Chapter Text
In truth, it wasn’t until after the door had slammed shut behind them that it finally dawned upon Xie Lian what he had just done. He found that he didn’t really regret it though, because regardless of those Middle Court officials’ suspicions about San Lang’s background and motives, such behaviour was still uncalled for.
Besides, when it all came down to it, Xie Lian was already considered a pariah up in the Heavens and saw little reason to compromise his own ethics for the sake of trying to remedy that.
Oh sure, Xie Lian did feel a twinge of guilt at going against Nan Feng and Fu Yao after they had assisted him and all. However, if they’d all just sat down and been civil, then none of this would’ve really⸺
“Gege?”
It was too dark to see things properly, so Xie Lian used some of his spiritual energy to conjure up an orb of light. It truthfully wasn’t much, but it would allow for him to more accurately determine the severity of the situation.
In fact, Xie Lian must’ve been even more rattled than he’d first realised, because he didn’t even pause to ask before grabbing hold of San Lang’s hand and tugging it towards him, earning himself a look of visible alarm.
“I’m sorry,” Xie Lian said. “Are you hurt?”
It took a good moment for San Lang to answer; judging by the other’s demeanour, Xie Lian must’ve really startled him.
“Gege needn’t worry. It’s only a graze.”
Perhaps, but⸺ “Would you mind letting me check? It would put my mind greatly at ease.”
“It’s fine,” San Lang said, though in truth, it was left a bit ambiguous as to whether he was giving Xie Lian permission or seeking to assuage or dismiss his concerns. Then again, knowing San Lang, it might well be all of them, Xie Lian privately thought.
Regardless, he took the opportunity for what it was, laying bare San Lang’s left forearm only to pause at the sight that met him there. “San Lang, this is....”
“Ah.” The other looked back down, then smiled. “Gege, there’s no need to worry. I’ve had that since I was young.”
Well, as much as Xie Lian was relieved that the other had not been concealing any grievous injuries from him, he did wonder at the sight of the tattoo.
“What does it say?” he asked, because there did appear to be something written there. However, both due to the limited light and due to the messiness of the execution, Xie Lian found that he couldn’t quite make out what it was, and San Lang pulled back and adjusted his sleeve and wrist guard before Xie Lian had the time to investigate any further. Could it be that Xie Lian had accidentally asked about a quite sensitive topic? Well, better to apologise just in case.
“Gege honestly needn’t worry,” San Lang responded. “Besides...”
Now Xie Lian was the one being tugged forward, and before he had the time to say much about it, there was a surprisingly warm finger resting against his lips.
“Besides,” San Lang reiterated, those dark eyes gleaming. “The blood on my sleeve actually got there from my mouth.”
His... mouth?
“Yes. I accidentally bit myself while dodging.”
Oh.
“And I’m fine, honestly. Of course, if gege would like to try and kiss it better, then this San Lang surely wouldn’t object.”
By now, the mirth in the other’s expression was evident, and undoubtedly amplified by whatever expression Xie Lian was making right now – blood rushing to his cheeks and ears and⸺
“You shouldn’t joke about such things! That’s⸺”
Xie Lian pulled back, and San Lang did as well, mirth giving way to something far more apologetic.
“Sorry, gege,” he said, averting his eyes once more. “Back there, I reacted without thinking.”
It was once again left ambiguous as to what San Lang was truly referring – if it was in regards to what had happened just now or what had happened a bit before now, or potentially both. In any case though⸺ “To be fair, those two were pretty out of line back there, so I don’t blame you. Besides, maybe this will allow them to cool off?”
Well, probably not. Knowing Xie Lian’s luck and all, the pair wouldn’t cool off as much as they would potentially implode with anger – Fu Yao in particular. Then again, who really asked them to care? The two could hardly be oblivious to Xie Lian’s somewhat strenuous relationship with their masters, the latter of whom had largely gone out of their way to avoid him even now. Xie Lian didn’t exactly mind though – or rather, even though he felt the sting of it, he understood, and knew far better than to fault them for any of it. In any case⸺ “Where is this?”
