Over a week had passed, yet they had seen no signs of ZhouYan returning to them. The hill myna never strayed from his path. Even as a bird, ZhouYan's diligence was unmeasurable. After this many days, MingYu had grown wary to the point he took off of his inn room without notice or ZhiYi realising it, and crashed into YueQin at the top of the stairs.
"Brother MingYu! You're going for a walk?" YueQin said in surprise as she caught hold of the railing in time before falling down the stairs.
MingYu nodded as he walked past YueQin and headed out, still lost in his thoughts. His numb arm swayed idly by his side. Too many things were crowding his mind at once.
The Liu's had all been executed. Who was he to make amends with?
The Wei's name still sizzled on the bamboo, almost mocking him every time he unrolled the scroll to check if it was still there.
He felt like he was going out of his mind with stress.
The streets of Wupei were packed with merchants and people. The sun was at its peak, smouldering heat enveloped them, searing their skins into burning red.
Early August was terrible in the southern parts of the land. Rain would fall in the upcoming weeks, but until then, the heatwaves came in abrupt sessions. Scorching any part of the earth that was not covered in shadows, making the air almost impossible to breathe.
YueQin trailed next to MingYu. Her lips were moving, but none of the words registered in his mind. He mumbled something akin to a yes as his mind swirled with irregular thoughts.
He had dreamt of Wu TianLan in his youth, so now he remembered something of this man's past. It was a good thing. If he had more of these dreams, he would soon learn the reason behind his punishment, and maybe even the way to finish it.
But MingYu was scared. Scared to learn of his true nature as Wu TianLan. ZhiYi knew MingYu and Wu TianLan were the same person. Was he disappointed that the quiet and composed MingYu could do those monstrosities that the world blamed him for?
He had planned on telling ZhiYi about his dream once he woke up that morning, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. When he woke up, ZhiYi had held him in his gentle embrace. His arms were wrapped loosely around MingYu's waist, his chin resting over his head, keeping him in place and calming him down from his unsettling dream.
It felt right, familiar even, and a part of MingYu had wished that they could sleep this way every night. But another part of him feared that once ZhiYi knew his memories were coming back, the way he treated him would change.
A hand pressed down on his shoulder, and MingYu instinctively flinched, shrinking back in surprise.
"Don't touch me!"
The slender arm pulled away, and YueQin was studying him with scared, wide eyes.
"Sorry, brother MingYu. You didn't answer me when I called your name."
His blood soared in his ears as he took shaky breaths in. Just now, the disgusting feeling of suddenly being touched by others pierced his mind. That part of Wu TianLan still lingered in his subconsciousness, building defences around him.
"It's nothing. You just startled me." MingYu hurried to say, and YueQin looked visibly relieved.
"What was it you wanted to say?" MingYu said as the two of them started walking again, weaving through the mass of people and the dust that was filling the air in swirling clouds.
YueQin threw him a worried glance. She seemed to mull over it before she finally whispered, "How is your arm?"
There was guilt weighing on her every word, and MingYu felt pity tugging at his heart.
"It's fine, I don't really feel it, so there is no pain."
YueQin was quiet, so MingYu added, "It's not your fault. You shouldn't feel bad about it."
Still no answer. MingYu stopped in his tracks.
"YueQin?"
Turning back, YueQin had frozen in place, her eyes fixated ahead of them, her face white like a sheet of paper. His heart lurched in his chest as he snapped his head back to look at what had scared YueQin.
No one looked even mildly threatening in the crowd, but one stood out from the rest.
Beside the tables upon tables of trinkets on sale, a young woman was walking with light steps to her stride. Her gaze was fixated on the colourful products overflowing the tables.
The light blue robes shimmered under the sun. From the distance between them, MingYu barely made out the silver snake embroidery curling over her shoulders. A little pouch with yellow flower stitching swayed on her sash as she stopped and picked something up from one table.
A frown pulled at MingYu's brows as he studied the woman. Something was gnawing at the back of his mind, something important he had noticed about her, but he couldn't pinpoint on it.
