The village of Miao Jiang has been home since the beginning to the Witch
Moon Sect and the heirs of Goddess Nüwa also. Each generation added something
to the building complex, let be it a new carpet in a room, or some new flower
plants in the garden. The sunlight sparkled on the tail feathers of the bronze
phoenixes in front of the entrance, and they seemed to move a bit in the moment
when Lady Hai Tang and others appeared out of nowhere. Xiao Man sighed deeply and
opened her mouth to comment on how pleased she was to return, when the noise reached
her. She turned around and stepped back scared. Straight into the arms of Long
You, who did nothing but put his hand on her shoulder and squeezed it slightly.
- Do not move! - he whispered, and Xiao Man obeyed.
The crowd gathered in front of the Shrine was so huge, that only the top
of the willow trees was visible, that stood on the edge of the square. As soon
as the people noticed Lady Hai Tang, they rushed forward and threw their
complaints upon her cutting into each other’s words. The next moment, however, silence returned.
They noticed the king standing behind the Lady. They began to whisper low, so
Hai Tang took the opportunity to speak loudly:
- Brothers and sisters! Listen to me! I came back to talk to Goddess-Mother.
We know about the epidemic. We know you're worried. But go home now. Take care
of your children's dreams and light the incense for the Goddess. Leave the rest
to us. We will find the solution.
People were still whispering, but they knew Hai Tang and Xiao Man well.
They knew they could trust the heirs of Nüwa. They slowly turned around and left.
Xiao Man sighed with relief, but then a man shouted:
- What is the demon bastard doing here? Let the Little Mistress go!
The girl’s shoulders got tense, but Long You just lowered his head closer
and whispered into her ear:
- Calm down… Little Mistress…
Hai Tang held out her hand furiously and pointed at the man.
- Give greater respect for the king, Feng Long. He saved your skin also.
Go home instead.
The man grunted something, but then shook his head and followed his
neighbors.
Long You was still smiling when Xiao Man pulled away, and after fixing a
little her dress embarrassed, she looked up. She was staring at him blankly,
but he didn't feel the need to give any explanation.
- Let's go. - Hai Tang urged them. - I think our time is running out.
In the courtyard of the shrine, the red flags with silver crescent were dancing
in the afternoon's warm wind. The Lady began to ask the woman wearing a long skirt
and a colorful coat like hers rushing in front of her:
- Xing Mei, how long have they been out there?
- For two days. The last of them left to Shu Mountain then. Those who stayed
here insisted on waiting for you in front of the shrine, Lady. And I couldn't turn
them away even with nice words or threats.
- No issues. Come on, help me. I need a few things, because as soon as
we could talk to the Goddess, I have to go back to the Mountain.
Xiao Man looked after them. Hai Tang didn't waste any time on talking. Big
trouble really…
- Well, Little Mistress, what now? - Long You said behind her.
She turned and put her hands on her hips.
- Are you teasing me now, Stinky Long You?
He tried to hold back the laughter, but finally he did not turn serious
because of the angry lightnings in Xiao Man's eyes, but the sudden clenching in
his own chest.
- I thought I'd never hear you say that again ...
She let down her arms surprised, but she didn't answer. Long You stepped
closer to her:
- You always had a few unwanted words before for everything. You became
awfully quiet…
- Only kids chatter. - she finally said, but as if she had repeated the
words of someone else, with so little conviction. She looked away confused: - I
must get prepared.
She turned around and headed to her room. When she crossed the gate of
the building, she was already running, and in the end she leaned against the
wall in the corridor next to her room gasping for air.
I'm afraid, she thought. I'm afraid I’m dreaming and I'm afraid I will wake
up.
She sighed and opened the door. She pulled back surprised, seeing that
her room was regularly cleaned by someone, because cleanliness prevailed everywhere
over the dust of years, and even a bouquet of fresh flowers was placed on top
of one of the closets near to the window.
- Stupid... - she muttered loudly. She looked around the room, stepped
over to her bed, stroked the blanket, then sat down. She opened the bag hanging
on her belt and looked inside. Then she sighed, threw it away and buried her
face in her two palms.
Outside in the hallway, one of the floorboards cracked. She jerked her
head up. Long You appeared in the doorway and leaned against the doorframe.
She had no time to try to decipher what she saw in his eyes, because in
the next moment Hai Tang cried out somewhere nearby:
- Xiao Man… Are you ready? No time left!