They did seem to have ended up inside some sort of cave, and Xie Lian had no real memory of such a thing – or rather, not of this particular one.
“I’m not sure,” San Lang admitted at last.
He didn’t sound overly concerned about it though, and frankly, neither was Xie Lian. After all⸺ “Judging by the amount of sand on the ground, we’re probably still in the area. Come on. Let’s look for a way out.”
San Lang didn’t move though, and when Xie Lian looked back, he saw the other looking off in a particular direction. Then, Xie Lian directed the small orb of light closer to it, and, well⸺ “Oh.”
As it turned out, they weren’t quite as alone in this cave as they might’ve initially thought.
“Ah, forgive us!” said the old man; the apparent leader of the bunch. “We’re just a passing caravan, seeking shelter from the sandstorm!”
“We weren’t sneaking around or anything!” the young man beside him grumbled. “We hid because you guys just turned up, talking weird sh*t and wielding strange magic! We thought you might’ve been the rumoured forces of Banyue coming to eat us!”
Ah, Xie Lian thought, looking on as the young man was quickly admonished by his elder for talking nonsense. Because yeah, considering everything, he certainly couldn’t blame them for drawing such conclusions. Still⸺ “No worries, no worries. It’s just a misunderstanding. We're just cultivators who know a few simple tricks. And we're taking shelter here as well. There's no need to be nervous.”
This earned him a number of looks – doubt and scepticism from the merchants, which was perfectly understandable, and a look of wry amusem*nt from San Lang. But honestly, what was Xie Lian supposed to say? If he mentioned that San Lang was a powerful ghost, then he might well send these merchants running back out into the sandstorm – which wouldn’t be fair, honestly, seeing that they had arrived here first.
“T-that’s good then,” said the older man – Grandpa Zheng; the young man had definitely called him such. “We’re just regular old merchants, so you guys really scared us just now...”
Well, that was⸺
“Hoh,” San Lang said, cutting right into Xie Lian’s thoughts. “From what I can see, you guys aren't that simple though...”
Huh?
“Yes, because you're clearly aware of the legends, and despite that, you still decided to pass through the area. Why is that?”
Ah.
“Ah...” the old man said, with a mild laugh now. “No, no, we’re quite ordinary folks. As long as you find a local guide and make sure you don't stray too close to the ruins, then you'll be just fine.”
“Yes!” the young man exclaimed. “We asked Brother Zhao for help! And we've been safe all thanks to him!”
Hearing this, Xie Lian’s gaze inevitably slid towards the other young man in the party, who most definitely had a few years on the first. This Brother Zhao also stood out in other ways, given the visible discrepancy in his attire and facial features, which were quite handsome if Xie Lian had to say so for himself. However, what made Xie Lian’s attention linger was not the other’s handsomeness but rather the calmness of his demeanour.
“I'm just doing my duty,” Brother Zhao said, gaze flickering very briefly towards Xie Lian before averting his eyes once more, saying: “Although I am concerned about whether the camels and cargo will still be fine by the time the sandstorm has passed...”
The caravan’s youngest seemed to have no such qualms however, readily announcing it as well. And while the other was almost certainly the most inexperienced out of the bunch, Xie Lian couldn’t help but wonder at the degree of casual optimism displayed not just by him but by the rest of them as well.
After all, if one could easily cross the desert safely as long as one stayed a certain distance away from the remnants of the old Banyue Kingdom, then word of it would’ve already reached other caravans, in which case Xie Lian would not have ended up dragged into this mess to begin with.
Then again, in this particular case, there hadn’t been an awful lot of dragging involved and⸺
Well, regardless of which, there was another, far more pressing issue at hand. Once the sandstorm passed, should they escort these people to safety first and then continue their investigation? It wasn’t as though they were in a particular hurry after all.
“San Lang, what do you think?”
The red-clad youth in turn said nothing for a good moment, then tilted his head slightly as he looked down at Xie Lian, who had taken a seat at a conveniently placed rock.
