PingZe had expected Xu Guanting to be happy seeing the arrow his soul used to stay in after all these years. But he was holding the arrow with disapproval in his gaze.
"You really are a horrible person, now that I think back on it. You named me Nuli, of all things."
"How was I supposed to know your proper name," PingZe said in self-defence. "You were only a fragment of a soul. I didn't even know what you were. I scratched it and renamed the arrow, anyway."
Xu Guanting grimaced as he handed the arrow back to PingZe and took a seat at the chair next to him.
Fan ZhiHao listened to the two banter from behind his desk. The dark mahogany table was stacked full with scrolls upon scrolls of inventions he was eyeing through. The ink bottle PingZe had returned was gingerly placed amidst the chaos that was Fan ZhiHao's study.
Upon stepping into his lair, PingZe had squashed at least a dozen inventions and trampled over piles of carelessly tossed scrolls.
Shelves along the walls were overflowing with scrolls dating centuries back. All forgotten but never thrown away. It was a miracle Fan ZhiHao had noticed anything missing from the state of his room.
"How are the girls?" Xu Guanting asked casually. PingZe grinned and slapped Xu Guanting on his back.
"You know, if you like FenFen, you should just say it. She is not as vain as FuFu. And you know me and ZhiYi both wouldn't mind if you were the suitor."
Xu Guanting seemed to blush a little as he cleared his throat but said no more.
When the two quieted down, Fan ZhiHao spoke while brushing through his beard in thought. "So you want your old inventions back, PingZe? I have to admit, it has been centuries, I can't for sure pinpoint you where they are."
"I only need the spirit umbrellas. All the others, I have no need for now."
A smile quivered on Fan ZhiHao's lips. "Yes, yes, those. One of the many inventions that proved you were a prodigy few had seen before. Too bad. You have the skills, but not the persistence."
"What can I say, I am good at everything I do." PingZe waved dismissively. Xu Guanting shot him an amused look.
"But for what you need them now, PingZe? I never needed to use them, but they are one of a kind."
PingZe told the old man and Xu Guanting what had happened to MingYu. The two listened to him quietly.
"I need the umbrella, just - just in case he won't survive."
Fan ZhiHao pondered quietly for a moment, twirling his long beard in his forefinger. "Old man WeiRu has not answered?"
"When I left, brother ZhouYan hadn't returned yet. That was two days ago."
"Hm, he is terrible at sending letters. I had to send him at least five different letters and two fire messages before he accepted my tea invitation. Reaching Ye WeiRu is even harder than courting a woman."
PingZe groaned in disbelief. At this rate, MingYu was as good as dead. Fan ZhiHao grew unexpectedly grim, and both Xu Guanting and PingZe peered at him with curiosity.
"Let us rest that matter for now, for I have more pressing news to address." Fan ZhiHao drew silencing talismans and with a flick of his finger, the talismans flew over the doors and walls, containing all that was spoken purely for their three pairs of ears.
"I heard Su Lang send his son to follow ZhiYi." Fan ZhiHao said.
"Yes, but Xie Qiang has been very co-operative with us, he has been helpful throughout our journey," said PingZe, surprised of the mention of the wolf.
"Hm, that is well for now then, we must be glad Xie Qiang has no such loyalty towards the supreme sect leader as his father."
"Sect leader, what is the matter?" Said Guanting, now overwhelmed by the sudden change in the atmosphere.
A dark cloud passed over Fan ZhiHao's face as he looked at the two men before him. "During the meeting at the ZiWei sect, ZhiYi was not present although all other sects were. I had a bad feeling about it. ZhiYi has been loyally serving our cause all these years. Him missing from the meeting was no accident."
PingZe coughed and moved in his chair awkwardly. Fan ZhiHao raised his brow.
"Well, actually, we asked for a leave," PingZe said, shooting a grin at the old man. Fan ZhiHao didn't look amused, so he hurried to add,
"ZhiYi is in mourning."
"Hm, I thought it was only a rumour. So it was true." Fan ZhiHao said drily.
Xu Guanting scratched his head as he shot his eyes between the two men. "So, he and that emperor?"
"Yes, yes, husbands, kids and all that," PingZe said dismissively. "Anyway, we have heard of this meeting both from Xie Qiang and Zhu ZongYing. But neither told us what it is about."