Long You flinched, turned his head, and unwillingly retreated to the
corridor.
The girl picked up her bag and ran across the room like the wind. She
threw a few tiny jars into the bag, then grabbed open a few drawers to find the
talisman the Rainbow Lizard and threw it into the bag too. In one of the boxes she
found her old tinkler bracelet. She felt the strong temptation to pull it up on
her wrist, but eventually changed her mind and left it there. Then she ran out
of the room.
Long You was still supporting the wall outside.
- Xiao Man…
He reached for her hand as she tried to get away unnoticed by him, but the
girl avoided him
- There you are? Let's go. Soon I can talk to the Goddess again! I know she
helps us.
And only her hairlocks flickered after her, as she turned at the next
corner of the corridor.
Long You sighed. It could be even easier to catch clouds…
Hai Tang was waiting for them in the shrine. Xiao Man smiled at her,
then stopped in the middle, in front of the statue of the Goddess, pulled herself
out and took a big breath. The Lady stopped near her, also turning to Nüwa lowering
her head. Xiao Man raised her hands and began to magic. Soon a sparkling sphere
of light appeared around her, and in the sphere, the Goddess-Mother herself appeared.
Long You, who entered the shire just then, knew he had to wait. The Goddess
only talks to the heir, eavesdropping for foreign ears is forbidden. He will
have to rely on what Xiao Man is willing to say. He suspected he wouldn't know
the whole truth.
- Xiao Man… Why did you call me? – the Goddess spoke.
The girl bowed respectfully before the apparition.
- Goddess Nüwa, we need your help again. Children are in danger. They
fall victim to something that swore vengeance against people and demons. She
attacks them in their dreams and there is no way we can protect or heal them.
- Dreams are important, Xiao Man. We just have to be able to distinguish
them from reality.
- I do not understand. Nüwa, these children can no longer sleep. And
when they fall out of exhaustion, they have no dreams thereafter.
- Then it's really a big problem. The next step is death. Xiao Man, find
the one who has kidnapped their dreams. You must defeat her and then the
children will be saved.
- But how? Nüwa, we have no idea who to look for. Help me, I beg you.
- Dreams are important, Xiao Man…
Hai Tang only saw the girl shouting the name of the Goddess
disappointed. But by the time the sphere of light shattered, Xiao Man was standing
before the statue silenced and bitter. With a final bow, she said goodbye to
the Goddess, then turned around.
The Lady put a hand on her shoulder, but the girl only shook her head.
- I do not understand. I do not understand…
Long You stepped closer.
- Let's go back to Shu Mountain. My Master knows everything about the
Goddess and what the old Sages have ever written about her. Together we will be
smarter.
- All right, Your Majesty. – the Lady nodded. - I'm ready.
Xiao Man stood by. Long You looked at them, then grabbed his pendant and
charmed them back on the Mountain.
When they appeared in front of the Heavenly Star Pagoda, the shadows already
began to deepen, and the approaching night has been chasing rain-clouds from the
east. Because of this it looked like it’s getting dark sooner. Xiao Man winced
when a stronger wind hit her.
- Let's go in. - Hai Tang said. – It’s going to rain.
Some students were waiting at the gate.
- Has Yi Pin Master come back? - Xiao Man asked them, but they only
shook their heads.
They walked beside them, but one spoke:
- Lady... Do you think the Goddess helps us?
Hai Tang looked back at him with a smile:
- Yes. The Goddess will help.
The disciple noted with concern:
- Four other children lost consciousness.
Xiao Man stopped in shock. She had no idea that such bad news was
waiting. And she already had remorse for not being able to help in time. She
couldn't stay with the others. She left them as they were and ran away, they
shouted after her in vain.
Long You and Hai Tang exchanged worrying glances.
- She keeps on running. As if she was escaping. I just don’t know from
what. - Hai Tang said, shaking her head.
They found her in the room where the demon boy was accommodated. Her
mother crouched with tearful eyes beside the bed, the girl was grabbing the boy’s
hand. However, as the King and the Lady entered, she jumped up and ran out of
the room. Long You followed without thinking. He decided to follow her now and
forever, wherever she goes.
