Heaven's Golden Finger - Chapter 14: Chapter 14

It occurred to Shun that letting his Shidi fight a bandit actually intent on killing him might be a bit harsh. Lei Feng Sect's ethos was to avoid killing as much as possible, after all. Fake Shirong was skilled enough to handle a fair match, but this wasn't anything of the sort. Someone like this Jou Sanfeng surely wouldn't hold back.
Not wanting his Shidi to underestimate the man, Shun told him, "They will cheat."
"Right. Got it. No surprise." Fake Shirong was shifting position, forcing the bandit to turn towards him. "Mister Jou, I don't want to kill you. I hope you'll take that into account, please."
Somehow, Shun managed not to roll his eyes. Or laugh. Intentionally or not, Fake Shirong had a peculiar way of looking at things. Likely it had to do with whatever world it was he'd come from originally. And, too, one almost had to laugh to keep from shattering inside.
By this time young Liang Ren had somersaulted off to take on a few bandits who were trying to join the rest. They'd been off hiding in the bushes, likely waiting to trap their prey, given they were foolish enough to sit down to eat. Though why anyone, even a demon, would want such poorly cooked food was beyond Shun.
Priest Housu's living metal blade slammed into several of the enemy, sending them flying. At the same time, Tong Si dodged into the tent and kicked the makeshift clay stove, shattering it and sending its roasting contents sprawling into the fire. A human arm flopped out of the mess and the smell rising from the smoke almost made Shun gag.
Then he had to focus on his own problem. The head cook had apparently decided he was her best target. Well, she was a good head taller than he was, with broad shoulders and big hands well practiced in wielding a pair of huge cleavers. They were on chains, too, meaning she could spin them around herself like a whip.
No doubt she'd chosen Shun because he was appeared to be the smallest and weakest of their group. He ducked below her spinning blades, slammed into her knee and sent her staggering. Summoning his sword, he cut the chain holding the cleavers together, then followed up by slicing the nearest cleaver in half.
"I'll kill you!"
He didn't bother answering. Just grabbed a bench from the so-called dining area and used it to block the other blade. As the thing drove deep into the wood he twisted it, breaking it out of her grip. A quick toss put the thing out of reach. Not that he assumed he was safe even then. If she didn't have several times as many weapons as she had hands, he'd be deeply shocked.
As she swung her empty hand behind her, obviously getting ready to draw something, he flung himself forward, calling his secondary weapon out, shaping it to something more like a shield. By the time his opponent had drawn a knife, Shun's shield was up, its heated surface shattering the blade.
She shrieked, grabbing for yet another weapon, but this time Shun didn't bother being gentle. He cut at her thigh, sword cauterizing the wound as it passed. Cut again. Sliced the woman's hair-tie into pieces so her bushy hair flew forward into her face. He took advantage of her momentary confusion, kicking her in the chest and dropping her to the ground.
As the woman sprawled, struggling to get up, Shun covered his fist with his Attribute and slammed his outspread fingers against her face. Water filled her nostrils, his elemental fire heating it just enough to turn her features red. Unable to breathe, stunned by the blow, she fell unconscious a moment later.
Shun stood up. Looked around. Saw the others had finished their parts in the fight already. Even Fake Shirong had handled himself fairly well, using that odd fighting style of his. Just as well he hadn't drawn his weapons. The law tended to frown on killing, even in self-defense. He'd no doubt they could persuade any highway guards that they'd acted in self-defense, but it'd be easier if there weren't any corpses laying about except the ones these bandits had killed.
Just as he thought that, the sound of hoofbeats in the distance drew his attention. Somehow, he wasn't surprised to spot the bright gold and silver armor of the guards he'd just been thinking of. Shun sighed, grabbing Fake Shirong and making him stand to the back. "Whatever you do, keep your mouth shut as much as possible and let me do the talking."
He could probably get them out of trouble. Given, of course, the Guard Captain was a man of sense and reason. Somehow, with the way his and Fake Shirong's luck had been going, he had a feeling this wasn't going to be that easy.