The young woman tossed the item back with a little smirk before she turned around and raised her eyes towards them. But she didn't see the two. Strong arms had caught on to their shoulders and pulled them out from under the sun into the cool shade of a teahouse.
"Childe Qiang!" MingYu yelped as bright yellow robes rustled before him, and a blinding smile greeted the two.
Without a word, Xie Qiang pushed the two through the serving area, up the stairs and into a private room he had booked. The balcony of the room oversaw the entire street below them, but the ceiling curved downwards, hiding whoever sat within under shadows.
The low table was already equipped with food and tea when Xie Qiang closed the door behind them and took a seat on one of the pillows on the floor.
MingYu and YueQin both hesitated by the door.
"Are you still tailing us?" MingYu asked, unsure if he should be in the same room with the wolf without either of the brothers there.
Xie Qiang motioned at them to sit down, chuckling. His large black fan was swaying leisurely in his other hand.
"Yes, and no."
MingYu arched his brow as he sauntered towards the table and sat down on the pillow nearest to the exit.
YueQin plopped down next to him.
"You are such a boring bunch to stalk. Besides, I have a new target in sight."
"Oh?" Both YueQin and MingYu voiced at the same time.
"Lan Guan-Yin has also arrived in Wupei. She is always up to no good. I was studying her from here when you two stopped in the middle of the busy street. Very discreetly if I may add." Xie Qiang said drily as he poured them tea.
"That woman just now, you know her?" YueQin asked, her tone strained to the point of almost snapping.
"Yes, that was Lan Guan-Yin." Xie Qiang snarled and curled his upper lip, showing his subtle fangs.
"You know her?" MingYu asked YueQin in surprise. From where did YueQin know her? He had only heard about the woman until now.
YueQin nodded slowly.
"She stabbed me in the gut back in Tiang'an."
"What?!" MingYu screeched, startling the passing waiter that had stepped in to check if they needed anything else. The young waiter hurried out before someone yelled at him.
Xie Qiang broke into a chuckle, attracting a glare from MingYu.
This was hardly a matter to laugh about.
"So, it was her! And here I was worried that Zhu ZongYing had developed new cruel hobbies to pass the time."
"What is Lan Guan-Yin doing in Wupei? Is she after YueQin?" MingYu asked. His muscles were tight and ready if he had to bolt out of the room.
Xie Qiang's fan stopped mid-air as he shot YueQin a side-glance.
"I don't think so." The wolf finally said. "She was here before any of us arrived in the city."
"How do you know for sure?" MingYu asked. He didn't touch the tea offered.
The wolf had trailed them, not Lan Guan-Yin. With that logic, Xie Qiang arrived in Wupei even later than them.
"Some wolf-shifters are living among mortals. They have been keeping an eye on her for me. She is not here for either of you."
"But she tried to kill me back in Tiang'an," YueQin said tightly.
Xie Qiang's chuckle deepened.
"Well, she can't now that you aren't a mortal anymore."
YueQin looked dejected as she cast her eyes down and said no more.
Seeing this, MingYu kicked Xie Qiang under the table, and the wolf's eyes widened with shock. This guy actually dared to kick him, Xie Qiang of all people! But realising the effect of his words on YueQin, the wolf let the matter slide for now and quickly said,
"I'm still trying to find out what she is doing here. She has been shaking my people off her back quite masterfully. She disappears and reappears without a trace."
MingYu tried to open his mouth when loud talking could be heard from the next room.
Xie Qiang looked like his vein was going to pop. The room was private and expensive for a reason. He didn't pay so much to listen to the neighbours!
Xie Qiang called on the waiter, and the young man cowered in apology. He told them that this room had an adjacent wall to the storyteller's podium. Xie Qiang was about to snap the poor young man in two when the storyteller's words caught his attention, and he let the young man leave unscathed.
MingYu wanted to ask what was going on when Xie Qiang raised his hand to silence him.