Heaven's Golden Finger - Chapter 40: Chapter 40

Shun found himself dawdling over his dinner, putting off the moment when Xu Sheng would have to tell him the truth about his mother. He wasn't sure he wanted to know anymore. He believed neither of his parents wanted to abandon him. Believed circumstances had been beyond their control
Yet at the same time he was afraid he'd been a bother for them. That neither had wanted the trouble that came with raising a child doomed to become the next Adversary. Even though the Forest King had told him that wasn't true, the fear remained.
Quite suddenly, Xu Sheng said, "Neither of you are unwanted. Neither of you are unworthy." At their startled expressions he added, "It's obvious what you're thinking, both of you. But, really, all the mistakes are on our side, not yours. You didn't ask for any of this."
It was something of a relief to have someone say so. If Shun hadn't had years of being told the exact opposite, he might even have accepted it more readily. He sipped his tea, gazing at the amber liquid thoughtfully. Then, "Couldn't you have found some way to tell us sooner?"
Even as he spoke he knew he was being horribly rude. As far as he knew, Xu Sheng was still a senior disciple of Leifeng Sect. He was Shirong's father and Shun's martial uncle. He was owed greater respect than Shun was giving him.
Before Shun could find the words for an apology, however, Xu Sheng murmured, "Your father couldn't because of his agreement with the Gods. Your mother couldn't because she was lost."
That made Shun sit up. "Lost?"
"Yes." Xu Sheng used a bit of water to draw an oval. "This represents the five kingdoms of the physical world. And before you complain that there's only four kingdoms, you mustn't forget Jingling Forest. The beings that live there may not be human but they are people."
Having spent as much time in Jingling Forest as he had, Shun accepted the claim without question. "But what does that have to do with anything?"
"Years ago I helped your mother escape Master Qiong's imprisoning ice. I'd intended to bring her to your father so he'd know she was safe, but things went wrong. Master Qiong had left traps in the palace. We were forced to flee."
"Through the portal in my mother's chambers?"
"That leads to a place I didn't belong, youngster. A demon can survive in the Heavens. Regular humans cannot." Refusing to be distracted, Xu Sheng continued, "We were separated during our escape. I was thrown into Khai Kingdom, where I met and married your mother, Shirong. Your mother, Shun, went a great deal further, into the lands outside the Five Kingdoms."
That was right. It wasn't something one tended to think about, training at Leifeng, but there were other lands beyond the mountains surrounding the Five Kingdoms. Those mountains made it nearly impossible for outsiders to get in or natives to leave. "So she had to find a way back?"
"Exactly. And once I got word where she was, I was sworn to help her, which meant leaving the Five Kingdoms myself. That's why I took Shirong here to Leifeng after his mother died. I thought it was safe."
"It wasn't risky for Shirong," Shun pointed out. "But why give my egg to them, after Master Qiong made it clear what he thought of my parents' relationship?"
"Master Qiong's actions weren't acceptable to Leifeng at the time." Xu Sheng paused to drink from his wine cup, expression turning grim. "The council had reprimanded him for what he'd done to your parents. Your father gave your egg to his father because we all expected Master Quan to be stepping up as Sect Master."
Shun had heard rumors that there'd been a huge argument among the sect's elders over who would replace Master Zhan Kui after he'd stepped down. He hadn't known his Shizun had been the one intended to take the position. He'd ask why Master Quan had stayed, given he'd been denied his rightful place, but had a feeling it was to protect Shun. To protect his grandson.
"They changed the array protecting the sect so I couldn't just walk in. And with Master Qiong in control, we thought it better to wait and see. Your grandfather couldn't leave the sect without drawing attention, but he was able to send us messages. So we knew you two were safe, if being raised poorly."
That last made Shirong wince. "I'm sorry, I...."
Shun set a hand over Shirong's mouth, stopping the apology. "Don't say it again, Shidi. You aren't to blame for what Master Qiong did." As Shirong quieted, Shun returned his attention to Xu Sheng. "Am I right in thinking Master Quan's done worse than simply interfering with my parents?"
"I very much fear he has. What I don't understand, what I've never understood, was why."
Neither did Shun. But he was also determined to find out.
