At the sound of Shan Si's insistence, roaring among the chattering voices of tired citizens, the gate slowly creaked open.
It was casual, with both doors spreading at the consistency of frozen molasses. They weren't subtle; the opposite, actually. Both of those wide, dingy doors scraped loudly along the grey dirt, each rusty hinge squealing with a frequency no more tolerable than a fox howling in the night.
No wonder they barely opened this sorry excuse of a gate; the sound was enough to bleed anyone's ears dry. From the southern side to the northern easily.
And that's exactly what they did! Tao Hua heard the whispered complaints of civilians, questioning the chaotic sight. Most were still confused, their voices low and raspy, while a select few had already figured out just how dire the situation was.
"Is that Master Tao's son…?" one would ask, closing a door behind him. "What's he doing here?"
"Forget him! Look! The gate!" Another pointed at the outpost, his voice accusatory. "Look what he did to the gate! It's on fire!"
Smoke billowed from each opening, belching past the cracks in the flimsy curtain, through the holes in the roof, and from each widened crack in the walls.
At the sound of clanging metal, someone shouted, "Where are the guards?! Go get them!"
Tao Hua hadn't noticed it earlier, what with being shell-shocked and all, but the outpost was certainly in disarray. It wasn't much longer until the gate looked like a warzone, with the general standing front and centre, silhouetted by the fire that rumbled behind him.
It was relentless in its endeavour, but Shan Si didn't flinch. He was completely locked on Tao Hua, his face growing more and more grim with each word sputtered in that ever-growing crowd.
In fact, it was safe to say he didn't just look grim; he was pissed off.
"TAO HUA!" Shan Si shouted, desperation enveloping his voice. It was odd; the tone didn't quite suit someone as ruthless as the man who stood upon the burning outpost. "Do I seriously have to do everything for you?! Move!"
As Shan Si impatiently waited, the guardroom crackled behind him, and sparks popped aggressively. They multiplied rapidly the longer he remained on that balcony.
Those many wisps floated toward the sky, exploding like a hoard of tiny flares made for ants. But none of it was what caused the dread to loom over Shan Si like a thick blanket—one thicker than the smoke that threatened to snatch him whole.
"Get Master Tao!" a man shouted, holding a bucket in his hands. More voices sounded at his harping, just as each door opened and slammed shut.
"I told you he was trouble; I told his father, but his father just laughed it off! Karma!"
All of those comments frantically yelled, gathering behind Tao Hua, but none dared to approach or touch him. As if Tao Hua were the monster among men.
The more people there were, the less he could comprehend their words, especially with the hastened sound of feet pattering along the ground.
Perhaps this was simply wilful ignorance on Tao Hua's behalf.
Every shout, whisper, clang, and bang merged, becoming inaudible and incessant. But one thing was clear: they were blaming Tao Hua for this mess, as if Tao Hua was capable of causing such a catastrophe.
But that was fine; it had to be fine, right? He had long been used to this treatment, but for some reason he couldn't detach from the trance of trauma. All he could do was stare out into the unknown, his body betraying him in every regard.
It just wouldn't fucking budge!
Beyond the gate ahead lay a darkened path, and the further Tao Hua tried to look, the less visible it became. It was as if the Official Road faded out entirely, swallowed whole by the trees that divided it. The longer he'd stare, the more each of those trees would look odd, as if moving and twisting.
Of course, this was clearly his own mind at work, distorting reality into fear. The possibility that anything was moving was unlikely, but that didn't quell the anxiety one bit.
And in truth? He'd only seen this path during the day, and through quick glimpses caught a few hundred feet away. Now that he was face-to-face with it, well, he didn't quite know what to make of the situation.
Or anything happening, for that matter.
It was his dream to travel beyond Siyue Town's walls and experience something beyond ink. To escape the very scrutiny that now held him hostage and accused him of things his hands couldn't ever do.
These hands of his…they were made for creating, not destroying nor war. And yet, those hands, delicate and small, yet gentle and kind, were being tested and accused.
And he'd ask the same question he always had: What did I do to these people?
He lifted those hands, finally peeling his gaze away from the path and onto the gauze. It hadn't budged an inch, remaining firmly in place. The longer he stared at it, the more they shook. Even if Tao Hua tried to control it, he simply couldn't.
None of his coping mechanisms worked—they hadn't worked all night, actually. As if the man who stood upon the outpost had destroyed them completely, in a single act of malice.
