Chapter 123 — The Li People
The Sword Questions the Heavens · Page 2 of 5
Ming Li was jolted. Xiaobai was a fox demon who had cultivated for a thousand years; only because her attainment was so deep had she taken human form, with a face of seductive beauty. As for experience and worldly knowledge, there were few in this world who could match her.
But that was hardly a thing to say to the great shaman. Ming Li's thoughts raced, and he turned the subject aside. "Great shaman, you have not even turned your head, nor looked at her once. How do you know she is a young woman?"
The great shaman tilted his head slightly to one side, as if he had chuckled low, and whether or not he had seen through Ming Li's thoughts, he said, "Since the young woman is drunk, all things had best wait until she wakes. You have come from afar and are our guest. When you go out, seek out our Miao chief, Tumagu. I will send word to him to arrange lodging for you here for a few days."
Ming Li frowned. In his heart he wished for nothing more than to settle matters with the great shaman at once and go rescue Bili—but from the man's tone, plain though his voice was, there was no room for argument. Plainly he meant first to get to the bottom of Xiaobai's origins. Ming Li was the one asking a favor; and then, he had waited ten years already—what did one more day matter?
Ming Li drew a deep breath and nodded. "Very well."
The great shaman said quietly, "Then go out."
Ming Li bowed his head toward the great shaman's back and was about to rise and leave, when he paused again. Xiaobai was pillowed on his thigh, sleeping peacefully, and by any reckoning she was deeply drunk. How was he to rouse her to walk?
Ming Li called to her twice, halfheartedly. Xiaobai paid him no heed at all; half in a daze, she seemed annoyed at being disturbed. Her small mouth pursed, she turned over, and slept on.
Her turning over was no great matter—but Xiaohui had been leaning against her belly, and now he went down with a thud, his head striking the ground. Yet the monkey noticed nothing and snored on as loudly as ever. A natural-born spirit creature, it seemed; even a monkey's skull was hard—harder than an ordinary monkey's, at any rate.
Ming Li sighed and shook his head without cease. After a moment's hesitation he had no choice but to bend down, steady Xiaobai, then straighten, reach out with both hands, and gather her up in his arms. With his free hand he slung Xiaohui onto his shoulder, and carrying monkey and woman—fox—together, he walked out.
Xiaobai lay in the crook of his arm, a faint fragrance about her, a faint smile on her lips, her face white shot through with pink, swaying gently before his eyes.
Ming Li drew a deep breath, strode out, and left the altar behind.
Out of the dim altar, past the two great stone pillars at the door, sunlight fell at once upon his face.
A gentle warmth rose through his body. Ming Li narrowed his eyes slightly and saw, not far ahead, Tumagu standing with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing out from the mountain over the whole prospect of Qili Tong.
A Miao in the garb of a shaman came out of the altar behind Ming Li, passed by him, and went to Tumagu's side, where he spoke a few words in a low voice. Tumagu turned his head, looked Ming Li over twice, then let his gaze fall on the drunken, sleeping Xiaobai. He nodded, as if granting some request.
The shaman turned without expression, spared Ming Li not a second glance, and walked straight back into the altar, vanishing into the shadows.
Tumagu came over smiling. "Well? Did the great shaman agree?"
Ming Li smiled faintly. "I do not know yet. He told us to stay here for a few days."
Tumagu nodded. "I see. Come with me, then." With that he turned and started down the mountain.
Ming Li followed with Xiaobai and Xiaohui in his arms, and Tumagu said as they went, "This is a poor, out-of-the-way place of ours—nothing to compare with the splendor of your Central Plains. Make yourselves at home, ha ha."