Xiao Man tried not to cry, but it didn't really work for her. Having no
better she did what her grandfather recently taught her. She picked up a sword
and ran to the clearing next to the Stargazer. She kicked off her boots next to
the fountain and began to practice. Of course, she couldn't do it now either,
trying hard in vain again and again. Long You found her easily with the help of
a searching spell but did not walk closer yet. She didn't notice him. Her legs
were cold, and she felt the promise of rain in the air. But something was squeezing
on her chest so hard, that she was afraid it would crush her, if she didn't do
something urgently. The anger that awakened inside again because of her own
weakness helped some. But it didn’t stop the tears. Finally, fatigue took over
and she had to stop because she didn't see properly through the tears.
She threw the sword again to the ground and leaned over the fountain. She
squeezed the edge of the stone bowl and took a deep breath, then put her head under
the water. When she pulled it out, there was no trace of tears on her wet face.
For the superficial viewers, at least. She dragged up her boots as she was, with
wet hands, then grabbed the sword. She noticed him under the trees only then.
Long You didn't wait any longer. He went to the girl with his long, firm
steps.
- Grandfather used to teach me. - she explained, not even waiting for
the other to speak, but she didn't look at him either.
- Xiao Man…
- The rain is really coming. Do you feel it?
- Xiao Man…
She didn't reply. She tried to walk by him, but Long You didn't let
himself. He raised his hand and Xiao Man's feet were rooted in the ground. She
swallowed hard after trying to get free without result.
- Let me go ... Let me go, Stinky Long You!
- No. – he said and stepped closer. The sword was trembling in Xiao Man’s
hand, though she was the light-ropes of the spell only for the record, because
it was completely pointless.
- Why were you crying? - Long You asked, just a step away from her.
- I didn't cry. - she stated, lowering her head. She just stood there, leaning
from one leg to another, squeezing her mouth shut.
Long You sighed, then stepped closer. As he stood over the girl, Xiao
Man saw only the embroidered patterns of his jerkin. An old memory came to life
before her, when the man wore the same piece. When she first saw Netherworld...
When she charmed rain for the royal city that was in drought, and when he
hugged her tightly to calm and warm her.
She hadn't noticed that the magic disappeared at the very moment that
Long You stopped in front of her and lifted his hand. Why didn't she think about
running away? Thoughts have avoided her and her head felt strangely empty. The
scent of the rain around them was so strong, that she knew the storm would soon
break out.
Long You smiled. Well, finally he saw the day when Xiao Man went completely
silent? For a moment he looked up at the sky and knew he didn't have much time
left. He leaned closer to the gril, and no matter how much Xiao Man tried to
keep him away, he just kissed her face anyway.
Xiao Man jerked up her head as if she was struck by lightning. She watched
in shock as he closed his eyes lazily, tilting his head slightly, then licking
his lips with a half smile.
- You cried. - he remarked when he opened his eyes. He put one finger
under the girl’s chin and raised her head up. Xiao Man's eyes widened. What
kind of game is this?
But Long You smiled no longer.
- Why were you crying? - he asked again, and she was only saved from
giving a reply only by a rain shower coming out of heaven. The thick raindrops falling
on her face cleared all traces, and she didn’t have to do anything.
Long You lowered his head disappointed. When he let go of the girl’s
face, he stroked it for a moment, but no longer looked at her, and Xiao Man suddenly
noticed, that she had been already standing alone in the rain for minutes, soaked
to skin.
Lady Hai Tang did not hide her opinion when Xiao Man returned to her
room.
- What happened to you? Would it be difficult to come back before the
rain? I don't care about your grandfather and his stupid ideas. Why should the heir
of the Goddess study sword-fighting at all costs? All winter and summer? Every
day? Barefoot?
The woman shouted louder with each sentence. But the girl did not
answer, she only went back into the side room and pulled off the wet clothes.
For such occasions she had a second-hand student uniform in her chest. She
rubbed herself with a towel and dressed up quickly. As her boots became wet, she
put her naked foot into slippers decorated with tassels. Fortunately, the disciple's
old uniform reached to the ground and covered the slippers. Hai Tang was
grumbling endlessly outside:
- That rascal Yi Pin… I will have a few unwanted words with him, but he
won't hang it beside his calabash, I'm sure. You could have known when the rain
was coming. Nüwa always whispers to you, doesn't she? Unless something has distracted
you...
The Lady paused to breathe, so Xiao Man quickly interrupted.
- I'm hungry. I'm going to eat something.
