Heaven's Golden Finger - Chapter 27: Chapter 27

Shirong felt a bit like he'd wandered into a video game. One of the open world ones, with impossibly huge cities in equally improbable places. This one hung upside down and sideways inside a stony chasm. The whole place was carved from the living stone, spires of polished stone connected by gemstone bridges. A sphere hung from the central spire on a chain of rainbow shards, its soft glow changing color slowly.
Shirong wanted to ask if someone had borrowed this from that old D&D module, but there weren't any spiders in sight. Besides, he didn't want to annoy his Shixiong with his foolish references to things Shu Shun had no way of knowing.
Instead he asked, "You know this place?" Shun Shixiong's expression was shocked but not surprised. The cavern was familiar to him, that much was certain.
"It's my mother's kingdom. I'm sure of it."
If so, demons had taste. The buildings looked elegant and delicate and precisely the sort of place a rich noble would kill to own. "Then that's her palace?" He pointed at the central spire.
"I'm not sure. I've only ever dreamed of this place. Never thought it was real." Shun Shixiong moved forward slowly. Stood at the pathway edge, far too close for Shirong's comfort. Then he stepped back hurriedly, just as something huge glided slowly upwards. "Never thought those were real, either."
The thing was beautiful in a terrifying sort of way. A bit like a sting ray in shape, but covered in a delicate pattern of scales and feathers. A long tail, coming to a sharp point, flicked lazily behind it as it soared and turned. It called out as it passed, low and deep, like a humpback whales, only sweeter.
"That'll eat us, won't it," Shirong asked. Anything that beautiful couldn't possibly be safe.
"I don't know if we'd be big enough." Shun Shixiong considered the thing and another rising out of the depths from the other end of the chasm. "And right now I think they're mating."
It'd be easy to just stand around and stare at everything in this place. There was just so much to look at. So much to try and comprehend. But that'd take time Shirong suspected they didn't have. "What do you want to do, Shixiong?"
Shun Shixiong watched the two beasts dancing together in slow motion, treating air like it was water. Then, regretfully, turned away. "We need to find our way back to the human world. I'm almost sure there'll be a portal in my mother's palace. And, while we're there, I should probably pay my respects."
That was right. Shun Shixiong's mother had been trapped upon her throne, or so Master Qiong had told Shirong. "Do you want to free her?"
"I should if I can, but.... I'm not Master Qiong's match." Shun Shixiong sounded tired. "And you should be trying to stop me, anyway."
No. That's the one thing Shirong would never do. Both this life and the one he'd lived in the future he'd had no parents. Admittedly, he'd had Master Qiong this life but that had never felt like a true parental relationship. Besides, Shirong suspected his adopted father's motives. Suspected what'd happened to Shun Shixiong's parents had more to do with Master Qiong's ego and desire than anything else.
"I'll help you."
A slight wry chuckle. "My thanks, Shidi, but for all your gains you're not strong enough. The two of us together can't beat Master Qiong's work. Besides, he's liable to be coming after me, next."
Shun Shixiong was probably right. "I won't let him touch you." He didn't need to repeat what he'd already promised all those weeks back. Their fates were one and they'd deal with it together.
The path to the palace was a long and winding one. It was also made more difficult by the energies filling this place. Shirong could deal with them by simply holding on and letting them move past. Shun Shixiong, however, had more difficulty. His demonic heritage came into play, meaning every wisp of magical energy they encountered tried to attach itself to him.
Shirong could tell his Shixiong was having trouble. He suspected he could help. Suspected he should help. But had no idea how to help. It was too bad they hadn't found Tong Si before they'd made their escape with Mo Qinghe's help. As Shirong's predecessor, he could have given him some guidance.
When Shirong said as much, Shun Shixiong paused. "Tong Si was the last Chosen?" From his tone he was mostly talking to keep himself distracted while he struggled to deal with the energies trying to feed themselves to him.
"He's also the King of Xian," Shirong told him, a statement that made both Shun Shixiong's brows shoot up. "I'm not joking. I got summoned to meet him in Tang City."
Shun Shixiong considered that, a rivulet of sweat dripping down his cheek. Then he smiled wryly. "I'd heard rumors His Majesty King Ba Qiu had a fondness for wandering before he took the throne. It seems that didn't change much."
It relieved Shirong, knowing his Shixiong believed him. He wouldn't have believed him, given all he'd done to Shun Shixiong before. Oh, but Shun Shixiong still thought he was a fake, a transmigrated soul with no connection to him. The thought hurt. He didn't want to feel like his Shixiong preferred a false Shirong over the real one. To be fair, though, he'd earned the older boy's distaste.
"Something's wrong?"
