by Fred Yu
“My father always said,” the boy began, “that the dead no longer know what suffering is. It’s those who are left behind that carry the burden for the rest of their lives.” He sat back on his haunches. “I don’t know who you are or why you’re so special, but I guess you’re carrying the burden of the world now. You get to live, and my family didn’t. But I don’t envy you.”
“I will live on,” Feng said, finding his voice. “Your father believes I can stop the Judge. And so I’ll try. I’ll stay alive and try.”
The boy smiled. He picked up the map from the floor and handed it to Feng. “I’m a weapon maker too. If one day you wage war against the Judge, I’ll come and make weapons for you.”
“I look forward to that day,” Feng said, accepting the map with both hands.
The boy turned back to his father’s body. “We’ll meet again, General Mu.”
Chapter 12
Feng lingered among the blacksmiths before departing, chatting with them and placing gold coins in their hands. Han was eager to leave. He received what he had come for: a life-saving medicine for someone in need.
The road leading out of the Valley of the Headless was well paved and clean with beautiful orchids planted on both sides, and it extended as far as Feng could see. It could have been a cheerful, innocent hideaway, but on this day the dark atmosphere of mourning engulfed the land.
No one said a word for a long time, each lost in his own thoughts, reflecting upon his own memories of what happened in the Orchid Farmer’s mansion. Each man kept his new weapon close to his body. Feng had wrapped the belt around his waist and stuffed the silver gloves in his pockets. Ah Go’s massive saber was strapped to his back, and Han’s sword dangled from his hip.
“One day, I want to learn your fighting style,” the big man said to Feng, breaking the silence and jolting him from his thoughts.
“My fighting style? I don’t—”
“You can predict what your enemy will do next. That makes you faster than him,” Ah Go said, pointing at Han.
Han smiled and said nothing.
“Stop making fun of me,” Feng said. “Before today I didn’t even know such skill existed out there. Where did the two of you learn to fight like that?”
“I learned from my family,” Ah Go said. “From my brothers Shiny, Silly, and Sulk.”
“What?”
Ah Go laughed. “They’re mountain leopards. They taught me everything I know about killing people.”
Feng knit his eyebrows. This Ah Go, so incredibly powerful, didn’t at all resemble the great warrior he was. He was dressed in old, worn leather, and his bulging chest and broad shoulders gave him the appearance of a man who did heavy labor for a living.
Feng left the City of Stones a mere few days ago, and every minute he was reminded of how large the world was. It was full of strange people.
Feng turned to Chen Han.
“I was fortunate to be raised by a great master,” Han said. “He taught me well. And you?”
“My father is General Mu. He guards the Uighur border in the northwest.”
“You’re really a Tiger General’s son?” Han asked.
Feng nodded, and a strange thought surfaced in his mind. Why would the Orchid Farmer send him to General Yang if he knew his father was also a Tiger General?
Feng clenched his jaw. He needed to focus on the task at hand and find out what the Judge was doing to the country. He needed to avenge his sister’s murder. He promised the Orchid Farmer that he would live on, that he would protect himself from harm.
He never promised not to hunt Ko Sun.
“I have a favor to ask,” Feng said.
“Say it,” Ah Go said.
“I promised the Orchid Farmer I would go to General Yang’s fortress right away. But if the enemy attacks me on our way there, would you fight by my side?”
“Of course,” Ah Go said. “That’s exactly what we promised the weapon maker.”
“Even if I invited the enemy to hunt me down?”
“I see,” Han said. “You want Ko Sun.”
“Ko Sun has fled,” Ah Go said with a laugh. “You can get him to follow us? I really want to learn your fighting style one day.”
“Help me,” Feng pleaded. “I won’t be able to sleep at night until the child killer dies a horrible death.”
“We have to kill whomever attacks you,” Han said. “That’s why we’re traveling together. You know that. You’re using our promise against your enemies.”
“Ko Sun can choose to go home and retire,” Feng said. “He doesn’t have to come after me. I won’t need to be protected if he makes the right choice.”
“Your approach is not exactly noble,” Han said. “But it would be good to rid the world of this scum. I will help.”
“It’s my honor to fight beside you,” Ah Go said. “And I would love to see how you plan to find him.”
The imposing mountains on either side of the valley loomed behind them, and the mouth of the valley was already visible. Feng knew Han’s horse was at the edge of the forest, and he would ride off as soon as he could. He drew the map from his belt and knelt as he unrolled it on the ground.
“Here’s my plan,” he said. “We need to travel north. There are three towns and sixteen villages around this valley. Most of them are a single day away.”
Both Han and Ah Go stepped forward for a closer look.
“We can go due north and wait for Han in the village farthest from here,” Feng continued, pointing to a spot on the map labeled Zhun Yang. “I’ve already paid the blacksmiths to travel to all sixteen villages and three towns. They will visit every village doctor for their injuries, and they will spread rumors of someone badly injured carrying the Red Crest.”
“Red Crest?” Han asked.
“I’ve already described to them what it looks like. That’s what Ko Sun is after. He’s lost his arm, and he would need a doctor to change his bandages at least for the next two days. Every doctor will be paid to spread the rumors. Ko Sun will hear the rumors, and he won’t be able to resist.”
