Chapter 128 — Tracking

The sky gradually brightened, and the fierce fire that had burned all night in Qili Tong finally began to subside. Yet when the flames died away, all that remained were broken walls and charred timbers still trailing wisps of smoke.

Though Facheng and the others were highly cultivated, a night of labor had left scorch marks on their robes, and several of the younger Fenxia Valley disciples had faces smudged with dark soot.

But when they finally steadied themselves, breathed a sigh of relief, and looked around, the ordinary Miao folk were staring at these outsiders with open hostility, showing not the slightest gratitude for their help.

Facheng gave a bitter smile. He felt wronged, yet there was no way to explain. He was just turning to say something to the others when a commotion suddenly rippled through the Fenxia Valley group behind him.

Facheng started, turned his head, and saw Shangguan Lue descending from the sky. He landed on the ground and walked over slowly.

This elder of Fenxia Valley—the first to fly off the night before, yet the last to arrive after a whole night had passed—left everyone present exchanging glances.

"Heh heh!" A cold laugh came from Lü Shun of Fenxia Valley. "Senior Brother, you've certainly made good time!"

Shangguan Lue's face was expressionless, but his brows were tightly knit, and a heavy burden of thought was faintly visible in his look. He could not be bothered with Lü Shun. Walking closer, he glanced around, shook his head slightly, sighed, and said to Li Xun, "Things here are more or less settled. Take your junior brothers back to Fenxia Valley first."

Li Xun was in fact full of anger and questions himself, and had a mind to ask this martial uncle properly where he had gone the night before. If a master of Shangguan Lue's caliber had been present, dealing with Ming Li would surely have been much easier, and so much trouble would never have arisen.

But think as he might, in the end he dared not offend Shangguan Lue, whose power and standing in Fenxia Valley were second only to the valley master, Yun Yifeng. He assented at once and said in a low voice, "Yes."

Lü Shun, standing to one side, flew into a rage and said to Shangguan Lue, "What do you mean by that? You vanished without a trace last night, and now the moment you arrive you start giving orders?"

Shangguan Lue said coolly, "I ran into a small mishap last night. Once we return to the valley, I will explain it to you in detail."

Lü Shun's expression changed, and he was about to say more, but Shangguan Lue was plainly impatient and said with a touch of anger, "Old Four, we will talk when we are back!"

Shangguan Lue's face bore a dignity that was fearsome without any show of wrath; cowed by that shout, Lü Shun for the moment dared not speak further. Li Xun hesitated a moment, then at last said to Shangguan Lue, "Martial Uncle, after we return, that nine-tailed celestial fox..."

Shangguan Lue shook his head and said, "There is no hurry about the nine-tailed celestial fox. We will discuss it when we are back."

Li Xun did not dare say more. He nodded in assent and led the others away. As he was leaving, he could not resist turning back for another look at Lu Xueling, who stood in the distance with Facheng.

The woman in white wore an utterly cold expression and did not favor him with even a glance.

Li Xun sighed deeply in his heart, feeling as though he had swallowed a whole apothecary's worth of flavors at once—a sensation beyond words—and slowly departed. Lü Shun, though none too willing, followed after him.

Shangguan Lue sighed, turned, and cupped his hands to Facheng and Lu Xueling. "For your great aid to this humble valley, I truly cannot express my gratitude enough."

Facheng and Lu Xueling, not to be outdone in courtesy, returned the salute together. Facheng smiled and said, "Martial Uncle Shangguan is too kind. Qingyun, Tianyin, and Fenxia Valley have always been one family of the orthodox path; to lend righteous aid is simply our duty. But I see that Martial Uncle's complexion seems poor—might something have happened last night?"

As he spoke, he raised his eyes toward Shangguan Lue, a kindly smile at the corners of his mouth, a warmth and serenity beyond description—the very image of a great monk of the Buddhist gate.

Shangguan Lue snorted inwardly, but on his face appeared a grateful smile. "Nothing worth mentioning. This old man ran into a few petty thieves and wasted a little time, that is all. But since matters here are more or less settled, this humble valley truly dares not trouble the two of you any further. Please return to your mountains. If the chance arises in the future, I will certainly climb your gates together with our valley master, Senior Brother Yun, to pay a visit."

Facheng and Lu Xueling exchanged a glance. Both were perceptive souls—how could they believe such nonsense about Shangguan Lue running into a few petty thieves? Any bandit in this world capable of robbing Shangguan Lue had likely not yet been born! Yet even knowing he was making excuses, they could hardly expose him to his face. The two had no choice but to bow and nod in agreement.

Shangguan Lue exchanged a few more polite remarks, then rose and took his leave.

Watching his figure recede and vanish among the clouds, Lu Xueling suddenly said, "His mind is heavy with something."

Facheng smiled faintly. "Indeed. Who knows what Martial Uncle Shangguan was really doing last night..." He broke off mid-sentence. On Lu Xueling's face there was nothing but coldness, not the least hint of a smile. At first glance, this woman in white was simply gazing into the distance, her bright eyes complex and misted—and her thoughts seemed yet heavier than Shangguan Lue's.

What was she thinking about now?

Facheng softly intoned a Buddhist invocation and said nothing more.

On the mountain ridge.

Xiao Bai supported Ming Li as they gazed down into Qili Tong, watching the last two figures of the outlanders fly into the sky and gradually disappear.

"They've gone," Xiao Bai said with a smile.

Ming Li silently withdrew his gaze from the clouds. After a moment of silence he said, "Let's go down."

Xiao Bai nodded, but then looked at Ming Li's body and said gently, "Why don't we rest a little first? Your wound is bleeding so much again."

Ming Li shook his head. "My body is nothing to worry about. Finding the Great Wizard is what matters."

With that, he was the first to rise.

"Zhi zhi, zhi zhi." A familiar screech sounded nearby, and a grey shadow darted out from the side, hopping onto Ming Li's shoulder in two or three bounds. Its movements still seemed a little clumsy and unsteady, but the monkey, having finally sobered up from its drunkenness, was clearly in high spirits and excellent humor, grinning broadly.

Xiao Bai rose as well and walked to Ming Li's side. She shot Xiao Hui a withering glare and said, "What are you grinning at? Do you know your fool of a master nearly died last night?"

"Hiss!"

A low, angry growl answered her. Xiao Hui, perched on Ming Li's shoulder, bared its fangs in a fierce and fearsome display, glancing this way and that, its two little fists clenched and swinging up and down—the very picture of a monkey looking for someone to fight.

Xiao Bai snorted. "Drop the act. You're wise after the fact!"

Xiao Hui rolled its eyes upward and gave Xiao Bai a look of disdain, chirped twice, then shrank back, clutching Ming Li's collar as though it had heard nothing at all, clinging only to its master.

Ming Li reached up and patted its head without a word, then continued down the mountain. Xiao Hui turned its head, mightily pleased with itself, and stuck out its tongue at Xiao Bai, pulling a face.

Xiao Bai smiled bitterly, shook her head with a sigh, and followed, muttering under her breath, "These days even monkeys have attitude..."