Heaven's Golden Finger - Chapter 15: Chapter 15

Shirong knew better than to dodge the incoming missile this time. He Xiaojing wouldn't understand. Would be hurt. And would make a fuss. Better to just let her fasten herself like a limpet mine onto his waist. "Ah-Shi! Xiaojing missed you so much!"
Everyone watched the scene with varying expressions of amusement. No, not everyone. Shun Shixiong didn't look happy at all. It wasn't jealousy, certainly, but Shirong's memories said his senior brother had never liked Xiaojing's behavior towards his Shidi.
"Xiaojing Shimei, don't make a scene in public. There are outsiders here." Shirong fell back on tradition. "Men and women shouldn't touch."
A pout started forming on her pretty face, only to disappear when Master Long ordered, "Enough, disciple. We've discussed this before."
"Yes, Shizun." She released Shirong, which at least gave him a chance to breathe.
Straightening his robes and cupping his hands politely, Shirong bowed. "Master Long. This student didn't expect to meet you here."
The man eyed him. Turned a sharp glance on Shun Shixiong. "Speak with me alone, boy."
It took Shirong a moment to realize it was he Master Long meant. But why? Shun Shixiong was the senior disciple. Surely Master Long ought to be talking to him. Knowing better than to argue, though, he bowed and followed his Shishu off to the side of the road.
"I can carry you," Master Long told him. "But we'll need to distract Shu Shun first."
"Respect, Master Long, but carry me? Distract?"
"To get you safely back home."
The statement sent a sharp pang through Shirong. Rapidly, he tried to think what could have changed back at Leifeng Sect to create the impression that Shirong needed to be saved from Shu Shun. It was obvious that was the reason Master Long was trying to separate them.
"Master, I don't understand. Our Shizun sent us on a mission...."
"Master Quan Lei is in seclusion, on orders from Sect Master Qiong. And there were signs you and that boy struggled on the trail. That he brought you down into the chasm leading to the abyss. No doubt hoping to drag you down with him."
That wasn't true. "We fell in, yes. Because I was clumsy. And he didn't try to drag me anywhere." If anything, it was Shirong doing the dragging. "I swear to you, by Heaven and Earth I swear, Shu Shun is no enemy to me. That we are doing our Shizun's will."
As always when he used that oath, Shirong felt a shiver of rightness run through him. He'd a feeling it'd go badly for him if he called on those powers when he wasn't sincere, but that wasn't a problem here. He refused, utterly refused, to be the cause of Shu Shun's downfall.
Master Long hesitated. Gazed at Shirong. Said finally, "Boy, you know what he is. What you are."
The fact that Master Long knew how much Shirong knew was worrisome. Shirong put on an innocent face. "Master Long? He's my Shixiong. I'm his Shidi. I grew up following him. What more do I need to know?"
"But the proph...." Master Long stopped himself. Narrowed his lips. "I know you read the prophecy. Sect Master Qiong made sure you read it."
Now this was new and disturbing information. Shirong's memories said he'd read the prophecy secretly, after his guardian had refused to let him look at the thing. So Sect Master Qiong had intentionally let him see the thing? Intended for him to realize he was the Chosen One and that Shu Shun was likely the Chosen One's nemesis?
More and more Shirong didn't like the situation. More and more he felt as if it wasn't just the machinations of a poorly written plot driving him. Someone intended for him to become what he was becoming. Intended for Shun Shixiong to fall. And he wasn't having anything to do with it. "Master Long, Heaven and Earth my witness. Where Shu Shun goes, I go. If he falls, I follow him down. If I rise, I drag him up."
Master Long flinched. "You young fool...."
"Yes. If I have to be." Shirong smiled. "Tell my guardian I'm safe and well and intend to remain so. But until I know there's a place for both myself and my Shixiong in this world, I will not come home."
After that argument, Shirong half-expected He Xiaojing to insist on coming along. Or, even worse, for both her and her master to do so. But Master Long was in a state after Shirong's oath. After realizing Shirong wasn't going to follow the chosen path of the Chosen One and just do what the prophecy said he should.
Was this a natural reaction? Was it consequence of the people of this world being so accustomed to their Chosen Ones and their prophecies that it never occurred to them that such things could be twisted out of shape. Ambiguous prophecies could be turned around and made to fit the needs of those bound to them. Had no one here ever even tried?
The prophecy about Shirong and Shun was ambiguous in some ways. Ambiguous enough to let them escape their fate? Shirong hoped so. What worried him, though, was how strongly some people seemed to insist on their interpretation. Master Long might not hate Shun Shixiong, but it was clear he didn't trust him. And what was Sect Master Qiong up to, making Shizun Quan Lei go into seclusion and demanding Shirong return home? More importantly, why had he let old Shirong find out about that prophecy at all?
"That girl was cute. If you don't want her, can I have her?"
Shirong glared at Liang Ren, who backed off quickly, raising his hands defensively. "I didn't mean like a slave. Just, can I court her?"
