Heaven's Golden Finger - Chapter 11: Chapter 11

One string of gold bells miraculously transformed to forty-one, leaving Shirong gawping at the pile of gleaming metal. "I thought the odds were twenty to one."
"Orders from Master Liang. Your winnings are doubled. Would young sir like a carrier bag for five strings? Guaranteed to hold three times the amount with half the weight."
"Five strings? You can get a carrier bag twice as good for half that in the market," Mo Qingshe argued.
"Yes, but then you'd have to carry all those bells through the city."
The oddsmaker's retort was more than enough for Shirong. He didn't want to reveal his spatial ring if he didn't have to, and that meant he needed some way to deal with all these strings until he found a chance to transfer them over. "I accept the bargain."
It only took a few minutes to pack thirty six strings into the carrier bag, but that was still long enough to attract attention from the other members of the audience. He really should have been more careful about how much he bet. If he'd been hoping to make his fortune in this world he was off to a great start. Except all he really wanted was to make it through this life without causing too much trouble for everyone else.
Admittedly, keeping out of trouble probably wasn't in the cards, or whatever they used to gamble here. He could tell from certain avaricious glances that there'd be repercussions from this win. Likely robbers would be after them as soon as it was safe to do so. The fact that he was accompanying the tournament winner didn't matter.
"Master is concerned?" Mo Qingshe sounded amused. No doubt she knew perfectly well why he was fretting over his winnings. "Does he not trust his slave to protect him?"
"Master doesn't trust his slave to keep him out of trouble," Shirong retorted. "I didn't mean to make such a big bet."
"And yet here we are, with more than enough to tide us over for a year if you're frugal. Can this slave help it if others envy your good fortune?" Leaning close so she could speak in his ear, she added, "And the prophesied one ought embrace Heaven's blessings, not run from them."
Frankly, Heaven's blessings could take a long run off a short cliff. Shirong didn't bother saying so. Noticing the envious looks some of the young men and a few young women were giving him at Mo Qingshe's apparently amorous behavior, he shrugged her off gently. "Never mind. Let's go wait for Shun Shixiong."
He was about to suit action to word when the man Liang Ren had fought before he'd fought Shu Shun stepped into Shirong's path. "I don't suppose you'd listen to a proposal," the man asked, smiling genially. "You look like you could use an extra pair of hands and eyes to guard your path to Tang City, young disciple. I seem to be available, for the low cost of joining you when you enter the auction house."
Shirong wasn't at all sure what the man mean and said so. "Besides, any such decisions are up to my Shixiong."
"Then once he's left the august company of our host, I should like a chance to discuss it with him."
Shun Shixiong was clearly both out of sorts with Shirong and wearily amused. "You keep finding new people."
"I swear, I'm not looking for them."
Waving off Shirong's defense, Shun Shixiong eyed the man sitting across from them. "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised you're here."
"I wanted first chance. Everyone who's paying attention knows you have three in your party. Meaning you can bring two more people with you to Tang City Auction." Tong Si grinned broadly. "Well, one more, actually, since I'm sure Master Liang has bargained with you to allow his darling brat to come along."
"True. But that doesn't mean we have to include one more."
"Four is such an unlucky number, though."
There was some truth to that. Even a second generation American like Shirong knew that much. "But why should our fifth be you in particular?"
"Well, I did come in third, after all." The man patted the hilt of his sword. "So you'll be extra safe."
"I'm not sure that's true," Shun Shixiong countered. "We don't know anything about you except that you're an excellent swordsman. You're also a little quick to take seize chances and a little anxious to get into the auction. I'm not sure Master Liang would be pleased if we were to bring a potential rival for the Flame Lotus."
The statement obviously amused Tong Si. "As if you, yourself, aren't?"
"We've no need for the Flame Lotus, though. We're going for another purpose entirely." Shun Shixiong waved off the argument. "So, again I ask, will accepting you into our party create trouble for Master Liang or his son?"
"No need for Feng Xi's best work? Are you sure about that?"
It didn't surprise Shirong when Shu Shun refused to answer. There was no point in revealing too much about themselves, after all. He made a note to himself to ask his Shixiong about this Flame Lotus afterwards. Meanwhile, all he could do was say, "Whether or not we do doesn't matter. You haven't answered Shun Shixiong's question."
That got a quick, dark, look from Shu Shun, reminding Shirong that he really wasn't in the right position to be so mouthy. He sat back to let his Shixiong handle matters. "My Shidi is unnecessarily abrupt but correct. Will bringing you along displease our host?"
"Oh, probably. Does it matter to you?"
Shirong thought it ought to matter. If Liang Xie Rao realized they were about to travel with someone who planned on interfering with his plans the man was still in a position to cause trouble.
Shun Shixiong set his hands on the table. "It does. We cannot agree to your accompanying us."
A thoughtful expression crossed the man's narrow features. "If I gain our noble host's countenance, will you consider it?"