“Gege,” San Lang said, pointing. “I think there are carvings on that thing.”
Caves such as this one weren’t particularly uncommon in the area, seeing that people used to dig them out so that they could take shelter there if necessary. However, the presence of a particular stone slab would suggest that it might actually have been a place of some importance at some point.
That point had most likely long passed however, given that the inscription had been written in the language of the Banyue Kingdom. Also⸺ “General.”
“General?”
“Yes.” Xie Lian crouched down, tracing the words out. “The first word says ‘general’. But as for the rest, I’m not sure.”
Indeed, he wasn’t, and that had far less to do with the dimness of the cave and far more to do with Xie Lian’s memory. Because while he had been able to at least passably read the script at some point, he hadn’t really had much reason or opportunity to maintain it.
“Hoh...” San Lang leaned in further, producing a small and flickering flame at the tip of his finger. “Shall we take a closer look then?”
Well, even though Xie Lian doubted that additional light would make a whole lot of difference, he also figured that they might well be stuck in this cave for a while, and that this mystery might keep the other occupied and distracted from the thought of engaging in other shenanigans.
And it might well end up keeping Xie Lian quite occupied as well, because the longer he stared at the signs following the word ‘general’, the stronger the feeling that he ought to recognise them. But⸺
“The Grave of the General.”
Oh. “San Lang, you can read this?”
“Well...” The red-clad youth tilted his head slightly again. “A bit.”
Hoh. “Why don’t we look at it together then? Maybe we’ll be able to make some sense of it then.”
Naturally, San Lang was quick to oblige. He wasn’t the only one creeping closer though.
“Hey,” said the youth from the caravan, speaking around a mouthful of bread. “What does it say?”
Ah, well⸺
“It’s about a general from the Central Plains,” San Lang said. “Although in truth, he did not actually hold that rank officially.”
Oh. That was⸺
“But why would someone from the Banyue Kingdom decide to erect a grave for a general from the Central Plains?” the youth asked, still chewing. “Weren’t they like mortal enemies or something?”
Well, that would’ve been one way of describing it. Still⸺ “I don’t know.”
Yes, and that was indeed the truth, because even though Xie Lian had actually lived through much of the life that was described in the inscription, that in itself didn’t mean that he had any particular familiarity with the aftermath.
“What happened to the general then?” the youth asked, and Xie Lian briefly considered lying and claiming that the inscription didn’t say, or that it said something different than what it did. However, before Xie Lian really had the time to put thought into action or for that matter words, San Lang had already beaten him to it.
“He was demoted a lot. However, this had little to do with this person’s ability, but rather because he kept interfering on the battlefield, getting in the way of soldiers on both sides as they sought to harm civilians.”
It was embarrassing, both hearing those words from San Lang’s mouth and the approval from the members of the caravan. Because yes, minimising harm to the civilian population had indeed been a significant part of Xie Lian’s objective at the time, but⸺
“That official was lucky that he was only demoted,” said the guide, Brother Zhao. “The hatred that the two groups held for one another isn’t something that the people of the present day can even begin to fathom.”
Yes, and that was indeed true. However⸺
Had Mu Qing been here, then Xie Lian would’ve undoubtedly received a lecture of sorts. Hell, even Feng Xin might well have launched into a tirade about a general needing to consider their position and that they first and foremost held a duty towards the country itself. But⸺
What is a country without its people, Xie Lian quietly mused, tracing those engravings. And for what reason does a country exist if not for its people?
While it was indeed true that casualties in war were inevitable, if more rulers had the lives of their people at heart, then perhaps⸺
“How did he die then?” the youth asked. “Did he end up getting killed by his own men?”
Well⸺ “He did indeed die on the battlefield. However, it was because his shoelace came undone and he stumbled and fell, and then got trampled to death.”
Predictably, there was no slight amount of amusem*nt once the initial surprised had passed. And Xie Lian didn’t mind it, truly, because while it had certainly been an embarrassing way to go, he’d been thinking of a way to fake his own death for a while at that point, and that had seemed like as good an opportunity as any.