The next morning they went to Meng Huang Shang's temple, planning to seek the Dreamlord's advice. After all, he was supposedly Master Zhan Kui's father. That and Shun wanted to know if Priest Housu had been acting on her God's behalf when she'd kidnapped him, taken to him Khaitan and had him sold.
Xu Sheng had told him all he'd known was that he and Xing Baishe had received word of the sale soon after their return to the Five Kingdoms. They'd immediately gone to Shun's rescue, though his mother had insisted on keeping her identity hidden from Shun. "She was afraid you'd blame her."
How could Shun possibly blame his mother for what'd happened? She hadn't deliberately gone missing and had come to find him as soon as she'd returned. But Shun knew how she felt because he shared her anxieties. He didn't feel at all sure how to deal with a mother he barely remembered; and that only through a voice singing through his egg's shell.
"Shun, we're being followed." There was a slight hesitation in Shirong's voice. He was just becoming accustomed to the idea of speaking so familiarly towards his Shixiong and had to force himself not to use the title. Which was fair, because Shun felt the same.
It wasn't necessary to glance back to make sure Shirong was right. Shun's demonic senses were stronger now and he could feel the motions of everything and everyone in the marketplace. Differentiating their sources had been more difficult earlier, but the longer he used his senses, the better he became.
There were horses, shifting nervously at his passage. People pushing past. Children running, one chased by a dog and shouting in terror. Someone stealthily stealing cabbages from a cart. A pickpocket slipping off with someone's pouch. And there, towards the edge of his senses, five familiar shapes. Master Qiong's disciples, following behind and pretending to shop.
"Let them," Shun decided. "They can make the first move." He refused to be blamed for attacking so-called innocents just because he knew better.
"I'll split off," Xu Sheng murmured. "Let's see if it's you or I or both of us Master Qiong wants followed."
A good idea. They stopped at a cross-road of sorts and Xu Sheng gestured off towards White Dew Lake. "I've business with a boat master," he said more loudly. "We can catch up with each other later."
"Very well," Shun agreed, "Until then." They made proper farewells and Shun and Shirong continued along the twisted pathway towards the outer edge of the tent city. According to the clerk at the inn, Meng Huang Shang's local temple was a tent on a cart with no fixed position. It was obvious to those wishing to visit, however, thanks to the white tiger who pulled the thing.
It was quickly obvious who the disciples were more interested in. Only two of the five left the group to follow Shirong's father. The others stayed on Shun and Shirong's tails, leaving Shun with the urge to amuse himself by turning snake and scaring them off.
Instead he just muttered, "Not a good idea, sending only two after your father."
"I hope they're not going to try to hurt him." Shirong was clearly forcing himself not to look off that direction. Small blame to him. He'd barely met his father and - like Shun - wanted to know more.
"Doubt they could." A roar just ahead of them drew Shun's attention. Ah, there was Meng Huang Shang's temple, rolling slowly along between the tents, the tiger roaring to announce their presence at regular intervals.
"That is the strangest choice to pull a cart I've ever seen," Shirong said, gazing at the huge white spirit beast with wide and slightly frightened eyes. "I hope they're not given to eating those who displease their God."
Likely they were, depending on the level of displeasure. From what Shun understood, the Dreamlord was mostly a pacifistic deity, using dreams and nightmares to guide his followers. He corrected himself, remembering the God's other aspect as prophet. One had to work to figure out the Dreamlord's meanings, but he tended to be correct, if often misunderstood.
They approached the cart. Caught hold of the railing. Stepped up onto the platform at its back. Immediately the cart moved faster, increasing speed so that the disciples who'd been following them were quickly left behind. Was the Dreamlord protecting them from their pursuers, or was it coincidental, a thing the tiger did any time supplicants stepped onto the temple cart?
The drapery covering the entrance to the cart's closed back shifted, revealing a familiar face. Just as she started to speak, Shun interrupted. "Priest Housu!"
"I am. Should I know you, young serpent?"
Shirong stepped towards her before Shun could stop him. "You kidnapped my Shixiong just a month ago and took him to Khaitan to be sold!"
With a puzzled frown, Priest Housu murmured, "My dear child, I'm sure you believe what you say, but I have not left this city for years now."
The inside of Meng Huang Shang's temple cart seemed a great deal larger than the outside. Accustomed to arrays and the effects of chaos on physical space, Shun didn't bother commenting. Behind him, Shirong muttered, "Ta ri di su?"
