she had supposedly died, how had she instead ended up cursed to be bound to a lake in a different kingdom? The dark night, which had at first felt peaceful and friendly, was beginning to develop the first signs of autumn chill, and Lin could feel it sapping her energy. "I think it''s time for sleep. A Lin, please don''t be offended if I don''t keep you company tonight, I am so tired I fear I may snore loudly and interrupt your own rest." Lin blinked, wondering why Miss Fn was speaking so formally. "That''s... well, of course. Please rest well, Fan Dze." The name slipped easily from her mouth this time, like water in a stream, when moments earlier the sounds had felt so foreign. Why? Dzue Yi-sang had already packed up her things and gone as Miss Fn bowed politely and disappeared amongst the trees, leaving Lin to settle down alone in her shelter. She pulled her blanket tightly around her, as though she were being hugged, wishing that she had asked Miss Fn to stay, but remembering that exhausted, conflicted look on the demon hunter''s face. I''ll talk to her tomorrow, she thought, over and over, pressing her tongue hard to the roof of her mouth because she would not cry. Don''t cry. I''ll talk to her tomorrow. 6 - Curse "Is it... not working?" Two days later, they sat by the lakeside once more, Miss Fn tracing patterns across Lin''s face with her fingers and water from the lake. The deepening frown on the demon hunter''s face had made Lin ask the question. Miss Fn muttered something to herself in Zh, then said, more loudly, "Maybe the face is not enough." "Sorry?" "Take off your robes." "Sorry?" Lin drew back in alarm, crystal drops of water slipping down her face. "Ah." Miss Fn shook herself. "That was very... Sorry, what I mean is, I may need to draw glyphs on your torso too, not just your face. Are you comfortable taking off your robes? We''re well hidden here." That somehow didn''t seem to be the point to Lin, but she wasn''t sure what was. Her mind was in a whirl. Rather than responding to Miss Fn, she said, "Fan Ze... are you... alright?" Miss Fn smiled calmly, tipping her head, her hair slipping off her shoulder in a chestnut-coloured stream. Lin''s dark eyes narrowed suspiciously. She had spent enough time with Miss Fn to start realising that this bland expression and mild smile usually meant the demon hunter was hiding something. In the past she had let it go, but she had never truly thought it was a good thing. "Fan Ze, you''ve been distracted and serious ever since you''ve come back. Please tell me what is going on." "Just thinking about what to have for lunch." Lin gave a strange laugh. "And what did you decide?" The demon hunter made a face, tucking loose hair that had escaped from her ponytail behind her ears. Her pearl earrings gleamed as she did. She began to fiddle with the laces of her black leather bracers. "Tell me, what''s wrong?" Lin asked, her voice soft and gentle once more. "Nothing, Xio Lin." "Of course it''s not nothing." "Could you... pretend that it is though?" Lin fell silent. She took off her outer robe and folded it neatly. "The inner one too. Your shoulders and upper chest need to be bare." Why was she so nervous? Lin breathed out slowly to steady herself, then let the inner robe slip off her shoulders. Miss Fn helped her out of it and tossed it on top of the folded outer robe. With expert speed, she began to draw along Lin''s arms, face and chest with the lake water and her long fingers, her usual playful air controlled under intense concentration. Lin, for her part, found her skin and scalp tingling almost beyond endurance. She shut her eyes and rapidly brought her consciousness to focus within her body, retreating from her skin to bring her overstimulated nerves in check. Still, Miss Fn did not seem satisfied. Rather, she sat back with a confused expression on her face, once more muttering to herself in Zh. Lin opened one eye cautiously, letting herself return to her outer body. "Miss Fn?" The demon hunter, legs and arms crossed in annoyance, was frowning ferociously at the lake. "It''s all over the place," she muttered. "What''s all over the place?" "... Your Highness, you understood that?" "Yes? Of course I did." "I spoke in Zyu just now." Lin stared. A slim, tan hand caught her chin. "Let me see..." Miss Fn brought her face so close to Lin''s that, rather than being flattering or embarrassing, it was almost scary. Lin thought their eyeballs might touch. "Hm." "W... What is it?" Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. "How much do you remember about your cultivation path, Lin? Your master? Your abilities?" "Only bits and pieces. I''m... ashamed to say I can''t remember my master at all. After listening to you speak about my past, I came to understand that my practice is supposed to be Water-based, yet sometimes it just doesn''t feel right. And then, other times, it does." "The curse has interfered with your cultivation, surprise, surprise. Did Zyu Ji Sang say anything to you about q deviation? Q deviation! A cultivator''s worst fear, the internal tangling of the energy pathways in the body when a practitioner loses their way. Lin patted herself reflexively. "I... don''t feel like..." "You haven''t had a q deviation, no, which is... pretty amazing, all things considered. Those with a high Water affinity are more prone to it, and considering how you''ve spent the last hundred years... Still, that''s not to say you''ve been completely unscathed, although Zyu Ji Sang had to do a fair bit of work." "Are you saying I''m still at risk?" "Unfortunately. If I can remove this curse, it''ll help things a lot." A fierce energy was bubbling up from within her, strong enough that Lin could feel it lapping around her, and for a moment she had an immense sense of vertigo, as though she were standing at the edge of a deep, rushing river. "How strong are you really, Miss Fn?" Miss Fn''s head jerked back. The bubbling energy abruptly disappeared and the cheerful grin was back on her face. "Strong enough. Sorry this is taking so long, Your Highness." They had fallen back into their previous modes of speaking, to Lin''s discomfited realisation. But what could she say? In reality they had not known each other that long, and their relationship was really one of a client and a service provider. Yet Miss Fn was also the first person who had reached their hand out in over a hundred long and lonely years, who had comforted her when she was at her worst, who had travelled long distances to find the truth of her curse. Lin could make a joke here and brush it off, or she could be sincere. "Fan Ze. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you have done for me. I truly see you as my benefactor, and if you permit it, as an older sister. If you feel uncomfortable telling me certain things, please feel no obligation to speak, but I... I don''t know if I have the right to say this - I wish that you would not shut me out." She remained bowed as she waited for a response. Miss Fn stared, then smiled ruefully. "Xio Lin, I''m sorry. I''m dealing with some personal things at the moment that have nothing to do with you, but I''ve let them distract me and it''s affected you." She sighed, then suddenly flopped backwards, spread-eagled on the lush grass by the lake, in a warm patch of sunlight. Lin raised her head to observe the demon hunter, evidently enjoying the warm sunshine combating the slowly cooling autumn air. Miss Fn, eyes closed, patted the ground beside her. "Come and lie down here for a bit too. The sun''s great." Lin lay down beside her, shutting her eyes against the light. As the minutes stretched out, she could feel herself slowly relaxing, and presently began to feel a low, almost imperceptible flow of energy beside her. They breathed in and out in unison. Miss Fn. She''s strong, Lin thought, realisation slowly dawning on her. She already knew this was the case to a certain extent; Miss Fn was a successful demon hunter after all, but her ability to hide her strength from Lin, who was a Second-dntin Expert(1), gave her much to think about. "Xio Lin, can you tell me what you remember about your cultivation path?" "The Still Heart... There are some things I still don''t quite remember, but the basis is deep contemplation of the existence of water. What it is, how it moves, and how this can teach us to live well." Miss Fn sighed. Strangely, it seemed to Lin that she was about to cry. "... How would someone with such a deep connection to water be... I just don''t get it!" Miss Fn sat up suddenly. "Xio Lin, let me check your condition again." Lin sat up too and offered her wrists, one of the places where she could feel resistance when she tried to leave the lake. Miss Fn''s cool hands wrapped around them, and she felt a wash of energy through the area. Eyes closed once again, Miss Fn''s face showed intense concentration. She suddenly released one of Lin''s hands and pressed her own palm flat against the cultivator''s chest. Oh no. She''s going to notice how fast my heart is beating... But Miss Fn seemed to have other things on her mind. A look of understanding was growing across her face, and with a short, fierce laugh, she made a sudden snatching movement over Lin''s middle dntin. Lin felt something catch and tear in her chest, not painful but very uncomfortable. She felt the pull in her wrists and ankles as well, as though Miss Fn had somehow seized the invisible chains that held her captive to the lake and was drawing them out through her body. The unpleasant feeling of the long, chain-like curse being extracted made Lin grit her teeth with a sharp intake of breath, screw her eyes shut, and draw herself once more within. This time, she focused on her middle dntin, feeling at the curse''s anchor there and testing it, pulling and washing it away with her q. "Careful," she could hear Miss Fn say directly into her mind. "Think of it like a lizard''s tail. It can break any second." The foreign energy within her felt muddy and confused. Flashes of oily fire burst up and she quashed them her own Water energy. Waves of stagnant water trickled through her meridians and she could feel the powerful currents of Miss Fn''s q boost hers to clean it out. She felt as though someone was trying to pull her guts out through her stomach and breathed deeply to avoid being sick. "Ah!" She felt it, the final uncomfortable slip of the curse from her body, then a sudden wave of energy from Miss Fn as she crushed the curse with sheer power. Shaking, drenched in sweat, Lin opened her eyes to the bright blue sky and an incredible lightness. It seemed as though the whole world was in flow and she could begin to see the patterns that traced through all things. Miss Fn seized Lin''s hands, almost as elated as Lin felt. "It wasn''t her! She didn''t curse you, she didn''t..." Miss Fn''s eyes glowed. "It wasn''t..." Lin had no idea what she was talking about, but neither did she want to disturb the demon hunter. Miss Fn drew a steadying breath. "Me Gu, the person who cursed you... it wasn''t that woman." 7 - Evening Clouds ĺƴ (m yn chn sh) - "Evening clouds, spring trees"; thinking of friends who are far away.
"You''re leaving, Miss Fn, Miss Cultivator?" Miss Fn patted the child who had asked the question on the head. "Sorry, little one, but those demons won''t hunt themselves. Shmi needs to come with me to improve her cultivation too." The villagers gathered around, genuinely disappointed that the lively demon hunter and gentle cultivator were leaving them behind. They had grown quite fond of the two women, even if the former had a bit of a tendency to do whatever she wanted, and the latter insisted on camping beside the once-cursed lake. She had finally set foot in the village for the first time that day, only to say goodbye. The villagers presented them with a little of the food they could spare from the autumn harvest, a veiled hat for Lin, and lots of advice. As well as the remainder of Miss Fn''s fee, for she had headed to Chn before they had paid. "The nights are getting cold. Stay warm!" "Miss Fn, be alert in the border towns. They''re saying the flooding of the military village was the work of demons!" "Xio Lin, you need to eat more, you''re so skinny! Hey, bring a few more sweet potatoes over here!" Eyes shining, Lin bid the villagers farewell, following in Miss Fn''s footsteps as they began to head south. She felt weightless, like a petal on a breeze, and almost expected herself to float away if she didn''t pay attention, now that the curse had been lifted. In the end though, Miss Fn had to confess that she did not know the exact identity of the person who had cast the curse. She also would not tell Lin why she did not believe the woman who confronted her on her wedding day was the one who cursed her, much to Lin''s inner disappointment. She''s hiding things from me again, she thought. And then, in a very different tone, should I find out what it is~? The thought was forgotten almost immediately. She was grateful for Miss Fn''s assistance, and no one had any permission to demand information of anyone. She would respect Miss Fn''s decision to keep quiet. Still, it made it difficult to be truly free with her own words to Miss Fn. The demon hunter had a relaxed, amicable air about her that would lull Lin into talking more than she had in her life, but this also resulted in the cultivator feeling a little anxious about revealing so much when Miss Fn was so reticent. She wanted to ask if Miss Fn truly viewed her as a junior sister, but that seemed selfish after all Miss Fn had done for her. Lin sighed, her spirits sinking a little. Never had she had so much turmoil in her mind. Her cultivation path sought stillness and tranquillity, but here she was running around in her own mind like a headless chicken. It was impacting her advancement towards Third-Dantian level, which she had resumed once she was well enough. Her century in the lake had set back her cultivation journey; with her Still Water Heart, she had managed to keep her senses for several decades, but without the important things in life C nourishing food and rest, warmth and shelter, and the support and contact of fellow humans C her mental strength had begun to fail, and her energy began to warp and skew towards the demonic. Miss Fn had luckily come along and rescued her, but she could also owe it to a certain extent to her mental focus. And yet here she was, losing her mind over the unknown thoughts of her saviour. This couldn''t do. I''ll just make it so she won''t leave me. "Have you decided what you will do when you get to Chn?" Miss Fn''s voice interrupted her thoughts. Lin shook herself slightly. What had she been thinking about? "Seek an audience with the king, to start. Hopefully my knowledge of the inner workings of the kingdom will convince him of who I am." "What will you do if it doesn''t?" Can I come with you? she wanted to ask, but how could she impose on an adventurous, free-spirited hunter? Instead, she smiled peaceably. "I''ll convince him." They camped a few kilometres away from the border crossing that night, in a small natural clearing in the forest. Miss Fn had no qualms about lighting a small campfire to keep them warm. She was confident in her fighting abilities. "And I hate the cold." She shivered and wrapped her cloak more tightly around herself, sitting so close to the fire that Lin was worried she would catch fire herself. "Are you a cat?" The cultivator smiled, handing the demon hunter a roasted sweet potato. Miss Fn grinned with a flash of slightly sharper than normal canines. "Maybe." She began to peel the potato, its warm sweet scent enveloping them. As she went to take a bite, she suddenly stopped. Lin had paused too in the middle of peeling her own potato. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it "What was that?" Their heads swivelled simultaneously in the direction of the nearby forest. In a flash, Miss Fen was gone from the fireside and there was a yelp from the darkness. "Ow ow ow! Get off me!" Lin leapt after Miss Fn at marginally slower speed to find that the demon hunter had... hunted a demon. Miss Fn had a male demon by one of his long earlobes, as though she were scolding a naughty child. He looked relatively young, with the appearance of one in his late teens, his horns still small, but beings with strong spiritual or demonic powers could not be easily labelled. Lin was more surprised with how Miss Fn was handling him. "Are you not... going to kill him?" she asked, over the demon''s wails. "I will if he keeps making that noise," Miss Fn replied threateningly, letting some of her powerful aura wash over the young demon. He ceased wailing immediately. "Good. What do you want?" "Sweet potato," he answered immediately, drooling at the fragrant smell. "You can''t have one. Those are ours." "Please, benevolent miss! Just one potato for a poor lone demon! I''m so hungry!" "Fan Ze-" "No." Miss Fn slung the demon over her shoulder like a sack and carried him back to the fire. She dumped him unceremoniously beside it. "Then I guess I''ll have to go eat a person from the nearest village," the demon suggested brightly. Miss Fn smiled cheerfully in return. "There''s a chestnut tree a few hundred metres that way. Take this bag, fill it with good chestnuts, bring it back, as quickly as possible, otherwise I truly will hunt you down." The young demon took the bag and scuttled away. "He seems harmless?" Lin remarked dubiously, as she settled back down to eat her potato. "Only because he''s entertained. He actually seems to be quite high ranking." Miss Fn took a contented bite of her food. "That''s the thing about demons. Keep them amused and they''re easy to deal with. The problem is when they get bored." The young demon was back within minutes, the bag bulging with nuts. He watched with a salivating mouth as Miss Fn began to roast them. "Who are you, kid?" "Ah, yes, I''m Prince Fn B''n(1), at your service. Are those chestnuts ready yet?" "..." Lin glanced at Miss Fn. "Not yet, unless you are happy with texture like a rock. What''s a royal demon doing out here?" "Bored." "Of course." "And what are the names of these gracious djis(2)?" "This is honourable Miss Lin(3). You can call me Miss Fn." The demon prince burnt his tongue on the chestnut he was gingerly testing, shocked. He stared at Miss Fn with wide eyes. "You''re the demon hunter Miss Fn?" "The same." "Cool!" His dark red eyes suddenly shone with excitement, to Lin''s surprise. "Are you headed out to fight someone right now? Is it the wtugu(4) in the capital? Or -" He snapped his fingers. "The shugu(5) from the border town that got flooded, of course!" "There are shugu?" Miss Fn asked suddenly. "Oh yeah, heaps. They wail so much all the time, it''s really annoying around there." Lin observed the young demon as she finished her sweet potato. He seemed completely at ease, juggling hot chestnuts whilst sitting right next to a demon hunter and a cultivator. If it were not for his long earlobes, the two horns on the top of his head, and the reddish tinge to his skin, he could have been some carefree young master out on an adventure. His black clothing was well tailored and neat, and with only a silver bracelet and a few earrings, his general appearance was simple and elegant. She knew she shouldn''t trust him, but his cheekiness was somewhat disarming. "Take those chestnuts and go away. We''re going to sleep now," Miss Fn said dismissively. The Prince Fn B''n puffed out his cheeks. "Boo. You''re no fun." "Go find someone else to entertain you, kid." "Meh. Thanks for the food, djis." The demon prince stuffed many chestnuts into the bag he had previously used to harvest the nuts, and disappeared into the night. "Did he just take your bag?" Miss Fn shrugged. "It''s not a big deal. Anyway, we''ve fed and entertained a demon prince for a bit, so that should give us a nice favour, should we ever need it." "He almost seemed cute." "That doesn''t mean you should trust him, shmi." The fire was down to the warm embers as they wrapped themselves in their cloaks to sleep. "Fan Ze?" "Hm?" "Sorry to keep you awake. I just... wanted to say thank you again." "No problems." "You''ve done a lot for me. I also owe you a favour. More than that, I owe you a great deal. If I can ever do something for you-" "I''ll let you know." The rest of the journey passed uneventfully. Prince Fn B''n popped up once more as they passed by the ruined border town, trying to convince them to hang around until night when the shugu would appear, but Miss Fn cheerfully sent him away with some sweet apples they had picked instead, which he accepted with much grumbling, perhaps because she threw them accurately at his head first. Eventually, the two stood at the edge of the rolling hills that surrounded the plateau of Chn, looking down together across the lush green landscape towards the distance where the Chn Palace stood, well out of range of human eyesight. Lin closed her eyes and slowed her breathing, controlling the jng(5) boiling in her lower dntin and letting it transform and rise through her body, settling herself. She took a deep, steadying breath and turned to Miss Fn. "Say thank you to Zh Y Shng for me." "I will." "It''s been... I''m truly, truly grateful for all you have done for me." "It''s my job." Is that all? Miss Fn smiled, her grey-brown eyes unshaken. "It''s been a pleasure to know you, Xi?o Gu." Lin controlled her expression at the sound of that old nickname and smiled back, memorising the demon hunter in this moment as she did - the soft early morning light making her skin glow and lights dance in her smooth, chestnut-coloured hair, the gentle breeze tugging at her long veil, her figure amongst the long, green grass. "Well then. I... hope I see you again, one day." "I will do my best to visit." Already, so distant. Lin wanted to cry. How long had it been since her emotions had crashed down on her, beyond her control like this? Miss Fn could twist her up inside with a look or a word and it seemed beyond the control of her cultivated discipline to resist. "You''re so cold," she whispered, a strange little smile curling her lips. Something pale flickered in her eyes. "So cold, dji." Miss Fn frowned. "Lin? What did you say?" Lin raised her head. "Thank you, Miss Fn. I hope you achieve all you wish for (6)." "Farewell and good luck, Your Highness." With one last bright smile, Miss Fn disappeared back down amongst the hills they had just crested. Lin turned back towards Chn, striving to control the turmoil in all three of her dntin. Slowly, slowly, the energy came under her control and she could open her eyes again. Drawing her veil around her, she stepped forward, towards the place that was once her home. 8 - Tigers Maybe I should have just followed Miss Fn, Lin thought ruefully, as the entire room of people stared at her with undisguised scorn. One of the court officials began to laugh. "Are you being serious?" "Her Great Royal Highness died over a century ago. Are you her ghost?" "Could someone check the local hospitals and asylums?" another official asked, with genuine seriousness. Lin let her aura float gently out around her. With the lifting of the curse and Miss Fn''s assistance, Lin had broken through to the level of Third-Dntin Novice. The officials quietened down quickly, their curious gazes now flickering between her and the person seated above them on an ornate stone throne. The Chn King stared sharply at Lin, taking in her simple clothing and hair, and the innumerable faint scars on her face. For a few minutes, the two locked eyes, Lin patiently waiting, the King inscrutable. Eventually, he gestured to one of the officials. "Send everyone else away. Public sessions are now closed. Bring all the pictures and records we have of the Princess Zy." The members of the public who had come to make requests of the King grumbled, but generally there was little complaint. They had seen something very interesting, after all, and they were keen to pass the information along. They left with little fuss, casting glances back as they did at the shabby but dignified figure standing alone before the King. A few moments later, a team of servants appeared bearing scrolls and books, which they laid before the King, stretching out the scrolls so he could view the pictures and compare them to the woman who stood before him. Throughout this, he had not spoken a single word to Lin, but she had expected no less. After all, a scruffy-looking stranger had just appeared out of nowhere and claimed she was his long-dead grand-aunt. The officials, on the other hand, spoke continuously. From her eyes to her feet, she was scrutinised and compared to the pictures. Her hair was too short. Her lips were a little less full. She had a slight stoop that the Princess would never affect. Her skin was the wrong shade. And those scars... Servants handed the Regent book after book and he skimmed over passages while Lin waited patiently. Eventually, he snapped shut the last book and waved forwards a mid-level official, who bowed to the King, then began to ask Lin questions. "Your name, please." "Zy, although my parents and siblings called me A Lin." "The details of your palace here." "I didn''t have one. I slept at the Jyun Mei Temple(1). When I was going to be married, I spent a month in the Lily Palace(2), but it was never mine." "Favourite food." "Taro Fish(3)." Lin continued answering questions, but she was puzzled. The information she provided could easily be researched by a third person. After all, Zy had been a darling of the people, and she was free and open in her speech with the public, so information such as her favourite ''whatever'' could easily be obtained. The court officials evidently seemed to agree, so after a few more simple questions, the King stopped the middle official and waved one of his chief advisors forwards. He bowed with some politeness to her, then immediately began his interrogation. "How did you survive?" "I was never attacked." The court officials muttered suspiciously amongst themselves. "I hear the historical records say that a demon woman killed me as the price for ending the rain curse. That never happened. Do the records say how I was killed?" Another round of muttering. The King frowned. "What was your true relationship with your Imperial Brother, the Venerable Fourth King of Chn?" Lin inhaled slowly. "Are you... referring to his attempt to kill me, sir?" An immediate uproar followed her words. Before any coherent words could be raised, the King had launched himself from the throne at Lin. "G p(4)!" The court officials watched in surprise as the King seized Lin''s hands, eyes shining. From a silent and distant figure on a pedestal, he had suddenly become almost child-like, his voice high with excitement. As if remembering where he was, he coughed, and gestured for the officials to leave. Although some hesitated, the chief advisors hustled everyone outside. The King turned back to Lin. "G p, it really is you! You''ve returned to us... we have to celebrate! Let everyone know that the Divine Lotus has returned. This is... this is such good news." Lin smiled with surprise, and a little relief. In truth, she still didn''t remember exactly what had happened that day, how she had ended up trapped in a lake in a neighbouring kingdom. She had expected suspicion, unease, perhaps a slow acceptance, but this burst of warm familial affection... Seeing him close to, she realise that the King was a fairly slight person, with more scholarly and artistic airs than the martial ones of his great-grandfather, her father. Still, she could see in him her mother''s dark grey eyes, and their small, slim hands, holding each others'' tight, were almost identical, down to the length of their thumbs and the way their wrist bones protruded. "Zh sn(5)," she replied, squeezing those hands. "I''m back." "I''ll have them set up a palace for you immediately. The Lily Palace has not been used by anyone since you left..." "I am happy to return to the temple." The King sadly shook his head. "The temple burnt down not long after your disappearance. You won''t be able to go back there." Burnt down? "The nuns and monks...?" "There were no survivors recorded." Lin''s ears seemed to stop working. She knew her zh sn was saying something, but somehow it was muffled. All she could think of were the nuns, the monks, the little child apprentices, the dinner times and the story times and the in-betweens of quiet contemplation and shared contentment together. "I need to see..." she felt herself say. "Not now. G p, you''ve had a sudden shock. And you''ve travelled so far, please, rest. I will have someone take you to a room temporarily to rest as we prepare the palace. I''m sorry to inconvenience you..." Lin shook her head mutely. She could feel her hands trembling, and it was taking all her willpower not to run from the palace for the temple. She tried to deepen her breathing. Her eyes flickered. The King was instructing some servants to begin preparing the palace, then personally escorted his g p to the room where she would rest temporarily, a luxurious guest suite that formed part of the Queen''s Palace. He gave instructions that no-one was to disturb his g p, even the rest of the royal family, then retired to give Lin some quiet. Lin, still numb and shaking, lay down on the massive bed without removing her outer robe. She pressed her quaking body into the thick bedding, unable to suppress her shock and distress now that she was alone. Screwing her eyes shut, she tried to bring herself into a state of meditation, the boiling energy in all three of her dntin threatening to spill out. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. Calm calm calm, she chanted to herself, clenching her fists. They''re gone now, getting upset won''t bring them back. Calm calm calm. The calmness would not come. The fierce shn(6) energy in her upper dntin would not dissipate, no matter how hard she tried, until her head throbbed and she felt dizzy and dissociated. In that heightened, chaotic state, she began to see visions C sweeping the temple steps with a group of young nuns whose faces burned away as she watched, the red blossoms of the plum trees in the courtyard replaced with flames, and then, faded and barely remembered, a memory of standing before the temple as a young teenager, the day she turned from a political path as a royal towards the spiritual to heal the people. "Zy," her mother said, standing anxiously beside the carriage that had rapidly brought her to the temple on hearing of her daughter''s plans. "Why are you doing this? Come back home." Everything began to burn around them. Zy could feel the heat of the fire on her back, but she shook her head. "Stay and help me, A Lin. We will be strong together. H f h z (7)." But still, Zy shook her head. She had chosen her path. A dark expression crossed the Queen''s face. Everything was burning now, even Zy herself, all except the Queen. "So this is your choice." Zy felt the fire consume her. She could no longer see, or hear, or sense anything other than the pain. She was burning, burning - "HEY! Dji!" And she woke.
Zy gasped as though surfacing for air. Vision still swimming, her eyes managed to find Prince Fn B''n peering at her as though she were a specimen in a display cabinet. "Dji, you''re super strong! You''d make a great demon - look at all that dark energy!" She could barely comprehend what he was saying, but managed to catch enough to anxiously respond, "N... no..." "No?" "Take... ake it.. hngh... from me..." The demon prince looked delighted. "I can have this energy? Wow, dji, you''re so generous. Are you sure?" "H... hurr... ry..." The prince clapped his hands together as if praying and recited a short phrase in a language Zy didn''t recognise, then immediately began to stuff the dark energy that was boiling off Zy into his mouth with the air of someone enjoying a rare delicacy. Zy shivered, sweat pouring over her as she fought to bring her energy under control. Even as he devoured her darkness, more seemed to spring forth. "Mm. So good," the demon prince declared happily, licking his long, black-painted fingernails. "Pity the other dji isn''t here, your energies complement each other so well, it would be extremely delicious." Miss Fn? As if plunged into cold water, Zy felt a wave of relief wash over her. The burning in her head and her heart and her stomach momentarily quashed, a brief vision of Miss Fn''s playful grey-brown eyes and silken fall of chestnut hair flashed through Zy''s mind. Slowly, slowly, the fire within came under control. Zy held in her mind the memory of Miss Fn holding her safe in those days when they first met. The churning demonic energy shifted, subsided, and then melted back into the crucible of her lower dntin, jng becoming q, q becoming shn, and then finally, a feeling of pure, blissful relief, clear as a struck bell, rolled through her as a wave of wwi. Her dntin settled into peacefully circling energy. The demon prince gagged. "Ack! Where did the lovely dark energy go? Dji, are you trying to poison me?" Zy opened her eyes shakily. "Apologies, Your Highness." "Well, I got to taste a delicacy. I guess I won''t have that opportunity again." He cocked his head to one side as he examined her again. "Third-Dntin Novice now? That''s a pity, you would have made an excellent demon. Still, there are opportunities in the future!" Zy laughed wearily. "I should thank you for all the meals, I suppose. Anything I can do for you?" "Miss Fn..." "Hm?" "Ah, no. I... I''ll think on it. Thank you, Your Highness... How did you get in here?" It finally occurred to her that the demon prince was right here, in her room, although he didn''t seem like he had any intentions to do anything other than kill boredom. "Ah, I can''t tell you that! I would give all my tricks away." Zy was slipping into sleep, exhausted from her struggles. She felt more amused than concerned by this cheeky demon boy. "''s that so? Well, behave and you might get some more dark energy later." She was asleep before she heard his reply.
The first few weeks back in the Chn Kingdom felt strange. Revisiting the places where she had walked and played as a child, had worked and travelled as a young woman, was like re-experiencing an old dream. Familiar and yet not, comforting and yet not, she roamed the palaces and gardens, visited the royal mausoleum to pay her respects to her parents and siblings, greeted all of the servants she came across. The servants didn''t really know what to make of this strange new Royal Lady, only bowed with obeisance and hurried away quickly. The lower court officials made it clear that they distrusted her, yet the higher officials treated her with great respect. She surmised they had better knowledge of her history. The person she saw the most was the King. As if seeking to make up for over a century without family, he would dine with her every afternoon, enquire after her health and comfort. The conversation was always pleasant and cheerful, the food arranged to suit Zy''s tastes, and the pavilion where they dined decked out with beautiful flowers. He arranged for beautiful clothing to be brought to her, and her favourite earrings, a pair of exquisite lotuses carved from pale green jade, were retrieved from the treasury and brought to her for her immediate adornment. Perhaps he was lonely too; strangely, there were no close members of the Chn family, having been carried off by disease, or war, or ill fortune, and although the King had three wives, none of them had conceived. Zy wondered if perhaps the old curse still lingered on the royal family, that it hadn''t truly broken that century ago. And yet... A month after she had returned, Zy was meditating in the courtyard of the Lily Palace. She always began her practice now by greeting the spirits of the nuns from Jyun Mei Temple and praying for their well-being in their next lives, before shifting her focus to the peacefully turning energy in her three dntin. She could achieve the state of wwi much more easily now, and these moments of blissful nothingness were welcome. Sometimes, however, as wwi rolled through her, strange thoughts would follow along close behind. "He has never asked about what happened to me," Zy suddenly said out loud. She was referring, of course, to her zh sn. He always had lunch with her, and made sure that she wanted for nothing, and yet he never seemed interested in finding out about the past hundred years, where she had been, how she had spent it. She did not want to dwell on the long, sad time, but it seemed strange that her ''devoted zh sn'' was so disinterested. On the one hand, she felt that she might appear to be trying to take advantage of her zh sn''s sympathy, but on the other, she thought that an empathetic person would surely have something to say about the situation. And with the nervous servants, the hostile lower officials and the fawning upper officials, the whole situation made her ill at ease. "Zh sn, I have something to ask you." "Actually, so do I, g p. But please, you speak first." They were sat in a pavilion in the middle of one of the water gardens. Zy''s eyes flickered over the calm, clear water, but she said deferentially, "No need to be so concerned. You speak first, zh sn." The King smiled, and clasped his fist respectfully to his great-aunt. "G p, I wonder... if you could help me." "If it is in my power, I will." "Well... You were going to marry the Crown Prince of Zhng, correct?" "That is true. Of course, that did not happen, and I am sure he is now long dead." "Yes, he was a good king, but only mortal. Not all of us are cultivators with extended lifespans," the King said ruefully. He sipped his tea. "G p, the Zhng Kingdom are strong neighbours, and we would like to keep them as allies. The Chn Kingdom is a fertile and rich land, which can make us a target for other nations." "And how can I help?" Zy interrupted suddenly. A creeping suspicion was beginning to make its way into her mind. "Will you not honour your agreement with the Zhng Kingdom and marry the Crown Prince, as promised? Perhaps it is a different Crown Prince, but..." So this is what it was all about. The over-attentive higher officials and the sweet but shallow attentions of her zh sn. The relatively easy acceptance of her as truly Second Princess Chn Zy, returned from the dead. They wanted to use her as a bargaining chip with the Zhng Kingdom. "G p, why haven''t you removed those scars?" the King continued, gesturing to the myriad silvery lines across her skin. "You''re a beautiful woman, they don''t suit you. I know with your level of cultivation, you could get rid of them easily." "What if I don''t want to?" Zy asked casually, also sipping her tea. An ugly look flashed over her zh sn''s face, but he smoothed his expression quickly. "Come now, g p, aren''t we family? Won''t you help me, help the Chn Kingdom? We''ve taken you back in and looked after you, so shouldn''t you look after us? Has rotting in a lake for the past century also rotted your sense of compassion?" "Perhaps." Zy put down her cup. "Why don''t you marry the Prince?" The King glared at her, no trace of affection left on his face. "Me? The King of Chn, marry a man? Even if he is the Crown -" "But you are a woman, are you not?" The King''s expression was now one of open hostility. "You..." "I apologise if you wish to be known as and live as a man. However, it seems to me that a great partnership would be forged if you were to marry the Prince rather than I." "Guards!" In a few moments, Zy was surrounded by the King''s own guards. She looked calmly at them, and at her zh sn. His... no, her face was black with rage, and all at once Zy realise something else, seeing that face that looked so much like her mother''s. "Take this imposter to the dungeons immediately. She will stand trial in a week for impersonating a royal." Before anyone could make a move, Zy bowed humbly to the King. "You..." "Thank you, Your Majesty." Without waiting for a reply, Zy turned and walked herself to the dungeons, the bemused Royal Guard trying their best to hide their confusion. She descended into the cells and calmly allowed herself to be locked in one, where she sat down in the lotus position and began to meditate once more. The faces of her zh sn and her mother overlapped, and she remembered that previous vision she had seen of her mother, a rage-filled glare that she had never seen before. No, that was wrong. She had seen it before. That was a memory, not a hallucination. 9 - The Palest Ink Dz絭ī - a powerful memory cannot compare with pale ink; history is written by the winners.
It was near midnight when, from a tiny window high in her cell, Zy heard a familiar voice. "Hey, dji, are you creating demonic energy in there?" Zy smiled with relief. "Why don''t you come inside, Your Highness? You can see for yourself." A dark trail of cloud seeped through the window and reformed on the floor of the cell as the slim, elegant form of Prince Fn Bn. He sniffed at her surroundings. "Why are you in here? You could leave any time you like." "I don''t... Will you allow me to use that favour you offered me?" The prince looked at her, his dark eyes confused. "You want to waste that on a situation you could leave yourself?" Zy sighed. "I don''t want use my abilities in this situation. Please understand." The prince shrugged. "Well I don''t, but whatever." He snapped his fingers at the lock on the cell and it corroded instantly, scattering away. "Thank you." Zy pushed the door open, dusted herself down and calmly left the prison. She realised, halfway across the courtyard, that the demon prince was right beside her. "Are you coming with me?" "Yep! You''re always up to something interesting. I can''t miss out on the fun." Zy sighed, resigned, then put her recently obtained powers to practice, summoning a giant flower. The glowing white lotus, softly lit from within, hovered above the ground, and she leapt into its centre. "Let''s go." The whole manoeuvre was performed without a single guard noticing. The demon prince, floating beside Zy on a dark cloud of his own creation, hummed to himself. "How interesting. Why are you showing me how easy it is to travel in and out of the stronghold of your kin?" "Because it''s so easy that you''d be bored. Don''t you like a challenge?" The prince cackled. "You''re so much fun! You look like a white lotus but you''re very sharp, aren''t you? Is that why you''re interested in that other dji?" Was I that obvious? Zy shrugged blandly. "Who wouldn''t be interested in her? Miss Fn is a capable and attractive person. I admire her greatly. In addition, she helped me at the worst time of my life, for which I will be eternally grateful." The prince glanced sideways at her. "Perhaps it''s the strong affinity you have with demonic power, but I can''t tell if you''re being misleading or genuinely don''t know." "Don''t know what?" "Who that dji is. Or more like, what she is." Zy halted her lotus. "What do you mean?" "Ah, so you don''t know? Hm, I''ll have to think about whether to tell you or not. Which would be more interesting...?" Zy''s mind raced. What she might have done the next moment was unknown even to her, for the sound of raucous shouting suddenly reached their ears. For a moment, she thought they had been found, but she realised the voices were coming from a nearby road, out of view. Still, it was safer to come down to the ground. She jumped down, the lotus dissipating into a thousand glowing specks of light, then slipped through the trees, close enough to the road to keep an eye on the noise-makers, but far enough that she wouldn''t be seen. The demon prince followed with avid anticipation. The shouts were coming from some garden-variety bandits, thuggish-looking men with crude weapons who would not pose a threat to either Zy or Prince Fn Bn. Zy was about to walk on when another voice stopped her. "Let me go. Now." The bandits laughed, and circled, and as they moved, Zy could see the person they were surrounding. Their silver hair shone in the moonlight. "Zh Y Shng?" The doctor was prone on the ground, propped up on her hands and glaring at the men around her. Her clothing looked rumpled and her cold face beaded with sweat, as if she had been running, but she showed no fear. Zy couldn''t leave this be. She began to step forward, flicking back a sleeve to free her arm, but a dark shape flashed past her before she could raise her hand. "Prince Fn Bn, at your service, beautiful lady." The demon prince was kneeling elegantly before Zyu Ji Sang, one hand held out to her. The confused bandits couldn''t speak a word. "Could I have the honour of learning your name?" Zy worked hard to keep her jaw from falling open, although the bandits did nothing of a sort. With a flourish, the demon prince lifted Zyu Ji Sang from the ground. It was finally at this point that one of the bandits found his tongue. "Hey, you-" "Shut up." The prince clicked his fingers at the bandit and instantly he began to age, muscles withering. He shrieked in horror, dropping the knife he carried as his fingers wrinkled and crabbed, his whole body stooping as strength and flexibility left him. Then his body started to disintegrate as the cell lock had, flesh rotting back until all that was left was white bones. This all happened in a few moments. The bandits were frozen with fear, unable to move or say a word. The prince smirked and began to leave with his prize. Zyu Ji Sang had watched the whole thing without a single change in expression. Her hair and clothing were a mess, but she remained glacially calm. Zy rushed out to meet them. "Y Shng, are you alright?" For the first time, a wrinkle appeared between the doctor''s brows. "Miss Cultivator - No, Your Highness." "Did they do anything to you?" "No." And that was it. Zy sighed, and the demon prince stared with shining eyes at the woman in his arms. Zyu Ji Sang turned her cold gaze on him. "Could you put me down, Your Highness?" The prince reluctantly let her feet drop to the floor, then began to tidy her hair without asking permission. Zyu Ji Sang ignored him. "What is happening here, Your Highness?" "I''ve decided life in the palace isn''t for me," Zy replied with an airy smile. "His Highness is someone who Miss Fn and I met on our journey here, and he has... Well, apparently I''m keeping him entertained, so he''s following me for that reason." This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Although I think your appearance has changed things. "I see. If that''s the case, I have somewhere else to be." Zyu Ji Sang retrieved the bag she had dropped, and began to leave, to the prince''s shocked sadness. "Miss-" "Y Shng! Wait! Did you come here for a reason?" "It doesn''t matter now." "Then you were here to check up on me." "You seem... fine." Zyu Ji Sang cast a look over her shoulder. "And stronger. I''m not entirely able to gauge-" "Third Dantian-Novice," Prince Fn Bn offered helpfully. He looked heartbroken when the doctor continued to ignore him. "So I have no reason to be here." "Did Miss Fn send you?" Zy finally asked, a little nervous. With the briefest of nods, Zyu Ji Sang disappeared back down the path. "Wait! Pretty doctor, wait for me!" Suddenly, the demon prince was gone too. And once more, Zy was alone.
She found a small cave well off the road, where she could finally sit and think on what had happened. She had found her family and lost her family. Had they ever actually truly believed she was Princess Zy, or was that simply a strategy to find a good actress to marry the Zhng Crown Prince and secure an alliance? Zy pressed her hands together, wished her family well, but prayed that they would never meet again. And now what? She had got what she had wanted for over one hundred years - freedom, to go where she wanted, not tied down to that dark lake water. And yet her mind kept wandering back to those warm days by the lakeside, where she sat in the sun and ate berries with a young woman with grey-brown eyes and chestnut-coloured hair. She was well aware that it was likely that, having been alone and cold for so long, Miss Fn''s warmth was such a blessing that she was mistaking it for something else. Yet right now, all she wanted was to see the demon hunter again, walk together wherever the road might take them. "That''s over," she said softly to herself. "Miss Fn has done her job, and these feelings I have will pass in time. In the meantime..." There was one more thing. She had pushed it to the back of her mind, but now that she was alone, with no other plans ahead of her, the image of her mother''s face appeared once more. Carefully, she piled rocks and sticks at the entrance of the cave mouth, closing it up. With a little of her energy, a tiny white lotus bloomed in a small puddle nearby, its roots leading back to one of her fingers and spreading out around the cave. A detection array. If someone came nearby, the vibration of their movements through the flower would travel back to Zy and alert her. At last, preparations done, she seated herself and closed her eyes. What do I need to remember? What happened, Regal Mother?
Chun Kingdom, 109 years ago. The water was deep here. A small figure was carefully moving through the floodwaters towards two children crouched in the fork of a tree, shivering with cold and fear. Their mother watched anxiously from dry ground not far away, clutching a third child, only a baby, close to her. A group of mainly elderly villagers waited with her, being wrapped by monks and nuns in waxed cloth to keep off the rain. Most of their eyes were fixed on the small but purposeful figure of the woman moving towards the children, a straw hat on her head to keep the rain from her eyes, but her borrowed peasant''s clothing soaked to the skin. She reached the children and coaxed them over. One clung to her back, while she lifted the other in her arms, showing amazing strength for her tiny stature, and slowly began to walk back. A sudden surge of water brought debris spiralling across her path and she tripped, the children screaming and inhaling water instead of air. "Pull!" roared one of the monks over the drumming of the rain. The monks and nuns seized a rope tied to a nearby tree and began to pull at it C moments later, the woman and the children re-emerged. The pulled rope was attached around her upper torso, and with it she fought upright, ignoring the sharp fingers of the panic-stricken children clawing at her as they choked and cried for air. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief when she reached them, willing hands lifting the children and pushing them immediately into the arms of their desperately sobbing mother. They were all too exhausted to cheer, just nodded gratefully at the young woman, who nodded in return, wiping away rain and blood. A nun handed her a cloth to staunch the scratches. "Your Highness, you''ve been working all night. You need some rest." Zy''s clear dark eyes met the nun''s, and she shook her head. "My cultivation has made me stronger than a normal person. I should use my abilities to help people. Let''s get to shelter." The monks and nuns shepherded the villagers to the only remaining high ground in the area. If the rain did not stop soon, even this small hill would soon be underwater. They hoped the rescue boats would arrive soon. Someone had built a very rudimentary shelter out of bits and pieces that had washed along with the water. They all huddled inside, too close for comfort, but too tired to notice or care. Zy crouched next to a shivering old lady, rubbing at her arms to try and raise her body temperature. "A boat!" There was a light coming over the water towards them. Through the driving rain, a remarkably elaborate boat was approaching, made of high quality wood from stem to stern to cabin. Several strong men were carefully punting with long, sturdy poles towards where the survivors crouched. Numb with cold and tiredness, the villagers simply stared in a sort of trance as the boat arrived. Zy hurried down to greet them. The cabin door of the boat opened, releasing a rush of warm air and the light of several lanterns. A woman in rich robes, glowing in the light, stood framed in the doorway, eyes anxious. "A Lin?" "Regal Mother!" The Queen gestured for Zy to board, which she did with a light hop, and she was immediately swept into her mother''s warm embrace and out of the rain. "A Lin, please, enough! I can''t lose you." "You won''t, Regal Mother. I''m strong enough for this. Quickly, we must rescue these people." "Bring the monks and nuns aboard. There is a second, larger boat coming for the villagers. There are some other survivors from the village." One of the monks, hearing this, bowed respectfully. "Requesting that I may be permitted to stay with the survivors until the second boat arrives." "We''ll all wait," Zy interjected, smiling at his sense of duty. "A Gu (1), there''s no need to take this on alone." "Your Highness," one of the boatmen interjected, bowing, "your strength and talent are well known, but I fear it is dangerous for Her Majesty to remain out here. She was desperate to find you and bring you home." "A Lin," the Queen said tearfully, tugging Zy''s sleeve. "The boat is almost here, they will be fine. Please let''s go home." "Go, Your Highness," Gu agreed, bowing once more. His dark eyes glinted with determination. "We will see you shortly." Reluctantly, the rescuing monks and nuns boarded the boat, slowly retreating to a second cabin separate from the Queen''s, constantly looking over their shoulders as the boat pulled away and Gu disappeared behind the lashing rain. Zy stood at the door, watching even after she could no longer see anything. Her mother draped a big cloak over her. "What a fine handsome gentleman. A pity he''s a monk, what a waste!" "Regal Mother!" The Queen smiled and led her daughter from the door. "A Lin, I have some dry clothes for you. Please wear them." Zy eyed the fine clothes but diligently changed into them. She did feel better now that she was dry. "The monks and nuns?" "There has been some dry clothing provided for them too." The Second Princess finally sighed with relief and sat down on a chair fixed to the floor to prevent it moving. Her mother took a seat beside her and poured some tea. "Drink, A Lin. How are you feeling?" "Physically, fine. But Regal Mother... we can''t go on like this. I can keep saving people, but where do I take them? Our country is so flat, there''s only so far that we can go before we are up against the borders of Zhng or... well." The Kingdom of Zh had collapsed in on itself only five years prior, after a thousand years of glorious existence under the protection of supernatural entities. Demons, everyone whispered. It was truly due to demonic power that the Zh had reigned so prosperously for so long, and now the demons were taking back that power. All that remained was a barren, cursed wasteland, and even though several kingdoms, including Chn, bordered Zh, nobody wanted that terrible place. "I''m glad you mentioned Zhng, A Lin." Her mother took a sip of tea. "We... we may need to request asylum from them." "It''s... it''s hard, but that may be the only option left, Regal Mother." She was surprised to find her hand suddenly gripped by the Queen''s. "Daughter... In order to receive their help... we will have to give them something. You know they won''t assist us for nothing." "But we have nothing... Ah." "A Lin, the Third and Fourth Princesses are already married, and the others are only children." "Won''t Zhang think me too old?" The Queen shrugged helplessly. "We must try, we have no other choice. A Lin, I know you have always wanted to devote your life to the people-" "Doing this will be good for the people. If it''s something I can do, I... I will do it." The Queen cradled her daughter''s face between her hands. The physical similarities between them were few C they had the same shape of ears, and small, elegant noses, but Zy resembled much more her grandmother, the Queen''s own mother, Lady Mn Mogn (2). Zy had never met her, and her mother never spoke of her much, except to once show her a picture. "... You''ll have to leave us." "I know." "You might... never come back." " I know." The Queen''s lips quivered, then she suddenly burst forth recklessly, "Make your mark on them, Zy!" "Regal Mother?" "Don''t become another submissive concubine. You''re our Princess Zy, our Divine Lotus. Show them the strength of a royal woman of Chn! Don''t ever let them look down on you." Zy laughed softly, placing her own hands over her mother''s. "I won''t." "Promise me." "I promise." 10 - Cicada, Mantis, Oriole 벶ȸں (Tnglngb chn, hungqu zi hu) - The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind; one may think themselves the predator, only to realise they have been another''s prey all along.
108 years ago. Chn Kingdom. Zy stood on the steps of the palace, looking at the ravaged but defiant woman before her. "You seek to take my life, good auntie?" The woman gave a horrible sobbing laugh. The watching crowd recoiled, frightened by her madness. "As your kin took that of mine? Yes, yes, a thousand times over!" The crowd muttered among themselves. Who was this madwoman, claiming that the Royal Family of Chn had murdered her family? The mother of some criminal? The wife of some enemy soldier? Although she might be crazy, her power could not be ignored. "Will you speak with me?" Zy asked, spreading her hands wide in a gesture of peace. The Queen plucked anxiously at her gown, but she ignored her. "If my death is truly what is needed to break this curse, I will give it willingly, but if there is some other way, let us seek it together." The woman whined and gnawed her fingers desperately. Zy could not help feeling passionately sorry for her, this apparently once fine woman reduced to a distraught wreck. What had happened to her? "A Lin..." "If there is another way, I will find it, Regal Mother." Zy slowly moved towards the woman, but the latter bared her teeth with suspicion. There was a strange sharpness to those teeth. "Come into the palace and allow me to remove this heavy attire. I will speak with you there." "Ha! Not there, not in there!" the woman snarled. "There is a pagoda over there." Zy gestured to the building nearby. "It is not in the palace. Will you wait for me there?" The woman glanced at the location suspiciously. "Who could possibly harm you here? You are clearly more powerful than any of us." The woman sighed, and some of the madness seemed to fade from her face. Decisively, she turned and flew to the pagoda without touching the ground once, before settling herself to sit. Seeing this, Zy immediately turned and re-entered the palace, ignoring servants, courtiers and family alike. She strode into the place that was once her room. "So you''re going back on your promise?" Zy, partway through removing her heavy bridal wear, looked over her shoulder at the woman standing behind her. Queen Mn Jang''s face wore some complicated expression that she couldn''t understand. "I promised to devote myself to the people, Regal Mother. This demon woman who claims to have cursed us all C she''s strong. It could be true, but we won''t know unless we talk to her. I am willing to speak with her - " "Chn Zy. Listen to me, your mother. Put your headdress back on, and go to the bridal sedan." The sharpness in her voice made the back of Zy''s neck prickle. Her hands felt suddenly weak and bloodless. "Do you not want me to talk to her, Regal Mother?" "It''s dangerous, A Lin." The Queen''s tone had become wheedling. She crossed the room and gently replaced the headdress. The weight of the object could not be denied. Zy felt as though she were being crushed. Mother? "There are dangers all around us, Regal Mother. If there-" SLAP! Zy recoiled in shock. She was still reeling when a second slap met her other cheek. SLAP! "SECOND PRINCESS! GET. IN. THE. SEDAN." Zy was on her knees, her mind barely able to catch up with what was happening. Mother? Mother? Her own sweet mother had slapped her? "Possession?" Zy whispered, scrambling upright and readying herself to exorcise demonic power. But before she could even blink, her lungs seemed to fill with water, yet her mouth felt dry. It seemed as though her very skin were shrivelling. "I''VE HAD ENOUGH!" screeched the woman standing over her, her face twisted with malicious intent. "So pure, so holy, my daughter. How did you become this way? I''ll never bow down to them again! And you, you want to talk to them?" Who is she talking about? Zy thought desperately, falling to the ground, struggling to breathe. She tried to break whatever spell was holding her, but there was no demonic energy there that she could feel. What is this? Mother! Mother, stop! Please stop! If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. The pain only increased as the Queen drove her hand into Zy''s elaborate bridal hairstyle and wrenched upwards, pulling Zy from all fours to her knees. "You''ll ruin everything I''ve fought for!" she was hissing furiously. "I don''t care if you''re my blood, I can''t let that happen! Close your eyes now, child, I''ll tell them what that monster did to you." Zy''s vision was blurring in and out. She alternately clutched at her chest and her mother''s hand, ripping at both indiscriminately as panic began to rise. She couldn''t focus her mind to use her cultivation, her fear exploding off her in waves that were only driving her mother further over the edge. She wanted to cry, but she couldn''t. All the water in her body was being funnelled into her lungs to drown her. And then - A flash of light - She could barely see now. Something glowing bronze in the dark room, between her and her mother. Her mother screaming something, the glowing thing roaring back. Blessed air, pouring into her lungs for a brief moment, the bronze glow surrounding her, lifting her for a moment. Then it was gone. She lay utterly exhausted on the ground, unable to see anything, consciousness fading. She heard her mother beside her, her panting breaths. "Is that so...?" she heard the Queen say, distantly. "So be it..." In the pagoda outside, without a single sound, the waiting woman slid sideways from the bench she sat on, and fell out of view. And then, Zy woke. And all around her were the silent waters of an unknown lake.
Zy closed and opened her eyes once more to find herself back in the cave. She couldn''t feel anything, not her body, not the temperature of her surroundings, not a single emotion. She would not have been surprised if her heart had stopped beating there and then. Oh, Regal Mother. And she felt that. She closed her eyes again. "That looked painful," Prince Fn B''n remarked. He was sat on a tree branch well above Zy''s guarding lotus, which had grown ten times in size and was now gleaming threatening at him. "What does?" Zy asked wearily as she emerged from her hiding spot, recalling the lotus. The demon prince hopped lightly down beside her. "Whatever you were doing in there. Your demonic and divine energies were clashing impressively." "Ugh, I''d better leave then. Everyone in the neighbourhood would have felt that." "They did. Your terrifying lotus has been scaring things away for the past two days." "Is that how long... Why are you here, Your Highness? What happened to Zh Y Shng?" The prince''s pretty face collapsed immediately. "She won''t talk to meeeee!" Zy glanced anxiously around. "Let''s go somewhere else. I''m sure someone will arrive and bother us any moment." "I''d be happy if she just looked at me," the prince whined, apparently not hearing her. "What do she like? What can I do to make her like me?" "I honestly have no idea. She doesn''t seem to like me very much." "So why does she keep helping you?" "Probably because... of Miss Fn." The prince shot upright in excitement. "Then maybe Fn dji knows what she likes! I''m going to go ask her." He immediately summoned his black cloud and hopped aboard. "Wait! You know where Miss Fn is?" "Sure. All you have to do is follow the Water energy." "Water energy?" Prince Fn B''n looked a little perturbed, as if he had given too much away. "Ugh, maybe I should just tell you after all..." "I''m coming with you." Zy summoned her lotus... which failed to materialise. She realised she was shaking, exhausted. "I guess you aren''t," the prince said cheerfully, examining her closely. Zy shut her eyes. "Miss Fn is a demon hunter." "I know." "She might not want to help you. Zh Y Shng seems to be someone important to her." The prince''s face fell again. "Would you like me to talk to her?" "Hop on board, dajie!" Gathering her remaining energy, Zy leapt up onto the cloud and sank down gratefully. The cloud was cool to touch, but soft as expected, and as she settled down, Fn B''n sent it soaring southwards. South? "Your Highness, are you sure it''s this way?" "Sure am." Zy shut her mouth, pulled her robes tighter around herself, and squinted ahead against the flow of air. Trees and fields rushed away below them, and every breath she took brought them closer and closer to the edge of the Zh Kingdom. A place that had once shimmered like a pearl, a place of abundance and beauty, a place of peace and legend, rotted away from the core by the greed of its rulers. The palace had once stood by the mouth of the great Zh River that the Country and Royal Family took its name from, at the side of the great ocean. A kingdom of rivers and streams that people once whispered were brimming with nature spirits, but when the kingdom fell and the land turned barren, were cursed as nothing more than demons. Zy glanced at the prince beside her, who looked supremely at ease as he flew them towards what remained of Zh. It seemed that perhaps the rumours were true, then. Zh had fallen to demons. So what was Miss Fn doing there? Zy had never felt any demonic energy from her, but neither had she been able to determine the demon hunter''s true nature, at least, according to Prince Fn B''n. And somehow Zy didn''t think he was lying to her. He seemed to genuinely think the truth could be as morally perplexing to her as a lie. She could see the border approaching on the horizon. It wasn''t difficult, the land below them was green and growing; as soon as one crossed into Zh, not a single thing grew. All was crumbled and wasted away, green become brown. They flew across the border and Zy felt the air palpably change, as if the moisture in her body were being sucked away. Even the demon prince looked uncomfortable. He pushed the cloud to go even faster. And then... Water? In all this dryness, Zy could smell it, the scent of fresh water, elusive at first, but growing in strength as they hurried on. She wanted to lick her lips, but she was worried she would lose more moisture that way, so she controlled herself. They met the dried riverbed of the once mighty Zh River, now a winding path of rocks and boulders. The smell of water grew stronger and stronger. And then, a second river, joining the Zh River. Here, at last, a small trickle of water flowed, vanishing into some unknown cavern below the Zh River''s bed. A few struggling plants clung to life around the edges of the water. There was someone seated in the largest pool of water, soaked to the skin. Her long wavy hair was the same colour as the river, and it fell loose over her shoulders, as if her hair and the water were one. She sat with her back to them, and as they drew near, Zy could see that she was contemplating a single, tiny white lotus that had fought to bloom in the little remaining water. She must have felt them approach. A pair of grey-brown eyes, like rich river rocks, turned to meet them. Zy tumbled from the rapidly disintegrating cloud, and too tired to stand, she gazed at the woman before her in awe and incomprehension. Miss Fn glared. "What are you doing here?" 11- Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Ի (w h cng lng ) C crouching tiger, hidden dragon; a Master hiding their abilities.
