The town of Brightfall was tucked against the side of a cliff with a large south facing waterfall, leading to the name. The waterfall became a large lake, acting as a barrier, food source and water source for the blacksmiths on the west side of the town. This meant that walls were only needed on the south and east sides, and Xiong saw Sheng nod approvingly at how defensible it looked.
Sheng mopped his brow, and Xiong watched with mixed feelings as he switched back to the affable old man persona, “Thank goodness we’re here. It is many years since I needed journey at such pace in the service of my country.”
Xiong looked sideways at him. “We should still be wary, Honoured Elder. We do not know what this town may hold, and I still cannot shake the feeling that we are being followed.”
“Nor can I, or I would have protested more at these old bones trying to keep up with your strides." Sheng eyed the walled town, "Still, at least in a town there are a great deal more witnesses.”
A guardsman stopped them at the gate, armour and spear worn but clean.
“Halt! Come closer - who are you two? We've had a lot of commotion the last few days what with thieves and assassins showing their heads.”
Sheng stepped forward with a smile, one hand on Xiong’s arm. “My name is Sheng, and this is my grandson Xiong.”
The phrase was still novel enough for Xiong to feel a glow of pride at being openly acknowledged like that. Even without the blood relation, the pride in Sheng's voice would have been enough to make Xiong want to defend him. The town guards let the two dark skinned Xia inside the walls, though they seemed more than a little suspicious of the quiet looming blacksmith. "Where do we go for our next lead, Grandfather?" Xiong murmured.
"Taverns and teahouses will be our best source of information. Perhaps near the lake in case they took the cargo by boat." Sheng said firmly, diverting down a side street to head towards the lake. However they couldn't help but overhear two cloaked figures whispering in a nearby alleyway.
“...got him trapped in the caves under the waterfall. We can probably flush him out, but if we keep watch on the exits we can wait and -”
“Shh! Not here, roll that flappy tongue back down your throat before I shove it there.”
Xiong raised an eyebrow but kept moving, keeping his eye on the cloaked figures as they passed and reached the shore of the lake. As they did it became more than apparent why the town was called Brightfall, the waterfall catching the sunshine in a way that led it to look more like a fall of liquid light into the shining lake. Xiong scanned the docks and found only fishing boats, no cargo. The Star was unlikely to be moved this way. Along the shore a little way was a delightful looking tea shop called the Apricot Seed. Xiong saw the moment Sheng spotted it by how his face lit up, but before Xiong could even reach out to stop him Sheng was outside the teashop and vanishing inside without obviously having been in the space inbetween.
Xiong followed with only a small sigh, he loved his grandfather, but no-where, in any of the stories, had it been mentioned that the vaunted General had a fondness for tea houses that had to be satisfied by every one they came across.
---
An entire hour later Xiong was doing his best to keep a lid on his frustration the pair emerged, Sheng looking far more prepared to investigate strange happenings, “So what did you think of the Apricot Seed, Grandson?”
Honour your elders, be polite to their wishes and appreciate the time you got to spend with them. “It was pleasant, but I would have enjoyed the tea more had someone not been trapped in tunnels while we relaxed in comfort.”
“It would be foolish to head into a fight without being well rested." Sheng said without missing a beat. "That said, your honourable nature does you credit. It’s an excellent time to go for a stroll, don’t you think?”
Xiong supposed Sheng had been tired from the journey. Perhaps this was just making sure they were in top condition for going into a dangerous situation? Even if Xiong suspected ulterior motives perhaps there had been sense in the stop. Xiong did feel better for having had something to eat.
The figures that had been eyeing them before were also gone after the extended stay, and Xiong belatedly realised that the stop had made them less suspicious, just an old man and his grandson completely failing to control his Elder's whims. Sheng calmly ambled off around the shore of the lake towards the cliff.
A moment later Xiong saw what his grandfather had clearly already spotted - another pair of cloaked figures at the base of the waterfall who watched everyone that passed, one built like an ox, the other closer to a pig.
One of them looked at Sheng sharply, and the other moved to stand in his path, both wearing fearsome devil-masks with numbers on them - 68 and 70. Despite his size Xiong was quiet and quick enough to escape notice by slipping round a tree, that or the guards were even more stupid than they appeared.
Sheng gave them a wide smile, “Pardon me, gentlemen, I was just admiring this magnificent natural feature. Did you know that a waterfall moves in the opposite direction to the water that falls? An amusing riddle, no?”
“Huh?” One of the guards looked at the waterfall. The other kept looking at him.
“Very droll. Keep moving, grandpa. None of your business over here.”