A voice said from a shadowy shape towards the center of the room, "Nonsense. My Temple is a great deal larger than the Ta ri di su." A strange wind flowed past the two of them along with the voice, setting Shun alternatively sweating and shivering. The God himself was waiting for them? It made no sense but only Meng Huang Shang's presence would create this sick and dizzying feeling.
"Why am I not surprised you know about that?" Shirong muttered, then noticed Shun's raised brows. "Ah... Oh... Disciple is wrong. Disciple is rude."
"Disciple doesn't need to talk that way around me," the shadow retorted. "Formality's boring." Another sickening wind accompanied the God's words and almost made Shun stumble as his snake heritage reacted to the cold.
"My Lord, you should let me do the talking, please." Priest Housu sounded like a mother chiding an obstreperous child. Shun half-expected the God to take offense, but the feverish feeling faded, leaving them mildly shaken but recovering. "Thank you, Lord."
"Hmph." The sound was accompanied by a faint chill that rapidly faded as the shadow withdrew into itself.
"My apologies, youngsters. Our God can be more difficult than most." Priest Housu led them further into the Temple, down twisted halls and past dozens of doors until they reached a small sitting room with a pot of tea and food waiting. "Please, if you'd join me, we can discuss your problem."
As they took their places, Shun allowed his senses to spread again. He didn't think they were in danger here but he didn't want to be caught unaware. Noting Priest Housu's gentle smile, he shrugged, "We've been constantly attacked," he pointed out.
"Indeed. And I'll be interested in knowing more about your circumstances. But first, could you tell me just how you came to be involved with this false version of myself?"
"Er, apologies, but how can we be sure you're not that same person, pretending not to be?" Shirong's question was rude but expressed Shun's concerns precisely so he chose not to scold.
A gentle smile. "I can't prove I'm not," Priest Housu admitted. "But if you truly thought I was, I think you would have left by now, no matter what you might need from my God."
There'd been nothing about the other Priest Housu to suggest she was a fake. Yet at the same time, there'd been nothing to say she wasn't. They hadn't known her at all and couldn't have guessed she'd bad intentions towards Shun. "We were at an auction at Jinxing House when I was accused of stealing. Priest Housu... the other Priest Housu... took advantage of my captivity to abduct me and sell me to an auction house in Khai."
Thoughtfully, Priest Housu murmured, "Jinxing House's auction has connections to other auction houses. It's possible the false me was an ally of theirs. And your snake nature is obvious to any who know what to look for. You might want to do something about that."
While he probably should, he didn't know how. Not yet. "The point is, the fake Priest Housu sent me to Khai. Whether she did so to put me in the right place to be sold to someone who'd been looking for me or because she had some enmity for me? That I can't say."
"Nor can I." The Priest considered the question for several quiet minutes. "I will send my spirits to investigate Jinxing House. I find it hard to believe they could allow a prisoner to be stolen that easily. Not without being somehow involved in the false accusation. It was a false accusation, yes?"
"Of course it was," Shirong protested. "Shun wouldn't steal anything!"
More calmly, Shun added, "My Shidi is overly excited but he's correct that I don't steal. I had no need of the stolen item, anyway. Besides, the actual thief was a fox spirit hired to test Jinxing's defenses."
"I... see...." The woman sighed. "No, I don't, but I'll investigate the matter more carefully and hopefully come to an understanding."
"Would you mind letting us know what you learn? I, too, have some concerns over the matter." At Priest Housu's agreement, Shun continued, "And, while the question is important, we have another reason entirely to be here. We're seeking my sect's retired Master, the Venerated Zhan Kui. From what I've been told, he's gone missing and we need to find him."
Before Priest Housu could open her mouth to respond, a small and wildly dressed child appeared out of nowhere to crash onto the table between them, sending tea and food splattering all over the place. His skin was pale and marked by an odd pattern in silver on the forehead. His black and white hair swirled around narrow features. Silver manacles, bound by delicate silver chains, jangled around his wrists.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN MY SON IS MISSING?"
Meng Huang Shang: Honestly, you turn your back one second....
Shun: He's been missing for months.
Meng Huang Shang: Months. Seconds. Same difference.
Shirong: Maybe we really do need a TARDIS.