Heaven's Golden Finger - Chapter 36: Chapter 36

The Forest King led Shun and Shirong Shidi to the southwestern border of his forest, his power over the land making it easy for the two of them to trail behind him.
Shirong Shidi took to asking question after question about his father, which worried Shun initially. Only when he saw the Forest King seemed more amused by his Shidi's behavior than annoyed did he relax and turn his thoughts on his conversation with his father than morning, before Shirong Shidi had woken up.
The first thing he'd wanted to know had been about his mother. After all, she'd obviously escaped the binding spell Master Qiong had put on her. Yet she'd never come to fetch him, or if she had, she'd been forced to turn away. "Is she still alive?"
"I'm not allowed to speak of her." Before Shun could ask why, or who'd forbidden it, his father had told him, "She demanded it. There are reasons she stayed left you in Grandfather's hands. Not least of which being Master Qiong." As before, his father's voice held a chill when he spoke of Leifeng's Sect Master.
"Why didn't she come take me away?"
"Leifeng's protections prevent true Demons from entering their grounds. You, being half and having not yet manifested your bloodline, were able to grow up safely enough." The Forest King had sighed. "If your egg had remained with your mother to protect it, things would be different. Her aura would have protected you until you manifested."
Yet another reason to hate Master Qiong. If he hadn't interfered with Shun's parents, if he hadn't tried to break them apart, Shun would be raised as one of his kind ought to have been. "Why? Why did all this happen?"
"I've no answer to that, boy. I never understood my Master's desire to keep us apart."
Shun had moved on. There was no point in trying to ask the same question seventeen different ways. "How did you come to be... like this?" He'd gestured at his father's new form, a constantly shifting shadow that he thought might have a face and features. "The Gods changed you, but I don't understand why."
"The price of your mother's freedom. I take service as guardian of the forest and they'd give me a way to break Master Qiong's spell. Sheng Shidi had to do all the work, of course, but he owed me." There was light humor in the Forest King's voice, sign that whatever grudges there'd been between him and Shirong's father had long since faded.
Reflecting on that, he couldn't help smiling just a little at the sight of Shirong Shidi climbing up on a railing so he could look more closely at a branch of silverleaf. "You're right," he was saying. "It's fruiting."
"Don't touch it," Shun cautioned. Honestly, sometimes his Shidi was as bad as a monkey.
"Yes, Shixiong. I won't." Shirong Shidi jumped back to the walkway and grinned down at Shun. "Are there any uses for its fruit, though? I think I remember golden bamboo fruit helps improve spiritual energy."
"Oh, so you did manage to pay attention?" At his Shidi's flush, Shun allowed himself a slight grin back. "Yes. There's a brisk trade for all sorts of plants from Jingling forest. Not to mention animals and spirits."
"Which is why those hunters came after you the last time you were here," his father added. "You didn't show them your human form, I hope?"
"I... I'm rather afraid I did. The only thing I could have done to them in my snake form was kill and I wasn't ready to do that." Sensing disapproval, he added, "I've barely learned to control my powers. I don't want to get into a bad habit."
Shirong Shidi added, "Wouldn't it be better if he didn't get that sort of reputation? Master Qiong's already given him bad... uhm.... give me a moment."
Guessing his Shidi was trying to find a better word to use than one from his future life, Shun offered, "Notoriety?"
"No... I mean, it works, but it's not quite the word I wanted."
"Perhaps reputation would be better?" the Forest King offered. "Though I'm curious, what word were you about to use?"
"Oh, don't, sir. He'll just give you a headache. Some of the things he says sound ridiculous."
"This one's not quite so bad. Wide tell declare summon... Pu bu li si ti. But reputation works fine." Shirong Shidi paused, adding, "I'm glad I went through that tribulation, even if it did end pretty badly. If I hadn't, I'd still be dancing to Master Qiong's tune and that would be awful."
The phrase was yet another of those future terms and for once Shun thought he mostly understood. Sect Master Qiong had scattered false claims about him, so most people likely thought him a ravening monster. Whatever it was the Sect Master wanted, whatever his motives, Shun would be in a great deal of trouble sooner or later. And while Shirong Shidi before his tribulation might have cared, he would have been too weak-willed to stand at Shun's side against Master Qiong.
And the thought of not having Shirong Shidi there for him had become a thing too lonely to contemplate.
Ordinarily it would have taken Shun and Shirong Shidi a good couple of days to cross the mountains within Jingling Forest to reach the trail leading into Houttan. With the Forest King at their side, adjusting the landscape for them, travel was much easier and much faster.
It was noon by the time they reached the edge of the forest and Shun's father stopped just a few feet away from the rolling hills of Houttan. "I must leave you now."
"En," Shun agreed. His father was bound to Jingling Forest now and could never leave it. He bowed, or tried to, but the Forest King would have none of that. His shadowy fingers, thin and light, lifted Shun's hands before he could lower himself more than a few inches.
"In time you will stand as King of the Demon World. A King does not bow to another King, even if they are his father in another life."
Chill lips touched Shun's forehead and he felt something warm in his hand. A little box, similar to a spatial ring, its contents impressing itself on his mind. Herbs and fruits and various foodstuffs, mostly meat. And, towards the back of the storage, an alchemical cauldron. "Sir?"
