Jin Lu would have liked to ignore Long Yin, but since she didn't know where they were going, she compromised. Without looking at him, she slowed her steps until they were walking side by side. Using her lashes to hide her eyes, Jin Lu nonchalantly looped two of her fingers into Long Yin's belt.
Jin Lu could feel Long Yin's amusement at her actions, but she ignored him to scan her surroundings.
The city in the light of day was much different than it had been at night. People hurried in all directions, while street vendors hawking all manner of goods competed for attention.
Sparkles from the jewelry stalls were enough to blind a person, while the soft fluttering of fabric sounded like birds on the wind. The smell of food mixed with the dust kicked up from the road and unwashed bodies filled the air.
Long Yin placed a hand over the knot on his belt to keep it from being pulled off by his companions' constant stops. The boy was paying more attention to the vendors than where he was going or what he was doing.
Jin Lu didn't release her hold until they walked out of the city gate. Though there were still people around, the crowd wasn't as dense outside.
"Where are we going anyway?" Jin Lu finally asked. Events had been happening so quickly that she hadn't thought to ask until now.
"Kuru City."
"..."
Jin Lu looked at him expectantly, but he didn't say anything else.
Hmph! Pretentious ass.
The corner of Long Yin's lips curled up when he saw Jin Lu start pouting again.
Sigh.
"Why?" Jin Lu asked, not being able to contain her curiosity.
"..."
"Why not?"
Jin Lu felt blood rush to her head, the urge to punch Long Yin in his glowing white teeth almost overwhelming. She had never considered herself a violent person, yet Long Yin had a way of getting under her skin.
Breathe, Jinny. Just breathe.
Using the nickname her father used to call her to help center her, she unclenched her hands, her muscles shivering from the release of tension.
They walked in silence, side by side on the edge of the road. Trying to take her mind off of Long Yin, Jin Lu looked closer at her surroundings. On either side of the road, strange trees were planted about a foot apart. Stopping in front of one, Jin Lu leaned closer and closed her eyes.
A peculiar sound could be heard coming from the trunk every time the wind blew. Opening her eyes, she moved close enough to feel the smooth bark brush her nose. Teeny tiny holes were littered throughout the tree. When the wind blew, the air traveling through the holes produced a high-pitched whistle.
"Beast Barrier trees," Long Yin said when he noticed Jin Lu's interest. "Almost all main roads are planted with the trees to keep beasts from attacking travelers."
Jin Lu nodded absently at the explanation, her mind filled with the sound from the trees. Now that she had concentrated on it, she could hear it more clearly, the melody whispering around her like a gentle flute.
Long Yin felt power in the air and raised a brow, watching it flow lazily toward Jin Lu. The preoccupied youth took no notice, his mouth opening and closing randomly.
After a moment, Jin Lu closed her eyes and started to hum. The melody was hesitant and soft as she tried to get the right pitch. Placing her hand against her throat, she carefully felt the vibrations move along her neck.
Though her voice was lower than she was used to, she could still run through the scales with minimal effort.
Something snapped inside her, like a puzzle piece finding its place. She smiled softly and closed her eyes. She started humming the melody produced by the trees.
Long Yin watched as the power in the air circled faster and faster around Jin Lu as the boy's song took shape. When Jin Lu came to the end, the power had created a wispy barrier around him.
Jin Lu opened her eyes slowly. She had felt something building inside of her while she had been humming, releasing when she was finished. When she saw the shimmering dome around her, she gave a start and froze.
She looked around quickly for the cause, her inquiring gaze locking with Long Yin's intrigued face.
"What is this? Did you do it?"
Having read a lot of fantasy books, Jin Lu understood that what was around her was a barrier, she just couldn't figure out why there was one here, now.
"A barrier. And no, I didn't."
Long Yin stepped forward and poked the barrier. His finger went straight through, as though it wasn't there at all. He stepped inside, standing next to Jin Lu.
"It appears to be a barrier against animals," Long Yin said as he examined the power around Jin Lu.
Jin Lu was pale, her hands shaking from an unexpected wave of exhaustion. The barrier rippled and broke, disappearing into the air.
"It seems you're not used to using Qi," Long Yin observed, catching the youth in his arms when Jin Lu's eyes rolled and he fainted. A delighted chuckle escaped Long Yin's lips.
Fascinating!
Long Yin settled Jin Lu securely in his arms before he jumped into the air, sailing through the sky toward Kuru City.