Mei left Jiǎnchéng two days early, riding north with only the bare essentials. She packed light, a wool cloak rolled behind her saddle, a waterskin, a small pouch of dried dates and salted fish, a few wrapped herbs, a whetstone, and a small lacquered box with her calligraphy tools and talismans. Her sword hung at her side.
She followed the road which climbed through the hills past Qíng Yún. By the time she reached the mountain pass, the sky was just starting to brighten, painting the peaks in soft shades of gold and gray.
Mei paused for a moment at the top, her horse shifting beneath her, and looked ahead into the mist. Then she nudged the mare forward and continued on her way.
However, the harsh weather wore her down. She was sweating, and she wiped her forehead with the back of her hand.
Up ahead, she spotted a teahouse and pulled on the reins, slowing her horse. An old teahouse stood a bit off the path, its roof edges drooping from age. A wooden sign swayed gently in the wind—"Azure Pine Tea House" (青松茶館)—perched on the southern slope of the pass.
Grateful for the break, Mei dismounted from her horse, letting her legs adjust to the ground.
She noticed a weathered wooden bucket half-filled with water beside an empty shop by the roadside. Kneeling down, she dipped her bowl into the cool water and brought it to her horse's thirsty lips. The animal drank eagerly, snorting between gulps.
As Mei fed her horse, she heard faint sounds of shouting and clashing metal coming from miles away. At first, she paid it little mind. This road was always a little wild. But as the clash of voices rose again, sharper this time, she glanced around. The path was deserted, not even birdsong.
Her eyes fell on a small, half-covered stable not far from the faded teahouse.
An old man, face like dried bark and robes faded by sun and time, sat on a low stool by the stable entrance, sharpening a dull blade with slow, carefully strokes.
Mei led her horse forward, the reins loose in her fingers.
"Excuse me, sir," she said in a slight bow. "May I leave my horse in your care for a short while? I will pay when I return."
The old man looked up without pausing his work. His eyes were pale. He said nothing for a long moment.
"Young people always say they will return," he muttered at last. "Then they vanish into the wind and leave their beasts behind. I am no fool."
"I keep my word," Mei replied evenly. "You will be paid, and I will not be long."
He took a better look at her, then looked at her horse.
Finally, he sheathed the blade, stood, and took the reins from her hand.
"Be on time," his voice was like gravel. "I do not run a shelter for strays....human or otherwise."
"Understood. Thank you."
She turned and followed the sound of clash, walking quietly along the narrow path. When the trail curved around a sharp rock, she saw a bunch of pine and bamboo trees up the hill. She slipped behind it, the soft earth muffling her steps.
She saw what was happening, two men fighting a group of bandits. One had a halberd, the other a sword, and both moved quickly, clearly outnumbered. The bandits were crude and vicious, yelling curses as they attacked.
Mei stayed crouched, watching in silence. Her eyes flicked from fighter to fighter, assessing.
"Idiots," she murmured to herself. "What kind of fool tries to cross this pass?"
Still, she didn't look away.
She wanted to see how it ended.
Then, unexpectedly, Mei's eyes caught a flash of unnatural light, one of the bandits' eyes had a faint glow, giving off a strange, creepy shimmer.
She observed closely and noticed a disturbing pattern, whenever the bandits closed in near the young men's pulse points, their eyes flared brighter, and erratic tendrils of Qi sparked along their palms.
A chilling thought hit her. Here, in Bei Yan, that sign could mean only one thing.
In that tense moment, one of the men suddenly turned and Mei gasped in disbelief. It was Cheng.
As she was still taking in the shocking discovery, she saw a bandit lift his hand, crackling with Qi, getting ready to secretly strike Cheng from behind.
"Step aside!" Mei shouted quickly.
Startled by her voice, Cheng instinctively twisted away just in time. The bandit's palm slammed into empty air, sending him sprawling forward.
Mei rushed forward in one fluid motion, propelled by her Qi, and reached Cheng in an instant.
"They are Essence Raiders," she warned urgently. "Do not let them touch you. And whatever you do, do not use any advanced techniques against them."
She slid into position beside Cheng while Yizé emerged from the side of the clearing, his sword gleaming in the light. The three formed a tight triangle with their backs to one another, facing a semicircle of bandits whose eyes still glowed with stolen Qi.
Cheng planted his feet in a low, grounded stance. He held his sword in his dominant hand, but used the iron head to block and push away attacks.