- Drink hot tea! And drink much! - her Master shouted after her, but the
girl was far away. She knew that she would get scolding from his grandfather
and looked carefully around every corner before she turned, to avoid him. She
got to the kitchen without any problems, and her luck stayed because there was not
a soul there either. She searched all the dishes, the rice cookers, the bamboo bowls
and the steaming baskets, but found nothing. Finally, she lifted the lid of the
last clay pot, and slammed it back again in the next moment. Tofu pudding… She
picked up a candle because it was completely dark outside the door. She
remembered the children in the other side of the building and frowned. She felt
tired, but the hunger didn't let her in peace. She shouldn't have missed the
lunch. But if she was really distracted...
At least there was no shortage of apples. She grabbed one and headed
out. Her grandfather came across in the doorway.
- Bring wine. - he threw to the girl, then turned his back and gestured
to someone outside.
Xiao Man pulled her mouth for not being allowed to eat undisturbed and
grabbed a larger wine mug. Maybe this will be enough.
His grandfather was sitting on the closest terrace where flames flared
in a firedragon, and even an incense burned, successfully battling with the
darkness, the rain dripping from the roof tiles and the cold. When she stepped
out of the door, focusing on not falling over the high threshold, she didn't
look but started as if she had mocked Lady Hai Tang:
- I practiced a lot. Barefoot. I got drenched. But I put on dry clothes.
Lady Hai Tang has scolded me already, so you don't have to. I didn't eat lunch,
but no dinner either, because there is nothing to eat. Tofu pudding we do have,
however. I'll go and get some. Here's the wine.
As soon as she felt the carpets safe enough under the slipper's sole,
she glanced up bravely. The wine jug started to slip down from her hand.
- By the demons, you girl, everything is falling out of your hands today?
- Yi Pin muttered and grabbed the jug.
Xiao Man blinked at the careless comment, and the old man looked
confused at the person sitting beside him.
- Sorry, Your Majesty... I didn't mean...
Long You was smiling, shook his head and added:
- I'll have some of that pudding too.
She escaped to the kitchen with relief. Suddenly, however, she felt the
smell of fried meat and her stomach painfully growled. By the time she returned
with the two bowls in her hands, the old man served a large feast from a big
basket to the middle of the carpet.
- The Lady relocated all food near the rooms to the smaller kitchen for the
sake of the children. - Yi Pin replied to the unspoken question and put a bowl
of rice in his granddaughter's hand. - Eat. You can't think with an empty
stomach. Long You said you received the guidance from the Goddess. What are you
planning to do now?
Xiao Man looked from one man to another but decided to mind the words
and eat first. She crossed her legs as he sat down, making the tufted slippers peek
out of the robe.
- Have you taken your slippers again to the disciple’s robe, girl? - Yi Pin
snorted, so the girl just blew at him and mumbled a little to hide her legs
under the robe. Long You started coughing to hide the laughter.
- Nüwa just told me what she found necessary. - Xiao Man remarked as she
sipped into the wine after the supper disappeared. - She said quite precisely: "Dreams are
important, Xiao Man." Yes.She said this twice. So that's definitely the main
point. But I knew that already before. - she added disappointedly, and finally
looked into the eyes of Long You at his well-hidden pleasure.
- What if she meant it literally? - he asked.
- Of course she understood it literally. - she insisted. - But we also managed
to find out, that the children were chased by that Flame Flower in their dreams.
We didn't get smarter.
- Do you remember when Yun Fan and Yu Rou discovered what happened to
their parents through your dream spell?- he asked again.
Xiao Man scratched the hair on her head.
- I also thought that we should somehow get into the kids' dream.
- Sect Chief Tai Wu would surely agree with you. But they haven't
returned so that we could ask.
- The Charm of the Returning Dream does not require the blessing of the Sect
Chief. I can do it without him.
- But I won't let you go alone. - Yi Pin shook his head. - I don't
understand how you thought about that?
- I've been on your leash for years, grandfather. Now you can really let
me go.
The old man took a big breath to strike back, but Long You immediately
raised his hand as he realized the true meaning of the words.
- It can be dangerous, Xiao Man. You may be Nüwa's heir, yet you can't
go alone. I'll be going with you. There is also a demonic spell in that magic.
I want to investigate it and want to be there.
- If I remember well, I couldn't send you back with the Returning Dream.
