The Tale Never Ends

I squirmed on my bed, feeling the throbs of cramps and soreness all around me. After a heartbeat of thinking, I replied, “Well, I guess we can only bring him back with us to Wu Zhong. We’ll bring him to Father and let him decide.” Big Sister nodded her assent. That was the only viable option we could take.

The next morning, I heard a series of loud rappings on our door. The tour guide was knocking to find out if we intend to join his troupe back. Remembering that we still have a captive, I whispered through the narrow slit I opened at the door, “We’ll find our own way back. I’d best not get you into trouble since my Big Sister has no papers with her and we can’t well take a train. Moreover, I intend to stay for another couple of days here for fun.”

The door was barely shut for minutes when someone came knocking again. I opened it and put on a drowsy look to find Qin Le standing outside. She also wanted to know if we would be joining the tourists on our way back. I supplied her with the same pretense I gave just moments before and she left after taking my contact details.

Finally, a moment of peace, I mused, closing the door. I went to my phone and dialed Father’s number. But all I got was a long bombination of a dialing tone; Father might be busy speaking in class. I ended the call and waited.

My phone rang suddenly after almost a half-hour later. It was Father. I gave him a quick report of what happened at Baishan City, especially noting that we had caught Jin Qichen’s servant, a descendant of the shamans. With a lazy and uninterested voice, Father said, “Shamans? I don’t know them much. Your mother does. Speak to her about this. In our former days, she’s the one who handled all the dealings with them.” And that was it. The line was dead even before I could tell Father about Big Sister.

Within seconds, my phone rang again. It was Edelweiss this time. With a tender voice, I spoke into the mouthpiece, “Hello, my dear.” But instead of Edelweiss’ voice, a miffed voice berated from the other end, “Humph! So you have only your wife in your eyes! What about your mother?!” But the phone belongs to Edelweiss, I thought, it was only natural that I thought it was her!? But I quickly chuckled with a giggle and replied with a playful tone, “Of course not, Mother. I thought it was Edelweiss. At least, that’s what I thought from the caller ID I’m getting here.”

In a straightforward and business-like tone, Mother went on, “Your father has told me about everything. Bring the shaman boy to me as quickly as you can. I was the one who established contact with them on behalf of the Wudaxians centuries ago. I’ll deal with him!” I muttered my assent and thanks and quickly spoke to Mother about Big Sister. “Qinglan, you mean? Bring her back with you too!” she muttered indifferently and ended the call before I could say another word.

“What is it with all of them!? Why is everyone so rushed!? I haven’t even heard Edelweiss’ voice!” I grumbled to myself. Hearing this, Big Sister jabbed a finger on my head. “Look at you! Are you missing your wife after just a few days?!” I glared at her and mumbled, “Speak for yourself, you spinster.” Big Sister raised a hand in a mock attempt to hit me and I quickly steered the subject, trying to sound serious, “We need to consider on ways to go back to Wu Zhong. I can have just take a ride on the train and make some arrangements to have you transported as a pet if you can turn back into a fox. But our situation is different now with a POW. I’m afraid the police would be upon us even before we can board the train!” We were not in Wu Zhong where we could easily rely on Zheng Shuang to help us iron out any kinks or wrinkles with the police!

Big Sister gave me a stare so bewildered that could only mean that she understood not a word I said. But she chuckled and muttered, “I don’t have to travel so primitively like you! I can fly! With my sword!” I sprang up and bellowed, “Why didn’t you tell me about this earlier!?” She smirked and remarked bluntly, “You didn’t ask.”

We quickly checked out and dragged a struggling Na San to a secluded spot where we rode on our swords into the air. Under my direction, the journey lasted for almost the entire morning until we could finally glimpse the monolithic granite slabs of the Tangshan Earthquake Memorial Park.

We landed on a spot to the east of the town of Wu Zhong County, a place called Balipu Town. Then I remembered: this was the place where the Triune of Wu Zhong had fought against the Cult of the Damned. I breathed deeply, wondering how fierce a fight it was. The fertilizer manufacturing factory looked different now compared to how I saw it when I was sent back through Time. Even the school now had changed its name. We were just right on time to hear the bells ringing to signal the end of classes. There was a still silence like the calm before a storm, then the stampede of footfalls rumbled as students rushed into the canteen like the wild rapids of the Yellow River for their meals…

It was a sight that brought back memories of my school life. Big Sister noticed my trance and stroked my hair. “What is it, Little Brother?” I shook my head. “Nothing. Just remembering what it was like to be in school.”