Two bandits rushed at Cheng, aiming their blades at his chest. He quickly stepped to his side and raised the iron head just in time, meeting the first bandit head-on and blocking the second's strike. The iron head slid off the edge of the bandit's blade at just the right angle, making the swing turn back toward his own ally.
Another's cut followed through only to be intercepted by Cheng's sword again, diverting the weapon harmlessly into the dirt.
One rushed up, trying to catch Cheng off-guard. Cheng spun on his heel, throwing the iron head low in the Serpent's Tail Sweep stance. Rather than strike the man himself, the iron head targeted the bandit's boots and struck the foot of his leather shoe with a crack of displaced Qi. Off-balance, the bandit stumbled forward, hands grasping at air, Qi sputtering from his palms.
By his side, Yizé adopted the Silken Crescent stance, his feet light, and movements smooth.
With the Moonlit Crescent Deflection, Yizé blurred past them, throwing them off for a moment. He sidestepped, letting a bandit stumble forward under his own momentum. Instead of striking the body, his blade struck a bandit's saber. The attacker's sword flew from his grasp, clanging against a nearby rock.
An accomplice charged instantly, attempting a wide overhead slash. Yizé responded with the Lotus Petal Sweep, a low, arcing motion of the blade that met their forearm. The contact sent the sword through the man's elbow, forcing him to drop his blade in shock. The blade skittered across the ground, and the bandit staggered back, his Qi-saturated defenses disrupted.
Meanwhile, Mei rooted herself in the Moon Shadow Guard, a defensive style that melded supple footwork with Qi-based barriers rather than direct strikes.
When Two bandits rushed her simultaneously, one swinging a blade, the other thrusting a fist wild with erratic Qi. Mei exhaled, and lowered herself easily, sliding through the middle of the attacks then immediately gained her footing and kicked the blade swiftly midair.
The other attacker's Qi-infused punch drove forward, aiming for her shoulder. Mei flew back while the bandit gave chase, then she placed a foot firmly on the ground and swiftly sidestepped, loose fabric at her sleeves and brushed it on their face, momentarily confusing the bandit. She quickly followed with the Thousand Petal Weave, cross-stepping behind him and sweeping low on his boot, causing him to fall forward.
Unknown to her, One of the bandits who had sensed her energy, sped forward with unnatural speed, intoxicated by her qi, which was drawing him in like a moth to flame. He stretched out a palm crackling with raw energy, aiming to strike her directly. Mei shifted her stance just in time, but not fast enough to calculate her move. She extended a hand, weaving a slender gust of Qi in the Thousand Petal Barrier.
Instantly, she delivered the energy and collided with their palm. A violent shockwave exploded outward from her, an invisible barrier of force that slammed into him like a thunderclap. The impact threw Mei backward, sending her crashing onto the rough earth.
At the same time, the bandit was hurled violently through the air, his body slamming hard against a tree trunk with a sickening crack.
Startled, Cheng hurried forward without hesitation, cradling Mei in a firm embrace.
The remaining bandits halted abruptly, their eyes darting between Mei, Cheng, and their fallen comrade. Their faces showed fear, weakening the ferocity in their gaze.
Without a word, the bandits melted away one after the other, vanishing into swirling tendrils of dark smoke.
Cheng carefully helped Mei to her feet, worry visible on his face. "Are you all right?"
Mei inhaled deeply and nodded. "I am fine... just a little shaken up."
"Why are you here, in Bei Yan?" She asked.
He began brushing dust from her sleeves and collar with a careful hand. "Are you sure you're okay? Can you—"
Mei looked at him calmly and pushed his hand away. "I am fine."
"You know it is not a safe place." She added.
Mei glanced toward the distant road. "There is a teahouse a few miles from here. We can talk properly there."
Cheng nodded, signaling to Yizé to follow.
---
The teahouse appeared nestled among a cluster of pines, smoke curling lazily from its charcoal stoves. The air carried the crisp scent of pine needles mingled with the faint aroma of brewed tea.
Inside, a half-dozen travelers huddled quietly over their cups, monks cloaked in simple robes, merchants exchanging low words, and a lone soldier patrolling with watchful eyes.
As they walked in, a few men glanced at them and started whispering to each other.
佢哋係邊個?
Who are they?
佢哋帶住奇怪嘅能量
They carry strange energy.
Cheng glanced at them out of the corner of his eye, as they quietly walked past.