Zy was speechless. She should say something, but what? Every thought had escaped her brain as she stared at the woman now rising from the water. Even the usually garrulous demon prince seemed to be lost for words. The pair stared mutely as Miss Fn stepped smoothly from the water, at once completely dry. Her cool grey-brown eyes fixed Zy where she stood. In that moment, it seemed as though she could devour her whole, without blinking. "I just... wanted to see..." The words came out as a pathetic croak, Zy desperately forcing the words from her seized-up throat. A sudden cascade of tears followed, unexpected. In fact, everyone seemed a bit shocked. Miss Fn looked dumbfounded rather than murderous, while the prince patted her shoulder awkwardly with a shaking hand. But the tears wouldn''t stop, and now Zy felt a rush of heat through her neck, her hands balled into fists, her teeth suddenly clenched. Was it so much to ask, for someone to understand a little, to comfort her a little? After all these years... She lowered her head. "I was wrong about you," she said hollowly. There was a pressure building in her head and her heart and her stomach. The demon prince''s hand froze, before it could pat her again. Miss Fn shifted her weight, slightly, slightly, left foot back, pressure on the right foot... The former princess made a strange little shiver, and giggled. White light flickered in her left eye. "Uh... dji? GAH!" Dark energy poured out of Zy, knocking Prince Fn B''n flat and enveloping him completely. In two steps, she had left him behind. As though they were claws, Zy had driven her fingers through the collar of Miss Fn''s robes, pulling the other woman towards her with these shreds of fabric. In that moment, the demon hunter had forgotten how to breathe. Their faces were mere centimetres away, Zy''s distorted by a manic grin and eyes blackened to voids, Miss Fn''s frozen in surprise. "WAS IT SO MUCH TO ASK?" Zy shrieked, the dark energy pouring off her to invade Miss Fn''s hair, wrapping around her throat. "... What do you need, Me Gu?" "DON''T CALL ME THAT!" Zy shook her captive back and forth with astonishing strength. "YOU CAN''T... You... You..." Claws of dark energy scraped around Miss Fn''s eyes. With one lithe movement, she twisted free of Zy, then dodged a ball of dark energy that rocketed towards her. It slammed into a dead tree and broke it to tiny shreds. "What... what''s going on, Zy?" CRASH! The boulder before them blew to pieces, sharp shards slicing the air around them. Miss Fn dodged and weaved in a ring around the furious Zy, who was now wildly striking out without any strategy. "Tell me!" Zy couldn''t move, as Miss Fn had closed the distance between them and seized her wrists tightly. She snarled and whimpered, her eyes rolling back to show the whites, unseeing but still overflowing with tears. The dark energy around her wavered. A little cloud was creeping in around them, somehow rising from somewhere in that parched land. "Me Gu, I think... you''re sick." Zy laughed horribly, and cried, and trembled. "What do you need me to do for you?" "DIE! DIE DIE DI-" Zy choked and coughed, and a little of her left eye cleared. "... kill me..." "Is that what you want?" "... I''m... I''m so... so tired. I can''t... Miss Fn..." "I''m afraid I can''t do that, Your Highness." Zy wailed. The strength in her legs left her and she dangled in Miss Fn''s hands, head bowed in exhausted despair. "LET ME DIE!" Miss Fn had swept her up, one hand pressed against the side of her neck. It felt pleasantly cool against her fevered skin, she thought. Then she sank into unconsciousness. She woke, groggy, in the dark. Alone. At first, she remained motionless, crushed flat by the realisation of her solitude. Her body no longer belonged to her. In a moment, she was certain, her heart would simply give up and let her finally be at peace. But it didn''t, it kept beating and she kept breathing and began to shake uncontrollably. It was then that her dimmed senses realised that she as covered by something, and that her wrists felt heavy, as though... She winced, pulse hammering in her head. What had happened just before she passed out? She gingerly felt at the thing covering her, and at the objects around her wrists. The covering appeared to be some kind of silken fabric, extraordinary light and smooth. Around her wrists were heavy bracelets of some kind of stone, and she couldn''t remove them. As she felt them over and over in the dark, she heard the slightest of sounds beside her. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. "... awake yet?" ".. Fn B''n?" "Yep!" "Where''s... Miss Fn?" "No idea." Zy found herself shaking again. She should get up... run... before Miss Fn came back... It was too late. She heard the soft swish of something approaching smoothly and rapidly, then a small light flared up suddenly. Zy shrank back as Miss Fn approached, apparently carrying a tiny but continuously flaring and crackling ball of bright blue light in one hand. She was dressed once more in her adventurer''s attire, long hair mostly pulled into a high ponytail, but the cheerful smile that Zy had remembered was no longer there. Zy turned away. The thing covering her fell down and in the light she now saw it was one of Miss Fn''s outer robes, a rich fabric of an unusual brown shade with a proud dragon embroidered in gold thread on the back. The objects on her wrists were a pair of large obsidian bracelets. Miss Fn gracefully crouched down beside her. "Zy?" Her voice was oddly careful. "How are you feeling?" No response. Zy didn''t dare to look at her. She held her stomach anxiously. "Your Highness, I... please accept my apologies." Zy didn''t turn, but she frowned. "I need to tell you some things. I... don''t really know if they will help. Your Highness, may I speak with you?" Zy took a deep breath, tidied her hair, then turned, her eyes cast to the ground so that she would not have to look at Miss Fn. Prince Fn B''n seemed to be watching eagerly, his dark eyes gleaming with the light that Miss Fn carried. Zy had no energy to even glare at him. Miss Fn had let the crackling ball of light go, and now it hung above them, spinning and spitting. She bowed slightly to Zeyi. "Your Highness Chn Zy, please allow me to reintroduce myself. My name is Gong Lau Jan(1), the Second Lady of the Zyu Gong Palace(2)." Zy bowed politely in response. "I suppose I should re-introduce myself. I am Zy. I have no titles." "So you''re dropping the family name then?" the demon prince interrupted. "I suppose we''ve mutually disowned each other." "Fair enough, fair enough. Well, I''m His Highness Fn B''n, Crown Prince of the Eastern Demonic Kingdom, Terror of-" "I am... a loong(3)." "..." The trio stared at each other. Eventually, the demon prince sighed and flopped backwards. "Damn, I was hoping you would keep avoiding the topic and cause a bunch of misunderstandings." Zy wanted to hit him, but pinched the bridge of her nose instead. "Could you clarify, Miss F- Miss Gong? Do you mean to say you are a literal loong?" There was a shiver, and a pair of loong''s antlers emerged from amongst Gong Lau Jan''s hair shimmering bronze. Green-brown scales began to ripple across her face. Zy''s heart stuttered. "Have we... have we met before?" "I don''t think that pick-up line is going to work h-" "Probably." Gong Lau Yan''s words cut the prince short and brought another awkward silence. Zy stared and stared, some old memory stirring in the dusty corridors of her mind. The demon prince sniggered, so she addressed him instead. "What is it, Your Highness?" "You two are ridiculous." "He''s the problem here," Gong Lau Jan remarked darkly, without even looking at him. "You''re the one who''s weaponised that smile of yours. I bet someone told you it was charming once." "A little nun in the Zyu Kingdom." Her strong brows were drawn together, as if she were as anxious as Zy felt. "See!" "Please stop arguing," Zy groaned. Gong Lau Jan held up her hands as if she were trying to placate a wild animal. "I''m sorry about this. You''ve got so much going on already, and now I throw this piece of information at you. I''m sorry. Please..." "No, no, not at all. There''s really nothing going on for me." Zy awkwardly scratched the side of her face. "I''m just kind of... floating through life right now." A strangely complicated look passed over Gong Lau Jan''s face. Zy could swear she saw her eyes dart over to the demon prince but she said nothing. "So... a loong? How... can I address you as Miss Gong? Is that right?" "You can call me whatever you like." Gong Lau Jan''s familiar sharp grin flashed across her face. "Do you, perhaps, have a title? Would it be more appropriate to address you with that?" "My main title was the Tributary of the River Zyu. I had others, none of which have any meaning anymore." "If I may, what would that mean, in human terms?" "My ze ze(4) was the Main Channel of the River Zyu. In human terms, she was the spirit of the river, and a Queen. I was her second in charge." As the words washed over her, several revelations slammed into Zy at the same time. "Then, Your Highness-" Gong Lau Jan sighed. "Zyu, and its rivers, have been destroyed. There is no meaning to that title any more." "Then why do you still refer to me as Your Highness? I am no longer a member of the Chn Family." "Can we just drop all this back scratching?" Fn B''n interrupted irritably. "We''re all royals here, let''s just be casual." "Then... Miss Gong?" "Yes, Zy?" "You would know about... the curse over Zh, and how it spread to Chn? And I''m sure I remember you saying, when you lifted my own curse ''it wasn''t that woman''? What... what happened?" Gong Lau Jan blinked slowly. At last, she said, "I can only tell you what I saw, and what I heard. I wasn''t there when it happened." "How long will this take?" Fn B''n interrupted. "I''m keen for some drama but I''d also like a comfy bed and some snacks while I listen." "Where are you proposing to find such things, Your Highness?" "Didn''t I say not to call me that? Come back to my palace. We''ll talk there." Gong Lau Jan raised an eyebrow, a strange look on her face. "Are you proposing we go to the demon realm?" "It''s not like they could do anything to you anyway. You could flatten them all with just one look." "Lin, you-" "Chn dji, you need to step up your game, you don''t even have a single cute name for your wife." Zy looked like she was about to pass out. "What wife? Your Highness, stop making trouble!" Gong Lau Jan was eyeing Zy thoughtfully. "Y-yes?" "I''m curious what... Let''s go. It should be fine." "Miss Gong -" Gong Lau Jan shrugged. "I''ll be there too." "Then let''s go!" As if they were on an afternoon outing, Fn B''n excitedly summoned his cloud. Zy breathed deep, and brought out her lotus. Gong Lau Jan jumped up behind her, unexpectedly. Zy''s tongue and brain wrapped themselves in knots as she thought of Fn B''n''s teasing about pet names. "Miss Gong... Gong z-ze, you''re riding with me?" "Gong ze~" Fn B''n repeated in the background, with a huge grin. "I thought it would be more discrete if I stayed in humanoid form. Was I wrong?" Gong Lau Jan leaned over Zy''s shoulder to make eye contact. Too close! "No, no! That''s fine. Please sit." "If you''re done flirting, I have one requirement before we go." Fn B''n floated lazily around them on his cloud. "That is...?" "Miss Zyu needs to come along too. I''m not going to third-wheel." To Zy''s surprise, Gong Lau Jan shrugged. She didn''t look at Fn B''n once, her cool eyes watching Zy. "I suppose she should hear this too. Whether she wants to is up to her." "Do you know where she is?" "Yes." "Then..." Fn B''n bowed deeply, and also without a trace of respect. "Please lead the way." 12 - Curse (2) The silence was profound. The only person who seemed to notice was Zy. Zyu Ji Sang sat in frosty irritation, making it clear that she had attended only under protest. Fn B''n was staring at her wordless adoration. Gong Lau Jan sipped bo lei tea(1) and gazed into middle distance, as if expecting someone else to start. And Zy felt tired and shaky. With the demonic and spiritual energies conflicting in her body, she had to spend some effort to keep it all contained. Eventually, however, the lack of speech became too awkward and she had to break it. "Miss... Gong ze, will you tell us what happened?" Zyu Ji Sang sat up straighter and even Fn B''n reluctantly pulled his eyes away from her. Gong Lau Jan put down the tea cup. "As I said before, I don''t know everything. I was on a diplomatic visit to Joeng Tin Wong''s(2) Palace at the time." "Joeng Tin Wong?" "My ji maa(3)." "Really, dji, have you not heard of the Dragon Empress of the Sea?" Fn B''n asked with a superior air. He ruined the effect by letting his eyes dart towards Zyu Ji Sang. She ignored him. Gong Lau Jan, on the other hand, stared at him for so long that he grew uncomfortable and retreated a little across the room. They were sat in one of the rooms of Fn B''n''s palace, an impressive place constructed of basalt. Zy somehow felt that it looked oddly familiar. His servants had stopped in their tracks at their arrival, but the prince had transformed terrifyingly, his eyes turning to hot coals, fangs growing huge and sharp, his black nails becoming wicked claws. At this display of power, the servants bit their tongues and scattered. Fn B''n turned to his guests with a smile, instantly reverted to his usual appearance. "Please, make yourselves at home." And they had. "So you were visiting your aunt." "Every now and then, either myself or ze ze would go and visit, bring her news and gifts. It was my turn this time. "The Zyu Kingdom had long been under our protection, before humans even gave it that name. Ze ze had grown up over thousands of years among its forests. She carved a deep valley, created swamps and a delta with good habitat for animals and spirits alike. When I was born, she took me everywhere. We watched mountains rise in the distance, the beach erode and reform, the forests change and renew. Eventually there were other spirits: Siu Lei(4) was a fox who became the guardian spirit of the forest that my stream flowed through. Zing Se and Zing Wai (5) were my baby cousins that I helped raise. Lou Ma Luk(6) had been around forever. He didn''t really associate with us. I only ever saw glimpses of him at dawn and dusk." Gong Lau Jan''s eyes were flat as stones. For the first time, Zy began to grasp the true extent of the chasm of time that yawned between them. She had lived for over one hundred years. Everyone she had known and loved had died. Gong Lau Jan had been alive for millennia. How much had she lost? Gong Lau Jan stared into her tea cup as if seeking explanations. When she spoke again, her voice was as dark as the tea.
Gong Lau Jan stood in her aunt''s personal armoury at the Palace of Joeng Tin Wong. She had been polishing one of her aunt''s nine crystal orbs, powerful artefacts that she wielded with terrifying force when the occasion required. These perfectly spherical white jades glowed softly in her hands. She tapped them gently with her long nails, sending ripples of clear sound across the room. Her favourite pearl earrings resonated in response. Her ze ze had picked them specially from the riverbed for her. Something zapped across her heart and skittered through her brain. Ze ze? Almost dropping the orbs, Gong Lau Jan ran to the door, calling for a guard. "Bring the Third Head to me immediately! And tell Ji Maa I''m headed back to Zyu!" Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. As the guard hurried away, sudden weakness seized Gong Lau Jan''s whole body and brought her to the floor. Moments later, someone knelt quickly beside her. "Your Highness?" It was Third Head Commander Zit Zan Faan(7). The Third Head was a squad of soldiers, ranked third strongest in the Ocean Empire out of nine. The First Head guarded the Emperor, while the Second Head guarded the Palace as a whole. The Third Head was the most elite of the squads that generally left the Palace. The Fourth to Ninth included the standing army, reserves and trainees. Gong Lau Jan fought against the sudden loss of strength. As though she were wading against mud, she could feel herself sinking. "Something has happened to Ze ze... I''ve got to go," Gong Lau Jan forced out, her whole body trembling. "Commander-" "Your Highness, this may be wrong of me to say, but you''re not well-" "TAKE ME THERE!" she cried out, mustering every particle of willpower she had to seize his robes. "Carry me, if you must!" The Commander saluted. "Please excuse me, Your Highness." Commander Zit lifted Gong Lau Jan carefully, calling to the soldiers of the Third Head as he went. As they reached the boundary of the Palace, they transformed, dozens of loong shooting through the water at incredible speed. Gong Lau Jan''s heart beat in her ears as she tried to force herself to not beg Commander Zit to move faster. "Your Highness, we must pace ourselves," Third Head Commander Zit cautioned. Commander Zit was right; the Zyu Kingdom was over two hundred lei from Joeng Tin Wong''s palace. A wave of nausea tried to force its way up from her stomach but she breathed it down. Half a si(8) later found them rising from the ocean at the mouth of the Zyu River, the wide estuary was formed of granite and chert protruding into the water like a dragon''s spine. Two statues stood on either side of the mouth, a loong and a human, looking out across the water. Or at least, they had when Gong Lau Jan had left two weeks ago. Now they lay in crumbled waste, fragments strewn across the shore. The land was bone dry, the only water in the river bed coming from the in-and-out wash of the ocean. Even then, as it flowed upstream, with a sudden hiss, the seawater seemed to boil away to steam and vanish once it had passed the point where the two statues had stood. As they stepped into the dry riverbed, the loong could feel the very water seeping from their bodies. They transformed into humanoid form to slow the dehydration. Commander Zit immediately retreated back into the water, carrying Gong Lau Jan. "Your Highness?" She looked up. Her grey-brown eyes were huge, though he doubted she was actually seeing anything. Blood already crusted her lower lip from the brief moment she had been in that strange dry area. He submerged her completely. "Commander..." Her voice came out in a cracked whisper. "Ze ze..." "I know it is difficult, Your Highness, but you must stay here. We will investigate." She slumped in the water as the Commander directed several of his troops to cautiously advance across the sand, timing how far they travelled before they returned, dried and trembling. Next he sent troops into the air to test the atmosphere. The soldiers flew above the land, finding they could approach a couple of lei above the ground before the strange dryness affected them. "We''ll investigate by air then," Commander Zit decided. "You four stay here and guard Her Highness-" "I''m going too, Commander," Gong Lau Jan interrupted robotically. She had risen up to her feet, although she swayed a little. Her eyes flashed green fire, and the pearls at her ears shone faintly green in sympathy. "Very well, but you must follow my orders, Your Highness. Do you understand?" Gong Lau Jan nodded wordlessly. Commander Zit transformed and respectfully lifted her once more. As one, the Third Head rose into the air and began to advance landwards, scouring below them. They began to find that the effect of the dryness varied in height, with some areas exceeding the two lei limit first identified, while in other areas they could descend until they were less than a single lei above the ground. They scoured the region for two si, retreating exhausted to the ocean once more. There they found members of the Fourth Head waiting, as well as the Vice-Commander of the Second Head, Maan Zi King(9). Commander Zit saluted wearily as he brought his troops in to rest. "Commander Zit. What have you found?" Maan Zi King''s dark blue eyes darted over the bedraggled Third Head before coming to rest on Gong Lau Jan. "Vice-Commander. Our search has so far found the following - we have yet to find any life, including plants. The land and some of the air above has dried unnaturally. When we enter certain areas, we too are impacted by this dryness, experiencing almost debilitating levels of dehydration within an eighth of a si. Taking on a humanoid form allows us about twice that time. "The area that is covered by this dryness is not uniform. In some areas we can travel closer to the ground from the air than in others. I have two theories as to why this might be. One, that the dryness is centred on certain points, extending outwards like a sphere. Two, that this curse has been cast by someone who is inexperienced or does not have sufficient power to produce an even coverage." "A curse... You say there is no sign of any living things. I take it you have not found Her Majesty then." For the briefest of moments, both commanders looked towards towards Gong Lau Jan. In the water, her appearance was improving, but more blood was caked on her lips and her skin was peeling in many places. Her grey-brown eyes, bloodshot and sticky with lack of moisture, stared unceasingly towards the land. "We have not." 13 - River of Shining Pearls "For months afterwards, we slowly managed to investigate the entirety of the Kingdom," Gong Lau Jan said. "I suppose it was lucky for us that it was a relatively small place. We began to develop something of a tolerance towards the drying spell, and along with artefacts that we brought from the Ocean Palace, we could explore for longer. "In the second week, we began to find bodies." The bodies were all mummified, snap dried corpses that lay where people had died, hopefully instantly. "We slowly went through and identified all of them. From the old man who grew the best bitter melon, all the way to the King and Queen of Zyu. And finally, after all that, we found several things. "One, there was no sign of any legendary creatures or spirits, whether as corpses or spirit-fire. It gave us hope that ze ze was still alive. Two, the curse was bounded strictly by the extent of the Zyu Kingdom, so it was highly likely that the one who caused it had a specific grudge or vendetta against Zyu. And third, there was only one human missing." "It''s amazing that you were even able to work that out," Zy said. "Who was it?" "As spirits of nature, we are intimately connected with all those who live under our protection, we know all living things at a profound level," she explained, looking directly at Zy. She drew a breath. "The missing person was Mun Gong... Her Majesty Mn Jang." Even Zyu Ji Sang looked surprised. "My mother?" Zy asked, dazed. "Why was she in Zyu?" "Mn Jang was a member of the Mun noble family from Zyu. She was born there." Zy remembered the picture her mother had once shown her of her grandmother, Mn Mogn. The woman in the painting had worn an unusual over-robe, that looked smooth and liquid as water. Zy had never seen anything like it before. But of course, that was because the Mn... no, the Mun family was not from Chn. "Did you... ever speak with her?" "I didn''t. I was still a bit sick... And it was a chaotic time. We all feared a second Demon War was about to occur. The physical investigation of Zyu took over a year and by the time we worked out that your mother was the only one missing, we had no idea where she had gone. We started looking at the neighbouring kingdoms but... well, as you now understand, loong are not so understanding of human cultures, it took us a while to understand that the Zyu language was different from that spoken in the countries nearby. We didn''t draw the link between Lady Mun Gong and Queen Mn Jang(1) for a long time, until the curse fell on Chn over thirty years later." Zy remembered crouching in the damp and decaying Chn Palace, her mother unrecognisable and screaming down at her. Zyu Ji Sang was watching her with shrewd eyes. "I feel as though... My mother was such a good and treasured person to me, all of my life, until..." Zy shook her head. "Sorry, I''m not making much sense. There''s something I''m trying to work out, but I can''t quite..." "Speak, let''s see what we can gather," Gong Lau Jan suggested. She took a long drink of water and Zy felt a twinge in her heart. Gong ze must be so thirsty all the time... "Mother never spoke of her past, and I.... I guess I was so caught up in helping... those I saw as less fortunate, that I never thought to ask. Now that I look back, I think my mother was very clever at hiding her true thoughts anyway. On the day that I... The woman I met... That was your ze ze, wasn''t it? The Queen of the Zyu River?" "... Gong Ming Zyu (2). You said she still looked like a Queen?" "Even exhausted and despairing, she was still strong and beautiful." "..." Gong Lau Jan''s face closed off, as though she had abandoned her physical shell and disappeared within somewhere. Zyu Ji Sang stepped in to take over. "What is it you wanted to say about that day?" "I remembered, I was removing my wedding attire to go and talk to Queen Gong. My mother came in to..." She trembled a little at the memory, surprised at the strength of her reaction after all these years. "When I said I was going to talk, she... hit me. My first thought was that she had been possessed by a demon." Her voice shook and she fought to control it. "She was saying all kinds of things at me that I didn''t understand, and suddenly... my lungs seemed to be full of water. I couldn''t... I..." She swallowed reflexively. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. "Your lungs filled with water?" Gong Lau Jan repeated, rousing herself. "So she really did have that kind of power... and she was trying to kill you?" "Oof, don''t be too gentle," Fn B''n remarked, shelling sunflower seeds. Gong Lau Yan ignored him. "Our Y Y''s loving mother suddenly turns murderous and you''re just casually say ''oh, so she tried to kill you'' like you''re remarking on the price of fish? A bit much." " Zy... I didn''t mean..." Zy covered her face with her hands. "No, you''re right, it was a long time ago and I should have come to terms with it." She calmed her mind, bringing the rolling demonic energy building inside her back to quietude. "I presume, unless my mother truly was possessed, and I didn''t think she was... she really must have had the power to curse like that. In any case, I survived because... well, I''m not sure? Some kind of glowing bronze light appeared between us. It was so strong I could barely see. It lifted me up and helped me breathe again, but I think I fainted anyway. And then... I woke up in the lake." "A bronze light?" Gong Lau Jan''s eyes looked misty. She stood suddenly and walked over to Zy, whose heart still quickened at the woman''s approach. She focused on her breaths to calm down, valiantly ignoring Fn B''n''s expressions. Her eyes found the pearl on Gong Lau Jan''s left ear. Ah, of course, pearls from the Zyu Kingdom. That control almost flew out of the window at what happened next. Gong Lau Jan knelt beside her, took her face in her hands, and pressed their foreheads together. Zy''s brain stopped working. By the time she had recovered, Fn B''n was silently laughing into his sleeves and trying not to choke on the sunflower seeds. Zyu Ji Sang was rolling her eyes. Gong Lau Jan opened her own and stared into Zy''s. "She''s there." "Huh? Who? What?" Zy asked eloquently, unable to pull her eyes away from Gong Lau Jan''s. "My ze ze... There''s a tiny little bit of her lifeforce left in you..." Suddenly, she knelt before Zy, or rather, collapsed to her knees. "Miss Gong! Are you okay? Please stand..." Zy, flustered, worried, tried to pull the loong upright. Despite her strength, she found herself pulled down into Gong Lau Jan''s embrace instead. How did this happen! They remained in each other''s arms for a moment before Zy hesitantly spoke up. "Gong ze, don''t you blame me?" "For what?" "Your ze ze... if I have her lifeforce, it sounds as though she gave up her life to save me." "And so?" "So... don''t you think it''s my fault? It was because of me that she died." "... Is this how humans think? Ze ze made her choice. She was responsible for that, not you. It''s not because of you. And I... I resigned myself a long time ago to the idea that she was dead." "Don''t you hate me at all?" "What for?" The loong''s answers were straightforward and honest. Zy could feel moisture creeping into the corners of her eyes but blinked it back. "It''s so good to be in Ze ze''s presence again." Of course, this hug was for Gong Ming Zyu, not Zy. She put away her heart and hugged Gong Lau Jan tighter. "Here, I hope you feel your ze ze''s love for you." Zyu Ji Sang coughed and the atmosphere disintegrated. Zy pushed Gong Lau Jan away hurriedly. "Ahem... so, what now?" "Why don''t you decide?" Gong Lau Jan asked her, smiling. "Me? What happened to living free as a demon hunter?" "I can still hunt demons," Gong Lau Jan said cheerfully. Fn B''n choked on his sunflower seeds again. Zy caught sight of Zyu Ji Sang and made another desperate attempt. "What about Zyu Ji Sang? Surely you''re very busy and won''t be coming along. Wouldn''t it be better for Gong ze to be looking after Zyu Ji Sang?" "I''m not busy right now," Zyu Ji Sang said, unhelpfully. "We can all travel together," Gong Lau Jan said, also unhelpfully. "Road trip!" Fn B''n exclaimed, the most unhelpful of them all. He leaned forward eagerly. "Who has any good destinations?" To everyone''s surprise, it was Zyu Ji Sang who spoke, although she didn''t look at Fn B''n. "I''ve been meaning to raise this - there is a black market auction in Yhi(3) the day after tomorrow. Rumours say that some extremely rare and unusual things will be up for sale." "A black market auction?" Zy frowned, her sense of justice overriding her embarrassment and discomfort. "What things are rumoured for sale?" "The rumours say... the goods will be legendary animals." Zy spun to face Gong Lau Jan. "Miss Gong... the missing spirits from Zyu... I know it''s been so long, but-" Gong Lau Jan looked thoughtful. "With your leave, my lady, I would like for us to see this auction." "Don''t call me ''my lady''," Zy groaned, covering her face with her hand. Suddenly, she peeped between her fingers. "Unless you''re into that sort of thing?" Gong Lau Jan looked a little surprised, then grinned, sharp-toothed, back. "Perhaps~" "Stop it." "Yes, Me Gu..." Zy had to resist the urge to smack the cheeky dragon. "Sorry, sorry." Gong Lau Jan took her hand and pressed it gently. "A Lin, let''s go together, okay?" "... okay." "Make sure to take turns driving," Zyu Ji Sang admonished. "You''re both still in fragile health, I won''t have you ruining my hard work." "Yes, Master." Zyu Ji Sang had no qualms about slapping Gong Lau Jan. "Can''t Fn B''n help?" Zyu Ji Sang and Gong Lau Jan exchanged strange looks. "I don''t trust him," Zyu Ji Sang eventually said, dismissively. "Fn B''n''s only young," Gong Lau Jan said cheerfully. "Let''s not tire him out." "Hey! I have way more energy than any of you oldies!" But oddly, the two women didn''t change their mind. They made their way outside, where a thousand sparkling stars winked down at them from the clear night sky. Gong Lau Jan transformed, a shining green and bronze shimmer in the night. Zy reverently boarded, her hands stroking the smooth scales over and over. Zyu Ji Sang hopped up behind her, and with a rush, Gong Lau Jan leapt skywards. "Fn B''n...?" "Uh... he''ll make his own way." They soared away into the night, Zy''s heart thumping almost painfully, and the stars reflected in the tears brimming in her eyes. 14 - Coated in Gold and Jade ┡ (jn y q wi bi x q zhng ) - coated in gold and jade, ruined inside; fair without, foul within.
Night had fallen over Yhi. Gong Lau Yan sat on the windowsill of the room they had all rented at the inn, staring out across the darkened streets towards the bay. The inn sat a little ways up the steep slopes that ran down to the harbour, cast from ancient limestone like the enormous natural spikes that rose out of the strangely opaque blue waters of the sea. They had arrived earlier that day, both she and Zy exhausted from travelling. Dzue Yi-sang had immediately made Zy go straight to bed with a sleeping draught, but Gong Lau Yan had resisted for the time being C there were things she needed to do first. Dzue Yi-sang entered from the side room where Zy was sleeping and went straight to Gong Lau Yan to check her pulse. "Not now," the loong said wearily, as the doctor opened her mouth to speak. "I know, I know." Uncharacteristically, Dzue Yi-sang''s face showed a tinge of anxiety. "You can''t keep doing this, Gong Dze." Gong Lau Yan looked at her trembling hands and put them down with a rueful laugh. "Someone has to." "That ''someone'' should be your aunt! She has an entire army she can send out to gather information and catch the culprits. You should rest. You''re not well, Gong Dze. You keep pushing yourself but how much longer-" "As long as I can." Gong Lau Yan smiled at the rarely distressed doctor. "Can you imagine me sitting in the Ocean Palace, embroidering or something while I wait?" Dzue Yi-sang looked uncomfortable as she said in a small voice, "At least... you could stop babysitting that person." Gong Lau Yan''s expression turned stern. "Little Wan, you know I can''t do that." "You can''t save everyone, Gong Dze. She''s..." A little ocean breeze stirred their hair. "How..." Gong Lau Yan cleared her throat and tried again. "Her prognosis?" Dzue Yi-sang shook her head. "I... This is beyond my expertise. The demonic energy and her spiritual powers are constantly battling within her. She can''t seem to suppress the demonic power properly, it keeps surging back." "If we couldn''t feel it, she would seem so normal." Gong Lau Yan''s grey-brown eyes flickered towards the door of the side room. "Except that last time..." "That''s exactly it! She shouldn''t be normal. She''s a human before she''s a cultivator, and she spent over one hundred years trapped at the bottom of a lake alone. How can a human withstand such a situation? Yet after we found her, she ''apparently'' recovered so quickly. When she attacked you? I would expect her to be that way more often than not. She''s hiding it. And let''s not even start on how she''s barely been questioning things that she should..." They lapsed into silence again. "She''s very sick," Dzue Yi-sang said softly. "We need to take her somewhere where someone understands what''s happening with her, who can treat her. So you can focus on looking after yourself." "We''ve looked, Little Wan. We''ve been looking continuously. I fear that it''s just made it worse. When I came back the last time and saw what state she was in..." She shook her shaking hands and extracted her water flask. "We can''t... I can''t leave her alone again." "I think it''s too late." They both looked grim. Gong Lau Yan took a contemplative sip of water. "You mean the demon prince, right?" Dzue Yi-sang distractedly began to empty her bag of items and sort them one by one. "What a strange choice. I don''t understand why... Like I said, this isn''t my area of expertise. We need to find someone, fast." "She''s waking up," Gong Lau Yan warned under her breath, her supernatural hearing picking up the faint stirring sounds. Without a single sign of nerves, Dzue Yi-sang continued smoothly, "We''re going to have to disguise ourselves to go to the auction." "That sounds like a hassle." "Do you really think that Miss Fn, Demon Hunter, can just casually walk into a place like that?" "What about Miracle Doctor Zh?" "Exactly. Have you thought of anything?" "I could go in my loong form. They wouldn''t suspect I was Miss Fn then." Zy laughed softly from where she was propping herself up against the doorframe. Gong Lau Yan smiled crookedly at her. "Sleep well?" "I did. For the first time in a while, actually." "Good. So how would you like to be disguised for the auction? Rich merchant? Demon noble?" "Hmm... I''m not sure. What do you think, Fn... Your Highness? Where...?" Right on cue, the demon prince came waltzing through the door, " Yeah! Let''s all dress up as demon nobles! I can sort us all out with disguises easily!" This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it Gong Lau Yan sighed. Dzue Yi-sang''s face twitched. "A Lin, you could disguise yourself as such, since your demonic energy would lend itself to the disguise. Dzue Yi-sang and I would have to go a different route." "Poisoner and bodyguard," Dzue Yi-sang suggested succinctly. "Easy." Gong Lau Yan waved Zy to come closer. "Your hair is messy, let me redo it." Dzue Yi-sang stood abruptly. "I''m going for a walk." "I''ll come with you!" The cold doctor swept from the room, ignoring the demon prince following closely behind her. Gong Lau Yan smiled and gestured Zy into the seat that the doctor had just vacated. "Just the two of us, A Lin. How would you like me to do your hair?" Humming a little, Gong Lau Yan combed out Zy''s dark hair, now grown much longer since they had cut it back when she first surfaced from the lake. Zy closed her eyes, enjoying the tingling sensation spreading from her scalp whilst simultaneously trying to keep her composure. The loong began to braid her hair. "Miss Gong?" "Hm?" "I''m... sorry. I know that doesn''t even begin to-" "Well, you were right. Although... I''d rather you didn''t attack me again." Zy lapsed into a suffocating silence. "How are you feeling these days, A Lin?" "N-not bad. It''s... it''s nice to travel. It''s interesting seeing how things have changed over the past hundred years. Do you find that, Gong Dze? Is it... hard seeing how things change over thousands of years?" "I''m a loong. I''m used to it. I think... well, honestly, A Y, isn''t it harder for you, a human?" Zy laughed softly. "Maybe it''s a surprise, but not really. I''m very content at the moment. After all, I''ve also got good companions too, right? You and Dzue Yi-sang. And Fn B''n, of course. Poor Doctor, he bothers her so much. I should tell him off." "You like Fn B''n a lot, don''t you?" "He reminds me of someone..." Zy''s brow furrowed. "He reminds me of... Who does he remind me of? I don''t even know! It''s there at the front of my mind, I can almost see them... How annoying!" "It''ll come to you. Remember, you''re not fully recovered from being cursed." Gong Lau Yan realised she had not braided Zy''s hair very neatly and undid it. "Let me try again. But you like him a lot, don''t you? You didn''t answer me." "Yes! I would have thought a demon would be more... troublesome? But he''s actually been so good to me. I don''t think I told you, but while I was... while you... when I es- when I left the Chn Palace and was recovering, he sat outside the cave I was in and waited for me to come out. I was honestly very touched." Gong Lau Yan''s hands trembled slightly as they braided, but she didn''t stop and Zy didn''t seem to notice. "That was nice of him." "Yeah, he''s often been around when I needed... Oh!" "Yes?" "I remember! He reminds me of Fifth Brother!" Gong Lau Yan''s hands stopped this time. "As in, your biological Fifth Brother?" "Yes! Some of his mannerisms, his cheekiness... now that I think about it, even his appearance is a little similar. I don''t mean the skin colour or the ears or the horns, ha! But something about the shape of the eyes, his height, the way they laugh. No wonder I feel so comfortable with him." Zy smiled with reminiscence. "Fifth Brother Mng Hun!" "Tell me about him?" "Well, where do I start?" For the rest of the night, Zy babbled about Chn Mng Hun as Gong Lau Yan braided and undid her hair, over and over, both of them avoiding what needed to be talked about. It was only as dawn was breaking that Dzue Yi-sang returned, Fn B''n in tow, and banished Gong Lau Yan to the bedroom to sleep. The loong wandered off yawning, waving away Zy''s profuse apologies for keeping her up. To make up for her thoughtlessness, Zy conscientiously ran errands to prepare for the auction that evening, while Dzue Yi-sang and Gong Lau Yan napped. Zy and Fn B''n, the latter disguised with a scarf wrapped around his head to hide his ears and horns, found themselves running giddily through Yhi, calling out to each other in the warm sun on the busy streets. The city was built into the limestone slopes, a true seaside town, where the limestone plunged into the water, and fishing and passenger vessels slipped between the crags of white that rose from the water. The pair explored the city from top to bottom, dipping their feet in the opaque, bright turquoise water of the bay, standing at the viewing platform at the very highest point overlooking the bay with other tourists, admiring the bronze statues dotted throughout. People with spiritual powers soared overhead on clouds and flowers and swords, and the pair waved crazily at them, laughing. As Zy paused for a moment to catch her breath, she thought that perhaps she hadn''t laughed so much in such a long time. Finally, they gathered the necessary items and slowly made their way back to the inn, kicking a rock between them like little children. "Dji," Fn B''n suddenly said, as he missed the rock and decided not to retrieve it. "You really like Fn dji, right?" Zy laughed, a little embarrassed. "Fn- Gong Dze has been so good to me, but she''s clearly not... Anyway, I''m a human." "I''m glad." "...?" "Well... think about it. When you were struggling, where was she? I know she pulled you out of the lake, but she left you alone. And she''s saying she''ll follow you now since you have her sister''s energy, but doesn''t she still seem to be more concerned about Zh dji?" "So she should be. I''m more than capable of looking after myself." Zy lightly tapped the demon''s shin with her foot, since her hands were full. "Don''t talk like that, B''n D, Little Brother. You''re not jealous, are you?" "Extremely. I wish Zh Y Shng would pay half as much attention to me as she did to Fn dji." "There''s no need for jealousy. Well, more like, there''s no point in it." "Hm?" "Gong Dze and Dzue Yi-sang... they have a long history, clearly. Of course they''re closer to each other than anyone else." "Now who''s jealous?" "B''n D!" "You should ask them what''s going on between them." "No. No, it''s none of my business. You''re a bad influence." Fn B''n shrugged. "You say that, but your demonic energy is starting to get out of hand again." Zy paused to lean against an archway and breathed deep. She screwed her eyes shut with frustration. "I thought I had it under control. Why does it keep coming back? Am I that weak?" She could feel the chaos in her three dntin as the demonic energy clawed its way uppermost. "Is it really that big of a deal?" Fn B''n said suddenly. "I mean, I''m not that bad, am I?" "I guess not. Just annoying." "Oh, thanks." Zy laughed, and forced the demonic energy back down once more. "Come on, let''s hurry up." They returned to the inn to find Dzue Yi-sang and Gong Lau Yan awake and conversing seriously, although the two moved apart as Fn B''n and Zy entered the room. Zy made no comment, only handing over the items with a smile. They donned their disguises, Fn B''n tweaking Zy''s outfit here and there or simply teasing her by attaching her accessories to the wrong place until she softly smacked him, laughing. She thought she caught Dzue Yi-sang and Gong Lau Yan looking in their direction once or twice, but she ignored it. At last, they were done. Dzue Yi-sang was dressed all in black and purple with her silver hair elegantly swept into an elaborate hairstyle, and Gong Lau Yan was impressive in black leather armour, with a helmet that partially masked her face. Zy and Fn B''n looked like a pair of demonic administrators, dramatic in dark red and silver, the former''s inhumanly pale and silver-scarred skin stark against the cloth. She looked up to find Gong Lau Yan watching her approvingly and immediately looked away, her cheeks warming. The loong shifted her gaze and gave everyone a satisfied nod as they all donned cloaks to hide under until they reached the venue. "Looking good, everyone. Shall we go and see what''s for sale?" 15 - Auction "Here?" Zy and Fn B''n looked dubiously at the tiny tea house that Zyu Ji Sang had led them all to. It looked exceedingly ordinary, a small wooden shopfront that backed onto a soaring limestone cliff, as many of the neighbouring buildings did. The builders could save money and materials by using the cliff as the back wall. As they stood and pulled faces at this venue, two people stopped at the entrance. A guard suddenly materialised from the shadows and challenged them. One of the people, a foreign man with blond hair and a big moustache, produced a small object from his pouch, and showed it to the guard. After some discussion, the man and the other person, also a foreigner, a tall, muscular woman with pale skin and dark hair, entered the tea house and disappeared from sight. "Did you hear that, Gong ji?" "Bits of it. Sounds like there''s something we need to show in order to enter. I guess this auction isn''t open to just anyone." "You''re absolutely right, dji," said an amused voice behind them. The women turned to see a group of demons had just arrived, not even attempting to hide their true natures. At the head of the group was Prince Fn B''n. Well, it was him, right? Zy stared at him. She had always thought his eyes were dark, and that the shape of his face had resembled her Fifth Brother, Mng Hun, but this demon boy before her was red-eyed and had a sharp face, unlike the soft and friendly roundness of her brother. Where she had seen him short like her brother, he was tall, and the only characteristics she had seemed to have seen right were the reddish hue of his skin, the appearance of his horns, and the long earlobes typical of a demon. Gong Lau Jan caught her suddenly. She hadn''t realised that she had swayed, dizzy and confused. "A Lin?" "I''m... I''m okay." Zy glared at the prince. Stop playing around! Have you been changing your appearance to confuse everyone? But Fn B''n only had eyes for Zyu Ji Sang. He bowed with exceptional politeness, mouth dripping honey. "Beautiful Zh ji, we meet again. Might I be of assistance to you?" Zyu Ji Sang''s mouth twitched. She looked as though she wanted to flay him alive with her words, but she merely said, "So it seems." The prince snapped his fingers. Several servants hurried forwards, bearing small boxes. Within each box was a small badge. A round black circle, with a golden rim and the silhouette of a fox''s face, and he directed three of the servants to present these to Gong Lau Jan, Zyu Ji Sang, and Zy. As Zy took her badge, the demon prince looked at her suddenly, rubbing his chin. "This d ji from before, her demonic aura has gotten stronger." Zy opened her mouth to speak, but Gong Lau Jan hugged her firmly. "That''s right, Your Highness. You noticed... I wonder if you might know of someone who can assist her? It is dangerous for a human spiritual cultivator to carry demonic energy, after all." He shrugged. "Perhaps. But why would I do something that disadvantages me? I would always prefer there to be more demons in the world." "May I take that as an act of aggression, Your Highness?" A dangerous aura seemed to emanate from Gong Lau Jan. The demonic energy within Zy shrank a little at the feeling. "I am still known to the world as Miss Fn, Demon Hunter." "Haaa... You damned spiritual beasts are no fun," the prince pouted. "Alright, alright, I will have someone give you some possible contacts. You owe me, ''Miss Fn''." "I accept that, Your Highness." The demonic entourage swept coldly past them and entered the teahouse. Zy stared after them in confusion. "B''n d?" "B''n d?" Zyu Ji Sang repeated, looking horrified. "Is that what you called him?" "He doesn''t usually act so cold to me, Zh ji. If you get to know him-" "Zy," Gong Lau Jan interrupted softly. "Demons can be difficult to understand. Don''t take it personally." Zyu Ji Sang looked like she wanted to say something else, but she swallowed it down and looked away. Zy sighed. "I''m just a little sad, that''s all. He has been so kind to me recently, but I guess he was just playing around. He even changed his appearance. I''d almost forgotten what he originally looked like until I saw him now." Gong Lau Yan was still hugging her. She squeezed Zy''s shoulder. "A Lin, are you... are you okay?" This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. "What... do you mean?" "You seem... are you lonely? Have we been neglecting you?" The loong bent down a little so that she could lock eyes with the cultivator. "I''m sorry, I don''t fully understand human interactions, and Siu W- Zyu Ji Sang is terrible with people -" "Hey!" "- so I just can''t tell. What do you need from us? What... do you need from me?" From you? Zy stood captivated by Gong Lau Jan''s grey-brown eyes for a moment. A thousand thoughts rushed into her head C Can we see the world together? Can we just sit and talk about our pasts? Will you let me follow you while I''m alive? - as she opened her mouth. "It''s... nothing, Gong ji. I''m just happy to spend a little time travelling with you. I don''t need anything else." "Is that so...?" Gong Lau Jan didn''t seem to think anything of this answer. She smiled and patted the top of Zy ''s head. "Alright, good. If there''s ever anything you need, let me know, okay?" "Of course." She was acutely aware of Zyu Ji Sang''s piercing gaze from the corner of her eye, but she pretended not to see it. "Then, let''s go inside."
The tea house was merely a tiny fa?ade. A huge structure had been carved into the limestone behind, a massive tiered hall where near a hundred people had already gathered; humans, demons and spirits of many races. The trio had to take a seat near the back of the hall, given how full the space was. Zy scanned the crowd curiously, sensing that the mood seemed a little odd. The group of people just before them seemed very excited, craning their necks to see the stage. Meanwhile, a few rows down and to the left, a group of swarthy men glowered and muttered menacingly amongst themselves. A few small demons nearby were also scanning the crowd, albeit in a very nervous manner. From somewhere else, Zy could hear the sound of someone openly weeping. "Not everyone is here to have fun, it seems," Gong Lau Jan murmured in her ear, having to come close due to the loudness of the audience. Zy merely nodded back, not trusting herself to speak while her ear was warm from the loong''s breath. A man walked onto the stage below, and as he looked out into the crowd, the din ceased. Gong Lau Jan frowned and leaned forwards, eyes narrowed as she stared at him. At that point, Zy noticed that a slim woman stood just behind him, dressed in robes embroidered with gold. She couldn''t see the details very well, given how far back they were in the hall, but she could tell that the pair made an attractive couple. For the first time, she contemplated the silver scars on her skin. "Welcome, everyone." The man''s voice was deep and seductive, and it rolled around the room without issue, such that everyone could hear him clearly. "It''s good to see a full house, and eager faces." A smile seemed to play on the corners of his lips as he said this. Gong Lau Jan was frowning harder than ever. "You all know who I am. I won''t speak for too long. Today I have gathered together items from across the world for your consideration. From the farthest reaches of the Jade Road, products with great powers, and great beauty. There has not been an auction like this before. If all goes well, it will not be the last, either." The crowd muttered. Gong Lau Jan was shaking her head and muttering too, but her words seemed a little different. "I hope you like what you see. I hope you are able to take something special with you today. Something you need, something you want, something you simply desire. There is something for everyone here. Please, enjoy your evening." The man and woman turned to leave. Gong Lau Jan stood up suddenly, earning growls of annoyance from the unlucky people in the row behind, but she quickly composed herself and sat down again. "Gong ji?" "Gong ze, what are you doing?" "No way," she was saying to herself. Her hands unconsciously gripped those of Zyu Ji Sang and Zy sitting either side of her. "That was Siu Lei!" "Who?" "Saam Lei! The guardian spirit of Saam Lam(1)! He disappeared when Zyu was cursed..." Zy vaguely remembered the ''Little Fox'' from Gong Lau Yan''s recount of the devastation of the Zyu Kingdom. "Isn''t that great? One of your friends is alive!" Gong Lau Jan''s expression quickly darkened. "But what is he doing here? The way he spoke... as if he had organised this event. And that badge with the fox face?" Before they could speculate further, the auctioneer brought a lectern onto the stage and began auctioning the first item. Zy watched with growing anger as a box of jumbled dog teeth was carelessly displayed, while a group of evidently distraught dog-people from one of the countries in the west, present in humanoid form, desperately bid for it. They were skinny and poorly dressed, clearly without much money, but a smug-looking man kept casually outbidding them as his friend cheered him on. It was impossible to tell who was human and who was demon in that place Zy met Gong Lau Jan''s eyes. Her voice was harsh. "I can''t sit here and see that bastard take those teeth." "I don''t like it either. Let''s go backstage after the auction finishes, okay?" The loong smiled cheerfully. Zyu Ji Sang rolled her eyes. The auction was stomach-churning. One by one, products made from spiritual beasts were brought out; a belt made from Naga skin, a knife formed from the horn of a bi z(2), other objects made from species Zy could not recognise. She only hoped the raw materials had been donated painlessly or taken from an already dead creature. She hoped, but did not believe. The second-last item was a pair of live sh zi(3), which drew gasps of excitement and horror from the crowd. Gong Lau Jan and Zy gritted their teeth as the lion-dogs were auctioned off callously, so when Saam Lei returned to the stage, his attractive escort in tow, Gong Lau Jan looked ready to murder him with her eyes only. "Everyone, I hope that this auction has exceeded your expectations so far. How have you enjoyed yourselves?" A great din rose from the audience. Whether it meant yes or no was hard to say. It was likely that both opinions were present. "You may be wondering what could possibly top two live sh zi. Well, what I am about to show you is my second most prized possession." "Saam Lei, what the hell are you doing?" Gong Lau Jan snarled quietly. The wooden armrest of her chair splintered under her grip. "This is the earliest item I ever obtained. I have held onto it for many, many years, and now, finally, I am ready to hand it over to its new owner." Eight assistants struggled to wheel an enormous cloth-covered mass onto the stage. Those watching murmured to themselves. What could it possibly be? "What will you do with it? Will you leave it as I have, to be displayed as it is? Will you use it to fashion for yourself clothing or armour? You have many, many options with this last item. I present to you..." The eight assistants pulled hard at the cloth, and it came away with a rush. There was silence. There was noise. And most of that noise came from Gong Lau Jan, as she stood up in her seat, roaring, transforming into her true form. Author note: Character profiles Thanks for your patience while I take some time to edit the story, build up the chapter backlog, and move house (while working full time). At the Water''s Edge will be back next Sunday, October 1. In the meantime, I put together some very basic character profiles for the two main characters, with some concept pictures I created using dollmakers from Picrew.me. Minor spoilers? Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. 16 - Birds Travelling Separate Ways ַ (lo yn fn fi) - to be like birds flying in different directions; the break up of a couple.
For a moment, Zy and Dzue Yi-sang were frozen. Their gazes were riveted to the item on the stage. There was no mistaking it, even from this distance. How could they? It was enormous, and shone with a brilliant bronze radiance that even a blind person could see. It was a loong skin. Stretched flat, the dazzling skin was whole from nose to tail, with even the legs present. Not a single scale out of place, every talon as it should be, this skin had clearly been carefully preserved. Zy remembered that bronze glow. It had protected her the day her mother had tried to kill her. Gong Lau Yan was rampaging. Panicking patrons fled as she began stampeding down towards the stage. Dzue Yi-sang called out after her. "Gong Dze! Come back!" Of course, she didn''t even turn her head. Making up her mind in an instant, Zy divested a young man of his sword as he tried to escape, and followed Gong Lau Yan without hesitation, leaving the doctor gaping. Crazy! In the pandemonium, Tsaam Lei seemed to have disappeared. Gong Lau Yan was being hampered by the escaping people and by the appearing guards, although both groups seemed to be completely terrified and also unprepared for a real live loong to appear. Zy darted about, pulling patrons out of the way of the loong''s thrashing tail and knocking out the dithering guards. Her skills had rusted a little over the years, but she was still more than a match for them. One guard ran up to Gong Lau Yan''s side with murder in his eyes, a thick spear clenched in his meaty fist. Zy ran him through without blinking, and even found herself laughing at the look of surprise on his face. The remaining guards fell back and seemed to be contemplating leaving, when it became apparent that some of the patrons had other ideas. Perhaps emboldened by the items they had seen auctioned that evening, some armed people were circling the unaware Gong Lau Yan avariciously. Zy grabbed the sword of the man she had just slaughtered, and so, with one in each hand, she turned on these people lurking about. Some of the audience were cowering under their seats, too frightened to move, while others fought each other at the entrance to be the first to escape. Still others seemed to be running about the hall, for what reason Zy could not tell, but if they threatened Gong Lau Yan, she would make them pay. She swung her swords over and over, beating back those who came for Gong Lau Yan. There was no mercy. If they would not back down, she would cut them down, slicing and stabbing until her swords and robes were red with their blood. Occasionally she almost found herself enjoying it. She looked over her shoulder to say something to Fn B''n, fully expecting him beside her as usual, enjoying the fight too, but there was no sign of him, anywhere in the hall. The next moment, two sh zi came charging out from backstage, scattering those who had come for Gong Lau Yan. They were followed by a herd of qln, and creatures Zy did not recognise, strange horses with dripping manes and tails, a giant snake, two giant flaming birds. Someone must have let all the legendary beasts backstage loose. The fighting broke in an instant as Zy''s opponents also fled. Several were pulled down to the sound of bones cracking and chomping jaws, but several managed to escape the hall. The legendary beasts followed them out. The guards were long gone. All that remained in the hall were a few people who had fainted or were too terrified to leave, Zy, and the dead bodies around her. And Gong Lau Yan, who was staring at the loong skin. Although she was still in loong form, Zy could see a kind of frozen horror in her whole attitude. She licked her lips repeatedly like a frightened animal, ears drawn back. She seemed to both want to touch, and never want to touch, the skin before her. Zy thrust the swords into the ground, and leapt up to the stage, eyes roaming from Gong Lau Yan to the gleaming bronze skin. "G... Gong Ming Dzue?" Her words seemed to let something loose in Gong Lau Yan. She howled, the strength of her roar shaking the very foundations of the hall so that giant cracks began to appear throughout the structure. Zy closed her eyes and bore the onslaught. When she opened her eyes again, Gong Lau Yan, in humanoid form, was reaching slowly out to the skin, barely able to see through the tears in her eyes. Her trembling hands touched it and she looked ready to vomit, but she swallowed compulsively as she cried, "Dze dze" over and over. Zy felt tears sliding down her own face. Breathing deep, she turned her face to the ceiling, motes of limestone dust softly falling onto her face and eyelashes. She stood there for a very long time, as the lights in the lanterns burned lower and lower, and Gong Lau Yan cried. * "Dji?" Zy jerked awake. At some point, she had sat down by the edge of the stage and then apparently fallen asleep. Gong Lau Yan sat nearby. She had untied her sister''s skin from the frame that held it, and sat motionless with her face buried in its folds. Fn B''n stood by Zy''s side, looking concerned. He had back to his previous appearance, eyes dark rather than red, his whole being once more reminding her of Mng Hun. She looked at him helplessly. "Why are you doing that?" "Doing what?" "Making your appearance like my Fifth Brother''s? How did you even know what he looks like?" "I just know." He smiled softly, and then, to her surprise, sat beside her and bundled her under his cloak. They really did look like siblings, in their disguises. It was like she was sitting next to her brother again, maybe by the lotus pond, where they teased the fish with scraps from their lunch. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. She found herself crying again, not the silent tears of sympathy she had shed earlier, but body-wracking sobs. "Miss, are you alright?" A few people were still around. A small person in cultivator garb stood before her, looking concerned, while the tall foreign woman from earlier lurked behind, trying to look unbothered. In the gloom, it was a little hard to make them out. "I... I''ll be okay. Thank you. Please don''t bother yourself, my friend here will look after me." "Friend?" the foreign woman repeated. Zy wasn''t sure if she simply didn''t understand the word, but her tone sounded incredulous. The other person smiled peacefully. Zy felt a little relaxed just by looking at them. They had a round face, dark eyes, and unusual pale golden hair. "I know some medicine, may I at least check your pulse?" "Oh... thank you, but I... Dzue Yi-sang...?" She looked around. There was no sign of the doctor. Zy jumped upright in alarm and called loudly. "Yi-sang! DZUE YI-SANG!" No response. Even Gong Lau Yan, breath hitching, looked up. "DZUE YI-SANG!" "Miss?" "There was a doctor travelling with us... Where... where is she?" "When was the last time you saw her?" A hoarse voice spoke from behind them. Gong Lau Yan had risen, still clutching the skin in her hands. "She was there when... I saw her as you were heading to the stage." Zy could feel herself begin to shake. A pair of reassuring hands held her shoulders as the unnamed cultivator stepped up beside her. Although they were shorter than her, their presence felt grounding and soothing. "We can help look for her. What does she look like?" "Um... a little shorter than you, silver hair... she was dressed as a poisoner..." Zy''s words tumbled trustingly out, but Gong Lau Yan was in no state to be suspicious either. Zy felt her tremors become worse. Her vision seemed to swim. "You need treatment," the unnamed cultivator said. "May I...?" At Zy''s weak nod, they pressed their fingers to her wrist. "You have a serious case of q deviation," they said quietly. "I only know some basic treatments. Otherwise, I only know of my Master who can provide a full treatment." "Your Master?" "The Grandmaster of the Yun Wi School of Healing. Yun M Sh f." Zy looked dazed. "Yun M Sh f? Is he tall, has gold and black eyes?" "You know him?" "I..." The tremors were so strong now that Zy could barely speak. "When I was a young girl in the Chn Kingdom, I used to spend time in the Yun Wi Temple there... I thought... The temple burnt down over a century ago!" The small cultivator bowed politely. "Greeting Sh ji. This humble cultivator is Yuen Sou Yuet, courtesy name Yun Y Fng, Head Disciple. Yun M Sh f is now Master of the Yun Wi School of Healing in the Hung Kingdom... My companion here does not have a name." The pale woman grunted, although she looked a little less intimidating than she had before. "Ch- Zy. My name is Zy. And this is -" "Yun M..." a voice behind them mused. "I seem to remember than name, somehow..." Gong Lau Yan''s grey-brown eyes slid down to the skin in her hands, then towards the shadowy wings of the stage where Tsaam Lei likely escaped. "... the ones that died here..." "Other than the ones that Sh ji dealt with personally, there were a couple of smugglers that also died in the stampede. As far as we can tell, there were no innocent lives lost. I am certain your doctor is not among them." The mood was very heavy. The innocent could have died so easily, trampled in the crush. Gong Lau Yan seemed to draw even further into herself. Her lips were dry and cracked, her eyes sunken. It had been a long time since she had last drunk water, and she had cried on top of that. But when Zy offered her a flask, she turned away. Yun Y Fng turned to Zy apologetically. "I''m sorry we can''t take you to Yun Wi ourselves, but we''ve been tasked with an investigative mission and must be going. Here, I''ll draw you a rough map and give you the location." Zy felt lightheaded as she watched her junior sibling quickly sketch a map on the back of a menu that their companion was carrying for some reason, but a movement from Gong Lau Yan caught the corner of her eye. The loong was staring into the darkness beside the stage, clearly coming to some conclusion. "We''ll help you look for your companion for a day before we have to leave. We might have a good chance of finding her." Zy looked at Gong Lau Yan. The loong''s face was emotionless, no suggestion of what she might be thinking appearing on her expression. Zy could somewhat guess what she was thinking, though. Chase after Tsaam Lei and get answers, perhaps revenge? Search for Dzue Yi-sang? "I''ll go where you go, Gong Dze," she said firmly. "Wherever you choose, I''ll help you." "Help?" Gong Lau Yan shook herself, her voice strained. Zy flinched from the strange anger in her words. "Can''t you think for yourself for once?" "Don''t take your anger out on others," the pale woman reprimanded. When Gong Lau Yan''s fierce burning gaze turned to her, she barely flinched. "Are you saying I shouldn''t be angry?" "Of course you should be angry," Zy broke in, also glaring at the nameless woman. "Your dze dze-" "Stop! Just stop..." Gong Lau Yan clutched her face as if she wanted to tear it off. "Go and get treated, Zy. You can''t... you can''t help me." "But... I''m sorry I''m so unreliable, Gong Dze, but... I can fight C Didn''t I protect you just before? And if there''s-" "You can''t even look after yourself! You don''t even... Is he here?" "He... who?" "That thing you call B''n D." "Gong Dze!" "He''s not real, Zy! You''ve imagined him!" "... What?" Gong Lau Yan''s shoulder sagged. Her voice became very soft. "A Y... there''s no one there. You''ve been talking to yourself for the past few months." "But... but you talked him too!" "Sometimes you would... your voice would change. You whole body language would change... You would say things that didn''t sound like the usual you..." Zy''s gaze swung around to look at the demon prince sitting on the stage. No one else was looking at him. No one else had looked at him from the start. He smiled apologetically. "This isn''t funny... Why are you doing this to me?" Zy shouted first at Fn B''n, then turned on Gong Lau Yan. The other two watching people exchanged concerned looks. Something broke in the loong. Her eyes glowed green and she seemed to grow in height. "That''s what I should be saying to you! It''s Fn B''n this and B''n D that when he doesn''t even exist! Why do you think he looks like your brother? And when you saw him today, and he looked different, that was the real Demon Prince! He-" Her words suddenly stopped abruptly. "Oh... Little Wan...?" Slowly, her eyes focused on Zy. "A Y... You should go and get treated." "But-" "I''m sorry, Sh ji, but I agree with Lady Gong," Yun Y Fng said quietly. "To be in such a state of q deviation that your demonic side is manifesting as an entity that you can see and talk to... It''s far too dangerous, for everyone. We released the sh zi earlier, and rescued their child, I''m sure they would be quite willing to guide you safely to Yun Wi." Zy''s eyes sought the person who had been by her side for the past few months, who she had never questioned for their continuing presence, despite it not making any sense. The young man who smiled back at her looked nothing like the demon prince she had seen only a few hours before. "I have to find Dzue Ngan Wan. And Tsaam Lei. And..." Gong Lau Yan stared at the skin in her hands as if she didn''t know why it was there. Zy looked at the loong with the skin of her own sister in her hands, and swallowing hard, she bowed deeply. "Thank you, so very, very much, Miss Gong. It was an honour to travel with you. I wish you every success with your quest." "... Get well soon, Zy. And... I''m sorry." In this moment, there was no space for the two of them, together. The world had come and cruelly crowded out the space between them. Zy remained bowed. She heard Gong Lau Yan turn, heard her footsteps fade away, disappear. 17 - Pool of Mud ۳һ̯ (li chng y tn ln n) - tired as a pool of mud; utterly exhausted.
