Entering the Martial Grounds, Tao Hua looked around. All that remained of the snow was a translucent sheet covering the grassy sections. Presumably caused by the light shower of snow that had been a constant in Chuhen Palace since Tao Hua's arrival.
A splash sounded, and Tao Hua looked down at his boots. The edges had darkened, and lifting his foot, he saw a thin puddle of water. It trickled toward the edge of a beautifully crafted, stone-made bridge, and dripped off into the thawed lake below.
Huh… Tao Hua wandered over and peered over the side. The water was mostly still, except for a few ripples that fell from the trees above, showering the area with melted snow. Isn't water supposed to freeze over unless moving? Do I have that right?
Something he'd once read but chalked off as pointless information. Turns out it wasn't useless at all!
"How irresponsible," said Weng Jing, hand following along the bridge, hopping from each rounded pillar on his way toward Tao Hua. "Just look at the trees—they're crying."
Tao Hua glanced up at the mentioned trees. Each branch was slightly charred black and dripping with wet soot; others snapped with a loud, crisp noise.
Li Zhou held his hand over his eyes, seemingly uninterested as he gazed upon the pitiful sight. "That sucks."
"Sucks?! I get most of you think not of trees as people, but they absolutely have souls."
Unbothered, Li Zhou just moved ahead without a word and waited by the entrance of the Martial Hall. A true master of diversion, he hadn't once fed into Weng Jing's difficult personality.
"Suo Zong." Pressing a hand to his back, Wan Mie pointed toward a building where Li Zhou stood. Suo Han looked up at his master, and then toward where he pointed. His head titled.
It was similar to most of the other buildings in the palace, with the exception of red lattice doors extending from one side to the other.
"Why don't you run ahead and get things ready for your Young Master, hm? The sooner, the better. We'll catch up."
"But!" Suo Han's head darted toward Tao Hua, who offered him a weak smile. Frowning, Suo Han's body slumped slightly.
"Don't worry. Since when has your master ever let you down?" He patted his back, pushing Suo Han forward. "Run along, my hard little worker, and leave the rest to this old man. Oh—and tell Li Zhou to wait where he is until I give him orders to move."
"Mmm…" Suo Han hesitated before nodding. "Yes, Master."
This would be the first he was separated from Tao Hua in three days, and it was safe to say the man had grown slightly attached for whatever unknown reason. Slowly, he moved forward, turning back a few times to look at Tao Hua before darting off into the building.
Wan Mie just happily waved until Suo Han finally disappeared, then his head tilted and he let out a breath of air. Approaching the other two, he looked around at the charred mess.
"Was there any reason to send him off?" asked Tao Hua, glancing up at Wan Mie.
"No. I just figured you could use a moment to breathe."
Well, he wasn't wrong, though that left one remaining issue being the Daoist Master who couldn't turn away from Tao Hua.
"Um...Elder Wan," Tao Hua began, garnering the old man's attention. Rubbing his fingers along the smooth ivory stone, Tao Hua asked, "Why is he like that? Anytime he messes things up, he spirals to the point of almost collapsing."
Tao Hua wanted to add, "I know how that feels," but the words just wouldn't push past his lips, and remained a fog before eyes.
Wan Mie laughed. "Suo Zong is a capable man, but faced many hardships. He wasn't meant to be a servant—I'm sure you can tell—but the poor man yearns for a safe life within the walls. Some hands just aren't made for blood, while others are tainted by it."
"…"
Tao Hua wondered what that meant. Suo Han was once Wan Mie's disciple, and he was capable of strength that outmatched the Daoist Master's, yet couldn't carry a dish to save his life.
I wonder what he'd be like using a sword.
"Well, he is an awful servant. That kid somehow manages to slip…even on honey! My mind is boggled. Why His Highness assigns him to the most delicate flower of the palace, I am unsure," said Weng Jing, nose scrunched. "I hate it all the same. This is exactly why we're getting nowhere, Guard Dog."
"Our Lord knows what he's doing. Let's not question him, even if it seems difficult."
"I don't care." Looking over Tao Hua's head and toward Wan Mie, Weng Jing sneered. "What about you? Why haven't you left?"
Wan Mie merely laughed aloud, pressing a hand to the stone railing.
"Keep dreaming, lover boy, you won't be spending quality time with your future wife if I'm around." However, the humour dissipated just as Wan Mie tilted his head toward the long stretch of water, his black hair falling against his shoulder. "All things in life have their truths. There's a reason I didn't send you off with Suo Han also."
