Heaven's Golden Finger - Chapter 34: Chapter 34

Shirong Shidi was doing it again. Nervously opening his mouth then turning around and fiddling around. Their campsite was already clean. The fire was burning properly. Their food was cooking. Their tent was pitched. There was absolutely nothing Shirong Shidi needed to do but he was doing it anyway.
"Are you going to say whatever it is you need to say or are you going to keep poking the fire until it goes out?" Shun asked finally.
The bright color on Shirong Shidi's cheeks had nothing to do with the warmth of the flames. "I don't know how to say it," he admitted. "I should. I have to. But I... I'm afraid to."
Ah. That same thing that'd had Shirong Shidi all nervous and twitchy before, then. Really, there were times when the boy was simply hopeless. "You don't have to say anything, Shidi."
"No. I do." Shirong Shidi took a deep breath. Closed his eyes and rapidly said, "I'mstilloldShirongaswellasnew...."
That was practically incomprehensible. So incomprehensible Shun almost thought it another of Shirong Shidi's strange future life terms. It took him several seconds to work out the actual words. Then, as calm as he could, he said, "I know."
"I really didn't mean to fool you and I wasn't trying to and I don't understand half of it but.... You know? You're... not angry?"
Somehow, Shun managed not to laugh at his Shidi's expression. Confused, hopeful, fearful and bewildered, all at the same time. And, somehow, oddly cute. Thoughtfully, he admitted, "I would have been angry at the beginning. But I was still annoyed with you for everything. I'm coming to realize how little of what you did before was you trying to trouble me."
Shyly, staring into the fire, Shirong Shidi muttered, "I wanted to be friends the first time I saw you. And you were always mad at me."
Tell the truth, Shun had been mad at everyone. Almost half the elders at Leifeng Sect accepted Master Qiong Lou's interpretation of the Revered Predecessor's prophecy. They'd been wary of him, half-inclined to isolate him before he'd even broken any rules. If his master hadn't insisted on treating him fairly, if the other half of the elders hadn't agreed with Master Quan Lei, he might well have been sent away.
"You have a way of getting me in trouble," Shun told his Shidi, making him blanch. "At the time I thought it was deliberate. Not anymore."
Shirong Shidi turned to look at Shun, eyes wide and shining. "I... I'm so sorry, Shixiong. I...."
"Don't keep apologizing, Shidi. It isn't necessary." Shun wondered if the odd tremble he felt from his Shidi's gaze meant something. He almost reached out to... he wasn't sure what. He reminded himself, Shirong Shidi was still officially a child. Fellow discipleship aside, he'd no business even thinking of his Shidi as anything more until the younger boy became an adult. "You needn't be afraid. Heaven and Earth my witness, our fates are one, after all."
Really, it was amazing how bright Shirong's eyes could get when he truly wanted them to.
They took turns keeping watch, though the animals living in Jingling forest were no more interested in leaving than the animals outside were in going near. There was still a risk of bandits, for one thing. For another, the ones who'd abducted Shun before might still be after him. And, too, their talent for running into trouble couldn't be discounted.
Miraculously, nothing happened. Morning came, shining bright on the silver and gold leaves of Jingling forest, a fine mist flowing across the high rolling hills of Pamir. Shun felt a sudden urge to just lie in the sunlight and bask. He fought it off, saying, "Exercises first. Then let's go."
Shirong Shidi yawned but didn't argue. If nothing else, his experience in that future life had taught him the self-discipline he hadn't had before. When Shun said so, he flushed. "Father... Master Qiong... was always letting me sleep in."
Honestly, given Shirong Shidi was the Chosen One and given what that actually meant, Master Qiong Lou had done his adopted son no favors. Surely he should have insisted on his son putting more time and effort into self-control, not less. "You've gotten better about it."
"The orphanage didn't let us sleep in." Shirong Shidi paused. "Did that word come through right?"
It was oddly pronounced, but understandable and Shun said so as he prepared for their morning exercise. "Let's work on your dual wielding. You still have some odd habits."
Shirong agreed. "I think it comes from the game I played. The weapons weren't real so it didn't have the same feel."
That game sounded interesting, though and Shun wondered if they could work out a way to recreate it. That'd be for later, though. Right then Shirong Shidi needed to work on his foundations. Chosen he might be, but that didn't mean he'd perfected his skills.
One of the things he'd gotten from General Ishalan's supply officer were some old and close to rotten fruit. Not so they could eat it but for training. When he pulled them out and told Shirong Shidi to practice striking what he threw at him, though, the boy started giggling.
"Fruit Neeen Jaaa," he managed to say when Shun stared at him in confusion. "Another game."
"One day I hope to understand one word you say when you get like this, Shidi," Shun sighed. "Prepare yourself."
They spent the next half hour practicing strikes, a task made more difficult because Shirong Shidi couldn't quite take the targets seriously. Shun would have to see about picking up something less humorous, the next time they were at a marketplace.
At last they finished. A quick cold breakfast, followed by tea reheated over the remains of the fire. It tasted stale, but it was warm and sweetened with honey. Almost enough to satisfy two healthy appetites and warm them up before they headed into the forest.
Packing took longer than Shun meant, mostly because they were both putting off the moment when they'd have to re-enter the forest. Shun couldn't guess why his Shidi was nervous, but he knew why his own stomach was doing small flips as he slowly folded their tent.
