"Okay, um," Mu Yoong Yoong said, turning to Feng Ling as she wiped sweat away with her forearm under her veil. Honger gave the bamboo hat back to Flower Sword before we continued with the dessert. "Is there someplace that isn't boiling to the point of cooking a pot on the ground? Maybe we can get some information down so we know what we're getting ourselves into."
I stifled a snort laugh, but it escaped a little. Honger noticed and gave a grin. The girls prefer to be prepared for whatever fight comes our way.
"San Lang," Brother began with his gentle voice. "What else do you know of the evil preceptor? You never finished saying."
"I'd be happy to tell you what I know." Honger began as I used some of my limited power to place ice around the girls' veils so they wouldn't overheat. "Though to begin, there were two Daoists."
"Very well then," Xie Lian responded as we continued through the desert. I was interested in what happened to the set of eyes and ears I placed there once things were said and done when I visited that place years ago. They went missing not long after.
"The other's name was Fang Xin of the central plane." I felt my body shudder. I remembered when Xie Lian was stabbed with the sword that carried that name. Mu Yoong Yoong took hold of my wrist in concern. I looked down at my hand, and it was shaking. Honger's voice faded in the background.
"General Xie?" Mu Yoong Yoong asked, while Feng Ling looked as concerned as the day I told them both about Bai Wuxiang.
"I'm okay, girls," I replied. "I was just reminded that name... isn't of a person."
The girls both turned pale. They knew about what that sword did to Xie Lian so long ago.
"It seems you are knowledgeable." Fu Yao commented, notifying me that Honger was done talking about Crescent Pass. Shaking away the memory and turning to the boys as they talked. Xie Lian, however, noticed my expression from the name and tilted his head towards me.
"Seems that way," Honger waved. "Because you are ignorant."
I held back my snort laugh fit. Fu Yao looked like his head was about to explode.
"Fu Yao!" Flower Sword called after Fu Yao as he dragged his foot in the sand, pulling his elbow back against his shoulder, holding an orb of mana in his hand as he spun about in place.
"Reveal yourself!" he shouted as he fired the orb at Honger. Honger laughed as he tilted his head to the side.
"What's wrong?" Honger questioned, his smirk never leaving his face. I can feel the girls watching me, trying to figure out if I am going to laugh with a snort or not. "I'm simply relaying what I read in a book; why are you so worked up?"
"Yes." I laughed slightly, stifling to the best I could without snorting up a storm. "What are you so upset about?"
"The stories are just hearsay," Brother spoke up. breaking things up for a little bit. "We'll have to see for ourselves."
"Look over there." Nan Feng pointed to an abandoned building down a sandy slope we stood on.
"It's already way past high noon, isn't it?" brother proclaimed, looking up to the sky with a hand over his bamboo hat. "Let's take a break."
"I'll run ahead." Hong-er waved his hand, then rushed down the dunes to investigate. I glanced at both girls before they rushed after him; neither one needed to hear our conversation.
"Your highness, why do you two keep him around?" Fu Yao asked.
'Because he didn't stab us in the back!' I thought to myself as I glared daggers at them.
"He's good company for us; besides, I already tested him," Xie Lian spoke up.
"And he's been a better help to us than your generals have been for the last eight hundred years, at least!" I spat in a freezing tone. Both Xie Lian and the boys looked at me as if I had said it before our 'old friends'. Neither one looked me in the eye. I want to be mad at Xuan Zhen and Nan Young so badly. But I can't bring myself to do that. Or bring myself to hate either of them. I am upset with them, and I do hold a grudge against them for leaving Flower Sword alone. But I can't remember why they left or what I did, so how can I be angry or hate them for leaving if it was because of me?
"Gege! Gege!" Honger called up, waving his arm in the air. The girls are probably inside, enjoying the shade. "It's nice and cool down here!"
We headed down, and I avoided looking at the three behind me. Getting closer, I saw this place was an old Inn. I felt someone's aura from the past was nearby. A few I recognized. Yoong Yoong and Feng Ling were sharing water when we got inside. Honger and my brother shared water as well. I slid off my mask and created some ice in my hand with a little mana, and tossed it in my mouth to help with the heat.
"Any left?" Honger asked, making me smile as my brother was about to hand him the water they were sharing.
"Wait!" Fu Yao shouted, holding up his hand. And Honger froze before turning to him. Then pulling out a white jade object that was set on the table with a cling. "Take mine."
Fu Yao held this jar with some kind of beautiful design on the front and back. I remember hearing about it; the liquid inside isn't water. It's the true shape serum.