Round the Corner

Linking arms with Suzhen, she gave a little hop. "What a relief that's over and settled. Did Yuanzheng ask about me?"

Her eyes wandered ahead. Suzhen smiled and nudged her in the ribs. "Why, are you hoping he did? I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you, then."

Qingqing coughed. "What do you mean? The man's always nagging at me. I'm surprised he didn't come after me."

All the same, she walked a little faster, and Suzhen had to hurry to keep up with her.

The moment they turned the corner Suzhen snatched Qingqing by the arm and yanked her back sharply. They fell back against the wall, Qingqing gasping in fright. "What on earth--"

Suzhen's hand clamped over her mouth. Her face had gone paler than usual. She beckoned silently towards the corner and released Qingqing's mouth slowly, with a warning look in her eyes.

Together, the snake spirits noiselessly peeked around the corner.

Yuanzheng and Xuxian were talking to a tall, stately form they both instantly recognized as the travelling monk from the teahouse. He had his bundle under one arm, and even with the falling snow landing on his shaved head there was a certain ominous aura hanging about him.

Qingqing uttered a tiny groan and they fell back unseen.

"He's here." she whispered, and there was a trace of genuine fear in her voice.

Suzhen's eyes flickered back and forth, as she thought rapidly. "He followed us," she said lowly. "Can it be?"

Qingqing looked at her with dread in her eyes. "He suspects us. Is that why?"

There was a brief silence. Suzhen felt her heart throb suddenly and sharply. She forced the fear down with an effort. She had not experienced this terror before. Hidden safely in the mountains, any possible enemies she might have encountered were scarce, and anyway no one would bother to mess with her, given her advanced level of cultivation and the fact that she lived an isolated life without disturbing any humans. She had never needed to fear.

But now it was different.

She had everything to lose.

She had Xuxian.

Guilt, or fear, she was not sure which, lay heavily on her chest, making it hard to breath.

Looking up, she saw her own dread mirrored in Qingqing's face. For a moment they stared at each other wordlessly, faces two pale smudges in the shadows.

Suzhen drew a deep breath and laid a hand on Qingqing's arm. It was meant to be a reassuring pat, but she wondered if it was also because she herself was unsteady.

"It won't hurt to prepare for the worst. But there is no need to scare ourselves. He might simply be asking for directions."

Qingqing shook her head mechanically. "He was watching us in the teahouse, Sister. I saw him. I was afraid of him, even then. He has a strong aura. He's no ordinary quack priest. I've met those before, and I know."

She shuddered. "Even in the teahouse, I felt as if he already knew what I was."

More slowly, Suzhen nodded her head.

"We must not give ourselves away by being nervous." she said lowly. "We will be respectful, modest, in awe, but not nervous."

Qingqing's face darkened. "Damned monk," she muttered. "We just got rid of that nuisance of a terrapin spirit, and now we have to deal with this. The gods are unfair indeed."

She peeked again. "He's walking away," she said abruptly.

Suzhen leaned over her shoulder. She frowned. "You are right. But why?"

"Perhaps he was really asking for directions," Qingqing muttered hopefully.

Rousing herself, Suzhen took her arm firmly. "Let's find out. There's no use hiding here speculating."

Pulling Qingqing with her, she came out from round the corner and called out brightly, "Xuxian! Why did you walk so fast? We didn't realize you'd gone so far ahead."

The men turned as they approached. Yuanzheng's face brightened. "So there you are," he said shortly as Qingqing came bouncing up.

She eyed him distastefully. "Is that all you can say?"

"You kept everyone waiting," he retorted. "Don't run off like that again, it's irresponsible. Besides, it's not safe. It's getting late, it's dangerous to wander around on your own."

Qingqing rolled her eyes. Dangerous! What an idiot. If he only knew one tenth of what had happened during that period he would gape. She'd just killed someone, and he was worried that it "wasn't safe." She restrained a snort with difficulty.

"You're insufferable," she snapped, and flounced off to find Xiaohu, who was throwing snow at a tethered horse.

Suzhen slipped her arm into Xuxian's again, and felt the warmth of him against her side with a little pang in her heart. She barely heard as he teased her about glass beads, and her smile was wistful.

"Xuxian," she said at last, "I saw someone talking to you just now. Was it someone we know?"

She fixed her eyes on the path ahead, careful not to betray any expression in her voice or face.

Xuxian wrapped his fingers around hers. "Oh, it was a travelling monk, from the teahouse just now--did you notice him? He asked for directions."

Suzhen stifled a great gulping gasp of relief with her hand. Her heart seemed to expand suddenly, and she was able to breathe deeply again.

"But unfortunately I couldn't help him. I told him we were not city folks, just visiting from the village, so we didn't know the city well."

"He seemed a very honourable and upright saint, humble and gracious even when speaking to common people. He took an interest in us, asking us what village we came from in that case, and we fell to talking that way. Yuanzheng mentioned our scenic mountain view, and he said he would like to take a look for himself while he passes through this province in that case, since he is a lover of nature. Who knows, we might see him in our village soon! That would be something. We haven't had any visitors for a while--"

Xuxian glanced at his wife, suddenly realizing she had not said anything. "Susu," he said, suddenly anxious. "Are you unwell?"

He felt her forehead. "It must be the cold, it's too much for you. Come, let me warm your hands for you." Taking her hands in his, he breathed on them, rubbing the small fingers energetically, and looking worriedly back at her face for any signs of improvement.

"It's nothing," she managed to say through bloodless lips. "I'm just tired, that's all. Let's hurry home."