"We could keep searching for Master Zhan Kui, if you'd rather put this off," Shirong Shidi said suddenly, obviously aware of Shun's state of mind.
Momentarily tempted, Shun knew he'd have snapped at his Shidi for the suggestion if their old relationship still stood. Right then he was suddenly glad Shirong Shidi was concerned for him. "No," he said finally. "If the Forest King really is my father, or was, he might have the answers we're looking for. Besides... I want to know what happened to my mother."
"That's right. I didn't think about that." Shirong Shidi sounded apologetic as he added, "I should have. I was always looking for my parents when I was an orphan."
Curiously, Shun asked, "Do you wonder about your parents in this life, too?"
"I... yes. Master Qiong discouraged it, of course, but how could I not? I know my mother was a commoner, a farmer, but I've no idea where my real father went."
Shun promised himself they'd try to find out, once they had time. Not yet, though. Right then they had to face Shun's past.
And find out if the Forest King still had enough of Shu Duan in him to acknowledge his only son properly.
The forest felt oddly welcoming. To Shun, unaccustomed to feeling at home anywhere, it was an oddly emotional experience. He found himself stopping to stare around, trying to understand these new feelings.
Shirong Shidi noticed his expression. "Is everything all right, Shixiong?"
There'd been a time when Shun would have preferred dying over letting anyone, especially Shirong Shidi know what he was thinking. "I feel like I belong. I've never felt like I belonged."
That made Shirong Shidi's eyes go soft, as if he ached inside for Shun. As unaccustomed to the feeling of sympathy as he was with belonging, Shun tightened his lips and glared at his Shidi. "Don't do that."
"Ah. Sorry, Shixiong. This Shidi forgets his place." Oddly enough, Shirong Shidi's apology didn't feel quite sincere. As if he was mildly amused by Shun's reaction. If so, he was smart enough not to admit it. "Do you think it's because the Forest King is your father?"
A voice whispered in Shun's ear. The wind itself, speaking to him. Not anymore.
That made him jerk around. Stare. But there was nothing there to see. The breeze tugged at him, though, as if wanting to lead him away. He hesitated. Following meant leaving the main trail, a dangerous proposition for the inexperienced. Yet if he was right and the Forest King was his father, this could be Shu Duan's way of calling him.
At last he made up his mind. Lan Shizhong had told him the Forest King avoided the main roads. Likely that was part of his agreement with those who'd built them. It meant travelers were safe there. It also meant that, if he wanted to meet the shadowy being, he'd have to step off the path.
"Shirong Shidi, follow me and don't wander." He might have added 'don't get into trouble,' but there was only so much he could expect.
"I'll do my best."
They followed the breeze through brush and thicket, somehow always finding a trail just big enough for two young men to walk. A trail that opened up ahead of them as they walked. A trail that closed behind them once they'd passed. Shun couldn't help being bothered by that last. He hoped he wasn't falling into a trap.
The trail went up and down the forest's mountains, strangely easy for a path that ought to be rocky and steep. They followed it to a huge clearing where the oldest of the old silverleaf trees entwined with a golden bamboo. It didn't seem possible, bamboo didn't ordinarily grow like that, but Jingling Forest was a place of old magics, where anything could happen.
A shadowy figure lounged on a branch of the silverleaf tree, playing with a fine strand of silver and gold thread, creating shape after shape with rapidly moving fingers. As Shun and Shirong Shidi approached, he lifted his head and Shun thought he smiled.
Shadows slithered down the tree, flowed along the ground and finally rose in front of Shun. "Back again? After leaving so abruptly?"
They bowed and if Shirong Shidi's hands were shaking and his breath coming in short sharp pants, he plainly refused to admit it. He stayed back a step or so, letting Shun take the lead.
"Your Majesty, this disciple did not leave of his own accord but he apologizes if his disappearance caused concern." Shun kept his eyes on his cupped hands until cold shadowy fingers lifted his face. "This one came to speak with you on a personal matter."
"Your master is the one who you should apologize to. She seeks you in Houttan, now, fearful that the one who stole you before has stolen you again."
Master? Oh, yes, that was right. He'd allowed himself to be enslaved to Bai Xiang after the woman had bought him from the auction in Khai. But why would she seek him in Houttan? For that matter, why would she be worried for him? "This one failed to fulfill his side of the agreement," he told the Forest King. "He will seek her out and attempt to do so... as soon as he has finished his mission here."
The Forest King eyed him, or seemed to eye him. It was difficult to tell when one couldn't see his face properly. Only the eyes were visible, glowing impossibly black among the shadows. "And that mission?"
"I...." For a moment Shun found himself at a loss for words. How could he possibly ask this being what he needed to? If he was right, what good would knowing do? If he was wrong, he might offend the Forest King entirely. He summoned his courage, forcing himself to look straight into that black on black on black face. "Your Majesty, this one has heard rumors that you were once human."
"And?"
"Were you, are you, by any chance, the Leifeng Disciple, Shu Duan?"
The cold fingers tightened their grip, almost painfully, then released. "I, your father, am not your father anymore." The Forest King turned to look at Shirong Shidi, "Thanks, in part, to that one's father."
Something in his gaze, even hidden in the shadows forming his substance, made Shun step in front of his Shidi and lift his face to stare straight into his father's eyes. He wasn't sure where things stood between Xu Sheng and his former partner, but he refused to let his father touch his Shidi because of Xu Sheng's mistakes.
Even if he had to fight to protect him.