“What are the rumors going to say?” Ah Go asked.
“That the injured person carrying the Red Crest is traveling north and needed help finding a small village named Zhun Yang.”
“And we’re going to wait for him in Zhun Yang?” Ah Go asked, unable to contain his laughter. “This is going to be fun.”
“Ko Sun is crafty and careful,” Feng said. “He will suspect a trap. But he lost the Red Crest, and now his life depends on finding it again. Chasing after this trap will be his only hope.”
Feng pointed to Zhun Yang village on the map. “We’ll wait for him here. He can’t assemble a large army in a short time without risking his leads disappearing, so at best he will summon a small regiment. Big or small, we can’t have any surprises. Han, I need you to stay behind and wait for them to pass you. Have a good look at how many men they have and what kinds of weapons and training they bring. Afterward, join us in Zhun Yang village, and we’ll prepare for them together.”
Han placed a hand on Feng’s shoulder. “One day, when you have to protect me, I promise not to feel ashamed.”
“Suppose he’ll follow in disguise?” Ah Go asked.
“Ko Sun is very careful,” Feng said. “I noticed it when he surrounded the valley with archers even though he was in complete control of the Orchid Farmer’s mansion. He’s missing an arm, and he’s afraid we’ll recognize him. He’ll come after me with plenty of men, and we’ll spot him easily.”
A long silence ensued, but it was clear they would not dispute his plan. Feng rolled up his map and pointed to two horses waiting by the edge of the forest. “Hurry,” he said to Han. “Your friend is waiting for your medicine. We’ll spread our rumors while we travel north, but we’ll wait for you in Zhun Yang Village.”
Han nodded. “I apologize for leaving. I’ll be there as soon as I can.” His tall figure spun around and ran off, his black sword in one hand and the woode
n box containing the medicine in another.
Feng’s eyes followed his flying figure, still awed at the speed with which this man could move. In a moment Chen Han was already on his horse. He bowed to them, pulled the reins, and took off.
“The medicine is for a woman,” Ah Go said.
“How do you know?”
“I would run hard for my brother,” Ah Go said, “but I wouldn’t keep the silk box for him. It’s too clumsy. I would take the medicine and put it in my pocket, even if it got dirty.”
Feng laughed. “You’re probably right.”
They headed toward the other horse near the mouth of the valley, a smaller animal that was not built for speed or strength. Feng wondered almost out loud how a heavy man like Ah Go ended up with such a small horse.
“I found him,” Ah Go said, as if reading his mind. “He doesn’t run well, but he can walk. We can take turns riding him.”
The chest straps on the horse were worn. It was an old farm animal that had spent its entire life pulling hay carts. Ah Go stole him for sure.
“Do you have a woman?” Ah Go asked.
Feng paused, the image of Ming throwing the bronze plate resurfacing in his mind. Would he ever see her again? He had resolved to live. Maybe he would.
“You hesitated,” Ah Go said. “Did she die, or did she leave you?”
Feng sighed. “She left.”
“Find another woman. She’ll come back and compete for you.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because she was able to hurt you. A woman won’t leave a man she’s able to hurt.”
They reached the little horse, and Ah Go motioned for Feng to mount.
“And where is your woman?” Feng asked, gripping the worn reins and climbing onto the filthy saddle.
“She’s home, taking care of the animals.”
“I assume she’s able to hurt you.”
“That’s why she will never leave.”
Feng laughed. He kicked the horse, and the old animal trudged forward. Ah Go walked beside him. “Are you really a general’s son?”
“Sure. Why?”
“You’re not very good on the horse.”
“I’m not used to riding farm animals. My war charger is a magnificent horse, faster than any mount out there.”
“Do you fight wars with your father?”
“Not really. But I train his pike unit. I’m their commander.”
“Then why are you all alone so far away from home?”
“It’s a long story.” Feng lowered his head, reminded of his sister, then of Ming. He released a long sigh.
“You have many secrets.”
“I wish I knew why,” Feng replied.
“Tell me your story, but skip over the secrets. It will still be a good story. We have a long walk ahead of us.”
“I will,” Feng said, feeling better. “But first, you have to tell me why you fight like that. Did you really learn from mountain leopards?”
“Of course I did. But my woman keeps them away from my other animals.”
“They obey her?”
“More than she obeys me.”
Feng laughed. “Still better than my woman. She’s so much more powerful than me. If she wants to run away, there’s nothing I can do to stop her.”
The skies darkened, and the first drops of heavy rain descended from the heavens. Ahead of them, deep in the horizon, the dark clouds hovered over the land, holding a solid formation and refusing to yield to the rising wind.
Feng realized how parched his throat was and how hungry he felt, having gone for over a day without food. He lifted his face and allowed the rain to stream into his mouth, closing his eyes and listening to the distant thunder.
“How far south from the Great Wall are we?” Feng asked. “It can’t possibly rain this hard near the border in the middle of the dry season.”
Ah Go shrugged his shoulders and didn’t respond. Much later Feng wiped the dripping water from his face, dismounted the old horse, and sent it away with a quick slap. “This horse can barely move,” he said. “I’m better off walking.”
