Heaven's Golden Finger - Chapter 33: Chapter 33

As a child, both in this life and that other future life, Shirong had felt abandoned. Growing up in an orphanage in one life, growing up under his father's old master, he'd always yearned for something. Now, looking at himself from two lives, he understood better why he'd been such a spoiled brat, clinging to whomever would let him.
"So Xu Shishu is alive?" Shun Shixiong murmured. "Perhaps we should be looking for him?"
Shirong wasn't sure he wanted to find his father. After all, he'd left him with Sect Master Qiong, the same person who'd bound Shun Shixiong's mother and set Xu Shibo on whatever disastrous course he'd followed. Right that moment he wanted nothing more than to leave this whole mess and go away with Shun Shixiong.
That, though, wouldn't solve a single thing. It wouldn't change the past, either. Noting his Shixiong was waiting for his answer, Shirong was about to ask how they could hope to find his father when a thought occurred to him. "We could ask Tong Si."
"Why would that vagabond know anything?" General Ishalan asked, surprising them both. "And he's always poking his nose in places he shouldn't, which is how I know him."
It occurred to Shirong that he'd best not mention Tong Si's true identity just then. Bazi's king probably wouldn't like it much if his secret identity were revealed. He'd especially dislike another kingdom's general knowing the truth. He might even regard Shirong's failure to keep his mouth shut as treason.
"It's because he's always poking his nose where he shouldn't," Shirong suggested.
"Hmph. Well, I can't say you're wrong there." General Ishalan shrugged and drank from his flask. "I can't help you with anything in Bazi, though."
"You could give us an idea which way that shadow went, though," Shirong suggested. "Maybe we could figure out where Shun's father is."
"I'm not entirely sure. He disappeared into the Northern Range. Might have gone to Jingling Forest, though I'm not sure he'd survive in there. That's not the sort of place for demons."
Jingling Forest was where Shirong had found Shun Shixiong before they'd been dropped into the Demon World. "Shixiong was doing all right there, though... Shixiong? Are you all right?" Shun Shixiong's face had gone white.
"I... your father... He wasn't... wasn't bragging."
"What?"
"When I was crossing from Khai back to Bazi, I met the Forest King. He was a friend of my companions - don't ask me how or why. But he said something strange when we were talking." Shun Shixiong looked shaken. "He said, 'I, your father'."
That was a line Shirong knew from his reading, though most of the time the speaker was saying something different. "Maybe he meant it as a boast?"
"That's what I thought at the time. What if he'd meant it literally?" Shun Shixiong looked stricken. "He... was kind to me and I never even thought he might be related."
It seemed to Shirong that - given Shun Shixiong was right - Shu Duan Shibo might not have wanted his son to know him. He said as much, adding, "But maybe we should ask?"
Slowly, thoughtfully, Shun Shixiong whispered, "You might be right for once, Shidi."
It surprised Shirong when General Ishalan offered them assistance. They weren't from Pamir and had dumped themselves in his lap unexpectedly. Worse, they'd lied and pretended to be something they weren't, all so they could run off at the first possible moment. Yet he not only agreed to guide them to the nearest edge of Jingling Forest but to supply them with food and clothes for the trip.
When Shun Shixiong remarked on the General's kindness, Ishalan waved off the unspoken apology. "Your father was a friend. I owe his son hospitality, if nothing else. If anything, I should apologize for assuming you two were spies."
It wasn't as if they'd told the General the truth. But Shirong wasn't going to argue that point. Not when they were benefitting from General Ishalan's consideration. Seeing his Shixiong ready to continue the argument, Shirong whispered, "If he doesn't mind, we shouldn't."
Before Shirong's ascension, or whatever it was called, Shun Shixiong wouldn't have listened to him. He did now, a fact that gnawed at Shirong. He had to tell his Shixiong the truth about himself, but the thought of losing this connection hurt.
"Shidi, don't keep drifting off thinking. We need to go."