Sheng looked affronted as Xiong moved between the trees to get around behind them. “If this is an example of the respect elders are afforded here, perhaps I should take my custom elsewhere.”
“Maybe you should.” the second guard replied, moving to shove Sheng backwards.
Xiong emerged with a snarl as Sheng brushed off the front of his robe with exaggerated disgust and the pair turned. At the sight of the tall, wide, overly muscled man with a long braid coming into view the bigger one tried to draw a cudgel, the shorter one going for a dagger.
With no apparent assistance the big man next to Sheng ‘accidentally’ slipped and found himself falling into the stream, hitting a rock on the way down and passing out. The thin one found the wrist of his knife hand caught in Xiong’s massive one. Xiong gave him an unpleasant smile and squeezed.
There was a crunch, and the man turned green before his eyes rolled up and he fainted. Xiong brushed off his hands, “What now, grandfather? Seeing as how they were unsavoury types, we can probably assume the one they were keeping cooped up could be more reasonable.”
“Exactly my thought. So let us take the robes and masks, and see who it is.” Sheng divested the shorter one of his garb.
Xiong lifted the other from the stream by their ankle, "I approve of your plan, Grandfather, but could you not have thrown him somewhere dry?”
Sheng gave his grandson an innocent smile and Xiong silently cursed the Monkey King for teaching the mortals his tricks, “The spirits gave us the bountiful river, it would be a great shame not to use it.”
Xiong muttered grumpily under his breath as he stripped the robes off of the unconscious foe, wringing it out as best he could before slipping it on over his sleeveless tunic and donning the mask.
—
Flowing Silk was far more relaxed than anyone who had been being chased for the last three days should be. The spirit sanctum he was being sheltered in was not an overly large space, big enough for two people not to feel cramped, but still very much a hidden cavern deep beneath the earth. It was lit by the soft glow of a million golden mushrooms and scented with the tea Flowing Silk had just made.
His host Lagos, the spirit whose extra-dimensional sanctum this was, smiled, their body made from a network of the same fine golden strands that coated the rock. "Thank you for the tea, Friend of Spirits. I appreciate that you kept your fire gentle enough to not burn my threads."
The priest gave a warm smile, "It is nothing, Gracious Spirit. You sheltered me from the brigands chasing me and allowed me to sleep in peace. The least I can do is to ensure that I don't hurt something so precious to you."
"It is far more than precious. It is what I am." The spirit settled the cup in their lap with a contented smile and a wave of light rippled around the room. "Mushrooms sink these threads into the earth, connecting them to each other and stabilising the soil. The Tao is the same, an invisible network of threads that tie us all together."
The priest looked at the threads and felt his heart lift at a glow rippling through the connected threads, tracing it across the roof, "It is beautiful. If only the connections in the world were as easy to see, then I would not be chasing leads that turn out to be dead ends."
This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work.
The spirit tilted their head, "I may be able to help you with both, as I am a spirit of Insight as well as Connection. Would you like to see?"
Flowing Silk's eyes widened, "That would be extremely helpful, Wise Spirit, but you have already helped me so much that I could not in good conscience ask for more."
His host smiled, "I am a subordinate of the Golden Phoenix. It would be my pleasure to help guide you along the path. Not only that, but you should not stay here much longer, and I would like to connect with such an interesting person. Friends are coming to help you - or at least people who could be friends, if you let them."
Of course, Insight was a major facet of the Golden Phoenix, though it was more often called Glean as a skill. Suddenly why the spirit had saved him made a lot more sense. He bowed deeply, "I would be honoured to accept any wisdom you have to give, Wise Spirit."
The spirit smiled and gestured to the cave around them, "Then touch whichever mushroom calls to you. Let yourself be part of the network for a breath."
Flowing Silk looked at the many scattered mushrooms and his eyes rested on a small one by his knee. Unassuming and wonderfully round, nothing big or significant, but sitting as close as a friend would. He reached out, brushing against the cap.
Connection blazed through his mind and he closed his eyes. Threads played across the back of his eyelids, coating the world in intricate, beautiful colour. The feeling of connection and not being alone was so wonderful that Flowing Silk felt his body relax, sinking into the threads.
Something about the patterns was almost familiar, like watching the plaza in front of the Temple of the Golden Phoenix from above. People passed by, having brief conversations or even sitting together in prayer or preparation for the day's court cases.
Flowing Silk internally blinked and he realised that was the point, they were the same. The threads shifted with his perspective to the threads of the Tao, connecting people and events, flowing with the chi in the world.
