A Wanderer Anew

Sharp rocks cut into them as they rolled down the mountainside. Rubble from the shattered battlements fell around like rain. They exchanged short, brutal blows. Elbows, claws and fangs, they used whatever they had left.

They were nearing a cliff, but neither could stop without giving up the advantage to the other. Plummeting down, they still struggled to come out on top. To increase the chance of survival? No, just to make sure the other dies first.

Wuyu used his mass. He dug his bulky forearm deep into the throat of the Cultist, while his other arm twisted one of the clawed hands, snapping the wrist. Events of the last hour run through his mind. Friends and allies, loyal soldiers clutching their heads as their eyes boiled in their sockets, puking blood as their entrails twisted inside their bodies. The dark figures lazily crossing through the courtyard, viciously hacking away at the men who were too weak to crawl away. All under direction of this bastard.

The impact shook their forms as they slammed into the rocky ground. Wuyu's bulk crushed the Cultist underneath him. The ribcage snapped; its jagged edges pierced the collapsed lungs. But the Cultist did not live to suffer from it. The arm on his throat smashed through his spine, severing it and killing him on the spot.

Wuyu stood up slowly. Even with his numbed nerves, his whole body screamed in pain. Torn muscles and broken bones still moved, fuelled by his will and qi. The mangled figure at his feet filled him with fury.

But this was not the right time. He took a deep breath. The cold Northern air stung his lungs. White mist left his mouth as he exhaled. As he inhaled, it got replaced by a sense of focus.

The noise high above reminded him that he's not safe. The other Cultists would be here soon. With shaky steps, he walked over to a pile of rubble with a long pole sticking out. The glaive's blade sung, cutting the air as its master heaved it up.

Wuyu reached for the pouch on his belt, his hand finding the little piece of jade. "All this for this little thing?" he murmured to himself. With a strip of leather, he tied it like a pendant around his neck, hoping that it will be safer this way.

Using the Elephant Trunk as a walking staff, he hobbled towards one of the stone walls. There, behind a thick bush, was his path out. A crevice, barely wider than a normal man, formed the entrance to the passageway. Wuyu had to squeeze in sideways. His hand traced the cold slate, trying to keep him steady.

The darkness enveloped him as he proceeded further, leaving the faint glow of the moon behind. He walked on, unable to turn back. His ears tried to pick up on any sound behind him, praying that his pursuers haven't caught his trail yet. Surrounded by the unknown, he pressed on.

He did not know how long it took until he finally saw light again. A couple more steps, and finally, he was back under the starry sky again. The injuries called attention to themselves once again as he stumbled towards the shepherd's trail. "Just a little further," he muttered to himself.

From inside the pouch on his belt, Wuyu pulled out a little bronze plate. He placed it on the ground and pressed his palm to it. As he stepped back, the plate unfolded. In mere moments, a large, richly decorated, cart stood in front of him. He climbed on inside, and towards where an ox would be, he spoke, his voice raspy as he struggled to breathe:
"Take me... to Lady Ming..."

The cart listened to its master. The wheels started to roll, slowly carrying the large man towards his destination.

"Oh, you're finally awake?"

The voice broke Wuyu out of the stupor, dispelling the remnants of delirium he fell into on the road. The sight before his eyes became more solid. An image of afterlife, vivid in colours and details, pulling the viewer in.

"Am I dead"? Wuyu asked.

"Who do you take me for? My patients don't die so easily." The surprisingly pleasant, if slightly annoyed, voice responded.

Wuyu focused more and realized that the scenery in front of his eyes was but a masterfully painted relief on the ceiling.

"W-where am I?"

"My home. The estate of the Bai clan."

Wuyu turned to look at his interlocutor, suddenly feeling even more lost, despite just being told where he is. By his bedside, there was an impossibly beautiful young woman. Silky black hair flowed down to her waist. Her pale skin seemed almost translucent in the faint light. Golden robes marked her as a member of nobility. Eyes like rubies bored down into him. 

He could only stare in response, painfully feeling his inadequacy.

"What, cat got your tongue and I somehow missed that?" she teased.

"I-I'm sorry, Young lady!" he answered, quickly moving into a deep bow, with a surprise noticing how well his body responded, not a trace of his injuries left.

"I don't need your apologies. But I'll take your thanks. After all, I did take your wounds upon myself," she said as she coughed lightly, a trace of blood flowing down her chin, before she wiped it with a handkerchief.

Wuyu's face turned white as snow. He stammered for a response, but then a pearly laugh filled the room.

"I'm just jesting with you. I'm fine. I healed you using these." She pointed to the long needles lying in a little box on the bedside table.

"I... thank you... I'm glad you're alright, Young Lady." 

"I'm glad you're glad. Now, in your fever, you were asking for my aunt. What do you need her for? Who even are you?"

"I'm Wuyu. I used to be Lady Meng's student for a while. I have bad news and I think she can help me."

"Hmmm, what's the news then?"

"I... I think I should tell Lady Meng..."

"What, do you not trust me?"

"N-no, Young Lady, I just think it's—"

"Is it because I haven't introduced myself? I'm Bai Shahua."

"—confidential..." cogs spun inside Wuyu's head, "Young Shahua? The one Lady Meng wanted to save? So you're fine! Oh, how happy she must have been!" his voice boomed cheerfully, before he controlled himself. "I'm sorry, I should not... I didn't want to sound..."

"She was happy." Shahua responded warmly, ignoring his attempts at repenting. "Maybe not with my chosen method, but she's happy I'm doing well. And if you don't want to tell me, then fine, I won't pry into my Aunts secrets. She can tell me herself if it's something I should know. She should be arriving soon anyway."

Elder cultivators have many abilities, one of them is the sense of timing, for this was the moment the doors to the chamber opened, and the Funeral Fairy stood in them.

"Auntie!" "Lady Meng!" the two greeted her in unison.

"So that's what happened." Wuyu finished retelling the events of that fateful night. The memories stirring feelings of sorrow and fury in his chest.

"Show me the treasure." Lady Meng commanded.

Wuyu obediently took the jade pendant off his neck and passed it to her. She appraised it for a moment before giving it back.

"So, what should I do with it?"

"Guard it. Heavens have granted it to you, so now it's up to you to protect it, and it shall protect you in return."

"Should I bring it back to its owners?"

"If that's what you think is right, but know that the treasure is of great value. Don't be careless with telling people about it, much less giving it away, unless you're certain that you've chosen the best person to entrust it with."

"But I—"

"I said all I had to say. You need to decide on your path by yourself." The Funeral Fairy stood up and headed for the door. "You can do it, Wuyu. You've face trials before. Just do what you think is right." As she opened the doors, Shahua was standing there, clearly eavesdropping. "Oh, and you can trust this one, if you want."

As her Aunt left, Shahua looked at Wuyu, grinning.

"So, you're going to find the Xun?" Shahua asked.

They were standing in the residence's gate as Wuyu prepared to depart.

"I don't know yet. I think for now, I'll just go and see what I can learn. Of them and of the Cult. Like, Your Aunt said, I should be sure before I decide."

"I see. Farewell then. If we meet again, I'll let you know if I've learned something."

"Thank you and goodbye. Say my goodbyes to your Aunt too." Wuyu nodded, and set out.

Shahua watched him leave, there was a a sense of conviction in his steps. Her aunt appeared besides her wordlessly.

"Was he always like this?" Shahua asked.

"No. He was greater. But I think he'll get back there."