Then I realized how solemn-looking Big Sister was. She looked absolutely flustered and nervous. I smiled at her. “It’s okay. You’re not meeting somebody as important as your future parents-in-law. You’re just coming home.” That seemed to make her feel a teensy bit more comfortable. She nodded, trying to hide how she looked so much like a nonplussed little girl.

I could only chuckle as I dug in my pocket for my phone and called Lin Feng, who immediately answered when the line was connected as if he had been expecting me to call, “HEY! AT LONG LAST! Where have you been?! For three days! Here we were, thinking that you have been kidnapped! Where are you now!” I giggled. “Heh heh heh… Relax… I’m just coming back! I’m at the gates of the old school and I need a ride.” Lin Feng immediately ended the call brusquely without saying anything and barely five minutes later, I saw two cars speeding from afar towards us, kicking up dirt and sand into the air like two charging destriers. One of them I recognized almost instantly as my old rickety Volkswagen and the other, a police cruiser most likely driven by Zheng Shuang.

The cars screeched to a halt in front of me and a bunch of people poured out of the cars and I was manhandled like a scarecrow with my friends shaking me down to see if I was hurt in any way!

I pushed aside Chongxi’s hands which were nipping at my cheeks. “Come on! I’m fine! I’m okay!” Lin Feng pushed a fist into my chest. “How could you! Missing for a few days without any word to any of us! Where have you been for the past three days, speak!” “Yeah,” Yuanyuan quipped, her arm curled around Lin Feng’s elbow, “How can you leave Edelweiss alone!?” Zheng Shuang was still in his uniform; he must have come directly from his station. He came forward and placed a hand on my shoulder. “Would that you knew what a ruckus it was at the station when we heard about your disappearance. Even the Director himself has ordered for a special task force to search for you! That should impress upon you on how important you are to us!” Chongxi nudged at Big Sister, noticing her and the still-restrained Na San for the first time. “And errr… what have we here…”

With her magical powers, Big Sister’s maintained the appearance of a gorgeous young woman. She might not be as ravishing as Mother, but she would have no trouble having her own flock of admirers in no time. With everyone’s attention on her, she blushed like a helpless and demure young lass in need of a gallant prince to rescue her.

Through the crowd that congregated around me, I saw Edelweiss. She was looking at me from afar, standing alone at the back with traces of tears visible on her cheeks. She must have misunderstood me and Big Sister, otherwise, she would have been the first to rush to me and leap on to me with an excited hug and not hiding at the back weeping alone.

I ran to her, wading through the crowd. With a silly giggle, I hugged her. “You must be worried sick, my dear. Heh heh heh.” She wrapped her arms around me, unable to hold back any more tears and two lines streamed down her face quietly. I pinched at her cheeks softly, teasing her gently, “Why are you crying? How were you a horse bandit feared by all when you like to cry so much?”

A loud Ahem! From the crowd over my back reminded me that we were in public and I let go of Edelweiss, both of us looking sheepish and embarrassed. I hastily diverted everyone’s attention and quickly introduced, “This is my long-lost Big Sister, Murong Qinglan. And the man she’s holding is our captive.” Chongxi pulled a face and muttered, “Long lost Big Sister?!” But before I could explain, he chuckled and said to Big Sister, “Well, you are not just a simple lass, are you, Big Sister Qinglan?”

Chongxi has indeed taken up after his teacher. True to their calling as seers, they were so accustomed to reading people from their faces. As soon as they had met, Chongxi had immediately realized that Big Sister was not a human. Everyone else was still wearing confused and bewildered looks, clearly not understanding what Chongxi was saying when Big Sister plucked her beret cap off her head and revealed her fox’s ears. That was enough to make everyone hold their breaths. “She’s not human, but a fox demon…” And a slap from Big Sister on my head cut me off.

On our way back to Wu Zhong, Chongxi turned to me and said, “We’ve received a letter during your three-day escapade, Brother Yan. It’s from Zhigui.”

“Letter?!” I blurted incredulously, “What is he? A cavemen?! What’s wrong with a phone call?!”