In the chaos following the collapse of auction, the woman who had been on stage with Tsaam Lei emerged from the ruined tea house, with another, exquisitely beautiful, woman by her side. An awkward multilingual conversation ensued; neither of the newcomers could speak the Zh language, which Yun Y Fng turned out to be oddly familiar with, or even the more widely used language that the majority of them, Xing, and knew very little of the Common Tongue. Charades, drawings in the dust, and very, very distant memories of rudimentary Yamato-go, the language of the country where the two newcomers had come from, east of the sea, drew them closer to a mutual understanding. They called themselves Eitsu and Tsubaki, their names formed from the characters for ''Eternal Haven'' and ''Camellia'' respectively. Eitsu had a strange energy and a kind of inhuman attractiveness that reminded Zy somewhat of C No, she didn''t want to think of her right now. Tsubaki was a pure and simple human, with no spiritual power, but she was extraordinarily beautiful and her dark eyes carried a kind of steely resolve as though she were a sheathed sword, ready to cut someone down. Yun Y Fng had a strangely familiar aura, with a strong Wood-attribute that Zy''s Water nature couldn''t help but feel soothed by. Their companion, on the other hand, had a wild and feral energy that she wasn''t sure how to deal with. In some ways, it frightened her. It seemed that all four of them had met Tsaam Lei before, and their faces grew grim as they exchanged information. Zy stared blankly as words that bubbled up through the discussion. Death guide. We had an encounter with him fairly recently, Yun Y Fng explained. He sent a ghost to the next world. Was it not just an exorcism? No, not like that. There was a certain feeling... How to explain it... Eitsu and Tsubaki''s stumbling words were of agreement, although they seemed reluctant to explain what they had experienced. But Gon- I heard he used to be the guardian spirit of a forest in Zh. How can he be a guide to the dead? A guardian spirit? Tsaam Lei, the spirit of Tsaam Lam. Everyone present digested this information. Lady G- The person who told you this was sure? Yun Y Fng asked, politely dancing around mentioned Gong Lau Yan. Yes, they were certain. They knew him very well. Her junior sibling looked very troubled. Perhaps demons are involved after all. Demons? We still don''t truly know what happened during the fall of Dzue. So if a previous guardian of Dzue''s main forest shows up wielding powers of the dead and trafficking legendary animals... including the skin of his own Queen... In the end, Yun Y Fng and their companion headed west to continue finding evidence of Tsaam Lei''s crimes. The two women, Eitsu and Tsubaki, quickly disappeared to hunt down Tsaam Lei himself. And Zy... In the Kingdom of Hung, by the edge of a tranquil forest, there sat a small temple. From a distance, Zy watched its disciples greet each other, do chores, practice their discipline. She turned to the giant creatures behind her. "Thank you for your assistance," she said sincerely, holding her hands out to the giant heads of the sh zi. They lowered them eagerly, pressing their huge snub noses against her whole face and snuffling hard as she wrapped her arms around their cheeks, first one animal, then the other. Over a week had passed. Their puppy had stayed with the investigative monk and their companion; the sh zi parents seemed happy to let their child see the world in the care of such capable people. In this world, children grow up early. There had been no sign of Dzue Yi-sang, despite the searching of Yun Y Fng''s companion. This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. "My friend has a certain way of investigating," Yun Y Fng explained, although no one seemed to want to explain what that way might be, so Zy did not press the matter. In the end, they could only say that Dzue Yi-sang was no longer in Yhi, and they urged Zy to go and see Yun M Sh f for treatment. There was no Gong Lau Yan either. A funny feeling would twist Zy''s heart up every time she thought of the loong. It would start in her chest then erupt into her brain and make her feel faint. In the end, she found herself avoiding the thought of her, until her mind automatically shied away from even the briefest consideration without her even noticing. The sh zi had become very fond of Zy, and she of them. She liked to stroke their coarse fur and rub their ugly but cheerful faces vigorously; they would respond with a singsong growl and lean their whole weight against her until even her cultivator''s strength failed and she fell over. And now it was farewell again. Zy closed her eyes, face pressed against the one of the sh zi''s faces. "Am I just going to keep saying goodbye, over and over?" "I''m still here," Fn B''n said from behind her. Zy said nothing. What was the point? "At least there''s someone for you to talk to, even if it''s just a part of yourself." "Thank you," she said again to the sh zi. They snuffled her hair, fluffing it into a mess, and then contentedly trotted away. She watched them disappear into the surrounding forest. And then she watched a little longer. Ten minutes passed with her staring after them, motionless. It seemed easy, somehow. She knew she was supposed to turn around now, and walk down into the little dale where the temple was situated, and find her old sh f. But she could also just continue to stand here instead, watching the wind toss the leaves. "Don''t you want to see your sh f?" the vision of Fn B''n asked. "You shut up." Zy''s eyes were cold and dark. She walked down to the temple. Three junior disciples were cheerfully sweeping the front steps of the temple when Zy approached. They greeted her respectfully. "Ji jie, are you looking for someone?" "I am, little ones. My name is Lin. Is it possible to have an audience with your sh f?" "Please wait one moment," one of them said, dropping his broom and rushing away. The other two seized Zy''s hands. "Come and have some tea while you wait, Lin ji." "We harvested some jasmine recently, this new batch tastes really good!" They brought her to a small pagoda just by the temple gate where visitors could wait. Zy''s eyes took in the temple grounds as the junior disciples raced about with teacups and hot water. The style of the buildings was so different from that of the Yun Wi Temple in Chn, where the wooden structures had been almost gloomy. Here they were light and airy, but the same tranquil feeling pervaded the whole place. Disciples tended to herbal gardens, and small ponds laden with edible plants and beautiful flowers dotted the scene. A shiver of recognition ran through her. The tea had only just been poured out when a voice called out. "Lin sh mi?" An elderly man stood before her. He wore a jade ornament from his belt depicting an intricately carved iris flower, and the white tassel that hung below, white as his long eyebrows, white as his long beard, it told her that he was the master of this place. But his eyes were still clear and dark, and shot with gold, and Zy remembered a time when his hair was only just turning white, when he stood tall and upright, and she had called him - "Yun M Sh f." No one knew quite what else to say, at that moment. At last, Yun M opened his mouth to speak again. "Your Highness." Zy froze. Like a rabbit stalked by a fox, her eyes twisted without her head moving to see the person who had spoken. At the main temple gate stood a man in the uniform of a military commander of the Chn Kingdom. Behind him were a small squad of soldiers, who knelt as Zy turned. "Princess, we have been ordered to bring you home." Bewildered, Zy turned quickly to look at Yun M. He was frowning hard, clearly not expecting these visitors. Behind him, Yun Wi disciples had caught sight of the scene by the gate. Zy could sense the silent tightening of the situation, a wary rising of fighting intent starting to take hold of the disciples. Coiled within like snakes ready to strike, they had all stopped what they were doing and were watching how the situation would unfold. This was different. Yun Wi Temple in Chn had been entirely peaceful. Yun M had taught these children how to fight. What happened back then, sh f? "Whose orders?" Zy asked. "His Majesty, the King of Chn." Her grandnephew. No, grandniece. What did she want now? Yun M had stepped to her side. "Lin Sh mi, I don''t entirely understand what is happening here, he said quietly, but I sense that perhaps you do not wish to go. If you say the word, Yun Wi will protect you. I... have lost enough people. We''re strong, sh mi." Just speak, and I''ll be safe? Zy looked at the kneeling soldiers, and then at the young disciples. She could sense many years of battle experience from the former, although their strengths varied. The Commander himself had a very high cultivation. The Yun Wi disciples on the other hand, had high cultivation overall, but little experience with fighting. Yet they all stood and waited for her word. Zy smiled, if it could be called that. Her lips twitched and her eyes could barely focus on her sh f, who took her hand, his own eyes filled with concern. She could see it, right there and then, that she would say that she didn''t want to go with these soldiers, that she just wanted to stay here at Yun Wi, and return to the path of a tranquil heart, and forget everything about the outside world. And the soldiers and the disciples would fight, and it would be a close battle, and there would be thick blood on the surface of the once peaceful water gardens and courtyards. She squeezed Yun M''s hand, and swallowed hard against the nausea she felt. "I will go with them." 18 - Tiger with a Smiling Face Ц滢 (xio min h) C a tiger with a smiling face; a wicked person with hypocritical smile.
"G p, you came back," Chn Yl said. Her smile was full of knives. A week later, Zy stood before the throne, drooping like a wilted flower. The court officials muttered to each other, the sound a seething hiss in Zy''s dulled ears. "How... how did you find me, zh sn... n?" The last word was spoken practically under her breath. "Get out," the regent ordered the officials. They filed out quickly, but not without casting prying looks behind them. Once the room was empty, Chn Yl leaned back and sighed. "I would much rather you call me zh sn, g p." "If that is how it is, I will absolutely respect your wishes." "It''s not like that." Her grandniece yawned. "Things are just easier this way." Zy had no energy to argue. She merely stared dumbly at the floor. "Well, you seem more obedient than last time. You were really annoying before." "How... did you find me?" "... It really wasn''t that difficult. Did you think that no one would notice a cultivator flying around with a giant lotus? And making such a huge scene in Yhi?" Zy''s eyes rose, although she kept her head lowered. The effect was somewhat scary. "Did you have someone there at the auction?" "Why not? I heard there were some interesting things for sale. Pity I couldn''t get hold of anything. Who would have thought there were still loong left in the world?" Chn Yl laughed viciously. "I guess Sir L certainly didn''t expect so." "... You know that man who ran the auction?" "Who doesn''t? Sir Li is a smart man. This will just be a setback for him. Still..." She suddenly looked wistful. "I would have dearly loved that loong skin. It would have made a wonderful rug for this throne room." Zy almost threw up blood. She shook her head and rolled her neck weirdly. Chn Yl raised an eyebrow. "What''s wrong with you?" "Are you really asking after my health here or are you up to something else?" Zy asked in a very different tone of voice from her usual. For once, she was aware of it too. It was the voice that the imaginary Fn B''n spoke in. She let it take her over and spit from her mouth. "Have you got something against loong? Did a loong eat one of your pet demons or something?" Chn Yl laughed again, without a trace of amusement. "Ah, Zy, A Lin, Princess. You have no idea... You have no idea." As she repeated the last phrase, her eyes grew dark, her voice falling ominously. But then she dismissed it and returned to her usual arrogant self. "The Crown Prince of Zhng is on his way here. He will arrive in a week''s time, and you will get married to him. We will join hands with Zhng and increase our influence. That''s all. Now go to the Lily Palace and stay there until your wedding day. And get rid of those ugly scars all over you, that should be easy enough at your cultivation level." So many things should be easy. Zy stared without blinking at her grandniece until two guards came to escort her away. It was night time by now. Once back within the walls of the Lily Palace, the gates were locked behind her. A waning crescent moon hung above her head, reflecting in her staring eyes. A few nervous servant girls approached her, beckoning for her to enter her rooms to be bathed and prepared for bed. She ignored them. Fn B''n was whispering in her ear. "Where''s the best place to start a fire?"
The kitchens exploded satisfyingly. Like a demon, Zy had crept unnoticed through the night and destroyed several large bags of flour, casting the contents into the air and lighting it all up with a lantern she had picked up on the way. The guards found her half a li away, where the blast had blown her. She floated face up in one of the water gardens, laughing, half the skin on her body gone. The Regent put a call out for the best exorcists, brought in doctors to heal Zy''s injuries, and locked Lily Palace down with a twelve-sh guard, raised the palace walls, and slapped talismans on every door. Later, she came to visit Zy. This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. "Where is that loong you were with, back in Yhi? Who were they?" It seemed that the informant had escaped with everyone else during Gong Lau Yan''s rampage. Zy blew a raspberry. She would have stuck a finger up if her body were not bound down by heavy demon-suppressing chains. "The loong is your mother." Chn Yl brought her face very close to Zy''s. "Do you understand how I could hurt you? I don''t think you realise-" "I don''t. I really don''t. I can''t think of anything worse than what has already happened." Zy smiled sweetly. "Please teach me, zh sn n." Chn Yl''s face pinched, and she stood abruptly. "We''ll see." "See? Hey, zh sn n." "... What?" "You realise I''m infertile, right? How could I not be, after being cursed the way I was? What do you think Crown Prince Zhng will say if I told him...?" Chn Yl left Zy alone in the dark. This was nothing new. Hadn''t she been alone in the dark for a hundred years? Only this time, she wasn''t alone. She and the hallucination of Fn B''n talked continuously, flipping from amicable to outright murderous in an instant. "Fuck off, Fake B''n." "I''ll leave if you let me. You''re the one that created me after all." "GO AWAY GO AWAY GO AWAY -" The doctors advised the Regent that this was one of the worst cases of demonic possession that they had seen. "Your Majesty," said the most senior, bowing, "we have tried all sorts of things to repair the Lady''s body. We thought we had succeeded last time, but the demon within her was toying with us. The skin on her face appeared to have grown back, but when the Lady laughed, it all sloughed off again." The doctors shivered as a group. The sight of the pretty young woman''s face turning to the consistency of tofu sheets and slipping off her face, revealing muscle and blood vessels beneath, was too horrifying to witness. Add that she was sat in the dark and laughed the whole time, some doctors had run away and not returned. "Have you run out of ideas?" Chn Yl asked coldly, tapping a finger on the throne. "We have another option," the senior doctor said hastily. "We''ve heard that there is a certain medicine that has been developed, that can temporarily render someone docile and obedient. We are searching for a doctor who can create this medicine as we speak." "The Crown Prince of Zhng arrives in four days," Chn Yl remarked darkly. "Need I say what will happen if the Lady is not presentable by that time?" The doctor wasn''t sure what was scarier, the tone of the Regent''s voice, or seeing Zy''s face slide off. He bowed fearfully. Investigations into the medicine sped up. Exorcists from across the kingdom, and further, had begun to arrive. One by one, they entered the Lily Palace. One by one, they ran out, pursued by a roiling wave of conflicting demonic and spiritual energies. On the second day of attempts, someone suggested that intense sunlight might assist in the exorcism. Zy was staked out in the courtyard of the Lily Palace to prevent her escaping. She no longer laughed, but lay blank-eyed, staring directly at the sun without apparent discomfort. The exorcists rang bells, and threw holy water from the west, and swung peach wood swords over her. Zy was pricked with silver needles, prayed over in a dozen different languages, and forcibly fed the extract of a strange plant root until she was near vomiting (1). She continued to stare at the sun. "From there to there," said Chn Yl, who had come to watch, shaded from the sun by a giant parasol. She pointed at one exorcist and swept her arm across to point at another. "Kill them all." Her soldiers murdered them before they could run. The Regent of Chn stared at the survivors with contempt. She had been informed that the Crown Prince had crossed the border that morning. He was two days away. "Is there no one with any ability here?" No one spoke. Those who had not been targeted watched with narrowed eyes. There were many con artists, desperate people, and delusional people who had come to try their hand at exorcism. There were some who were a bit talented, and they had mostly been among those who survived, but no one here had the skill to deal with this situation. Those who did would probably be smart enough to avoid this place altogether. Then another exorcist arrived, and those who had just thought the previous thought slapped their mouths. What was this famous person doing here? The newest participant stepped slowly in, eyes fixed upon the staked-out, staring and shivering figure of Zy. "Are you not going to greet me, the sovereign of this kingdom, first?" Chn Yl remarked. The exorcist had completely ignored her, despite the clear symbols of her office - rich robes of gold, the Regent''s headdress, the servants around her. Instead - "Who is this lady with demonic possession?" "A lesser member of the Chn royal family," an official supplied. Chn Yl gestured, and his head was separated from his shoulders by a swift sword, to teach him a lesson for speaking when the Regent had unfinished words. The exorcist remained unconcerned. "She needs to be released." "Impossible." Chn Yl''s lip curled. "Now do your job, or join them." ''Them'' being the dozen corpses now strewn across the courtyard. The exorcist moved. Before anyone could react, the chains binding Zy were broken, and Miss Fn, Demon Hunter, lifted the suffering woman into her arms. Swords flashed. Chn Yl barked orders, "Surround them! Retrieve the Lady alive!" Gong Lau Jan''s response was to take something from a pouch on her belt and slip it between Zy''s pale, mostly intact lips. The woman''s staring eyes flickered, and she began to chew slowly. "Strawberry... how.... it''s not even the right season..." Gong Lau Jan gently squeezed her. "I''m sorry I''m late, Me Gu. Can I take you away from here?" "... yes..." "Then let''s go." Completely unfazed by the menacing soldiers, Gong Lau Jan turned for the palace gate. "She is a member of the royal family, Demon Hunter Fn. Do you know the penalty for kidnapping a royal?" Chn Yl stood tall, a finger pointing directly at Gong Lau Jan. "You-" "She has given up the name of Chn," Gong Lau Jan interrupted coldly. "She cannot. She belongs to me." "She belong to no one," Gong Lau Jan refuted. "And she has chosen to leave with me. I will not ask for your permission." She frowned slightly as she looked at the Regent of Chn. "Have we met before?" Those watching winced. Demon Hunter Fn had not only not greeted the Regent of Chn, she had interrupted her, and asked such an impertinent question! Never mind kidnapping a royal, she had signed her death sentence with these three actions alone! As if this would concern either the Demon Hunter, Miss Fn, or the loong princess, Gong Lau Jan. She kicked off from the ground, bounding through the air away from the Lily Palace at lightning speed. How could anyone stop her? Chn Yl ground her teeth with helpless rage as the two figures disappeared into the blue sky, ineffectually pursued by her soldiers. "Put a bounty on Miss Fn''s head. Alive or dead." 19 - Thousand-mile Fate Zy woke in a dim room. The shutters were drawn on all the windows, letting only a little light in, but she could see the simple ceiling, and feel the soft but homely texture of the bedding surrounding her. And this scent C a little sweet, a little earthy... "Sh ji?" An unfamiliar voice called from a party of the room Zy couldn''t see. She tried to turn her head and raise herself, but jolts of pain seized her limbs and locked her to the bed. The face of a Jyun Mei disciple came into view. "Sh ji, please stay still. You''re still badly injured. Do you need something? There''s water here, and I can call anyone you need." "... water..." She couldn''t sit up to swallow, so the disciple dripped water, agonisingly slowly, from a wet cloth that she kept dipping into the water jug. At last, Zy''s tongue felt a little less dry and swollen, but she could still faintly taste blood. "Sh xing..." "Sh fu? Do you wish to see him?" "... mm." "Anyone else, sh Fn?" "..." A face crossed Zy''s mind, grey-brown eyes, usually cool and powerful like a slow river, now fierce and raging. Chestnut-coloured hair falling around them both as a voice called out her name... "... no."
"Y sh mi, you''ve rejoined us," Yun M sank into a chair beside her bed with a look of relief. "How long...?" "A week." "... Is... where is... Gong ji?" "She''s been back and forth... Well, I''m not entirely sure where she''s been going, but she makes sure to return every day to see how you are. Would you like to see her?" "..." Zy bit her lip fiercely her face contorting as she struggled not to cry. Heavens, she was so sick of crying. "Are you angry at her, sh mi?" "I know! I know I... Why... Why am I like this..." She began to cry in earnest, tears sliding horribly into her ears as she didn''t even have the strength to raise her hands. Yun M considerately applied a cloth to her face to assist her until she ran out of tears and energy. "It can wait, sh mi. You''ve been through a lot. Nothing will make sense for a while. Sleep well, eat well, and when you''re ready, you can think about it again." "Please... I don''t want to see... Don''t let her see me like this." "When you''re ready, sh mi." For a month, Zy drifted in and out of sleep, waking erratically, eating when she could, slowly moving her body until she could turn over in bed. She cried. Days would go by where she would not speak to anyone, days where she stared at a single spot on the ceiling, or hid under the bedcovers. The disciples stopped asking her if she wanted to see Gong Lau Jan. Stop stop stop she screamed in her mind, trying to push down the fear and the demonic energy threatening to boil out of her. It didn''t work. For all the rest she got, for all the good food and the gentle words, one night it all exploded out of her. Yun M raced into her room, an outer robe hastily thrown over his sleeping clothes, to find her pulling out clumps of her hair, engulfed in a roiling heat and screaming uncontrollably. When he reached out to touch her, she flinched away as though she had been burnt, then launched herself back at him, fingers vicious and desperate. Yun M gathered his energy and met her halfway, seeking to quell the demonic power that threatened to consume them both. Zy cried and screamed and scratched at him, scratched at herself until they were both bleeding. Yun M in particular was streaming blood from his seven apertures (1) and feeling faint. "I''m sorry... I''m sorry!" Zy howled, clawing at her face. The room creaked and shook. Outside the disciples, woken by the screams, stood anxious and alert, their mouths dry. At the very doorway of the room, a slender woman stood grimly, her palm placed upon the closed door. "A Lin." The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Her voice was soft, but somehow Zy heard it over the din of her own heart. The demonic energy flickered and surged. "I would like to speak with you, A Lin. You can keep saying no, if you want." Zy saw herself for a moment, covered in her and her sh xing''s blood, clumps of her own long hair in her hands, drenched all over in sweat and tears. Her face contorted. "Why... why did you leave me behind...?" she wailed. "... why did you come back? Why didn''t you just let me die...?" "... May I come in, A Lin?" Zy made a choking noise, vaguely affirming, and Gong Lau Jan swept in. She looked haggard. There were dark circles around her eyes, and her skin was unhealthily pale, but she wore a rich set of robes in a style that Zy had never seen before, deep brown and draping about her form to emphasise the long lines of her body. A silken cape with a large, tasselled collar that covered her shoulders was gathered at her throat and fell to her feet. Large pearls gleamed on her earlobes, while seed pearls peeked from other parts of her ears like stars in a constellation, between the chestnut strands of hair that had been left loose in front of her ears, separate from her high ponytail. Zy felt hideous and wretched. And then Gong Lau Jan knelt before her, as though the loong were a vassal before a queen on a throne, and said, "May I hold you, Your Highness?" Zy shook and before she even understood what was happening, she was reaching out towards Gong Lau Jan with bloodstained fingers, and the loong and wrapped her up in her arms and her cloak, heedless of sweat and tears and blood. Zy buried her face in Gong Lau Jan''s cool-skinned neck and cried. The loong carefully extended her own energy, guiding the demonic power escaping from Zy this way and that until it slowly, slowly began to dissipate. Yun M tiptoed from the room to be treated by his disciples. "Talk to me, Me Gu?" "... Why do you always leave me behind, Miss Fn? First at Chn, and then, at Yhi- No, no, I''m being irrational, you had good reasons for leaving, how dare I think I''m so important... Why... Why..." "I misunderstood." Gong Lau Yan ran long nails through Zy''s damaged hair, soothing the bleeding skin. "Me Gu, I thought... I don''t think I understand humans very well. Loong live a very long time. For us, dozens of years between seeing or speaking to another means nothing. I forget, sometimes, that this is not the same for humans, even ones who can live as long as you." She continued petting Zy''s hair gently. The demonic energy still hung heavy on the air, but it had ceased its frenzied rampage. "When I left you at the Chn Kingdom, I always intended to come back and visit. Things move so quickly in the human world... No, that''s... I should have ensured your safety before I left. I was chasing information on the fall of Zyu and got impatient. I left you alone, who didn''t have anyone else to rely on, after being trapped for so long." "I should have been able to handle it," Zy whispered hoarsely. "It''s nothing... I survived so long by myself, and it''s not the first time a family member... Or the second time, really. I''m just weak. It was better that I managed it myself, it''s nothing to do with you-" "Just because you can, doesn''t mean you should." Gong Lau Jan''s arms tightened reassuringly." Maybe you could this alone, Me Gu. But does that mean you should? Why shouldn''t you have help? Haven''t you been alone long enough?" The last vestige of lurking demonic energy disappeared in an instant like a heart breaking. Zy couldn''t stop shaking. "And this last time... Even if..." They clung to each other in silence. At last, Gong Lau Jan managed to say, "Ze ze is dead. You and Zyu Ngaan Wan are not. I shouldn''t have pushed you away." "You... were grieving. You couldn''t..." "I''m still sorry." "I''m sorry too." "Why? "For being so needy." "What''s wrong with that?" "... everything." "It''s me who''s lacking. Needs are needs. They cannot be controlled. I... am still learning. I don''t fully understand humans..." "You''re doing well right now?" "I''m been talking a lot with Yun M. He''s a good sh xing. Me Gu... Zy." Zy opened her eyes anxiously, although she kept her face pressed to Gong Lau Jan''s neck. Her tone of voice had changed strangely. "I am not confident in myself right now. Ze ze is dead. Zyu Ngan Wan is still missing. I still can''t clearly see what happened to the Zyu Kingdom all those years ago. One of my close friends, who I thought was dead, has reappeared in the guise of a Ghost of Impermanence (2), with ze ze''s... skin. And you''re not well, and the Chn Kingdom... Is this the right thing?" "Is what the right thing?" Zy sat back. The two exhausted women stared at each other. "Is it right, for me to want to stay by your side?" Their fingers were still interwoven. Gong Lau Jan squeezed them lightly. "Me Gu... I have no confidence. I''m over a thousand years old and I have never felt so lost..." She suddenly returned to the floor of the room, kneeling formally as she had before. Her long brows tussled and she gnawed at her lower lip. Zy clutched herself, almost faint with weariness, her mind only able to wonder at how beautiful Gong Lau Jan looked right then, vulnerable and raw. Gong Lau Jan closed her eyes tight for a moment, and when she reopened them, they had regained their calm, deep power. She looked directly into Zy''s eyes. "Zy. I will find Zyu Ngan Wan, and then I will come and speak to you again. You... Don''t wait for me. Don''t wait for anyone, Your Highness. You have people who love you and will support you. Don''t be afraid, Me Gu. Don''t shut off parts of your heart or fight against yourself. They will love you regardless. I... I will support you, regardless." She could hear the sound of someone waiting outside the door, and the faint smell of medicinal herbs told her that Yun M had come to heal Zy''s wounds. She stood up, and was immediately captured by Zy''s hands. There was no strength left in them, and yet Gong Lau Yan could not escape. "I understand," Zy said softly. "I was afraid too. My mind made up all kinds of stories because I was scared... and lonely. Gong je, if you only tell me what''s on your mind, I''ll understand. I can wait for you, for as long as needed, if you only just talk to me." "You shouldn''t wait." "You mean, I don''t have to wait. But I want to. I choose to. However long that might be. Gong Jie...is it strange that I''m... so happy? I feel like I''m coming to the end of a long journey.. and I first started to see it coming when you pulled me from the water." Nervously, she cast about the room, until her eyes fell on a little table beside her bed. Her delicate jade lotus earrings lay on a small dish. She picked one up, running her fingers over the shape of the the flower, and the little metal rods that dangled below it. "... Take this?" Without a word, Gong Lau Jan removed one of the large pearls from her left earlobe, and inserted it into Zy''s own ear. Then she replaced it with the lotus earring that she had accepted from Zy. "I''ll come back, Your Highness." Gong Lau Jan bowed, and without another word, she left the room. Zy stared numbly at the stained bedspread, acutely aware of the cool orb of the pearl pressed to her earlobe. She looked up at Yun M, a tray of medicine in his hands, and a gentle look in his gold-and-black eyes. "Sh xing... I''m tired." 20 - Without Disturbance ҵ (n j l y): "to live in peace, without disturbance"
Winter turned to spring, spring turned to summer. In the Jyun Mei temple, Zy watched the seasons change and remembered, a year ago, how she had watched the same thing happen by the edge of a lake. However, this time Gong Lau Jan would appear every now and then, usually looking tired and ill. She had been circling around and around the east of the continent for months, even crossing the sea to look for the Eastern Demon Palace. All of Shsun was on the alert for Miss Fn, demon hunter. As a neighbour of the Chn Kingdom, it suited them to remain on good terms, and so they readily accepted that a bounty had been placed on this famous hero and spread the news throughout the country. Now every person who fancied themselves a martial artist was roaming the streets looking for her, while others peered slyly from behind shuttered windows ready to find and report her. In the country across the ocean, that they called Yamato, she had managed to gather that there was a great deal of gossip about a famous performer who had been invited to Caam Lei''s auction, but she had disappeared after giving away all of her possessions to her junior sisters in her performing troupe. There were whispers that she and the suave ''Lord Rei'' had eloped together, that they were involved in a lovers'' suicide pact, that she had pretended to go to see the auction but had actually killed herself... The rumours were as numerous as leaves in autumn, but they served to tell Zy and Gong Lau Jan that the cold woman they had met at the auction, and likely the supernatural cat Eitsu, had not returned to Yamato. Where were they? They did not have the time or energy to do more than briefly ponder this mystery before returning to their own troubles. Shsun was the easternmost country before one reached the ocean. Access to the Eastern Demon Palace surely was to be found somewhere in the region. But with all the citizens of the country on the lookout, what was she to do, fight everyone in Shsun? A normal person would die in a second, and then she really would be a criminal. She still remembered when she had lost control at the auction house, shuddering to think that she could easily have murdered innocent people. Her search was severely hampered not only by this, but also her declining health. Without Zyu Ji Sang''s assistance, depleted energy was taking far longer to replenish than before. She was losing more than she was replacing. Yun M did the best he could to patch her up, but his expertise was hardly in loong health, and in any case, Gong Lau Jan was barely in one place long enough. "You think His Highness Fn B''n took her?" Zy asked one evening, after Gong Lau Jan had stumbled in just before dinner. They were eating just outside the rooms where the disciples slept, a little apart from the others, and maintaining a polite distance between them. "He... I imagined it, didn''t I? That he was infatuated with Zyu Ji Sang? Couldn''t it have been Caam Lei?" "... Yes, Me Gu, that was not something that happened... It could have been Caam Lei. We don''t know if his people were in the audience, and they took Siu Wan when... But I.. have past history with the Eastern Demon Palace. And with what happened in the Zyu Kingdom... I''m sure they''re involved somehow." "Zyu Ji Sang... is she part of the Zyu Royal Family?" Gong Lau Jan smiled wryly. "Well, we never really tried to hide it. Zyu Ngan Wan is a descendant of the branch family. She would not have been in the line of succession at all. Now she''s the only one left with the Zyu name." "So you suspect that the Eastern Demon Palace is trying to finish what it started?" Zy put down her bowl suddenly. "Gong ze... Do you think Zyu Ji Sang is still alive?" The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. "She is. The pearl bracelet she wears is a treasure of the Zyu Kingdom, passed to them by my ze ze. I would know if something happened to her. I just...can''t find her. The Eastern Demon Palace have hidden themselves well." "... What will you do if it''s not them?" "I will find Caam Lei." Gong Lau Jan''s grey-brown eyes grew dark and she gripped her chopsticks like they were a dagger. "I will find him." Gong Lau Jan didn''t stay that night. She left soon after finishing her dinner, without any treatment from Yun M. Zy chased thoughts around and around her mind until she was sick of them. As the season changed, she cultivated the Still Water Heart with Yun M by the side of the water gardens, as she ate her meals, as she tended to the herbs with her fellow disciples, as she lay awake at night. The apparition of Fn B''n still whispered to her at these times. "D ji, please don''t forget me." "I want to forget. I want him to go away," Zy told Yun M, as they sat one warm night under a new moon, the only light from a single paper lantern they had brought outside with them. Fn B''n sat with them too. "Why is that, sh mi?" Zy looked at her sh fu strangely. "Because he''s not real. I''m seeing him there, so clearly, but he''s not... Of course we should make him go away." She was getting agitated. She could feel the demonic energy lurking through her body begin to rise up, and she fought to suppress it with her spiritual force. "Sh mi... You''ve lived for so long... but not truly. What is the path of the Still Water Heart?" "To meditate on the existence and the essence of still water. To learn from it, and embrace it as the way of being." "Is water always still?" "No, of course not. The ocean is pulled in and out by the moon, and rivers..." Her eyes grew sad. "Exactly, sh mi. Water is not still. Stillness... what is still? That which is dead, is still. That which has never lived, is still." "Then why do we seek stillness?" Zy cried. "Is this your misunderstanding, sh fu? I know the Still Water Heart was not your original path-" "And to this day it is not my path," he agreed, "but I swore to guide you, as the last of the W Xing''s (1) disciples, before I too left for the Divine Realm. I realise that your learning has been... unusual. It is hard for me not to bring some of my Fool''s Way of the Mountain path into my words. But all paths hold universal truths, and although your master Zh Mng (2) was not my Master, there are some things that we all come to understand, in time. "In moments of stillness, we transcend ourselves, and see the world differently. But we do not belong there, sh mi. We are alive. We have lived. And so..." He patted her shoulder gently. "Do not force an unnatural path. Guide it with love, accept that which is difficult and shameful, and bring it to stillness to observe and release it. Your friend... You said he reminds you of His Highness Mng Hun?" "... yes." "Why do you think that is?" "Because Mng Hun was my closest sibling. He was... my best friend. We helped each other through... Because..." "And so, in your hardest times, you brought to life a best friend to help you. What''s wrong with that, sh mi?" "Because he''s not real!" "But he is. Didn''t he help you?" Zy turned to look at the boy beside her. He didn''t look anything like Fn B''n anymore. A boy with large dark eyes and the same shaped nose as Zy sat beside her. He was wearing the imperial robes of the Old Chn Kingdom, as he had the last time she had seen him, the day before her wedding. Zy chewed hard on her lower lip. "Fn... Hun d." "... Y ji." His voice was her brother''s too now, a light, easygoing tone unlike the real demon prince''s sharp and sarcastic manner. ".. Hey, Hun d... I... really miss you." "I missed you too, Y ji. Until... I missed you too." "I''m glad I got to see you again." "... Any time." A cheeky little grin curved the lips of her brother''s face. ".. Thank... thank you." Zy bowed to the ground to hide her tears. She thought she felt the lightest touch on the back of her head. She spoke from the very depths of her heart. "Thank you for helping me. Thank you for everything." "Good luck, Y ji. You''ll be okay." She remained prone until the sensation was gone. When she final sat up, there was only her, and Yun M, and the light of the lantern shining off the water. The demonic energy had not gone. She still felt it there, sifting through her blood, her meridians, but it felt... right, some how. Her body was wracked by a deep, shuddering breath. Yun M nodded approvingly. "Good. That''s good. Your body is returning to the right path. You will never remove the demonic energy... in truth, no-one can, but you can manage it, watch it, and use it to become a stronger person. Sh mi, how do you feel?" Zy''s soft eyebrows drew together. A thought was rising in her mind, and a feeling was creeping through her limbs. "... sh fu." Yun M raised his eyebrows at her tone of voice. "Yes, Y sh mi?" "Can you... help me with something?" 21 - Making a Tiger A strange rumour was sweeping Chn. For the past half year, people had talked incessantly about the bounty on Miss Fn. The crime of kidnapping the Divine Lotus, Her Highness Chn Zy, who had been returned to Chn through a miracle, was extraordinary and inexplicable, and so gossip abounded. Had Miss Fn been corrupted by the demons she had worked so hard to deal with? Had the Divine Lotus truly been kidnapped, or like so many other members of the unfortunate Chn Family, had something else happened? The latter thought was whispered secretly in dark places, with anxious looks over shoulders to ensure no one was listening in. These suspicions could be seen as treason towards the royal power. It was better to keep them low. The ordinary people were dismayed, to say the least. They had been looking forward to seeing for themselves the good nature and benevolence of Her Highness, who had been spoken about reverently and treated almost as a goddess by their ancestors a century ago. Some lucky citizens had caught of glimpse of her in the few months she had been at the Chn royal palaces, and attested to her gentle grace and air. And then, a new rumour. It was said, possibly by a servant, who had been present on the day, or perhaps even by one of the practitioners themselves, that Her Highness Chn Zy had been tortured by the King. Frightened of her popularity with the people, he had accused her of demonic possession and had her staked out in her own courtyard, and harmed her under the guise of bringing exorcists to purge her of demons. And Miss Fn, who had originally found and returned the Divine Lotus to her people, had saved her. Even the fear of royal retribution was not enough to quench the fire of suspicion that rushed through Chn. Citizens in remote villages muttered of the corruption of power, and those in the cities eyed the royal guards that patrolled the streets suspiciously. What was to be believed? Two figureheads were emerging in this battle for the people'' hearts. On the one hand, a woman publicly acknowledged to be Her Highness Chn Zy, around whom legends abounded, famed for her love of the people and her righteous nature. On the other, His Majesty Chn Yl, ruler by divine right, who had kept them safe thus far. Was that woman truly the Divine Lotus? Could a person, even if a cultivator, live so long? Where had she been? Was the Regent really a good ruler? Why had all the other Chn family members in line for the throne disappeared or died? Was it really natural or accidental causes? The debate raged back and forth among the common people. It even filtered into the palaces'' staff, and finally, to the ears of the Regent. Before the King could respond, a final rumour set the whole country ablaze. Chn Zy was alive and well, and she was in Qinbn, the Chn capital. "Is this true?" Chn Yl asked coldly of the man bowing before the throne. Yng Jn (2), Captain of the City Public Guard, kept his head down. "Your Majesty, there have been enough reports of civilians seeing a woman who resembles Her Highness that we are certain that there is someone, if not Her Highness herself, who is within the city. We have yet to determine whether they are an imposter or Her Highness." The Regent''s fingers drummed on the arm of the throne, but this was the only betrayal of anxiety peeking through an otherwise benevolent attitude. "Then, Captain, you realise what must be done. If this is an imposter instigating unrest amongst the people, we must manage them as soon as possible. This is for the stability of the country." "Yes, Your Majesty." "Go and deal with it. Send Sh Ku in." "Understood, Your Majesty." Yng Jn saluted and left the throne room. A moment later, a woman in simple, dark robes entered and removed her hood and the cloth mask she wore over the lower half of her face, before bowing to the Regent. "Your Majesty." "Advisor Sh Ku, I''m sure you understand why I have called you here." "... yes, Your Majesty." She choked back a grunt of pain and clutched at her chest. Chn Yl had not moved at all, but her eyes looked strange, as though the irises had become pure black and grown larger than a normal person''s. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. Sh Ku remained bent over, not daring to look up, trying to return her breathing back to normal. Chn Yl stood and circled her contemplatively. "Explain." "Your Majesty, I have no excuses." "Try. It amuses me." "I... I had the Forbearance Squad (1) track those spreading the rumours, but there was no sign of any ringleaders. It seems to be growing organically amongst the people." "Do you really believe that?" "As suspicious as the circumstances may be, Your Majesty, we have no evidence that the words were spread by a single person or group. We interrogated the exorcists we could find who attended the Lily Palace, but they all denied spreading the rumours." "Are they still in your custody?" "Yes, Your Majesty." "Execute them. No one will miss them." "... Yes, Your Majesty." "Find the others. Execute them too." "One of the people who attended has some fame, he-" "When you find him, bring him to me." "Yes, Your Majesty." "Anything else?" "The Forbearance Squad has also attempted to provoke the patriotism of the people by reminding them of the work you have done to keep the country safe and prosperous." "And tell me how well that has worked," Chn Yl said icily. "T-The legend of the Divine Lotus has a long and beloved history. It was emphasised again when Her Highness reappeared-" "Are you blaming your monarch, Sh Ku? That this situation is my fault, for bringing her in and announcing it to the people?" Sh Ku pressed a hand pre-emptively to her chest, although her heart continued to beat normally. Chn Yl brought her face close to Sh Ku''s. "Is it wrong, to want to give the people a gift? Even if it was simply a false hope, that I used an actor, that Chn Zy has truly been dead for years?" "... I understand, Your Majesty. The people will too." "I''m surprised you understand. So far I have had to do your job for you. Prove to me that I did the right thing by keeping you alive. Get out." "Thank you, Your Majesty." Sh Ku saluted, replaced her mask and hood, and exited the throne room. Captain Yng Jn still stood outside. "Why are you still here?" "So we can coordinate our actions. Let''s find see if any of the meeting rooms are free." The two of them marched briskly towards the administrative wing of the main palace, nodding to other palace staff as they passed. A servant directed them to an empty room, and Yng Jn opened the door and gestured for Sh Ku to enter first. She stepped into the room, where only a single lantern burned, and as she reached for it to light the other lanterns, she heard the door close. A moment later, she was folded into Yng Jn''s arms. "Sh Sh, are you okay? You look pale." "How can you even see anything? I''m wearing a mask and a hood." "I know these things." He tenderly peeled away her mask. "You''re talking nonsense. My skin is dark." "And lovely, but you''re paler than usual. What did she do to you?" "Is it alright to refer to the Regent of Chn as ''she''?" "She can''t hear us here." He gently kissed her. Sh Ku let herself melt into it for a moment, then pulled back with visible reluctance. "Well?" "We really haven''t seen Her Highness anywhere. Or her imposter. It''s as if they''re a phantom. Perhaps we''re chasing an illusion." "Her Highness was known to be a highly accomplished cultivator. She could have the ability to conceal herself almost supernaturally." "Do you really believe that Her Highness is still alive, and that woman who appeared last summer was her?" Sh Ku crossed over to a chair and sat down. Yng Jn patiently lit the lanterns as he waited for her response. "Yes." "Why is that, love?" "On a superficial level, she looks like the art that is exists of her. Where the royal family has a tendency to... improve their image, the Divine Lotus was known for her humbleness and modesty. If this is to be believed, then her pictures are accurate, if not downplayed. In addition, the woman who appeared had scars all over her skin. However, even based on this, all we can say is that this woman could still be a very well-researched imposter and excellent actress." "And so?" "If we add on her behaviour during the time she was here, she was respectful to everyone, no matter their status. She visited the site of the destroyed Jyun Mei Temple, and for all intents, displayed the kind of grief one would expect from the situation. Importantly, she knew about His Ancestral Majesty, the Fourth King of Chn, Regent Ylng''s (4) attempt on Her Highness'' life. That kind of information... I''m not sure how someone outside of the royal family, and the highest of the royal advisors, would come by that information, unless..." "Unless?" "The most suspicious thing in all of this... is Her Majesty''s involvement. First she welcomes this woman into the palace with open arms. Then she denounces her as an imposter. Then she pursues her once she escapes, brings her back here, and tortures her under the guise of exorcism. Why go to all this extent for an imposter? Why not simply have her quietly assassinated somewhere? The exorcist who appeared and rescued her was the genuine Miss Fn too, I would recognise her anywhere." "How did the Regent find her last time? Was it a tip-off?" "Yes, exactly. An anonymous report was provided that she had been seen at a black market auction in Yhi, and that she was unwell and likely to be headed to the new Jyun Mei Temple for treatment." "A black market auction... What was she doing there?" Yng Jn mused, lighting the last lantern. "That detail was not provided. Without that report, however, it is unlikely that we would have been able to find her, as proven this time. Our anonymous tipper has not provided any further help." "Anonymous, that means they would not receive any reward for the information. The only reason for such an action, unless the person is a psychopath, would be highly personal. They have a grudge. It seems, whoever this woman is, Divine Lotus or imposter, she''s important." Yng Jn seated himself, pulling out some paper and a brush and casually scrawling a map of the city on it, complete with patrol routes, as if he and Sh Ku truly had been talking about how to search for and capture Chn Zy. "So we should continue as the Regent has ordered, and find her." For the first time, Sh Ku looked uneasy. "Do you think she will help us?" "Didn''t you say she was the real Divine Lotus, my love? If it''s her, I''m sure she will." Sh Ku rubbed unconsciously at her chest. Yng Jn took her hand and kissed it. "Sh Sh... I don''t think we have any other choice left now." "Yes... yes, you''re right." She squeezed his fingers. "We must keep moving ahead." 22 - A Thousand Ways ǧټ( Qin fang bi j) C a thousand ways, a hundred plans; do everything possible
"So who would you suggest, shi fu? I realise you can''t stay here forever." Two people sat at a circular table, a dim lamp overhead and cups of hot tea nearby. The person who spoke was, of course, Chn Zy. "I do have someone in mind," Yun M said, turning his cup. Zy... you have to be clear about this from the beginning. Why are you seeking to take Chn Yili''s place as ruler? Zy looked at her companion, then around at the room they sat in. The space was claustrophobic, dark, damp. Shifu, I won''t deny... there''s a part of me that burns for revenge. Trapped in a cold and dark place for so long... was... hard. Very hard. And to remember the truth, that it was my own mother that sent me there... How do I live with that? Information is another reason, therefore. Why did she do that? Was she somehow linked to the flooding curse? And to the drought curse over Zh? Because Gong... Gong Lau Jan told me that Mother was from Zh, originally. Ha... So that''s where she... Yun M let out an uncharacteristically bitter laugh. I see. See what, shifu? No, please. It would take a while to explain. You finish first and then I''ll speak. Well, maybe I won''t get those answers. Mother''s been dead for so long, but there might be records somewhere in the palace. I want information from Chn Yili too. Was the only reason why she accepted me so easily, then had me locked away, because she wanted to marry me off to the Zhang prince? Why is she so desperate for that to happen? Did my mother have the same thoughts when she tried to marry me off? I don''t know. And last... You know, I see why you asked me this now, shifu... All of my reasons are selfish. It''s not about the Chn people, it''s all my own self interest. But I''m so desperate. I need closure, and... I need power. I... want to help Gong Lau Jan. But right now, I''m a single person. Yes, I have some skills. But the ability to... fly on a lotus or fight a little well is not enough. I need more than that. I need the means to find out what happened to Queen Gong Ming Zyu. I need the power to scour the world for Zyu Ji Sang. I''m... I''m selfish. Yun M smiled gently. You know, the Second Princess Chn Zy I remember was a foolishly kind young woman. She would risk her life to save a beggar''s child in a flood. Pick fights with nobles on behalf of the poor. Channel her personal maintenance budgets into infrastructure works and healthcare. It was all for my own self-satisfaction. So I could congratulate myself on playing saviour to the less fortunate. Is that why you kept going even after the His Highness Crown Prince tried to have you assassinated? Ha... That''s... How am I supposed to answer that, damn it? You meddle too much, old man... Ugh... Zy clapped the palm of her hand to her eye, grimacing. A trail of dark smoke seeped between her fingers. She might have accepted the demonic energy within her, but she still wasn''t entirely sure how to use it, and it spilled out ever now and then. Zy, your medicine. Give it here... shifu. She took a small pill from him and he added some dried flowers from a pouch to her cup of tea. These are chamomile flowers. They''ve been used in Zhang for their calming properties. Traders have been bringing them along the Jade Road from countries in the west. She took a shaky sip. Tastes nice. Like chrysanthemum. Zy, do you know of the Mount Hua Sect? Of course, shifu. Are suggesting... why would a person of the Mount Hua Sect come to the aid of rebels in Chn? The political ramifications of a Shisuan-based cultivation sect aiding the overthrowing of a neighbouring country''s ruler... Indeed. We''re treading in dangerous waters here, Zy. So who are you suggesting we should send for? His name is Zeng Guk Lung(1). He''s the great-nephew of... an old friend of mine. I hope he''s more trustworthy than my great-nephew. I will vouch for his moral character. I''ve known him since he was born. If you recommend him, then I will follow your advice, Master. You trust me so much. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. If I don''t trust you, who do I trust? It seems that characteristic of yours hasn''t changed, even after everything you''ve been through. Alright, I''ll question you then. This Zeng Guk Lung, why would you recommend him? Why does he have a Zh name? Who is this friend of yours that he''s related to? Yun M opened his mouth, but no sound came out. His eyebrows lowered and hid his gold and black eyes. Was that... My apologies, shi fu. No, not at all, Zy. It was... a difficult time, and not one I like to think about much. But, in short, Zeng Guk Lung''s great-aunt was a junior sister of mine. A very intelligent and capable person, and he has truly inherited her spirit. He''s one of the smartest people I know, and has great skills in strategy and logistics. I''m not guaranteeing he will help, but I think it''s worth asking him. Then we''ll have to find some way of contacting him. Zy finally took a sip of her now-cold tea. I was also thinking that I need to speak with the street people. Don''t worry about Zeng Guk Lung, I''ll contact him. Be careful while on the streets. Yes, shi fu, I know. Well, don''t go just yet. I have something for you that you might want to spend some time getting used to before you go. He placed a scroll on the table between them. Zy took it slowly, contemplating its bamboo strips without unrolling it. What was it you wanted to say earlier? About my mother? Only that I visited Zh many, many years ago. Now I that I think about it, things seem to be falling into place. Man Jiang... Mun Gong... The Mun family were semi-important nobles with a distant familial relationship to the royal family. It''s suspicious that your mother was at two places at times when major calamities occurred there. If I could find some records of hers... journals, perhaps. Or the records of the palace intelligence group... Of course, they''re very smart. No one seems to know anything about the Head of Intelligence. Not their name, their gender, their age. I''ll have to see if anyone on the street knows anything. Make sure you have a look at the scroll before you do, Yun M reminded her, finishing his tea. The scroll was still unopened in her hand. Oh, of course. She opened it slowly, eyes widening. This... This! Shi fu, how...? I haven''t just been sitting around Huang doing nothing, you know. But for the Wudang Sect to give you this method of cultivation... It''s only partial, of course. Only the basics. But I think if it''s you, Zy, you''ll be able to use it. Zy looked at the scroll again. A tijt dominated the centre, five circles one above the other. The first circle was empty and unlabelled, the second containing the swirling forces of Yn and Yng. The third held the five elements of the world, and Zy''s fingers lingered on the symbol for Water. The fourth contained the characters for Heaven and Earth, and the last was surrounded by four characters: hu shng wn w -Ten thousand things are born through transformation. The remaining space on the scroll was filled with lines of text. She read the first few. We begin in nothingness. The process of living brings chaos. That which is cold, dark, wet, passive, resting, dying, and that which is warm, light, dry, active, moving, living, battle each other. When one learns not the fight these opposing forces, when one learns that these two sides, apparently irreconcilable, are truly complementary, balance will be found. Yn and Yng will find peace and sink back into the calm of nothingness. Shi fu... What do you think, Zy? Do you think you can do it? The part of her she had been calling Fn B''n, that which was dark, was stirring with excitement. They were both... no, every part of herself was excited, in a way she hadn''t been in such a long time. She felt alive. Balance will be found. Yes. Yes.
For a week, Zy sat in the underground room, the bamboo scroll laid out before her. Part of her wanted to rush out and do something, but it was an easy impulse to quell. She had been alone at the bottom of a lake for a hundred years. She could be patient for a week. The temporary relief she felt with the medication was subsiding into something else, as she had felt when Yun M had first helped her accept her darkness. When the voice she had called Fn B''n''s whispered in her ear, she spoke back - Help me. I''ve been too weak all this time. I want to be stronger. It''s okay. We''ll get through this together. - until she was no longer sure whose voice was whose. Well, weren''t they both her, in the end? Light in the dark, dark in the light. Stillness begets motion. Motion turns to stillness. All of it is me. Trying to balance two cultivation paths was easier than it seemed. The Still Heart practice carried her through the everyday, with the YnYng Art managing the extremes of her emotions. Her dark eyes, previous strewn with flecks of black, began to show signs of pale grey, the hues mixing unevenly at first until her irises seemed to be made of marble. At the end of the week, she cut her hair. With the ends of her hair brushing her shoulders, she began to frequent the streets in the evenings, a cloth mask drawn across her face and wearing the robes of a street merchant. If soldiers stopped her, this young woman with the sleepy, marbled eyes and short hair, with thick eyebrows (produced with soot), simply said that she was distributing her excess wares amongst the needy, and after carefully checking her eyes and testing that her hair was not a wig, they let her go. After all, how could a person change their eyes in such a way? And why would the Second Princess cut her hair, that gift given to her by her royal parents? She watched them go, her mind blank of any thought other than her job of delivering the excess food to people living on the streets. And then she would do just that, handing out buns and rice to the children who ran up to her, to the men who drooled and stared and occasionally ranted to themselves, to the women who clutched pregnant bellies pitifully or scratched hectically at thin arms. One night, she was placing some food beside a pile of rags when it stirred. The voice that spoke was high-pitched, but somehow couldn''t be comprehensively determined as female. A pair of bright eyes peeked out from between the rags. So who might you be, lady? You''ve been out and about a lot, these nights. Just a charitable person. Please enjoy your food. I will, once I know who you are. My name''s Hn Y(2). I know a thing or two about this place. Why don''t you put your burden down for a bit and have a talk with me? 23 - Stirring the Waters ˮ (hn shu m y) to stir the water to catch fish - take advantage of a chaotic situation
"What should we talk about, Master Hn Y?" Zy asked with a smile, putting down the large box strapped to her back. She sat down on top of it, and began to pull out food. "You''re right, you''re right. What are we going to talk about?" "That''s what I''m asking you. You''re the one who invited me to talk." "Yeah, yeah, yeah, so you get to pick the topic." "What are the limitations for topics?" It seemed that the sentient pile of rags that was Hn Y was grinning. "Well, well, who knows? Let''s talk and see where it goes. But aren''t you going to tell me your name?" "Me Gu, Master Hn Y." "Good, good. A pretty name for a pretty lady. It''s good. It''s good." "Have you lived in Qinbn long?" "Long? All my life. I was born here. Wait, no. I wasn''t. Or was I? Ha ha, it was so long ago!" "Has the Kingdom changed much in that time?" "Huh, and here I was thinking you were from around here. Still, you got a funny way of talking, missy." Zy smiled again. "I was born here, but I''ve been travelling. I was contemplating how much things have changed during my own short lifespan. I thought you would have experienced even more changes." "No, no, no. Change? Nothing changes when you''re on the street. You get a coin, you lose a coin. Someone kicks you, someone gives you a bun. You freeze in winter and boil in summer and fight each other for a scrap of cloth to use as a pillow and share the bottle when some drunk rich idiot leaves one lying around." "That sounds hard." "Hard? Of course it is! Damn right it is. You wouldn''t understand, soft little missy-miss. What did you want to talk about?" "If I wanted to become reacquainted with the city, who should I talk to?" "You''re talking to me right now, aren''t you? Ha ha." "Where do important people gather outside of the palace?" "Oi, are you saying I''m not important?" "Apologies, Master Hn Y, I phrased that poorly." Zy offered him a still-warm custard bun and took one herself. "I meant to say, those idio- I mean, those people who work in the government offices." Hn Y''s beady eyes suddenly became sly as he grabbed the bun. "So, so, so... Why would a packed lunch seller want to know such a thing?" "Hm, I wonder. What do you think, Master Hn Y?" "Ha ha! You''re sneaky, girlie!" The custard bun disappeared in the blink of an eye. "Well, well, well, they serve nice tea at the Green Crane Pavilion. I get lots of leftovers there, you know? Lots of tidbits." "That sounds like a nice place to have a cup of tea then. Maybe I should visit." "Why not? Go take a look, Missy. You got anymore of these buns? They''re really good." Zy gave him two more, and passed the remainder to a couple of children who had wandered over, looking dazed. They swallowed the food wordlessly, barely chewing. "I''m tired. Come and see me again tomorrow, missy!" Hn Y rolled over. Within seconds, he began to snore.
"You''re back. Thanks for your help." "Not at all. It feels good to be able to help others." Zy entered a small food stall where an uncle was sweating over giant steamers. A couple of customers seated outside heckled him. "What kind of idiot gives away free food like that?" "Give it to us instead! What a waste!" "If I gave you those old buns and you got sick, I''d never hear the end of it," the man grumbled back, closing the battered fan he was using to keep the cooking fires hot. He jabbed it towards them. "Those beggars have iron stomachs from eating who-knows-what, and it stops rats from hanging around looking for food. Are you a beggar? Are you a rat?" Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. "I''ll be going now, sir," Zy said. "Hey, why don''t you hang around a little longer? I could do with some company..." "I''m busy, sir." She walked away, the heckling of the customers following after her. "Ha ha, you got rejected!" "She''s too young for you, old man!" Zy couldn''t help but smirk at the thought as she headed down the still-busy dusk street to the fabric quarter. An old woman in beautiful fine cotton garments glared at her as she approached. "You''re late," she rasped. Zy looked contrite. "I''m sorry, grandmother." "Not good enough. Tidy up now." With a meek expression, Zy unobtrusively found a broom at the back of the stall and carefully swept up the scraps of fabric and thread on the ground. She had been busy since she had arrived in Qinbn, making herself useful around town as someone who could take on odd jobs in exchange for a bit of food and other things. Once she had tidied the fabric shop, the elderly owner sniffed and threw some unfashionably orange robes at her. The colour was horrendous, but unlike all the other clothes she owned, they were clean and new. Besides, they were actually perfect for what she was about to do. The blacksmith had allowed her to rifle through a collection of broken and poor quality weapons after she helped clean the shop. She pocketed a lixng(1), a type of flail with a heavy weight dangling from a fraying cord, and a splintering three-section staff, along with a long but rusty dagger. It was better than nothing. The lixng and staff felt more comfortable in her hands than the swords she had used back at the auction, and she remembered holding something similar as a young woman training her martial arts. A whip, perhaps. Thus equipped, she made a transformation; in the bright orange robes, belted tightly to emphasise her figure, she swept her short hair back from her face, bit her lips until they were red, and tucked her weapons into her sash to hide their imperfections as best she could. Finally, she placed the single pearl earring in her left ear, rubbing it between her fingers until it was warm. A moment. She closed her eyes, and sighed. Rolling up her sleeves, she grinned to herself, the white in her irises overpowering the black with a ghostly hue. "Time to party."
"Oh, sorry," she said, in the exact same tone of voice, a quarter of a shi later, to the well-dressed man onto whom she had just tipped hot tea. For some reason, he didn''t seem to think she was being sincere. "YOU... YOU BITCH! DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?" "Am I supposed to?" she asked, idly twirling the empty teacup in one hand. The staff in the Green Crane Pavilion quietly disappeared into the kitchen; they''d seen enough fights between cultivators to know what would happen next. Zy stared through the ranting man who was rolling up his sleeves, paying more attention to the rest of the people in the room. In particular, there was one young man behind and to her left who seemed to be paying a great deal of attention to her whilst doing his best to appear nonchalant. Unfortunately for him, he was a little too interested in what was going on to be able to pull off an uninvested attitude. Dressed in unremarkable clothing, he sipped his tea quietly, but she could see his eyes darting all around, taking in every aspect of the scene. The remainder of the people were either nervously backing away to avoid being caught in the crossfire, or eagerly rising to watch or perhaps take part in any chaos that might ensue. Another young man trying to get out of the way accidently bumped into the one who was watching Zy, and the latter man snarled irritably. Zy''s opponent, in the meantime, was growing similarly angry. "I SAID, ARE YOU IGNORING ME-" Zy redirected the man''s punch harmlessly over her shoulder with a single finger, the tip tracing a wave along his arm and ending with a flick directly between his eyes. As if hit by a jet of water, the man''s head snapped backwards and he collapsed unconscious. "Hey! He... He''s the assistant to the Imperial Counsellor! You can''t do that!" "Oh. Whoops?" In moments, Zy was battling off the attacks of a dozen opponents, wielding her lixng and staff simultaneously. In spite of her choosing to avoid using either her spiritual Water powers or her demonic ones, there was still no-one who could match her skill. The same could not be said of her shoddy weapons. The lixng broke first, the momentum of the swinging head finally snapping the damaged cord, careering off into the jaw of one of her attackers and sending him flying. The staff broke next, but it did so over the head of the last of her opponents, so she was unconcerned by this development. The young man who had been watching her was gone. She hoped he would give whoever he worked for a good report about her. People scuttled out of her way as she approached the table where he had sat. There was nothing to really examine, just a teapot and his empty cup. The other young man, the one who had bumped the table earlier, was crouched nearby, apparently frozen in fear. She glanced at him, and he suddenly launched himself at her feet, wailing. "Please spare me! I''m not a cultivator, I''m just an ordinary person! I''m sorry!" Huh. Would you look at that... "Get up," Zy ordered contemptuously, kicking his hands away. "I''ll decide whether or not you get spared. Take me somewhere else. This place is boring." "Yes... Yes, miss." He hurried through the debris, Zy arrogantly strolling behind, running a hand through her hair. Internally she was wondering how much damage she had caused and how she was going to repay the owners of Green Crane Pavilion. The other customers made sure to give her plenty of space. She followed after her new servant at a respectable distance, one hand tucked into a sleeve where she had stowed the long dagger. It wasn''t exactly her preferred weapon, but it was better to be safe. They walked for some time, doubling back or taking sudden turns. As they were walking through a narrow backstreet in the residential area, a place where Zy had never been before, the young man suddenly turned to her, his whole demeanour changing from a nervous, dithering boy to a refined intellectual, although the bags under his eyes suggested he had recently had a few late nights. He even seemed taller. "You''re good," Zy said, feeling the dagger handle. She shifted her weight slightly. "I really didn''t notice you until you threw yourself at my feet. And then I realised your hands weren''t shaking at all." "I like to think I''m one of the best." The young man smiled, cupped his hands, and bowed. "Greeting Her Highness, my humble name is Zeng Guk Lung. I believe you need some assistance?" 24 - Tooth from a Tigers Mouth ڰ (H ku b y) - to extract a tooth from a tiger''s mouth, i.e. taking a huge risk.