"He Xiaojing is but fifteen," Shun Shixiong pointed out. "And Lei Feng sect students aren't permitted to consider marriage until they've become senior disciples."
Liang Ren pouted. "That'll be years."
"So? You've got the time. How old are you now?"
Counting on his fingers, Liang Ren finally came up with, "Two centuries. Eight years. Seven moons. Five days. Ten hours. And sixteen minutes."
An oddly specific number, but one Shirong believed in because Liang Ren was the sort to keep that information in his head. "Two centuries, so two tails?"
A pout. "I'm halfway through my third one. It isn't just about the centuries, you know." By this time there were others showing up on the road, making Liang Ren's decision to wave those two and a half green-tinted tails around behind him a little questionable. Though spirit-folk and demons didn't seem to be a concern in this world, Shirong wondered if it was a good idea to show off.
"Going to lose one of those beauties if you aren't careful," Priest Housu murmured. "Spirit-folk aren't supposed to go around showing off, this close to Tang City."
A little sniff, followed by the tails disappearing, was Liang Ren's only answer.
"Are we close, then?"
Tong Si pointed off to their northwest. "See that spire? That's the Dragon Temple of Lord Shen. It's at the center of the city, inside the Emperor's palace."
That was right. Tang City was the kingdom's capitol. Of course it had some of the biggest and most majestic landmarks possible. "Have you ever been inside?"
A slight snort escaped Shun Shixiong's lips but all he said was, "I have. Once, when I was quite young. Master Quan had business with the King's Sorcerer and brought me along. It's... gaudy."
"Tacky, really," Tong Si corrected. "And we won't even discuss the bathing chambers, because gold is a terrible choice for a bathtub."
Shirong reflected that their companion was less and less inclined to pretend to be just a mere wandering cultivator looking for advancement. He obviously knew they suspected him of being someone a great deal more important, thanks to his having to use that jade slip to chase off that guard earlier.
He wondered if they'd find out more at the city gate.
Rather to Shirong's surprise they ran into no difficulties whatsoever getting into Tang City. After all the little interruptions and problems they'd had up until then, he'd been sure they'd never make it inside without an argument.
Tang City itself was incredible. A Hong Kong movie set brought to brilliant life. No, better than a movie set because here one could smell the food cooking; skewered meats, steamed breads and the inevitable tang hulu. It wasn't even the right season for that treat and yet there it was, glistening red and sugary on its little sticks.
Other smells weren't so pleasant. The inevitable result of horses being the main transportation. The inevitable result of too many people in a small area. It all, quite frankly, stank to the high heavens, especially near the alleys.
Not that Shirong minded because it was all just so much better than where he'd been before. All he needed to do was make a life for himself here that wouldn't bring trouble on someone he was liking more and more. He glanced at Shu Shun, who was clearly enjoying himself as well.
"How old were you when Shizun brought you here?" he asked.
"About five. Pleasant to look at it from a slightly greater height," Shun Shixiong admitted. "All I could see were legs. And a horse almost kicked me because she thought I was a real snake."
The last was said somewhat regretfully and it occurred to Shirong, watching the older boy gaze at the animals, that Shun Shixiong rather liked horses. That he'd love to be able to ride. His snake heritage made that impossible, though. Horses saw him as a threat and wouldn't come close. Or, worse, would try to trample him.
They continued through the city, letting Tong Si lead them because he obviously knew where to go. Until at last they came to a big mansion surrounded by water. No, not surrounded. Built atop a large pool, rather like that restaurant in Shanghai. The one that was supposedly the basis for willow pattern paintings. Shirong had been there once when he was competing and remembered wishing he could stay there.
The building wasn't an exact replica of that other place, a fact that relieved Shirong a little. It would have worried him that this really was a dream otherwise. Finding a perfect match to a place he'd been to before in this world ought to be an impossibility. Or at least highly unlikely.
"The auction isn't held here," Tong Si told them. "But this is where all its guests will be staying, so we may as well start there." He eyed Priest Housu. "You're going to have to find your own way in, if that's your purpose. It's just the five of us, remember?"
She smiled blissfully. "No need to worry about me. I should stop in at my Lord's temple before I do anything else." She bowed to them, "Farewell, for now. This one hopes to see you again soon. Much thanks for allowing me to join you."
Barely waiting for them to acknowledge her farewell and return it, she slipped off into the crowd. Tong Si waited until she was gone before leading them across the bridge to the central building of the inn. Where, inevitably, a pair of big and humorless guards waited and watched.
Now it was Shun Shixiong's turn to talk and he did so calmly, though he was dwarfed by the two men and being glared at in an unfriendly way. "This one possesses an entry card to the Grand Auction. These are his chosen companions. This is the place we will be staying while we wait?"
One of the big men took the card Shun Shixiong gave him. Handed it back. Said in a bored monotone. "Go inside. Tell the hostess you're here. Tell her how many rooms you want. Go wait. Do what you want until tomorrow morning at dawn. Transportation to the auction will be waiting."
As they followed the man's instructions, Shirong wasn't at all surprised when Liang Ren began complaining irritably about having to get up early.