88 Winding canyons (2/2)
Wait no, that wasn't where her mind should be headed at all. She got up from her spot with too much vigor and spooked the surrounding sheep.
Xiao Hei swore as she tried to corral them back together.
In the meantime, Liu Sumeng finally relented and waited for Yuan Xuelan to buy them some fresh steamed buns.
He might not have eaten the whole day but in truth, he had no appetite. But seeing Yuan Xuelan run over with two steaming buns in hand was suitably heartwarming enough for Liu Sumeng to smile and take the offer of food without further complaint.
He would forgive Huo Tang as well, for pecking at it without manners.
At least, Yuan Xuelan hadn't nagged him about staying here to get some rest.
If Liu Sumeng really thought about it, Yuan Xuelan's behavior was quite strange and a little jarring. And while emperor Taixu had been oppressively domineering… this Yuan Xuelan was insistent but also forbearing.
The Wayward Wind Temple was still a ways out but he knew the directions roughly from the few visits he made with his Shizun when Liu Sumeng was a child.
Speaking of his Shizun, there hadn't been news of Liu Langce for months now. Where was that man? Was he not close to Zhao Fanyu?
But the Ivory Sword Saint supposed he should have expected the Guanghai Elder to be one shirking off responsibility, even when the life of his close friend was in jeopardy. Such was that man's terrible personality.
Liu Sumeng banished the thoughts from his mind and decided to focus on the road. They were about to leave the bounds of the village when a voice shouted from behind, ”Wait!”
It was difficult to tell if the person was a girl or a boy, with soft features but none too feminine. They wore a plain tunic and hair tied back away from the face. Nothing fancy. Liu Sumeng was caught with an itching suspicion that there was something incredibly familiar about this person. But he was unable to pinpoint why.
The person stopped in front of them and was not intimidated when Yuan Xuelan crossed his arms and glared.
They shouted, ”Please take me with you!”
Unluckily for the newcomer, the two male cultivators had already learned their lesson with one whiny and clingy Nan Chang. In unison they said, ”No.”
Xiao Hei, at a loss, simply exclaimed in frustration, ”Huh!? Why not!”
…
In the end, Xiao Hei tagged along. Liu Sumeng learned she was a girl after all. She introduced herself a little awkwardly, ”You can call me Xiao H-Hao.”
”...” And so they called her Xiao Hao.
Unlike Nan Chang, she was not seeking adventure and only wanted someone to travel with her as far down the winding canyons as possible. She said that she had family on the other side of the province.
It was harmless enough and if the girl planned to travel the roads on her own anyway, then it wouldn't hurt to escort her half the way.
But the nagging feeling of familiarity refused to go away.
”I heard there are many spiritual beasts around these parts,” Xiao Hao chirped, ”Especially spiritual birds.”
”You hear that, annoying chicken? Your brethren are here.”
Small flickers of spark twinkled around the angry little phoenix, ”What brethren!? I'll have you know, I have no relations to some silly bird-brained fools. Do not lower me to such standards!”
The bickering between the phoenix and Yuan Xuelan filled the gaps of any awkward silences. Liu Sumeng wondered if it was a crime to feel relaxed. He should be more anxious.
The main path along the canyon floor was not too narrow and well-traveled. Shrubs and trees hugged the sides of the cliffs but were not nearly as dense and oppressive as the foliage from Hidden Mist's forest.
The cliff sides were towering, monumental, and eternal in their beauty; tall and steep, hugged by flicks of low-hanging clouds. The wind was currently calm but each gust echoed through the chamber of canyons and threatened to build up into something more frightening.
They came upon a fork where the main trail led beyond the canyons and towards vast valleys and farmland.
”Thank you, Young Masters!” Xiao Hao bowed and waved at the same time, ”Xiao Hao will be on her way now.”
They watched her figure disappear over the horizon before going on their own way.
The Ivory Sword Saint still couldn't shake off the feeling of familiarity and turned to Yuan Xuelan to ask, ”What do you think?”
Xuelan frowned, ”Did you think she was suspicious?” There was nothing accusatory about his tone of voice but Liu Sumeng felt his stomach drop just a little as he recalled their arguments over Peng Jipei.
”No. Just…familiar.”
”Hmm.” Yuan Xuelan pressed his lips together in thought. He too thought there was something off about her but couldn't quite put a finger on it. But she didn't seem malicious or harmful so he supposed it was okay.
They continued down the path that became wider and more precarious as they went. Flat grounds turned into steep slopes until they found a trail that climbed the tall cliff walls. While it would be faster on flying swords, Liu Sumeng was worried about raising too much of an alarm.
The Wayward Wind Temple was not far now. That was the location that Yuan Xuelan's findings were pointing them toward. And Liu Sumeng was not surprised. The treasure that Zhao Fanyu worked so tirelessly to hide and protect was waiting there to be found.