Epilogue: The North Wind Blows

A freezing wind spoke from the north, cutting through the Dueling Peaks in the small hours of the morning. The world outside was hushed, a thin film of snow covering the frozen ground. Xiulan’s office mirrored the bleakness outside.

 

There was no light nor warmth here. No flame lit the hearth, nor light emanated from candle flame or light stone. Missing too were the voices that would fill her office and the bustle of moving bodies. Today there was only the rattle of the wind and the soft sound of a brush ghosting over parchment.

 

Xiulan was seated at her desk. It normally bore the weight of many stacks of neat, orderly, scrolls and papers. Now, it was nearly empty. Save for the single scroll upon which Xiulan wrote. .

 

Finished writing she set aside her brush. Then she pulled out her seal and pressed it to the page. She took a moment to blow on the ink and ensure it was dry before she rolled the scroll up and sealed it.

 

Her last task completed, Xiulan stood from her chair and walked to the door. Once she reached it she turned around and spared the room a final glance.She had actually become oddly fond of the room and its big desk over the months. She smiled, turned, and exited the room at last.

 

“Everything all finished Grand Marshal?” Bao Wen askedfrom where he stood outside, and she nodded.

 

“Yes. Please ensure this gets to Director Huizhong,” Xiulan replied, handing the young man the scroll.

 

“It will be as you command Grand Marshal,” the young man said with a bow before he rose with a small smile. “We shall miss you greatly during the days you are away.”

 

Xiulan chuckled. “I shan’t be gone long, Bao Wen. We still have more work to do… but everybody deserves a rest. Especially yourself.”

 

Bao Wen coughed sheepishly. Xiulan had actually had to scold him for working too hard. He had been sleeping in his office, trying to keep up with the amount of hours cultivators could work. Bao Wen recovered swiftly from his embarrassment, however, and clasped his hands in the gesture of respect.

 

“Then allow me to wish you a good Solstice and a wonderful New Year, Grand Marshal.”

 

Xiulan’s smile softened and she collapsed her hands together as well. “You as well, Bao Wen. Have a wonderful Solstice and a happy New Year—with luck, I shall hear of a date for your wedding.”

 

Bao Wen beamed.

 

With that, they went their separate ways. Bao Wen, back to his duties. And Xiulan, out of the quiet mountain.

 

The corridors of the Dueling Peaks were as empty as her office. Almost everybody had gone home to celebrate the Solstice and the New Year. There would be a few scouts and rangers who would remain, volunteers to watch over the wide reaches of the Hills over the break. None of them were expecting any trouble, but if something did arise… Well, then Xiulan and her dear friends would come to assist.

 

And whatever caused a disturbance big enough to have Xiulan come running to confront it, interrupting her most important period of rest and relaxation, would perish.

 

If Xiulan got to it first, of course. Tigu was getting extremely fast with her movement technique, and Xianghua at full steam was more like a superheated arrow than a human.

 

Xiulan chuckled at the thought as she finally came out of the mountain into the cold air. The sky was slightly brighter now, with the coming sunrise, but it was still overcast and grey.

 

Xiulan’s feet took her through the town. Over the new waterways that weren’t freezing, due to the subtle warmth of the channels beneath them. Past her own sect’s compound, where she had already wished her father and her students a wonderful break. An Ran was headed to Grass Sea City. Huyi was going to spend time with his family and “make sure that bastard is good enough for my cute little sister.” Xi Bu and Li were among those who had volunteered to stay and make sure nothing went wrong in their absence.

 

Her father and the Elders would be in seclusion for the next few months as they finished digesting their memory crystal.

 

Xiulan started humming to herself as her feet moved to that old beat. She danced alone, now. The normal slight pushback she felt from her “dancing partner” was absent.

 

It might have been a cause for concern, normally, but Xiulan knew where her friend was.

 

Half-remembered dreams of helping a good friend build a house for the winter tickled the back of her mind. As did the warm smile of the little girl as they tucked her in and kissed her good night.

 

Tianlan’s smile was the one thing she did remember with full clarity; peaceful. Relaxed. Happy.

 

It had put Xiulan in a good mood too.

 

Soon enough, she came to the square. The first one she spotted was Tigu. Her bright red knitted hat immediately caught the eye… but it was more the fact that she was standing on top of a statue, her arms crossed, and pouting at the lack of sunlight.