Did I do such a bad job of disguising myself? Zy sighed, rubbing her face. Not at all. You did a fantastic job. The best disguises are those where you can immerse yourself in a completely different character. It''s just that Yun M Sh xing gave me a very detailed description of you. If he hadn''t told me about the changes to your eyes, for example, I wouldn''t have known. I''ve never heard of such a thing before. You must be somewhere in the Third Dntin realm, correct? That''s right. Cheng Guk Lung seemed about to say something else, but he glanced around and seemed to think better of it. Let''s return first. We probably shouldn''t be talking out here like this. I just wanted to put you a little more at ease before you went any further. I was expecting you to stab me at any moment. I thought about it. Cheng Guk Lung laughed wearily, and they both began a circuitous route back to the underground rooms where Zy had been hiding out. They were old abandoned storehouses once used by the Chn royal family, and evidently they had been long-forgotten. Cheng Guk Lung seemed to already know exactly where they were going. I already met with Sh xing there, he explained. Zy quietly appraised him as he talked. He seemed to be in his late twenties or early thirties, with a bright, honest face and a somewhat loose-limbed way of moving. He didn''t look like a martial artist, his arms thin and his shoulders a little stooped, as though he sat at a desk for hours on end, neck craned. You look tired. I appreciate you coming all this way to help, but don''t you need some rest? Rest, what''s that? I''ve sort of been looking after a troublesome cat for the past few months, and keeping an eye on missing animal cases, and trying to stop certain elders from killing each other. This will make a nice change. ''A nice change''? You''re a workaholic. Ha... Zy took the next right turn that appeared, leaving Cheng Guk Lung to keep walking straight ahead. She entered an old stable, empty of animals but heaped with old straw and cobwebs, and pushed her way through a wooden wall that turned out to be a door. A giant, empty chest behind it turned out to be the entrance into the underground rooms, and she climbed down, choosing to float down the steps now that she was out of anyone''s view. Cheng Guk Lung was already taking to Yun M in one of the rooms. The old man was clearly dressed and prepared to leave. He nodded to Zy as she entered. Good, you''ve already met... I can see why Cheng Sh d said he would have had a hard time recognising you if he didn''t know. That robe is painful to look at. Which means it was the perfect thing to wear. Zy rearranged her hair so that it was no longer slicked back. Let''s see what fish bite now that I''ve stirred the waters a little more. That man was from the palace, for sure. Which man? Yun M asked. There was a person seated in the Green Crane Pavilion who was paying a little too much attention to everything. Zy explained. I don''t think he was after me specifically, he seemed a little too... unskilled for that. He was probably just a generic set of eyes for the palace. Cheng Guk Lung sat at the table with a sigh of relief. Ah, that''s better. They might send someone else out now that you''ve caused a little trouble. They''ll be harder to spot. Sh fu, are you leaving now? I''ve been away from Yun Wi for too long. You''ve got a good helper now, Zy. Thank you, both of you. Zy bowed. Your assistance- Is for the good of the Four Kingdoms, Your Highness, Cheng Guk Lung interrupted. Ah, I''m sorry I''m treating you so familiarly... That''s alright. I''m not anyone... yet. You must be used to talking with all kinds of people. Zy began to pour out water for tea. Sorry, it''s cold. No problem. Cheng Guk Lung tapped the table politely with two fingers, a gesture that was antiquated even when Zy was a child. Yes, well, it comes with the job, you know? As I was saying before, I''ve been running around recently dealing with lots of different people. The elders of Mount Hu are a difficult bunch, forever arguing. Somehow they''ve settled down a bit with Lady Eitsu wanting to spar with them every day. I guess martial artists just aren''t happy unless they''re fighting. Eitsu? The divine cat Eitsu? Oh, you know her? A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. We met, briefly, at Yhi. So she''s been at Mount Hu? We thought it was safest. How much do you know about her situation? Before you all get too deep in discussion, Yun M interjected, I really do have to be going. I''m glad to see you''re getting along. Zy, please consider Cheng Sh d as your sh d too. Please. Cheng Guk Lung bowed to her. I''m in your care, Sh d. Yun M made his farewells and left, and Zy and Cheng Guk Lung talked well into the morning hours. So the fox spirit who is following Lady Eitsu is apparently the same fox spirit who was once a guardian spirit in Zh? According to... Gong Lau Yan, yes. Where is Lady Gong now? I don''t know... I assume she hasn''t found Dzue Yi-sang yet, though. Cheng Guk Lung pinched the bridge of his nose. Hm. This grows more and more complicated. One thing at a time, though. So your priority is to gain control of Chn. Yes. Cheng Sh d, may I ask...? Yes, Sh ji? Why are you assisting me? In short, for regional stability. Regent Chun Yl is a concerning factor. She can be unpredictable, and quick to aggression. Are you aware of the fallout from your last incarceration here? I... What happened then... Well... You can''t remember too much? Well, that''s not surprising. I heard a little from Sh xing about the state you were brought back in. In short, of the two dozen or so exorcists and demon hunters who were brought in to... deal with you, only one apparently left alive, although I can''t say it was in one piece. He was apparently a very different man when he returned home. Of course, the regents of the other kingdoms are furious. The people who died may not have been first-rate, but they were still citizens of other countries. And it''s not the first time that the Regent of Chun has done such a thing. I suppose it would be easier to encourage a revolution than to take up arms and wage war. Precisely. So you can use this to your advantage. But not too much C it''s you who will be regent here, not the rulers of the other kingdoms. Should you be saying that as a citizen of Zhng? I might be a citizen of Zhng, but you''re my sh ji first. Cheng Guk Lung grinned openly, then dropped his head on the table. Ugh. I''m exhausted. You''ve travelled far, thank you. There is a mattress in the room next door. It''s basic, but very comfortable, I assure. Then, I''ll be imposing. I may be doing my rounds when you wake up. I''ll likely be near the central entertainment district. There''s an interesting person living on the streets near there. Making connections with the street people. Good. Cheng Guk Lung nodded and yawned. Just don''t let down your guard. In fact, they later regathered at the food stall. Zy had just finished loading the last of the stale buns in her case when Cheng Guk Lung appeared. Ah Gu! he called affectionately, pressing one of her hands between his. He seemed to have adopted the persona of a cheerful puppy. The uncle who owned the food stall twitched. Unfortunately for him, the same customers who had been heckling him before were present once more. No wonder she rejected you! See, I told you! You''re too old! Smothering laughter, Zy and Cheng Guk Lung quickly headed off to do the rounds. They separated hands as soon as they were out of sight. Um, Sh d, just to be certain... It''s okay, Sh ji, I''m not interested in you in that way. Relax. Thank you. Hn Y was only one street away from where Zy had seen him last. She handed him a somewhat dry pork bun with a smile. Master Hn Y. It''s the missy with the food. And who''s this, a boyfriend? Zy simply looked coy, making Hn Y laugh. Cheng Guk Lung smiled, wrapping an arm around her and pulling her close. He whispered into her ear, an intimate expression on his face. He''s from the palace. Zy''s expression didn''t change. Her lips barely moved. How? Eunuch. Of course, that explained his voice. Zy picked up her box again. Hey, hey, hey! Not staying to talk this time? Is that how little you think of me? But Master Hn Y, there''s lots of hungry people waiting for their dinner. True... Come and talk to me again, okay? Ah, I nearly, nearly forgot. Got something for you. For me? Here. A friend of mine wanted you to have this. No idea why. He rummaged in his filthy rags and drew out a stained paper packet. Zy took it dubiously. Are you going to open it? Hn Y asked, eyes glittering. Not while I''m working. She slipped the packet in her sleeve and gave him a small bow. Who is your friend? I should greet the person who gave me something. Nah, nah, they''re very shy. Let me know, okay? Let me know if you want to pass something on. They made their goodbyes and completed the round of deliveries. Zy tried to keep her expression light as she passed food to a group of filthy little children. Each week, it seems as though there are faces missing, she said quietly to Cheng Guk Lung, after they had returned the empty carry case and were making their way back to the hideout. You''re doing what you can, with what you have right now. Back in the underground rooms, Zy finally pulled out the paper package and opened it. Two things fell out C a sketch of some flowers, and a small length of bamboo. "Lotuses and hollyhocks," Cheng Guk Lung observed. "You said your family gave you the nickname ''Lin'', Lotus, correct? So I''m going to assume that this is someone from the palace who is aware of this fact. And hollyhocks... sh ku... is the other person." Chn Zy turned the picture of the flowers over. There were more on the back, but where there had been lotuses on one side, these were now replaced with poplar catkins, tightly entwined with the hollyhocks. "Poplar...Yng Jn? Surely not... the Head of Security?" Who? Yng Jn, the Commander-in-Chief, responsible for the security of the city, but especially the palace. And hollyhocks again... What does this person have to do with Yng Jn? Zy turned the bamboo around and around. There''s a wax stopper hidden here. If I just... She managed to prise the wax out with her rusty dagger, and out fell a lock of dark hair. Cheng Guk Lung plucked it from the table immediately. Soft, slightly scented... More likely to be a woman''s hair. Desperate. Whoever this is, she''s placing a great deal of trust in you, Your Highness. To risk giving you control over her with this hair... it''s like she''s saying, ''I''m putting my life in your hands''. Does Yng Jn have a lover? I thought about that. If he does, it''s not common knowledge. But this evidence all seems to point to A woman, related to hollyhocks. A lover of Yng Jn, desperately seeking your help. She''s related to the palace somehow, if an old palace eunuch is assisting her... Cheng Guk Lung put the hair down and frowned deeply. Not only that, she worked out who you were very quickly, and seems to be... Perhaps... Who? The... mysterious Head of Intelligence? "I need to talk to Hn Y," Chn Zy said immediately. "I will appear before the people tomorrow in the middle of the Hour of the Snake, in the Square of Osmanthus." 25 - A Cornered Dog ǽ (Gu j tia qing) - A cornered dog will leap over a wall; Extreme circumstances require extreme measures.
By the time that the hour of the snake had begun, the Square of Osmanthus was heaving with people. Nervous and curious citizens, travellers, street people, disguised guards and hidden assassins milled about, everyone suspicious of everyone else. Yng Jn calmly sipped tea under a little awning. He knew Sh Ku was somewhere nearby, but he didn''t look for her. He hadn''t disguised himself; it was necessary to show some official sign of the palace. A beggar sidled up to him, and he furrowed his strong eyebrows. Sh Ku suspected that people on the street were assisting Chn Zy (or her imposter), but had not found any definitive evidence. He said nothing as the beggar came closer. They grubbed about on the floor as if looking for scraps of food. "Sh ku?" It took all of Yng Jn''s willpower not to respond to the sudden low voice that invaded his head. It was a refined woman''s voice, projected directly into his thoughts. Third Dantian Adept, he thought. She''s the real thing. And yet, apparently she didn''t know who he was. "You received the note then and... the hair?" he murmured, almost imperceptibly. "Very risky of you. I could have done all kinds of things with that hair. Speak, though, we don''t have much time." "Safety. A peaceful life. We''ll help you take the throne in return." Silence. "Red Peony Lane. Start of the hour of the pig(1)." Yng Jn held out a coin, and the beggar raised their face to take it. Although their head was somewhat wrapped up, he caught a flash of marbled eyes and scarred, pale skin. Then Chn Zy dropped her head meekly, and blended back into the crowd. Moments later, someone called out in shock. "THERE! OVER THERE!" The crowd had been expecting the Divine Lotus to appear on the raised platform that stood along one side of the square. Instead, Chn Zy had summoned her lotus and burst suddenly into the air at the complete opposite end, taking everyone by surprise. There was a scramble for weapons amongst the hidden guards, and an almost instinctive preparation for resistance by many of the citizens, but Zy did not give either side a chance to fight. Her beggar''s disguise thrown aside, in the simple white and yellow robes of a Senior Disciple of the Yuan Wei School, she called out to them all, a smile of great happiness on her face. A single lotus dangled at her ear, and a pearl shone at the other. "I''ve come home, everyone! I''ll be arriving back at the palace soon! And before anyone could gather their wits sufficiently, she was gone.
"Your Majesty, I... if anyone had attacked her at that time... the backlash-" CRACK! Yng Jn gritted his teeth and pressed his forehead to the floor, his ears filled with rushing blood. Sh Ku knelt upright beside him, as she had for the past shi, her eyes closed and her mouth filled with blood. Chn Yl stalked around them, an ornate chain whip (2) lightly held in one hand. "Again," she said coldly, as she had several times that shi. "Tell me again why no one did anything." Sh Ku breathed unevenly, swaying as she fought to stay conscious. "B... because-" This time, the Regent didn''t even wait for the start of the excuse. The segmented whip slashed across Sh Ku''s face, slicing it open even further, before it found Yng Jn''s bent back. Blood splattered the ground around the pair. Chn Yl sighed and dropped the whip. "Clean this place up. With your tongues." "Yes, Your Majesty," a pair of voices managed to gasp out. Sh Ku had joined Yng Jn in pressing her forehead to the floor. They listened as the Regent''s footsteps faded away. When at last, the room was silent, they simultaneously reached out for each others'' wounds. "Your back..." "Your face... You have to go tonight. Get out of here." "You''ll be executed! I can''t-" "No I won''t. Sh Sh, you know you must..." Sh Ku''s expression flinched as her wounds gaped and stung with tears and sweat. "... yes." They hugged briefly, taking care not to open each others'' wounds any further. "Take the third shadow route. It will get you within a few streets of Red Peony Lane." Sh Ku tightened her jaw and nodded, wrapping her face with her hood and mask. "... I''ll see you soon." "Yes... you will." Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. In moments, she was gone too. Yng Jn lay painfully on the floor momentarily, controlling his breathing. Someone would come and check that they were doing their punishment, he knew, so he gathered his strength, retrieved some decorative spears from the wall of the room, and used them to barricade the door. He needed to give Sh Ku as much time as he could.
It seems that Yng Jn does have something to do with the person who sent the note. Zeng Guk Lung lay flat on the roof beside Zy, as the hour of the pig crept closer. Why are we on the roof of this house? Isn''t this really strange? Who hangs out on the roof of a building? Zy asked, her eyes emanating a strange black glow as she followed the flow of qi through the city with the vision arts of her practice. Zeng Guk Lung watched, fascinated. How long have you been able to use the Eyes of the Heart? Since I reached the level of the Third Dantian. I guess it''s true then. The Acting Masters of the Clear Sight and Gales of Battle Schools of Mount Hua are also Third Dantian practitioners, and they can use their sight arts to some extent. Seems like the breakthrough to the upper level activates the sight arts. What is Mount Hua like? Full of idiots who just want to fight. Sounds like you really love the place. Of course. ... Someone is coming. Not Commander Yng Jn? No. This is a woman. Her qi flow is powerful, but different. And... The woman came into view, stumbling down Red Peony Lane. Her breath was harsh. It could be a trap. Could be. Even saying so, Zy leapt lightly down before the struggling woman. You must be... the hollyhock. The woman removed her hood and mask with violently shaking hands. Dried blood caked her face and hands. Please... Your Highness, please... Yng Jn. Save Yng Jn! Zeng Guk Lung awkwardly made his way down from the roof, hanging from the eaves for a moment before daring to let go and land. He had drawn a scarf around his face so that only his eyes showed. Why does the Commander-in-Chief need saving? The Regent... punished us for not... capturing Lady Divine Lotus... I escaped but... he''s still... Are you pregnant, Lady? Zy asked quietly. Sh Ku was too exhausted to hide her shock. Your qi flow is very strong around your womb. You''re protecting a child there, aren''t you? Is Yng Jn the father? ... Please... Sh Ku had no dignity left. She wept openly, the wounds on her face stinging with her tears and her nose dripping. She clutched her stomach. I will do anything for you, Your Highness. Please just save him. Anything? Even if I told you to die? Even if I told you to torture and murder innocent people? Lady... Zy gripped Sh Ku''s wrists. ... I know you''re tired, but you can''t rest just yet. If you can stay strong a little longer... Your Highness, are you telling me to be wary of you? Why not? I''m wary of you. Sh Ku freed her wrists, and bowed carefully. Your Highness. I am called Sh Ku. I serve as Chun''s Head of Intelligence. I request for you to take the throne of Chun. Why? To save everyone in the palace from the current Regent. The things... Today, Yng Jn and I were lashed for a shi with a nine-section whip. Do you remember what she did to those exorcists who failed to... deal with you? Zy opened her mouth to answer, but before she even began to speak, her head swivelled suddenly, her glowing black eyes narrowed. Someone''s coming. I suspect they''re looking for you. Yng Jn... Sh Ku''s face was drained of blood. We''ll move elsewhere first. Can you stand? I... I''ve got to go back, Sh Ku said faintly. And do what, die? Zy said sharply, a flash of white cutting through black of her eyes. That''s easy, and useless! Is that what your lover would want? For you to stupidly C Sorry, I''m so sorry, Lady Sh Ku. She gritted her neck and exhaled harshly. Here, take my hand. I''ll carry you. Zy lifted Sh Ku easily on her back. Zeng shi di, you- I''ll be fine. Hurry, shi je. Without waiting a second longer, Zy ran, her steps light and rapid. She skimmed through the streets, heading for one of the entrances to the abandoned storehouses. Sh Ku clung to her tightly. Zeng Guk Lung slipped down a nearby street, bracing his nose as he scooped up a little mud from the filthy ground in preparation to daub on his face. The back of his neck prickled. Master Hn Y? What are you doing here? What do you mean, what am I doing here? I live here! Ha ha, stupid boy! Hn Y winked cheerily at him from where he crouched in the dark street. It doesn''t seem like the best place to be though, sir. There''s no good food here, not many people passing by who will give you coins. You''re right, very right. Maybe I''m the stupid one. The man''s beady eyes blinked, despite his stare continuing to pass directly through Zeng Guk Lung. It seems like a harsh job, Master Hn Y. Job? What job? Disguising yourself as a homeless person to spy for the Regent. What disguise are you talking about, boy? Oh, so you really are homeless. Then that''s even more harsh. How could the palace treat such a valuable informant this way? Hn Y''s tone dropped into an ugly whine. You have no idea. You really are a stupid boy. I guess I must be. I let you talk to me for so long, I can''t even run away now. For Zeng Guk Lung could see the people advancing towards him from both ends of the street, cutting off escape. He had a dagger in his robes, but it wouldn''t do much good. No doubt these people were highly trained, and there would be little that a scholar with a small knife could do. It was most likely that they would capture him and bring him to the palace for information. Hopefully he could learn some things and find a way to escape before he was horribly tortured or killed. You''re very calm, stupid boy. What''s the point in panicking? Point? It''s not about the point, kid. You''ll have no choice. Zeng Guk Lung lifted his hands to show they were empty and announced to the approaching figures, I''m not going to fight. Ha ha, do you think that will change anything? Maybe you''re thinking you''ll find a way to escape. Hn Y laughed. Once you''re in the palace, there''s no way out. Even if you cooperate, you''ll be tortured. If you say yes, you''ll be tortured. If you say no, you''ll be torture. The screams... the screams... Zeng Guk Lung tried to shut out the man''s rambles and screwed his eyes shut. He felt hands grab his wrists and pull them behind his back. You''ll die, die, die! Hn Y sang. One of Zeng Guk Lung''s captors kicked the beggar in the face unemotionally. Hn Y just laughed and mumbled. Move, Zeng Guk Lung was ordered. He stumbled forwards under the force of whoever was holding him captive. A figure flew past them. Not of their own volition; someone had kicked them flying. Let him go, and I''ll spare you, Zy said coldly. 26 - Warfare is Based on Deception ߹Ҳ (bng zh gu do y) C For an army, the Way is deceit, i.e. All warfare is based on deception. From The Art of War.
Qinbn was in chaos. The general public talked non-stop about the reappearance of the Divine Lotus. She was real! She was fake! She appeared in the sky like a goddess with a divine aura around her. She ran away from the royal guards like a criminal. She was going to attack the palace and take the throne. Matters weren''t helped by the fact that suddenly the city was swarming with soldiers. Soldiers, in the city, during peacetime! Not only that, they were accosting everyone, young or old, male, female, or other, short and tall, big and small, and demanding identification. Could the Divine Lotus change her appearance? Did she have accomplices? The streets hummed with excitement. The Divine Lotus had come home. The tyrant Chn Yl would be overthrown! Sh Ku, exhausted but unable to rest, sat with Zeng Guk Lung in the hidden underground rooms, churning out story after story to keep the furore going. She had brought with her dozens of documents, sewn into the lining of her robes, and stitched into the soles of her boots. Your Highness, there is one more. I will need your assistance. What do you need? Sh Ku tapped the left side of her chest with shaking fingers. It''s here. ... I''m sorry, I''m not sure what you- Take this knife. Miss Sh Ku, if you''re suggesting- I rolled it up tightly and placed it in a small bamboo tube. The safest place to store it was inside my body, Your Highness. Please cut it out of me. It''s only breast tissue here, it will heal quickly. Zeng Guk Lung hurriedly left the room, looking green. Zy hastily boiled water to sterilise the small knife that Sh Ku offered her, as the other woman undid her robe and let the left side slip down. There was a small wound, neatly stitched, along the outside of her breast. Raising the knife with one hand, Zy covered Sh Ku''s eyes with the other. Ha... Thank you. Sh Ku gritted her teeth and flinched as the stitches were sliced along with the upper layer of flesh. The instant that the bloodied bamboo tube poked free, Zy plucked it out and pressed a cloth to the gaping wound. She closed her eyes and drove her shn into the blood, willing her Water attribute to try and control the water in Sh Ku''s blood to speed up the healing process. It didn''t work; she only succeeded in separating the water out and bringing it to the mouth of the wound. What were you trying to do? Sh Ku asked interestedly, despite being very pale and sweating profusely. I was trying to help you heal, but I can only control the water part of your blood. Here, my shi fu left some medicines... Drink this. As Sh Ku drank, Zy built a poultice of herbs and salve and bandaged the wound. Zeng Guk Lung, get back in here! We need to hurry! The scholar nervously poked his head around the door and noted that Sh Ku was dressed and alive. He still looked a little queasy when he saw the bloodied bamboo tube, but he reached for it gamely. What was so important that you had to hide it in such a way? Wait. Her Highness should see it first. Zy felt the blood leave her extremities. There was no particular reason for such a fearful response, and yet the tone of Sh Ku''s voice sent a ripple of anxiety through her. With a nod, she took the tube and left the room, while Sh Ku and Zeng Guk Lung applied themselves to the remaining documents, preparing to spread the news across the city. Sh Ku sent messages to the many soldiers who were loyal to Yang Jin. Zeng Guk Lung strolled idly through the merchants quarter to gossip with those who recognised him as Mei Gui''s boyfriend. Chn Yili tortured his palace retainers. He had ordered the murder of numerous exorcists who had only been performing their civic duty. He had plotted the painful execution of his great aunt under the false pretence of curing her of demonic possession. Here were a list of names of people who had been imprisoned or executed, that anxious families had thought missing. The Divine Lotus, on the other hand, had only the best interests of the people in mind. She regularly visited those who lived on the street, providing food and comfort, helping the merchants of the city as she did. Not only this, but she had great spiritual powers, and links to the the cultivators of Mount Hua. Above all she was the direct disciple of the Black Tortoise of the North, Zh Mng. This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. "I wonder if anyone will know that she''s never met him, though," Sh Ku pondered. "Unlikely," Zeng Guk Lung said. "There are few alive today who would know such a thing, and even if they did, those types of people usually keep to themselves and don''t bother with worldly matters." You sound like you know a few of them personally. Sh Ku rubbed her stomach, wincing. "You need to rest, Miss Sh Ku." Zeng Guk Lung rubbed his own dry and dark eyes, before picking up a small charcoal stick. "It can''t be good for the child." "But if I do nothing, I''ll go mad." That will make two of us, said Zy, re-entering. The irises of her eyes swirled fiercely, white and black battling for dominance. Staring with open curiosity, Sh Ku said, What do you wish to do with that information, Your Highness? Nothing... Nothing. This... The small bamboo tube had been repackaged, and sat in Zy''s now bloody palm. This has cleared up many things for me. But I don''t believe we can use it as part of the rumour mill. Thank you, Miss Sh Ku. It is my honour, Your Highness. Zeng Guk Lung, are you leaving soon? Very soon. We need to ensure the city is completely in chaos before we make a move. What would you have me do now, Your Highness? "Take a break," Zy ordered, offering her some of her own herbal tea. "Shi Fu said this is good for calming the nerves, and I''m certain in his explanation of the side effects he said that a little is alright for pregnant people." "Your Highness, how can I accept a drink made by yourself? I''m unworthy." Zy looked at the bamboo tube in her hand, and then at Sh Ku. Unworthy, you say? An ordinary person such as me cannot treat a daughter of heaven like a serving girl. With a wry laugh, Zy set a tea cup firmly in front of Sh Ku. Is that what my... My great-niece told you? We all move with the will of the universe, Miss Sh Ku, and you just risked your life for this country to change. If you aren''t worthy, nobody is. She sat down next to Sh Ku with a sweet smile. "Besides, this is how I am. Those stories you spread about me aren''t entirely lies." "I would say they''re mostly truth, actually." Zeng Guk Lung raised an eyebrow as he retied his hair. "That''s the beauty of it. Mostly fact with some embellishments." He stood up. "I''m heading out again. I need to check how things are progressing." "We''ll move to the southern storehouse. Be back by the hour of the rooster." Zeng Guk Lung pressed his lips to a piece of red paper, staining them, and stood. Suddenly, there was a third woman in the room, a shy and quiet-looking town girl. The illusion was broken when Zeng Guk Lung''s voice came out of her red lips. "Yes, Your Highness." Sh Ku shook her head in admiration. "Amazing skill. I wish I could have worked with him earlier." "You''ll have many more chances, Miss Sh Ku." Once Zeng Guk Lung had left, Sh Ku hesitated. Do you want to ask me about what the document says, Miss Sh Ku? Excuse me, Your Highness, I have become too familiar with you. Not at all. No please, don''t try and bow. Drink the tea and stay seated. She turned the tube in her hand, slowly at first, then suddenly spun it so fast that it was a blur and snatched it to a stop with a harsh laugh. It makes sense, it makes so much sense... Wait until I tell Gong ji... Who is this Miss Gong, Your Highness? Ah, just someone who has... Someone important. You''ll meet her too, someday. Soon. Maybe. I hope. You do not seem particularly surprised. Oh I am... but it''s just too... Like I said, too many things make sense to me now... Miss Sh Ku? Yes, Your Highness? Do you remember your mother? Is she still alive? Did you grow up with her around? Unfortunately not, Your Highness. She died in childbirth with one of my younger siblings, and we all turned to the streets. I think you''ll make a very fierce mother, Zy laughed. Strict, but you''ll stand by your child to the death. I wonder if it was ever possible for me to have an ordinary relationship with my mother... Does anybody in a position like mine have the luxury of a normal family? You could always because that example, Your Highness. That''s not possible. I became so sick while I was cursed, I cannot have children. Even if I could, I''m afraid I''m not much interested in men. If only you were a loong, You Highness. .. a loong? Why? Legend says that there are very few male dragons, and females seem to be able to reproduce without them. No one know exactly how that works, of course. Sh Ku was interested to see that the look on Zy''s face was far more stunned than when she had been given the document in the bamboo tube. "Do you have a lover, Your Highness?" "I don''t." "That tone of voice suggests that there is a special someone, though?" Zy smiled wearily. "It''s only on my part. I don''t believe she has any such feelings towards me." "And you say that I was degrading myself earlier. Your Highness, I''ve only know you a day and I even I can see that you''re honest and considerate but also decisive. You''re intelligent and skilled, so why would you think she has no interest in you?" "I can tell," Zy said simply. Sh Ku meditatively rubbed her stomach for a moment. Then she said, "Is it Miss Fn?" Zy couldn''t help staring. Sh Ku laughed at her expression, the lines of worry smoothing away and revealing a younger woman below. "Your Highness, that woman marched into the palace and snatched you away from right in front of the Regent and all the palace guards. And you say she has no feelings for you?" "Something like that is easy for Miss Fen," Zy protested. "Like scratching her ear, that easy." "She could have left you there. Why did she bother to do something so easy?" "Stop, stop. Don''t... Damn it..." Zy glared at Sh Ku from between her fingers. "Be quiet, you. You''re too smart for your own good." "Apologies, Your Highness." "You don''t sound sorry at all." "I will try harder." "What time is it? Where''s Zeng Guk Lung gone?" The hour of the rooster had begun, and Zeng Guk Lung was nowhere in sight. Zy anxiously drummed her fingers on the table. "Your Highness, remember the plan. If one of us doesn''t return..." Sh Ku seemed to be speaking as if to reassure herself. The two woman gripped each others'' hands for comfort. "We wait an eighth of a shi. If they still don''t return, you''ll send a message to Yng Jn''s Second-in-Command, W Mo, and she will... Zeng Guk Lung''s back! A moment later, Sh Ku could hear him too, then the man himself rushed into the room, scrubbing the makeup from his face and pulling off the feminine outer robe. Your Highness! Vice-Commander W Mo is ready to meet you. She can be ready to move in the last quarter of the hour of the dog. Zy helped Sh Ku upright. There was no question of trying to convince the woman to stay behind, in spite of her injuries and exhaustion. Is he safe? Did they rescue him? I don''t know, Miss Sh Ku. I only exchanged a few words. You will have to ask yourself. I''ll carry you, Zy said. Zeng Guk Lung, lead the way. 27 - Hoping Daughter Becomes Phoenix Ůɷ (wang n cheng feng) - hoping that a daughter will become a phoenix, i.e. hoping the best for your daughter.
Qinbn was in chaos. And now, it was not simply a whirlwind of rumours. As Zy rushed into the streets with Sh Ku on her back, she was confronted by a melee of fighting figures. A mob of people wielding rocks, some wrapped with burning cloths, faced off against the city''s soldiers. There were fires up and down, stores and houses alike burning. Zy could hear children crying and people screaming. Why is this happening? I don''t think you''re fully aware of the situation here, Your Highness, Sh Ku said grimly. Those documents I brought with me contain details of the Regent''s crimes against the people, crimes that have built huge amounts of resentment with nowhere to go, because no one knew who was responsible. Where were people''s mothers and daughters, fathers and brothers disappearing to? You arrived at the perfect time; Chn Yl has been brewing this disaster for a long time, and now she has to finally drink it. She laughed, the city fires shining madly in her eyes. I see. Are you angry, Your Highness? No, I''m actually a little embarrassed. I really didn''t think through how much would be involved in this, and I''ve left all the work to you and Zeng Guk Lung. I also didn''t expect things would flare up so quickly, or so violently. We need to stop this. There is no revolution without violence, Your Highness. Whether it is one side or the other, someone will shed blood. Someone will be hurt. The people are angry. They want to fight something. Zeng Guk Lung had caught up. We can use it. Pressure the palace. If you take the people with you, there will be less likelihood of them looting or attacking other civilians. No sooner had the words left his mouth than he found himself suddenly supporting Sh Ku. Zy appeared between the two warring sides in a whirl of black energy, her white lotus aglow beneath her feet. ENOUGH! Guards, stand down! People of Qinbn! Those who can fight, come with me! The rest stay here and put out the fires. We''re going to the palace! Soldiers, go with them. Save your commander Yng Jn! screamed a voice from the crowd that Zy recognised as Sh Ku''s. If there had been hesitation before, those words dissolved it in an instant. Yng Jn must truly mean something to his soldiers, Zy thought, finding herself racing through the streets of Qinbn with a mixture of citizens and soldiers behind her. They almost ran headlong into another group of soldiers, a much larger one, standing guard on the main road to the palace, but the woman at their head dropped to her knees and clasped her hands respectfully. Your Highness, I am Vice-Commander W Mo, What are your orders? I have several. Enter the palace and find Yng Jn, she ordered to the woman''s bowed head, the long brown hair shaved on one side to proudly display a long scar that adorned her scalp. The prisons will have people who have been wrongly incarcerated, they must be processed properly. If there is anyone to spare, have the go into the city and put out the fires and attempt to control the looting. We will be distributing aid from the palace for those in need once it is secured. Organise the civilians to take part so they have something to do. The rest can wait, we must help those that can be helped right now. And... the Regent? I will go by myself. W Mo... Yes, Your Highness? No one is to come near the Regent other than me. Is that understood? Yes, Your Highness. Then go. Zy walked alone down the path to the main building of the palace. She could hear soldiers calling orders, hear calls of the people looking for missing loved ones, finding horrors in the palace prisons. Her senses shivered. She could feel them, the tears and the sweat of the people of Qinbn, as she walked slowly through the main courtyard, and up the steps that led to the throne room. Pushing open the doors, she stared at the woman sitting on the golden throne across the room. Chn Yl had a rueful smile on her lips, and although she sat casually, in her hand she held a nine-section whip, still stained with blood. Lin, she said in a voice filled with gentle rebuke and a tender pride, you''re late. Zy bit back tears and gritted her teeth. I''m here, Regal Mother.
Chn Yl came to the throne of Chn fifteen years prior, as the Sixth Regent of Chn. She, or he, as was presented to the public, was the only surviving child of the previous regent. Some more stuff For the first few years, Chn Yl had little to no presence. Things continued much as they had under the reign of her father, the Fifth Regent. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. At least it''s better than the reign of the Fourth Regent, the people told themselves. The time of the Fourth Regent had been one of chaos, as he fought to bring the country back to stability following the devastating floods. His father, the Third Regent Chn Shnzh, had lived nearly one hundred years with his high level of cultivation, but it was not enough C the floods brought a disease that took out quarter of the population, including King Shnzh. Why do I find that hard to believe? Zy asked coldly. Chn Yl smiled, but didn''t answer the question. Your elder brother was nowhere near as talented as you, Lin. It became clear that he had no idea how to stabilise Chn. But I knew. I knew how. I wish he had just listened to me. Was it really G ge who tried to assassinate me? Zy asked suddenly. Her voice was tight. Chn Yl''s smile grew softer. His little boy was much more helpful. I was able to stabilise Chn very quickly once the Fifth Regent was named. What happened to G ge? But even he became problematic as he grew older. He just wouldn''t listen. What happened to G ge? And so, I had to die... and become someone else. Where are they, Regal Mother? Zy begged. What did you do with them? With Father and G ge and his son? I''m sure you''ll find them, eventually. Chn Yl shrugged. How did you manage all this? Your cultivation level... you should have died many, many years ago. Is that any way to speak to your mother? Answer me, Mn Jing. The demonic energy within Zy reared up, and she didn''t fight against it. Her divine power, burning with righteous rage, rushed to meet it, and she glowed with power, white shadow and black light swirling harmoniously around her. Chn Yl''s eyes widened, then grew watery. Lin... my Lin. How beautiful. MOTHER! I guess that thieving Sh Ku brought you that scrap she tore from my journal. Perhaps it was silly of me to write it down, but... Chn Yl''s smile became sad. I just wanted someone to know. I hoped you would realise what I''d done for you, one day. How did you do it? Zy whispered. When I was a young girl in Zyu... ah, I can see from your expression that you already knew about that, as well. So clever, my daughter. I met a young woman... I don''t even remember her name anymore. I was upset about something, and I''d run away from home for the day. I remember sitting in the pine forest crying when this pretty young woman appeared before me. There was a beautiful flame in her eyes. I wanted it. I thought that maybe I could burn the world down with it. Who was she? No idea, or perhaps I no longer remember. I thought maybe she was some kind of spirit or Immortal, since back then they used to roam the world more freely than they do now. In any case, she said she could show me a few things. I maybe couldn''t get the same powers as her, exactly, but something similar. So she taught me for a while before she had to leave, and she was right, I couldn''t do the same things as her. I couldn''t burn an ancient tree to ash in a second, or move at the speed she did, but I could bring a scorching heat to a place. I could cook a rabbit as it tried to run. Zy''s heart beat painfully against her throat. No... It... The curse of Zyu? Oh, yes, that was... A mistake? I think I was sick of seeing things that needed fixing and not being able to do anything because I wasn''t in charge. The Mun Family were only lesser nobles, after all. I don''t remember what I was thinking exactly... These details get hazy, don''t they, after so many years? But it just got out of control... ah, I think maybe that was when my arranged marriage was announced everyone. Me included, I had no idea. I kept having nightmares about how my life was going to fall apart, so I just had to do something about it. After one of the dreams, I woke up feeling so strong, and I thought I''d better take advantage of it. And you didn''t question it? You didn''t question this strange woman who taught you... the sudden strength you developed after having nightmares... You didn''t... Why should I have? Qin l sng mo, Lin. A swan''s feather from far away. I''m not going to look down on a gift. And although things went wrong in Zyu, I was able to escape and set up a good life in Chn. I sought asylum from Shnzh, and he made me one of his concubines... and then, of course, his Queen, as it should be. And the flood? Zy quietly, although she thought she knew the answer. Well, I guess all the water that was lost from Zyu had to go somewhere. It was annoying that it has to come down on Chn, but I guess it made sense, given the proximity and topography. So are you going to go running off to tell that pet loong of yours now? How are you still alive? The Gods must like me. How did you become strong enough to dry an entire country? The Gods must like me. Zy stared at Chn Yl, her demonic and divine powers settled into almost perfect taijitu in her eyes. Your eyes look so beautiful, Lin. Taijitu eyes? What can they do? ... I can see all good, and I can see all evil. I can see all light and all dark. I can see happiness and sadness. She could see the figure of the woman Chn Yl, who had once called herself Mn Jing. A grey and red fog hung around her, resting over her mouth like a mask. The youthful appearance was stripped by Zy''s vision, leaving only a withered creature little more than an animated corpse. The red and grey fog seeped continuously from its seven orifices. I... I can see what you truly are. Will you kill me, Lin? Mn Jing asked her daughter. No. No, because... there is someone else... There''s someone else who I believe... Please, don''t struggle, Regal Mother. I will not show kindness if you do. Mn Jing stood, flicking the whip she held in her hand, the metal segments rattling viciously across the throne room floor. Kindness is for the weak, Lin. You''re not weak. I''m so proud of you. You''re not weak. But you are, Regal Mother. You let the demons of hatred and envy eat you away until you''re nothing but a desiccated shell powered by those negative feelings. That whip doesn''t even belong to you. This can''t keep going. You even remember that? Mn Jing looked surprised, then a sly smile crossed her face. Zy! You remember more than you have been admitting. And yet you shamelessly have charged into this palace claiming to be the rightful heir. How interesting! I have claimed nothing. Except that I will bring you to justice. For the last time... Mother... Please... Please just come with me. No, Lin. Any semblance of humanity fell away like a cicada shedding a skin. Mn Jing leapt forward, the nine-segment whip screaming towards Zy. 28 - Eyes Covered by a Ghost (gwai2 ngam2 ngaan5) - a ghost covers one''s eyes, i.e. blinded by our prejudices, we fail to see the truth
Two months later, with the chill of winter once more starting to grip the country, Gong Lau Yan stood on the rolling hills of Chn, gazing out towards the city. The country lay peaceful under her eyes. She had still not found Dzue Yi-sang. When she had visited Yun Wi, Chn Zy was gone. Desperately scrambling from one thing to another, she hoped for a respite yet had no idea where to find it. If she couldn''t find it here, then there was only one place left to go - back to her aunt''s palace. Somehow, the thought of retreating to that last refuge brought her a sense of despair. Please... let me find what I need here. The cold streets of Qinbn were remarkably busy. There seemed to be some kind of festival occurring, with food and craft stalls lining the streets in colourful abandon. Ordinarily, Gong Lau Yan would pause to take it all in, but her thoughts were a mess as she pressed on towards the palace. At the main gate, the guards did a double-take at the sight of her face. "It''s Miss Fn!" "Please, enter! The Regent has been waiting for you!" For me? Zy, what have you done? Servants raced back on forth ahead of them as one of the guards proudly escorted her towards the throne room. As they approached, a woman slipped from inside, hooded, but Gong Lau Yan could clearly see the healing gashes on her face. The woman bowed silently and hurried away, although she seemed slowed by something. Injury, perhaps? The guard knocked on the door and entered with a flourish. "Miss Fn is here, Your Majesty!" He stood to one side to allow Gong Lau Yan to enter. At the far end of the room was a large throne, and a figure stood beside it, clothed in rich dark fabrics, with her hair pulled into elaborate loops. She looked up from the documents she held in her hands, and nodded at the guard. "Thank you, you may go now." The guard bowed and retreated, leaving the two women to face each other across the room. Zy sighed softly and gave Gong Lau Yan a rueful smile. "You look tired." The loong approached slowly, taking in Zy''s appearance. Your eyes... My powers have mostly stabilised. I''m almost at Third Dntin Expert. Not bad for someone who never met their Master! Sit down, I have some tea here. Gong Lau Yan sat on a low wooden chair, and a cup of some fragrant green tea was poured out for her. She automatically tapped the table with two fingers. Zy sat on the chair beside her. Is it good? Yes, thank you... Your Majesty? ... How did your search go? Gong Lau Yan''s silence answered for her. She took a sip of tea. And you, Your Majesty? I turn my back for a few months and suddenly you''re the Regent of Chn. How did that happen? Ah, that would take a while to explain. Lady Gong, why don''t you rest for a night, and we''ll talk about those things tomorrow. There''s a lot to discuss, and you look exhausted. Yes... alright... Have some more tea, Lady Gong. They sipped tea silently together, closer than they had been in the past four months, yet farther apart than ever. Gong Lau Yan cleared her throat. I need your help, Zy. I''ll give it to you, Gong Dze. So easily? Of course! Why do you think I... I mean, I can do that now. I have the resources of a whole country at my fingertips. Of course, I''m still stabilising my reign and working through a few things but I can certainly lend aid to a benefactor of mine. She thought she heard a tiny click, but Gong Lau Yan made no indication of noticing any sound. That''s... Thank you. Of course. Have you travelled a long way? Would you like to rest now? Yes please. I''ll have someone show you the way. I would do it myself, only... They both looked at the piles of papers stacked beside the throne. Some had slid down behind it. I understand. When Gong Lau Yan had gone, Zy picked up the cup that the loong had been drinking from. A fine crack ran all the way under it from rim to rim, and it fell apart in her hands, the tea soaking her robes. This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. * Zy stepped to one side, easily avoiding the nine-section whip. She felt a hot dryness rush across her skin, but unlike that nightmarish day at the age of twenty-four, cowering at her mother''s feet in a ruined wedding dress, there was no fear. Who is stronger? Who is faster? Clenching her fist, she stripped all of the water from Mn Jing''s body in a heartbeat, then replaced it a second later. An ordinary person would have gone into severe shock. But Mn Jing was essentially a long-dead corpse powered by demonic energy. Without blinking, she flicked the whip again, this time aiming for Zy''s legs. Zy flowed between the loops of the whip, driving her fist into the base of Mn Jing''s sternum. The woman flew across the room, crashing into the throne and crumpling into it. And then she stood again. Lin, it won''t work. The Gods love me too much. Let''s not argue any more, and get back to looking after Chn, okay? It won''t work. Power over Water was power over life. But what if the opponent was someone who no longer needed the usual things to keep existing? Anxiety was rising up in her like a fist around her throat. She had one other option, the powers she had barely dared to even think of, that she had only ever properly used once, and even then she had been out of her mind and hallucinating that someone else had done it. That moment outside the palace, when she had saved Dzue Yi-sang and thought that Fn B''n had acted. He wasn''t real. It wasn''t him. Zy had been the one to click her fingers and reduce a living, breathing human being into a pile of ash. She didn''t even really know how the power worked. Was it the power to age things? It had worked on the lock of her cell, and the bandit. Why had she not tested the power before? Learnt about it, how to control it? Now she had no time to think. The whip screamed again, and Zy slipped between its coils again, her hand grasping the hand that wielded the weapon. Concentrate. Focus. It only took a moment. The hand crumbled to dust. The nine-section whip clattered to the floor with useless brutality. Mn Jing stared at the stump where her hand had been. What...? And then, she looked down at the pile of dust where her left foot had been. What? Would you like me to keep going? Zy asked coldly, willing herself not to shake. How... to your own mother? How could you do this? Zy gripped Mn Jing''s shoulder, the one connected to a whole arm. Not anymore C the joint aged in an instant and the arm fell away. ZY! A blast of heat enveloped her, but it was nothing. Hadn''t Gong Lau Yan suffered through this for close to two hundred years? Bending slowly, Zy lifted the whip. She flicked it lightly, the end curling around Mn Jing''s remaining ankle and brought her crashing down. The whip felt comfortable in her hand, and at the same time, it burnt her fingers. What are you going to do to me, Lin? Mn Jing''s voice sounded exhausted. I''ll take you to your room, Zy said distantly, and we''ll talk a little about what happened, back then. And then you''ll wait there, until Lady Gong returns. Her mother laughed ruefully. You''ll hand me over to her, will you? She''ll kill me, Zy. Aren''t I your mother? Yes, you are. And that''s why I''m taking responsibility. Who''s my father? I don''t know what you''re talking about. When Lady Gong pulled me from the lake, I started to have visions. Memories of the past. There was one memory that made no sense. A woman in shining bronze robes. I spoke the Dzue tongue to her. For the longest time, I thought my first meeting with Queen Gong Ming Dzue was on my wedding day, but it wasn''t, was it? I first met her when I was a child, which means that I must have been born a few years before Dzue fell... so how could King Shnzh be my father? Who is my father? Shnzh is your father. He''s not- Shnzh is your father. Don''t make me laugh. Zy snarled. So you became pregnant to some unknown dog of a man when you lived in Dzue, had a tantrum, destroyed your own home and ran away to Chn, then your actions caught up with you, but you decided to take advantage of the situation by selling me off to Zhng. You know everything, Mn Jing said with a weary smile. There''s nothing else for me to say, Zy. Lock me up already. They could hear the shouts of the people outside, the sound of Chn Yile''s long-held plans crumbling down around her. Mother... Zy''s voice was soft. Did you think I would be safer in Zhng? Mn Jing closed her eyes. Her face pinched. How old were you, when Dzue fell? Was it a mistake made in anger? Did you... love my father? The desiccated husk that had once been Mn Jing didn''t have had any tears left to cry. The liquid that slowly seeped down her cheek was red. Mother, please tell me. Aren''t you tired? Yes... but you''re here now. I can stop waiting. Shnzh is your father, Chn Zy, and you''re the ruler here now. That''s all. I don''t believe you. Like an old tree, Mn Jing flopped back, her grotesquely damaged body limp. That''s alright. So long as the rest of the world believes me. The rest of the Chn family is dead, Zy. You''re the only one left. If you don''t take the throne, who will? What will happen to all those people outside? Zy''s heart weighed a thousand pounds in her chest. Looping the nine-section whip in her belt, she lifted her mother. Mn Jing''s body was as light as an insect shell. The limbs that had fallen from her were withering on the throne room floor. Not another word was spoken. Zy walked out into the night. * It was a little busy around here, Zy explained the next day, as she and Gong Lau Yan sat together under a pagoda the next day, surrounded by a diligently tended water garden. In spite of the cold, neither of them spoke of going inside. Allow me to start with an apology, Lady Gong, for what my mother did to Dzue, and to your family. Gong Lau Yan turned a cup of hot tea in her hands, her eyes fixed on the swirling liquid as she tried to process Zy''s words. You''ve hidden something from me too, haven''t you? The loong glanced up at the sound of lightly clanking metal. Zy laid the nine-section whip she had taken from her mother onto the table. The handle of the whip was bound with silken blue and bronze fabric. Mother had been using it. But Queen Gong Ming Dzue had far more skill. So you really do remember. And so do you. You knew that King Chn Shnzh wasn''t my father, didn''t you? Why didn''t you say anything? I didn''t think it was my place. You''ve already had so many revelations, Me Gu. Don''t call me that. The tea in the cup by Zy''s hand began to boil. Even if I told you- Gong Lau Yan''s voice cracked. - where would you go? Are you going to abandon Chn? Dzue is gone. Just... you''re safer here, Zy. Lady Gong... Zy could feel the blood rushing to her head. She gripped the table to try and swallow down her rage and sorrow. Is my name even Zy? Yes. It was Dzak Yat, in the Dzue tongue. Your mother was a ''full river'', and you were her ''overflow''. Did she love my father? Did he love her? Yes. Very much so. So why would she destroy the place that brought her happiness? I don''t know that it''s my place to speak, Gong Lau Yan said helplessly. Your mother should be the one- She won''t tell me. I see. What I can''t understand is why you won''t tell me, Gong Dze. She caused the death of your sister, brought down the kingdom, and you''re just... just... This and that are two different things, Your Majesty. I really don''t know anything about you, Zy observed. She folded her hands. I promised myself I would take the throne of Chn to help you. And I will. I''ll help you find Dzue Ngan Wan. And then... Their breaths raised fog in the dark morning air. Zy put down her cup without even taking a single sip. I''ll take you to Mn Jing. 29 - Brushing By ÿǻ˱˲ (mitin nde r jhu rnbin rn c jin rgu) C You brush past so many people every day. - Chung King Express, Wong Kar Wai
Zy brought Gong Lau Jan to see Mn Jang. She didn''t go inside herself, departing as soon as the loong had entered the cell where Mn Jang sat, trapped in an illusion formation that showed her a single small island, surrounded by water as far as the eye could see. Instead, Zy walked back into the main palace, seeking her mother''s chambers. The rooms were simple and elegant, without excessive decorations, and no apparent hiding places. Even scanning with her taijitu eyes revealed nothing. Shu Kui had said she had found the scrap of paper she had brought to Zy, under the Regent''s personal bookshelves. Zy crouched and checked the floor, but again came up with nothing. She drew the scrap from her sleeve and read it once more. I''m forgetting who I am, some days. I have to write to remember that I''m Mun Gong, not Chn Yl. Or maybe I''m both. I am both, I suppose. Would things have worked out better if I told her who I was? Probably not, she surely despises me. The writing seemed uneven and scattered, some characters written in the complex Zyu script, others in the simpler style of Xiang. Zy could just about understand it. Her eyes drifted up to the bookshelves. Row upon row of neat history books greeted her. She was somewhat impressed; her mother had amassed an amazing collection. A historical tome on Zyu caught her attention. Where had her mother found this? It seemed like a rare object. Zy took it from the shelf and flicked it open. [56th Day of the 25th Year of the Reign of the Third Regent of Chn] I can''t find her. I can''t find her. I can''t find her. [57th Day of the 25th Year of the Reign of the Third Regent of Chn] The waters are subsiding. I can''t find her. [58th Day of the 25th Year of the Reign of the Third Regent of Chn] Where did I send her? What have I done? Shnzh is sick with anxiety, despite the improving weather. I don''t deserve such a good man. He has always treated Dzak Yat like his own daughter. [59th Day of the 25th Year of the Reign of the Third Regent of Chn] Please come back. Your father really is sick now. I''m sorry. I''m scared. I think Sng Rng will kill me. I think I have to die first. [60th Day of the 25th Year of the Reign of the Third Regent of Chn] After observing Shnzh closely, I''ve begun to mimic his symptoms. When he first heard me begin to cough, his face... I had thought my heart had died years ago with Dzi Ming. I was wrong. But I can''t stop. I have to survive. Zy was trembling. Sng Rng. Her elder.. no... the Crown Prince. Her fingers shakily traced the characters ''Dzi Ming'' over and over. A Zyu name. A man? Father? She pulled book after book down from the shelves. Every one contained writing in her mother''s hand. [102nd Day of the 2nd Year of the Reign of the Fourth Regent of Chn] Should I give up? How can I? I caused this, what right do I have to give up? [210th Day of the 3rd Year of the Reign of the Third Regent of Chn] My first son was born to Shnzh today. He''s a big boy, he''ll grow quickly, so soon, soon, Dzak Yat can stop hiding and we can introduce her as Shnzh''s second child. She''s so small. [284th Day] What have I done? [80th Day of the 5th Year of the Reign of the Third Regent of Chn] Dzak Yat is so talented. My lovely daughter, her martial and spiritual capabilities are all I could have hoped for her. I just wish she were a little more ambitious. If she isn''t, the world will eat her alive. [305th Day of the 7th Year of the Reign of the Sixth Regent of Chn] I realised today that the servant''s faces are all new. I called for Sho today. She has been dead for three decades. [26th Day of the 9th Year of the Reign of the Fifth Regent of Chn] Everyone who knew me as Mun Gong is gone. [154th Day of the 2nd Year of the Reign of the Fourth Regent of Chn] I saw Caam Lei today. He''s changed. He didn''t remember me. He hid it, but half of his face has burnt, the eye white and sightless. His red hair is white too. He brought her skin to me, looking to sell it. Sell it! Gods, I... I was so tempted. When I forget myself I could lie down and wrap the skin around me, and remember again. I told him it was a supremely valuable item, belonging to someone very important. He should hold onto it. He shrugged philosophically and took it away. I wish I had made him stay. The writing was often blurred, where drops of water had dissolved the ink. Tears. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it The back of Zy''s nose stung, and her eyes were swimming. She looked around at the books haphazardly piled around her, and back up at the shelves where still more books waited. The servant waiting outside the chambers jumped as Zy flung the doors open. "Bring me food and tea, please. Otherwise, I am not to be disturbed today, by anyone. No exceptions." And so, for the whole day, and far into the night, Zy sorted the books into chronological order, and read.
Her Majesty will not be taking visitors today. Gong Lau Jan pinched the bridge of her nose. I have something very important to discuss with her. Her Majesty has specified that there be no exceptions. I see.
[83rd Day of the 10th Year of the Reign of the Twenty-First Regent of Zyu that bastard] What do I do? I don''t want to do this. Why won''t he say anything? [84th Day of the 10th Year of the Reign of that dog] I wish I was stronger. Is it so wrong to want to control your own life? [90th Day of the 10th Year of the Reign of King Dog] I met someone today. A pretty woman, although her eyes were a little strange, and sometimes she sang to herself at odd times. She was strong, though. She taught me how to use the little Fire affinity I have. [6th Day of the 11th Year of the Reign of the Twenty-First Regent of Zyu] It''s creeping closer and closer. I have to do something. [11th Day of the 11th Year of the Reign of the Twenty-First Regent of Zyu] I hope it worked. [39th Day of the 11th Year of the Reign of the Twenty-First Regent of Zyu] It worked. [42nd Day of the 11th Year of the Reign of the Twenty-First Regent of Zyu] It didn''t work. [43rd Day of the 11th Year of the Reign of that fucking dog-faced coward] No. No, they can''t. Zyu Dzi Ming, you coward. Why won''t you say anything? You coward! Zyu Dzi Ming. Zyu Dzi Ming... [The days don''t deserve to be named after that dog anymore. 1st Day of the glorious reign of Queen Gong Ming Zyu!] Her Divine Majesty stepped in today. I''m forever grateful. Those dogs complained about the balance of power and overstepping of bounds, but she sent them all away. I''m safe. My little one is safe. [68th Day of the 11th Year of the Reign of the Twenty-First Regent of Zyu] A girl. I already have a name for her, but I have to wait until after she''s safely born. I can''t attract demons. [83rd Day of the 11th Year of the Reign of the Twenty-First Regent of Zyu] They''re still trying to get me married to the new king of Ceon. Of Chun. Idiots. As if I could now. [95th Day of the 11th Year of the Reign of the Twenty-First Regent of Zyu] He finally tried to see me today. How dare he. [102nd Day of the 11th Year of the Reign of the Twenty-First Regent of Zyu] He has come to my chambers every day, even though I refuse to see him. Don''t you have a country to run, Your Earthly Majesty? Zy gripped the book hard. The old pages, brittle, crackled dangerously. [112th Day of the 11th Year of the Reign of the Twenty-First Regent of Zyu] We went for a walk together. He gave me his arm to lean on,and I almost cried. I know he loves me. Why can''t we be happy together? [113th Day of the 11th Year of the Reign of the Twenty-First Regent of Zyu] I told him the name I wanted to give our daughter. He gave me that look, and said it was just like me. I can''t wait. Zyu Dzak Yat. I''m so happy. I''m too happy for anything to go wrong. I won''t let it. [150th cursed day of the 11th fucking year of that inhuman shit-faced mongrel] So that''s it, is it? I''m still going to be sold off to Ceon? And what, you''ll keep Dzak Yat, is that it? And don''t pretend to be upset C you could say one word, and this would all end. Is your ''impartiality'' so important? Are you so afraid of being called ''corrupt'' that you would let the woman you love marry someone else? I guess I was wrong. You don''t love me. I have to handle this myself.
Has Her Majesty still not emerged? Gong Lau Jan asked, that evening. A different servant stood by the doors. No, My Lady. Has she eaten? Her Majesty has been provided food and tea, as she requested.
[253rd Day of the 11th Year of that man''s reign] Dzak Yat was born yesterday. I managed to hold on until now. I''m sorry, my precious one. I forced you out into the world early. You''re so small. But we have no time. [282nd Day of the 11th Year of that man''s reign] The month of sitting will be over tomorrow. They''re already preparing my bridal attire and transport. Idiots idiots idiots idiots idiots idiots [283 Last Day of the Reign of the Heavenly Light, the One Who Guides, the Glorious Earthly Majesty Zyu Dzi Ming] My new friends and I will not let you get rid of us so easily. Night was falling. Zy called for the lanterns to be lit. The inside of her mouth felt raw. [I don''t know what day it is] I think I''ve crossed into Ceon. Into Chun. The baking heat, the dryness, stopped ten lei behind me. Dzi Ming, what have I done? [29th Day of the 2nd Year of the Reign of the Regent of Chun] Chun Shnzh is a big and scary-looking man, but he''s still young and gentle. I''m both relieved and guilty, but this is all I can do to survive now, to keep Dzak Yat safe. Zy. Gong Lau Jan sat in the window. Her grey-brown eyes wandered over the piles of books. They''ll still be here tomorrow. You should rest. Zy looked at her blankly, then turned back to the book. [40th Day of the 2nd Year of the Reign of the Regent of Chun] We will marry after all. I can''t be anything other than a concubine, not with Zyu... Zy. What? I''m sorry. And? I thought you had been through enough. I honestly didn''t realise, at first. Ze ze only hinted about you to me, when she was alive. It only began to occur to me who you were when Zyu Ji Sang told me you remembered meeting someone who sounded like Ming Zyu. That was months ago. Yes. Why didn''t you tell me? Gong Lau Jan looked miserable. You''ve been sick, and stressed. I was hoping you would get better before you needed to think about what you were going to do, but then you marched into Chun... So I... Now what? You''ve just claimed Chun as your birthright... but you''re not related to the Chun royal family. From the way that Zy''s eyes widened, Gong Lau Jan had another realisation. You didn''t think about that, did you? You... See, this is why... The heir of a kingdom that had all but ceased to exist, overthrowing the royal family of another country. Does anyone else know? Gong Lau Jan said urgently. ... Shu Kui... knows that my mother and Chn Yl are the same person. And she would know who my mother was, to a certain extent. Who is Shu Kui? The Head of Intelligence. You might have seen her, the first day... That woman leaving the throne room? Do you trust her? Zy turned sick eyes towards Gong Lau Jan. I don''t trust anyone. These books... We can''t get rid of them. Zy looked around her helplessly like she was drowning in the paper. They''re all... They... She was so lonely, Gong Ze. The loong slid to the floor, and knelt before Zy. So are you. And you. A rueful laugh was the response, but Gong Lau Jan sobered quickly. I... would like to help you, Zy. If you''ll let me. She looked exhausted, but her gaze was still gentle. No... I''m supposed to be helping you... Is that the kind of relationship you want? Where we have to make sure we are always taking turns giving and receiving? I don''t think that''s right. I don''t know. I do. First, we should secure these so no one else can get them. It''s amazing that no one looked before. Hiding in plain sight! Mun Gong was always such a smart girl. She helped Zy stand. The woman gripped her hand. Gong Ze? Yes? Once we''ve protected the writing, could you please tell me... everything? I know it''s written here, but I want to hear from you too. Please. Once we''ve set up a protection array, and you''ve had something to eat, and we''ve both had a good sleep. Then... Then. I will. 30 - Everything in the Universe fɶo (maan6 mat6 dzok3 bin1 bat1 tsi4, saang1 bin1 bat1 yau5) - Everything in the universe, when defined, is relative to everything else. - Chou-Wing Chohan translation of the Tao Te Ching, Chapter 2.