"And now you see." The mushroom spirit said, speaking through the connection instead of their mouth, "But what you need to see is here."
The spirit shifted Flowing Silk's attention to a different part of the web and highlighted two strands that mirrored each other's shape exactly, though one at a delay. "This is the path of the Princess you seek." they stated, indicating the lagging thread. "This is the Eye of the Unborn Serpent."
Flowing Silk could also see another thread almost the same shape drifting close to the Eye's thread. Another path linked to the missing princess? Or maybe to the Eye? How strange, Flowing Silk had nearly chosen to retrieve the serpent Immortal's artefact when he first set out two years before. "Are you saying that they are the same quest?"
"They are both part of a larger whole." the spirit replied, and the vision of the threads tilted to show an immense tangle in the future.
"You will never catch up if you follow the same path."
Flowing Silk put together the hint behind the words. If he found the Eye then she would come to him.
"But now it is time that you wake." All the threads faded except for the lone one connecting him to the spirit. "Being connected to others is wonderful, but you must not lose yourself to it."
Part of Flowing Silk wanted to snatch at that thread, but he had not got this far by ignoring the advice of spirits.
He dragged his eyelids open and found he'd laid down at some point, the softly glowing mushrooms clustered round him making him briefly think he was floating in golden clouds. Flowing Silk blinked slowly to try and dismiss the dizziness, watching the strands retreat from where they'd formed webbing across his arms. Once they had separated he sat up, putting his head in his hand to brace himself.
The spirit looked concerned, "I am sorry, Wise One, did I leave you connected for too long?"
Flowing Silk hastily returned to a normal posture and hid the dizziness to be polite and avoid imposing his feelings on others. "I am fine, my apologies, just a little tired."
They didn't seem to buy it, woven eyelids lowering slightly in sympathy, "You must be lonely, to cling to Connection so."
"As long as I know my chosen family are waiting for me then I can deal with almost anything life throws at me." Flowing Silk said with a cheerful smile, "And if you say there are people who can be friends close by then I won't be alone."
The spirit paused to consider this, then nodded, "In which case you should go. Good luck, Wise One, I hope that my advice helped."
That was as final a dismissal as Flowing Silk had ever heard. The priest bowed deeply in thanks from his seated position, then stood, massaging his legs briefly from too long cramped in the same position on a hard cave floor. "Thank you once more, Gracious Spirit. I will take my leave of you now. May the Golden Phoenix watch over you."
The spirit gave him a bow of farewell. "And may they watch you also."
Flowing Silk stepped out of the hollow into the pitch black passages in the cliffs. He didn't bother checking the wall behind him, knowing that there would only be bare rock.
To draw the wheels or quietly move along in the dark? Probably the latter. He could summon his fire quickly if he needed to and remaining in the dark would mean that only those who didn't need sight (which was… a concerning number of schools, actually) would be able to sneak up on him without Flowing Silk spotting them first.
It was slow going, but Flowing Silk had managed not to trip or crash into anything as he made his way along. Heavens knew where he was going to emerge from the tunnels from, but he would at least get out.
Distant footsteps echoed through the tunnel and he froze to listen, watching as a kink in the tunnel came into view, the light of a torch reflecting off the damp walls.
Well, he could at least see the tunnel better now. Flowing Silk crept up to hide in the shadow of the bend and peeked around. Dammit, two more of the Red Devil Mask bandits. Not the ones who had chased him in here - he couldn't see fluttering ribbons - but two opponents all the same.
At least he had the element of surprise in his favour. Flowing Silk stepped out and drew the wheels, bringing them together to create a tunnel of fire rushing straight at the larger one. They widened their stance, fingers curving as they batted away the flames with the back of their arm. It seemed that their robes were still wet from the waterfall, hissing with steam but protecting his assailant from the fire. Damn.
Flowing Silk spun, trying to get around the large man and escape. The priest's long white ribbon caught the light from the Wheels as he tried to slice the larger man in the back and hoped there were no more bandits behind them to attack from both sides.
Now the shorter man moved, whipping the wooden devil mask off his face to interpose it between the fire wheel and his friend's back with a speed that was so ridiculous it had to be the Eagle Talon. With a ‘thock’ the wheel stuck in the mask's forehead. The shorter man struck him in the face in the split second after.
Definitely Eagle Talon, he'd seen that move far too many times from Master Li. He hastily drew the wheels back to defend himself and was rewarded with the follow-up attack glancing off the metal.
Now that the short attacker was close enough to be lit the Wheels, Flowing Silk realised they were an old man, but more importantly his movements showed no hint of the corruption that plagued the other bandits.
