A Favour

Just as Qingqing's eyelids began to droop, and her breathing started to fall into synch with Dao Ge's slurry whistling breaths, a movement on the streets below caught her eye.

She opened her eyes and raised her head, leaning forward drowsily as she wondered if she should bother to throw the last wine jar at this latest unfortunate passerby.

The wide brimmed hat with the veil was too familiar, however. Qingqing's eyes narrowed and she craned her neck forward. Sure enough, there was that brown-clad fellow she remembered who had looked so nastily at her, and whose sword had rested against her throat.

"It's that Yunsi fellow, Xie Bingyun's guarddog. What does fate mean by making us cross paths again?" Qingqing muttered. She watched him keenly, making note of the black clothes he was wearing, and the soft boots. A night stealth outfit. Whatever Xie Bingyun and her bodyguard were busy with, they were trying to keep it undercover.

"In other words, it must be something interesting…."

She made up her mind in a split second. Impulsively, she took up the empty wine jar, and throwing a last glance at Dao Ge to make sure he was still sound asleep, ran softly along the roof tiles as they walked rapidly down the street, making sure to keep them in view, yet far ahead enough so that she could easily duck down out of sight whenever Yunsi looked back.

Xie Bingyun stopped and looked about. "This is the spot, isn't it?"

"Yes, Master." Yunsi replied lowly. "He should be here any moment."

Qingqing considered. "Since they're meeting someone, I shouldn't be so rude as to interrupt the meeting. Let's see what kind of person this Xie Bingyun needs to meet in the dead of the night."

Dropping down, she lay down softly, finding a comfortable position for herself to watch from, and pillowing her cheek on the wine jar.

Sure enough, soon another dark clad figure appeared in the shadows and drew closer cautiously. Yunsi drew his sword; it gleamed briefly in the dark as he held it out warily.

"Who are you?" he demanded. "The night is late and there is no moon."

"And I seek a red lantern to light my way," was the reply from the shadows.

Yunsi sheathed his sword and stepped back.

The man bowed. "Wild Goose greets the Master."

"Do you have it?" Xie Bingyun said softly.

Wild Goose, also dressed in night stealth attire, stepped into the moonlight for a moment as he drew close. Qingqing glimpsed a small dark man with a moustache and restless, uneasy eyes. He unscrewed the hilt of his sword and withdrew a small scrap of paper rolled up neatly and sealed with a bit of wax.

Xie Bingyun's fair, shapely hand emerged from her sleeves and pocketed the piece of paper immediately. "And you are sure this is the proof?"

"Master, I took this myself from his study. I searched it thoroughly and could find nothing else. You must read it for yourself; your humble servant did not dare to break the seal."

She thought for a while, then nodded shortly. "I understand. Leave the manor and go as far as you can. Stay in hiding for one month, after which Yunsi will meet you in Hebi to give you your next mission."

At a slight gesture from her, Yunsi stepped forward with a pouch that he handed to Wild Goose, who stowed it away carefully on his person. "This money is for your expenses during that time. Now go, and make sure you leave the city before daybreak."

Wild Goose bowed once more and turning, disappeared into the night.

Qingqing nodded decisively to herself, leaping lightly to her feet. She hurled the wine jar as she sprang off the roof, aiming for the shadowy corner behind Yunsi. As the jar smashed noisily on the cobblestones and the bodyguard whirled round, snatching out his sword, Qingqing landed on her feet and ran swiftly up to him, striking him on his acupoints.

Leaving the bodyguard frozen to the spot, she turned to Xie Bingyun, who had stepped back quickly, crumpling the paper into her hand with startled, defensive eyes over her veil. Her hand made a sharp movement, but her gaze fell on Yunsi and she hesitated.

"Forgive me for my lack of manners, Madame. Greetings, and pray don't be alarmed."

"Master, quick run!" gasped Yunsi, struggling to move. "Don't care about me, go!"

Qingqing motioned him impatiently to be quiet. "All very touching, I'm sure, but please don't be too noisy. Do you want to wake everyone and be seen? I thought not, given your elaborate outfit. See, I'm a considerate person who isn't without manners. I have no wish to delay you, as I'm sure you have some important business, which I honestly don't care a hoot for; but I need to ask a favour."

"The Master is not the kind of person you can ask favours from so easily," panted Yunsi, his eyes glowering spitefully at her.

Xie Bingyun watched her narrowly. "You approached me the other day on the street. Who are you? Did Guo Xiaren send you?" she said sharply.

"Nobody sends me," retorted Qingqing. "I don't care about what you're doing, or who you're serving. I serve no one but myself. But I heard that you have the best spy network in the country, so you must have plenty of information at your fingertips. Well, I need to find someone."

"What makes you think that I'll agree to help you?" Xie Bingyun replied with a little laugh. "You are an arrogant little man. Why, you won't be alive tomorrow after this."

Qingqing bristled, but she kept her cool. Instead, she flung out her hand and Xie Bingyun gasped as she felt her fist sting sharply, forcing her to drop the scrap of paper in it with a sound of pain. Startled, she shook her hand wildly, feeling the tingling numbness from Qingqing's small burst of energy.

With a twist, Qingqing pounced on it before it had hit the ground, and leaped back nimbly before Xie Bingyun's grasping hand could claw furiously at her.

She waggled the roll teasingly before them. "I was thinking that this might make you change your mind. Does it?"

"You wretch," Xie Bingyun hissed between her teeth, as Yunsi's eyes bulged. "I will make sure you die slowly!"