Chapter 124 — Black Fire
劍問蒼天 · Page 1 of 5
"Thump, thump thump..."
The knock came again, but there was no voice from outside. Ming Li frowned, walked over, and pulled the door open.
A single figure stood at the doorway: a Miao boy of thirteen or fourteen, his face still bearing the innocence of youth. He carried a basket holding meat, wine, and a few dishes—clearly sent by Chief Tumagu.
The boy held the basket out to him. Ming Li nodded and said, "Many thanks."
The boy grinned, but only an odd croaking sound came from his throat. Ming Li started. A boy like this, mute—no wonder he had only knocked and said nothing.
He could not help studying the boy a few more times. The boy's clothes were patched in many places, plainly long worn, a world apart from the Miao he had seen in Qili Dong's streets. The boy must hold low standing here, and was likely an orphan besides.
At the word "orphan" his heart gave a sudden jolt. But in that brief moment the boy smiled and gestured to him, then turned and walked off. In his expression and bearing there was no sorrow or gloom—rather a touch of cheerfulness.
Ming Li watched the boy's back recede into the distance, and a nameless melancholy stirred in his heart. He sighed softly, turned, and shut the door with a click.
The sun sank westward, and the sky slowly darkened. In one Miao house after another throughout Qili Dong, lamps were lit.
The dim yellow glow leaking from each window flickered unceasingly in the dark, now bright, now faint, like silent eyes in the night.
Every household—the people beneath every lamp—surely each had their own heart, their own life.
Ming Li stood at the window, gazing at the distant cluster of Miao dwellings, and said nothing.
The night wind began to rise. Now and then the distant cheers of Miao drifted over, and somewhere a dog barked; yet these sounds borne on the wind only made the peace of this land stand out the more.
Perhaps these ordinary Miao were happier than those who trod the path of cultivation.
Ming Li slowly closed the window, turned, and shut himself off from the world outside.
He turned and started. Xiaobai, who had been sleeping quietly a moment before, had at some point sat up and was leaning against the wall by the bed, silently watching him.
He glanced at her. "You're awake?"
Xiaobai smiled and gently rubbed her forehead. "Is there tea? Pour me a cup. My head aches a little."
Ming Li went to the table, poured a cup of water, and handed it to her. "Where would the Miao have tea? Drink some water."
Xiaobai nodded, took the cup, and drank a few mouthfuls. Her spirit seemed to revive, and she let out a long breath. Then she shot Ming Li a glance. "You're blaming me in your heart, aren't you?"
Ming Li gave a bitter smile and shook his head. "Without you, I would never have known that a great shaman among the Miao might be able to save Bil璃. Never mind—we'll go see him again tomorrow."
Xiaobai nodded. "I'm muddled after the wine. Have you seen the Miao's great shaman?"
Ming Li nodded. "I've seen him. He admitted he does know the art of soul-returning—but he insists on knowing your origins, on understanding how you came to know this secret, before he'll agree." As he spoke, a worry stirred in him. Whether the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox would be willing to reveal her identity, he could not tell; of Xiaobai's reaction he was not sure.
Xiaobai was silent a moment, then said mildly, "When day breaks tomorrow, I'll go with you to see him."
Ming Li nodded, about to say something more, when Xiaobai suddenly laughed. "Look at this monkey—drunk worse than I am."
Ming Li glanced at Xiaohui, still sprawled beside Xiaobai, limbs spread, snoring soundly, and shook his head without a word.
Xiaobai reached out and stroked Xiaohui's head. Her gaze fell unaccountably on the third eye at the very center of his brow. She pondered a moment, then looked up at Ming Li. "There's something I've been mulling over for a long while—this third spirit-eye of Xiaohui's..."