San Lang didn’t quite seem to feel the same though.
“Is it really that funny?” he asked, and while his tone was mild, there was a definite hint of steel in it – and recalling what the other had mentioned about battlefields up until this point, Xie Lian figured it would probably be best to resolve things before they turned ugly.
“Even if it’s amusing, you should show some respect. We’re in front of his grave after all.”
Yes, although in truth, it was more of a memorial than a grave, since there was nothing buried there, and that the person it was supposed to commemorate just so happened to be alive and well. Besides, it was a matter of principle really, to not ridicule or speak ill of the dead without knowing more about the circ*mstances at hand, so⸺
“Despite not having a very good reputation, the civilians of both the Central Plains and the Banyue Kingdom retained a great deal of respect for him. That is why they chose to erect this, and to keep referring to him as the ‘General’.”
“Yes,” San Lang said, straightening back up and adjusting his attire. “And later on, the people of the Banyue Kingdom discovered that this tomb held a special power – that as long as one bowed three times before it, one would undoubtedly survive any perils encountered out in the desert.”
Hearing this, Xie Lian looked back towards the inscription, frowning now, because while he couldn’t exactly make out all of it, he would’ve definitely remembered reading something to that effect. Then he looked back at San Lang, and upon seeing that humorous glint, he honestly couldn’t help but sigh. “San Lang, honestly, you...”
The members of the caravan didn’t seem to be paying much attention though, apparently deciding to try and appease the General’s spirit just in case.
Ah-ah, Xie Lian thought, watching them. If any single one of them die now, then they’ll no doubt die cursing my name...
Of course, they couldn’t curse his name directly, seeing that it had been neither recorded nor revealed. Also⸺
I wonder if this kind of thing would count towards my merits, Xie Lian idly wondered, seeing that technically, these people were praying to him in some regard. He quickly dismissed the thought though, but apparently, not fast enough.
“Snake! There’s a snake!”
Ah-ah, Xie Lian thought. Here we go...
“Where?!”
“How is there a snake here?!”
Why would there not be a snake here, Xie Lian quietly thought. Why wouldn’t there be snakes out in the desert, or in a massive hollowed-out boulder in the middle of one?
Granted, snakes were cold-blooded creatures and wouldn’t like to stick around in a place like this for long, but⸺ “Be careful everyone!”
Saying this, Xie Lian directed more spiritual energy into the orb of light, illuminating the cave even further. And as he did, he was finally able to determine the direness of the situation at hand.
“It’s a scorpion cobra!” he shouted, just as the thing lunged at them.
San Lang proved visibly unfazed however, catching it not just by the head but also by the tail, keeping it from employing both its venomous fangs and stinger.
“Hoh,” he said, watching it with keen interest as it hissed, wiggling furiously. “Never seen one of these before.”
Well, if it was indeed so, then it was truly no wonder, seeing that these creatures had only ever been found in these lands. Also⸺ “San Lang, watch out for the stinger on its tail. Its venom is more potent than that of a cobra and scorpion combined.”
“Is that so? Sounds nasty.”
Well, Xie Lian didn’t exactly have any personal experience in that regard, but he had no reason to doubt the witness accounts he’d heard. Also⸺ “San Lang, would you stop playing with the poor thing? It’s actually quite dangerous.”
Now this earned Xie Lian several strange looks – from the merchants, undoubtedly because he’d just referred to the vicious creature as a ‘poor thing’, and from San Lang, who shot back a look that seemed to ask ‘Gege, who do you think I am?’. The latter quickly folded though, retaining his grip but without causing the thing any additional distress.
“Gege shouldn’t worry,” San Lang finally said. “I do have experience in handling dangerous beasts.”
Well, Xie Lian certainly hoped so, and that the other knew what he was doing.
“Besides,” the other continued. “These snakes are a symbol for the infamous State Preceptor of the Banyue Kingdom, who could allegedly control them. It’s such a rare opportunity. Why wouldn’t I want to take a closer look?”