The old man seemed to spot Flowing Silk's hat and bowed, "I must apologise for striking you, oh Sage.”
Flowing Silk's heart lifted at the thought that maybe these were the potential friends that the mushroom spirit had spoken of, “My apologies, I did not realise you weren't these brig- ow!”
It had been a trick, the old man taking advantage of the distraction to hook his leg around Flowing Silk's and yank, sending him stumbling backwards.
There was a splat of wet clothes and an echoing series of thumps that ended with Flowing Silk being pushed into the wall and grabbed from behind. Large muscled arms not only pinned the priest's arms to his sides, but lifted him slightly off the ground. “Simmer down flame priest." A deep male voice stated menacingly into his ear. "Any closer and you would have scorched the revered elder's hair. And I wouldn't have liked that. At. All."
Flowing Silk did as he was asked, mind frantically calculating. It was actually to his advantage that he'd been lifted. The physical expression of the Golden Phoenix was Jumping, meaning that his legs were deceptively strong. He could kick off the wall to drive his captor into the other side of the tunnel if he needed to.
… But there was no hint of twisted chi from either of the men as they fought. Cunning, yes, but honourable. It might be worth seeing what they had to say first.
The large man paused for a moment to make sure that Flowing Silk was listening. When Flowing Silk didn't react he continued. "We aren't here to fight you, but I'd be happy to oblige if you carry on like this. But that might muss up your nice robes. Your choice…”
Honestly, was that the best threat the man could come up with? Anyone who used fire expected to get their clothes singed. The mind behind him should know that if the forge smoke he could smell was any indicator.
Flowing Silk raised an unimpressed eyebrow in the light cast by his weapons, “Forgive me, but I was not the one who walked in here wearing the garb of the brigands who have been hounding me for the last few days. I did not even make it to the tea shop before I was attacked today.”
“An oversight we must rectify forthwith.” the old man agreed with suspicious glee, “And yes, the fault for the misunderstanding is ours, wise one.”
Well, at least this had been a more pleasant meeting than the last group of Xia he had travelled with.
Flowing Silk let himself relax slightly. “Please, call me Flowing Silk Ribbon, I am hardly wise or you would not have tripped me so easily.” He offered a smile with a compliment, hoping that it would be enough to get them to trust him, “I do not have the experience or cunning of your years, Elder, and the tea shop sounds like an excellent idea.”
The old man bowed at the compliment, "My name is Sheng, and this is my grandson Xiong."
Flowing Silk gave a nod of greeting in return but his captor didn't let him go. Flowing Silk twisted his head to see that the larger man was staring wide-eyed at the Wheels, completely transfixed. In the firelight he could now see that he too had shed the mask and robes of their disguise to reveal a young man with a clear familial resemblance to the old one, from their dark skin to the shape of their eyes.
After a moment they seemed to notice Flowing Silk watching and abruptly released them. Flowing Silk Ribbon quickly sheathed the wheels and made sure the covering was firmly in place before returning the bow. “Shall we exit swiftly? I do not like the idea of those brigands coming to see what the commotion was.”
The larger man - Xiong - bowed low, making an obeisance with his hands, “Truly you are favoured by Xià Lóng, to have such magnificently forged weapons.”
The reverence was enough to make him wary again, “Please do not tell me you covet them also? I will tell you the full story of how these have been entrusted to me, but I would much prefer to do it somewhere where we won't be attacked.”
“I would not presume to take what has been gifted to you." Xiong stated flatly, and Flowing Silk would be lying if he said the no nonsense tone wasn't reassuring. "Excellent craftsmanship though. I must admit to a certain amount of professional interest. Working metal is my trade.”
It semed his guess about the man being a blacksmith had been correct. "Then I shall let you take a look at them, but probably not in the teashop given the amount of prying eyes." Flowing Silk replied, following the pair out of the cave and back towards the town, much to the Sheng's delight and Xiong's apparent despair.
---
Elsewhere a figure in the mask numbered 51 bowed low before a throne surrounded by flames.
“What you mean to tell me is that you have failed, is that not so?”
“M-more time, my lord. We had the bad luck that two other Xia were passing through. Next time we shall be prepared for them.”
“Yes. We shall be prepared. But you, I think, shall not be.”
There was a rush of darkness and leaping flame, and the mask fell to the floor.
As always, here's a link to , it is three chapters ahead for not much money and gets a tonne of worldbuilding content. This week's side content is my art process, maybe with a discussion on ads, because it turns out making an ad is surprisingly difficult even for the 'simple' meme ads.