The rims of his eyes reddened, stung by the smoke that wafted through the streets. He studied each blotch of blood, wondering exactly how things got to this point and what he could have done to change it.
What he could have done to reinvent twenty years of existence.
There was a desperation to leave, not just Siyue Town, but everything. But at the same time, he wasn't he wanted to run away from exactly.
The unknown, or what he already knew?
As Tao Hua stood in that street, surrounded by smoke, voices, and threats, Shan Si bent over the balcony. His slender fingers curled tightly around the railing, and it would be the first time that night he'd exhibit an expression that wasn't playful or cruel.
He looked nervous, and something melancholy coated those pale eyes.
"Tao Hua…" His voice, unsteady, called out. It wasn't as commanding as before, but it sure was telling. This man was experiencing many firsts that night, just as Tao Hua was.
The statements echoing from that street shamelessly continued. However, they focused more on Tao Hua than they did on Shan Si. For whatever ungodly reason.
Seemed they just fucking hated this small and harmless man that much, apparently.
Each time they'd mutter Tao Hua's name, Shan Si's hand would tighten around the railing. It was so violent, he nearly split that damn thing in half.
The fabric on his stomach wrinkled the more he tilted forward over the balcony. "GO! FORGET THEM! They're worthless—oh, fuck it!"
In fact, Tao Hua was practically paralyzed and remained frozen, as if his feet were buried in the crumbling brick. And his eyes? They wobbled with a glossy exterior, fixated on his hands. He painfully smiled, but even so, he still refused to cry.
Even in the wake of utter exhaustion, he refused to satisfy the masses with his grief.
"…" Shan Si kept his eyes fastened on Tao Hua, just as his hands twisted roughly, nearly shoving splinters into his palms. Then he looked up. Not at the crowd of people, nor at the fog of smoke, but toward the Northern Gate.
Lights, in dozens, all descending the hill that led to the Tao Estate. Shan Si gritted his teeth at this sight, his brows furrowing through his surfacing anger.
"Fuck it, fuck it, fuck it!"
And without a second thought, he flipped his body over the railing. It was miraculous, just how agile Shan Si truly was—like a true showoff, this man was an acrobat in the making.
Bomph!
He harshly landed on his feet, his hands pressed to the bricked ground, just as a cloud of dust puffed around him. It mixed in with the smoke that engulfed the outpost entirely.
As he straightened his posture, he reached for his sword lying flat on the ground and snugged it tightly into his hand. He felt it a bit, as if welcoming it home.
Once he was satisfied with the fit, he returned to his regularly scheduled anger, grumbling, "Fucking hell! Why am I even doing this?! Waste of my time!"
Hypocrite.
A few gasps, and the chattering became more frightened. It was clear they were now focused on Shan Si, finally. However, Shan Si didn't give two shits. He just dashed toward Tao Hua,
As soon as Shan Si reached Tao Hua, he pressed his hands to his shoulder and shouted, "Are you looking to be miserable or something?! MOVE!"
But Tao Hua just looked up at him, vacant in expression. It was as if his soul had been switched out for something empty, coupled with an inexpiable fear. Shan Si just bit the inside of his cheek, unsure how to react or what to do about the situation. He glanced up at the crowd of people, all of whom looked at the two as if they were monsters.
Well, that was true about Shan Si, but Tao Hua? For some reason this man couldn't accept it, despite it not benefiting him in the slightest. With a snarl, he turned back to Tao Hua, and after a few taps of the finger and calls from the approaching guards, he made a choice.
He swooped that empty husk of a man into one arm, holding him like a bag of rice. Glaring at the crowd, he pointed his sword in their direction and said, "Give Master Tao a message from me—since you all lick his feet so willingly."
The crowd just fell silent, fearful of this beast. Shan Si squinted, venom oozing from each slow and barbed statement. "Tell him the Shan Dynasty said to get fucked."
And with that, he turned and darted through the smoke, just as the guards finally arrived at the gate. It was optimal timing, and lucky. However, Shan Si wasn't one to toy with what was unnecessary.
With a final blast toward the gate, he set it ablaze, so much so that there wasn't any passing through for hours to come.
Thus, the two set off onto the Official Road of Zhonglai. One dangling under the arm of a thief, just as the thief ran faster than he had all night.
Chapter end.