What did you talk about? Gong Lau Yan and Zy sat together in the gardens after the latter had dismissed the morning''s conferencing session with the palace officials. An array of regional delicacies were spread out in front of them, but they hadn''t touched a single piece. We didn''t, Gong Lau Yan said bluntly. A teacup was the perfect thing to fiddle with, and so she did, not looking up. You went to see the woman who caused your country to collapse and hurt innumerable people and you just stared at her? Zy asked sarcastically. Not everyone responds to things by tearing people''s limbs off, Gong Lau Yan sighed. I didn''t tear her limbs off, Zy snapped. They groaned simultaneously and hastily drank more tea. This was going nowhere. The loong cleared her throat. Alright, let''s start again. I''ll talk and you can add things where you like, okay? Fine. Zy winced at how petulant the word sounded. Dzue Dzi Ming was the last Regent of Dzue- And my father. He never confirmed or denied the fact. Gong Lau Yan rubbed her face and looked up at the ceiling of the small pavilion they sat in. But everyone knew he was very fond of Mun Gong. Her diaries say he is... was... my father. I see. What sort of person was he? Gong Lau Yan looked at her narrowly. What do you want to hear, Zy? What do you mean? Do you want me to tell you he was a cruel tyrant? Would that make you feel better? Would you understand why things turned out this way if I did? You speak as if you understand what happened well, Zy said coldly. I don''t. I''ve no idea what that man was thinking. I can guess, but I don''t understand why he would... Why anyone would... Gong Lau Yan finished the tea in her cup and poured herself more. Unfortunately, Dzue Dzi Ming was a great man and an excellent ruler. As a cultivator, he was extremely talented and dedicated. If he had lived, he probably would have Ascended. At this, a thousand questions flooded Zy''s mind, but to ask them would have taken away from the topic at hand. She bit her tongue and said nothing. He was clearly fond of Mun Gong, and she was evidently in love with him. He never made a move to reciprocate her feelings. Why? I don''t know. My sister was much closer to him, almost like siblings themselves, so she may have known. Mun Gong''s family were very ambitious. They were a distant relation to the Dzue royal family. It seemed to be a sore point for them, they were always trying to become more powerful, more important. They arranged for Mun Gong to marry the king of Cheon. And then she became pregnant. And my... mother never said who the father was? No." What... Zy tried to keep her voice light. What did he look like? Gong Lau Yan looked at her sadly, for a long time. He looked like you. So did you know, when you first met me? When I first met you, you''d been rotting at the bottom of a lake for a century, Zy. You didn''t even know yourself. But when I came back from Cheon, and you''d healed... Gong Lau Yan''s eyes were soft now, gentle as a warm spring day by a river, and Zy could feel her own eyes prickling. Even so, I wasn''t sure. I''ve met so many people in my life. You know, I can barely recall the faces of my nieces now, and I loved them so dearly. So... Zy swallowed to regain her composure, ... that''s why you didn''t say anything, just brought me to Chun? The only certainty for me was that you were the woman once known as the Second Princess of Chun. There was still so much conjecture C was Dzi Ming really your father? Did Mun Gong really escape the fall of Dzue? Was Mun Gong and Man Jiang the same person? And you... you were introduced as her second child, when you should have been her first. She was able to do it because I was very small when I was young, whereas First Brother grew quickly. Ha... really. Mun Gong really is such a smart girl. And then she got desperate. You sound so fond of her. I can''t help it. I see. Zy''s voice was tight with rage. She folded her hands. Do you remember Master Yuan Mu? Gong Lau Yan''s eyes flickered. What about him? My Master... Well, not really. I met him at the Yuan Wei Temple that used to exist here in Chun. He told me I was the direct disciple of the Divine Tortoise of the North... Ha... Who even knows if that''s true. I''ve never even met them. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. It''s true, Gong Lau Yan said bluntly. The certainty in her voice made Zy pause. Are you going to explain? Yuan Mu is also a direct disciple, of the Dragon at the Centre of All Things, my grandmother. When the Great Demon War ended, he chose to delay his Ascension to wait for the last two direct disciples. Now the conversation was veering wildly off topic, but Zy no longer cared. She gaped at Gong Lau Yan. What do you mean? What happened? The loong closed her eyes and screwed up her face, thinking hard. The Wu Xiang had felt the approach of a generation of direct disciples. Of the five of them, by the start of the demon war, two of them had already been found. One was Yuan Mu. The other was a man called the Jade Exorcist. He was the direct disciple of the White Tiger Who Rules the West, Jian Bing. It was a chaotic time. The Vermilion Bird of the South, Ling Guang, was kidnapped and forced to teach her techniques. She convinced herself that this meant that her coercer was now her direct disciple. Luckily this wasn''t the case. A close friend of Yuan Mu and the Jade Exorcist showed herself to be immensely capable and the true inheritor of Ling Guang''s techniques. Who...? She was known as one of the Two Stars. Cheng Guk Lung is here helping you, right? His Great-Aunt was the other of the Two Stars. Zy''s mind was reeling. Does he... Does he know all this? Possibly. Why didn''t he say? Did you ask him? No... Of course, he doesn''t know about any of my matters either... Did you know them all well? I need to ask a question first, Zy. Why did you ask about Yuan Mu all of a sudden? Zy produced a book. She opened it to a page that she had marked, and handed it silently over. [88th Day of the 10th Year of the Reign of the Regent of Chun] I hope he won''t come back now. Maybe he doesn''t remember me, but I can''t risk it. Easy enough to pay some thugs to bar the doors from the outside. Harder to recall the techniques that woman taught me, so long ago. I lit the spark myself. Don''t come back, disciple of the dragon. Stay away from Dzak Yat. She doesn''t need any of that. Gong Lau Yan dropped the book. Who was ''that woman''? She told me that she met a young woman one day when she had run away from home. She said... she was pretty, and there were flames in her eyes. There''s an early diary entry that says she met this woman when she was sixteen, and was taught how to use the Fire attribute, although she didn''t have that much affinity so there was only so much she could learn. Did she say anything else about this woman? At this point, Zy realised that the sky had become very dark. She glanced out beyond the roof of the pavilion and saw towering black clouds racing across the once blue sky. Perhaps we should go inside- Who was that woman? Gong Lau Yan''s whole body was rippling with scales. Her sharp teeth were curving beyond her human jaws; it looked painful, and the rising growl in her throat only added to this impression. She never gave a name, Zy said calmly. She didn''t know who this woman was. Her diary entry mentions that the woman seemed a bit eccentric... and she carried multiple knives as her weapons. Gong Lau Yan retreated into her human form with a sound like water on hot rocks. She buried her face in her hands. Gong Ze? Zy asked anxiously, forgetting all her grievances in the face of the loong''s despair. She started at the sound of helpless sobbing. Gong Ze, what is it? Why are you crying? Rising from her seat, she knelt by Gong Lau Yan''s side and touched the loong''s hand. Gong Lau Yan considered the hand, tears streaming down her cheeks, and sighed. I''m just so... Even after all these years... Even after her death... She still continues to cause us... She interlaced her fingers with Zy''s. During the Great Demon War, the most damage and destruction came from a single woman. Not a demon? In truth, it was called the Demon War but... It was a human war. The demons were just an excuse. A poor scapegoat. Greedy humans on trying to grab more territory and resources, fear of an unknown race. How would you feel if you knew I fought on the demons'' side? Surprised, but... Gong Ze, you know I have demonic powers. How did you end up being a demon hunter then? It''s a job title that''s more a cover-up than anything else. In any case, this woman- Who was she? The thing is... no-one really knew. She just appeared one day during the Jade Exorcist''s travels, and after that she kept appearing to bother him and his companions, including Yuan Mu. She seemed to find joy in causing problems for Chan- for one of the Two Stars, not Cheng Guk Lung''s Great-aunt. She was called the Shooting Star. So she was the one who became the direct disciple of the Divine Bird of the South? And... was it this woman that coerced the Divine Bird into giving up her Fire techniques? Very good, Gong Lau Yan said proudly, and Zy felt warm in the praise despite everything. Yes, Ling Guang was kidnapped by demons, but this woman infiltrated the prison and took all the techniques she could. She promised to help Ling Guang escape but left as soon as she had learnt everything. What happened to her? She''s gone, Gong Lau Yan said shortly. But still, after all this time... Will you tell Yuan Mu? Should I? I want to say yes. Gong Lau Yan leaned back, her fingers still interlaced with Zy''s. But knowing that kid... Not yet. You should tell him, but not yet. Wait until the time is right. What do you mean, Gong Ze? Do you know something? What do you know about Ascension? Zy thought the question odd, but answered, It''s the goal of our cultivation techniques. To Ascend from the mortal realm and receive understanding of the universe. It''s a strange place, Gong Lau Yan said. The Heavenly Realm where the Ascended go. Most don''t stay long. They come to understand how things are, what the world means, and having discovered that, they move on. Where? I can''t tell you that, Mei Gui. You''ll find out one day. They can''t come back here, at least, not as they are. I can tell you that much. What I can tell you is that reaching Ascension is... finding a feeling of peace and understanding. And it can be a relief if one has struggled for a very long time. You''re saying... I should tell Shi xiong just before he Ascends? He''s carrying a lot of burdens, Zy. If you tell him just before he Ascends, he won''t have to carry this particular one too long. Why hasn''t he Ascended yet? Has he not found the other direct disciple? Gong Lau Yan looked surprised. He has. You met them, in fact. Who...? What was left? Zy was the direct disciple of the Tortoise of the North, the divine being who ruled all Water. Yuan Mu Shi xiong was taught by the Dragon at the Centre of All Things, who ruled the Earth attribute. The Jade Exorcist had been chosen by Jian Bing, the Divine Tiger of the West whose element was Metal. And of course, the Shooting Star, under the guidance of the Vermilion Bird of the South, Ling Guang, had the Fire element. So all that remained was the Wood attribute... A person suddenly popped into her mind, a small person with silver blond hair and dark eyes and an ever-present smile that called her ''Shi jie''. Oh... that cultivator at the auction... Yuan Yi Feng... Yuan... How did I not notice it before, they have the same family name as Shi xiong. Is Yuan Yi Feng his child? They don''t look alike. Yuan Yi Feng was an orphan that Yuan Mu adopted. No wonder they gave me their given name as well. How did I not notice at all? You were a bit distracted... Gong Lau Yan looked guilty. We both were. So this all leaves one last thing. Zy massaged her temples as if trying to physically rearrange her thoughts. Yes? Who is exactly is Dzue Yi-sang? 31 - Doubt and Trust ˲ɣ˲ (yng rn b y, y rn b yng) C Choose a person and don''t doubt them, doubt a person and don''t chose them, i.e. Don''t choose a person you don''t trust, but trust those people that you choose.
Ah. Siu Wan. She is a very distant relative of the Dzue Royal Family. As my mother was... is...? No, much closer. She''s your father''s- Don''t call him that. Dzi Ming''s cousin''s nephew''s grand-daughter. Right. So calling her Dzue Yi-sang.... Is just a nickname. That branch of the family was called Haat. Haat Ngan Wan? Right. Written as ''seed'' and ''silver cloud''. I see... The words stuck in Zy''s throat. How... Is she the last...? Dzi Ming''s cousin was lucky, Gong Lau Yan explained, understanding. She was visiting Shisuan at the time. And yes... she was the only... the only one of the royal relatives outside of Dzue. Ha... what timing... Are you still hoping to restore Dzue? With Dzue Yi...Dzue Yi-sang as Regent? Z- Right? Gong Lau Yan''s face crumpled. It took her a few breaths to regain her composure. It''s just a dream. Rather than confirm or deny this statement, Zy said, You''ve not found any sign of her, then? ... None. Where... have you looked? Gong Lau Yan reclined back in her chair, clicking her tongue. From the gardens all around them, twigs and dead leaves whirled up and over to where the two women sat, hovering over the table. The vegetative debris began to form a neat three-dimensional map of the Four Kingdoms, as well as the ruined Kingdom of Dzue. Leaning forwards, Gong Lau Yan began to point out locations. The tip of her finger trembled very slightly. If we start from the west, in Zhng... Zy twitched. Are you alright? I''m alright. ... In Zhng, the Eagle''s Nest Sanctuary, Yng B-h-su. You don''t know it? It''s a cultivation stronghold in the mountains. In Huang, Yuan Wei Temple. In Shisuan, the schools of Mount Hua. I visited them all to make use of their intelligence networks. In between, I''ve been going to Dzue for as long as I can- How''s your health? asked Zy, looking intently at her now-cold tea. I''m... I''m not that well. There''s no pretending, Zy, I''m not well. Gong Lau Yan ''s eye sockets were dark and hollow, her skin dry and flaking. Her very movements, usually graceful and certain, carried a tremulous quality. Shoulders slumped, gaze lowered, she looked tired and defeated. Do you want my help? I... Only if you want to give it. The day was still, so still, no breeze ruffling the leaves of the trees in the garden, nor sending ripples across the surface of the water of the constructed ponds. Zy clasped her hands and closed her eyes. I want... She choked on her tongue and forced it out again with a frustrated cough. I want to say... say yes. But when I think of it... Even now... The world spun. I''m... I''m scared. Gong Dze, I''m so scared that the blood leaves my head and I can''t feel my hands. I want to say yes... But I don''t know if I can right now. A few tears crawled miserably down her cheeks, chasing her shuddering breaths. Why am I so scared? Am I so weak? Gong Lau Yan shook her head. No, it''s not surprising. I... hadn''t been entirely honest with you. And with your experiences with Mun Gong, and everything else... Her expression changed. Your elder brother too, if I remember right. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. Zy''s laugh had a slightly hysterical edge. Mother wrote about that too. She was scared of Elder Brother... of Chn Sng Rng. Terrified he would find out who I was... And then he found out anyway, and she was right. Her eyes stared at the lotus leaves floating on the pond, without seeing a single one. I don''t know how he found out. I was about eleven... no, I suppose I would have been thirteen years old? I don''t even know... He came into my bedroom in the middle of the night with his longest hairpin. Luckily I sleep on my side, and he wasn''t very strong, so his first stab hit my collarbone instead of the vein in my neck... Her voice was dreamy and distant. That''s what they said, anyway. The doctors. I heard them... Mother and Fath- Chn Shnzh acted like it hadn''t really happened, like it was a nightmare or a hallucination. Her fingers crept subconsciously to her left collarbone. Zy, do you want to stay in Chn? I don''t know anymore! She began to laugh helplessly, dropping her hand. I decided that I would return and take the throne, and then I''d be able to help you find Dzue Yii-sang, and restore Dzue, and we''d live happily ever after... It was such a sweet little daydream. And now... now I don''t know. She shivered. I She''s haunting me, Gong Dze. I close my eyes and see her face. When I lie at wake in the dark, she grins at me from the shapes in the ceiling like a ghost. But I cant leave Her unfocused eyes drifted over to Gong Lau Yan, clearing a little. Lady Gong, you need to drink some more. Your lips are cracking. Gong Lau Yan swallowed some more tea and stood. Your Majesty, would you mind if I borrowed Cheng Guk Lung for a while? He might be able to assist me in my search. Of course. Please do. With a single bow, Gong Lau Yan departed, leaving Zy to stare aimlessly at the patterns in the wooden beams above her head. It seemed like moments later that a servant climbed the two steps to the pavilion. Your Majesty. Hm? Ah... Yes, what is it? The Head of Intelligence has inquired as to whether you might have time to visit her, Your Majesty. Of course. Zy shook herself and stood. Where is she? In the medical quarters, Your Majesty. Oh. Lead me to her.
The medical quarters were quiet and peaceful, a series of buildings a little detached from the rest of the palace. The gardens here contained a mix of medicinal plants and shady trees for convalescing patients to sit under. The doctors and healers bowed to Zy as she passed, but she kept her gaze straight ahead. If she lost focus, her mind would start drifting towards the worst case scenario. One foot in front of the other. Eyes forward, no left or right. At the door to one of the wards, the servant paused and knocked - Lady, Her Majesty has arrived. - and withdrew immediately. Zy opened the door. Sh Ku sat by the bedside, nursing her swelling stomach and removing her cloth mask. Zy''s eyes, however, were on the man in the bed. Even with his entire torso was swathed in bandages, Yng Jn tried to sit up and bow. His lower lip was deeply split, and although it had healed, when he smiled it gaped concerningly. Another bandage covered the side of his head. In spite of his extensive injuries, his expression was filled with energy. Zy frowned scoldingly, but she felt a knot in her stomach dissolve. Commander, you are forbidden from doing anything other than resting. Do you want me to have you arrested for defying a royal order? I sincerely apologise for being unable to bow to you during our first meeting, given everything you have done for us, Your Majesty. However, I''d rather you didn''t arrest me, given the circumstances. Hands clasped, the couple bent gentle smiles towards each other. Have you decided whether or not to formally marry? Zy asked, planning to leave as soon as she had an answer. Your Majesty, as long as I am Head of Intelligence, I would rather leave as few official traces of myself as possible, Sh Ku said. That''s... I respect your decision, but as someone who was instrumental in bringing about significant change to Chn, it''s hard for me to accept. Sh Ku simply smiled. What are your plans now, Your Majesty? Zy opened her mouth. She was going to say something about compensating the families of those who had lost loved ones to Chun Yili''s actions, about repairing relationships with Zhng whilst refusing marriage talks, about revising laws and visiting the rural areas of the country and... and... Nothing came out of her mouth. Sh Ku stepped into the silence. Your Majesty... Thank you. ... For... what, exactly? For helping us, Sh Ku said simply. I don''t think either of us... I don''t think any of us... Her arms tightened around her pregnant belly. ... would be here without you. Some days I would curse myself for having gotten into this state- It''s my fault, Yng Jn interrupted. It takes two people, humans at least, to make a child, Jn, Sh Ku said severely. And I was almost paralysed with fear. Why had we done this? The Regent would never let it continue. We were risking our lives for this. Was it worth it? The answer is yes, Your Majesty. Sh Ku''s usually sharp eyes were soft with love. Being afraid, and doing what you want and know is right anyway... I''ve lived my life based on my wits and my logic. This once, I''m allowing myself to live a little. We''ve been struggling all this time for happiness. It''s time to be happy now. A funny sound escaped Zy. Did Gong Lau Yan come by here? Sh Ku''s smile was sly. What do you mean, Your Majesty? I see. Only a few days on this job and you''re already conspiring against me. Sh Ku? Yes, Your Majesty. How much longer can you work before you need to rest in preparation? If I have to work right up to the hour before I give birth, I will. No, please don''t do that. That''s not at all necessary. But I''m going to need your help. And Cheng Guk Lung''s. Whatever you order, Your Majesty. We will convene a meeting in half a shi, at the throne room annex. You, Cheng Guk Lung, and I. Certainly, Your Majesty. What will we discuss? The swirls of white in Zy''s eyes glowed as she grinned. Only who will be the ruler of Chun while I''m gone on an adventure. 32 - Reflection ¹ʶ֪ (wn gr zh xn) - review the past, learn something new; i.e. reflect on history to understand the present.
Do you have something to say, Shu Kui? No, Your Majesty. Really? I was so certain you wanted to say something/ Perhaps my ability to judge people is worse than I thought. Not at all, Your Majesty. I am simply very skilled at the art of misdirection. Is that so? It is so, Your Majesty. Shu Kui. What if I order you to tell me what it is that you''re thinking about? ... Why are you doing this, Your Majesty? Just tell me you think I''m crazy. You''re not crazy, Your Majesty. That''s not what your expression is saying. Why don''t you just tell me what I''m thinking? Shu Kui said tartly, making Zy laugh. There it is! Yes, I''m crazy, Shu Kui. Will you assist me in my madness? Your Majesty, you have only just taken the throne. You need to consolidate your power before running away into the wilderness with Lady Gong. Zy collapsed into uncontrollable giggles. Your Majesty, your eyes are turning very white. Ah, thanks for warning me. Zy breathed deep, letting her energy calm and circulate through her dantian. They were sat in the anteroom off the throne room now, waiting for for Cheng Guk Lung. He soon appeared at the door, behind Gong Lau Yan, who gave Zy a small smile. Good, we''re all here. Let''s begin. Cheng Guk Lung? Yes, Your Majesty? How would you like to be Regent of Chun for a bit? Careless of etiquette, Cheng Guk Lung stared at Zy. She smiled back. ... Your Majesty, have you lost your sanity? See, Shu Kui, that is the correct response. I''ll keep that in mind for next time, Your Majesty Shu Kui said drily. I''m thinking of accompanying Lady Gong on a diplomatic mission, so I need someone to manage matters while I''m gone. So why me, Your Majesty? Because Shu Kui won''t do it. ... Is that the only reason? I need someone intelligent, with a good but uncertain ancestry. I believe you fit these requirements perfectly. Cheng... You must be related to the Sage Star. She was my great-aunt. There is no information on the generations before the Sage Star, Shu Kui mused. The Sage Star and her brother... your grandfather? were believed to be orphans. That''s correct, Head of Intelligence. There were some Chengs in the Chun and Shisuan Kingdoms, I believe... Shu Kui frowned, digging deep into her stored knowledge. Most changed their names to Zheng with the fall of Zhu. I take it you''re proposing to act as though Sir Cheng is a distant relative of yours, Your Majesty? Exactly. I will do some investigation to see what information there is. If there is a suggestion that Sir Cheng''s heritage lies elsewhere, this will not work. I''m relying on the assumption that there is no information. It''s more than an assumption, Gong Lau Yan interjected. Cheng Baak-hap searched for her family for a long time, but none of the Chengs ever claimed her and Baak Gat. Her younger brother, I mean. Did you know grandfather... no, great-aunt? Cheng Guk Lung asked wonderingly. I had the pleasure of working with her a few times, Gong Lau Yan said softly, a small smile creasing her mouth. You have the same speckling of moles on your face as she did. That''s where the ''star'' part of her title came from; people used to say the beauty marks on her face were like a constellation of stars. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. So the Sage Star herself investigated, and found no information? Shu Kui was deep in thought. Then this may work, given that so much time has passed, it makes it even more unlikely that someone could find information on the genealogy of this branch of the Zheng family... Very well. I''ll do what I can, Your Majesty. Lady Gong, if you have any other information that could help us...? Only that Li- Baak-hap remembers travelling east as a small child until she reached the schools of Mount Hua. She had no clear memories from before then. Mount Hua, the cultivation school in Shisuan Kingdom? That''s right. Perhaps... Yes? Gong Lau Yan looked troubled, but she said, I guess you would dig it out anyway... Perhaps you should talk to G- Yuan Mu. He worked more closely with Baak-hap after all. But don''t be surprised if he is reluctant to say anything. Does this relate to the Great Demon War? Zy asked. It was a harsh time for everyone involved. He was a good friend of Cheng Baak-hap, so it will likely be a sensitive subject for him. Lady Gong, Cheng Guk Lung asked curiously, What sort of people were my grandfather and great-aunt? Mother never met great-aunt, and grandfather was a very distant sort of man. And he disappeared soon after she married. Gong Lau Yan carefully retrieved her hip flask of water and drank. She seemed to be stalling. Cheng Baak-hap was a very intelligent person, she said at last. But on top of that, she had good morals. She was... very loyal, decisive... a good and caring girl. She drew a deep breath and cleared her throat. I only met Cheng Baak Gat once. He was considerably younger than Baak-hap. Also very smart, but quite a meek and timid child. I see. Thank you, Lady Gong. Let us determine our approach to this investigation. Shu Kui began pulling papers, ink and brush towards her. We need to consolidate the information we have on hand here and in the archives of Mount Hua, speak with Master Yuan Mu... Zy and Gong Lau Yan left the two tacticians to plan, retreating to a balcony that overlooked the verdant rolling valleys of Chun. True to the kingdom''s name, spring was the season that most brought out the countryside''s beauty. You could have just sent a delegation to come with me, Your Majesty. Yes. Gong Lau Yan laughed. I''m glad you''re joining me for this adventure. I feel like our last one was too short. Well, we''ll see. It depends on what the investigations find, both the one into Cheng Guk Lung''s ancestry, and into the whereabouts of Dzue Yi-sang. Nothing so far? I''m afraid not. Is it really...? The loong sighed. I had hoped I would never have to enter the demon realm again. Is that where you think she is? It''s highly possible. Prince Fan Bi''an was at the auction, after all, and the demons have always had an attachment to Dzue. What happened, Gong Dze? Zy asked curiously. The Great Demon War... You were there, and it seems that the history we understand now is not the truth. So tell me, what were you taught? The country of Dzue had been prosperous for hundreds of years. The reason for its immense success was the pacts that the royal family made with demons. One day, their greed got the better of them, and it resulted in the destruction of Dzue at the hands of the demons. As a result, the country was shunned as an evil place, and the Dzue language was replaced with Xiang, which we speak today. And I already know one part of that is wrong. It wasn''t demons that brought down Dzue... it was my mother. Unless... The woman she met who taught her those cultivation techniques? If it''s who I think it was, then no. That woman was not a demon... she was... I can''t even say evil. And yet I can''t think of any other way to describe her. Who was she? Someone who wanted to see the world burn. We never did know who she really was or what she wanted. And the Dzue language just casually being replaced by Xiang? Cheng Baak-hap helped construct Xiang over painstaking years to create a common language to communicate with the demons. The Sage Star did? The Demon Realm is a different plane of existence from ours. The demons spoke a language very different from Dzue, so a compromise was reached by drawing elements of Dzue and elements of the demonic language together to form Xiang. Many demons have different body structures, especially in regards to tongues and vocal chords or other sound-producing organs. Xiang is easier for the vast majority of them to pronounce, compared to Dzue. So where did this idea come from that Xiang was this completely standalone language that just appeared one day to topple the tongue of the ''evil'' kingdom? Gong Lau Yan shrugged. I''m sure it was one of the many human factions that we were up against during the war. In truth, we were all so exhausted by the end, we didn''t look into it. So long as the language that Little Cheng had worked so hard to build was being used, and we could converse with the demon race, that was all we cared about, at that stage. We just wanted it to be over. The smell of fresh grass reached them even at the height of the balcony on which they stood. Gong Lau Yan leaned on the stone railing. Why did you stay, Gong Dze? In the mortal realm? It was tempting to leave for the Heavenly Realm... All Five Guardians, the Wu Xiang, including my mother and grandmother, left. And two of the disciples, the Jade Exorcist and the Fire Star. Gaam Yuk Ying and Chan Bik, those children... I would like to seem them again. But the Heavenly Realm is vast, and even though I visit sometimes, I might search for eternity and never see them... She rubbed her dark-ringed eyes. I didn''t think I could leave Yuan Mu here all by himself. He was already taking on the job of finding the last two disciples when he should have been allowed to rest. I had just enough energy to stay... although Mun Gong made that difficult with what she did to Dzue. Your mother, you said? Queen Meng Zhang, the Azure Dragon of Wood who rules over the East. Oh, that''s right. Sometimes I forget that you''re royalty. You cheeky little- What will you do if we have to go to the Demon Realm? Suck it up, I suppose. The memories I have of that place are... mixed. I''ll manage. Will you? Are you questioning my abilities? No, Gong Dze. Zy''s hand, resting on the balustrade next to Gong Lau Yan''s elbow, twitched. I''m just concerned about you, that''s all. You''re already unwell, to have your emotions prodded as well... I''ll reflect on it before we go and see how I feel. Gong Lau Yan stood up, grinning down at Zy. Besides, you''ll be coming with me. Considering my own problems, do you really think I''m in a position to keep anyone balanced? I''m not asking you to do anything, Your Majesty. Just your presence is enough. I''ll do the rest. Gong Lau Yan bent gracefully, with one hand behind her back, taking one of Zy''s hands and planting light kiss on it. Zy flushed more red than the jaspers in her hairpins. Gong-! It''s a sign of respect to nobles in some countries west of here, Gong Lau Yan said glibly. I see. Zy retrieved her hand. Well, I''m sure you''re very busy, Lady Gong. I certainly am. We will speak again when the investigations have progressed further. Without waiting for Gong Lau Yan''s response, she swept imperiously away from the balcony. But having regained the privacy of her own quarters, she sank to the ground in a whisper of silks, clutching her hand to her thumping heart. Don''t... she murmured to herself. It''s dangerous. Stay strong, Zy. 33 - Stroke of the Knife һ (y do ling dun) - cut in two with one stroke of the knife; i.e. to be finished with someone.
It''s funny watching you act like an old man, Gong Lau Yan said. It''s funny watching you pretend to be a responsible member of royalty, Yun M replied. They both broke into grins. Zy, watching them behave like children, sighed and looked for patience on the ceiling. Yun M had returned to visit Chn. The respectful look on Sh Ku''s face when she had first met him had now disappeared, and she, Cheng Guk Lung and Zy wore matching expressions of mild exasperation as Yun M and Gong Lau Yan bantered. Only W Mo, standing in for the still-recovering Yng Jn, watched them with enthusiasm. Who do you think will win? she whispered eagerly to Cheng Guk Lung, seated next to her. Me, Gong Lau Yan announced immediately, hearing every word. You wouldn''t be able to say that so easily if Yuk Ying was here, Yun M retorted, with a smile that faded quickly. Gong Lau Yan sobered quickly too. You''re right, you''re right... Anyway, what news do you have? Yun M had plenty of news, it seemed. He had just lost contact with his disciple Yun Y Fng, who was still travelling west, looking for evidence of Tsaam Lei''s poaching and smuggling. He''s been busy, Yun M said heavily. Y Fng has almost reached the westernmost point of the Jade Road and is still finding incidents. They say there''s evidence of even more, further west. They''re planning to cross the sea to their companion''s home country. What''s the deal with their ''companion''? Gong Lau Yan asked, a hint of a grin coming back to her face. Yun M shrugged, but a small smile curled his lips. You tell me, Lady Gong. You saw Y Fng more recently than I. Sure... On a more serious note, I''m interested in their companion''s powers. Zy learnt a little about them, but it would be good to know more. Especially since it seems that there are some similarities with Tsaam Lei''s. Y Fng''s companion is what is called a necromancer in the Common Tongue. In essence, someone who has certain powers over the dead. Zy recalled her unusual unease around the pale-skinned person who followed her Junior Sibling. Tsaam Lei''s powers, on the other hand, seem like one of the Hibi Wchng, leading the dead to the underworld. Yun M looked at his hands. Y Fng said he also still has his Wood powers. He looked directly at Gong Lau Yan. Are you sure he didn''t recognise you at the auction? Positive. I was half out of my mind, but with his personality, he would have said something to me. The whole thing''s weird. I''m interested to know more about his association with the other two people I met at the auction C the divine cat Eitsu and her companion, Zy said. There seemed to be something there. It''s a pity we didn''t stay in contact. Things were a little chaotic, Gong Lau Yan understated. Divine cat? Cheng Guk Lung looked surprised. You''re not referring to Eitsubyou no Mikoto, the Heavenly Cat Demon? Maybe? Gong Lau Yan returned him an equally surprised look. Zy, did you hear that name? No, she only ever referred to herself as ''Eitsu''. A small woman, dark sort of skin, black hair, gold eyes? She stayed at Mount Hu. I''ve been told she only left a few weeks ago, while I was here. He began to talk almost to himself, a look of satisfaction growing on his face as information slotted together. So the h li jng she referred to as Rei is the same Tsaam Lei... Would you care to fill us in? Sh Ku asked. Eitsubyou no Mikoto is a thousand-year old divine cat. Or potentially demonic. The understandings of divine and demonic are somewhat... different... in Yamato, compared to the Four Kingdoms. Tsaam Lei, or Rei, as she knows him, has been causing trouble for her across eight previous lives. So cats really do have nine lives? Sh Ku''s eyes shone with interest. Divine or demonic ones do, at least. Y Fng said that they found a box at the auction house, Yun M added heavily. It had the pelts of eight cats within it, all of which seemed to contain remnants of spiritual power. Gong Lau Yan''s fingers crushed the wooden table. She only let go when Zy laid a gentle hand on her arm. Sorry... That''s... Not only my dze dze... Do you have Yun Y Fng''s correspondence with you, Master? Cheng Guk Lung and Sh Ku examined the pages that Yun M passed over. A code? Just in case. I''ll explain how to decrypt it following the meeting. But no word of Dzue Yi-sang in any of this? Everyone gathered shook their heads. Gong Lau Yan sighed, resigned. Then I... Somehow I think it''s what I thought all along. That the demons are responsible for Little Wan''s disappearance this time. If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. It was Yun M''s turned to look agitated. Lady Gong, you''re not... If I have to go to the demon realm, I will. It''s not that bad of a place, these days. That''s not what I mean. The eyes of Cheng Guk Lung, Sh Ku and W Mo were almost bulging out of their heads with curiosity, but neither Gong Lau Yan nor Yun M said anything else. Is it anything like what I imagined? Zy joked privately to Gong Lau Yan, thinking of her previous delusion where they had followed the false Fn B''n to a demon place. Not really. It look more like a distorted version of this palace here. I thought so. Where did we actually go, by the way? Quite a nice teahouse, actually. We should go back there some time. What are you two muttering about? Nothing... So does anyone know where Tsaam Lei is now? Again, no one seemed to know. As Ming Dzue''s family, my Aunt and I should be the ones to bring him to justice, Gong Lau Yan announced quietly. She looked very, very tired. I''ll need to speak with her soon. But I''m concerned about Dzue Yi-sang. Her rescue takes priority, and Zy should come with me. Lady Gong, the Regent of Chn can''t just disappear on an adventure within a few months of succeeding the throne, Cheng Guk Lung groaned. Especially not with the state of the country right now. There''s infrastructural works that need to be done that were ignored by the previous Regent, investigations into and compensation for those who have gone missing or died under the previous reign- Oh, so you are well across everything that needs doing! Zy said brightly. I''m not going to play acting Regent! Sh Ku, how have your investigations into the Cheng Family been going? I haven''t found much yet, Your Majesty, but there are hints that some of the family did live within Chn and may have potentially married nobility. We''re still looking into it. That''s positive. UGH! Why do you even need to go, Your Majesty? Cheng Guk Lung asked despairingly, his voice a little muffled as he had driven his head into the stack of papers before him. Debt collecting, Gong Lau Yan replied. What? The Eastern Demonic Palace owes me. She shrugged. And I requested assistance from Prince Fn B''n to assist Zy. Zy was about to laugh at this cheeky lie when she remembered meeting the demonic delegation before the auction. She had been so confused then that the memory was somewhat blurry, but she finally recalled that Gong Lau Yan had asked for their help to manage Zy''s demonic powers. You remembered. Of course. Assist? With what? That''s not important. Yes, it is! It''s the reason why you''re dumping this job on me! Cheng Guk Lung, I will explain, in time. Zy looked so grave that the gathered participants of the meeting sat up straighter and tried to behave like respectable adults. But right now, all I can say is that there is something I very much need assistance with, and the demons will provide that assistance. So, to summarise, Sh Ku said, stepping in to bring the meeting back to the matters at hand. We have the management of Chn, which is proposed to be left to Cheng Guk Lung- With your assistance, he added pointedly. - with my assistance, until Her Majesty''s return. We need to find some kind of basis for choosing him, especially given he is a citizen of Shsun, at present. Then the matter of the criminal Tsaam Lei. His location needs to be identified. Given his abilities, I would imagine that his apprehension would be carried out by your family, Lady Gong? My Aunt, Tin Yeung Wong. Although she doesn''t engage with the mortal realm as much these days, her palace is still located a few hundred l off the coast of what was Dzue. Forgive me for asking. Sh Ku frowned. Why has the Palace of Tin Yeung Wong not already been mobilised to search for and detain Tsaam Lei? Politics, Gong Lau Yan said off-handedly. Is... that all, Lady Gong? For now. I once again beg your pardon, but... how are we supposed to do our jobs as intelligence officers if you don''t provide us with information? She''s fearless, Gong Lau Yan said approvingly to no-one in particular. A little too much, Zy said. Sh Ku, please maintain your respect. I apologise, Your Majesty. I understand your frustration. Zy sighed deeply. I truly do, but you understand we have reasons for not revealing everything. Yes, Your Majesty. I''ll assist with researching the Cheng family, Yun M offered. Cheng Baak-hap was a very important person to me. It was one of her regrets that she didn''t know her family. Then, Cheng Guk Lung, you will be working with W Mo, and Yng Jn, when he recovers, to manage the internal affairs of Chn, said Zy. I will be involved for a month, but we cannot delay our journey to the demon realm any longer. We''ve already left it late, as it is. I''ll contact my Aunt to ask for her assistance with detaining Tsaam Lei, Gong Lau Yan concluded. And then prepare for our journey. The meeting broke up. For a month, the group worked on their separate jobs, slowly bringing the tumultuous Chn back towards normality, alerting their networks to the activities of Tsaam Lei, researching deep into the night. Zy, as she had, many years ago, personally travelled Chn, dealing with matters big and small, but making sure to bring Cheng Guk Lung with her to make him a familiar sight to the citizens. Yng Jn recovered and returned to his duties, while Sh Ku''s stomach grew larger and larger, although she insisted on continuing to work. A limit had to be placed on her work hours, along with constant reminders that her health was her child''s health. Zy intended to return the lock of hair to her, to allow her to dispose of it safely, but threatened to reconsider if the intelligence officer didn''t rest. Sh Ku finally obeyed. By the end of the month, they were no closer to finding Tsaam Lei. Like the fox he was, he had apparently gone to ground. Acting Regency was officially handed to Cheng Guk Lung. There was remarkably little complaint; everyone simply seemed relieved that a more peaceful person than Chn Yl was in charge. Cheng Guk Lung''s strategic and diplomatic capabilities simply smoothed the process, despite there being no real connection between himself and the Chn royal family. Zy spoke vaguely about him being a distant cousin through his grand-aunt, the Sage Star, and no-one batted an eyelid. There was one last thing that needed to be done before they left. The escort soldiers from the Palace of Yeung Tin Wong arrived early in Spring, arriving at the palace in human form. It was a quiet event, unofficial, no one there other than the soldiers, Zy, Gong Lau Yan, and Mn Jing, bound by paper talismans. The soldiers were members of the Third Head. They were led by a beautiful loong, dressed more like a scholar than a soldier, with long black hair that swept the floor, and eyes as blue as the ocean depths. Maan Dzi King. Gong Lau Yan nodded. Zy faintly remembered this name from Gong Lau Yan''s story of the fall of Dzue. Your Highness, the woman replied, but her beautiful eyes drifted over Zy. There seemed to be a faint contempt in them. Gong Lau Yan flicked at the earring she wore, the long delicate lotus on a chain that had belonged to Zy. Is there a problem, Maan Dzi King? No, Your Highness. Then why aren''t you greeting the Regent Zy? Maan Dzi King, Commander of the Third Head of the Palace of Yeung Tin Wong, greets the human Regent, Chn Zy. She''s somewhat rude, Zy remarked, not acknowledging the loong''s bow. Sorry. Don''t mind it, she''s just a bitter person. The loong troops shuffled awkwardly while Maan Dzi King remained bowed, her face hidden. Zy was certain she was seething. Greetings to you too, Lady Maan. Travel safely. And that was it. With Mn Jing between them, the loong soldiers left. Zy did not say a single word to the woman they took away. Are you okay? Gong Lau Yan gently rubbed the pearl that sat on Zy''s earlobes. Her fingertips brushed Zy''s skin. I''m okay. What was that with Maan Dzi King? Ah. Gong Lau Yan''s expression became very uncomfortably. She muttered something under her breath that even Zy''s supernatural hearing couldn''t catch. What was that? The loong looked both apologetic and uneasy all at once. She... Ugh. Maan Dzi King is, unfortunately, an ex-lover. Extra - Lunar New Year Story Eitsu woke early that morning, unusually so. Tsubaki was usually awake earlier than her, but the woman was still asleep beside her. Eitsu pecked her softly on the cheek and left through the window to climb onto the roof. Usually she would try being a bit more cheeky with Tsubaki, but for some reason, today she just wanted to sit on the the roof alone and enjoy the way that the inky sky of night faded to the blush pink of dawn. Although, she couldn''t help thinking that this pink was the colour of certain parts of Tsubaki''s lovely form... A movement caught her attention. It seemed she wasn''t the only one awake early; looking out across the peaceful rooftops of the Yuan Wei Temple, she spotted a lanky young man in scholar''s robes striding quietly but purposefully along the temple''s paths. Hey, flower boy. What''re you doing? The young man clutched his chest to stop his heart from physically leaping out. In the space of a breath, Eitsu had crossed the temple roofs and popped out in front of him, hanging upside down off a gate lintel. Lady Eitsu! His voice came out as a hysterical whisper. Are you a cat or a monkey? What a silly question. You know what I am. Eitsu dropped, transforming mid-fall into a small black cat. She landed in a heap of clothing that now no longer fit her. Why are you sneaking around, Mr Strategist? I''ve got work to do, he replied, recovering his dignity as he tidied his clothes. Unlike some. Eitsu grinned, showing sharp canines. The pupils of her golden eyes narrowed to stringlike slits. Cheng Guk Lung. Your pronunciation has improve- Cheng. Guk. Lung. ... Yes, Lady Eitsu. Are you sure you want to be so rude to me? Probably not, Your Divine Majesty. Oh, that''s a new one. Without a blush, she transformed back into human form. Cheng Guk Lung abruptly turned away as Eitsu nonchalantly put her clothes back on. I''m not sure it suits me. What would you prefer, Lady Eitsu? She was about to respond as she tightened her waist sash when something about Cheng Guk Lung''s demeanour distracted her. What''s wrong, scholar? In a hurry to get somewhere? Am I holding you up? I did say I was busy, Lady Eitsu. But if you really wish to play, I suppose I can supervise you for a while. You''ve got a really nasty tongue, you know? Thank you. A pity you don''t put it to other uses. Should I mention what you''ve just said to Lady Tsubaki? Eitsu laughed, truly amused. Go on, get going. Lady. With a low bow, Cheng Guk Lung left, slipping into the darkness of early dawn. Yawning, Eitsu hopped easily back onto the roof of the nearest building. The cold morning air was doing its best to wake her up, but really she just felt like finding a warm spot to curl up and go back to sleep. She had been born in a much colder place than this, thousands of kilometres away, across the eastern sea in Yamato, but the thought of returning to the bed she shared with Tsubaki and curling up next to the woman''s warm body (and hopefully eliciting a shriek out of her from the coldness of her hands or paws) was very seductive. Oh, it''s you. A figure emerged along the path, a powerfully built, muscular form, pale as a ghost and covered in dark ink. Eitsu and this new arrival considered each other warily. The first time they had ever met, they had not been able to communicate, ignorant of each others'' languages. This person, some kind of witch or sorcerer, Eitsu had been able to decipher, had helped her, but they had a particular kind of aura that made Eitsu uneasy. It reminded her too much of someone else. Still, Eitsu grinned and greeted them. You''re up early... Man or woman today? The witch wore thick dark robes to guard against the cold and snow. They pulled their fur collar forwards and peered downwards. Looks like it''s female, today. Can you not tell without looking? Eitsu asked, intrigued. Sometimes. The witch shook snowflakes from her wild black hair and scowled upwards. Ah Yuet told me to get going early. Oh, your cute little partner? They really do led you around by the nose. Eitsu smirked. Like you can talk, the witch growled, accent amplified by annoyance. The way ye follow that wife of yours around, anyone''d think ye were a dog, not a cat. Oh my, so touchy. Go find someone else to talk nonsense with. Grumbling, the witch stomped away along the same path that Cheng Guk Lung had taken. It really was too cold. Eitsu leaped lightly back the way she had come, slipping through the window to nuzzle under the blankets and latch onto the sleeping Tsubaki with cold skin. The woman woke with a hiss of annoyance, and sleepily lifted the covers to glare at Eitsu. You. Yes, my flower? ... What time is it? No idea. Early. Hm. I suppose I should thank you for waking me. Tsubaki slipped elegantly from the bed, her movements light and graceful despite sleepily searching for clothing in a dark room. She had been a famous dancer, once. The skills still echoed in her every step. Tsu-bo, come back to bed. Eitsu sat up, biting the tip of her finger suggestively. Tsubaki''s beautiful face turned towards her. Hm. And that was it. The woman continued to get dressed. It''s cold. What''s the problem? You were born somewhere cold. Doesn''t mean I like it. Okay. Why are you being mean? If you want to lounge around all day, don''t let me stop you. Eitsu fell quiet. She lay back down on the bed, watching Tsubaki''s every move. She could smell the fragrance of camellia oil from where she lay. Are you staying here, then? Tsubaki asked, at last, now fully dressed. It''s too cold out there. Suit yourself. Tsubaki opened the door of the room, paused, then turned back. She planted a light kiss on Eitsu''s nose, dodging with clear experience as Eitsu tried to grab her. Tsu-bo... Don''t stay there all day. With these words, Tsubaki left the room. Eitsu rolled herself into the sheets like sushi and closed her eyes. She and Tsubaki had been invited to Yuan Wei by its Master for the Lunar New Year, arriving a week before. It was an odd group that gathered, with some attendees she knew better than others, from many different places. When they all gathered together, the meeting spaces hummed with a diverse mix of languages. Eitsu was definitely enjoying herself. It wasn''t often that she found a place where she felt comfortable for long stretches of time, preferring more the company of only Tsubaki, but the assortment of people here made things interesting. In fact, she realised that right now, she was more bored than sleepy. Vigorously unrolling from the blankets and leaping from the bed, she stuck her head out through the window again. The Temple was a tranquil collection of wood and earth buildings, with medicinal and water gardens laid out between them. She could see that the place had been purposefully designed. With the particular placement of features, the Yuan Wei Temple crackled with a formidable defensive power. In addition, many of the disciples here were young, but they had impressive skills for human children. Speaking of Yuen Wei disciples... A person in the yellow and white robes of a disciple, their pale blond hair partially pinned back with a wooden hairpin, was cheerfully gliding along the distant path where Eitsu had earlier met Cheng Guk Lung and the witch. This was the witch''s partner, Yuan Yi Feng, head disciple of Yuan Wei and the kind of person who could smile whilst drawing a blade. They were probably looking for the witch, Eitsu thought to herself, watching them slide effortlessly out of sight. It was something of a culture shock to see. In her country, only yokai could move like that. Here in the Five Kingdoms, it seemed that any person with enough spiritual power could do the same. Lady Eitsu! Her thoughts were interrupted by a call from the path below. She looked down to see a tall, lean woman waving to her. Lau Yan! Eitsu flipped lightly out of the window to greet the other woman, who picked her up easily and happily nuzzled against Eitsu like a person would with a pet cat. How are you today? Terrible, Eitsu sobbed dramatically. Tsubaki was so mean to me this morning. Well, you know what to do. Lau Yan C Gong Lau Yan, to give her full name C grinned, her grey-brown eyes dancing with mischief. Treat her so well that she feels guilty. Is that what you do with Zeyi? Eitsu asked slyly. Not at all. Zeyi is always lovely to me. Gong Lau Yan''s eyes softened. She put Eitsu back down. She decided to sleep in today. She''s tired of running around all her life, I think. What about you, kitty? What will you do today? Sleep. Eat. Bother Tsubaki. I mean, be nice to Tsubaki. Business as usual? Gong Lau Yan laughed a lot. When she did, her luscious chestnut brown hair, bound in a high ponytail, shook like a flowing stream. That''s very much like you. Have you seen anyone else today? Hm... The scholar, the witch, Tsubaki, and the monk. Huh? Already? They''re up early. I think I''ll have to go and catch them. I''ll see you later! With a friendly scratch behind Eitsu''s ears, Gong Lau Yan''s human form rippled and changed. In her place was a huge dragon, a grey-brown loong, barely able to fit in the narrow street. She flicked her long whiskers and leapt upwards, twisting and flowing away in the direction that Cheng Guk Lung, the witch, and Yuan Yi Feng had gone. Eitsu cocked her head to one side, suddenly. Hm, how had she known to go in that direction? Suddenly, it occurred to her that things seemed a little odd. As far as she knew, there was little else beyond the temple in that direction, except for a river, and yet she had now seen four people headed that way. And where was Tsubaki? She began to look, peering into the common areas of the Temple. Tsubaki was not in the food hall, or in the bathhouse. Trotting into the medicinal gardens to check there, she was almost run over by someone running full speed towards her. Ah! Sorry! Eitsu leapt out of the way, alarmed. She didn''t know this lady too well, a woman who looked young and fresh with a sprinkling of freckles across her snub nose like a galaxy of stars, and dark hair partially pulled in loops. In truth, she was much older than she appeared. If it weren''t for the frantic expression in her deep red eyes, she would look very refined in her crimson dress, a shawl of transparent fabric floating around her. The young woman bowed. I apologise, Lady Eitsu. I''m afraid I slept in and am now in a great hurry. I have to go! So saying, she fled across the garden and was gone in the blink of an eye, faster than Eitsu thought it was possible for anyone, mortal or immortal, to move. The Master of Yuan Wei had said that this young woman... What was her name? Chan Bikku? was the direct disciple of some fire divinity or other. Eitsu hadn''t really paid attention. It was clear that Tsubaki was definitely nowhere around Yuan Wei. Eitsu turned to face the direction that the others had all headed in, following them out of the Temple grounds and into the grassy hills beyond. She had barely taken a few steps from the walls when another voice hailed her. K- Konnichiwa! Eitsu... O-Eitsu? O-Eitsubyou... Feck, how do ye say it again...? Shut up, Eitsu said to the man following behind her. Your Yamato-go sucks. He bowed apologetically, slipping into the Xiang tongue that was commonly spoken across the Five Kingdoms. I beg your pardon, divine one. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Don''t, Eitsu recommended. She eyed the man, a pale Westerner from the same part of the world as the witch, with disdain. Where the witch was pale, dark-haired and green-eyed, this man was pink with sunburn, which clashed horribly with his dark orange hair and moustache. His only saving grace seemed to be his eyes, blue as chips of sky, although they frequently had a look in them that made Eitsu feel like she needed a bath. She suppressed the urge to wipe herself and instead turned away. W-wait! Wait? Was this greasy human, whose name she didn''t even remember, trying to order her around? She turned back suddenly, before he could even take another breath, and squarely flicked him in the centre of his forehead, leaving a raised red welt. He shrieked and clapped his hands to his head. My ears! What... Where have my ears gone? What''s this on the top of my head? Mule ears? Why don''t you run over to the river and take a look? Eitsu suggested with a satisfied purr. She watched the man run away down the path. His ears were fine. Well, as far as anyone else could see. Eitsu-sama? A familiar voice. Three people had rounded the corner, in the full morning sun. They made perhaps the strangest collection of people that could be formed out of those gathered at the temple. The one who had called and was now waving was Ayame, who had been a servant girl with Tsubaki''s former dance troupe. She was walking next to a man wearing white and grey cultivator''s robes, and an impassive look on his face. Although fairly plain to behold, on the rare chance that he raised his eyes, they flashed silver, cutting through whatever they looked at like twin swords. Even Eitsu, with all her power, felt a little jolt the first time she had been subjected to that look, as if the man could see right through her. Well, as with many of the people gathered here, he was much older than he looked. The only ones who actually looked their age would be Ayame, the witch, and the greasy Spideog. Following up behind them was a beautiful woman with long, black hair that fell to the ground. She rivalled Tsubaki in appearance, but her eyes, blue as the deep ocean, were impersonally cold. Eitsu didn''t like her. Actually, no one seemed to really like her. What the heck were she and that greasy westerner doing here? Divine Lady Eitsu. The woman bowed formally. Yeah, hi. Who were you again? Eitsu scratched her ear. She had to clench her jaw tightly to not burst out laughing when she saw a muscle twitch in the woman''s jaw. Maan Dzi King, Commander of the Third Head of the Palace of Tin Yeung Wong. The words trickled in through one of Eitsu''s ears and out the other. Uh-huh... Sek Gon! Aya-chan! Ah. Eitsu turned from one face with an expression like a bitter melon to find herself looking at two faces with equally problematic expressions. The man''s was completely disinterested, his silvery eyes half-shuttered by his eyelids and fixed on some imaginary point in the distance. Ayame''s was as uncomfortable as a bed of thistles. All in all, Eitsu didn''t really feel like hanging around with this unsociable group. She gave Ayame a bright grin and slipped quickly away off the path. As she sat on the low branch of a larch, doing her best to ignore the tree''s needles sticking into her, she put Ayame''s awkward expression from her mind. Everyone''s headed towards the river. Is there something going on? She thought for a moment, then almost immediately shrugged and made herself more comfortable. Who cared? It''s better just to sleep at times like this! At least, that''s what she was planning on doing, but another set of voices made her ears twitch. At first, she was going to keep her eyes closed and go to sleep anyway, but a sudden thought made her sit up. Twelve guests had been invited to Yuan Wei by the temple Master. Including herself, eleven had already passed down the path to the river. That meant that these two voices... Is that Lady Eitsu? I was wondering when you would turn up, Eitsu remarked, yawning and stretching as she emerged onto the path once more. The faces that greeted her this time were much more inviting than the last group; the tall, well-built man gave her a cheerful grin, while the short, round-faced woman whose skin was covered in tiny, silvery scars gave her a gentle smile. Hello, Lady Eitsu. The woman gave a small bow. The irises of her eyes swirled white and black, the light and the dark holding each other in perfect balance. Napping again? The man, on the other hand, gold eyes like a hawk, a more orange tone than Eitsu''s own. He nudged her playfully. If you keep sleeping, you''ll be late! Huh, so there is something going on. I don''t really care, Eitsu replied, yawning again. Right? What''s the rush? Let''s just take our time. The woman... what was her name again? Too many people, Eitsu grumbled to herself. It''s such a hassle trying to remember all their names. You''ve forgotten my name, haven''t you? A sharp smirk, completely at odds with the woman''s modest appearance, flashed across her face. It''s Zeyi. And just call me Gou Dzing, rather than anything else, the man added, giving Eitsu a cheerful pat on the shoulder that felt as though she would be knocked into the earth. Why don''t you walk with us? Zeyi suggested. We''re going slowly anyway, and it''s nice to have company. That''s a great idea. Come with us! Oh? Are you not going to rush off to catch up with Gaam Shi xiong? Zeyi asked teasingly. No need. We''ve got plenty of time. Maybe if you didn''t blush when saying that... Zeyi caught sight of the blank look on Eitsu''s face. Lady Tsubaki was right, you really are terrible with remembering people, aren''t you? It''s just annoying, Eitsu remarked, stalking away up the path with Gou Dzing and Zeyi following her with matching understanding smiles. I can remember if I bother. Of course. Of course. Anyway, you know who I meant. You call Gaam Shi xiong ''Sek Gon''. You thought it was funny, right? Eitsu snorted involuntarily. How can I not find someone who calls themselves ''Big Tree'' funny? He hasn''t used that name in a while, Gou Dzing said, looking a little embarrassed. So does he have a big tree, or... That''s none of your business, Lady Eitsu. Don''t worry, it''s not like I''ll do anything to him. He''s not my type. I''m sure Lady Tsubaki will be glad to hear that, Lady Eitsu, Zeyi remarked cheerfully. Eitsu pouted. I was only joking. But you sounded so serious! Gou Dzing whimpered, pressing his hands to his face with eyes that seemed about to overflow with tears. Zeyi gritted her teeth to contain her laughter. Wow, kind of disgusting to see a grown man acting so coy. Eitsu grinned. But I like a guy who cries. Maybe I should switch targets. I''m going to tell Lady Tsubaki! Zeyi laughed, sprinting ahead of them. You wouldn''t! I will! Gou Dzing and Eitsu raced after her, laughing. Cutting suddenly off the path, Eitsu raced between the larch, following a shortcut down to the river. Up and down, loose rocks skittering away below her feet, she raced across the rocky landscape, sliding easily down one steep slope and flowing effortlessly up the next, feeling wild and alive. A flock of azure-winged magpies scattered frantically as she raced through the middle of them. She finally came to a halt at the edge of a canyon, the river curling below her like a slow dragon. She could see where the path crossed the river, and could see the figures of Cheng Guk Lung and the witch. The former was lying in a heap, shouting wildly, apparently thrown across the water by the witch, who was sturdily wading through the deep water. Cheng Guk Lung paused long enough to make a rude gesture at the witch before running quickly away. Eitsu listened cheerfully to the distant echoes of the witch cursing in her native tongue before she gained the opposite bank of the river and disappeared along the path after Cheng Guk Lung. Not long after, the elegant form of Tsubaki appeared by the riverbank. Eitsu hopped quickly down the sides of the canyon, her deft feet finding almost invisible holds on the rock, until she was at Tsubaki''s side. Why hello, beautiful lady. Would you require some assistance? Eitsu almost yowled in alarm and leapt back with a hiss when Tsubaki tossed a handful of water at her. From you? You hate water. But I love you. Tsubaki looked unimpressed. What have you done now? What do you mean? You''ve done something, haven''t you? Why are you being like this? I haven''t! I''m always like this. You''re like this when you''ve done something. Or when you''re trying to get me into bed. Well maybe it''s the second opt- Stop splashing water on me! Without a second glance, Tsubaki dived into the water. She was a surprisingly competent swimmer, reaching the opposite bank easily, and emerging drenched but otherwise fine on the other side. You''ll catch a cold, Eitsu grumbled, annoyed. She sneaked several good looks at how Tsuabki''s wet robes clung to her body. It''s a warm day. I''ll dry. With that, Tsubaki turned and headed up the path too. Hey! Are you just going to leave? You heartless woman! This is why you should never trust beauties! Why is that, Lady Eitsu? Yuan Yi Feng asked, appeared from the woods behind her. Listen, my friend, Eitsu explained with a fierce tone. A beautiful woman is cruel and harsh. They''ll hurt you if they can. So are you saying you''re a masochist, Lady Eitsu? ... How are you able to say things like that with such an innocent face...? Yuan Yi Feng simply returned her a cheerful, blank look, as if the disciple had no thoughts in their head, then examined the river. That''s quite wide. How about I... They made a hand gesture, and a large dead branch fell from a nearby tree, rolling down to the water. Would you like to join me? Better than swimming, Eitsu grumbled. Still, the log wasn''t long enough to reach the other bank. I''ll help. With a gentle gust of air, Gong Lau Yan landed in loong form by the river side. Get on. I''ll push you across. Eitsu was already on the log. Yuan Yi Feng bowed appreciatively. Thank you, Lady Gong. It was the work of only a few nudges with her snout, and the pair on the log were safely across. Eitsu shook herself as if she had gotten wet. Lady Eitsu? I''m fine. I just want to sit here for a bit. We''ll be off then. Don''''t take too long, Lady Eitsu! Yuan Yi Feng and Gong Lau Yan waved and headed up the path. It was midday by now, the sun at its highest point, and Eitsu usually would be having a nap by now. The trees here were a little stunted. Shedding her clothing, she shifted back into her cat form, the little black shape finding a comfortable bed in the crook of a tree limb, curling up and closing her eyes. She had barely settled when an unfortunately familiar voice reached her ears. GET OFF! GET... ARGH! Shut up, you jerk. It seemed that the western fool that Eitsu had messed with earlier was now on the receiving end of more punishment from another woman. Eitsu watched comfortably from her secret vantage point with one eye open as he was dragged down the path by his ear by the woman in red that she had seen earlier. He looked as though her had been partially burnt, the ends of his hair singed. Stop struggling! Ma''am? Lady? I can''t understand what you''re saying! With one speaking in the Zhu language and the other in a panicked mixture of Common Tongue and Xiang, it was a scene of absolute chaos. Eitsu was just sorry she didn''t have anything to snack on while she watched. The woman kicked the man into the water, and while he thrashed about, she took a running leap, using his back as a halfway springboard. She landed on the other side and turned to give him a burning look. Stay in there a bit longer, you greasy man. Maybe the water will clean you a bit. Eitsu nearly fell out of the tree with silent laughter. The woman turned on her heel and glided away up the path, leaving the man damp and confused behind her. He eventually pulled himself to shore, rubbing his sore back as he trudged along the same road. It was a refreshing sight before sleeping. Eitsu happily curled up again, closing her eyes. It was stomach that woke her, eventually. Thinking on it, she hadn''t eaten anything today. There was supposed to be a big feat later, but none of the guests seemed to be coming back the way they had come, so Eitsu assumed that the food must be ahead. Even if it wasn''t she''d find something. More voices. It had to be the odd trio C Sek Gon, Ayame, and that miserable woman. Eitsu stayed hidden in the tree. She didn''t really want to appear and see Ayame''s awkward expression again. What she did see was Sek Gon zipping rapidly through the air, balanced easily on a jade-hilted sword, with Ayame clinging on behind. They flashed over the river and were gone. The water in the river began to swell. The current suddenly sped up, water spilling over the banks as someone, or something, came rampaging down the path. Another dragon, this time a deep blue loong, rushed angrily across the river as if it wasn''t there and was gone in the blink of an eye. Eitsu wondered with mild interest what Sek Gon and Ayame had done to make her so angry. Whatever it was, she approved. The sun was well on its way to the horizon now. She could hear Gou Dzing and Zeyi as they made their way slowly at the rear, talking amicably, but she didn''t really feel like seeing them. The frozen expression on Ayame''s face rose up in her mind, and she remained crouched on her tree branch as Gou Dzing and Zeyi crossed the river (Zeyi waved her hand and the water temporarily turned solid, allowing them to cross), and even as their voices faded. It wasn''t as if she didn''t understand. Ayame had been a child when she had followed Tsubaki out into the wide world, and been caught up in the unresolved personal problems that Eitsu had accrued over eight reincarnated lifetimes. She was sure the young woman felt she was at least partially to blame for the bad things that had happened to Tsubaki. Heck, Eitsu blamed herself for them. Slowly, she dropped down from the tree, returned to humanoid form and dressed. Slowly, she walked up the path after the others. It was almost dark now, the sun dipped behind the rocks and the world swimming in a cool twilight. She could hear voices up ahead, and smell food. Emerging around the rocky landscape, a pretty scene greeted her eyes. Lanterns hung in the trees, casting a warm glow over a small lake. At the shore, the guests were gathered with plates of food, chattering happily in small groups. Eitsu''s stomach rumbled. Eitsu. Tsubaki was by her side, holding out a plate with a piece of steamed fish on it. You must be hungry. Ah, yeah. Thanks, Tsu-bo. She took the plate, but Tsubaki slipped her hand into Eitsu''s free one. How am I supposed to eat now? I''ll feed you. They sat together under a tree, still holding hands. Tsubaki ferried portions of fish into Eitsu''s mouth with chopsticks. Laughter and conversation flowed over and around them. Why are you so quiet tonight? Tsubaki asked, once the fish was finished. That''s unusual. Her eyes were full of lantern lights, like stars in the night sky, Just thinking. You? Hey... Is it Ayame-chan? Eitsu fiddled with Tsubaki''s fingers. She''s still so uncomfortable around me. And I don''t know... I don''t know what to do. What to say. Neither do I, said Tsubaki bluntly. It''s not like either of us is well-equipped for this kind of thing. They reflected for a moment in their mutual lack of ability to navigate complex emotional situations. So now what? No idea. Gou Dzing dropped down beside them, a wine flagon in one hand and three cups skilfully held in the other. Drink? Hey, Gou Dzing, you know how to deal with people, right? In what way? He poured out wine and passed them each a cup. In a... ''what do you say to someone who had to witness some traumatic things because she just happened to get caught up in your personal problems'' kind of way. Hm. He emptied the cup and stroked the light beard on his chin thoughtfully. Have you asked her how she feels about the whole thing? No? Start there. Oh, Lady Tsubaki, here you go. You didn''t pick up your prize. Prize? Eitsu looked curiously at the small jade pendant that Gou Dzing placed into Tsubaki''s hand as he stood and left. It was a round little tiger, intricately carved into the pale green stone. What''s this for? Eitsu, were you really not paying attention? Today was the zodiac race. Oh, that thing. You really don''t care, do you? Not really. Let''s eat some more. She and Tsubaki wandered over to the food, sampling a little of everything. The party-goers'' conversations were a comforting murmur, occasionally rising to bright laughter in the night. Sek Gon juggled knives with a completely blank look on his face, to the amusement of Gou Dzing and Zeyi. Yuan Yi Feng was admiring the lanterns, the witch following behind and pulling the lights down whenever the monk wanted to look at them closer. The westerner was emptying rice wine bottles alone, while somehow the cold Maan Dzi King was in deep discussion with Cheng Guk Lung. The woman in the red robes was nowhere to be seen. Neither was Ayame. Eitsu''s ears flicked. She could hear, below the voices nearby, two others, further away around the lake. Abandoning the food, she followed the sounds, Tsubaki following silently behind. Ayame and the woman in red robes sat together on the windswept curved trunk of a gnarled saxaul tree by the edge of the lake. There was no moonlight to illuminate the scene, only a single point of light that hung above them like a tiny star. ... in the end, you should cherish those who are still here, the woman was saying. She cradled a cup of rice wine in her hands. She looked up as Eitsu and Tsubaki approached, the light from the tiny star winking gently in her red eyes. Ayame stood up hastily, almost spilling her own wine. I''ll leave you to it. The woman bowed politely to Eitsu and Tsubaki, then walked alone along the lake shore, away from the party and the three women who watched her go. Aya-chan, Eitsu said at last. Can we... talk? Ayame put her wine cup down and held out her hands; Tsubaki took one and Eitsu took the other. Yeah, we should, but... Her hands trembled. Just for now... Maybe later? For now, I just want to... The three of them wrapped their arms around each other. Eitsu could feel Ayame begin to cry, and she looked up to find Tsubaki''s dark eyes filling with silent tears too. Don''t cry, you two. It''s bad luck on the new year. Eitsu cast about for a cheerful topic. Hey what happened earlier when you and Sek Gon were crossing the river? That woman looked pretty pissed off was she was following you. At this, Ayame finally began to laugh. Brother Gaam went ahead and placed some kind of shiny metal away from the path. He told Maan Dzi King it was the river. She didn''t believe him, but he insisted so much that she went to prove him wrong, and whilst her back was turned, he got his sword out and flew us all the way to the finish line. Maan Dzi King couldn''t catch us. With Sek Gon''s value going up in her eyes, despite his impassive face, Eitsu laughingly pulled them all down to sit, she on one side of Ayame and Tsubaki on the other, still holding hands. They sat together until the sky began to grow pale once more. So, what do you all wish for? Hm? Aren''t you going to do hatsumode? Praying for the new year? You''re supposed to go to a shrine for that. Eitsu snorted. Why go to a shrine? I''m right here. Tsubaki clapped her hands together. Eitsubyou no Mikoto. I pray that you stop sneaking under my skirts in cat form and- Hey! Eitsubyou no Mikoto... Ayame pressed her hands together and squeezed her eyes shut. I pray that we all stay safe and... that the two of you will stay by my side until I''m an old woman. Do we mean that much to you? Eitsu tried to joke. Yes. Eitsu rubbed her cheek against Ayame''s shoulder, and Tsubaki leaned gently on her other side, the scent of camellia oil softly swaddling them all. They could hear the cheers of the other party-goers as the sun spilled its first light of the new year over the horizon. We''ll stay, little one, Tsubaki said. You won''t be able to get rid of us, brat, Eitsu laughed. Ayame smiled into the sunrise. I''m glad. 34 - Water is Enough ˮ ʳ (youqing yinshuibao, wuqing shifanji) C With love, water is enough. Without love, food doesn''t satisfy; love brings contentment.