“We’ll steal another at the next village,” Ah Go said with a laugh.
They trudged through the pounding rain. Feng began to tell him how bandits ambushed his friends, how his sister was captured for ransom, how the Zhuge Nu bolts were modified and could fly impossible distances. He talked about meeting Ming and Iron Spider, how his sister was killed, and how Du betrayed him, the entire time not mentioning the Red Crest on his body. He wasn’t sure why he trusted Ah Go, but the big hunter listened and didn’t ask any questions. That afternoon, for the first time since Feng stabbed Du in the heart, life was somewhat normal again. He was not completely alone in the world. He had a friend again.
By the time Feng began describing the invasion of Mount Oleander, they had already reached the first town. The skies had become darker, although it couldn’t be later than early afternoon.
It was a small town built around a single main road with shops and businesses on either side. The streets were empty with most stores closed for the day and the street vendors having gone home to evade the rain. The town was not affluent, but the streets were clean, and none of the windows needed repair—a sign the residents had surplus.
An inn with a long porch extending into the street seemed to define the end of the main road. The few square tables on the porch were unoccupied with the exception of one man drinking by himself.
“He’s early.” Ah Go pointed to a tall horse tied to a post outside the inn. It was Chen Han’s horse.
Han saw them from afar. He placed a ceramic jug on the table, pointed to it once, and leaned back to drink from a bowl.
Ah Go laughed. “That must be very good liquor we’re about to share.” He took off, leaped over the flimsy rails surrounding the porch, and sat down next to Han. He grabbed an empty bowl, one of three that Han had already left on the table, and poured himself a drink.
Feng felt timid in front of these two warriors. He waited to see if he would be invited to drink with them.
“What are you waiting for?” Ah Go asked. “The liquor is very good.”
Feng hopped over. Han pushed the last empty bowl toward the seat at his left and filled it to the brim. He motioned for Feng to sit. “This bowl has been empty for a long time.”
Feng lifted the bowl to his lips and paused. The liquor emitted a dull fragrance resembling the cheap alcohol sold to common villagers. Both Han and Ah Go were watching him. He drank his first gulp with a smile. The liquor tasted horrible.
“Do you like it?” Ah Go asked. He poured himself another bowl. “I don’t drink liquor like this back home.”
“Neither do I.”
The short, pudgy innkeeper came up to them carrying a platter. Feng breathed in the pungent smell of roast pork and felt a sharp pang of hunger rumble in his belly.
Han noticed Feng had stopped drinking. “Do you have a better grade of alcohol?” he asked the innkeeper.
“What do you mean better grade?” the innkeeper asked, shock written on his face. “This is the best in town.”
“It’s good liquor,” Feng said. “Let’s try to drink the whole thing today.”
Han turned to the side of the porch near the rails and pointed at four ceramic jugs placed in a row. “I didn’t know if you would like this liquor. So, I was going to drink them myself.”
Feng’s jaw dropped. “All of them? The same liquor we’re drinking now?”
“The best in town,” the innkeeper repeated. He passed around chopsticks. Ah Go brought the Butterfly around and slashed off a piece of pork, grabbed it with his bare hands, and started to eat.
Before long the second jug of liquor was on the table, and most of the food was gone.
“I owe you two my life,” Feng began. “But I haven’t been frank about myself. I want to apologize.”
“There’s no need for that,” Han said. “The Orchid Farmer didn’t want to tell us about you,
so it would be better if you don’t tell us either. It’ll be safer for you.”
“I don’t understand why the Orchid Farmer wanted me to go to General Yang’s city even after he realized I’m General Mu’s son. My father never got along with General Yang. So, why would he want Yang to protect me?”
“Why is your father not on good terms with General Yang?” Ah Go asked.
“I’m not sure why they dislike each other,” Feng said. “A few years ago Yang asked my father to lend two thousand men for an irrigation project, and my father agreed to the loan. So, they don’t really hate each other. Of course, Yang never returned the men.”
“It’s not my place to ask questions,” Han said. “I’m only an ordinary wanderer. Ah Go and I have made a promise to a dying man, and we’re going to take you to General Yang’s fortress. So, if it won’t bring you too much difficulty, let us have a chance to keep our word.”
“Of course,” Feng said. “I can’t thank you enough.”
“I don’t see why Feng needs protection,” Ah Go said, reaching for the last piece of meat on the table. “The enemy needs to be protected from him. I’m certainly afraid of him.”
Han laughed. “You, sir, are not as dimwitted as you pretend to be.” He turned back to Feng. “There will come a time, Feng, when you’re caught by surprise with no weapon nearby, no one around to help you. You’ll have to defend yourself. Let me teach you a set of empty hand techniques. It’ll help you when you need it.”
Feng jumped to his feet. “Really? You’ll . . . you’ll teach me your martial arts?”
Han stood up. “Of course. Come, let’s clear out these tables. It should be enough space. We can’t go anywhere in this rain anyway.”
Feng swallowed his liquor, wiped his face with his sleeve, and proceeded to move the tables. He was already tired, but the thought of moving as fast as Han fired new energy through his body.