Heaven's Golden Finger - Chapter 41: Chapter 41

Shirong was becoming accustomed to strange beings coming out of nowhere to create chaos. Just a month earlier he thought he might have shrieked and tried to hide from the newcomer. Instead he rose from his seat and bowed, cupping his hands. "Lord Meng Huang Shang, I presume?"
The boy was on him in a moment. "ANSWER MY QUESTION!"
"Master...."
"WHAT'S HAPPENED TO MY SON!"
"Lord...."
"I MEAN IT! ANSWER ME!"
Shun moved rapidly, gently removing the God's hand from Shirong's collar. Which was just as well because the energy in that small form was shredding Shirong's clothing. Already his outer robe had aged and de-aged in places. Not a problem if it'd been cotton or linen, but it was fine wool and now he had what felt like a sheep or a goat struggling around his back.
Reaching under his robe, Shirong pulled the source of the wriggling out. A lamb, and not a terribly old one at that. He stared down at the beast worriedly. "Er... What should I do with this?"
"STOP IGNORING MY QUESTION!" Meng Huang Shang was hanging from Priest Housu's hand, arms and legs waving wildly in the air.
"WE'RE NOT IGNORING IT. YOU'RE NOT GIVING US A CHANCE TO ANSWER!" Shun snapped in return. For a moment Shirong feared his Shixiong's reaction would increase the God's fury. Instead Meng Huang Shang fell silent, still hanging from his Priest's hand, arms crossed and expression furious as he waited.
Seeing the God had calmed enough to let him talk, Shun explained, "We received word that he'd gone missing. I don't know anything beyond that. That's why we came to you."
"As if I'm supposed to keep track of all my children?"
"Master, you only have a thousand or so and most of them are spirits." The priest set her God down on the table now he was calmer. "And, really, does it make sense to ask supplicants the question they're asking you?"
Sulkily, the childish figure sat down in the middle of the table, right atop a platter of little cakes. Unbothered by the mess, he grabbed one cake out and bit into it. "What do you know?' he demanded of Shun.
Shun took a moment to resettle Shirong's half-ruined robes and to hand the rapidly growing lamb off to Priest Housu. "We were told before that he's been missing for a year. Then the Forest King...."
"Your father."
"My father once, yes. I'm not sure he can be anymore and that's not important. He said he received word from Venerated Zhan Kui's wife that he'd been abducted by the Priest Housu."
A sniff. "Now that's not true at all. What's that shadow monster even thinking, saying such a thing?"
Shirong offered, "I don't know if you heard just now, but Shun was abducted by someone claiming to be Priest Housu."
"Hmph."
Guessing that meant the God had been paying some attention to the discussion, Shirong continued, "That person might have looked like her but they couldn't have been. So maybe the abductor's the same person who took Shun before."
"Whomever they were, they're likely deeply involved with my own problems," Shun murmured. "Lord Meng, we need to find Venerated Zhan Kui for our own reasons. The more you can help us, the better."
More mooncakes disappeared into Meng Huang Shang's mouth as he considered the question. "I'm part of chaos, boy. My help's likely to cause more trouble than yours, and that's saying a great deal, Chaos Bringer."
Chaos Bringer? Shirong eyed the God curiously. "They call him the Adversary. Is that the same thing? Like me being the Chosen one?"
"Hmph. Humans are idiots. He's the one who draws Chaos into the world. Just as you're the one who sends it back." Silvery eyes examined Shirong thoughtfully. "And no one chooses either of you. It just happens."
That wasn't a surprise. "At the very least, can you help us figure out what's going on around us? We've been tossed all over the place and I haven't clue one why."
With a sigh, Shun added, "Excuse my Shidi's manner of speaking, Lord Meng. He went through a tribulation and...."
"And still has his brain stuck in the 21st Century. Yeah, I know." A bright grin. "As a thing of Chaos myself, I don't have a set place in time. It's just peachy."
The last was said in English and made Priest Housu and Shun look at each other with identical looks of irritation. Seeming to realize he was pushing everyone's patience, Meng Huang Shang coughed and continued, "Never mind that. You said my son was missing for a year. I can tell you now he wasn't missing, just not wanting to be found."
That begged another question. "Why not?"
"Because he'd have to go back to Leifeng." A sigh. "My son likes traveling with his wife, you know. He left the sect so he could do that. Of course, I doubt he expected his successor to be that old stick in the mud, Qiong Lou. That's the problem with his prophecies. There's always those try to make loopholes out of them."
Which led to another question. "Do you know what his prophecies mean, then? Can you explain the one he made for Shun and I?"
"Will that help you find him?" When Shun and Shirong glanced at each other, the little God shook his head. "I don't think you need that question answered. You two already know the answer. Your real problem is the same as mine. You have to find my boy and have him do something about his successor. At least you do if you want to go home again. Maybe you don't."