"No. I just... no." Shirong ought to admit the truth. But how could he dare? He'd been such a bad Shidi. Caused so much trouble. Some of it had been a desire for attention, some had been his adopted father's influence, but neither were good enough excuses. Shun Shixiong had been hurt, time and again, by Shirong's actions.
"You're lying."
"I... I'm not ready to talk about it. Please, Shixiong. I need time." Time and a great deal more courage than he currently possessed. "I'll tell you. I promise I'll tell you. But... just not yet."
A sigh. "Fine. What happened after I was abducted then? You can tell me that much, then? Such as why you were traveling with Craft Master Feng?"
That was easier to explain. "Craft Master Feng was telling me about our roles. She offered to help me find you. She... she was your predecessor."
Shun Shixiong stopped midway across the chasm, a place Shirong really would have preferred not to stay in. "My predecessor? She was the last Adversary?"
"I really wish there was a better word. Adversary is so... adversarial." While Shun Shixiong chuckled, Shirong continued, "She was. She was explaining to me that we both serve a function. You bring Chaos into the world to keep it moving. I keep it from destroying everything."
"I seem... to be... rather in need of that at the moment." More energy was seeping into Shun Shixiong's body, swirls of it seeking out his heart. He clutched the railing suddenly and Shirong went to his support. To his surprise, his touch seemed to ease his Shixiong's difficulty. "That... that's better. But I feel like... I need to change."
"You want to be a snake again? It's all right with me." It might make communication difficult but it was obvious Shun Shixiong was in distress.
"Yes... Yes, I think I'd best. As soon as there's space. I... I think I'm going to be huge."
They hurried forward. Reached the next platform, where statues of strangely shaped beings blocked their path. Dozens upon dozens of them, all the same color as the surrounding stone, their armored bodies resembling a peculiar mix of all sorts of animals and human. It wasn't going to be easy slipping past them, there were so many.
Then they raised their heads, weapons at ready, and spoke in unison, "Only the King may pass. Prove your blood."
"Oh great," Shirong grumbled. "A test. Nobody told me there'd be a test."
"There's always a test," Shun Shixiong snapped as he took two steps forward and suddenly exploded into his serpentine shape. As he'd expected, he was indeed huge. Bigger than last time and more than slightly testy. "FIGHT ME YOU BASTARDS!" he hissed, snatching the nearest statue up in his jaws and flinging it over the railing into the chasm below.
The fight would have been the envy of every filmmaker everywhere. Or would have been if it weren't too damned fast to follow. Shirong found himself yearning for a slow-motion camera and instant replay, just so he'd have some idea what his Shixiong was doing.
Some of the statues exploded into dust. Others were flung across the chasm to hit the wall on the other side. Still more were tossed into the air, juggled atop Shun Shixiong's coils. And those at the back, the largest and most powerful, were set alight by the fires of chaos.
Shirong stayed out of the way. Well, mostly out of the way. For some reason some of the statues took it into their stone heads that he was to be tested as well. They'd rush at him and he'd dice them into blocks of stone with his swords. The remains struggled futilely, looking a bit like the Black Knight in that Holy Grail movie. Just as helpless, too, he noted with satisfaction.
Then the fight was over and Shun Shixiong reared up, a triumphant cry coming from his throat that set the entire city ringing. It was a glorious sound, high and sweet, echoing with a mix of joy and sorrow. Shirong gazed up at his Shixiong, wanting to reach out, to touch him, and suddenly afraid to get too close.
Shun Shixiong turned his gaze downwards, saw Shirong. Hesitated. And suddenly slithered away, racing up the path and into the main hall of the palace.
Why had he run? Was he afraid? He'd no reason to fear Shirong. Or had he seen the truth, seen Shirong's true self and known his soul? It was Shirong, who'd wronged him so many times, who should be afraid. What right had Shirong to bind them together in that oath, when it was always he who brought trouble down on his Shixiong's head?
Whatever the reason, Shirong knew he couldn't walk away. If Shun Shixiong wanted their connection broken he'd do what he could. But right now he feared his Shixiong needed all the help he could get. Terrified of what he'd face, terrified of rejection, he still followed his Shixiong into the palace.
The interior of the Demon King's palace was as beautiful as everything else in this place. No doubt some would have called it barbaric, but Shirong thought the wild designs, sheer and colorful fabric hangings, scales, gems and shells were exquisite.
They also created a maze. One that it took Shirong a while to realize wasn't nearly so hard as it seemed. The interior of the palace was not a series of separate rooms carved from stone. Rather it was one huge chamber with the separate rooms formed by bamboo-like platforms and walled off from each other by curtains of cloth and precious beads.
Those curtains made it impossible to follow Shun Shixiong's trail because they fell back into place as he passed. He could have gone anywhere and by the time Shirong entered a room the curtains would have ceased to move. Shirong refused to give up, traveling up and down the platforms until he suddenly realized his mistake.