"嗰個男人帶住一股兇惡嘅氣息.要唔係因為佢有雙生火焰,我早就唔會畀佢再行落去."
"That man carries a malevolent aura. Were it not for his twin flame, I would stop him from going further."
Mei led the way to a vacant table, and the three settled down, setting their packs and weapons aside. The murmurs of conversation and the gentle clinking of teacups wrapped around them like a warm cloak.
"What brought you to Bei Yan?" She gave Cheng a curious look.
Cheng squinted a little. "Why did you leave without telling me? What was so urgent that you could not even drop a message?"
Mei paused, feeling a sense of regret. After a moment, she quietly said, "It was a poor decision. I did not mean to— I just... acted without thinking."
A young lady approached their table with a bright smile. She wore a fitted, high-collared silk cheongsam patterned with plum blossoms, the hem brushing her embroidered slippers. Her dark hair neatly tied back, accentuating her fresh, youthful features. She greeted them in Cantonese:
「你好呀!歡迎嚟我哋茶樓,想食啲乜嘢呀?」
("Hello! Welcome to our teahouse. What would you like to eat?")
Mei looked at her, she couldn't follow the flowing tones of the language spoken, and remained silent.
Cheng smiled warmly and replied, putting the woman at ease.
「唔該,請問今日有啲乜嘢供應呀?」
("Excuse me, may I ask what is available today?")
The young lady nodded happily and listed the menu items.
「今日有豉油雞,清蒸魚,炒時蔬,燒肉同豆腐湯.」
("Today we have soy sauce chicken, steamed fish, stir-fried seasonal vegetables, roasted pork, and tofu soup.")
Cheng considered briefly, then replied.
「我哋要豉油雞,清蒸魚同燒肉,三樣嘢,係我同朋友一齊食.」
("We will have soy sauce chicken, steamed fish, and roasted pork... three dishes for me and my friends.")
The young lady smiled warmly.
「好嘅,我一陣就送嚟.」
("Alright, I will bring it shortly.")
Then she walked away.
"I did not know you spoke Cantonese." Mei said softly.
Cheng shrugged lightly. "I picked it up along the way."
Curious, Mei asked, "What did you order for me?"
Cheng grinned. "Soy sauce chicken, steamed fish, and roasted pork."
She raised an eyebrow. "Why would you order that for me?"
"Because," he said with a mischievous smile, "I craved it."
"Hey!" Mei smacked the back of his head playfully.
Yizé tensed at the sudden motion but relaxed when he saw the friendly exchange.
Cheng turned sharply toward Mei, tapping her forehead with a finger. "You little—" he began, but his words were cut off by a low voice murmuring from behind them.
"Strange Qi… in the wind."
The three turned in unison to see an old woman seated just behind them. Her hair was silver and neatly tied back, framed a face weathered by years yet serene and sharp. Her eyes appeared deep and dark, seemed to hold secrets hidden beneath calm waters. She wore a simple indigo robe, its fabric faded but well cared for, and leaned gently on a carved wooden walking stick with delicate patterns.
Mei was the first to speak, her voice full of curiosity. "What do you mean by strange Qi?"
The old woman's gaze softened as she studied Mei. "Why are you here, in Bei Yan?"
Mei hesitated, then lowered her eyes. "It is… personal."
Cheng's brows knitted together as he addressed the woman. "Who are you?"
With a slight, humble bow, the woman replied, "I am Lán Huī... the innkeeper here." She moved carefully, lifting a small porcelain teapot and pouring fragrant jasmine tea into a cup. Slowly, she sipped, savoring the warm liquid.
"And who might you be?" she asked next, turning her attention to Cheng and Mei.
Cheng shook his head lightly. "Just travelers passing through."
Lán Huī smiled quietly, the corners of her eyes crinkling. "Sometimes the things we try to keep secret… are not so secret after all."
At that moment, the young lady who had earlier taken their order returned, followed by another woman carrying a tray laden with steaming dishes. They placed the food carefully on the table and retreated without a word.
The old woman then looked toward Cheng and Mei with concern. "The road beyond here can be treacherous. If you need, I have rooms available for you to rest." She rose slowly, pressing her walking stick into the wooden floor, then turned with calculated steps to disappear down the house.
Cheng exchanged a glance with Yizé, sharing an unspoken yet understandable message.
After a long moment, mei broke the silence. "That was… strange."