Thinking about it, Shirong could go either way, mostly because he wanted to be with Shun. If Shun wanted to go back to Leifeng Sect and be a proper disciple - despite also being the Demon King - then they needed Venerated Zhan Kui's help. If Shun didn't care, they could just go off together and do whatever they felt like.
"Shun... it's up to you."
A torn look crossed Shun's face. "I want a home," he admitted. "I want my Master and I want to train. But I just don't know how to get there from here. We need to find Venerated Zhan Kui. We need him to tell us if I have any right to claim discipleship."
"Then I'll come help you find him... don't fuss Housu. This body can't cause much trouble."
"Any body you wear in the human world can cause trouble, Master."
"True, but it can't cause much. Not as much as these two can, at least."
With a dour sigh, Priest Housu set the lamb - now full grown sheep - down and helped the God sit on its back, a small childish figure lounging against soft black and white wool, "Very well, Master. I will hold the Temple until your return. Wishing those who cross you luck."
"Not me?"
To Shirong's amusement, the Priest grumbled, "You already have the luck of Chaos on your side, Master. It's everyone else in the world I worry about when you wander."
"The first thing is to get hold of that cheap master of yours," Meng Huang Shang murmured. "I have the impression you were being followed earlier." He leaned back against the sheep's head, lounging comfortably while the beast trotted between Shirong and Shun.
"We were," Shun agreed.
"By Qiong's disciples, or so they claim."
So they claimed? That puzzled Shirong. "I grew up with them. Of course they're his disciples."
A chuckle. "Youngster, if Qiong's not what he seems, what makes you think his disciples are?"
That'd never occurred to Shirong. Hadn't occurred to Shun, either. "Master...."
"Oh, no. Don't call me that in public. Do I look like a master of anything to you?"
Truth to tell, he didn't. Meng Huang Shang's human form was small, slight and could easily be mistaken for a small child. In the late-afternoon light it was a bit more obvious he was an adult, just tiny. Not being sure how to address the God if they didn't use a title, Shirong asked, "If they aren't what they seem, what are they?"
"Now that? I've no clue." Meng Huang Shang shrugged. "You have to understand, boy. I'm not one of those omnipotent, omniscient types you're thinking of. I'm having enough trouble keeping my nature from doing something permanent to the landscape as it is. Imagine what it'd be like if I were, say, Loki or Coyote. You don't think I'm this short for kicks, do you?"
Shun glanced from Shirong to Meng Huang Shang. "Now I have two of you doing it," he grumbled. "I don't suppose you could limit yourself to the language of this time and this place?"
A sly grin flickered across Meng Huang Shang's face and Shirong had a feeling he was tempted to say something worse. To drag him back to the subject, Shirong asked, "Can you guess?"
"A terrible habit. Detrimental to the logical facility."
Somehow Shirong managed not to quibble over the misquote. "Any deductions, then?"
A giggle from the God, matched by a glare and grumble from Shun. Not for nothing had the little deity compared himself to Loki and Coyote. A trickster - bred and born - Meng Huang Shang like to play. Indulging him might well be the safest course.
"First, whomever is behind this is looking to wreak havoc in heaven. On Earth and in the hells, for that matter. Why else try to drive a Chaos Bringer into a rage? Not to mention give that Chaos Bringer a reason to hate the Order Bringer?"
There was absolute logic there. Shirong and Shun hadn't fully come into their power but unless Shirong missed his guess, they'd be immensely strong someday. "Can you thing of anyone who'd want to do that?"
"Oh, dozens. There's always some who don't like it when the order of things doesn't put them at the top of the heap." Meng Huang Shang stopped his mount long enough to snitch a skewered grilled meat off a nearby cart, tossing a silver bell to the owner when she turned to protest.
Not wanting to get into a discussion over their small companion's manners, Shirong guided the sheep further along. "Any in particular?"
"Until I have more evidence I'd rather not say." Meng Huang Shang nibbled on his food thoughtfully. "Head us out of the city, if you would. I don't want to risk anyone getting hurt."
They did so as the deity continued his musings. "There's one thing puzzles me. I don't know much about Leifeng, it being a Bazi sect, but I wonder how Master Qiong could act against its interests the way he has."
"I wish I knew where my grandfather was," Shun murmured. "He never told me any of this but surely he must have suspected something."
At last word, Master Quan had been sent into seclusion for sending Shun after Shirong. "Where would he be? Maybe we should try to find him and ask... after we've found Venerated Zhan Kui?"
"You'll want his help, too. My son meant for him to inherit the leadership. He isn't a pushover."
Once again Shun sighed. "Someday I want you to teach me what you learned in that other life, Shirong. I really don't enjoy not knowing what you two are saying." Before Shirong could apologize, Shun added, "I can guess at that one, though. You're saying grandfather isn't weak. Which begs the question, why would he let Master Qiong take over if he was supposed to be the next Sect Master?"