Realizing he was daydreaming again, Shirong agreed. "Apologies, Shixiong." He turned to the General. "Respect, General Ishalan. Much thanks for all your help."
The General waved off the thanks. "Save your manners for the Forest King, boy. This is a war camp." He turned to an aide. "Get them horses...."
"Sir?" Shun Shixiong interrupted. "Horses don't like my kind."
"Don't worry. Our horses are better trained than the ones you find in Bazi." With a disdainful gesture towards the northwest, General Ishalan added, "You should let them go once you reach the forest, though. They won't be much use and there are too many spirit beasts who'd eat them."
Within minutes the aide returned with two startlingly beautiful mounts, one silver, the other gold. Shirong had never been much interested in equestrian matters but one of his teammates had been. He'd adored one breed especially, Akhal Teke, was it? These two had the same sort of shiny sleek hides that glittered in the midday sun.
"Sun and Moon will carry you without hesitation," General Ishalan told them. "They're young, not yet ready for the battlefield, but they're fast and well-behaved."
Shun Shixiong's eyes had the same look Jimmy Lane had had and Shirong realized just how much his Shixiong had yearned to approach one of these animals. It must have been frustrating to him, knowing his scent would terrify most horses.
These two shifted nervously, but their handler whispered something in their ears and they calmed immediately. "Feed them. It'll tell them you're friends." The General handed Shun Shixiong and Shirong each a solid lump of dark greenish brown substance.
Approaching Moon, Shirong held the lump out, remembering in time to lay it flat on his hand. Velvety lips removed it from his palm and the horse nudged him lightly as he chewed. Sun was a little more cautious with Shun Shixiong but finally accepted his treat.
By this time the General's men had brought packs stuffed full with supplies. "I regret I've no spatial rings to offer...," The General began.
"No need. We both have our own."
As Shun Shixiong set to sharing out the supplies, Shirong had a thought. "Could I have a bow and arrows?" They could have used one earlier, back in that misty place surrounding the Demon Realm.
The General gestured and two bows and more than enough arrows were brought forward to be added to their supplies. Other tools joined the weapons, as well as a good-sized stack of firewood. "You should avoid cutting trees for your campfire in the forest."
"Mm. Yes." Shun Shixiong packed the wood away, then had Shirong check his spatial ring. Only when he was satisfied they were adequately supplied did he climb - a little clumsily - onto his horse's back. He narrowed his eyes at Shirong as he settled himself, clearly daring his Shidi to say a word.
Shirong wasn't much of a rider either and it took him several tries to get up, thanks to the lack of a stirrup. He refused assistance, however. He'd have to do this on his own later if he needed to dismount. By the time he was done, Shun Shixiong was squeezing the bridge of his nose between his fingers and the General and his men were howling with laughter. "Young man, if you ever leave Leifeng Sect in favor of becoming a performer, you have a future as a fool."
"This Shirong is already a fool," Shirong told him, flushing a little because he really hadn't meant to be quite that clumsy. "And will go where his Shixiong goes."
"Which," Shun Shixiong said, the slight quirk to his lips showing his amusement, "may or may not lead us straight into disaster yet again."
With one final bow to General Ishalan, they turned their horses and set to galloping west.
Riding wasn't easy. Shirong had a slight advantage over his Shixiong, having ridden once or twice in his future life. Shun Shixiong had never been near a horse before today and he barely understood how to keep his legs tight to the beast's sides and move with her movements.
Thanks to the difficulty, talk wasn't possible for some time. Which was just as well because Shirong was still trying to work out the best way to tell his Shixiong the truth about himself. He still didn't want to but he didn't want to hide it either. That'd only make things worse when Shun Shixiong worked it out. Given he hadn't already.
In an attempt to keep from fretting over what he had to say, Shirong focused on their surroundings. Rolling hills, green with lush grass, spread from their west. To the east lay dryer lands, with rocky escarpments that led into a maze of canyons, or so Shirong's mental map of the four kingdoms told him.
