Chapter 9
---
The Journey to Green Paradise Mountain
Xiang insisted on accompanying Wen Shia, saying, "Let's go together." Wen Shia drew his sword and stood on it, holding it steady with one hand. With a command, he ordered the sword to take flight. Both of them sat on the sword, setting out for their journey. Soon, they arrived at Green Paradise Mountain.
The mountain was eerily quiet, with no one in sight. Surrounded by towering peaks, they found themselves in a treacherous landscape. The spiritual power they had relied on no longer worked, and flying was no longer an option. They dismounted from the sword and continued on foot. Ahead, there was a narrow, broken stone path with a plant at the corner. As they moved forward, the stones began to crack beneath their feet, causing the ground to tremble.
Holding hands for support, they carefully made their way along the dangerous path. Suddenly, small but powerful insects began to attack. Despite their small size, the creatures targeted their mouths, stinging fiercely and causing disorientation. Xiang and Wen Shia struggled to fend them off when a thick mist suddenly enveloped them. Xiang, overwhelmed by the fog, lost control and collapsed, tumbling down the narrow path toward the deep ditches below.
Without hesitation, Wen Shia leapt after her, catching her just in time. He struggled to pull her up, but his grip began to slip. Together, they fought hard to climb back up. With great effort, they made it to safety. Wen Shia, though relieved, couldn't help but scold her. "Be more careful! There shouldn't be any more problems like this."
Xiang, trembling but unscathed, retorted, "What did I do wrong? I didn't ask for this!" But Wen Shia remained unsympathetic.
They continued their journey, finally reaching the plant. As soon as they broke it, stones began falling from above, blocking the path. The two of them sprinted to escape the falling debris, narrowly avoiding being trapped.
---
Meeting Doming
On their way back, they encountered a young boy who appeared gravely ill. His legs were wounded, and Xiang, ever compassionate, immediately offered her help. After tending to his injuries, they began talking, and the boy expressed his gratitude. "I want to protect you," he said. "Will you take me with you?"
Xiang looked at Wen Shia for permission. "Ask my master," she said. "If he agrees, I'll take you with us. Otherwise, I can't."
The boy, named Doming, was skilled in combat and very handsome. He didn't seem poor at all, dressed in fine clothes. Yet, he confessed, "I'm from a wealthy family, but they disowned me because I chose to pursue art instead of the art of war. I wanted to follow my passion and become an artist, but they wanted me to perfect my martial skills."
Wen Shia raised an eyebrow, assessing Doming's appearance. "You don't look poor at all. Your clothes suggest you're from a noble family. And your martial skills are impressive. You must have been trained from a young age."
Doming nodded. "Yes, I was from a rich family, but I left because I wanted to follow my own path. I told them I didn't want to be a warrior. Now, I'm determined to achieve something on my own. I won't go back home until I've succeeded in my career."
Xiang laughed. "So you're not interested in my master's skills after all. He can't teach you much. All he knows is swordsmanship."
Wen Shia, visibly offended, snapped, "I could also be an artist if I wanted to! What's so difficult about making art? I can become a great artist myself!"
Doming chuckled. "Alright, alright, Master. You're the best."
They continued their banter as they made their way back home.
---
Back Home
Upon reaching their destination, Xiang immediately prepared the medicine using the plant they had retrieved. She quickly administered it to Madam Li, hoping it would help her mother recover.
---