At this, the nearest merchants visibly inched away from him, watching him with wide eyes. Xie Lian understood though – he most certainly did. Still⸺ “Everyone, please don’t step too far away from the light! There might be even more⸺”
“Aaaaaah! There’s a tonne of them! They’re everywhere!”
Ah, there was truly no choice then.
Despite already feeling the strain, Xie Lian fed even more of his spiritual power into the orb of light, causing it to flash and brighten up the space considerably, hoping to at the very least blind and stall the numerous creatures now slithering towards them.
“Come this way!” Brother Zhao shouted, and the rest followed as quickly as they could manage, leaving Xie Lian and San Lang to bring up the rear – and not long thereafter, they all emerged into the open air of the ongoing sunset, a little worse for wear, sure, but all of them still alive. Of course⸺
“Dammit all! We only bowed once and we already ended up like this!”
“Yeah, it’s like praying to that damned trash god! With each bow, the worse it gets!”
Well, to be perfectly honest, they were technically one and the same so if one caused misfortune, then why wouldn’t the other? Then again⸺ “At least the sandstorm seems to have passed.”
That however seemed to be the end of the good news.
“Help!” the young man called out. “I think Grandpa Zheng’s been bitten!”
Oh no. “Everyone! Check yourselves! If you have any wounds, make sure to tie them off to slow the spread of the venom!”
This said, Xie Lian quickly made his way over to the older man, confirming that yes, the situation was indeed dire.
Dammit, he thought. I have to do something!
However, once again, someone already beat him to the action, and this time around, it wasn’t San Lang. Instead, it was Brother Zhao, who quickly tore off a strip of his cloak to tie it tightly around the old man’s wrist, choking off the blood flow to the afflicted hand.
“Brother Zhao...” The grandson’s voice shook slightly. “Grandpa won’t die, right?”
The guide just shook his head and delivered the bad news for what they were; that anyone stung or bitten was guaranteed to die within two hours’ time.
“Then what should we do?”
In truth, there was very little that could be done. Because while Xie Lian wasn’t exactly sure about their current location, a quick glance was enough to confirm that they were in the middle of nowhere. Sure, if Xie Lian’s spiritual powers hadn’t been so restricted, then he would’ve probably been able to do something. Heavens, if he’d had access to a high-level medicinal pill, then⸺
“So, his only option is to wait for death then?”
Well, sad as it might’ve been to admit it⸺
“There is an antidote though,” San Lang said, speaking up for the first time in a while.
Xie Lian looked away from the stricken merchant and directed his attention back towards the red-clad youth, noting that the snake was nowhere to be found now, and that San Lang’s sleeves now hung loose, unrestrained by the other’s wrist guards. “There is?”
“That’s right,” San Lang said. “Within the confines of the Banyue Kingdom grows the Banyue Fern, which is effective against the scorpion cobra’s venom.”
“Yes,” Brother Zhao slowly intoned, cutting into the rising enthusiasm of the merchants. “But that would require us to retrieve some from the Banyue Kingdom, and there’s no real guarantee that we’ll find any, or that we’ll be able to make the return trip on time.”
“Well,” San Lang said in turn, smiling as he put his hands up his sleeves. “We won’t know that unless we try though, will we?”
They wouldn’t know until they... tried. No way. “San Lang, you⸺”
Watching the other turn around and saunter off, Xie Lian was struck by a sudden sense of wrongness, and in spite of his spiritual powers running low⸺ “Ruoye.”
There were shouts of alarm as the sentient strip of fabric shot out, quickly finding its target. The latter proved decidedly subdued though, even as Xie Lian pulled him in, then caught him by the arm and pulled back his sleeve, laying bare what lay beneath.
“Oh.”
And there it was – an angry-looking puncture mark – inflicted by a scorpion cobra’s stinger, and upon seeing it, Xie Lian honestly couldn’t help but sigh.
“San Lang, you⸺”