Up until now he hadn't bothered thinking about the landscape, mostly because he just never had the time. Now he tried to visualize a map, trying to work out where they were going and what they might expect there.
The four kingdoms had been one Empire, once, a huge area nestled between two mountain ranges. But somewhere in the Empire's legendary past, war had broken out between the four provinces and in the end the Gods were said to have settled the matter by raising four new mountain ranges between the lands. Each province became their own separate land and each province's duke became King.
To keep the kingdoms from gathering armies and forcing their way past the mountains to their neighbors, the Gods created a forest of silverleaf and golden bamboo. Filled with spirit beasts and other dangers, the only safe way through were narrow passes between each kingdom.
Jingling Forest covered all four ranges, circling round the Gods' home on Kunlun Tian, and was ruled by the strongest spirit beast of all; the shadow-born Forest King. Shirong didn't know how the Forest King could possibly be Shun Shixiong's father, but given all the other messes they'd fallen into, he wouldn't scoff.
By this time the edges of the forest were visible on the slopes of the southern range. He'd barely gotten a glimpse of the place before, when he and his two companions had taken that wormhole, or whatever one called it, from Bazi to find Shun Shixiong.
Thinking about his companions worried Shirong. Better accustomed to riding, now, he couldn't help asking, "Do you think Craft Master Feng Xi and Mo Qinghe are all right?"
Shun Shixiong gave him an exasperated look and Shirong realized he was still having trouble staying seated. "Er. Sorry. I'll wait. I'll wait."
"No... I can talk." Shun Shixiong took a deep breath, sounding strained. "Not sure about Craft Master Feng Xi. Aunty Green is bound to you."
Oh. Of course. A demon's master connection to their slave... Gods, he hated that word... meant he'd sense it if she were in trouble. That same connection meant she'd be able to find him, sooner or later. The question was, why hadn't she done so yet?
"Demon world," Shun Shixiong gasped when Shirong asked. "Different plane... existence."
Seeing his Shixiong wasn't up to more conversation and noticing the sun was just about to dip below the trees covering the southern range, Shirong suggested, "Maybe we should camp at the outskirts?"
Shun grimaced. "Tell me... how... to stop. And... don't... laugh."
It wasn't easy to obey. Shun Shixiong sounded so grumpily out of sorts over such a little thing. "Pull the reins slowly. Like this." Shirong guided his horse to a slow stop and was glad to see Shun Shixiong follow suit. "Maybe we should have walked?"
"No." Shun Shixiong slid off his horse carefully, stroking her neck. "It... was... hard. But.... I always wanted to ride."
Maybe someday they could purchase another horse like this one for Shun Shixiong? They'd have to convince Leifeng Sect to keep a stable, though. Given, of course, Leifeng sect would have them back when all of this was over.
"We'd best send them back," Shun Shixiong said, though regret filled his voice. He was obviously exhausted, obviously aching and obviously stiff. Yet he still yearned to keep the horse and ride it again. Yes, they'd definitely have to see about getting him his own horse.
It only took a bit of persuasion to send the horses back the way they'd come. Moon sniffed around Shirong for more treats and Sun nuzzled Shun Shixiong's cheek before finally spinning on her heels to head home.
Only when the beasts were out of sight did Shun Shixiong turn to Shirong. "I agree. Setting up camp here would be safest. Not that the two of us are likely to be safe even if we were hiding in Bazi Fortress. Not with our talent for finding trouble."
Shirong liked the way Shun Shixiong said 'our talent' but he knew better than to say so. Instead he set to pulling their tent and camping goods out of his spatial ring.
At the same time he promised himself. Once they'd settled down for the night. Once he was sure Shun Shixiong had recovered from his first horseback ride. Then he'd tell the truth about himself.
Tell the truth and pray to all the Gods his Shixiong would understand and forgive him.