"You expect me to believe the five of you just happened to be passing when these folk attacked you for no reason?"
Shun kept his expression blank, though the fire inside him wanted to flare. "I am a disciple of Leifeng Sect, Master Quan Lei's third student. I do not lie."
The captain of the guard didn't seem convinced. "If you really are those things, I can believe you. But how do I know you're not lying about who you claim to be?"
It occurred to Shun that this man was playing an obvious game. He knew, had to know, the people who'd attacked Shun and his companions were criminals. The half-cooked body of one of their victims proved it. So did the chest full of goods stolen from those victims.
There had to be a reason why this man was pretending to doubt Shun's word. Unfortunately, Shun wasn't sure what that reason was. "What way would you have me prove it?" he asked.
"Don't be belligerent, little boy. You must admit you and your companions are suspicious."
Little boy? Ah, now Shun thought he understood. His small size and youthful features must have convinced the captain that he'd be easily bullied. The question still remained. What did this man want from him. "I admit nothing of the sort. Why would you think such a thing?"
From the captain's reaction, Shun's failure to be intimidated was both unexpected and irritating. The man wanted Shun to lose his composure. Wanted Shun to beg for lenience. Well, that wasn't going to happen. He was about to say something sharp, to remind the captain of his duty and the law, when Tong Si coughed and drew his attention. "Captain, could I have a quick word with Disciple Shun, please?"
The captain sighed. Allowed Tong Si to draw Shun off to the side. "He's looking for a bribe."
"A bribe? That's what this is about?" It was nonsense. Didn't the King pay these people to do their jobs?
Seeing Shun's expression, Tong Si murmured, "You could think of it as a tip, if it'd help."
It didn't. After all, it'd been Shun and his companions who'd done all the work, all without expecting or asking for a reward. Still, if it'd get them past this blockade and moving again, he supposed he could accept the indignity of paying a bunch of highway guards to leave them alone. "How much."
"A string of silver bells is customary."
Customary and not terribly expensive. Shun pulled one strand from his ring. Hesitated. He'd never had to do this before. "I don't know...."
Before he could finish the sentence, Tong Si took the strand from Shun. "I'll handle it." He walked back to the guard captain. Smiled ingratiatingly. "Captain is wise," he said softly. "And has been put to trouble by this. Will he accept our gratitude?"
The strand of silver bells changed hands, Tong Si bowing deeply. Too deeply given the captain wasn't highly ranked and had no right to such honors. It obviously pleased the captain, of course, so Shun supposed it was worth it. He just wasn't up to giving respect to someone who hadn't earned it.
"I appreciate your recognition," the captain murmured. "But, really, this is taking up so much of our... valuable... time."
Shun guessed the man wanted more money. He was about to sigh, pull out another strand, and toss it to the man when Tong Si showed the captain a tile of some pale stone. A jade seal? That was surprising. Tong Si neither acted nor dressed the part of one wealthy enough for such things. And why would his seal matter at all?
"If your time is badly impacted, please do bring it up to me later. But for now, if you'd allow us to go on? We do have an important meeting and little time left to reach it."
Something about the captain's expression as he handed the seal back and bowed, suggested he'd been badly unnerved. Shun eyed Tong Si as he rejoined them. Raised a brow questioningly.
"Some folk are too easily impressed," Tong Si said, waving off Shun and the others' curiosity.
"Some folk are too tight-lipped about themselves," Shun murmured in return. "But as long as you don't cause me and my Shidi trouble, I hardly care if you're a beggar who stole that seal or the King himself."
"Oh, not the King. He barely has time to think for himself, much less wander around looking for trouble." Tong Si grinned, sauntering along the road without another glance at the guards cleaning up the mess. "What with all those children of his making trouble for him, that is."
Shun reflected that was true enough. King Bai Qiu was getting old and his many, many, many children spent most of their time smiling in each others' faces while reaching round to stab their siblings' backs. More power to them, if that was what they wanted.
At least all he had to worry about was becoming the next Demon King.