Oh... An awkward silence stuffed itself into their mouths. Well, I have a few more things to do before we leave, Zy said quickly. Yeah, me too... Gong Lau Yan said pathetically. They hurried away in opposite directions, Zy towards the throne room, Gong Lau Yan towards whatever location was furthest away. She strode down the hallways and almost ran into Yun M. Why are you just standing in the middle of the walkway? He quirked his eyebrows. Don''t give me that look... He continued to give her ''that look''. What am I doing? That''s a better question. What are you doing? Hurting A Y, mostly. So you know. Of course I know. How could I not know when she looks at me like that? She knelt at my feet once and spoke as if she would happily throw her heart under them for my amusement. Gong Lau Yan tapped her foot, agitated. It''s not healthy, you know? I... She''s so dear to me. But she''s not well. That doesn''t mean she isn''t worthy of love. Gong Lau Yan eyes flashed. I didn''t say that. And yet you continue to withhold your affection. What are you afraid of, Lau Yan? She sighed and gestured with her head that they should walk. Slowly strolling together through the hall, she said, Remember Maan Dzi King? "How could I forget?" "Well, remember what she was like?" "Obsessed. Is that what you''re worried Zy will do?" "Maybe." "You know she''s a different person from Lady Maan, Lau Yan." "I know that. Of course I know that. I''m more worried about.. the fact that she''s Mun Gong''s daughter. I suppose that''s a greater risk, Yun M conceded. But think about it... You''re not His Majesty, Dzue Dzi Ming. Gong Lau Yan laughed aloud, stopping in her tracks with her hands over her face. I might as well be! He saw how much Mun Gong cared for him, and never said a word, neither encouraging nor discouraging her! Aren''t I doing the same? So why not say something? I want to! I... She dragged her hands down her face. I want to say something, but then I think of what happened between me and Maan Dzi King, and Zy... she''s mortal. One day... "Yes. If she doesn''t Ascend, you''ll have to say goodbye to her." "How did you do it, kiddo? Gong Lau Yan asked wearily, walking again. How''d you say goodbye?" "I don''t know if I did," Yun M said. He fell silent and they both nodded to two servants who bowed and passed by. They walked for some time before Yun M spoke again. He needed to rest. How could I stop him? Do you still... love him? Yun M smiled, and Gong Lau Yan remembered when he had been a young man, dark-haired and bright-eyed, overflowing with affection for the silent swordsman he travelled with. Yes, very much so. He''ll forever be the only one for me. How... Is it because humans'' lives are so short that they can talk about forever? Yun M chuckled in response. So, what will you do? Sighing deeply, she squatted down in the middle of the corridor, head hung. I should talk to her. Good. Hey, who''s the elder here? Relatively speaking, I am. I''m further through my lifespan than you are through yours. Hmph. Stop stalling, Lady Gong. Don''t you think you should resolve this before you leave? Yes, Father. Oh good, you know how to show respect. As if he were a naughty child, she tweaked his ear before turning to run back through the halls. Servants pressed themselves out of the way, too late to be of any use; Gong Lau Yan was fast and effortless, dodging everyone with ease. She reached the throne room before she had even thought of what she was going to say. Zy... Oh, Cheng Guk Lung. In the throne room antechamber, the acting Regent raised his head from a pile of paperwork, huge bags under his eyes. Lady Gong. I think we should lower the tariffs on tea and raise the tax on hawthorn beer, Zy said, appearing from behind a pile of scrolls as tall as herself. Then we''ll have complaints from Shisuan. It''s one of our primary imports. This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. Well if they can offer another product, we can sign an exclusive import contract for a year... Did you need something, Lady Gong? Cheng Guk Lung asked, leaning back and rubbing his eyes. Oh... uh... It can wait. You''re all busy at the moment. No, that''s alright. Zy smiled. There were dark rings around her eyes too. What is it? You both look tired. I''ll have some wolfberry and ginger tea made for you. Where''s Sh Ku? Resting? Yes, she''s very tired these days. She should be due soon. Your Majesty, I found that document you were looking for... Zy and Cheng Guk Lung bent their heads back over the table, and Gong Lau Yan took the opportunity to escape. She went to the palace clinic herself to gather the herbs and make the tea, the activity keeping her busy. Then she slipped back into the throne room with the pot of infused herbs and two cups. The anteroom was even more chaotic, the floor awash with documents. She had to push several unsteady piles of books aside to make space for the drinks. Zy sipped hers absently. This road here has needed major repairs for some time... The loong began sidling out of the room when Yng Jn, limping as fast as he could, burst into the room. Your Majesty! Cheng Di! Lady Gong! He slid on the papers and had to be caught by Gong Lau Yan. Thank y- Th- Sh Sh! Sh Ku is... She''s not already gone into labour? Zy exclaimed, dropping her papers. Yng Jn nodded, excited and fearful all at once, looking more like a little boy than an army commander. She''s early, Cheng Guk Lung sighed, massaging his temples. Not surprising, I suppose, given how stressful her pregnancy has been. I suppose the doctors kicked you out, Sir Yng? Yng Jn collected himself with a rueful little laugh. That''s right. I''m not really conducting myself properly, am I? I apologise, Your Majesty. Yng Jn, have a look around this room and tell me who is not conducting themselves properly, Zy said drily, gesturing to the chaos. Here, have some tea and find somewhere to sit. I think we all need a break. As Gong Lau Yan sent for two more cups, the four of them sat on the floor, heedless of status or etiquette. Every now and then, Yng Jn would laugh, short and disbelieving. She''ll be alright. I''m sure, I''m sure. The hand that held the cup shook as he brought it to his mouth. Ugh... I need something alcoholic. She''ll be alright. She''s always been strong. Should we get some of that hawthorn beer? Zy suggested to Cheng Guk Lung. He rolled his eyes. Sure. Why not. It''s causing us enough trouble, we might as well enjoy it. The wolfberry infusion was quickly replaced with a flagon of hawthorn beer. Yng Jn tossed it back. Ha! Good. I need this. You''re still recovering. This''ll speed up the process. He glanced towards the door as his cup was refilled. She''ll be fine. I know. I''ve always thought... When I first met her, Regent Yl brought us both to the throne room after a bandit suppression operation in the southwest. Sh Ku was a field spy at the time, but she was promoted to Head of Intelligence at the moment. She accepted the promotion without the slightest change in expression. He drank down his second cup in one go. Ha... I knew she was the kind of woman who could face anything without flinching. But now, there''s nothing I can do to help her. We always worked as a team. Now all I can do is sit in a corner and drink. Zy very deliberately filled Yng Jn''s cup with wolfberry infusion. Or you could do something like hurry up and recover? Ha ha. Yes, Your Majesty. You''re right. Why don''t we go and wait nearby? Cheng Guk Lung suggested, unfolding his lanky frame and stretching with a series of audible pops. At least then you''ll be able to see Sh Ku as soon as you can. Good idea. Zy finished her tea. You two go ahead. I need Lady Gong''s assistance with a matter before we go. Everyone helped Yng Jn to his feet, and he carefully skated over the paper on the floor with Cheng Guk Lung close behind. As their voices faded from the throne room, Gong Lau Yan gave Zy a grin. What would you like my assistance with, Your Majesty? I thought you were the one who had something to say to me? Zy turned her black and white eyes on the loong. Oh... Yes... Gong Lau Yan fiddled with the lotus earring, twisting her finger in the dangling chain. Zy... Yes? I''m sorry. Zy stared. Then she let out a tight little breath. I see. You... see what? Have I made you uncomfortable, Lady Gong? It was Gong Lau Yan''s turn to stare. N- No! No? They stood awkwardly among the papers. Gong Lau Yan carefully stepped over them and held out her hands, which Zy took, reluctantly. A Y... During my relationship with Maan Dzi King, she... was... she couldn''t take no for an answer. Things had to be done her way, and so when I ended the relationship, she couldn''t accept the fact. She followed me for months, trying to convince me that I actually wanted to be back together with her. She tried to harass people around me, to punish me. It was... a hard time. I felt very guilty. To her. To the people she hurt. You thought it was your fault? Zy asked quickly, head tipped. That''s right. Gong Lau Yan''s fingers itched to brush back the hair that had fallen over Zy''s face when she had moved her head. So I''ve been anxious... She considered Zy''s hands, the silvery scars on the backs of them. Zy, I like you very much. Gods, her hands were shaking. Why were they shaking? She had stood on hundreds of battlefields, watching her friends and allies be torn and burnt to pieces, and her hands hadn''t shaken like this. Zy''s hands were shaking too. It feels like... everything I touch falls to pieces, she said quietly. I can''t... My half-brother tried to kill me. My mother... hurt me. And the people around me. My father... was not my father. And the other... He apparently wanted nothing to do with me and my mother. I can''t trust my family, the ones who were supposed to be there to love and nurture me from my childhood. So how do I... Their fingers interlocked. Gong Lau Yan leaned down so that then were resting their forehead against each others'', eyes damp and glittering. Do you think I deserve this, Lady Gong? No. You don''t deserve this either. Zy closed her eyes. If I don''t, then you don''t. Her breath shook. I thought, for a long time, that maybe all I was feeling towards you was gratitude. You saved me. You''re strong and capable and beautiful and... I mean... You think I''m beautiful? Gong Lau Yan grinned. Be quiet. I don''t think so. Zy''s eyes snapped open. She glared up at Gong Lau Yan with an intensity that made her breath lodge in her throat. Are you sure you can deal with the consequences of teasing me like that? Gong Lau Yan released her hands. Zy almost turned away, but her face was captured by those same hands, gently caressed, the scars traced by light fingers. Do you... not like the scars? Zy spoke low to keep the trembling from her voice. Why? To me, they represent that you''re a brave fighter. If they remind you too much of bad things, then you should get rid of them. But that''s your choice. I''m keeping them. Then I love them. Zy''s voice was barely a whisper. Just the scars? Gong Lau Yan pulled her face upwards, their lips soft against each others''. Zy could feel the loong grin. Well now, are you sure you can deal with the consequences of making me fall in love with you, Your Majesty? 35 - Boundless Vistas ޷շ (w xin fng gung zi xin fng) - boundless vistas seen from a perilous peak, i.e. the exhilarating joy felt after a hard-won victory.
If only. Zy recited the precepts of the Still Heart school in her mind, concentrating hard to ensure her sweet little daydream did not show on her face. It was difficult when the person she was dreaming of kissing was stood right next to her, the petrichor scent of her hair wafting around her. "I''m sorry, Gong Dze, you were saying?" "I was... Are you alright?" "I''m fine. Please continue." "I was saying that I felt so guilty about it, as if I was somehow responsible for Maan Dzi King''s actions." "Which you are not." Well, that aside, I... I''ve been anxious... that... What she was anxious about was not to be known, as a knock on the door of the anteroom interrupted their conversation. Yes? Zy called out, annoyed to hear her voice quaver. To her surprise, Yun M appeared through the open door. Shi fu, you... uh... you don''t have to knock. I mean, you don''t usually... um... I''m sorry to interrupt, he said apologetically, looking guiltily away from Gong Lau Yan, who was glaring daggers at him. But I thought you would like to know that Sh Ku has given birth. All else was forgotten. In a flash, both Gong Lau Yan and Zy were headed to the palace clinic. Cheng Guk Lung was smiling sleepily from a chair in a corner, having evidently just arrived and fallen into the most comfortable spot he could find. Sh Ku, eyes bright, was sat up in bed, her head and Yng Jn''s bent over the small creature in her arms. Yng Jn looked dazed with happiness as his eyes found Zy and Gong Lau Yan. "He''s perfect..." he murmured, heedless of etiquette. "We agreed on the name ''W Xin'', as in ''w xin fng gung zi xin fng'' C exhilaration following a hard-won victory." Looking exhausted, stray strands of hair plastered to her face by sweat, Sh Ku held her son out. "Your Majesty, could you...? It would be... the greatest honour." Zy had been about to protest, but the look on Sh Ku''s face made her swallow back the words and approach. The child had darker skin like his mother, but a sort of squashier approximation of his father''s face. Zy looped her fingers into the baby''s tiny fists and smiled at the sight of a faint dusting of fine dark hair on his head. She leaned closed and whispered gently, "Yng W Xin, may you grow up healthily." Sh Ku''s head and Zy''s were almost touching, the two of them and the child ringed in the light of dawn, creeping through the windows. "Your Majesty," Sh Ku murmured softly, a soft smile on her lips. "Sh Ku?" "There is a significant problem. You cannot leave with Lady Gong."
Gong Lau Yan had gone. Alone. At first, without any change of expression, Zy had asked coolly as to what Sh Ku meant. "Is there anyone listening in?" Sh Ku''s lips moved almost imperceptibly. Zy''s taijitu eyes scanned the area. Only Gong Lau Yan noticed, but she merely very slightly raised an eyebrow. "No one nearby." As the Head of Intelligence explained, Zy''s expression grew darker and darker, until at last she closed her eyes and laughed softly. "Ah... Of course... It was all running too simply, wasn''t it? It seems my naivete is incurable." She smiled at Gong Lau Yan. "You should go, Lady Gong. I''ll sort this out." There was nothing to say. As much as Gong Lau Yan wanted Zy to come with her, or to stay and help, finding Dzue Yi-sang could not wait any longer. She bowed. "Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty. I will return as soon as possible." "I''ll be waiting for you." Stay safe until I return. I will. Night crawled over Qianbian, and Zy, Cheng Guk Lung, Yng Jn and Sh Ku were still in deep discussion, although Yng Jn and Sh Ku would occasionally paused to check over W Xin. In short - "I heard two of the doctors speaking when I went into labour. I suppose they thought I was too distracted by pain to notice them whispering." Sh Ku smirked proudly. "Who do they think I am? I trained to be clear-minded under torture. As if I wouldn''t notice. "They mentioned how opportune the current situation is C with Lady Gong and yourself about to leave, and myself distracted by a child. As soon as Yng Jn and Cheng Shi di arrived, I had Cheng Shi di investigate the two doctors. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. Your Majesty, the loyalties of the palace and the government are hugely divided, Cheng Guk Lung supplied, rubbed his eyes. A few reports have begun to come in from some of the operatives I sent out to dig discretely. As far as I can tell so far, many of the government reports and records we have been examining have been tampered with. How so? To make former Regent Chun Yl look worse than she was. That''s not to say she wasn''t a terrible person, but the image that was presented to us was of a tyrannical ruler who was driving Chun into the ground. And it seems... that this was perhaps not entirely true. Zy automatically checked again for eavesdroppers, before saying, So someone wants us to think... And by us, I mean the four of us here, that Mo- Chun Yl was a worse ruler than she was... The four of us, and those loyal to us. I casually mentioned a few things to W Mo and she looked confused as usual, Yng Jn said. The suspicious ones are in three places, Sh Ku said quietly. The Ministry of the Household, the Ministry of Justice, and the Office of the Grand Mentor. The Chun government was based on the Three Lords C Nine Ministers system, with three high officials who worked most closely with the Regent, and nine ministers who managed the country''s affairs. Zy had only met a few of these officials in passing. She remembered some of them from her first return to Chun; the Minister of Ceremonies, or Head Priest, had been the one who asked if she was a ghost, and the Grand Preceptor had been the one who had asked about local asylums. She remembered them both vaguely as middle-aged men with long beards. Of the nine ministries, only the Ministers of the Imperial Treasury, the Household and the Imperial Servants had formally appeared before Zy. The Grand Mentor had claimed illness for her inability to visit. Yng Jn, as Head of Security, technically had the titles of both Minister of the Imperial Guards and Grand Protector, although he hated both, and Cheng Guk Lung had been in the process of working with the Minister for the Household to recruit a suitable candidate to take the position of Minister of the Imperial Guards. The position of Minister of the Imperial Clan stood empty; Zy was the last of her family, so what need was there for such a position? I assume their goal was to cause trouble while I was gone? Presumably. Cheng Guk Lung stretched. After all, you''re the Divine Lotus, but who am I? A distant relative. Cheng Guk Lung rolled his eyes.
36 - Hearts and Wings С (xio xn y y) C small heart and wings, i.e. to be overly cautious.
The day had started filled with happiness and was now ending with tension and anxiety. Zy had given her well wishes to the new parents and child, and returned back to her rooms to prepare for her departure, when urgent news reached her. The doctors had performed a routine check up on Sh Ku, and discovered she was still bleeding. I only just left her. Zy frowned. We were talking less than half a shi ago. The young medical disciple who had been dispatched to provide the news trembled. She knew what monarch''s tempers could be like. Additionally, her seniors had actually been strangely slow in sending this message. There was a lot of angry whispering and frowning and apparent arguing before they ordered her to depart. It''s true, Your Majesty. These things can happen suddenly. And the child? The child is in good health. Still bowed, she glanced anxiously at Zy''s hands. The Regent was hefting a metal whip in her hands that the disciple recognised as one that the previous regent had sometimes carried. The remembered cruelty of those metal links made her shiver. Good. No, don''t wake her. Thank you for your hard work, Disciple Jn. Zy considered the girl. Not only was she tall, she seemed somewhat stretched, as if her height had rocketed away before the rest of her could catch up. You needn''t thank me, Your Majesty. This is simply my job. Zy smiled, smoothed the covers over Sh Ku, and turned to leave. Your Majesty... Yes, Disciple Jn? There''s something... There''s something I must tell you.
Damn it all, the Justice Minister growled, slapping the table and accidentally splashing his wine. This was the perfect opportunity, and that damned woman just had to ruin it. These things can''t be helped. The Grand Mentor frowned at him, blotting the wine as it crawled along the table towards her. We''ll have another opportunity, the Household Minister said airily. Three days after Sh Ku had become ill and Zy had delayed her departure, they were once again gathered in the entertainment house, drinking and whispering. The Justice Minister glared at the carefree Yu Yu. You''re too calm about this! What if they found out? There''s too many suspicious points about all of this. Like what, Old o? Like that woman! Who is she, exactly? Why is Her Majesty so concerned about her? How did she get sick so conveniently? Who knows who she is, the Grand Mentor retorted heatedly, but a woman falling ill before, during or after childbirth is no rare thing. You''re speaking nonsense. Old o grumbled but continued, Well, who is she? And who''s that old man that appeared recently in the palace. I can''t get any information on him, not even a name! I can help you there, the Household Minister said with a big grin. I''ve heard his surname is Go. He seems to be an old friend of our dear Majesty. I''m not so useless after all, hm? What the hell does his family name tell us? the Justice Minister snapped, but then his expression changed. Go... they''re an old family, aren''t they? They played a big part in the Chun forces in the Demon War. Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. Exactly. So she''s calling in old friends to try and bolster her position? This is a bit of a nuisance, but nothing terrible for now. He can''t be one of the main Elders of the family. We would recognise him. We''ll keep digging. Speaking of digging, this Cheng Guk Lung C did you find out any more about him? Once again, the Household Minister surprised everyone by answering. He''s actually quite a well known individual. I talked with a few scholars and got plenty of information. He''s young, but he''s a senior disciple of the Way of the Mountain School of the Mount Hua Sect, well known for his intellect. It unfortunately makes him quite popular with the youngsters. What does it matter? the Justice Minister snapped irritably. If he''s more popular than Chun Zy we can use him. If he causes us problems, we can get rid of him. You make it sound so simple, Yu Yu drawled. He''s also the grand-nephew of the Sage Star, Cheng Baak-hap. Her contributions to the creation of the Xiang language add more difficulties. Complicated your ancestors. Since when do you get so knowledgeable? The Justice Minister was about to start a serious argument when the Grand Mentor raised her hand. There''s someone outside. She had barely finished speaking when a soft knock was heard at the door. The three conspirators shared looks. Come in. The girl who entered was gangly and shy, wearing clean and neat robes. She wasn''t someone any of them recognised, and was certainly not one of the staff at the entertainment house. Who are you? the Justice Minister snapped. He raised his scrawny arm to throw his wine cup at the girl, but the Household Minister stayed his arm. It''s Jn Zhn Zh, isn''t it? Yu Yu said gently to the cringing girl. Calm down, Justice Minister, this girl is a medical disciple. She''s been looking after our dear Head of Intelligence. What do you have to tell us, little one? The Grand Mentor and Justice Minister almost spat blood. Little one? Have you seen how tall she is? Great Masters, my seniors wish to inform you that the lady in the medical wing is recovering well. That''s good news, the Household Minister said cheerfully. We can all relax now. The Justice Minister, however, continued to look anxious. Anything else? Anything... Jn Zhn Zh repeated, looking puzzled and nervous. That''s all, Great Minister. The Justice Minister huffed. Well, get going then. Yes, Great Minister. Wait, stay and have a drink, Yu Yu offered with his easy smile. Flirt, the Grand Mentor muttered under her breath. Th-thank you, Great Minister, Jn Zhn Zh stammered, but I have to deliver this message to Her Majesty as well. Why didn''t you tell Her Majesty first? the Justice Minister demanded suspiciously. I tried to, but Her Majesty was busy preparing for an urgent journey. I was told that the message would be passed on to her, but that I should return later to answer her questions. A journey? I assume the journey she was forced to postpone when her friend fell ill, Great Minister, Jn Zhn Zh said helplessly. Thank you, girl, said the Grand Mentor. You can leave now. Jn Zhn Zh scuttled out, relieved. Yu Yu watched her go. Not a spy, this time? Oh I know her. The two elders glared at him. Not like that. Yet. Ugh. Something wrong? Something wrong your father, Old o yelled. Play around when we''ve taken control of Chun and not before. Calm yourself, the Grand Mentor admonished. We''re nearly there. How have you come so far with such a small, fearful heart? Exactly. The Household Minister leaned back and emptied his wine cup with a grin. What did I say before? We have another opportunity now. Let''s not waste it. We need to confirm that Her Majesty really is leaving. We need to find out which Gao the old man is. And if we can find out who this sick woman is, I''ll be even more happy. Are you ever happy? the Household Minister muttered to himself. Old o is right. There are a few too many variables for my liking as well. Fine, fine. I''ll look into the woman. Of course you will, the Grand Mentor muttered. I''ll reach out to the Go Family, the Justice Minister decided. Then I will confirm whether our dear Regent has left or not. The Grand Mentor rose to her feet, her slight frame swaying. I will leave first. As she swept out, Yu Yu too rose to his feet, draining the last of the liquor. See you later, old man. He laughed at the Justice Minister''s growls and hummed to himself as he left the building. Old o fished a hair out his cup, drained it, and creakily stood. Great Minister. He almost fell over, but a strong hand caught him. Old o looked wildly around and found his gaze caught by a pair of eyes, the irses a swirl of pure white, and pure black. Great Minister, I''ve been wanting to meet you for a long time.
The next morning came with a summons. Cheng Guk Lung, Acting Regent, had called for an audience with the Three Lords and Seven Ministers. The Grand Mentor and Justice Minister threw wordless looks at each other as they met in the hallway. If Cheng Guk Lung was the one who had called the meeting, Her Majesty had likely already left. The Household Minister followed behind the rest of the Ministers and their retinues, yawning hugely. The officials made their way into the throne room, greeting each other and taking assigned seats along the walls of the room. At last, only one was empty, that of the Minister for the Imperial Clan, which had no occupant. Still, no one arrived to take the throne. Long time no see, Yng Jn, the Household Minister greeted the Grand Protector irreverently. Where have you been all this time? Any luck finding someone to take the position of Minister of the Imperial Guards yet? Yng Jn simply shook his head, unusually reticent. Yu Yu nudged him. What''s wrong, my drinking buddy? Did you have too much last night? You should have invited me! Nothing much. I''m just... worried. You? Worried? About what? All this, Yng Jn replied stiffly, barely nodding at the room. What do you mean? All these stale ministers? The Acting Regent? The dcor? Before Yng Jn could respond, three people entered the room from a hidden antechamber behind the throne. The Ministers fell silent at the sight. The first was a figure of indeterminate gender, swathed in a long cloak, only their narrow, dark eyes visible. The second was a familiar sight, the Acting Regent, Cheng Guk Lung, his lanky frame in scholars'' robes, hair long and unbound. He looked exhausted, but a small smile twitched his lips. The third had everyone''s attention. The woman had a open, peaceful face, with fluffy eyebrows and full lips, her hair gathered in the elaborate hairstyle of a royal lady. And skin covered in tiny silvery scars, and eyes where yin and yang, black and white, swirled in balance together. Chun Zy gracefully took her seat on the throne and smiled at the gathered Ministers. Her taijitu eyes drifted over the Minister for the Household, the Minister for Justice, and finally, the Grand Mentor. 37 - Monkey Saves the Moon Ӿ (huzi ji yu) C monkey saving the moon; like a monkey to grab the moon when it sees the reflection in water, a futile effort.
Let''s go back to the events of the previous day. The Grand Mentor and the Minister for the Household had just left, and Old Ao, the Justice Minister, was finishing his drink when someone appeared in the room. "Your Majesty!" The Justice Minister''s voice rose to a squeak, much to his embarrassment. Zeyi laughed and patted his shoulder apologetically. "Sorry, Minister. Did I surprise you?" Surprise me? I nearly died of shock! I might still die. Why are you here? "Ha... Ha... Not at all, Your Majesty. How may I help you?" "You''re just as hardworking as they say, Minister. I''m not here for work matters. I simply wanted to greet you." "... I''m honored, Your Majesty, but you could have summoned me..." "Are you saying that''s what I should do?" Zeyi asked gently. The Justice Minister bowed to the floor. "No no no, Your Majesty! I didn''t mean to question... I mean..." He realised that Zeyi had already taken a seat. "Then come and have a drink with me." Dazed with anxiety, the Minister sat, as Zeyi ordered wine. Once the servant had left, she poured out drinks for both of them, despite the Minister''s protestations, and raised her cup. "Gan bei!" Old Ao miserably downed his drink. Placing his cup on the table, he raised his eyes to find Zeyi staring at him. He was like a dog before a dragon, unable to move, caught in the grip of Zeyi''s two-tone eyes. "Old Ao," Zeyi said, her voice soft and compassionate. "You could have simply lived a comfortable life, done your work as a Minister, and retired with plenty of money. So why...?" "Your Majesty! I- I don''t know-" Zeyi sighed. The small sound cut off the Minister''s stutters instantly. "Perhaps, Minister, if you had tried showing me such a pitiful face one hundred years ago, when I was young and naive, I might have believed you. Or at least, hoped you were telling the truth." She poured herself another cup of wine, but instead of drinking it, she floated her hand above it, causing water droplets to rise from the liquid and hang, turning, in the air. "But I am no longer young, and naivete?" She looked up from the spinning drops, and her eyes turned ghostly white. "I have a demon in me, Minister. He whispers to me. He says that the human body is over sixty percent water." There was no liquid left in her cup, only a pale powder like ground bones. The Minister told her everything.
"Great Minister!" Yue Yue smiled to himself, turning to watch Jin Zhen Zhi hurry after him. "Is something the matter, little lady?" "Oh, I''m... I''m not a lady. Please don''t tease me." "You look like a lady to me. Why don''t I escort you?" He didn''t seem at all concerned that she was a head taller than him. "That''s..." He held out his hand. "Come now, let me look after you. I noticed earlier that your voice sounds a little hoarse. Are you unwell?" "I just haven''t been sleeping well recently. I''ve been looking after the lady at night, you see." Hesitantly, she took his hand. "So, what did you have to say to me?" he asked, as they strolled away from the entertainment house. "I... Well, I''m not sure if it''s helpful..." "Tell me, and I''ll let you know." Jin Zhen Zhi plucked at her robes nervously. "I''m scared." "With me here? Of what?" It just... I feel like I''m caught up in the middle of something big. Something bad. Did I do something wrong? Is that what it feels like? the Household Minister asked gently. Miserable silence was the response from Jin Zhen Zhi. Hm... Maybe I should show you something to raise your feelings of safety. But I must ask... His grip on her hand tightened and she stared at him in alarm. How do you feel about Chun? Chun? Well, it''s my home. I grew up here, my family is here, I- Maybe that was too vague of a question. Chun is an important place to you, correct? Of course. Then you want to see it be a great place now and in the future, yes? Yes... Hm? Jin Zhen Zhi nibbled her nails nervously. Yes. Yes. Talk to me, little lady, why are you so worried? She trembled. G-Great Minister, it noth- She was halted by another painfully tight squeeze on her hand. If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Hm? Is... Is Chun really okay? What makes you say that? I don''t know! I misspoke! She tried to wriggle out of the Minister''s grasp, but he was stronger. Are you worried about the way this country is run? I''m not questioning anyone! I apologise, Minister, I- I agree. I- Huh? Her jaw went slack with surprise. What was your name again, little lady? F-family name Jin, given name Zhen Zhi. Jin Zhen Zhi, I am a minister of this country. They resumed walking, the Minister holding her hand aloft gently once more. And therefore, I am always concerned with the well-being of this country. It''s easy to slip into complacency, you know. The route they were taking was not back towards the palace. Jin Zhen Zhi glanced around. This... are we headed to the Academy? We are. I''d like you to meet some of the students. I think you''ll get along. Mystified, Jin Zhen Zhi walked beside him in silence. The outer walls of the Academy were soon within view, students chattering and passing through the open gates. Many greeted the Household Minister as he walked by, some giggling and blushing excitedly. Yue Yue grandly led Jin Zhen Zhi down the main boulevard, to a small hall where some students were gathered over cups of tea, talking intensely. Friends! We have a new member. The students looked up as the Household Minister entered, greeting him warmly. Minister! Yue Yue, you need to arbitrate. Some fools are saying the Golden Dragon to just take the throne - Of course! He''s not some old relic from a distant past! Yeah, and he''s not even from Chun! Just get rid of the whole monarchy altogether. The people should rule the people! Forgive how excitable they are, the Household Minister smiled, patting the very nervous Jin Zhen Zhi. The... the things they''re saying... Does it make you uncomfortable? Jin Zhen Zhi stared at the arguing students, not noticing the Minister''s gaze directed at her. Can I... listen? Of course.
Having shed her disguise, the Grand Mentor re-entered the palace wearily, surreptitiously rubbing her aching hip. As she turned her steps towards her chambers, a man walking the other way bowed politely as he passed. E- Excuse me? Hm? He turned back to her, wispy white eyebrows raising questioningly. The eyes hidden below were a burning mix of black and gold. The Grand Mentor was momentarily transfixed. Oh... Um... Gao... You''re Sir Gao, correct? Ha ha, ''sir''? Old Gao is enough for me. Who am I addressing, madam? I... For some reason, she felt reluctant to give her title. I am Ji n Nng. Madam Ji... wait, you are the Grand Mentor. Lady Ji. Old Gao bowed more deeply. Oh no, please don''t. You know me? You seem to know me too, Old Gao responded with a small smile, provoking a light laugh from the Grand Mentor. You''re right. I... Well... Would you like some tea? I had intended to make your acquaintance before, but- I hear you have been ill, Old Gao said. I''m glad you are much better now. Thank you. They were soon settled under a garden pagoda with a pot of some kind of fragrant oolong tea, and Old Gao immediately poured a cup for the Grand Mentor, despite her protests. As he sat again, she was able to view him more clearly. He was a tall man, a little stooped from age, but he had clearly once been a strong person. He was still quite handsome; the Grand Mentor thought he had probably broke a lot of hearts as a young man. It''s nice to finally have tea with you. You were looking forward to meeting me so much? Old Gao asked, his fierce eyes smiling. Well, I mean, I''ve heard you''re a close associate of Our Majesty. Of course I wanted to meet you. I''m a little embarrassed to hear it. Lady Grand Mentor wanting to meet the humble me. You cannot be a small person if you are so close to Her Majesty. Thank you. He raised his cup to salute her and drank. Ah, Ti Gun Yn. One of my favourites. Are you a tea connoiseur, Old Gao? Not especially. But this tea has long been... I have memories associated with it. Good ones? Old Gao smiled again. They were, and then they weren''t, and now they are again. You like to speak in riddles. I admit I have a tendency to dance around difficult topics. This tea... reminds you of someone, then. Why do you say that? Because I too... Shreds of leaf turned slowly in the cup in her hands. When I think of something that was good and then bad and is good again... I think of my husband, and my son. She drank the tea down, and let Old Gao fill up their cups again. I feel like we should be drinking alcohol. Old Gao drained his cup again. How long has it been? Twenty years. Twenty years since they disappeared. Their names were on the list that Her Majesty uncovered of... those who had been secretly executed. I suppose their bodies are amongst those buried in the lowest levels of the dungeons. She drank again. If I may ask...? I don''t remember how long it''s been. We fought so hard for peace, to be together, for our happiness... Well. One day, we''ll meet again. The Grand Mentor nodded solemnly. Even though they were only drinking tea, she felt a little drunk. It''s hard. I still miss them. Yes. I''m so tired of it all, she sighed, warming her hands with her cup. A new regent takes the throne, and everything is turned over again. People disappear, new laws are made C ah, what am I saying? I mean, I don''t expect Our Majesty to- It''s a valid concern, Old Gao said. You have no idea whether Her Majesty will be the same as the others. In fact, the way she has just disappeared, leaving the country in the hands of someone outside of the country... He caught the look on the Grand Mentor''s face. What is it? Nothing, nothing. She hurriedly drank her tea. Ah, I feel like I''m sitting and talking to an old friend... You''ll forgive me for asking, but I thought I knew all the members of the Gao Family of your generation. Ha, I''m an eccentric old hermit. I left the family when I was quite young to go adventuring. They probably wouldn''t recognise me either. Things keep changing, don''t they. The people we knew are gone, the people who knew us are gone. I wish things would just... stop... for a moment. Like the monkey trying to rescue the moon. We can''t stop time. If we only we could have a little control over our own fates... Well, if things worked out the way we expected, we wouldn''t be sitting here drinking tea like it was alcohol, would we? They exchanged a laugh. The Grand Mentor watched the occasional leaf drifted down from unseen trees above them. Old Gao? Yes? Do you think... What kind of regent do you think Her Majesty will be? I don''t think that''s the right question. No? At the moment, it is the Acting Regent who holds the power. The Grand Mentor seemed to make up her mind. She called for a servant, gave them instructions, and a few moments later, the servant returned, bearing an odd looking box. It had numerous circles on the lid, with markings on each circle, and as quickly as her hands would allow her, the Grand Mentor twisted and turned them until the box sprang open. She drew the scroll from within, and looked wearily at Old Gao. I would like everything to just stop for a moment, but it all keeps changing... Here. Old Gao carefully opened the scroll. It was a letter, very fragile and written in the Dzue script, a more complicated writing system than the Xiang. We could only translate parts of it, the Grand Mentor said, but she didn''t miss how Old Gao''s eyes ran smoothly up and down the lines of script. There is a reference to the Cheng Family, we think. The old script is hard to read. Where did you get this? Old Gao asked. It was found by the Ministry of Justice as they were investigating the bodies in the dungeons. Both the Household Minister and I have been looking for someone who could translate it, but there aren''t many who could read Zhu easily anymore. I thought... perhaps you might know. He met her eyes over the paper and she shied instantly, like a young girl. Lady Ji. Y-Yes? What it is you want... peace, stability... these things are hard to find. I know. Sometimes, all we can do is trust things will turn out right. Other times, we have to take matters into our own hands. She nodded. Your son and husband will never come back. ... Yes. We have to keep looking forward, for the sake of our loved ones. We can remember them, but we are alive right now. We must live. ...Yes. This document... are you willing to have faith, one last time? 38 - Those Who Make Amends Will Have No Salvation A pine forest once stood in the north of the Kingdom of Dzue. It formed something of a barrier against Shisuan in the north. Not the trees themselves, mind, but what lay within the trees. This was the forest that the fox spirit, Tsaam Lei, once raced through, teasing unsuspecting travellers, or misleading those who intended harm. This was where the Ming Dzue and Lau Yan rivers had their headwaters, winding down south and east to the ocean. This was where the one known as Lo Ma Luk had wandered, hooves leaving no traces amongst the pine needles, enormous antlers somehow never snagging amongst the branches. It was where Gong Lau Yan now stood, her gaze fixed on a strange sight amongst the skeletons of rows and rows of needleless pines. It was a round... shape. Floating in the air, it was formed of writhing symbols that she could not read, had never been able to read, and a kind of miasma that drifted away and disappeared. This shape, this hole, this portal, was large enough for her to enter. She had entered before. She breathed deeply, and took a long drink from her flask. She hadn''t wanted to come back here. Ever. And if she had to, then she had hoped she could come back with someone, someone who understood what it meant to have the past haunt you. She couldn''t bring Yuan Mu. She couldn''t bring the ghosts of his past into his present. There was no other choice. If she was to find Haat Ngan Wan, she had to go in. Her fingers felt for the lotus that hung from her ear, rubbing at the engraved gem until her fingertips felt raw. At last, she stepped through. On the other side was a world of miniature vegetation. The ground was covered in mosses built like tiny pine trees, herbaceous plants with barely any leaves to speak of, and prostrate shrubs that barely rose above Gong Lau Yan''s calves. There were no trees to speak of, and as she stepped through, little puffs of shimmering powder followed her footsteps. This place always made her shiver, throbbing as it was with an alien energy unlike the one that coursed through herself. Two demons stood near the portal. Neither of them was humanoid like Prince Fn B''n. Rather, they were quadrupedal, their flat faces mostly taken up by big eyesockets with blank grey spheres inside them, as well as no apparent mouths, and four very crude legs without any feet, just rounded nubs. They backed up and made noises of alarm as Gong Lau Yan appeared. I''m headed for the Council of the Mountain, she said in Xing. I want to see Hu T. The two demons looked uncertainly towards each other, apparently conversing. I am Jing Li Yn, she said, twisting her name into Xing. I am only asking out of politeness. I know where Hu T is. I could go to him right now before you could even take a breath. If these demons breathed with lungs, that was. Perhaps they simply absorbed air through their skin? Did they even need to breathe? In any case, the demons immediately turned and began to head in the direction that she knew led to the mountain. She followed, allowing them to stay ahead of her, although she could easily have outrun them. Focusing on the speed of her steps meant not focusing on the landscape around them, not looking at how the once desolate and dusty world had begun to grow life once more, nurtured by the spilled blood of thousands. They ran along a winding trail between the mosses and forbs, the mountain growing steadily larger and larger as they approached. Demons of all shapes and sizes could be seen, climbing the steps in the mountainside, or lingering at the entrances to caves pockmarking the steep faces, or gathered at the base of the mountain, doling out harvests or playing games or making something or other. Gong Lau Yan tried not to look at specifics. Still, one demon caught her eye, a odd creature who resembled a luminescent blue jellyfish, layers of frills upon frills, who floated amongst the demons at the base of the mountain. As Gong Lau Yan and the two other demons approached, the jellyfish-demon noticed them, and immediately drifted towards her. Gong Lau Yan bowed stiffly. Png. Png tossed her frills. I''m looking for Hu T. Png led the way up the side of the mountain, drifting effortlessly up the staircases that crisscrossed the enormous mountain face. There were planter pots dotted here and there with strange plants of the region, but the occasional familiar species from the mortal realm that seemed to withstand the climate. A tuft of garland chrysanthemum happily tickled her as she walked past. Hu T was in the Council chamber, along with two other demons who resembled him greatly. He had dark red skin, and long earlobes that brushed his shoulders. The female demon on one side of him wore a serious expression, but the two male demons broke into identical sharp-toothed grins as Gong Lau Yan entered. Da ji! Fn B''n called. You came to visit! Where''s Haat Ngan Wan? Gong Lau Yan responded. Da ji... Fn B''n whined. Don''t be- Where. Is. She. For a split second, the world darkened, as though deep clouds had suddenly blanketed the sky. Gong Lau Yan groaned and clutched her head, sunlight returning immediately. She fumbled for her flask and drank all the water down. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. You know you can''t do that here, Dragon Princess, Hu T lisped around his long canines. Why not sit and catch up with an old friend? Things have changed so much since you were last here. Gong Lau Yan drew the nine-section whip from her belt. Remember this? Hu T became quiet, although a nervous smile continued to lurk on his lips. The female demon at his side frowned even more deeply and looked away. Png shivered. Only Fn B''n seemed blissfully unimpressed. Remember how we helped you? Gong Lau Yan continued. Remember all those who had to turn against other humans, to fight their own brothers and sisters, to do so? We never asked you to, Fn B''n said flippantly. Gong Lau Yan''s voice dropped dangerously low. Do you want to go back to having to eat each other? I can arrange that, if you like. At this, Fn B''n finally cringed too. You''ve killed demons too, Demon Hunter Fen, the female demon said, in a deep, morose voice. What we owe you, and what is owed, is unclear. You seem to be Hu T''s kin, Gong Lau Yan observed. Greeting the Dragon Princess, I am Xi Wji, daughter of Hu T''. Thus Fn B''n''s sister. Unfortunately. Hey! It still remains that you have kidnapped the last remaining relative of the one human ruler who stood by your side during the war. Is that how you honour his legacy? Why not? Fn B''n complained, not denying the kidnapping. That''ll make her an even better wife! Is this some kind of demon custom, kidnapping people to be a spouse? Of course, Hu T said, clapping his son proudly on the back. It shows determination, and intelligence. You can take one of our demons back as your own spouse, Fn B''n offered generously. My sister''s single! He began to sweat as the eyes of both Gong Lau Yan and Xi Wji stabbed him. Ah... ha ha... That''s right... Da ji, you already have that other Da ji, don''t you? The one with the demonic powers. What happened to her? Weren''t you going to bring her here to learn how to control those powers better? Circumstances happened, Gong Lau Yan said shortly. I''m going to ask one last time, and then you''ll be reminded why I''m called the Demon Hunter. Where is Haat Ngan Wan? This way, Xi Wji said, ignoring her father and brother''s glares. She led Gong Lau Yan further up the mountain, to a cave sealed by a door. Upon arriving, she tapped out an intricate code with her fingernails on the door, and it clicked open, allowing them to enter. Dzue Yi-sang sat at a table piled high with books, a crucible bubbling beside her. She looked up as Gong Lau Yan approached. Oh, you''re here. That took long enough. Why is everyone being like this today? Gong Lau Yan grumbled to herself, and then, more loudly, You haven''t been hurt, have you? No, just annoyed. That bratty prince keeps coming by to try and woo me with random gifts I suppose at least some of them have yielded interesting results. Gong Lau Yan glanced at the shelves behind the doctor, which were filled with all kinds of weird, twisted objects that could no longer be recognised. Well, I''m here now. Let''s go. Dzue Yi-sang sighed, and stared at the text before her. It was written in old Dzue script. Where did you get those from? Oh, Xi Ji brought them for me. Did she hear right? Sister Xi? When did these two get so close? She''s been very helpful, Dzue Yi-sang continued, her eyes meeting Xi Wji''s. Okay, that''s a smile right there. There''s no pretending not to know what''s going on here. So you''ve given up on re-establishing Dzue, I take it, Gong Lau Yan said drily. The rare smile on Dzue Yi-sang''s face disappeared. ... no. What was that pause? Don''t be a nuisance, Gong Dze. I''m a nuisance? I''ve been looking for you for the past... seven months? Eight months? I scoured the Four Kingdoms, and even Dzue itself. In the meantime, Zeyi had to handle a coup in Chun all by herself- Oh, she''s taken power, has she? Dzue Yi-sang looked mildly impressed. For now. And then I finally worked myself up to come here looking for you. And I find you happily researching with your girlfriend as your assistant. And I am the nuisance. Dzue Yi-sang''s mouth twisted, but she could not speak. So, are you ready to go now? The doctor stood awkwardly, the book slipping as she tried to close it and dropping noisily on the table instead. She didn''t look at either Gong Lau Yan or Xi Wji. The latter frowned at the floor as Dzue Yi-sang began to gather a few belongings. Gong Lau Yan sighed. Put them back. Dzue Yi-sang looked at her, confused, staggering backwards when Gong Lau Yan flicked her painfully in the middle of the forehead. Xi Wji, the loong turned to the demon. What are you thinking, leaving your girlfriend locked in here? The demon glared. I''m preparing to fight my brother for her. I was going to deliver a challenge to him today before you arrived. Why do you need to fight him? Just kidnap her. Xi Wji stared, then burst into raucous laughter. Suddenly, the resemblance with her father and brother was starkly clear. She turned to Dzue Yi-sang. H Ji, may I kidnap you? Torn between smiles and exasperation, Dzue Yi-sang turned a complicated expression towards Gong Lau Yan. Gong Dze- There''s an heir apparent to the Dzue throne, Gong Lau Yan murmured into her ear as she hugged the doctor. You''re free to do whatever you want. Who is it? Her name is Dzue Dzak Yat. Dzak Yat... Gong Lau Yan had never seen Haat Ngan Wan look so surprised. Not... How? We found her mother''s journals. And I... with everything... I believe them to be true. Dzue Diu Ming was her father. They look so much like each other. Haat Ngan Wan''s mouth opened and closed like a fish, but eventually, she pulled herself together. Gong Dze... Thank you. And... uh... I''m sorry. Did the sun rise in the west? Little Haat, saying she''s sorry? Haat Ngan Wan glared, and everything was back to normal again. Still her, expression softened. I''ll do what I can to help you both, once things have settled. To try and repay you for the time you spent looking for me. Ah, here... She rummaged amongst her shelves and produced a tiny bottle. Gong Lau Yan tipped the contents onto her hand. Three tiny pearl-like pills rolled out. These should help a little with your condition. You''ll be relieved of your thirst, and your full powers restored for a week with one of these. It''s only temporary, but after studying the drought resiliency of the plants here, I was able to at least make these. Gong Lau Yan replaced the pills in the bottle, ruffled the doctor''s silver hair until it was rumpled, bowed quickly to Xi Wji, and flew from the cave. Not even pausing to use the stairs, she leapt from the mountainside, flowing easily down the steep slope, launching off the ground when she reached it. She recognised a few of the demons as she passed, but there was nothing for her here; she ran and ran, even as she grew quickly thirsty. At last, she reached the portal, where the two demons had returned to stand watch. They shied a little as she approached, but she gave them a grin and a wave, darting for the writhing entrance back to the mortal realm. At the last moment, she stopped. Turning, she finally looked with clear eyes across the landscape. It was green, vegetation carpeting the world from horizon to horizon. The two demons were nestled together nearby, making sounds that could only be described as one of contentment. A golden sun arced gently overhead. Gong Lau Yan fixed the image in her mind. And then she turned, back towards home, back towards Zeyi. 39 - The Colour of Milk Heaven is boundlessly high Earth is endlessly deep between are living things dependent on these Powers butting heads over food and clothes making plans to eat each other still unclear about cause and effect blind men asking the colour of milk - poem by Hnshn (ɽ - ''Cold Mountain'') (trans. Red Pine)
There were two guilty faces in the gathered assembly. There would soon be three. "Dear Lords and Ministers," Zeyi said pleasantly, "I have called you here as some interesting news has come to my attention." The third face was beginning to show the first signs of unease. "There are some elements of the court who are... not pleased... with my reign." The Minister of the Imperial Servants, a round man with a long narrow moustache like the whiskers of a catfish, stood immediately and bowed to Zeyi. "Then these elements must be punished immediately, Your Majesty." Zeyi smiled gently at his enthusiasm. "Perhaps that would be the case under the benevolent leadership of the previous Regent. However, I am a supporter of spirited debate and discussion. I would rather invite those with concerns to come forward and discuss them with me. But thank you, Minister." The Minister bowed and sat again, feeling as though he should feel more chastened, rather than like a puppy whose head had been gently patted. "So," Zeyi continued, her eyes sweeping the room, settling amicably on each Lord and Minister one by one, "I would like to now invite anyone who wishes to raise any issues, to come forward now." She was greeted by silence. Most of the Ministers looked questioningly at each other. There was clearly something going on, but no one was entirely sure what. Zeyi waited patiently. At last, the Household Minister to his feet. "Your Majesty, would you perhaps be willing to give us some guidance on what it is exactly that you wish us to speak about?" "Household Minister," Zeyi replied pleasantly. "I am happy to provide you guidance. In fact, you get along with Sir Cheng, do you not? Sir Cheng, could I trouble you to explain?" Cheng Guk Lung cleared his throat and replied in a girlish tone, "Certainly, Your Majesty." The Lords and Ministers stared at him. Had he gone mad? Only the Household Minister''s face turned green. "," Cheng Guk Lung said, in the same strange voice, "I''m afraid my voice is still a little hoarse. But thank you for taking me to the Academy yesterday. You were very courteous." The Household Minister immediately lunged forwards. Cheng Guk Lung knew he was moving backwards too slowly to avoid the blade in the Minister''s hand, coming towards his face. It stopped, a hand''s-breadth from his nose. Zeyi, upright, was gripping the Minister''s wrist with an iron grasp. The Household Minister struggled wildly at her, but couldn''t move. "Minister, I thought Sir Cheng was your friend. Is this how you treat friends? Lord Yang, please detain the Household Minister." Yang Jin kicked the Household Minister''s knees out from under him, pushing him down to kneel with his hands behind his back. "Sir Cheng, your report please," Zeyi requested, sitting back down. "I really thought you would work out who I was," Cheng Guk Lung said to the Household Minister, with an air of sadness. "After all, it''s not as though we have only spent one or two hours together." He unrolled a piece of paper from his sleeve, and began to read. "On the Ninety-eighth day of the First Year of the Reign of the Seventh Regent of Chn, I observed the Household Minister, the Justice Minister, and the Grand Mentor meeting in disguise at the a small entertainment building on the city outskirts, known as the Butterfly House. Upon speaking to the Household Minister once he had exited the Butterfly House, he led me to the Academy, where I was introduced to several young scholars. These scholars spoke of an overhaul of the governance system of Chn. Whilst many excellent points were made during these discussions, several of these scholars also expressed violent means of achieving this overhaul, including the assassination of Her Majesty, Chn Zeyi. At this point, the Household Minister expressed that such violence would not be necessary, as Her Majesty was soon to depart on a journey, and there would be opportunities to change the system during her absence." This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. The Grand Mentor had closed her eyes during this recitation. The Justice Minister was sweating profusely, but also looking, to a certain extent, perversely relieved. The other ministers listened with grave apprehension. "Household Minister, have you anything to say?" Zeyi asked. He glared. "I have nothing to say to you, filthy royal. You''re just the same as the rest of them. Change will only come through the force of the people. Zeyi sighed. "Well, it would have been nice if you had given me the chance to make changes." Her eyes once more swept over the room, landing now on the Justice Minister and the Grand Mentor. "Who wishes to speak next?" The old Justice Minister hastily collapsed to his knees. "Please, Your Majesty! I already told you everything yesterday." "But the others have not heard your words yet," Zeyi replied. "Will you not tell them?" The Justice Minister tried to swallow with a dry mouth. "That... myself, the Household Minister and the Grand Mentor conspired to take the throne while Your Majesty was away on a journey. We were going to install a puppet ruler..." "Which brings us to you, Grand Mentor." Zeyi smiled at the old woman. "Will you not speak?" The Grand Mentor stood, her lips pursed. Her eyes seemed to be seeking someone, drifting towards the door of the antechamber behind the throne. Her attention was drawn back to Zeyi at the sound of rustling paper. It was the old letter. "This letter was obtained from the underground prisons," the Grand Mentor said, "from the body of one of the deceased prisoners. The prisoner has since been identified as a messenger, a member of the Flying Horse Delivery Agency. The agency has been contacted to try and determine his identity. Once we have this information, we will be able to determine the reason for his imprisonment and subsequent death." "You were not able to entirely decipher the letter''s contents, is that correct?" "That is so, Your Majesty. The text is written in the Zh script. There are few who can read fluently." "I''m not one of those," Zeyi said, holding the letter out to Cheng Guk Lung. "Sir Cheng, could you?" He looked a little pained. "Must I?" "Yes. Don''t be embarrassed." With a suppressed groan, Cheng Guk Lung took the fragile paper carefully, and began to read: "For the attention of Her Majesty, the Second Regent of Cheon, Cheon Bou Tsaai, the Royal Peony, from Governor Tsau Seui. "''I am writing to inform Your Majesty that a son has been born to my daughter, Wu Dip. We have called him Baak Gat. Once he is old enough, I hope that we all may be able to visit you, myself, Wu Dip, Cheng Ng Sang, Baak-hap and Baak Gat.'' The seal of Governor Tsau Seui follows." "And Tsau Seui was?" "She was a first cousin of the Second Regent, governing the old province of Tsau, which once existed in the west of Chn." "If I remember correctly, Sir Cheng, your grandfather''s childhood name was Cheng Baak Gat, was it not? And his sister''s was Cheng Baak-hap, who became known as Sing Sing, the Sage Star?" Cheng Guk Lung agreed reluctantly. My grandfather and great-aunt were quite young when they were separated from their family. They were unable to reunite in their lifetimes. "Grand Mentor. Using this document, which proves that Sir Cheng''s grandfather was related to the royal family of Chn, there was some talk of placing Sir Cheng as the new Regent of Chn, correct?" "That is so, Your Majesty." "We scrapped that plan long ago," the Household Minister snarled. "Why is that letter here, Grand Mentor?" "Because... I''m willing to have faith, one last time." As the Household Minister raged and cursed, Zeyi stood and placed her hands on Cheng Guk Lung''s shoulders. He seemed to be steeling himself. "What do you think about being Regent, Guk Lung?" "Do I have a choice?" "Of course you do," Zeyi laughed. "I think you''ll do a very good job." "So do I," Yang Jin offered. The mysterious cloaked figure, the enigmatic Shu Kui, bowed silently. Out in the gardens, under a pagoda, Yuan Mu sipped tea and waited for the message that was soon to come. "Then," said Zeyi, "I have nothing else to say. The throne was never mine to give over, after all." "What?" Cheng Guk Lung looked a little stunned. In fact, everyone did, aside from a knowing flicker in Shu Kui''s eyes. Of course she knew, Zeyi thought. From her hair, she extracted each jasper hairpin, each gold comb, and placed them on the throne, then stepped back, with a deep bow to Cheng Guk Lung. Puzzled, everyone followed suit. "Your Majesty... I have known for some time that I do not have any Chn blood. You were the sole heir, and it is only right that you reclaim your heritage." This time, the shock couldn''t be contained. The room erupted into chaos. "Without an apparent heir," Zeyi said, loud enough to be heard over the din, which quickly settled, "I felt I had to be the caretaker. His Majesty Chn Shenzhi was not my father." "Then who...?" Cheng Guk Lung asked dazedly. "Someone else," Zeyi said simply. "Your Majesty, I''m glad it''s you who are the Regent now. Even though this place was... I love Chn, very much. What will you do with these three?" Cheng Guk Lung looked at the Household Minister. Do you remember the second-last time you were at the Butterfly House? There was a young waitress there. You murdered her. A spy, you mean, the Household Minister laughed viciously. She wasn''t, Cheng Guk Lung said quietly. She was just a young girl. I was the one you should have tried to kill. Yn Fn F, you are stripped of your title as Household Minister, and will be executed on charges of murder and inciting violence. Yang Jin gestured to some nearby guards and handed the dazed and speechless Yn Fn F to them. It was only after they had dragged him from the throne room that he seemed to finally find his tongue. They could hear his shouts and screams all the way down the hall. o Y. Ji n Nng. For conspiracy to incite violence and civil unrest, you are both also stripped of your titles. o Y is to be exiled to the far north of Chn. Ji n Nng, you will return to your hometown, where you will remain under permanent arrest. You will not be allowed to leave the town again. o Y remained prone, shaking. Ji n Nng''s expression was one of acceptance. Cheng Guk Lung''s voice was unwavering, but Zeyi and Shu Kui could sense the struggle under this firm expression. Didn''t we do the same? he had asked the night before, as they sat together in the antechamber, pulling together their plans with Yuan Mu. It''s hypocrisy. You know it''s more complicated than that, Yuan Mu said gently. Chun Yile was not a person to accept discussion or criticism. They have taken this lesson and applied it to the situation with Zeyi. They must be taught that this is not the way, Zeyi added. If they wish to change the way the country is governed, the way is now through words, not knives. I just doesn''t seem... It doesn''t seem fair to punish them, somehow. Except That poor girl... We found her family, Shu Kui supplied. She has been returned home to them. I doubt anyone is entirely comfortable with the situation at hand, Little Cheng, Yuan Mu had said. But it must be done. And so, Cheng Guk Lung bit his lip, and handed down punishments to the ex-Justice Minister and Grand Mentor. This done, he turned back to Zeyi. "I''d been so happy to have found a distant cousin," Cheng Guk Lung said, with a rueful laugh. "So much for that. What will you do now? I hope you''ll stay." As Cheng Guk Lung had been speaking, a person had entered the throne room and now stood waiting, her slim frame leaning against the doorway. The light outside made the pearls on her ears shine and glimmered through the crystal lotus that hung from one lobe on a delicate chain. "I have somewhere I need to be." 40 - Another Spring White birds over the grey river. Scarlet flowers on the green hills. I watch the Spring go by and wonder If I shall ever return home. - Another Spring by D F (Ÿ) trans. Kenneth Rexroth
So. So. Zy and Gong Lau Yan walked slowly together along the main route that led through Chn to Zh. It was the first words they had exchanged on the whole walk, and they had been walking for several hours now. This exchange of ''So''s was followed by further awkward silence. At last, Gong Lau Yan said, quietly, I''m sorry. ... For... which thing, exactly? The loong winced. Fair. I''m sorry I didn''t really explain clearly what I was doing and thinking. I''ve been... She made frustrated and mysterious movements with her hands. You really aren''t very good at communicating, are you, Gong Dze? Zy smiled up at the blue spring sky above them. From the first time I met you, you would get an idea and then just go off and do it without telling anyone else what you were on about. I tried, Gong Lau Yan sighed. We went together to the auction, didn''t- The expression on her face indicated that she had suddenly remembered how that particular episode had ended. So now? So now... What would you like to know? Ask me anything. Anything? Then, why is it that you do things without telling others? The regret on Gong Lau Yan''s face was almost comical. I... I''m not sure. Have you never though about it before? No, I knew. Sort of. Huh. Her expression was one of someone making a sudden discovery. Hey, Gong Dze? Hm? Where are we going? To Zh... To Dzue. Why? Be... because... It''s the right thing... It makes sense. Why does it make sense? What''s right about it? Gong Lau Yan''s expression had already become dark, her eyes wandering away to the ground. They refocused on Zy when the woman took the loong''s hands. What are you worried about, Gong Dze? The loong laughed. I don''t know. It doesn''t matter. You''re happy to go to Dzue, right? Her hands twitched. Zy sniffed haughtily. I don''t agree with you. I don''t want to. And there it is. Gong Lau Yan''s face was green, as though she were about to throw up. She hastily let go of Zy''s hands and fumbled for her water flask, drinking distractedly. Is that what you''re afraid of, Gong Dze? Zy said softly. That I won''t agree? That... well, no, because no one will agree all the time, Gong Lau Yan said sardonically. Zy''s eyes narrowed thoughtfully, a little more white than black. Well in any case, I think it''s a stupid idea. No mistake, Gong Lau Yan flinched. I''m sorry, Zy said quickly, placing a hand on the loong''s arm. I... Gong Dze, you are afraid. I guess I am... Gods damn it... Of what? That I''ll disagree with you. I don''t think that''s quite right though... We''ve disagreed before. Perhaps... my judgement of you? Zy suggested thoughtfully. Are you afraid that I''ll think you''re a fool? She watched comprehension, followed by annoyed embarrassment, dawning in Gong Lau Yan''s eyes, and changed the subject. How is your health at the moment? Will you be alright, after all this travelling? Dzue Yi-sang... well, Haat Ngan Wan, she made a stronger medicine for me. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. Reaching into the pouch on her belt, Gong Lau Yan produced the tiny bottle that Haat Ngan Wan had given her, and tipped out a pill. She swallowed it, chasing it down with a swig of water. Eyes closed, she stood still for a long while. ... Zy? Yes, Gong Dze? May I... Can I hold your hand? Please? Zy wordlessly held out her hand. Gong Lau Yan''s fingers were cold. But her eyes, when she opened them, had a vitality that Zy had never seen before. The slow river of her grey-brown eyes sparkled, although her expression was grim. Shall we? Yes... Gong Dze, there''s nothing to be ashamed of. After all, you''ve seen me at my lowest. Ah, it''s not like that... I was just so sure in my- I''m the legendary Demon Hunter, Miss Fen! Why would I be scared of what others think of me? Because you care, Zy said quietly. The road rolled on beneath their feet. Occasionally they would meet other travellers, or villagers, but other than acknowledging nods, they offered no other interaction. The number of people they passed dropped away as they headed further and further east, until the walked amongst hills where only animals roamed, and the only sound was the wind over the long grasses. The road had faded to an impression in the grass, a memory of the paving stones that lay beneath a shallow layer of dirt. They crested the last hill. Gong Lau Yan''s hand tightened around Zy''s, but her eyes remained fixed on the scene before them. No matter how many times she saw this place, Zy thought she would always feel the same shock. Previously, she had flown over the remains of the pine forest, Tsaam Lam, to the north of the country. Here on the western border, there stood a huge, crumbling stone statue of a loong, glaring towards Chn. The surrounding land was dusty and cracking. Not even a single blade of grass relieved the dry monotony. Zy''s eyes felt painfully dry simply looking at the place. Gong Lau Yan''s eyes were closed, and she was murmuring to herself in the Dzue tongue. ... tseng chou yau si cheon... haang dou seung saam tsue... tsung fung chau saat yan... They walked down to the statue. Zy brushed dust from the inscription at the base and tried to decipher the tiny writing. Some characters were familiar, still used in Xiang script, but others were intricately detailed and unrecognisable. ''Show me the person who doesn''t die, death remains impartial. I recall a towering man, who now is a pile of dust. The World Below knows no dawn, plants enjoy another spring. Those who visit this sorrowful place, the pine wind slays with grief.'' Gong Lau Yan recited these words without looking at the writing once. That was the poem you were saying to yourself just before, wasn''t it? I recognised some of the words. The rest of the inscription reads: ''Those brave ones who fought for a dawn they would not see, may they quickly re-enter the cycle of reincarnation. Those who lived to see another spring, let their deviated souls find peace soon. Those who Ascend this mortal realm, let us meet under evening clouds once more.'' Zy craned her neck back to look into the face of the stone loong. This was from the Great Demon War, then. It was Yuan Mu''s idea. That sounds like something Shi fu would do. They left the statue behind, with no clear road to guide them, but Gong Lau Yan walked unerringly until they came to the dry bank of what must have once been a mighty river. Zy knelt respectfully, mindful not to get too close to the edge. The fall looked to be well over ten times her own height, and although with her abilities a fall was unlikely to cause her much damage, it would take up unnecessary energy that she needed to reserve. The dry heat of the air had her already very uncomfortable. Across the deep, barren channel, on the other bank, two shallower channels ran into the main river. In places they almost disappeared where dust had blown into them, filling their otherwise empty impressions. I hope it was quick, Gong Lau Yan said, her eyes wide and unfocused. I hope they didn''t feel anything. That they didn''t know- Gong Dze- No, I''m being stupid. Maybe the humans didn''t know... Her gaze drifted, unseeing, from impression to impression in the dust. Dze-dze lived for a while afterwards. She made it all the way to Cheon, to Chn, after all. And Tsaam Lei... He''s still alive somehow. So they... They must have... Her face twisted into an ugly grimace of despair. My little nieces... she wailed, staring at her hands. Those babies... Zy flung her arms around the shaking loong, as if she might physically hold her together as she was falling to pieces. I should have died with you! Gong Lau Yan babbled uncontrollably. I should have been here! I should have been here! Screwing her eyes shut, Zy held on tighter as Gong Lau Yan sobbed in her arms. She could feel tears creeping down her own cheeks. It took some time for Gong Lau Yan to calm down. She was still shaking when she wrapped an arm around Zy''s waist and leapt effortlessly across the canyon to land between the two shallow channels. Dzing Se, Dzing Wai, how have you been? Sorry I haven''t visited recently. But this time I brought a... I brought Zy. Do you remember her? She was only small, back then. Zy bowed. Greetings, Your Highnesses. I should have some incense... Gong Lau Yan fossicked in her pouches once more, and found three sticks of sandalwood incense wrapped in yellow talisman paper. I won''t light them, though. She stuck the sticks into a crack in the ground, and immediately turned to leave. Zy bowed in farewell and followed silently. They walked along the edge of the empty Ming Dzue river, small clouds of dust following them. This was a country of low mountains, and eventually they were hopping their way up a steep slope, Gong Lau Yan yet to show any sign of tiring. The empty riverbed dropped away to the west as they climbed. When they reached the ridgeline, Zy saw that they now stood on the spine of a long range that wrapped itself around a sheltered basin at the coast, like a slumbering dragon. Ming Dzue curled around to meet the ocean to the south-west. It was unnerving to see the way the ocean crept to the mouth of the river channel and fizzled into nothing. There it is, Gong Lau Yan said heavily. Ming Yuet, the shining city. No longer shining, the crumbling remains of Ming Yuet gaped distantly up at them. Buildings that once reached to the heavens lay wrecked on the ground. Like cracked teeth, more and more ruined structures poked from islands further out into the ocean. Ming Yuet had once been a vast and glittering place. Its bones now bleached in the dry air. Zy found she was clutching her chest. Gong Lau Yan gave her a sick look. You don''t have to go down there if you don''t want to. I don''t want to. But... I need to. I need to look. You''re braver than me. Have you not looked? Zy asked, taken aback. Not since the first day when... and I was too sick to even walk by myself. After that.. I just couldn''t find the courage... I''m a coward, Zy. What coward? Gong Dze, this place... Zy could barely find the words to express how the look on Gong Lau Yan''s face made her feel. It hurts. This place hurts. I barely remember it and it still hurts me. I can only imagine how you''re feeling. Not... great. You don''t have to go down there if you don''t want to. This brought a little laughter out of them both. Shall we? ... okay. Fighting against the urge to run in the opposite direction, the two of them began the descent into the ruins of Ming Dzue. 41 - Moon in the Mask But under this sky, Are there still rooftops we haven''t stood on together? In our dreams, are there still Oceans we haven''t sailed across? I am the moon behind the mask tonight. - INCHAOS, Bering Sea
They entered the palace, still hand-in-hand, walking along crumbling paths until they finally stepped into one of the tall ruins, grimy light filtering through the dry air to barely brighten the interior. It''s the Heavenly Dragon Hall. The hall was lined with images of Dzue Regents. Zy walked down the hall, glancing left and right, hating herself as she did. She stopped at the last painting. There was a man in the painting, dressed in the striking black and yellow robes of a Dzue Regent, with a high embroidered collar, wide sleeves, and a long hemline that brushed the ground. The colours didn''t really suit him. He had soft eyebrows, heavy eyelids and unusually full lips, and his long dark hair was bound in an ornate golden crown on the top of his head. Damn him. Every Immortal in the Heavenly Realm, damn him. I really do look like him. He was formally holding the hand of a woman, also in black and yellow robes, no real intimacy in the gesture. Most of the paint that rendered her face had dried and fallen away. However, she was clearly not Man Jiang. I don''t want to know, Zy said, before Gong Lau Yan could speak. With almost callous indifference, she tapped experimentally at the mural. The paint crumbled, dry flakes clinging to the tip of her finger. If only it were so easy, she murmured. They drifted from room to room, taking in the eerie atmosphere. Objects lay where they had been dropped, or were placed out as though someone were about to use them, except they were coated in a thick layer of dust. Curiously, she brushed away the dust from a shape on a table to find a scattered pile of gold coins. She picked one up, turning it in her hand. One side showed the image of a protective loong, an orb in every clawed foot. The other side showed a shi zi, looked down on cub below one of its front paws. What were these for? They were... to commemorate the Queen''s first pregnancy. Zy laughed, and dropped the coin immediately. It hit the others with a dull clink. I don''t know how to feel about this place. Well, we came here to rebuild... Where would we even start? Do you even know how to break the curse here, Gong Dze? Gong Lau Yan picked up one of the medallions, staring at the side that bore the loong. Can I tell you something, Zy? What is it... Lau Yan? I... don''t know if I can bring myself to rebuild. This admission shocked a truth from Zy''s mouth. I don''t know if I want to either. They looked at each other. Why are we doing this? Why are we here? Zy sighed. Lau Yan? Yes? I want you to be healthy. If that means restoring Dzue, then so be it. But I don''t want to be a Queen, or a Regent. I just want to live peacefully. I want to make up for all those years at the bottom of the lake. Do we... Do you think there''s some way... What am I even saying...? Gong Lau Yan sat down on the collapsed table, her hands trembling slightly. Thank you. For... what? I was afraid you would try to encourage me to restore Dzue. Zy shook her head. In honesty, I don''t want that either. This place... How could I call it my home? My country? I barely remember it. And this... She gestured at the medallions, and in her mind crowded the images of the King who looked so much like her, and the Queen whose face she did not know, and of Man Jiang, somewhere in the prisons of Tin Yeung Wong''s palace. Too much has happened here for us. Maybe one day, in the distant future, someone will come to this place and make it a kingdom once more, and hoard gold and power and loyal subjects. But I don''t... I don''t want that. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. The loong began to laugh helplessly. What is it? Have you ever wondered why my aunt has barely done anything after what happened? I did wonder a few times, Zy replied, but I wasn''t sure I could ask. The investigation of what happened here was carried out by her army, correct? But it seemed to me that it was just you alone running around trying to find Dzu- find Haat Ngan Wan, and uncover the full truth of what happened here. We were all so tired after the Great Demon War, Gong Lau Yan said. I considered leaving back then too, going with my grandmother to the Immortal Realm. We all thought about it. Some of us went. The ones that stayed... struggled, I think. I know Yuan Mu does. My aunt did too. Dze-dze tried so hard to make a place where we could rest, when it was all over. Those who stayed. And then she was gone... Her voice changed. And it was all because... ... Man Jiang. Well, yes. But... The woman she wrote about in her journals. The one who taught her how to use Fire energy? Who was she? A demon? No. No, she was... Maybe I''ll tell you about her, one day. But she hurt many people. Humans, demons, Immortals. Sometimes I think back on it and I''m amazed at what she managed. It makes sense that she continues to hurt us, long after she died. Zy looked around at the once magnificent room, at the coins of gold, the paintings, the statues. I think my aunt just... had enough. She just stayed in her palace, and smiled at me when I shouted at her for being so... inert. But I think I get it now. Some things just hurt too much. Some things need to be gently mourned, and let go. Zy bent and gently embraced the loong. And maybe one day, we''ll get there. Is there anything else you want to see here? Anything you want to take? Keep? No, nothing. Just you. Gong Lau Yan laughed softly at this, and leaned into Zy''s body. Then I think I know what to do.