"That is because we don't really know what it was about." Fan ZhiHao said as he drummed his fingers against the table.
PingZe looked aghast. "That makes no sense!"
"Yet, it is the truth." Said Fan ZhiHao. He had now risen from behind his desk and paced about his room, dodging his mess masterfully with his portly feet. "He called us all to be present, it seemed urgent by the tone of his message. Yet, the supreme sect leader only announced a new sect being founded. He requested only the Diefa and Huilang sects to stay behind afterwards."
"The Sheya sect," PingZe spat the words. Xu Guanting grimaced at the mention of the name.
"Yes. You can imagine Ye WeiRu's position as his disgraceful former student became a sect leader and even got support from supreme sect leader himself!" Fan ZhiHao was now pacing around his room like a crazed ox. "But that is not all. The Sheya sect has been founded, but it has no purpose. Ye WeiRu was distraught about the matter, but he couldn't voice his opinion. We could only quietly accept it."
"What do you fear, sect leader?" Guanting whispered.
"I fear for old man Ye WeiRu." Fan ZhiHao said as he resumed his place behind the desk. He suddenly looked well older than what he had initially appeared. Behind the pristine shell of a fifty-something man, he was old, frail, and barely living. "We are both old, and old things will eventually be replaced."
"But that is ridiculous!" PingZe thundered. Fan ZhiHao gave him a weak smile.
"If we can choose who inherits our hard work and legacy, I wouldn't worry much or fear death. But Ye WeiRu has not found a single discipline who fits in his requirements and could successfully continue and grow his legacy. He is too wise, too stubborn to give up his life work for someone like Lan Guan-Yin."
"Not even one?" Asked Xu Guanting.
Fan ZhiHao frowned. "There was one little girl he used to tell me about. It has been many years now. Bright little girl, obedient. He taught her many things, yet he had no heart to take her into his sect. Instead, he watched as she grew up and was married off."
"Where is she now?"
"I do not know. But Ye WeiRu might know her whereabouts. He always spoke kindly of this child. She must remind him of his little daughter very much." Fan ZhiHao hurried to stand up as he added, "Be that all, for now, let us find you the umbrellas, PingZe. I will contact the old man WeiRu on your behalf and send him out as soon as possible."
He snapped his fingers, and the talisman detached themselves and burned to dust. He led them out of his study, down the many twisting corridors, all faintly lit by sparse lanterns.
PingZe had had the uneasy feeling kicking around his guts for a while now, so he finally broke the silence. "What does that ink do?"
"You shouldn't steal items you don't know how to use, PingZe." Fan ZhiHao mused. He had a smile on his lips that didn't promise of anything pleasant.
PingZe swallowed, a light sheen of sweat broke over his skin.
"What did you use it for, brother?" Xu Guanting asked as he limped after the two. The metal of his makeshift knee whined with every step.
"A tattoo."
The steps halted to a stop, as Xu Guanting was too surprised to move. Fan ZhiHao's shoulders were shivering as he tried to hold in his laughter but failed miserably. His low cackle filled the corridor, echoing against the walls.
"Brother PingZe, what have you done?" Xu Guanting's face seemed to be battling between smiling and frowning. PingZe glared at them with frustration.
"Did you use your blood?" Fan ZhiHao said after his laughter died down.
"Yes," PingZe said meekly.
"I pity the poor soul, whose body you own now." Fan ZhiHao's predatory grin had no effect on PingZe. ZhiHao's words were still struggling to sink in. "I hope you don't regret it, PingZe."
He really messed up this time, hadn't he? For the first time in his life, PingZe failed to utter a word.
Stopping before great doors, ZhiHao opened the lock and pushed the doors open. He lit dozens of flame talismans that now hovered around the room.
"I hope you find what you're looking for." Fan ZhiHao said with a wicked smile before turning and leaving.
PingZe almost choked on himself. There were thousands of forgotten inventions stacked from the floor to the ceiling, in as an orderly manner as Fan ZhiHao's study. This man was truly the devil in disguise!
"Fear not, brother. I will help you." Xu Guanting said from behind him. "And when we are done, I will lend you one of my new inventions. It should be a speedy flight back to brother ZhiYi's side."
____
Nuli = slave