Weng Jing sneered. "Excuse me?"
"I have a few questions that require the two of you."
And there it was, the actual reason to send off Tao Hua's servant.
"I'll think about answering." Said Weng Jing with an extra-difficult and unnecessary humph.
"Oh! I see! Very well, then." Glancing down at Tao Hua, Wan Mie asked, "Say, Rabbit's Foot—aren't you curious?"
Both Weng Jing and Tao Hua turned to look at Wan Mie, just as Wan Mie rubbed a bit of the steaming water between his thumb and index finger.
He simply continued, unfazed by the stares.
"About why this delusional one calls you Daoist Master Zhuan? As far as I'm concerned, you react as if that isn't your name."
"Ah…" Tao Hua's head turned away, and he had a complicated look on his face. No one other than Shan Si knew his name, and Tao Hua wasn't certain if Shan Si wanted him to offer it. So, he didn't.
"To be honest, Elder Wan, I can't tell you if I want to know or if I'm too scared to know."
"Hm. I see," Wan Mie rubbed his bottom lip, studying Tao Hua. Eventually, he lifted both hands and shrugged. "It can't be helped. The truth will reveal itself sooner or later. Why not divulge it now? Or would you prefer that our Lord be here to unearth it with you?"
Tao Hua sealed his lips shut and hid behind the strands of his hair, causing Wan Mie to knowingly smile.
"How interesting. There are two reactions when it comes to meeting my nephew. You either fear him or you hate him," Wan Mie began. "Yet, I can't quite understand what you feel toward him."
That was a question that not even Tao Hua could answer. He had every reason to fear Shan Si with all he'd done to him, and he should have hated him for the insults. Yet, his heart raced at the mere thought of him.
At first, he thought it was the rush of finally making a friend, but now that he was surrounded by many people with similar sentiments, Tao Hua became more and more confused.
It was the kind of feeling that churned one's stomach the moment the person left, but did the exact same as soon as they arrived. One filled with sadness, and the other filled with excitement, both somehow new to Tao Hua.
Wan Mie's smirk deepened. "But that's fine, we'll wait if that's what makes you comfortable."
"No! Enough! Terrible question, worse discussion!" Weng Jing spoke up, glowering at Wan Mie…maybe. "That is not for you to worry about, and it's certainly not for His Highness either. Do I have to remind you that everything that murderous monster lays his paws on shatters? Do you want the same for Master Zhuan?! Look at how fragile she has become!"
At this point, Tao Hua chose to ignore the mis-gendering, trying not to offer Weng Jing a reaction.
"Master Zhuan has been dead for two hundred years, Weng Jing. You're dancing with delusions."
"So what if I am?!" Weng Jing gritted his teeth. "It' is an intimate thing between Master Zhuan and me. Shoo! Away with you, foul demon! Enough of your nonsense!"
"You're a mouthful today, Weng Jing. I'd of thrown you into that water had you not your uses," said Wan Mie with a hint of annoyance. Weng Jing's lips tightened and huffed a breath of fiery air as Wan Mie continued, "Tread carefully. I'm beginning to think you forget who's second in command here. We're all in this mess, anyhow."
That was the first time Tao Hua witnessed such discontent in Wan Mie, and he had to admit it didn't look good on him.
Although, another thing bothered him. To call Shan Si a monster that destroys all he touches? What happened for him to receive such a heavy title, and from a Daoist Master of all people?
Pointing his whisk toward the outer court, Weng Jing declared, "Kill me, and the array ends! Worthless smack."
Array…? Tao Hua recalled something about that being mentioned back in Buzhi Forest by Shan Si. Were they somehow related and what was the point of it?
"Exactly my point." He wiped his hand on the side of his robe and looked down at Weng Jing. "Sleep with both eyes open the moment we're out of this mess, My Dear Daoist Master."
Sneering, Weng Jing was about to open his mouth and retort when suddenly a loud giggle erupted from afar, with a high-pitched shout following behind.
A saving grace masked in the guise of rushing footsteps!
All three looked over their shoulders to find a small child covered in patches of mud and carrying what looked to be a swinging grey cat. Behind him was an older woman with grey streaks in her black hair. She was holding up the skirt of her robe and rushed after the child with an utter look of distress trickling down her tired face.
"H-How many times?!" Once more, she bent forward, wheezed, and started after the child again. "FEIFEI! Please!!"
Weng Jing's face contorted with disgust.
"Shouldn't she be with His Highness while he rests?"
Chapter end.
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