 

Her tan was already starting to fade a bit, and she was most cross with that predicament.

 

Next, she spied Xianghua, learning against the statue. Xiulan raised an eyebrow at the red hat she also wore, with her headband firmly overtop it. Xianghua was talking with the Torrent Rider, the younger man having forgone his mask today to also wear a red knitted hat.

 

In fact, all of her comrades were similarly dressed. From Delun to Loud Boy, to even Huo Ten and Shaggy Two.

 

“Blade of Grass! Are you finally done?” Tigu demanded, shouting from the top of the statue.

 

“Indeed I am. Are the rest of you ready to go?” Xiulan asked, and received nods and confirmations as the rest of their party started standing. “Excellent. With luck, we’ll make good time today—”

 

“Hold on a second!” Tigu interrupted, hopping off the statue. “You’re improperly dressed!”

 

Xiulan rolled her eyes even as she allowed Tigu to put a red hat over her head. Stepping back, hands on hip, Tigu looked her up and down before nodding decisively with a self-assured grin, one of her fangs poking over her lips,

 

“Did you make this?” Xiulan asked.

 

“Mm! Master said everybody needs a red winter To ke!”

 

“Thank you, Tigu.” Xiulan said. “Now, am I permitted to go, Captain, as I am no longer violating any rules on the standards of dress?”

 

“I shall allow it! Everybody, move out! We’re headed home!” Tigu shouted. But contrary to her booming voice, they began moving at a leisurely pace. Slow enough that Shaggy Two could bound alongside them, rather than have to be carried.

 

Not all of them would be coming back to Fa Ram; Loud Boy and Rags would be breaking off soon to go back to their gang’s fortress, and Delun would be spending the Solstice with his family.

 

But for now they travelled together, just like old times. They laughed and joked like they hadn’t in a while.

 

The enormous task that they had put on their shoulders seemed to lessen with every step as they travelled north.

 

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

=============================

 

A rooster stared up at the heavens from where he sat at the entrance to an icy cave. It was mid-day, and yet the sun was still nowhere to be found. This far north, at this time of year, it never rose beyond the horizon. It was a land of perpetual darkness.

 

But that did not mean that it was without its own wonders. The rooster’s eyes were locked on something he had never seen before; shifting colored light filled the dark sky. It danced and undulated like a living thing, while the stars shone their cold light from high above.

 

“For being such an inhospitable place, it is quite beautiful,” a soft voice from beside him mused, and Bi De turned his gaze to Ri Zu, who was in human form. Her eyes were also locked on the “Aurora”.

 

“Indeed, its beauty is something to behold,” Bi De replied. “But by your presence, I assume it is time to move on again?”

 

Ri Zu nodded, and Bi De returned it.

 

The demons had retreated very far into the Sea of Snow. In fact, they had discovered collapsed tunnels and the remains of some kind of formation that Master Shen Yu had said created flying swords nearly as large as his own and sped them down what looked like tracks in the icy walls.

 

Instead of finding their prey swiftly, they would have to search, going deeper and deeper into this place.

 

But such was their duty. Bi De and Ri Zu glanced back at the cave, where their comrades started to march out. Yushang, Fat Han, Shao Heng, Fengxian, and Yingwen. All grimaced as they walked out of the warmer cave and into the bitter cold of the frozen cave. Shen Yu and Nezan didn’t react at all.

 

“Forward,” Shen Yu commanded, and his words were heeded; They set out into the darkness, their feet carrying them north.

 

========================================

 

“Yes, Elder Zeng, there is a cultivator who lives in the town. He hides his Qi well, yet this disciple would reckon his Realm to be of Earth. It could not be anything less. I have also heard tales of other cultivators coming and going—outside the two that were part of the merchant caravan’s guard, though they were nothing noteworthy. Basically peasants, seeing as they were assisting the mortals in moving goods,” a woman wearing black clothes and a dark veil watched carefully as one of the Outriders gave his report to Zang Zeng.

 

The man had been wearing so many suppression seals for this mission he would have been completely indistinguishable from a mortal in terms of Qi—and he had not been that powerful to begin with, at the Third Stage of the Initiate’s Realm. Weak, but loyal, and perfect for a clandestine mission. Even if his suppressors somehow came off, he would be mistaken for the trash that filled this province.