"I cannot be a proper father to you, boy, but I will not send you into the world with nothing." Shadowy lips curved, just visible amid the darkness of the Forest King's features. "You are your grandfather's student. You may use these things to practice your art or to teach your Shidi his. And, too, what I've given you is valuable. Sell it in the Grand Market in Houttan City, should you need funds."
Truthfully, Shun might. He didn't know what situation the Revered Predecessor was in. Given where Shun had found himself after his abduction from Tang City, there was a distinct possibility they'd find Master Zhan in similar trouble. He inclined his head. "This son thanks his father for his kindness and wishes him well."
"This father who never managed to be a proper father needs no thanks, but appreciates it, even so." The shadowy figure faded backwards into the trees, the path he'd created fading with him, leaving Shun and Shirong Shidi standing in the grass just at the edge of Jingling Forest. "Farewell, children. Go safely and live well."
Once the Forest King was gone, Shirong Shidi turned to Shun. There was intense curiosity in his eyes but he controlled the urge to ask questions, clearly willing to let Shun keep his secrets.
Shun smiled at his Shidi's uncertain expression. Honestly, Shirong Shidi hadn't changed much in the last few weeks. Still wide-eyed and nosey and desperate for attention. But the one change was all important and made all the difference between them. What had been pushy and self-absorbed was now reserved and thoughtful. And that made everything else about Shirong Shidi just cute.
"Remember what we were saying earlier, about Jingling forest being a rich source of medicinal plants and spiritual beasts?"
"Yes?"
"Father gave me a box full of his forest's finest treasures. More than enough to keep us fed for the rest of our lives or to buy an abducted Revered Predecessor should it be necessary." As Shirong Shidi's eyes widened, Shun added, "Not to mention the tools we need for me to help you improve your alchemy. Given you're willing to risk breaking another cauldron, that is."
Although Shun would have liked to get started teaching Shirong Shidi properly, he knew they didn't have time for such things. They had to get to Tu Marsh at the center of Houttan. Hopefully Master Feng knew they were coming and would wait for them. It'd just make things more difficult if they lost track of her as well as Master Zhan.
"If only we had horses," Shun muttered as they crossed the rolling hills on foot, using a well-worn trail that wended its way around the hillocks in a not-unattractive way. There was a river running alongside that trail, its waters glittering in the afternoon light. A light breeze caught at his robes, reminding him of how the wind had fluttered through his hair on the way from General Ishalan's camp.
"If we come across any nomads maybe we could buy some?"
It was a thought. They certainly had the money for it, unless Shirong Shidi had used up all of those bells he'd won at the arena. Although, thinking about it, Shun wasn't sure Houttan's nomads would be interested in money. "We can consider that if we come across any nomads."
"I didn't pay attention to local history. Are there many tribes in Houttan?"
Shirong Shidi's admission of guilt was accompanied by a slight duck of the head, sign of his embarrassment. Shun didn't tell him it was all right - it plainly wasn't - but he did say, "You needn't dwell on your past mistakes. Let's do what we can to rectify them."
"Ah. Yes, Shixiong."
Shun considered his own lessons on the history of all four of the kingdoms. "At last count, I think there are around fifty different nomad families in Houttan. Enough to maintain a good sized population. Not enough to allow for too much territorial infighting. There's more than enough land for everyone."
"Which means we might run across a tribe and might not?"
"The closer we get to Houttan City, the more likely we will. That's their central trading town, on the outskirts of Tu Marsh." Shun scanned the green hills ahead of them, adding, "I think you'll like the city. I hear it's always changing."
A small chuckle escaped Shirong Shidi's lips. "Because I'm always running into chaos?"
"Something like." Shun grinned and was startled by the look on Shirong's face. "What is it?"
"I like it when you smile, Shixiong." Shirong went silent for a moment, then, "I've always liked you, you know. I just never told you the right way. I'm sorry I'm so stupid."
Really, Shirong Shidi wasn't stupid, so much as incredibly naïve. Between that and his adopted father's constant effort to make him believe he was due special treatment because of a prophecy, he'd simply never learned to consider his actions and words properly. That future life he'd lived had taught him better, even if it had - as Shirong Shidi had said - ended painfully.
A few weeks ago, Shun would never have acknowledged Shirong Shidi's intelligence. He'd always been so infuriated with the younger boy. Infuriated and so often hurt because of his cultivational brother's talent for getting Shun in trouble. And, really, how much of that had been Master Qiong's doing?
He was about to say as much when he noticed movement in the hills off to their west. Slow and stealthy, everything about it suggested they were about to be attacked. "Shirong Shidi, I think we need some exercise."
Shirong Shidi followed his gaze and inclined his head slightly, agreeing. At the same time they both drew their weapons, turning back to back, and waiting.
After all, there was no reason they couldn't take advantage of an ambush to get some fighting practice in. Especially when they had no choice.
Shun: I just want a pony, that's all.
Shirong: You could ride....
Shun: What have I said about you still being a child?
Shirong: It could be my birthday gift.... No?
Shun: No.