Shirong could tell this was a man who didn't give up easily. He leaned closer to his Shixiong. Whispered, "It might be for the best. I'm sure he won't be the last one trying to join us, otherwise."
For a moment it looked to Shirong like Shu Shun would lose his temper. Then he eyed Shirong thoughtfully. "Maybe you're right." He returned his attention to Tong Si. "If you get permission from Master Liang then yes, I'll agree."
Once Tong Si had left them, Shirong patted the bag hung over his shoulder, its bulk pulled forward so he could keep an eye on it. "Am I right, thinking the amount we got back has something to do with Liang Ren coming along?"
"You are." Shu Shun considered the bag. "Once we have a chance, put that in your ring. We'll deal with your winnings later."
"Is that a good idea? Can you put a bag like this in a spatial ring?" Shirong tried to find a memory to answer that question but failed. Apparently he'd not paid much attention when it came to spatial sorcery. Of course, sorcery wasn't Leifeng Sect's primary focus, anyway.
"The bag's not big enough to cause a problem. You couldn't put the ring inside it, or another bag, though." Shu Shun scanned the room, sipping at his tea and obviously analyzing their audience.
And audience they most certainly had. The Xiaolian Flower House's dining area was full now and the vast majority of its clientele were ignoring them with obvious airs of false disinterest. Likely some hoped to leech onto them when they went to Tang City Auction. Some would want the pass Shu Shun had won. And others wanted the golden bells hidden in Shirong's bag.
Really, the question was, could they going to get out of town without a fight, or would they have no choice but to brawl their way free? And even if they didn't face anyone in town, they'd surely meet interested parties out on the road. "I don't suppose there's a way to get to Tang City without walking?" Memory flickered and he added, "Couldn't we fly there?"
"Do you know how to summon your sword yet?"
Drat his predecessor for a lazy bum, anyway. "No," Shirong admitted. "Old me didn't study properly. Present me is ashamed."
"Present you is going to have to start learning. As soon as we're on the road I'll train you." Shu Shun eyed him. "It's just as well old you didn't study well. With your attributes changed, summoning will be different, too."
"This Shidi will gratefully accept whatever instruction his Shixiong is willing to offer," Shirong answered, bowing. He just hoped he could avoid cutting his own foot off in the process. Though, knowing the way his luck ran, it was more likely to be Shu Shun's foot if he wasn't extra careful.
It wasn't long before Tong Si was back, the Master of Xiaolian Flower House behind him. "This idiot claims he won't cause my son trouble if I agree to let him accompany you," Liang Xie Rao said grimly. "I don't trust him entirely. You probably shouldn't trust him entirely either. However, he has made an excellent case for why he should be allowed this opportunity."
Both Shirong and Shu Shun glanced at the skinny man behind Master Liang. Smug wasn't nearly an adequate word for what Tong Si obviously felt. Shirong held his tongue on the matter, unsure if he'd be making things worse if he tried to interfere. And, really, he'd no idea which was the best choice.
"I will permit him, then. As long as he behaves himself." Shu Shun eyed Tong Si thoughtfully. Added, "I've no particular use for that Flame Lotus anyway."
Tong Si's expression shifted to one of mild disbelief. He didn't argue the point, though. Just said, "I presume we'll leave in the morning?"
"I was thinking midnight," Shu Shun said offhandedly, once again eliciting a snigger from Shirong. His sarcasm always seemed to catch Shirong unawares. "But I suppose everyone else would insist on traveling by daylight."
"I wouldn't," Liang Ren pointed out, appearing suddenly from behind his father. He dropped into the last remaining seat at the table and grabbed several steamed buns from the plate at the center. "I've got perfect night-vision."
"No doubt," Shun Shixiong muttered, taking one of the steamed buns back before Liang Ren could eat it. "We'll leave at dawn. And if you aren't ready to leave with us, you don't get to go."
A dry chuckle escaped Master Liang's lips. "I will ensure my son is ready. I make no guarantees about awake."
The arena master was about to drag the boy off when Shun Shixiong asked, "Did you find out why the spell failed?"
"Not the cause, as such, no." Master Liang spread his hands, gesturing broadly. "Word is my spell network wasn't the only one affected. There were failures all over town. I suspect a sorcerer caused a power surge somewhere. Given how weak it was and how short it lasted, the source was some distance away. The timing was bad, of course, but no one's fault here."
The timing stank of the bad luck that so often afflicted Shun Shixiong. Shirong knew better than to say so, though he could tell from his sect brother's slight dour smile that he knew perfectly well fate was playing games again. Not only did it mean Shu Shun had nearly killed someone, but Shirong had once again shown off his talent for being in the right place at the right time.
Unaware of either boy's thoughts, Master Liang bowed. "In any event, given you'll be leaving early, it'd be for the best if my young nuisance here gets some rest. Eat and rest well yourself and my boy and Mister Tong will join you in the morning." With that, he dragged Liang Ren and Tong Si off together, murmuring in their ears as he went.