The human charm didn't work on you.
Long You nodded but didn't seem too much disappointed.
- I do remember. Then we'll find another solution.
- What solution? - she cut back, and the man couldn’t stand without a
smile, when for the first time since his arrival, Xiao Man's eyes shone with
the promise of adventure.
- I'll charm you instead.
Yi Pin just pulled the wine jug, so he choked and started coughing.
Xiao Man looked at her grandfather angrily, but then began to play with
her slippers in embarrassment. Suddenly, she felt hot. Though she didn't drink that
much wine…
Long You began to ear his tofu pudding with satisfaction.
- Eat more, Xiao Man. - the old man grinned at her. - The west wind
blows you away.
She sighed and shook her head. Suddenly, fatigue hit her, so she fell on
her elbow beside the firedragon on the carpet. She stared in front of herself
and began to poke the carpet. Long You glanced over his chopsticks at the girl.
She looked really exhausted. When she closed her eyes, it took longer for her to
open them again.
- Is there a demonic charm that affects my granddaughter? Without doing
any harm? - Yi Pin asked, gazing at her worriedly.
- Master, you surely don't think I could ever hurt her? - Long You replied
shaking his head. - I found this spell in the Library, in a book of Master Yu
Shu. In fact, it is a very simple magic, and it affects virtually any creature.
Humans, demons… According to the description, even animals.
- Animals don't dream… - Xiao Man muttered from the carpet apparently halfway
to sleeping.
- How do you know? - her grandfather asked. -Have you ever been into an animal's dream?
- No. - she exhaled and blinked. - But they don't dream.
- If there is no other idea, then we should try it. - Yi Pin said, and
Xiao Man tried to get up from her lying position.
- Where, where? - the old man leaned closer to her. - Night is upon us. Rest
now.
- Grandfather... - Xiao Man moaned, trying to rub the dream out of her
eyes. - The children are going to sleep now. When would we go into their dreams,
if not now?
- Xiao Man… It would be irresponsible to move into the realm of dreams with
tired soul. There's no physical force there. You can only protect yourself with
what you carry in your heart.
The girl pursed her lips, but then she did not argue. She got herself
and lay back on the carpet, placing her head on her bent arm.
- Go to your room, girl! What indecency is to sleep here? - Yi Pin grumbled,
but of course without result because Xiao Man was too tired to obey. He pulled
a shoulder and looked at the king clueless.
Long You nodded willingly.
- Xiao Man… - he said quietly. - I'll bring you in myself, if you don't
obey your grandfather.
The girl got herself into a standing position, still with eyes closed at
this comment, accompanied by a few dissatisfied voices.
- Wouldn't that be an indecency? - she muttered, and left back, clinging
to the railing just for safety.
- I'll accompany her. - Long You said goodbye to the Master silently,
when she was already in the kitchen. The old man nodded because he was already
eager to sleep in his own bed too.
No one has been walking in the quiet corridors of the Pagoda. Xiao Man shambled
off to her room, yawning. Once she had
lost a slipper, she had to jump back on one foot to where it fell off. Long You
followed the girl who apparently didn't notice at all. When they reached her
room, he stopped in the corridor, outside the threshold, with his hands in the
back. He felt like it wouldn't be fair to go inside now. Even now, when Xiao
Man left her door open and ran over to her bed as she was, fully dressed, kicking
off her slippers in the middle of the room. The girl lay with her eyes closed,
motionless, with a steady breathing. Long You sighed, and he would have just turned
when she spoke in a sleepy voice:
- Stinky Long You… I know you're still here. You think I haven't heard
you sigh?
He lowered his head with a smile, but he didn't answer.
- Don't worry... I know I'm just dreaming... I know you're leaving soon,
and I will not see you anymore. Grandfather will scold me again, but it is not
a problem.
Long You tilted up his head. What is she talking about?
- You never called me Little Mistress... I know it's not real. But I do
not mind. Even one more dream is more than nothing. And at least those many children
are not ill at all...
The man swallowed hard. He wondered what to answer, but Xiao Man suddenly
turned to the other side, pulling her blanket on herself, and he knew she was
sleeping now.
- I'll prove to you that you're not dreaming... Little Mistress...
He had to force himself to leave the small room and find his own. It had been long since it was so hard to fall asleep like this.
No comments:
Post a Comment