A thought occurred to Shirong. "Maybe he was worried for your safety?"
"He'd have been able to protect me better as Sect Master, surely. And he wouldn't have let Master Qiong try to make you hate me." Shun bit at his lip at the thought, adding, "Wouldn't have let me start hating you, for that matter. He was always trying to soften how I felt towards you. I thought he was just doing the same thing everyone else."
"You two are avatars of creation and order, child. You don't have to be lovers. You don't even have to be friends. But whenever you're enemies, the world suffers." Meng Huang Shang caught Shun's hand and set a skewer in it. "Eat something. You're going to need your strength in a few minutes. You too, child." Another skewer appeared between Shirong's fingers, the scent of meat rich with spices.
Though unsure of what, exactly, the God was expecting, nor what he hoped to do, both Shirong and Shun obeyed.
They reached the edge of Houttan Tent City soon after they'd eaten and were guided along a pathway curving towards the south, crossing the river on an old stone bridge and leading towards a stand of young pine trees. "You should be ready," Meng Huang Shang told them.
Shirong eyed the little deity. "For what?"
"Sometimes you have to take risks to learn the truth."
Lovely. Just lovely. "I don't suppose you could tell us what sort of risk?" Shirong demanded, a bit surprised at himself. Usually he'd let Shun do the talking; and the demanding. This time he didn't want to. "Did you bring us out here just so we could get ambushed?"
"You were going to be ambushed no matter where you go, child. You'll have the high ground here... so to speak."
Shirong decided now was not the time to argue that the high ground didn't actually help in a fight. Meng Huang Shang might well understand what he meant but he didn't want to upset Shun by leaving him out again. "Lord, could we at least know why you think this is necessary?"
"I want to know who Master Qiong's allies are. That means we're going to have to force them to show themselves."
Oh. Well, that did make sense. "And if they're just fellow disciples? Just normal humans?"
"I doubt they'll show themselves here. But I have a way to find out. You'll have to trust me on it, though, because I'd rather not risk you two knowing and letting the cat out of the bag."
Shun tilted his head. "I think I understood that one. Very well. I hope you know what you're doing, Lord Meng. I really don't want to wind up in a cage in Khai again."
"You won't."
By now the late afternoon light was dim, which would have worried Shirong if Shun hadn't been keeping his training up. He used his cultivation to increase his vision, so he could see disciples in Leifeng Sect robes approaching. "They're coming. How do you want to handle it, Shun?"
"I doubt they're here for friendly purposes, but I don't want to be the first to raise weapons to fellow disciples. Let them make the first move."
They didn't have long to wait. Nor were the others inclined to discuss things amicably. As soon as they saw Shun and Shirong waiting for them, they called their weapons into existence. One axe, one lasso, and one spear. Without a word they launched themselves forward.
"Avoid killing," Shun said calmly. "They may be misled."
Shirong didn't want to kill again anyway but he was relieved at the order, especially when Shun shifted to his largest snake form, using his tail to slam the axe-wielder across the grass. At the same time Meng Huang Shang's sheep screamed in absolute terror, rushing off deeper into the woods.
To Shirong's surprise, the young man with the rope suddenly changed direction, following behind. Then the axe-wielder leapt to his feet and raced after, Shun close behind. Blocked by the trees, he twisted and tangled up, unable to catch up.
If Shirong didn't have his own problem, namely the disciple with the spear, to deal with, he would have followed in turn, meaning to protect the little God. Instead he was forced to dodge and twist, his white blade cutting the weapon lengthwise.
"How... that's not possible!"
Though he was just as surprised as his attacker, Shirong wasted no time. Instead he released his black blade and caught the other disciple's wrist, twisting it around sharply. A quick shift of weight and a shove finished the move, sending the other boy flying over his shoulder. Then he jerked backwards, slamming his opponent down as hard as he could.
It was a move that might not have worked if Leifeng practiced a style remotely similar to Aikijitsu. Instead his opponent struck the ground hard and lay stunned. Quickly, using the moves Shun had been teaching him, Shirong struck the boy's meridians, knocking him out. Thank the Gods that particular cultivational trick really did work.
Coming to his feet, Shirong saw Shun slithering back. As he returned to his human form and grabbed his robes, he asked, "Any injuries?"
"To me or to Disciple... er... I just realized I don't know his name."
Shun looked at the unconscious boy. "Li Shang, I think. He's part of Master Qiong's inner circle. They don't interact with anyone outside their group."
Given everything else happening, that seemed suspicious. Shirong was about to say so when he saw the sheep come running back to them without their rider. "...oh no...." he whispered, as Shun hurried to catch the beast. "Where's Meng Huang Shang?"
Shun took a slat of bamboo from the animal's coat. "He left a message for us. But what in the hell does the Ransom of Red Chief mean?"
Shun: I really need to work on transforming my clothes when I change.
Shirong: (peeking between his fingers) Oh, I don't know about that.