This was the Demon King's Palace. Where would her throne room be but in the very center of this place? And even if it wasn't, finding the center might give him a better chance of hearing Shun Shixiong's movements.
Using the same rope from earlier as a guide, he pushed his way through the curtains, staying as straight as possible as he crossed. And, thank the Gods, finally found his way to a huge chamber at the center of the palace. A chamber with a single platform at the center, with a dark and silky looking form wrapped around it, making a small frightened noise.
It was Shun Shixiong. That much was obvious and certain. Shirong didn't know why the older boy was crying, didn't know how a snake could cry, but he did know he needed to do something about it. His one problem was that he was several stories up from where Shun Shixiong lay.
Searching out stairs down would take too long and risk getting him lost again, so Shirong climbed down the curtains, clutching for dear life and praying he didn't pull everything down. It was a vain hope. He wasn't all that heavy but some of the bead ropes were too old and fragile to be treated so. They frayed. Gave way. And finally dumped him right atop Shun Shixiong's coils.
If nothing else, Shun Shixiong's size and general softness made for a safe landing. It also caused him to raise his head and glare down furiously at Shirong. "Ah... hello?"
"Why. Are. You. Always. Landing. On. Me?"
"Just lucky?" Shirong tried to sit up. Slid sideways between two coils. Had to clamber upright again. "I'm sorry Shixiong. Shidi is clumsy and foolish and is always making trouble for you and he is so. so. SO. Sorry."
Shun Shixiong let him blather on for a while longer. Then blew in his face and snapped, "Stop apologizing."
"Sorry."
"What part of 'stop apologizing' don't you understand?" Another breath of air, sweet and warm, set Shirong's hair flying around his face. "If anyone should apologize, it's me, for running off on you."
Shirong didn't think Shun Shixiong needed to do anything of the sort. Guessing he'd get short shrift if he attempted to say so, he asked nervously, "May this Shidi know why his Shixiong did leave, then?"
The big head lay flat against a coil so Shun Shixiong could look more closely at Shirong. "Don't you dare laugh."
"This Shidi would never consider it."
"I'm stuck."
Stuck? Shun Shixiong was big, yes, but surely there was an easy solution. "You could try being human again, at least for a moment, so you can get unstuck."
That earned Shirong another sharp breath in the face, one that almost knocked him over, it was so impatient. "No. I'm stuck... in this form." Shun Shixiong's voice caught as he spoke and Shirong realized he was trying desperately to be calm and brave despite his fear. "I can't... remember... what I ought to look like."
Relief flooded Shirong. He'd fully expected Shun Shixiong to be angry because he'd realized Shirong was still the same Shirong who'd made him so miserable before. He'd still have to tell on himself but at least they could wait until they were safely out of here.
"I may have a solution to that." He searched his spatial ring. Found the little statue Craft Master Feng had helped him make. "This was to help me find you, but now you can use it to tell what you ought to look like."
Shun Shixiong peered at the doll. Made an impatient noise. "How is that going to help me tell what I look like? All it is, is face, hands and feet."
That was because it was clothed. Blushing because he knew the doll was anatomically correct, Shirong undid the clothing and carefully set it in front of him, keeping his hands off the bared shape. "Is that... ah... better?"
Shun Shixiong was silent for a long long moment. "Get off me. Leave the doll."
Not sure if his Shixiong was mad or relieved, Shirong obeyed as quickly as those slippery scales would let him. Once he was clear, Shun lifted his head and began swaying back and forth, black fire flowing up his gorgeous scales, concealing him.
It didn't take long, not really, but Shirong had to gasp for breath as Shun Shixiong restored himself to his proper shape. Not because he was out of air but because Shun was wearing no more than the doll he'd used as a guide. Which meant everything Shirong had visualized earlier was plainly visible.
Shirong blushed even more brightly. Spun around and tore the closest curtain down and shoved it behind him. To his relief, Shun Shixiong took it without a word. Until at last he said, "You may turn around now."
Nervously, half-expecting to be swatted, Shirong did so and found himself looking into Shun Shixiong's bright red face. "Your help was invaluable, Shidi. However...."
"However?"
"I realize you double up. And I'm glad, really, that you did pay close attention to my appearance. But did you have to be quite that attentive?"
Staring at the floor because there was absolutely no way he could meet Shun Shixiong's gaze right that moment, Shirong whispered, "Shixiong is very beautiful. This Shidi couldn't help looking."
Couldn't help doing other things in the privacy of his own room, but that was far more than he thought Shun Shixiong needed, or indeed wanted, to know.
Shirong: Shirong asks to be excused.
Shun: Why? Did you forget to use the washroom before you came here?
Shirong: Actually, I think I need a handkerchief for the nosebleed.
Shun: And a cold shower?
Shirong: .... That too.