The rest of the day was spent walking and keeping Fake Shirong occupied. Not that the task was difficult. It embarrassed Shun to admit - to himself, at least - that he actually liked this Shirong. Embarrassed and maybe bothered him a little.
Should he feel so glad the old Shirong had essentially blown his soul up, trying to claim his promised place as Chosen One? He did, but it didn't seem right. After all, old Shirong had been his fellow disciple. They may not have liked each other, but there ought to have been some loyalty between them, despite old Shirong's talent for making trouble.
Why had the old Shirong been such a nuisance, anyway? Just because of that damned prophecy? Or was there more to it? Certainly the strange luck that seemed to plague Shun when Shirong was around remained the same. Yet it didn't annoy him anymore, and not just because Fake Shirong was so horribly embarrassed by it. Knowing what lay behind that luck made it easier to bear. He'd no reason to hate Fake Shirong for it. Not anymore.
They couldn't discuss old Shirong in front of their traveling companions, unfortunately, so Shun focused on the present. It was fortunate Fake Shirong had some training in his old life. Helped too that he outdid his predecessor for focus and concentration. Of course, Shun had to admit he couldn't blame old Shirong for thinking too much of himself. After all, he'd always been told he was special.
Still, it was a relief to tell Fake Shirong to adjust his stance and not be given the side-eye and utter refusal to change. There were a few points where his Shidi would ask for clarification, but that just showed he was listening. It made Shun feel oddly pleased, knowing his teaching was actually doing some good. It also made him feel a bit guilty. But only a bit, because he found he appreciated the way Fake Shirong seemed to look up to him.
"Hey!"
Fake Shirong's startled cry drew Shun's attention. No surprise, it was Liang Ren causing trouble. The young man had gotten bored, watching Fake Shirong practice as they walked and decided to 'help' by throwing pinecones at him. Startled, focused on his exercise, Fake Shirong hadn't noticed until it was too late.
Somehow, Shun managed not to laugh at the sight of his Shidi with a large pinecone stuck in his hair. "At least you've not been crowned yet. You'd have to redo the whole thing." Leifeng sect's adult hairstyle required extra work, thanks to the elaborate braiding technique that pulled the hair up into a headpiece.
From the look in Fake Shirong's eyes, he was having another of those, 'I've no idea what that means' moments. It was gone quickly, though. No doubt he'd checked his predecessor's memories before foolishly opening his mouth to reveal his ignorance.
Liang Ren, always one to make trouble, it seemed, turned a bright grin on Shun. "He's not old enough for his crown, but you are." Before he'd even finished the sentence he launched another pinecone straight for Shun's head. Except Fake Shirong, anticipating the attack, leapt in to knock the thing away long before it reached Shun.
"I could have handled that," Shun pointed out, trying not to show his amusement. Or appreciation, because the move had been quite well executed.
"This Shidi is aware, but did not wish his Shixiong to trouble himself." Fake Shirong smiled, an expression that made Shun feel oddly warm, and added, "It's been a while since I played row ball."
Shun sighed inwardly. Yet another of those strange terms. Realizing what he'd done, Fake Shirong added, "Sorry. Ah, handball. I don't know why I said that."
Mo Qingshe eyed the boy, looking mildly amused. "Master is confused. Perhaps he's tired?"
Both Tong Si and Priest Housu were looking at Fake Shirong in a puzzled way. Neither asked, thankfully, and Liang Ren apparently hadn't noticed the boy's strange comment. At least row ball sounded like something real, unlike some of the things Fake Shirong had mentioned before.
They continued on, this time with Liang Ren adding to Fake Shirong's training - or so he claimed - by tossing more debris at the boy. Now he was aware, he had little difficulty dodging or returning whatever came at him. Yet another of demonstration of how quickly Fake Shirong learned.
None of them were ready for the next interruption, though Shun felt he ought to have expected it sooner or later. After all, just because Quan Shizun had approved his and Fake Shirong's travels, that didn't mean another Sect master wouldn't notice and want to know what was going on.
Butdid it have to be Master Long Zhenzhi and his chief disciple, He Xiaojing?