The coastline of Dzue was a mix of pale sand beaches, granite cliffs, and progressively smaller islands disappearing into the ocean. The ocean water did not ebb and flow as was natural. It hit a point on the beach, or the cliffs, and simply evaporated. Gong Lau Yan was starting to look a bit green again, but when they wandered down to the water and she waded up to her knees in the ocean, she regained some colour. Zy, this might take some time. You shouldn''t stay here. Why not go back to Shisuan? We only saw Yuhai. You could go to Mount Hua. Zy contemplated the water. Could I not come with you? I... Well... Yes. I thought maybe you would be uncomfortable. I think I''ll be okay. Zy waded into the water beside Gong Lau Yan, her robes drifting around her. My time in the lake was very peaceful, really. And I''ll be with you this time. I''m not alone. She ducked her head under the surface, pushing away the water with her qi, separating out the oxygen so she could breathe. She glanced sideways to find that Gong Lau Yan had joined her, her face already rippling with green-bronze scales. They swam away from the shore, Zy holding carefully onto Gong Lau Yan''s antlers as the loong snaked her way deeper and deeper. The grey-green water rushed past them until Zy could see a faint light ahead. Tin Yeung Wong''s palace, the Water Crystal Palace, as it was known, was formed entirely from crystals and corals. It gleamed and winked through the water as they approached, light shining from large luminescent pearls. Several loong came to greet them. Zy tried to see if she recognised the beautiful blue-eyed woman who had once been Gong Lau Yan''s lover in any of these dragons, but she was unable to tell. The loong seemed to converse, telepathically, it seemed, as Zy heard nothing, then they all proceeded together down to the palace buildings. Entering, Zy found they were in an air pocket, and with the ease of seals sliding into water, the loong glided inside, transforming into humanoid forms mid-step. Immediately, dozens of curious eyes fell upon her. She calmly drew the water from her clothes into the air and flicked it back into the ocean behind her. Where is my aunt? Gong Lau Yan asked, also back in human form. Her clothing, however, was no longer the short adventurer''s garb she usually wore, but longer robes of emerald green and sea blue that matched those of the loong around her. In the Coral Garden, came the response. Offering her elbow to Zy, Gong Lau Yan led the way to the Coral Garden, loong watching them go avidly. Zy suppressed the urge to giggle, feeling a little light-headed. You okay? Yes, yes. It just seems so silly. It is. They don''t get as much entertainment these days, and every year there are less and less of us. They keep leaving for the Heavenly Realm, Gong Lau Yan explained, when Zy looked questioning. I see. I... can''t imagine a world without loong. Gong Lau Yan smiled ruefully. One day, you might not have to imagine. The Water Crystal Palace was exceptionally beautiful, particularly after the dry ruins of Ming Yuet. Like the palaces in Qinbn, there were multiple gardens dispersed in and around the Water Crystal Palace, but Gong Lau Yan walked unerringly to one near the centre of the palace complex. They slipped back into the seawater, approaching a woman tenderly tweaking tips from some brilliantly-coloured coral. She straightened as they approached, her eyes pale and glowing as pearls. Tin Yeung Wong was tall and willowy like Gong Lau Yan, but she had a large blue-green fin either side of her head, strung with pearls, like an organic crown. Similarly coloured scales spread across the tops of her cheeks. Lau Yan. Aunt. And who is this? Zy and Gong Lau Yan paused and looked at each other, but before they could speak, Tin Yeung Wong peered closely at Zy''s face. You... You look... I see. I am Zy, Your Majesty. She bowed. I have no family name. You could take Lau Yan''s. Zy almost choked on her tongue. Th-that-! We''ll get there, Gong Lau Yan laughed, then blushed. Have you dealt with Maan Dzi King yet? The smile disappeared from Gong Lau Yan''s face. I''ve made things very clear to her. So, why have you come to visit me, my niece? Tin Yeung Wong resumed pruning corals and seagrasses leisurely. I... We... have a request. If I can assist, I will do so. What is it? Gong Lau Yan stared aimlessly at the ground. Her hair and robes drifted around her. Tin Yeung Wong did not press the point, calmly continuing her gardening. Zy watched her slim hands deftly move. Gong Lau Yan sighed. I want to flood Dzue. 42 - After Rain (y hu chn sn) C After rain, the spring bamboo; i.e. many new things occurring in rapid succession.
Tin Yeung Wong considered her niece gravely for a moment. Is that what you truly want? There''s nothing left there for either of us, Gong Lau Yan said. If it''s you, you could flood that land until the curse sank with it, couldn''t you? Come with me. Tin Yeung Wong left the garden, and re-entered the Palace. Gong Lau Yan and Zeyi followed her. Entering what appeared to be an office, Tin Yeung Wong took a seat on a very comfortable looking chair made of sponge, and extracted some waxed bamboo tubes, which she handed over to the two other women. They unrolled the contents together. The documents were summaries written by Yuan Mu, with lists of creatures and creature parts, locations and dates. Each was entitled ''Recorded Movements of Tsaam Lei'' followed by a number. There were at least six full pages. Gong Lau Yan''s expression grew darker and darker. Your old friend is still alive, Tin Yeung Wong said. Do you still want to flood Dzue? Is he even my old friend anymore? Gong Lau Yan asked, returning the final page to its tube. Perhaps it would be better for everyone if he were gone. Wouldn''t it harm you too, Gong Dze? Zeyi asked gently. A river is a river, no matter where it is, Gong Lau Yan replied. I might be a little... different. But it wouldn''t kill me. Different... how? The loong shrugged off-handedly. I might look a little different, maybe. She caught sight of Zeyi''s expression. Oh... I''m sorry. I shouldn''t be so... Running her hand through her fringe, she tried again. I''ll be honest. I don''t know what''ll happen. My appearance could change. My personality might even change. That doesn''t sound like a good result, Zeyi said quietly. Before you make any decisions, there is one more thing, Tin Yeung Wong said. Tsaam Lei is being pursued by multiple parties at this present moment. You have met Yuan Mu''s disciple, Yuan Yi Feng, I believe? They are the ones who provided the information in your hands, after I made a request to the Yuan Wei Temple to investigate. Recently, word came to me from the Hebei Wuchang that the Yamato Court of Hell, Jigoku, is also searching for him. They plan to put him on trial. If you take part, you might be able to come to a better-informed decision. They''ll have to catch him first. Gong Lau Yan chewed her tongue pensively. He was always very good at escaping. I do not think he will be able to escape this time. There are too many eyes looking for him. Seeing her niece continued to furrow her brows, Tin Yeung Wong said, Stay here a little while. Show Lady Zeyi around the palace. We have time, Lau Yan.
For a week, Gong Lau Yan seemed to forget about Dzue, and showed Zeyi the palace and grounds. There were many beautiful coral gardens, and ocean flowerbeds in pockets of air with strange plants that Zeyi could not have even imagined. Lau Yan''s rooms were relatively small and cosy, and made of a grey stone darker than the limestone walls of the rest of the palace, whilst the furnishings were warm-toned greens and browns, not cool blues and whites. On the first day, they lay on Gong Lau Yan''s bed, looking to the ceiling and talked about their childhoods. Zeyi recalled when she first learnt to bamboo drift, a dance on a single bamboo log as it floated on Wine Lake, the main waterbody in Chun, and how she fell into the water so many times that her white inner robes were stained a faint rusty red that could never be removed. For Gong Lau Yan, one of her earliest memories was crawling from the shelter of the pines in Tsaam Lam, her eyes fixed on the distant shine of the path of her elder sister. She passed between the peaks of Dzak Hau for the first time to see the basin where Ming Yuet would one day stand far below, and the ocean beyond that, and at the edge of the water there were her grandmother, her mother and her aunt, and her sister, all shining in the young sun as they waited for her. When she fell asleep, her hands grasped the sleeve of Zeyi''s robe. They caught sight of the beautiful loong Maan Dzi King a few times during their stay. Once or twice, she tried to speak to Gong Lau Yan, but was ignored each time. Can I ask? Zeyi said one night, as they lay together in Gong Lau Yan''s bed. Somehow there didn''t seem to be a need for Zeyi to go elsewhere. What was your relationship with her like? Not good, Gong Lau Yan summarised. That''s not to say it was all bad, you understand. Of course there were reasons why we had a relationship. But overall, it was... painful. Do you really want to know? Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. Only if you want to tell me. Maan Dzi King is very intellectual. Understandably C she''s very intelligent and rational. Well, mostly. Gong Lau Yan''s chestnut-coloured hair was loose, fanned out around her head. Zeyi lay on her stomach beside her, hands propping up her chin. Maybe it would make more sense to say that she seems very rational. But when I think about how she acted, it wasn''t really rational at all. We didn''t have a big argument, I just slowly came to realise that her way of seeing the world and mine were too different. It meant she had expectations of me that I couldn''t answer, and I tied myself in knots trying. When I ended things, she was intensely angry. She couldn''t accept it for a long time. It got to the point where other people were starting to get caught between us, and A Yi had to step in and threaten to demote her. That sounds obsessive. I think she saw it as a challenge she''d ''lost''. She hates losing. Good to know, Zeyi smiled wickedly. I''ll make sure to kiss you when she''s looking and then give her a smirk. Only then? Only then what? What about now? Gong Lau Yan''s grey-brown eyes suddenly seemed alight with mischief. Don''t you want to kiss me now? I... Well... Uh... The loong laughed heartily. Your face is so red! Don''t tease me like that, Zeyi fumed, twisting to get out of the bed. Gong Lau Yan caught her around the waist. Dzak Yat, Siu Yat, don''t be angry. It''s... Do you know, you look so pretty when you''re flustered. She dropped her head onto Zeyi''s shoulder. Sometimes I remember how sick you looked when we first met, like a corpse. Seeing you blush is just... You''re alive. Zeyi thought her heart would stop, or perhaps her cheeks would catch fire first. She glared at the top of Gong Lau Yan''s head. What a smooth talker. Why do I find it hard to beli- Her words were cut short. Gong Lau Yan pulled back and dropped her head onto Zeyi''s shoulder again. Zeyi, I''ve lived a long time. I don''t think it means much, really. Time passes differently for me. I''m still fairly young for a loong. Which means I''m still silly and inexperienced and won''t grow up until I start to feel the weight of age. If you were to finish your Still Heart cultivation, and Ascend to the Immortal Realm, we could have a long time together. Unless you got sick of me, of course. But I want to know... would you want to cultivate to Ascension? Forever is a long time. Assuming I could do it, Zeyi laughed uncertainly. You can. You''re the direct disciple of that old man, the Black Tortoise of the North, after all. I''ve never met him. Maybe we can get A Yi to convince him to leave the Immortal Realm for a bit and visit. So easily? Not really. I''m just saying nonsense. They laughed together. Gong Lau Yan sobered up first. Zeyi? Hm? I''m sorry for not always being honest with you. Well, I understand. It''s been tempting for me to, after what happened with my mother. But it''s also because she broke my trust that I have keep trying. Gong Lau Yan took her hand and considered it carefully. Zeyi looked too. The loong''s fingers were long and tanned, with elegant nails. Zeyi''s were shorter, paler, and covered in scars. Unpleasantly, she thought of the coldly beautiful Maan Dzi King, and almost pulled her hand away. Before she could, Gong Lau Yan had raised it to her lips and kissed it reverently. So much stronger than mine, she murmured. Forgetting everything else, Zeyi slid back into the bed, and held Gong Lau Yan tight.
Have you made a decision? Tin Yeung Wong asked. She was once again tending to her gardens when her niece found her. She had left Zeyi, completely absorbed, in the palace library, and made her way alone to find her aunt. Has anything happened regarding Tsaam Lei? I have requested that Yuan Mu bring Yuan Yi Feng back from investigations in the west to find and capture him. I''ll go. Tin Yeung Wong looked her niece in the eyes. Could you do it? No. No, I couldn''t. But will Yuan Yi Feng be able to? I know they''re a direct disciple too, but they''re still a human, and Tsaam Lei is smart and much, much more experienced. Yuan Yi Feng will be bringing a necromancer with them. Tin Yeung Wong plucked a flower-like polyp from the coral before her. With their Wood energy, and the necromancer''s powers over the dead, together they should be sufficient to face Tsaam Lei. Necromancer... Gong Lau Yan vaguely remembered the pale, foreign woman at the auction. That said, they have run into some problems along the way. Yuan Yi Feng was forced to kill a rampaging creature in self-defence, which has deprived a region of its guardian spirit, and the local people want retribution. Will you go to speak with them? I''ll go. Zeyi knows about diplomacy better than me, I''ll ask her to come along too. I doubt she will reject your request, Tin Yeung Wong said drily. And I''ll go to Jigoku for the trial. Why are they holding a trial, anyway? It seems Tsaam Lei has been working for the Land of the Dead in Yamato, Yomi. Tin Yeung Wong handed the polyp to Gong Lau Yan. He broke one of the rules. Which one? Killing mortal beings. Ah. All those creatures he was selling parts from. Those, and a human woman. A human woman? Who? I do not know that detail. They moved together back towards the palace interior. A cat Immortal, or demon... Yamato is not clear about these things... came to the Queen of Yomi to petition for Tsaam Lei''s arrest for the murder of a favourite human. This fox-hunt is a consequence of that request. When will you be leaving? As soon as Zeyi is ready. Good. Your destination is a city named Vurd??ahar on the Jade Road. How much medication do you have left? Two pills. I''ll take one when I arrive. Tin Yeung Wong nodded. Fly fast, niece. I will be waiting for you.
Do you need something? Zeyi sat with her back to the door of the library, surrounded by books and scrolls. Without even looking around, she addressed the person who had just entered. Do you think you''ve won something? Maan Dzi King asked, standing in the doorway. Her long robes whispered across the floor. You''re a fool, mortal. Zeyi sighed, and shut the book she was holding, West Journey Record. I thought you had something important to say, but you''re picking a fight because your ex-lover has a new girlfriend? I heard that you were intelligent and rational, Lady Maan. You''re not proving it to me. The next words finally made her turn around. Is... Lau Yan well? ... As well as she can be, with her illness. She''s content. I see. This exchange made, Maan Dzi King turned abruptly and left. Zeyi sighed and returned to her book. Gong Lau Yan burst in a few moments later. Zeyi! We''ve got another adventure! Really? Where to? Zeyi laughed and shut the book again. Gong Lau Yan marched cheerfully over, glanced at the cover of the book, and pecked a quick kiss out on Zeyi''s cheek. West! 43 - See and Act
Gong Dze? You''re strangely quiet. They had been travelling for several hours now. In her loong form, Gong Lau Yan had carried Zy through the dark waters from Tin Yeung Wong''s palace. Zy kept her eyes closed until they burst together onto the drought-stricken coast of Dzue. Despite regaining the sky, Gong Lau Yan maintained a contemplative silence. Zy wrapped her hands around the bases of the loong''s antlers. They felt warm. No secrets, Gong Lau Yan''s voice was a murmuring rumble in Zy''s head. A Y, do you remember not long after we first met, a typhoon hit the border of Chun and Shisuan? Vaguely. My mind was... Kinda fucked up? Fan Bi''an''s voice suggested. Not now, auditory hallucination. Why do you mention it, Gong Dze? There were people from Dzue there. Gong Lau Yan''s rumble was tinged with melancholy. Then the storm- I made them leave before I... before the storm hit. Zy heard the unsaid meanings behind the words, and her hands gripped the loong''s antlers tighter. Now they were descending. The barren lands of Dzue still rolled below them, but they were dropping on a trajectory towards Tsaam Lam, the pine forest at the border with Shisuan. The exhausted skeletons of the dry pines shivered as they landed. Zy''s eyes flickered from side to side as pine needles whispered under Gong Lau Yan''s flowing movement. Despite the desiccation of the forest, there were still scattered trees with green needles. The bark on many of these was crumbling away, revealing sickly smooth inner tissue. Galls and burls weighed down the branches. He must be very sick, Zy murmured. She thought about the sluggish, sedimented trickle of the Lau Yan River and pressed her face to Gong Lau Yan''s scaled neck. It doesn''t excuse what he''s done. That''s not what I meant, Gong Dze. I know. I''m telling myself. Is that...? Zy had caught her first glimpse of the portal through the dead trees. Gong Lau Yan watched her from the corner of her eye. Although she fell silent, Zy''s lips moved. Her eyes grew whiter, darting back and forth over the circumference of the portal. What is it, Zy? Gong Lau Yan asked at last, when even the silent movements of Zy''s lips had stopped. I don''t... really know. There are meanings in the miasma around the portal... But I couldn''t say what they are. Not with any words we could understand. Her eyes were ghostly pale, barely any black left in the irises. Gong Lau Yan nudged her knee with a long whisker, and Zy blinked and smiled, the black returning to her eyes like a swirling tea leaves. So why did we come here, Gong Dze? She slid from the loong''s back, and Gong Lau Yan transformed back into humanoid form. They passed a flask of water back and forth until it was empty. Zy''s eyes still stung. When Dzue fell, the people fled... The curse seemed to have begun from the city of Ming Yuet C well, that''s not surprising, given what we know now C so those further away had more time to escape. She gathered up a handful of dry needles from the ground, watching them crumble between her fingers. Tsaam Lei... Zy watched her silently. Even if she had wanted to say something, she would have been interrupted C the next moment, two people stepped out from the portal. Siu Wan? And... Xi Wji? So this is the demon who charmed Dzue Yi-sang, Zy thought, bowing politely, but she changed her assessment almost immediately. Xi Wji was tall and muscular, with a dominating air, but she conscientiously opened a parasol for Haat Ngan Wan to shade her in the leafless forest. It was clear who was charmed by whom. Gong Dze. Chun Jie, the doctor responded coldly. No... Cousin. Cousin. Zy felt the phrase squeeze her heart. I... Y-yes. Yes. Cousin Ngan Wan. And... it is nice to meet you, Lady Xi. The demon nodded solemnly in response. Did you know we were coming? I thought you might, said Haat Ngan Wan. I''ve been going for a walk every now and then, just to check. How have you found those pills? They work well, Gong Lau Yan grinned. Nice work, Siu Wan. If you could make a few more... Is... something wrong? Zy looked from the loong to the doctor, and then to Xi Wji. From the look on their faces, though, it seemed like she was the only one oblivious. So, are you here to finally fix this situation? Haat Ngan Wan said, at last. I''ve... requested my aunt take the land. Gong Lau Yan crouched and stirred the ground with her hand. Zy agreed. YOU-! Haat Ngan Wan bit back a shout. Gong Lau Yan and Zy stared, taken aback. The doctor glared at Zy. Has she told you? In fact, have you not thought of it yourself? Ha, perhaps not, given the way you threw aside the last kingdom you had. What are you talking about? Zy asked calmly. Her eyes were turning white again. Xi Wji subtly shifted to stand slightly in front of Haat Ngan Wan, who said, So that''s the grand plan, is it? Sweep it out to sea, forget it existed? We''re tired, Siu Wan, Gong Lau Yan sighed. Dzue should just rest. And the people of Dzue? You''ve seen them, Gong Lau Yan. You know how the survivors are living. Will you turn your back on them? Oh, Zy thought, realisation crashing down on her like a wave. There are people from Dzue still... What did the world call Dzue? Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. The G Kingdom. The Criminal Kingdom. The Kingdom of Empty Stomachs. A cursed place. So any person who had come from that place... Gong Lau Yan, Zy said quietly, barely able to squeeze the words past her constricted throat. The survivors of Dzue... How have they been living? Why did you destroy that border town where the refugees had been? How do you think they''ve been living? Haat Ngan Wan asked bitterly. I''ve travelled through the Four Kingdoms and seen... Do you know about the patches they have to wear? All Dzue refugees have to wear a black patch with a worm design attached to their clothing. I didn''t... I didn''t know- There are people of Dzue in Chun! Haat Ngan Wan exploded. Weren''t you the saintly princess? How could you have not known? Siu Wan- You''re worse, Gong Lau Yan! You did nothing to rescue them, and now you just want to wash the whole thing away-! Haat Ngan Wan, Gong Lau Yan rumbled, her eyes glowing green as scales rippled across her body. Zy immediately threw herself in front of the enraged loong and held her tight. Lau Yan... Don''t... Precious tears rolled down her cheeks, drying quickly in the parching air. Haat Ngan Wan, shaking, looked ready to burst into tears too. Gong Lau Yan gritted her teeth, returning Zy''s embrace. Gong Dze. The doctor''s voice was strained. I know... Please. Don''t give up on Dzue. I''m tired, Siu Wan, Gong Lau Yan said hoarsely. So''s Zy. So are you. How do we keep going? The dry air was like a noose. Lau Yan. Zy? What happened at the border town? ... There was a small group of Dzue refugees there. The rest of the town were soldiers... They were beating a Dzue man when I was there. And the way the refugees acted- Murder, torture, rape, severe assault... I''ve seen it all, Haat Ngan Wan said faintly. I''d treat someone at a village, come back a week later, and they''d been hurt worse. Or they wouldn''t be there anymore. And Gong Lau Yan, you just... was it fun, playing the famous demon hunter? Going on adventures? Running from what happened? What is happening? Lau Yan dealt with that border town, didn''t she? Zy cried defensively. Besides, she''s been unwell! I KNOW THAT! Haat Ngan Wan screamed, and even in that situation, Zy found herself wondering at the control that the doctor held, not a single tear escaping her. I know... I know... But who else can do anything? All I can do is wander around with my meagre skills... How old was Haat Ngan Wan? With her cold indifference, she seemed ageless, but now, on the verge of breaking down, it occurred to Zy that she was so, so young. Can you not get help from your aunt? Zy asked Gong Lau Yan quietly, although she thought she already knew the answer. She''s the guardian of the ocean. She wouldn''t have the power to fix Dzue... only take it below the sea. Is there truly no-one else? The other divine guardians left for the Heavenly Realm centuries ago. And Dze-dze... There''s no-one. Zy could feel her lips peeling. She tried not to lick them. What should they do? Stay and try to do something? Like what? It would be like throwing a cup of water into the desert. Wouldn''t it be better to just go? They had to go to Vurdzcahar to deliver Tin Yeung Wong''s message... Gong Dze. ... A Y? The Junior Sibling of mine we''re going to meet... They''re one of the direct disciples, aren''t they? Of your mother, even. With a strong Wood element, they could regrow plants... And... She pulled back to gaze into Gong Lau Yan''s eyes, her own exhausted, but something stirring deep within them. They have to go and catch Tsaam Lei... Don''t you think... Maybe... If they had the guardian spirit of Dzue''s remaining river, the spirit of the pine forest, and the two direct disciples of the Divine Guardians of Wood and Water... ... we might... have a chance. The enormity of the task before them temporarily fell away under the surge of hope. Vurdzcahar... We have to go... Zy turned back to Haat Ngan Wan, leaning against the reassuring bulk of Xi Wji. ... C-Cousin. We''re all tired, so I don''t know how well we''ll do. But I want to do something. So... I''ll bring Tsaam Lei back here. We''ll need your help to heal him. And if we start there, maybe, one day, we''ll be able to restore the whole country... I''m not a saint, or an Immortal. All I can do is try. I''m sorry I was late. Haat Ngan Wan closed her eyes. Wji. Now, Ngan Wan? Please. The demon nodded to Zy. Before you leave, I''ll teach you how to harness your demonic powers properly. You''ve barely got a lid on them as it is. Zy bowed. I''ll be in your care.
Anger. Fear. Envy. Pride. Emotions than can lead to so-called demonic energy, qi deviations, and the like. Do you think they''re bad, Your Highness? They can be heavy and fierce emotions that harm others. What if those emotions can drive you to action? Righteous anger, concern for the well-being of others, drive, self-confidence? What if these deviations of internal energy occur not because of the emotions themselves, but the inability to understand and use them? They sat opposite each other on the other side of the portal, on a stretch of dark grass in the Demon Realm. Xi Wji was watching Zy''s eyes carefully. White and black fought for dominance. What is that technique you''re trying to use? It''s one of the cultivation practices of the Wudang Sect. Balancing the Yin and the Yang in the soul. It''s useful, but it looks like you haven''t been able to fully stabilise it. You''ve got a grasp of various aspects of both Yin and Yang, but you''re running away from the darker parts of yourself. Without that acceptance, you''ll never gain full mastery. Zy considered the demon. She had short hair, like her brother, a rare sight in the Four Kingdoms, but she was more muscular. She sat with an almost aggressive confidence, and Zy wondered if this was what it meant to embrace those darker parts. There is Yin in all of us. The shadow, the cold, the anger, the sorrow. There is Yang in all of us. The light, the warmth, the contentment, the happiness. A person who is filled with happiness, always, without knowledge of sadness, is hollow. They cannot understand others. A person who is always angry will never have contentment. Are you laughing? I''m just so surprised that I''m learning this from a demon. Well, knowing is one thing, understanding and accepting is another. Xi Wji shrugged. Most demons have learnt similar principles, but how many of them actually follow properly? None, I would argue. Even you? Why not? When we speak of embracing that which is dark, many think it''s a free pass to be as harmful as they like. We''re living beings. Perfection is not for us. It''s for those whose time no longer moves. It''s for the dead. Zy couldn''t suppress the shiver that ran through her. Your Highness. You have been brought up in a cultural that seeks to hide the darkness. Honour. Righteousness. Duty. Forgetting that we are living beings and imperfect. Pretending that the disgusting and hurtful parts of us don''t exist. If you continue to pretend that you are a one-dimensional, pure being without any flaws, walk away now. Zy looked at her hands, at the silvery scars all over them. Why had she chosen to keep them? What are you thinking of? My scars... but also, Gong Lau Yan. I love her very dearly, but... how old are you, Lady Xi? The demon considered her gravely. Lady Gong is far, far older than me. She has lived too long. A wordless spike of anger stabbed through the back of Zy''s head. She clamped her teeth together. You''re angry, and yet you''re suppressing it. I... there must be a reason why you said that. I can''t simply... If I get angry, I might hurt you. Do you think you''re a monster, Dzue Dzak Yaat? Why did you say that, about Lau Yan? Zy whispered. Those who live long lives see so many things. They know too much. They have felt too much. Why do you think the Divine Guardians abandoned the Mortal Realm? Why do you think the guardians of the demon realm left? Demon guardians? I didn''t- No, you wouldn''t. Everything was buried after the Human War... Ah, you call it the Great Demon War, don''t you? I suppose Lady Gong never spoke of it. That''s not surprising. How are you feeling now? Confused. Why? Because... it feels like now I''m learning something else about Gong Lau Yan... Why are there so many secrets? You misunderstand me. Why confusion? Why not anger? Betrayal? Distrust? Zy shivered again. I''m just suppressing them... Every time you experience an emotion, observe it. Without judgement. Where is it coming from? Why is it manifesting this way? Xi Wji stood, cracking her neck. About Lady Gong. When you live that long, things blur. Memories of what was said to whom, who knows what, how something happened, can get confusing. I doubt she always hides things from you deliberately. Sometimes the past just hurts. They could see Gong Lau Yan and Haat Ngan Wan sitting several li away across the dark grass, the doctor''s hair shining brightly. They seemed to be sitting in silence, looking up at the sky. Without a word, Zy and Xi Wji began to walk slowly over the dark fields to join them. 44 - The Tendency of the World ´ƣ־ñغϣϾñط (tThe general trend of the world is that if we divide for a long time, we will unite; if we unite for a long time, we will divide.
Night in the Demon Realm was full of unfamiliar sounds. Zy lay awake in the darkness, staring at the ceiling of the room she was sharing with Gong Lau Yan. Something let out a hissing cry in the far distance. Another something called plaintively and repetitively. She could feel Gong Lau Yan turn around and around beside her. She tried slowing and deepening her breathing to encourage the loong to settle, but soon Gong Lau Yan sat up and swung her legs out of the bed, scratching at her dry skin. Motionless, Zy watched as Gong Lau Yan stood, still scratching her forearms. Then her neck. She rubbed her face repeatedly, apparently staring into the darkness. "Gong Dze?" The loong jumped. "Ah, sorry, Zy. Did I wake you?" "I was already awake. What about you?" "Oh..." Gong Lau Yan yawned widely. "Nothing. I''ll go back to bed. Sleep well." She climbed back into the bed, lay down, and closed her eyes. "Lau Yan? Are you itchy?" "Hm?" Gong Lau Yan yawned again. "No. Why?" "You were scratching yourself. Is your skin dry?" "Oh. Yeah. A bit." "Can I see?" "It''s too dark, Zy. Let''s just go to sleep." She yawned again. The yawns seemed... forced. Still, Zy closed her eyes too. She had counted two hundred breaths before Gong Lau Yan rose again. This time, she walked all the way to the doorway of the room and stood there, absently rubbing her arms and face. "Gong Lau Yan." "Zy..." The loong cast a nervous glance over her shoulder. "Have you ever been to the region of Ye?" "In the far north-east of Shisuan? No. Why do you ask, Lau Yan?" "Would you like to go there?" "One day." "Let''s go." "What, now?" "Or we could go south. Little Gaam C The Jade Exorcist was born in one of the southern countries. ?rak, I think. I went there once. I had some really tasty glutinous rice balls with ginger syrup and coconut milk." "Lau Yan..." "You''d love it, Zy." She scratched at her arm again, yawned again. It seemed to Zy that Gong Lau Yan was crackling with energy, ready to explode like a tree struck by lightning. It didn''t seem to be the result of some outside influence; Zy cast around to check, but there was no one nearby, and no sign of anything other than the usual low-level demonic energy that characterised this realm. Gong Lau Yan said, "I''m going, Zy. Come with me." Gong Dze, said Zy, cautiously, what''s going on? You''re making me worried. It''s nothing, really. I just suddenly feel like going for an adventure. We have an adventure, though. We''re going to Vurdzcahar to see my junior sibling. The loong said nothing, simply turned in the doorway, framed by the light of the demon moon, and held her hand out to Zy. The hand was shaking. It seemed to Zy that if she did not grab hold of that hand right this moment, Gong Lau Yan would fly away like a kite with a broken string. Maybe she would never see her again. Zy hurriedly threw on her outer robe and shoes. If she delayed, Gong Lau Yan might just vanish. "Okay, I''ll come with you. Let''s go." As soon as she reached out her hand, Gong Lau Yan pulled Zy into her arms and rushed out into the night. The Demon Realm was far more lively at night than the Mortal Realm was. The heat of the day, and the demons'' superior night vision, meant a society that functioned in darker, cooler times was simply more practical. Zy found that they had been in a room high up on a huge mountain. As they rushed down staircases built into the mountainside, the rooms changed from sleeping quarters to administrative offices, then food and market stall. Spaces for stalls were carved into the mountainside, mostly stocked with unknown meats and fried insects on skewers. Ghost lights floated freely, lighting the night in pale green and blue and white. A few demons hooted and laughed as Gong Lau Yan sped down the mountain that formed the backbone of this demon settlement. Zy''s head turned this way and that, trying to see everything at one. They reached the foot of the mountain, but Gong Lau Yan ran without pausing, away from the demon settlement, and then, through the portal, into the barren expanse of Tsaam Lam, and then up, up... They soared through the air, Zy jumping onto Gong Lau Yan''s back as the woman became a dragon. Her heart thundered. She had no idea where they were going. Evidently Gong Lau Yan didn''t either; she certainly wasn''t headed south. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! She didn''t know how long they were in the air. At some point, she had fallen asleep, and woke to Gong Lau Yan landing on the top of a high cliff. They seemed to be somewhere in Huang., and it was still dark. Zy slid down, blearily trying to make out her surroundings. Gong Lau Yan coiled at the edge of the cliff. Her sides heaved and her head drooped. Gong Dze? I''m alright, Zy, just tired. She shifted, her green-bronze scales rippling in the moonlight. Zy leaned against her, afraid to move away. The long tail curled gently around her. A Y, are you crying? She was. She hadn''t noticed. I''m scared, Gong Dze. Let''s go somewhere. Far away from everything. And rest. No! Gong Dze, you... She seized the loong''s massive head between her hands and stared directly into her eyes. You can''t keep doing this! I love you, but every time, you just run! "You know me. I don''t like being tied down to one place." The huge, scaled body shivered. You ran away at the auction, and you... you ran away when you first left me at Chun, didn''t you? And I, gods, just threw the kingdom at Cousin Cheng like it was a toy and followed you. My mother? We''ve just handed her over to your aunt without any attempt at deciding what else to do with her. Your sister''s remains? Have you even thought about them since you retrieved them? Where are they? Sitting in a room somewhere in your aunt''s palace, waiting for you to make a decision? Zy shook the loong''s head fiercely. Lau Yan! You''re brave and smart and capable! Why are you running all the time? I''m right here with you. You''re not alone! For how long? Gong Lau Yan said. Not even the gods can answer that, Zy said. Gong Lau Yan replied, Even my Dze-dze, the most amazing person I knew, died. In the Great Demon War, every day, people died. And I... I''m still here. And I might be here a thousand years from now. And you might not, Zy whispered. And I might be here, and I might not. We don''t know, Lau Yan. But running will only make that day come faster. You can''t outrun this. Gong Lau Yan was in human form now. She held Zy''s two hands that cupped her face. The wild look in her eyes from before had finally died. Zy. Zy, she whispered. I''m here. Stay with me, Gong Dze. I want to be where you are. I''ll go with you to the ends of the earth, but there are things we must do. Gong Lau Yan pulled her into her arms again, and dropped down onto the grassy cliff top. She lay on her back, looking up at the sky, Zy''s head resting on her shoulder. The stars in the clear sky above reflected in her eyes, as if the Heavenly River now flowed within them. Zy listened to the echo of the loong''s heartbeat begin to slow. Gong Lau Yan lifted a lock of Zy''s long dark hair to her lips and closed her eyes. A Y. Yes. Sometimes I just need to run. I think I''ll tear my skin off if I don''t. You can run. But you have to come back. Like you did for me, in the end. I hate myself for how much I resisted coming back. But you did it. I had to. I had to find you. She gritted her teeth, her eyes glittering. ... I know what I have to do. So why is it so hard? Gong Dze, we''re in Huang right now, aren''t we? Yes. We ended up coming north after all. So we did. We just have to go a bit further north. You''re right. Why did you come here? No reason. Lau Yan... Did you hear that? Of course she had. Gong Lau Yan could probably hear a moth land on the moon. She was already on her feet and alert before Zy had finished speaking. Her grey-brown eyes calmly surveyed the grasslands behind them, and it wasn''t long before around two dozen figures came creeping out of the tall stems. Djis, you shouldn''t be alone out here. The woman who spoke had a skinny, wrinkled neck like a tortoise, and skin that was papery from days in the elements. Two large single-edged blades, dao, sat at her right hip. Why is that, auntie? Gong Lau Yan asked pleasantly, with a small grin. You must not be from around here, the woman said. She brushed limp dark hair out of her eyes. That suits us. Your valuables, we''ll take them. As she raised her hand to move her hair aside, Zy saw that she wore a black armband with what appeared to be a worm embroidered on it. What an odd choice. Gong Lau Yan grinned a little wider. The bandits saw her sharp teeth, and wavered. That armband you wear... What of it? The bandit woman''s voice held a tinge of defiance. She drew one of her dao. Dji, it''s because of people like you that we''re like this. I won''t ask again. Give us your valuables. Or will we have to sell you? The scarred woman won''t be worth so much, but you''re top quality goods. Zy gripped Gong Lau Yan''s elbow wordlessly. The loong closed her eyes. Over and over, the swallows return to the same nests, year after year. Nothing changes. Nothing... changes... Grab them, ordered the bandit woman. The troupe cautiously advanced on the two women. How many people have you robbed? How many have you sold? Killed? Enough to survive, the woman said calmly. Judge us all you like, dji. This is how people like us survive in the world. I can knock a few out, Zy murmured to Gong Lau Yan, but it would be difficult to fight so many at once without harming them. What should we- Gong Lau Yan roared. The shockwave knocked all of the bandits flat. Instantly, the grass around them began to coil about their limbs like snakes, and a distant peal of thunder could be heard on the horizon. A sudden wave of petrichor washed over them. Green-brown scales appeared on Gong Lau Yan''s face as her antlers sprouted through her hair. The prone bandits gaped at the site. ... Queen. Dragon Queen, have you come to save us? Have you come to take us home? Take us home! Take us back to Dzue! Their words, which had begun in Xiang, dropped quickly away into the Dzue language. They clamoured and begged as Gong Lau Yan stood silently at the cliff edge. Zy stepped forwards, until she was in front of the bandit leader. The captive woman struggled and glared at her. Go away! Dragon Queen! Dr- Wait... She peered as closely at Zy as she could. You look... Are you...? Will you answer Lady Gong''s questions? Zy asked softly, kneeling. How many you have robbed, sold, killed? Your Majesty, we had no choice! the woman shrieked. You know how we''re treated! People from Dzue are looked at worse than dogs! We''re worms! How else can we live? Please answer, auntie. The woman''s teeth were chattering. I don''t know! I don''t remember! As many as we had to! A cold, high whisper of steel C Zy had picked up the dao that the woman had dropped. The blade sang as it dragged along the ground. When we let you go, head south and east until you reach Dzue. Enter the pine forest. There''s a portal there that will lead you to the Demon Realm. So we truly did... with the demons... The woman''s face was a mask of betrayal. Believe what you will, Zy said wearily. However, if you would rather stay here, and I hear that you have returned to crime... I will not forgive you. Forgive... The woman laughed, tears forming in her eyes. I called you ''Your Majesty'', but what are you the ruler of? You''ve got your father''s face, but no country. I have Lady Gong. And soon we will have Dzue back too. Zy narrowed her eyes against all of the uncertainties that bayed in her mind like wolves. Perhaps I''m too late, but I haven''t abandoned Dzue. So make your choice, auntie. The woman scoffed, her voice jaded as she said, I was born and grew up in Huang. They call me a Gu-bitch, but I''ve never been further south than the border... I will stay here. I see. Then... She placed the tip of the dao against the little finger of the woman''s left hand, and thrust downwards sharply. You have fought to survive, and in doing so, you have harmed innocent people. You were poorly treated, but that does not absolve you of your actions. I will take a finger from each of you. Next time, if we cross paths and you have returned to crime, I will take your heads. The bandits gritted their teeth and silently winced as the dao sliced off one finger after another. Some of the members of the group were teenagers. They whimpered as Zy bit the inside of her cheek and took their fingers too. Let them go, Lady Gong. It had begun to rain, thunder rolling steadily towards them. The grass loosened, and the bandits slowly stumbled away, looking back fearfully. The bandit leader stood still, waiting for her troupe to leave first with an impassive expression. When they were all gone, her hollow eyes flickered over Zy, and the motionless figure of Gong Lau Yan. Have fun playing monarch, she said flatly, and disappeared into the rainy night. 45 - Unsheathe the Knife ε (bdo xingzh) - Unsheathe a knife, help another i.e. prepare to rescue someone from injustice.
Do you think I did the wrong thing, Lau Yan? I don''t know, A Y. I can''t tell you that. I don''t know if I did the right thing either. ... Thank you. For what? For making a decision when I couldn''t. I think... I''m a coward. Does being afraid of making the wrong decision make someone a coward? ... I don''t know, A Y.
Cheng Guk Lung sighed and rubbed his eyes for the twentieth time that half hour. Shu Kui sat opposite him, silently reading reports. She glanced up. "Do you need to take a break, Your Majesty?" "I suspect so. But this work won''t complete itself. Any progress in replacing the three dismissed ministers?" "We have a shortlist for each position." "Good... The fact that one of the positions is for the Household Minister really doesn''t help." He sipped from his cold cup of tea and pulled a face. "Any... Any sign of Lady Zy or Lady Gong?" "Unfortunately not, Your Majesty. We have not been able to find trace of them, which leads me to the conclusion that they are not currently in the Mortal Realm." The Regent of Chn sighed again. "Go and see your family, Shu Kui." Your Majesty-" "I''ll retire soon. Go first." "... Thank you, Your Majesty." She tidied her pile of papers, bowed, and disappeared like a wisp of smoke. Cheng Guk Lung pulled out a large map, spread it across the table, and considered it wearily, his joints crackling. It was a map of Ming Yuet, the old capital of Dzue. It had truly been an impressive place, a marvel of architecture. But here and there, a different brush had made notes. Comparison with Mun Gong''s writing found a match. He looked at the notes and wondered what they meant.
Vurd??ahar sat verdantly in a geographical basin surrounded by desert. A huge city, it was a major stop for merchants travelling along the Jade Road west or east. Zy examined the city with professional interest. People of all shapes, sizes, and races haggled at stalls, drank tea together, and wrangled horses and camels. The square buildings were built of stone and mud brick, the same colour as the surrounding desert. In contrast, the clothing of the local people was bright and rich, blue and red and yellow against the soft beige. They stopped at one of the larger tea shops, where people sat on cushions on the ground, chattering and sipping highly sweetened tea. As they entered, a young boy with large black eyes and a head of thick dark hair approached them with a bright smile. "D jis! Welcome! Tea?" "Yes please." Zy smiled at him. "And information." "Okay. Tea, I get. Uncle, I get." He gestured them to some silken cushions and disappeared behind a curtain. Not long after, a middle-aged man with a large beard and a hand covered in twinkling rings appeared with a tray of sweet tea. "Madams, greetings. I am Alam Wesa, the owner of this tea shop." They exchanged greetings and all drank down their cups of tea. Zy tasted spices and honey. The tea shop owner spoke fluent Xiang, his voice lowered to a murmur as he poured more tea. You are looking for information? "We''re looking for a person. Two, actually." "I can possibly help with that. Who are they?" "One is a cultivator - you know the term? With pale blond hair and dark eyes..." Zy noticed the expression shift on Alam Wesa''s face. "Is there a problem, sir?" "Madam, does this person happen to be travelling with a large black-haired foreigner covered in demonic symbols?" "I don''t know about demonic..." Actually, that''s probably true. "... but yes. Yun Y Fng and a foreign sorcerer." If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. "They''re in the dunes," Alam Wesa said bluntly, as he stood. "I will not ask you to pay for the tea or information, but please don''t return here again." "May I ask why not?" Gong Lau Yan''s tone was conversational as she downed her new cup of tea in one go. Zy passed her her own untouched cup. "We have bad blood between us. His Eminence, The Hadyahosh, is dealing with them now." Zy and Gong Lau Yan exchanged a look. The air in the store had grown tense, other customers watching them from the corners of their eyes. "Perhaps we can help," Gong Lau Yan said easily. "The last time help was offered, we lost the great one who protected us," Alam Wesa said. "Please, just leave." Let''s go, Gong Lau Yan murmured, as Zy opened her mouth to speak. There are times when you need to know when to step back. They stepped back out into the hot, dry day, Gong Lau Yan filling her flask with water from a nearby well. Maybe together, we''ll make a single functioning being, she said, rejoining Zy. So don''t go running off and leaving me behind. The loong smiled. Okay. The dunes that Alam Wesa spoke of rolled away to the northwest of Vurd??ahar. An ordinary person would sink with each step they took, but Zy and Gong Lau Yan skimmed lightly over the sand. Look there... Gong Lau Yan had spotted a flame in the distance. As they drew closer, the situation resolved itself; a huge ox, wreathed in flames, four powerful horns curled around its head, faced two humanoid figures who looked tiny in comparison. They were Zy''s junior sibling and their necromancer companion. The pair looked as though they had lost weight. As they hurried over, Yun Y Fng smiled at them cheerfully enough, but there was a droop to their shoulders. The necromancer''s eyes were ringed with dark circles, and they looked away when Zy smiled at him. His wild black hair had been roughly cut short recently, and stuck up at odd angles. The only one openly pleased to see them was a huge creature that resemble something between a lion and a dog. A pair of fangs protruded from its lower jaw, followed by a lolling blue tongue as it sniffled its way cautiously up to the two women. Its stubby tail wagged furiously. "This isn''t one of the shi zi from that auction, is it?" Gong Lau Yan said, as her hand was carefully sniffed and then washed by the blue tongue. Antlers and scales had sprouted once more from her head and across her face as she cast a glance towards the flaming ox. "Their puppy," Yun Y Fng explained. They bowed politely. "Greeting Shijie. Greeting Lady Gong." The necromancer grunted as Zy returned the greeting. Gong Lau Yan looked a little shame-faced. "I apologise for my behaviour the first time we met. I hope you can be gracious and look past it." "Has Shijie looked past it?" Yun Y Fng asked mildly. Gong Lau Yan glanced at Zy. For now. We''re working on it." She turned and bowed to the enormous ox, who had stood patiently as they spoke, fire curling around him. "You are Lord Hadyahosh, I believe?" That is so. A pair of dark, beady eyes considered first Zy, then Gong Lau Yan. You must be the envoys from the Empress-Under-the-Sea. I am Gong Lau Yan, niece of Tin Yeung Wong. Zy. I am the Senior Sister of this cultivator here. I understand my Junior Sibling has caused a disturbance. Indeed. The Hadyahosh shook his enormous head, wisps of flame flying into the air around him and dissipating. I''m fecking fed up with legal bullshite, the necromancer growled. Who was killed? The one who guarded this place, the Anqa. This one slit her throat. I let them leave once, on the promise they returned. And now they are here. Yun Y Fng, is this the case? Yes, Shijie. Are ye just going to leave out the whole part where she was trying to kill ye, ye damned fool? the necromancer yelped, grabbing Yun Y Fng''s cheek with strong fingers and shaking the cultivator''s head back and forth. The shi zi wuffed disapprovingly. What are your laws on self defence, Lord Hadyahosh? The ox snorted, and small flames flickered briefly in his nostrils. It is a difficult matter. The taking of a life, whether deliberate or accidental, whether with malice or reluctance, is a grave thing. Those who commit manslaughter must seek asylum, lest blood vengeance be brought upon them. Lord Hadyahosh... Zy looked boldly at him. ... you are reluctant to punish my Junior Sibling, aren''t you? But you are aware of the calls for vengeance from the people here. You''re in a difficult position. The Hadyahosh said nothing, simply met her eyes in silence. Yun Y Fng, why were you forced to kill the Anqa? Zy asked. The foxy bastard murdered her kids, the necromancer snapped, before the cultivator could reply. Her grief was... unmanaged, Yun Y Fng said softly. Tsaam Lei killed her children? He was attempting to steal her eggs to sell them, it would seem. But they broke in the process. Gong Lau Yan spoke to the Hadyahosh, her scales gleaming. Then this works out. The one who harmed the Anqa''s children, and therefore caused this situation, is still out there, and a lot of people are very eager for him to be caught. These two here are perhaps the best chance of catching him. This would solve your dilemma, Zy continued. If the one who killed the Anqa was tasked with capturing the murderer who drove her mad in the first place, and he was brought here to face justice, the people here might be satisfied. The ox nodded his huge head. It is good. Then it is decreed that the cultivator Yun Y Fng is to seek out, capture, and bring to justice the one who set this chain of events in motion. I will speak with the wise ones of the people of the region. Thank you, Lord Hadyahosh. Zy and Yun Y Fng both bowed. Gong Lau Yan and the Hadyahosh nodded to each other. The necromancer rolled his eyes. As the ox turned and slowly, majestically disappeared over the sand dunes, the necromancer pulled Yun Y Fng close, leaning on the much smaller cultivator''s shoulders. The shi zi leaned on Yun Y Fng''s other side. Thank you, Shi jie, Lady Gong. They were unable to bow, caught as if in a vice between the witch and the shi zi. Should we be going? Away from here to start, at least, Gong Lau Yan agreed. She tipped a pill onto her hand and chased it down with a gulp of water, before shaking her body out into her enormous dragon form. The shi zi backed up in confusion, but Gong Lau Yan lowered her head gently and blew a light puff of air into the lion-dog''s whiskers. What is your name, little one? The shi zi made a noise somewhere between a cough and a whine. Cute. Climb up, San Hei. Oh, Sunny, is it? And the rest of you. It will be faster this way. Where exactly are we going, Lady Gong? Yun Y Fng asked as they reached down to pull the necromancer up Gong Lau Yan''s scaly foreleg. Zy had already settled in her usual place on the loong''s neck, her hands wrapped around the warm antlers. East. To the border of Shisuan and Dzue. Have you seen the pine forest before, Yun Y Fng? The cultivator confessed they had not. Then we should probably start there. A sigh took hold of the loong''s entire frame. We should all probably start there. With everyone now seated, she launched herself skywards, until the desert was far below and the green edges of grassland could be seen in the east. Yun Y Fng, the necromancer, and the shi zi, Sunny, crouched low as a tight group. Zy turned back to face the approaching edge of grassland, caressing the bases of Gong Lau Yan''s antlers. Are you sure about this, Gong Dze? About what? Going back there again, so soon. I''ve got to go back sometime, A Y. I can''t keep running. I''m here with you. I''m here. I know. Thank you. 46 - Bind with Silk δ (wi y chu mu) C Before it rains, bind with silk, i.e. plan ahead.