Mo Qingshe muttered, "This is going to be quite a trip."
"Is that Tong Si fellow some magical being?" Shirong asked, once he was sure no one could hear them. He was beginning to feel like he was the only truly human person there. Unless, of course, his predecessor had some sort of spirit blood that he didn't know about.
"By his smell, he's as human as they come. His cultivation's not bad. Not as good as the Young Lord's...."
"Please don't call me that."
"But a great deal better than yours. I still don't believe you managed to beat me."
Shirong ignored the insult. He knew his predecessor had been incredibly lazy and felt strangely embarrassed by it, even though it wasn't his fault. "I was just wondering. How did he persuade Master Liang to let him come with us?"
Shun Shixiong tore his steamed bun apart into delicate bites. Only when he'd swallowed the last one did he say, "I suspect he was supposed to go anyway. If I hadn't won the contest, Liang Ren would be the one deciding on who he'd be taking with him."
That suggested there might be others who'd expected to join the over-active young man. Shirong said as much, adding, "Is there a chance they might try to come after us?"
"Quite possibly. Though I think we're at risk for other interference first." When Shirong frowned, confused, Mo Qingshe pointed at the bag sitting in his lap. "Forty-one... I mean thirty-six strings of gold bells, Young Master. More than sufficient reason for a greedy soul to get overly ambitious."
Shu Shun frowned. "What happened to the other five strings?"
"I bought the bag with them."
"And didn't bother to haggle? No, I see you didn't." Shun Shixiong sighed, shaking his head sadly. "I can see I'll have to teach you that, too."
Shirong managed a weak smile. "Shidi admits his fault, Shixiong. Looks forward to proper and intensive instruction."
It was raining softly the next morning. A thin mist of water that damped every surface of their clothes, so the fabric clung uncomfortably in places. Surrounded by fog, the morning light had a pearly glow that gave everything a peculiar, otherworldly, feel.
The weather obviously annoyed Liang Ren and Tong Si. Of course, having had to get up so early, Liang Ren was already out of sorts. It was obvious from the way he moved that he most wanted to return to his bed and sleep. To his credit, he didn't whine. Tong Si, on the other hand, seemed unable to stop complaining. "We should at least wait for the fog to lift. Once we get out on the road there's no telling who or what might come after us."
From what Shirong understood, they had to go through town and stop at the market to buy supplies anyway. "If it doesn't burn off by the time we leave the city, that's when you can complain."
It didn't help, but a growl from Shu Shun did. Interestingly, neither Shun Shixiong nor Mo Qingshe were bothered by the damp. Of course, they were both snakes, so perhaps that was why. Shirong only minded the way his clothing refused to behave. Having spent so much of his past few years in a hospital bed, the vagaries of weather were actually a pleasant change of pace.
Buying supplies took longer than it had to, thanks to Liang Ren's flighty nature. He kept having to be herded back to the task at hand. Kept needing to be reminded that they didn't have space for the large carved bobble-based doll he found in one stall. Kept needing to be reminded that they required real food, not every sugary snack that took the young man's fancy.
By the time they finished in the market and had headed for the city's northern gate the fog had gotten worse. One could barely see a foot or so ahead. Sounds were muffled and more than a little unnerving to Shirong. He'd spent his life in cities. Country roads like the one ahead were entirely unfamiliar.
"Still think we should head out?"
"If we don't do you think we'll reach Tang City in time for the auction?" Shun Shixiong asked calmly, sniffing the air and tilting his head to listen. Without bothering to argue, he continued into the mist, forcing the rest of them to follow.
As they walked, Tong Si continued to complain. "All that gold you're carrying is asking for trouble."
"Not as much gold as there was, given how much we had to buy," Mo Qingshe said dourly. As far as Shirong could tell, she was something of a miser. She'd argued over every purchase they'd made, claiming they were spending far too much. Shun had agreed with her, leaving Shirong wondering if parsimony was a family trait.
By this time Liang Ren was already out of sight ahead of them, his bouncing footsteps the only way of telling where he was. The boy might be a strong fighter, but it appeared he had no sense beyond that. Shirong called out to him, "Stay with the group, Liang Ren."
"Aww, where's the fun in that?" Even so, Liang Ren returned, cartwheeling his way back and leaping over Shirong's head. Automatically, Shirong caught the other boy's travel robe and brought him down, twisting his arm behind him. Before he got a lock in, though, Liang Ren somersaulted, twisted free and danced backwards off the side of the road.
"Hahahaha. Can't catch meeeaaahh...." The last was followed by the sound of Liang Ren tumbling down a slope. "Oh, hi there, mister. Did we keep you waiting?"
Shen Shixiong and Shirong looked at each other. Sighed in very nearly the same fashion as Liang Ren started bounding around, the sound of his voice shifting as he leapt. At the same time he called up, "You know those bandits we were expecting? I think I found them."