A Body in the Streets

"Are you cold, Susu?"

Xuxian looked anxiously at her. "You shivered just now." He took her hand in his. "And your hands are freezing again, even though we just came out of the teahouse."

She forced a smile. "I'm just a little tired, I think. Let's go home after we meet Qingqing."

Xuxian warmed her hand between his vigorously. "Talking about Qingqing, why isn't she here yet?"

Yuanzheng was frowning. He scanned the street. "I don't like it. What if something happened to her?" Turning back to them, he demanded, "Are you sure she said she would meet us here?"

Xiaohu snorted. "Do you know how hard Sister Qing can bite? I think it's far more likely that something's happened to someone else, because of her." He kicked at the snow.

Suzhen leant her head on Xuxian. "She said she would catch up with us around this area. Maybe she's buying something?"

"It's a bad habit of hers, to run off like that on her own so impulsively," Yuanzheng said irritatedly. Xiaohu eyed him shrewdly. "You're rather worried about Sister Qing, aren't you?"

Yuanzheng cuffed him. "She and you are always costing me worry. When did either of you ever show any common sense?"

Xiaohu was not to be distracted. He nudged Yuanzheng in the ribs. "So concerned, our Yuanzheng! Ah, perhaps he's worried that Sister Qing is too pretty to be wandering about on her own. Or perhaps he's just sore that she left without telling him anything. Or maybe, he just misses her compan--"

Yuanzheng bent swiftly and picked up a piece of snow, which he dropped neatly down Xiaohu's collar, which gaped open generously making it an easy task, since the coat was too big for him. Xiaohu gave a squeal of rage and hopped up and down. They chased each other while Suzhen and Xuxian more leisurely followed.

"You were wonderful just now, with Miss Mao. I've never seen anyone handle her like that." he murmured.

She gave an amused laugh. "You must never let that kind of people think that you see them as superior. They will step over you and wring the life out of you. Treat them like equals, and they tolerate you. Treat them like inferiors, and they respect you. They are strange that way. Unfortunately, the odds against us are too great to do so openly, so we must still treat them with respect."

There was a soft thud in the snow behind them and Suzhen knew that Qingqing had just landed on the ground from the rooftop. She stopped and turned around. "Qingqing, you've finally caught up with us."

Xuxian started. "So there you are! Yuanzheng was getting worried about you, saying that something might have happened. Well, so what was it that so caught your attention you abandoned us?" he teased.

Qingqing dusted her hands off lightly. Her breathing was short and hurried, but she did her best to look cool and composed. "Ah, I was trying to drive a bargain with a lady selling the prettiest glass bead trinkets I'd ever seen. Too bad, she was obstinate as a cow. Even when I exerted my greatest charm. If it had been a man, now, you would see me with my glass beads, I promise you."

Xuxian laughed. "You and your charm. I'll keep an eye out for glass beads next time, if you so like them. We'll see if we can manage a bargain without having to use any of your charms. Come along, we need to catch up with them." He gestured at Yuanzheng and Xiaohu's figures ahead.

Suzhen detached her arm from his. "I've never had any glass beads before either. Tell me, Qingqing, what did they look like?" She fell in step with Qingqing.

They talked excitedly about glass beads until Xuxian, seeing they were engrossed, went ahead to join the others.

Suzhen's hand tightened on Qingqing's arm. "What happened?" she said lowly.

Qingqing drew an unsteady breath and thrust out her chin aggressively. "Well, I took care of him, like I promised. I told you you could trust me, didn't I? He was stronger than I expected, but I killed him in the end. I saw his body in the street--he fell out of the window." She glanced ahead to make sure Yuanzheng and Xuxian were out of earshot.

"Did you get hurt?" Suzhen said quietly.

Qingqing's brows knitted as one hand crept to her chest. "Yes. Just one shot. A weak one, not to worry. I'll just take some time to cultivate after this. But I paid it back fivefold." Her face was dark.

"He's a sneaky devil," she added broodingly. "He added something to the tea, so I had to do something. I did not expect he would have so much cunning in him."

"I thought as much," mused Suzhen. "I saw you running out of the teahouse amid all the commotion."

Qingqing shook her head. "That cursed terrapin spirit cost me so much trouble. You owe me for this one, Sister."

Suzhen had a meditative look on her face. "Did you find out what was the grudge he had against me?"

Taken aback, Qingqing stopped. "I forgot." she said, with a stricken face. "My apologies, Sister. But it doesn't really matter, does it?"

Looking sharply at her, Suzhen replied, "Yes, it would. What if he had good reason? It's odd that he would persist when the odds are so clearly against him. "

Qingqing snorted. "But you don't remember doing anything to him, so it can't possibly be anything serious. Forget it, Sister. He tried to kill you and Xuxian. That's enough grounds for him to die. If I hadn't killed him he'd clearly be after you still. Xuxian might get hurt. You saw yourself that he was bent on being vicious. It was necessary to kill him."

She huffed. "Don't forget that you owe me for this, Sister. You don't know the trouble I went through. People saw him fall out of the window and I had to escape like a common criminal. There may very well be wanted posters of me up in the city the next day, and I'll have to retreat to the mountains for a while. If that's the case, you'd better keep me company with plenty of good food to make up for what I have to suffer."