They had barely crossed the border into Zhang when it became apparent that both Yuan Yi Feng and the necromancer were in dire need of rest. When Zeyi suggested that they all stop at Yuan Wei Temple, her Junior Sibling shook their head. I can''t go back yet. Their smile was tired and overused. So Gong Lau Yan diverted her flight path south, and the land below changed from dry grassland to scattered trees to sudden mountains to rolling green hills, and they were cruising above the basin of Chun. Yuan Yi Feng and the necromancer took everything in with curiosity. Gong Lau Yan slowed to allow them a better view, although she remained high enough to skim over the crests of low clouds. From the isolated little hermit''s huts and remote villages at the country''s edge, over increasingly larger and larger towns, until the capital, Qianbian, appear before them. The structures of wood and stone were achingly familiar to Zeyi, but at the same time, a deep feeling of loss clutched at her. She no longer belonged here. It was too risky to continue in loong form. Zeyi summoned her white lotus, while Yuan Yi Feng produced a giant ginseng leaf, and they all floated slowly down together. Occasional drifts of rain pattered on their hair and clothes. Hey, is that Guk Lung? Gong Lau Yan gestured with her chin at two figures who had just appeared at the tallest tower of the palace. One was a gangly man in embroidered, spring green robes, and the other was a much more solid man in military uniform. Cousin. Commander. Zeyi greeted them with bows as they all landed on the tower, then introduced them to the newest additions to the party. Sunny grumbled suspiciously when Yng Jn held out a friendly hand, but she immediately changed her mind when he produced a strip of jerky. What kind of damned guard dog is she? The necromancer''s voice was husky and his tone rough, but there was a gentle look in his eye as he watched Sunny eagerly eat the jerky. I''m afraid that''s our fault, cride, Yuan Yi Feng said gently. She hasn''t eaten so well as she should have during our travels. We can remedy that, Cheng Guk Lung offered. Please, come with me. Actually, I''m glad you came by, Cousin. There''s something I needed to tell you. After some discussion, the group ended up within the antechamber beside the throne room. There were even more papers piled on the table and the floor than when Zeyi had left; she eyed everything guiltily as servants brought food and tea. Sunny and the necromancer ate with similar gusto. You can see the family resemblance, Gong Lau Yan laughed, provoking a real smile from Yuan Yi Feng. This is what I wanted to show you. Cheng Guk Lung carefully spread a large map on the only horizontal surface left, a patch of floor, and everyone crouched down to look at it, careless of decorum. A map of Ming Yuet, the capital of Dzue? Do you recognise this writing? Gong Lau Yan stared at Mun Gong''s brushwork. I have no idea what they mean. You don''t know why she would have written this? Not at all. Below what? What about the back room? Is she referring to the Smiling Moon rice wine he hid there? How did you know he hid Smiling Moon wine there? Gong Lau Yan coughed. I have no idea what these notes mean. Neither do I, said Zeyi, trying to temper her amusement. She saw Cheng Guk Lung''s expression. Don''t worry, we can have a look when we go there. If there''s anything left to see. Do you even know what the situation is right now, in Dzue? Last time we visited, the curse was definitely still in effect. We were able to get to the city and explore a little, but we couldn''t stay long. Shi jie... Yuan Yi Feng interjected. Could you, perhaps- Explain what the feck ye''re gabbing about? the necromancer finished. As Zeyi quickly explained the knowledge they had gathered so far, Cheng Guk Lung said to Gong Lau Yan, Lady Gong, how did you manage to stay so long in Dzue? I can see you''re still not recovered. A certain miracle doctor made me some elixirs. She tipped out her last pill and showed it to him. I always sthought that Miracle Doctor Dzue Yi-sang was related to the old kingdom. The Regent of Chun turned the spherical pill in his hands, admiring its smooth, shining surface. Who is she, really? For a long while, I thought she was the only surviving member of the Dzue royal family. A distant relative, not from the main branch. Hm... Well, the family registers do need officially updating... At length, the group dispersed. The necromancer and Sunny wandered, yawning, to find the rooms that had been set aside for them. Gong Lau Yan and Yuan Yi Feng disappeared outside to talk, despite the gentle rain that was now falling. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Zeyi sat alone with Cheng Guk Lung amongst the piles of paper. I''m sorry I missed your official instatement, Cousin. There was a soft clack as Cheng Guk Lung set down his tea cup on a tiny square of visible wooden floor. He sighed and leaned back a little, to the sound of his spine crackling faintly. Guk Lung. Even if I had ten mouths, I would have no words to express my disgrace. Cousin, I handed this kingdom to you and ran away... She bowed her forehead to the ground. .... and now I shamelessly come back- So you do know. Yes. Zeyi remained with her forehead pressed to the floor. Sit up, Zeyi. Cheng Guk Lung sighed again. Cousin... Ah, you''re too trusting. Do you really think you already know everything about me? You tossed an entire kingdom at me and walked away- I wasn''t about trust, Guk Lung. I''m just not worthy. I''m not a child of Chun Shenzhi. I have no blood ties to the royal family... How do you think regents became regents in the first place, Zeyi? Cheng Guk Lung groaned. Do you think someone worthy of managing a country would throw it to one side like I did? Cousin... I''m weak. I didn''t want Lau Yan to leave me behind again. The people I loved... they''re all gone now. Or it turns out that they hurt me badly. I didn''t want to be alone again. Oh, so that''s what you think of me and Shu Kui, Cheng Guk Lung said, half-jokingly. ... I''m sorry. Well, it''s not like I don''t understand. Cheng Guk Lung spoke lightly, but he lowered his voice. Shu Kui stopped eating properly for a while after you left. We had to force her to eat. ... I''ll see her before I leave. Good. The tea in the pot was cold by now, but Cheng Guk Lung poured himself another cup and drank it. Zeyi, you''re my elder, and a Third Dantian cultivator, but... Your experiences with managing people were limited to the relief and rescue effort during the Great Rains. Somewhat similar to a country at war, but during peacetime? Administering a kingdom for the day-to-day? And Lady Gong... I understand that she wasn''t really involved with the everyday work of overseeing Dzue. That would make sense. Have you not spoken with her about it? Only a little. It''s hard for her to talk about. Lady Gong needs to come to terms with it someday. Perhaps she needs to spend some time at Yuan Wei, as you did. It was Zeyi''s turn to sigh, and she sat up. Should I stay here then, Cousin? I think it''s a good idea, at least for a little while. The people here miss you. The Divine Lotus, princess of the people, your presence would reassure the citizens. But it''s your choice. I was concerned... that Gong Lau Yan wouldn''t want to go back to Dzue if I wasn''t with her. I hope to break the country of the curse as soon as possible. I''ve become increasingly aware of how the survivors are living. The prejudice against them is deep-rooted, said Cheng Guk Lung. Jealousy and misinformation fanned the flames. I''ve made it illegal to force the Dzue refugees to wear those ''worm patches'', but many of the people would already be recognised by others, and in the remote parts of Chun, enforcement is difficult. I suspect some Dzue people would continue to wear the patches as a mark of resistance too. Zeyi stared at her own cold cup of tea. The liquid began to swirl. I met a group of Dzue people in Wong, on our way to find my Junior Sibling. They were living as bandits. Cheng Guk Lung let the silence stretch, pouring himself another cup of tea. I... sliced off their little fingers. You didn''t execute them? What right did I have to do that? The world is against them. How would they find legal employment? Who, aside from Dzue Yi-sang, would give them medical care? How many of them are working as hard labourers, little better than slaves, or exploited sex workers? How many became thieves or bandits? And so, your guilt pushes you to follow Gong Lau Yan about, hoping she will return with you to Dzue to solve matters? I love Lau Yan, Zeyi said simply. Being with her brings me great happiness. In those small moments when we have no cares, when it''s simply the two of us and the open skies, I feel as though I never want it to end. But there are deep fears in her. I can only imagine how it was to return to her home and find everyone she loved, especially her Dze-dze, who she clearly respected above everyone, was gone. I don''t blame her for avoiding Dzue. She can''t keep living in this way. It''s not living, Cousin. Zeyi sat very upright, but her eyes were cast down unseeingly. If... If I asked to stay a little while... Just until Yuan Yi Feng and their friend... Well, that''s not right, is it? Until they''ve recovered a little... A hand appeared in her field of view. She hesitated, but placed her own into it. Stay as long as you like, Zeyi, Cheng Guk Lung said. It''s very noble of you to want to charge out and save the people, but if you''re not ready, then you''re not ready. You might do more harm than good. Besides... He looked around at the sea of papers in the room and gave a wicked grin. I could do with a little help around here. I accept my punishment. Can''t you just see it as being nice to your dear cousin? Hm... I''ll think about it.
You wished to speak with me, Lady Gong? Yuan Yi Feng asked with a polite smile. The two of them stood under a pagoda in one of the gardens, the soft sound of rain falling on the tiled roof above them. Gong Lau Yan scratched lightly at her arm. Yeah. I wanted... You grew up under Yuen Muk, didn''t you? I did. How was he, during that time? I understand you met Master recently, Lady Gong, I- I don''t mean... I want to know how he seemed to you, as you were growing up. Taking a seat on one of the stone benches circling the edge of the pagoda, Yuan Yi Feng neatly folded their hands in their lap. Master has been well. He has always treated everyone with kindness and care. You''re very close to him, aren''t you? Gong Lau Yan said softly. You even have that same smile he has when he''s acting polite. Yuan Yi Feng continued to smile that same smile, with an additional quizzical lift of their eyebrows. You''ve every right to dislike me. I pushed your Senior Sister away, and I... I abandoned your master too. The loong''s voice was so soft, it could barely be heard over the rain. It began to crack and waver, and she extracted her water flask to drink from it. I''m not aware of your history with Master, Lady Gong. I''m telling you now. I knew Yuen Muk when he was Gou Dzing, eldest son of the Gou Family. We went through the Great Demon War together. When it was over, we promised to look out for one another... and I didn''t. I almost forgot that he went by the name Yuen Muk. She sat on another bench, close, but not too close. Perhaps it''s too late now to try, but I''m going to try. Lady Gong, you''re the child of Lady Maang Dzeung, the Azure Dragon of the East, Divine Guardian of Wood, aren''t you? asked Yuan Yi Feng. My true Master, so-called. .. she''s my mother. So-called. Yuan Yi Feng had dark eyes that contrasted strikingly with their hair. These rested thoughtfully on Gong Lau Yan. Your relationship with your mother was not a good one, then? Next question. The small cultivator shook their head, rising. I think both of us are too tired for this conversation, Lady Gong. Let''s speak again when we''re better rested. They smiled, and this smile was a little less for politeness'' sake. I would like to ask you about Wood Cultivation practices next time. You have strong Wood energy. With a small chuckle, Gong Lau Yan extended her hand out into the rain, her dry skin thirstily soaking in the water. Sure. Then, thank you, Lady Gong. Yuan Yi Feng bowed, and with a light tap, soared away into the cloudy day. For a little longer, Gong Lau Yan sat in the pagoda, hands outstretched to the rain. At length, she stepped out, letting the drops soak into her hair and clothes, her face turned up to the sky and eyes closed. She only turned when she heard a light step behind her, as Zeyi landed in the rain beside her. Wordlessly, they reached out to each other, and stood a while longer, uncertain as to who was holding up whom. 47 - Awl in a Bag ֮F (nng zhng zh zhu) - an awl in a bag, ie. a hidden danger.
A month passed quickly. Zeyi spent many waking hours in the antechamber with Cheng Guk Lung, drafting decrees and policies and arbitrating arguments between the ministers. She would sit alone in the gardens of the palace when she could, the scroll with the Wdng Sect''s Yn and Yng cultivation technique laid out before her. Fan Bi''an''s voice still spoke to her at times, and she spoke back, a little guiltily. Was it wrong that she enjoyed their conversations? At these times, the demonic and spiritual energies swirled peacefully within her three dantian, and breathing had never been so easy. If she made it to a bed, she would fall asleep alone, but wake up to find a slumbering Gong Lau Yan tucked up beside her, her usually cool skin made warm by a night snuggled together. Gong Lau Yan, for her part, haunted Chun''s rivers during the crepuscular hours, often in loong shape. Rumours began to emerge of a dragon in the waterways, its presence imbuing spiritual powers to the waters. On a rare moment they were both free, the two of them came across the necromancer, seated in the woods three li east of Qianban. In female form, she sat amongst the leaves, eyes closed, surrounded by the forms of ghostly creatures, glowing like moonlight. Yuan Yi Feng knelt behind them, arms around her neck, gravely watching the animal spirits. Feeling they were seeing something they should not, Zeyi and Gong Lau Yan crept away. East, the necromancer said, walking through the door of the antechamber with Yuan Yi Feng following behind. The three people in the room looked up, dazed, surrounded by papers. Gong Lau Yan realised she had been folding a request for repairs to the palace library into an approximation of a gold ingot. She smoothed it out hurriedly. The hell''s she on about? Fan Bi''an''s voice asked Zeyi cheerfully. What''s east? Cheng Guk Lung asked, pinching the bridge of his nose. That foxy bastard. Tsaam Lei? Gong Lau Yan frowned. There had been no news of the wu lei jing. With his last known location being Yamato, over the sea, it seemed that, like the fox he was, he had gone to earth. It seems he may be in Dzue, Lady Gong, Yuan Yi Feng explained. The animal spirits say they saw him at the border of Shisuan. Gong Lau Yan frowned even harder. Zeyi poked her between the brows. Ow. Maybe he''s starting to remember who he was? Only way for us to be knowing is by catching the vermin, the necromancer growled. Will you be coming with us, Lady Gong? Yuan Yi Feng asked quietly. Before Zeyi could respond for her, Gong Lau Yan squeezed her shoulder, the crystal lotus gently swaying from her ear. No, Yuan Yi Feng. I''m not ready to face him yet. I still remember when he was just a cheeky little fox who liked to play tricks. Everyone viewed this admission with surprise. I''ll be going with Zeyi to the remains of Ming Yuet. The notes left by Mun Gong on this map make me uneasy. She tapped the paper. ... Siu Lei would get attached to people easily. He can transform into many humanoid forms, and he''s fast. The Lady Eitsu requested information about wu lei jing from me, when I saw her several months ago, Cheng Guk Lung provided. The writings left by my Great-aunt, The Sage Star, say that he was faster than ''Ah Bik'' and ''Gaam Si-hing''. Do you know who they are? Do I know? Gong Lau Yan''s expression was pain and pride all at once. Gaam Yuk Ying, the Jade Exorcist, direct disciple of Old White, the Divine Tiger of the West. And Ah Bik, Little Chan Bik, the Drifting Star. She was the direct disciple of the Vermilion Bird, and one of the Two Stars, along with your Great-Aunt. She shook, and closed her eyes. Did she not leave any writings about her relationship with Chan Bik? None that I''ve seen. Cheng Guk Lung said, furiously scrawling notes on the back of a piece of paper he had randomly grabbed from the piles. That girl, so practical. Not even writing about her own lover. Cheng Guk Lung''s brush froze, creating a large blot. Not for the first time, Zeyi was reminded of the immense gulf of years between them, that Gong Lau Yan would refer to someone, a renowned figure, who had died long before Zeyi''s birth as ''that girl''. Cheng Guk Lung cleared his throat. Also, I remember she said he has a great sense of the health of his forest, shot leaves like knives, and could hum a tune to make the trees move and confuse trespassers, although- This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. He''s tone deaf, Gong Lau Yan said in unison with him. Yes, he was always terrible at singing. So what, we should be challenging him to a singing contest? the necromancer grumbled. Well then you''d win. Yuan Yi Feng smiled. You have a very nice voice. Stop being so damned embarrassing! What do you mean, cride? A knocking at the door interrupted their flirting. A guard in spring green livery slid the door open and bowed to Cheng Guk Lung. Your Majesty, some visitors have arrived. They are looking for your guests. Who are they? They introduced themselves as Haat Ngan Wan and Xi Wji. The guard paused. The latter appears to be a demon noble. Dzue Yi-sang and her partner, Zeyi murmured quickly to Cheng Guk Lung. He nodded to the guard to let the pair in. They must have been stopped at the palace entrance, as it was some time before they arrived. At last, Haat Ngan Wan sailed in, looking more contented and healthy than they had ever seen her before. Xi Wji followed, bending very slightly to avoid brushing the tips of her short, spiky hair in the doorway. She straightened and caught sight of the necromancer. They stared at one another for a moment, arms folded. The muscles in their forearms twitched. Haat Ngan Wan sighed. Yuan Yi Feng smiled as though they had become a single-celled organism. The necromancer and Xi Wji nodded to each other curtly. Your Majesty, Haat Ngan Wan bowed to the ground. I am Haat Ngan Wan, also known as Dzue Yi-sang. Please stand, Yi-sang. I''ve heard a great deal about you from Zeyi and Gong Lau Yan. I''m sorry I can''t really offer you a seat, as you can see... No trouble. Without a word, Xi Wji knelt, one knee presented, and without a pause, Haat Ngan Wan sat on it. The rest of the room stared. The necromancer''s eyes shifted down to Yuan Yi Feng. The monk was still smiling, but Zeyi was certain she heard them whisper out of the corner of their mouth, Don''t. The necromancer began to bend to the floor. Every head swung around at the startled yelp from death-witch. She clutched her side, squirming, while the eternally-smiling Yuan Yi Feng looked questioningly at everyone. Something wrong? Are scary, muscly women popular now? Gong Lau Yan murmured to Zeyi. Should I be changing my look? If that''s so, I must have old-fashioned tastes, Zeyi whispered back. Haat Ngan Wan spoke without the slightest sense of embarrassment. Cousin, how are you? Well, Dzak Yaat. It seemed that Haat Ngan Wan preferred to use Zeyi''s Dzue name, but it felt strange. I have improved the formula for Gong Dze''s medicine. Here. She produced a small bottle, and Yuan Yi Feng eyed it avidly. Yi-sang, may I...? At her nod, they took the bottle, broke the wax seal and tipped five round pills onto their hand. Gong Lau Yan and Cheng Guk Lung crowded around curiously too. Lily bulb... Liquorice... White Peony Root? Yuan Yi Feng asked, sniffing the pills and the bottle. They closed their eyes and a faint green glow appeared around the pills in their hand. Fritillary bulbs, Dong Quai, bellflower, figwort and monkeygrass roots, and rehmannia... prepared and unprepared. Do ye have any idea what any of that was? the necromancer muttered to Zeyi. Herbalism isn''t my strong point, Zeyi admitted. Where''s Sunny? Out playing with a bunch of kids. Where do they all spawn from? They''re the children of the palace staff, mostly. Haat Ngan Wan was nodding approvingly. Correct. You are...? Yuan Yi Feng, Head Disciple of the Yuan Wei School of Healing. Ah, I see. You''re the successor of Master Yuen Muk. You''ve heard of my Master? He is well known in medical circles. Cheng Guk Lung took one of the pills and examined it closely. Gong Lau Yan threw one in her mouth. Tastes better than the last one. It should last longer too. Haat Ngan Wan stood, and Xi Wji got to her feet. We should be going. Please stay a while, Cheng Guk Lung insisted, tearing his eyes away from the pill. My Junior Sibling and their companion will be heading to Tsaam Lam soon, Zeyi said. You could travel together. If you have time, I''d like to hear how the Demon Realm has been, Gong Lau Yan added. I see that we''re compelled to stay, Haat Ngan Wan said, and the hint of a smile cracked her icy demeanour. So be it.
A week later, and the group paused at the border, examining the defined line where the lush grassy hills of Chun abruptly turned to dry, leafless ruin. Dzue fell away south behind a pall of pale dust. Sunny sniffed and sneezed. We''ll follow the border north from here, Xi Wji said. The dry is very bad for Ngan Wan''s skin, I want to avoid her walking through it as much as possible. What about our skin? Fan Bi''an''s voice complained in Zeyi''s head. Gong Lau Yan couldn''t suppress the grin that she shot at Haat Ngan Wan, who merely said, Are you not departing, Gong Dze? Trying to get rid of me, Yi-sang? Yes. Go away. With a little laugh, Gong Lau Yan tipped out her pills, swallowed one with some water, then transformed. Yuan Yi Feng and the necromancer observed her with complicated expressions. With Zeyi in her usual place behind her antlers, Gong Lau Yan rose smoothly into the air, her green-brown scales shining. Soon, the other five were small specks in the distance, and then they were gone. Zeyi had wrapped a shawl around her face to shield it from the dry and dusty air, and she crouched low, until the ruins of Ming Dzue emerged from the haze. They made a spiralling descent into the city, Gong Lau Yan unerringly headed for a specific location, despite the state of the place. They landed, and when Gong Lau Yan was back in human form, her own scarf pulled over her face, she led the way towards one of the many crumbled buildings. It must have stood many storeys tall, once upon a time, but now only the ruins of the lowest floor remained. The remains of a fragile wooden sign lay across the doorway; Zeyi could just about make out the name ''Tang''. In what was once the backroom, Gong Lau Yan began to search, lifting heavy stone aside easily, any remaining wood crumbling at the slightest touch. Zeyi did the same, tossing aside objects. They were clearing the floor quickly when Zeyi felt something different under the dust. She brushed it away to reveal a metal trapdoor, large enough for a person to enter. Lau Yan... Without hesitating, Gong Lau Yan flexed her arm, and pulled. Rather than coming up smoothly, the metal trapdoor tore away the wood, splinters scattering. A swirl of dry air rose out of the yawning black abyss. 48 - Longing for Sustained Rain ʱ²ꡣ(Shngng shulin di sh li, tinxi cngshng wng lny.) - When the time comes when the magical power is restrained, all the people in the world will look forward to the rain. - Chen Rong (), Nine Dragons Painting (ͼ)
What is this? Zeyi crouched down and tried to peer into the hole. Nothing but darkness, even with her heightened senses. Lau Yan, do you see anything? Lau Yan? The loongs grey-brown eyes carried the faintest green glow in the dark back room of Old Tangs store. They were narrowed, but the pupils were enormous. Theres the remains of a ladder. How far does it go? Not far Whats wrong? Gong Lau Yan narrowed her grey-brown eyes. Im notsure? Something about it feels hollow. As if theres a lot of tunnels, leading a long way down. But I cant see The air is somewhat stale, but not as bad as an enclosed space should be. I dont understand it. She shrugged. I guess the only way to find out is to go down. What do you think? I can feel that its excessively dry down there too. If we go down there, would we be able to find our way back up? Zeyi mused. And we cant see either They both frowned at the empty black hole. Get on my back, Zeyi, Gong Lau Yan suggested. I can see a little, so lets try climbing down as far as I can see and then decide. She folded her tall frame, allowing Zeyi to climb on her back and cling like a monkey. She slowly began to descend into the blackness. The air in here was odourless but stifling. Zeyi continued to swivel her head, peering fruitlessly into the darkness. If only it werent so dry, she would have been able to reach out, sense the water around her and perhaps grasp the form of the space they were in. Theres a platform just below. Gong Lau Yan reached the bottom of the ladder and tested the platform before placing their weight on it. When Zeyi tried to get down, the loong stopped her. Stay up there for now. The platform is small. Happy to stay holding onto Gong Lau Yan, Zeyi felt the loong move a few steps one way, then the other. There are two old wood bridges. One has broken. The other looks brittle and liable to break if we step on it, but I cant see exactly where it ends. Hold on. Gong Lau Yan did not change form, but she suddenly rushed forwards. The rapid acceleration in the dark was at once both frightening and exhilarating; Zeyi held on tight as Gong Lau Yan raced through the darkness like a swift wind. It was over in a moment. They had apparently landed on another platform. Gong Lau Yan took a deep breath, then let out a series of clicks with her tongue. The sounds echoed oddly, bouncing off stone walls repeatedly. Zeyi listened in silence to the reverberations disappearing into the dark, her breath shallow. The loong was silent. Zeyi was seized with a sudden fear, there in the darkness, that she was alone in the depths again, unable to escape She took a deep breath, focusing on circling her qi around and around her second dantian, and squeezed Gong Lau Yans shoulders. A warm, dry hand patted her own, and she breathed again. Theres structures in here. Like tunnels. Narrow passages. She spoke as if to herself. Zeyi reached out a hand and touched rock; she retracted it and reached out her other hand and touched rock. A corridor? It seems so. Then we could absolutely get lost in here. Its dark, and we cant sense much. I have a few dragon pearls we could use to light the way, but well have to use them sparingly. Gong Lau Yan pulled one from the pouch on her belt, and Zeyi felt the brief flow of qi where her hand held the loongs shoulder. The pearl glowed softly, lighting a small halo around them. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. With this light, a little more of the corridor could be seen. A spiderweb of narrow pipes ran across the ceiling and into the shadows outside of the pearls light. Several empty doorways stood along one wall, the fine, powdery remains of wooden doors piled within them. From the direction they had come, the splintering remains of a wood and metal bridge stretched into the darkness. There were arrows painted on the wall, and text, in bright red paint. Most of it had flaked away with the extreme dryness, but Zeyi could make out one or two words. outside first water tank second floor Is this a directory? She was still on Gong Lau Yans back. The loong had one hand hooked under her thigh to hold her in place, the other holding the pearl. Zeyi felt the arm pressed against her growing more and more tense. I can get down. No Stay there. Then Ill hold the pearl. Silently handing over the pearl, Gong Lau Yan began to make her way down the corridor. They peered into the first empty doorway. A pile of wood dust and paint chips lay in the centre of the room, cradling plain ceramic bowls. Shreds of paper, that might once have been paintings, clung piecemeal to the disintegrating walls. Fragments of cloth, that might once have formed rudimentary bedding, lay in one corner. There were five mummified bodies gathered around the pile of dust. Perfectly dry, three adults and two children were slumped in positions that suggested they had been gathered around a table, eating a meal together, when the curse swept through Ming Yuet. In their reconnaissance, the loong soldiers of Tin Yeung Wong had observed that the cursed zone spread some distance into the air. It seemed that it had reached underground too. Gong Lau Yan turned and rushed to the next doorway. This family had four adults and five children. Crammed into the small room, some of them at the desiccated remains of the table, other curled up in the remains of the bedding. The next room had one adult and three children. Shadows whirled as Gong Lau Yan rushed from one room to the next, the pearl casting pale glow across the remains of peoples lives. Occasionally there were animals too, cats and rats and once, a dog, lying where the curse had caught them. Rounding the corner, wider doorways opened onto what might once have been shops, the goods long fallen to dry powder, wooden shelves fallen and crumbled, the people who worked there reduced to skeletons shrink-wrapped by their dried skin. The two women were barely breathing by now. The hand that held the pearl shook, although Zeyi continued to hold it aloft, unable to look away. In places, directories were written on the walls. Words like doctor and water and bright candy could be made out. Cracked stone floors, metal pipes, stairways and gaping doorways, tiles this was a city, a whole other city below a city, populated by corpses. Lau Yan Lets stop for a moment. The dragon pearl was beginning to grow dim. Numbly, Gong Lau Yan set Zeyi down on a tiled step, then sat down. She stared at the pattern of black and white and grey squares. Zeyi took the loongs hand. It was icy cold, but then, so was her own. I wonder Gong Lau Yan said, if Dze-dze knew. Zeyi said nothing. I mean, I didnt know, so So its entirely possible she didnt She didnt Her face was buried in her free hand. Zeyi thought about Mun Gong, wondered how she had found out about this place. It keeps going down. I can feel it. But I dont know how far We can look, Zeyi said quietly. How do you recharge the pearl? Is it like? Ah, right, thanks We can only use one of these twice. Theyre not very high-quality ones. How many do you have? Three. Well have to hurry, then. Zeyi had a ribbon in her hair to hold it back. She untied it, then retied it around Gong Lau Yans wrist. The other end was tied around her own. Lets go. They followed an uneven set of brick steps downwards. Once more, there were doorways leading to ruined rooms, shops, offices, bodies. Another floor. And another floor. And another floor. As they paused to charge a new pearl, Zeyi looked up suddenly. Water? Gong Lau Yan sniffed the air. Its damp somewhere below us. Down, down, down There was no mistaking it now. The air was growing steadily more humid. Some parts of the floor sported the slightest hint of green mould, and it was easier to breathe. The bodies here were less dry too. Partly mummified, partly rotted corpses were strewn about in more violent positions than those on the upper floors. Where the people upstairs had been taken unawares, eating their meals, sleeping, working, the further the distance from the curse epicentre, the more time they had to react. Many lay in the corridors, stretched out where they had tried to escape. Others lay in the half-decomposing remains of water tanks. They found a child, their bones jutting from their dry yet rotting flesh, lying curled up in one of these tanks. And then, as they descended one more floor, recharging the pearl, they found it empty. There were no bodies here, but neither were there the remains of any objects, no furniture, no boxes or tanks, as if someone had come along and taken everything away. Do you feel it too, Zeyi? Gong Lau Yan asked, with a mirthless grin. Theres something living below this level. She could sense it, the faint swirls of jing energy that all living things have, moving somewhere below them. We only have one pearl left after this, Gong Dze. Gong Lau Yan sighed, then shuddered. We should go. Well prepare and come back Simultaneously, they looked down the empty corridor in the direction they had been headed, senses straining. Someones coming. It was some time before they finally caught the sound of the approaching creature. It sounded bipedal, perhaps with a limp, and it moved slowly. A tapping sound C it seemed to be using a stick. Zeyi held the pearl higher. Gong Lau Yan reached for a small sheath on her leg hidden under her tunic and brought forth a silvery knife. With her other hand, she dipped into another of the pouches on her belt. Tap. Tap. Tap. The figure came into view, hovering just at the edge of the light. A pair of enormous, milky eyes stared at them from a pale, swollen face. 49 - Ghost Lover, Heart Opening (gumxnqio) C literally, ghost enthusiast heart opening. To be possessed by a ghost, i.e. act completely irrationally.
The large eyes squinted against the light of the pearl. The figure sniffed the air, as though smelling for the intruders. A dry and purple tongue flickered momentarily between the cracked lips like a gecko. Gong Lau Yan bristled, scales blooming across her face as her antlers sprang forth. Her eyes glowed. The figure took a few, hesitant steps forwards, tapping with the stick. Have you come back for us? The words were spoken in simple Dzue. Looking carefully, Zeyi could see the figure was wearing many layers of clothing to keep warm in this subterranean city, some of which resembled old-fashioned fishing garb. Sensing the frozen state that Gong Lau Yan was falling into, she spoke first, in basic Dzue. Who are you waiting for? The figure continued to squint, their eyes watering painfully. Their voice was mournful. Our queen. Recklessly, Zeyi threw her arms around Gong Lau Yan as the loong emitted a tiny, animal wail, her human skin splitting like a crushed grape and her dragons body attempting to escape from within it. Zeyi was strong, but against a loong, this meant nothing. But against Lau Yan? The loongs shape writhed, grew larger and shrank. Gong Lau Yan snuffled and panted, struggling for air. The darkness grew closer, and Zeyi felt her own breathing begin to labour. Gong Dze? Gong Dze, are you doing this? I cant breathe properly. No discernible response came from the loong. Gong Dze, Im going to die if I cant breathe, Zeyi said harshly, matter-of-factly, in spite of the feeling that her lungs were being strangled. Are you trying to kill me? Gong Lau Yan gasped, and the air rushed back into Zeyis lungs. Before the loong could speak, Zeyi turned to the figure at the edge of the light, too far away to have been significantly impacted by the vacuum Gong Lau Yan had inadvertently created. Who are you? Are you a human? Gou Gin Gam, Lady. I am human, certainly. Are you? Gou? Gong Lau Yan whispered. As in lofty. Yes, Im a proud descendant of the Sekseun Gou Family. Master Yuan Mu? Zeyi murmured, catching most of Gou Gin Gams words. Gong Lau Yan nodded. Letting go of the loong, Zeyi bowed, although she wasnt sure if the person could see her. Greetings, Master Gou. I am She fumbled for a name. How many people knew of her existence in Dzue? How would they respond to a Xiang name? Mui Gwai, Gong Lau Yan supplied, pulling herself upright. And Im Miss Fan. Master Gou are there many of you down here? Despite his alarming appearance, Gou Gin Gam chuckled good-naturedly, the sound like a hidden brook bubbling over rocks. I may be from a noble family, Ladies, but Ive been down here all my life. No need to call me Master. As for the others, yes, there are many. Please, come with me. Im sure there are many who will want to hear where you Can you hear that? Gong Lau Yan stared intently into the darkness, in the direction that Gou Gin Gam had emerged from. It took a moment before Zeyi could hear it too, whispery voices that sounded odd somehow. When Gou Gin Gam finally heard the voices too, he began to retreat away from them. Keep quiet! Keep quiet! he whispered urgently. As Gong Lau Yan extinguished the light of the luminescent pearl, they saw him duck into one of the rooms. Zeyi seized the loongs hand, feeling the thin sheen of condensation over the bricks and using it to lead them to a hiding place, what felt like a broken cabinet. They listened in silence as the voices grew louder. I dont know why we keep doing this. Theres nothing here anymore. Anything thats left would be in the Dry Levels. Where did Old Gou disappear to? Hiding, probably. Lets fish him out. Their laughter was like the wind through dry reeds. Zeyi saw the faint green phosphorescence of Gong Lau Yans eyes drift in the direction of the voices. She put her lips to the loongs ear to whisper and felt Gong Lau Yans arm wrap around her waist. Gong Dze, those voices sound strange. She felt the loong nod, and together they left their hiding spot. Peering around the doorframe, Zeyi couldnt see anything, even with her heightened senses. She tried to distribute her internal energy through the dregs of moisture on the walls and floor, but felt nothing. A faint tremor ran shook Gong Lau Yan, a shudder as though she had seen something unpleasant. Zeyi felt her reach for one of the pouches on her belt. Gong Dze? Ghosts. Simultaneously unsurprised and faintly disturbed, Zeyi considered the situation. As a student of the Still Heart School with a strong Water element, she was more susceptible to the damaging Yin energy of ghosts than disciples of any other cultivation practice. Gong Lau Yan was clearly aware of this too; her arm moved in front of Zeyi and pushed her back a little, speaking so quietly that Zeyi had to strain to hear her. Stay there, A Yi. I can- I know you can, but its safer if I go. Dont forget, Im the great Demon Hunter, Miss Fen, right? She stepped out into the corridor and lit the luminescent pearl. Zeyi had never seen a real ghost before. She took the briefest of glimpses before pulling back again. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. There were three ghosts, floating at the doorway where Gou Gin Gam had rushed to hide, and they turned as Gong Lau Yan approached. It was impossible, from appearance, to tell what they had looked like in life. All was made equal, in death. They had long, brittle grey hair, untied and lank around their faces, which were reduced to skulls with pale grey skin stretched tightly across them. They had no eyes, no noses, and under that thatch of dry hair, probably no external ear parts. Each wore long ragged robes that did not touch the ground. Their lower halves seemed less corporeal than the rest of them. What they did have were long, gruesome tongues, desiccated and almost as long as their robes. Is that what I looked like, when I left the lake? Zeyi thought. The ghosts drew themselves up, growing larger, looming over Gong Lau Yan. What have we here? A nice amount of Wood yang energy. Pity there isnt more. But then that Water energy Will you give us some of your energies, handsome girl? Their words were somewhat muffled and lisping. Gong Lau Yan bowed respectfully. Dai dzes, my name is Miss Fan. You seem thirsty. Out of sight, Zeyi twitched. Why did everything sound so flirtatious? So thirsty. Very thirsty. Can you help us? Honestly, if it were not for the hair-raising sight of three skull-faced, long-tongued ghosts circling Gong Lau Yan, one might have thought they were listening to three young girls blushing over a cool beauty at a marketplace. I can help you, but I need your help in return. Our help? How so? Youre very cheeky, sai mui. Sai mui? You might be dead but shes still a thousand years older than you! Zeyi tried to ignore the vinegary taste in her mouth and bit her tongue. Gong Lau Yan looked uneasy. Well, you see The three ghosts edged closer. Im afraid I might seem disrespectful. Then youll just have to give us more energy in return. If thats so could you tell me more about yourselves, lovely dai dzes? Zeyi closed her eyes, clasped her hands together, and repeated the precepts of the Still Heart School in her mind. Throw some salt at them, Fan Bians voice said to her. Are you, a demon, seriously suggesting that? Remember Im just a voice in your head, da jie. The ghosts wavered. If you were anyone else, we would have sucked all the energy from you in an instant. Asking a wandering ghost about their life? Are you looking for death? Perhaps thats what you really want? Gong Lau Yan held her hands up placatingly. Dai dzes, I sincerely promise that I will help you. Ill ease your thirst, if only youll assist me. I know Im asking a great deal, but I swear that you will not regret it. There was no sound in those dark corridors. We are wandering ghosts, one of them said, hollow. We are made of regret. Havent you had enough? asked Gong Lau Yan, softly. A shiver ran through the spirits. I I think my name had a bird in it, said one ghost, stumbling over the words. I remember I lived on the fifth level. Down here? Gong Lau Yan asked quickly. Of course down here. We couldnt afford to live in the city above. Besides I think we were happy in Bak San. Bak San? Eight Mountains? The ghosts flickered. Down here. This place is called Bak San. Didnt you know that? Ill explain later, Gong Lau Yan said, deflecting with a winning smile. Please dont let me interrupt you, dai dze. I remember nothing else, the ghost deferred abruptly. I remember a red room, said another ghost. Perfume. Silk I believe I worked at a pleasure palace. I think, overall, it was a good place. I was generally treated well. Sugar, said the third ghost. I remember the smell of sugar. It was hot too A sweets stall? Gong Lau Yan suggested. Yes, I think youre right. We had a big sign over the door with gold-painted letters. The ghosts seemed more solid, their tongues shorter, and colour seemed to have bled a little into their clothes and skin and hair. They clutched their bony hands. It it hurts I remember I remember Why dd I have to die like that? Its not fair! They began to writhe. Gong Lau Yan planted her feet firmly. Was it the dryness, dai dzes? Dry So thirsty The upper levels are cursed Go down Go lower Get away One of the ghosts lunged at Gong Lau Yan. How could you! Throwing the luminescent pearl upwards, the loong side-stepped, and flicked her own earlobes with her fingers. Two pearl earrings on each ear glowed suddenly golden in the darkness, like four fierce eyes. The ghosts shrank back and tried to flee, but Gong Lau Yan rapidly pulled four flat wooden discs from a pouch and with a flick of her wrist, threw them to surround the spirits. Peachwood! Four gold eyes Exorcist! Huddling together, the ghosts cursed and spat at Gong Lau Yan, but they couldnt cross the barrier made by the peachwood discs. Its safe to come out now, Gong Lau Yan said over her shoulder. Zeyi stepped out immediately, and a few moments later, Gou Gin Gam popped out too. Stay back, Gong Lau Yan cautioned, as Zeyi approached. Theyre contained for now but your strong Yin energy will be a big temptation for them. Lets not have you get possessed. The ghosts became quiet, turning their skeletal faces towards Zeyi. Gou Gin Gam looked at the scene with fascination. Amazing! Youre an exorcist? I have some knowledge of ghosts and demons. Demons too? Maybe you can help us out. We generally all get along well, but sometimes ghosts and demons cause trouble that we humans cant do anything about. Hey, Fan Bians voice said to Zeyi. Take one of those discs. What? Why? Teach Gong Lau Yan a lesson for flirting with those ghosts. What am I, five years old? No! Dai dzes, please forgive me for restricting you like this. I hope you understand. You were never going to give us your energy, were you? You lied. Liar! I never said I would give you my energy, Gong Lau Yan said. I said I would help you. And I will. What is holding you here, dai dzes? One ghost, the one who thought her name had a bird in it, whose grey clothes were now faintly dyed with green, said immediately, Let me see the sky. The sky? Gong Lau Yan looked troubled. Is that so? Im not sure that you would be safe travelling through the cursed zone to reach the sky, dai dze. You did it. Thats because we have high cultivation levels, Zeyi interrupted. Even so, it was difficult for us too. Im not leaving, said another ghost. There were blue shades to her rags. The young ones need me down here. The last ghost merely shook her head. I cant give you my energy, Gong Lau Yan sighed. But one day you will be able to leave here. Well lift the curse. Who are you to promise such things? Cultivators? Since when did cultivators care about Bak San? Weve existed happily enough down here by ourselves. Let nobles and cultivators mind their own business. Gong Lau Yan shrugged. Ill continue to try anyway. Im going to let you go now. You break our hearts and then expect us to just pick up the pieces like young wives? he third ghost mocked. Her clothing was faintly pink. Youre worse than a man. My apologies. The third ghost, who had spoken of silks and perfumes, turned away, covering her grotesque face and tongue with a hand like a woman hiding behind a fan. Zeyi felt like their gazes met as she turned, despite the ghosts lack of eyes. Take the disc. How bad could it be? Take this. Gong Lau Yan held out a palm-sized talisman. Made of red coral, it was a round disc carved with the face of a snarling shi zi, with a luxurious yellow tassel. When the loong slipped the hanging cord over Zeyis wrist, it felt surprisingly heavy. Zeyi watched distantly as Gong Lau Yan turned to Gou Gin Gam with a paper talisman, the yellow sheaf marked with red writing. Then she looked at the pink ghost. Gong Lau Yan felt a prickle on the back of her neck. Well. How delightful. The red coral talisman lay on the cracked rock of the floor. Two of the peachwood discs had been stacked on top of each other, breaking the barrier around the ghosts. The blue and green ghosts were still there, huddled together, staring at the woman who was gently patting herself down, delicately touching her face, running a thumb over her own lips. It seems like you have helped me after all, said the ghost with Zeyis face. Hiatus note Hello hello, just jumping in here nice and quick to say At the Water''s Edge is on a temporary hiatus. I''ve been fighting off a stomach flu/stomach ulcer/something, and I''ve also shifted focus to try and get I''m really not the Saviour! completed as it is quite close to the end. This story is set in the same universe, about 150 years prior to At the Water''s Edge, and it features a young Gong Lau Yan as a side character.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. If you want to read something completed from the same universe, Eitsu''s Nine Lives is available on Scribblehub and Wattpad. Flagging for NSFW content. I will return to this story soon (promise, I''ve already written the epilogue). 50 - Pretending to be garlic װ (zhungsun) C to pretend to be garlic; i.e. feign ignorance, play dumb.
A Yi? Gong Lau Yan spoke cautiously. Are you still there? Dont worry, darling, shes still here. The ghost with Zeyis face fluttered her eyelashes. Dont try to get rid of me so quickly, now. Good heavens, its busy in here. Whos this young man? Covering her face with one hand, Gong Lau Yan took a deep breath. Can you explain why this has happened? Oh no, I think not. The ghost tilted Zeyis head to one side. Im sure youre as smart as you are good-looking, youll work it out. You give me too much credit, dai dze. Zeyi was not particularly well-endowed, but the ghost possessing her pressed up against Gong Lau Yan with a smile. The loongs eyebrow twitched. Hm I see. Youre one of those. Those what? I saw a few of them. They would come by the Incense Quarters, wondering if there was something broken in them, ask for our most popular friends. Theyd try the girls and boys, the intersex cutie who was with us for a while. Some would leave with acceptance, others with even more fear and desperation So which one are you, handsome girl? I dont know what youre talking about. Youre not interested in sex, the ghost said bluntly. No, Im not, Gong Lau Yan agreed immediately. Oh my, thats very disappointing, and confusing, to your girlfriend here The ghost somehow managed to create a foxy expression on Zeyis gentle features. Is it? Gong Lau Yan looked deeply unconvinced. The ghost tried to keep a serious expression but dissolved into laughter almost immediately. Yes and no. She doesnt seem particularly disappointed She raised Zeyis eyes with a listening air. What sweet little scenarios she has of the two of you in her head. You think thats embarrassing, girl? Shall I show you some of the things Ive seen and done? Stop that. The confusion though She cant understand how such a person could be so flirty with ghosts all the time. Oh, the little sweetheart. Stop teasing her. What is it that you want? Walk with me a little. The ghosts voice was as wistful as an autumn afternoon. Gong Lau Yan looked around at Gou Gin Gam and the two other ghosts. Dont worry about us, Gou Gin Gam said, waving his hand. The ghosts have calmed down, and I know my way around here well. Come and find me later. I live on the third level of the Dog District. If you ask around, someone will be able to direct you. After farewells were made, Gong Lau Yan turned back to the ghost. Lead on. Wont you offer me your arm, at least? With a frown, the loong did so. Cant you look a little more cheerful, sweetie? Im not exactly happy with this situation. Disappointment was evident on Zeyis face, and Gong Lau Yan felt her heart twist a little at the sight. She sighed, and gently squeezed the arm hooked into hers. Hows this? Thank you. Who was it that said that? Zeyi or the ghost? And so, Gong Lau Yan said to them both, Ive wanted to take you on a date for a long time, you know? Is that so? said the ghost, and Zeyi said, Really? Sure have. Where should we go, Ghost Sister? The ghost smiled brilliantly and tugged on Gong Lau Yans arm. Come with me. Lets go to the market. They strolled along the dark corridors as if they were arm-in-arm on a broad street in Qianban, a spring breeze tugging their clothes and tossing their hair. I didnt expect your first date with her would be like this, Fan Bian said to Zeyi. This isnt for me, she replied bitterly. Isnt it? Further down and down they went, until the stifling corridors opened into the widest tunnel yet; the walls were lined with stalls, colourful scraps of fabric adorning the ceiling, bright murals rampant with green dragons and yellow guardian lions. All of it decaying and slipping away. Less than half of the stalls were in use, the rest falling into rotting piles. The colours of the fabric scraps were weak and faded in the remaining light of the luminescent pearls, and the painted creatures barely clung to the walls, flaking away into dust. Gong Lau Yan could have counted the number of people at the market with one hand.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. This one! They make great dumplings! The ghost ran eagerly up to one of the few functioning stalls. Owner! Six dumplings! Hm? Do I know you, Mistress? The person at the stall began to ladle mushroom dumplings into a bowl, peering at Zeyis face. You dont look familiar. Ah, Im just borrowing this face. I come and get dumplings from you every month, you know. Oh, its you! What do you think, owner? Does this body suit me? She posed. Very cute, very cute. And whos your friend? Were on a date! Dont you think shes handsome? A rare sight. Its nice to see two healthy youngsters. The ghost smiled. How shall I pay you? Pay I dont know. The owner scratched their cheek. I keep getting up, not knowing if its day or night, and making dumplings Every day is the same. How much longer do we have here? Im not sure Its not much, said Zeyi, but maybe I could dance for you? At least its something different. The owner brightened a little. I didnt know you could dance, Mui-mui. Not me, the owner of this body. Lets see Zeyi felt her consciousness float to the surface, the ghost sinking down to join the strange existence that was the amalgamation of Fan Bian and her brother and something else in the depths of her inner world. She closed her eyes and let the sensation of the floor beneath her feet transform; she stood on a bamboo pole in the centre of a river, and she danced. With perfect balance, Zeyi dipped and swayed, leaning forwards on one leg with the other straight out behind her. Her hands drew currents through the air. She crouched and skimmed the waters surface with her fingertips, she flung her arms upwards and let the bright drops sing through the air like fresh rain. When she stopped, and the river was once more a dark corridor in a dying city far below the earths surface, she met Gong Lau Yans eyes and saw the shining river still there, looking back at her. The stall owner sighed, deeply. Ill remember this. I dont know what you showed me, but I think I saw a vast channel of water Thank you. Gong Lau Yan retrieved the plate of dumplings, crystal wrappers speckled dark with wooden ear mushrooms and held out her hand to Zeyi. The ghost took it. Try a dumpling, darling. Here! The ghost lifted one to Gong Lau Yans face. As the loong obediently opened her mouth, Zeyis fingertips barely brushed her lips. Delicious. The ghost opened Zeyis mouth, and Gong Lau Yan fed her too. I havent been able to properly taste food in so long. Its so good! Once the food was finished, she pulled Gong Lau Yan further down the markets. Ghost fires glowed small and green in places, huddling together where the light of the luminescent pearls was weak. The ghost stopped abruptly at a fountain. Or what had once been a fountain. It was rectangular in shape, lined with dark red tiles that were all cracked or fallen or simply gone. There was no telling what the fountain head had originally looked like, not now that it had crumbled and was overgrown with slippery algae that had already died and was disintegrating into brownness. The only water in evidence was the continuous trickle of seepage through the walls. Did you want to catch goldfish? Gong Lau Yan asked gently. Thats always fun. They crouched down together. Theres a bronze-coloured one there, darling. It reminds me of you. Would you like that one then? Ill catch it for you. Yes please! Gong Lau Yan concentrated hard to catch the bronze goldfish. After much dodging by the fish, she successfully scooped it up and handed it to the ghost. That was difficult! The lotuses got in the way. Who cheats at goldfish-scooping by growing waterplants in the pond? So thats what she sees, Fan Bian said. No doubt theyre white. The ghost said, Catching goldfish was my brothers favourite game at the market. We ended up with so many in the end When we had to eat them, he cried. You wont have to eat this one. Is there anything else you would like to eat? A little further along, another vendor was selling cavefish soup. Let me pay this time, Gong Lau Yan said. She lifted her hand to the dim, barely glowing luminescent pearl on the wall behind the vendor. When she withdrew her hand, the pearl was glowing once more. Amazing, darling! Of course, youre a spiritual cultivator. Such a thing is easy for you! Are you alright? Zeyi asked, pushing her consciousness forth. Isnt that too much? Im alright. Its not too much. Their hands met easily. For a moment, Zeyi felt her fingers on Gong Lau Yans wrist, and Gong Lau Yans fingers on her wrist. Lets eat, darling, the ghost said. They took turns drinking the fish broth. Gong Lau Yan insisted that the ghost drink the last mouthful of the savoury soup. Its been a long time since I had cavefish soup, the loong said. It still tastes the same as I remember. For me too. Its still the same. There was a bench nearby, miraculously still possessing of four legs. An old woman sat on it, her breathing slow and definite. She looked up as the pair approached, but her eyes were filmed with white. New faces How unusual. The face might be new, but you know me, Grandmother. I used to ask you for stories all the time. My favourite was the Seven Sisters. Oh, its you. Well, what other young one would be strange enough to like that story. The old woman shook her head. Her greyed hair was tied in a neat bun at the nape of her neck, and her clothing, while worn and patched, was clean and neat. Well have to hear the story then, Gong Lau Yan said. Please, Grandmother, would you tell us. No! the old woman huffed. Im not going to fill your minds with nonsense. One silly girl is enough! Please, Grandmother, youre such a good storyteller. Here, Ill massage your shoulders. The ghost cajoled the old woman until she reluctantly agreed. Alright, but its a ghost story, you hear? I dont want to find out youve run into bad ghosts after this! Grandmother, Im already a bad ghost. No, youre not. Youre a sweet girl, and its a shame what happened to you. There are only bad ghosts, said the ghost in Zeyi, and laughed. The story of the Seven Sisters was: Seven girls who were childhood friends, so close as to be blood sisters, swore to never marry and to dedicate their lives to each other. But when they grew up, two families in their hometown arrange a marriage between the son of one family, and the third eldest of the seven girls. Unable to convince the families to change their minds, the third girl decided that she would kill herself. The six other girls who had sworn their lives to each other came with her to the cliff edge, and holding hands, they all jumped into the ocean together. When their bodies finally floated to the surface, they were still tightly holding hands. Not even the ocean could separate them. You understand now? the old woman grumbled to Gong Lau Yan. A gruesome and ghostly story. Not the sort of story a young girl should enjoy. That is a bit strange, Zeyi said to Fan Bian. I wonder why she likes it so much. It seems like such a desperate and unnecessary story. Isnt that just this whole situation? Desperate and unnecessary. The walls were coated in dead algae. Even the kind of creatures one would usually find in subterranean spaces were mostly long gone, no scuttling of rats or insects to keep the darkness company. Weve never seen the sun, the ghost said, and the lights are going out down here. One day, soon, well be left utterly in the darkness. Shouldnt we prepare our hearts? Zeyi glanced at Gong Lau Yan, but in these shadowy depths, it was hard to tell what expression she wore. The ghost took the loongs hand. And so, darling, will you stay with me a little longer? 51 - Unwavering Arrow ʸ־ (sh zh b y) C an arrow cannot change course; i.e. once a decision has been made, do not turn back.
As long as you need, Gong Lau Yan said gallantly. Even if thats forever? The ghost fluttered Zys eyelashes. I should be asking you that. She lifted the back of Zys hansd to her forehead. In spite of everything, will you stay with me forever? The ghost laughed. The sound was sad and startled, too loud and too tired. Is this what it feels like? Its so beautiful and so heavy all at once She removed Gong Lau Yans hand from Zys forehead. I had forgotten about my brother. He was the only family I had, and I forgot him. I wonder how long Ive been lingering here. In the muffled silence, with the weight of the earth pressing down on them, the ghost said, I thought I needed romantic love. The kind you hear about in stories all the time. The kind that makes you want to hand your very heart to another even with the fear that they might crush it beneath their feet. Zys heart beat painfully. Its beautiful. It truly is. I searched for it, even as I lived every day in the Incense Quarters, thinking that perhaps that kind of love would come and find me. And now I feel it, between you and her. And it frightens me. Its so very, very heavy. The air was stale. Every breath was stuffed with darkness and loss. The gentle, familial love my brother gave me thats all I need. Your love is for heroes and Immortals. For stories. Youre not human, are you, darling? No, I realised But you were so very kind to me. Thank you for letting me catch a glimpse. The ghost shone through Zys skin. She was slimmer than the woman she had possessed, with whiteless black eyes, and diaphanous robes of red and pink. I think Im ready to leave now. Do you remember your name? Gong Lau Yan asked. The last name I went by was Gu Ting. Like the flower? It suits you. Thank you. Gu Ting closed her eyes. Like fireflies vanishing into the night, her form dissolved, soundless, leaving behind only Zy. She was quiet for a long time. Are you alright, A Yi? Gong Lau Yan asked gently. I dont know what to say. Where do I even begin? Im so- Im sorry. Why are you sorry? Because I need to speak with you clearly and truthfully. Its what you need and deserve. The chuckle that left Zys throat was more of a mournful gurgle. Im too sensitive and needy. Dont Dont what? Should I just ignore what you want, A Yi? Gong Lau Yan knelt, never mind that the ground was filthy, and Zy immediately tried to pull her upright again. Im strong enough for this, at least. Stronger than even I realised. Why are you being so dramatic? Come on, stand up. Theres somewhere I want to take you, Lian. Will you come with me, and talk to me? Zy immediately took the hand that was extended to her. What about all the people down here? Until the curse on Dzue is lifted, theres nothing we can do. Gong Lau Yans expression was dark. I could exhaust myself replenishing every luminescent pearl here, but Where are we going, then? Gong Lau Yan squeezed her hand. To see my grandmother.
The way out of the underground was long. Gong Lau Yans memory was excellent, leading them unerringly, but the corridors were murky and silent, the bright hopeful beauty that they had seen with Gu Ting faded away. They held each others hands tightly, as though a single slip could have them drifting apart into the dark. Zy didnt ask if they should see Gou Gin Gam before they left. What would they have to say to him? What would they have to say to anyone here? Dont worry, well save you all? Just wait a little longer, youll be free soon? She listened to Gong Lau Yans breath, growing drier and raspier with each step. She looked inside herself and saw her inner demon, staring back at her. They could barely look after themselves. What could they promise the people in this dying city? She felt the curse creep closer as they rose higher through the city. They paused in an empty corridor, gazing together into the dark. Gong Lau Yan licked her dry lips. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. We need to move quickly Let me carry you. Transformed, the loong extended her back, letting Zy jump on. They turned to look back the way they had come. The way down the corridor, in whichever direction they looked, stretched away into unknown gloom. Well come back, Gong Lau Yan promised, whether to herself or to Zy or to the people below. And then she took off, rushing at impossible speeds through the winding labyrinth. Two ghosts crept out into the corridor that Gong Lau Yan and Zy had just left behind. Gou Gin Gam followed them. They listened in silence to the retreating sounds of the loong flying away.
Gong Lau Yan only paused for a moment as the small square of light that was the exit sped towards them. In that moment, she was humanoid again, her arms around Zy, and then they were bursting through that tiny bright square and rushing through the almost painfully bright desolation of Ming Yuet. Between one blink and the next, she was in dragon form again, desperately racing north towards Dzak Hau, the spine of mountains that formed a geological wall around the city. Over the dried riverbeds, the empty lands, to the line of peaks, they flew until Zy began to feel something subtly different in the air, a kind of relief from the harrowing dehydration of the Dzue curse. Gong Lau Yan descended on the tallest peak, slowly her course by zigzagging back and forth, and at last they gently landed at the foot of the mountain. Extending her hand, Zy placed it on the enormous pile of rocks that towered above her, the remains of some old rockslide, perhaps. But below that cradling relief that she felt, there was another, more familiar, even more gentle sensation. Lau Yan Did Master Yuan Mu ever come here? He was the one who sealed Grandmother away, at her request, two hundred years ago. Both of Zys hands were now on the stones. Their energies are so similar. There are differences, of course, but Grandmother was Yuan Mus Master, when he was a young man. Of course. Held by the energies of her Master and Grandmother-Master, the noises in Zys head were smothered to silence. She felt clear-headed, as she had not felt in over one hundred years. A-po. Gong Lau Yan bowed to the rockslide. Im sorry I havent been a good granddaughter. I cant even remember the last time I visited. Zy bowed too, down to the ground, feeling content to remain there with her head pressed to the dirt. Do you remember this lady? She goes by the name Zy, these days. I asked her to come with me today I wanted my two dearest people to meet each other. She knelt by Zys side and placed a hand on her back. The late afternoon sun was setting over the mountains, limning a single cloud in the pale blue sky orange and pink. The light caught Gong Lau Yans eyes like sunlight on a river. I thought I was better than Mother all this time, but Ive just run away, the way she always did. I suppose I was just more sly about it, to the point where I even deceived myself. I left behind Zy several times, even when I had wanted to stay by her side from the start. And yet shes always waited with open arms each time. Isnt that amazing? A-po, I want to save Dzue. Im not as strong as Dze-dze was, but I want to try. Only, Im tired Were both tired, and sick. So I beg you, can you help us? Please, just give us enough strength to keep going a little longer. There was no response. Zy looked up. Can she hear us? Shes sleeping very, very deeply, Gong Lau Yan said. And I havent visited in a while Sitting fully upright, Zy pressed her hands together, her words a jumble of Dzue and Xing. Grandmother-Master, your Granddaughter-Disciple Ch Dzue Dzak Yat greets you. Meeting you for the first time I wish the circumstances were different. She reached for Gong Lau Yans hands. Their fingers entwined together. I want to live together with Lau Yan. I want to walk together through the Dzue that she remembers. As much as I hate to admit it, I want to understand my mother and what she did. I want to understand my father and what he did. The words flowed forth, the dam broken. I want to save the citizens trapped beneath Ming Yuet. I want our children to wake to the ocean and mist every morning. But we need just a little more strength, a little more comfort. Please, Grandmother Ive made the right choice this time, A-po, Gong Lau Yan chuckled. Do you hear that? Children. Plural. Zy almost choked on her own tongue as she realised what she had said. Lau Yan! Dzak Yat? I mean I meant Gong Lau Yan dropped her head onto their entwined hands, laughing. Stop laughing at me! Did you mean it? I Well Hm? Yes. Zys voice grew stronger, almost angry. Yes, I did. Then please marry me, Gong Lau Yan said, raising her grey-brown eyes to meet the ying-yang of Zys. Zy gaped for some moments like a fish. I Yes. Yes? Yes, but What is it? Well, Shu Kui told me something interesting, once. Did she? She said that there are very few male loong, and that female loong seem to be able to have children without them. Thats true. How? Would you like to find out? Gong Lau Yan asked slyly. Her expression softened at the look on Zeyis face. I wont do anything you dont want, Ah Yat. Is what Gu Ting said true? What are you referring to, exactly? That youre not interested in Oh, that. Gong Lau Yan examined the way their fingers were tangled together. Not particularly. Sex isnt necessary for loong to reproduce, so theres no real reason for us to find pleasure in it. Not to say that there arent loong who arent interested, its just rare. Is that a problem? You just tease me so much, I was scared Suddenly, Zeyi realised that tears were spilling out of her eyes. Gong Lau Yan held her tightly. Ah Yat, Ah Yat, Im sorry. I didnt mean to scare you. I dont know if this is just how I am, or if its because of my cultivation practice, Zeyi whispered, breath hitching, I want to hold your hand and lean against you and hold you, but beyond that beyond that We dont have to go beyond that, Ah Yat, Gong Lau Yan murmured, rocking her gently. We dont need anything else. This is all we need. In each others arms, a stillness cocooned them. They didnt move, only their eyes turning towards the rockslide. Slowly at first, but gradually increasing in speed, tiny golden dust began to filter through the gaps in the rocks. The golden motes settled lightly over them, until their hair and skin sparkled in the last orange rays of the sun slipping over the mountains. Gong Lau Yans lips were still cracked. Zeyi could still hear her demon whisper in the depths of her mind. It didnt matter. Well go and find my Junior Sibling, Zeyi said. And theyll help us bring back Tsaam Lei, and well I dont know how, but maybe Haat Ngan Wan and Master can heal him Well work it out, Gong Lau Yan laughed. We dont have to have all the answers right now. Youre right. We dont. Shall we? Yes, lets go. They bowed to the mountain, where the Dragon at the Centre of All Things lay in eternal sleep, then took to the air once more.