v4c47: Arrival at the Peaks

It was still light out when Xiulan and her companions set up their camp. In the hour or two left of sunlight they could have pushed on and made it to the Dueling Peaks, but instead she had called a stop to their journey for the night.

When the fire was ready, and the leaping deer had been dressed by the Torrent Rider and Loud Boy, Xiulan bid them all to sit, for she had a few words for them all.

They all settled on the ground in a circle.

“Tomorrow, we will arrive at the Dueling Peaks,” Xiulan began after a moment. “We’ve already had an adventure coming this far, haven’t we?”

“A bit of an understatement,” Xianghua said while leaning against a rock. She had a little smirk on her face.

Xiulan agreed. It was a bit of an understatement.

“Installing a Sectmaster, convincing the Verdant Blade Sect to join us, busting a slavery ring… all of us ascending at least a stage upon our cultivation.” She continued with a soft smile. ”We’ve come a long way, and I’m proud of every step I’ve traveled with such fine companions.”

Xiulan saw Rags blush and scratch the back of his head while Loud Boy preened. Yin ruffled the Torrent Rider’s hair and Shaggy Two yipped happily, sitting tall and proud. Tigu turned to Handsome Man and smiled, while Delun smiled back. He didn’t look awkward when he did that anymore. Xianghua just nodded, like it was obvious.

Xiulan took a breath. “Tomorrow, our true journey begins. We will be before every sect in the Hills. We will be battling thousands of years of precedent. This path of ours is not easy—and that is why it is all the more worthy of trying to walk. Tomorrow, we will stride into the Dueling Peaks and confront everybody who lives there.”

Xiulan looked at them all. Really looked at them, searching for the nervousness she felt. Instead, she found only smiles and confidence. Confidence in their mission. Confidence in her. Confidence that they were ready for anything that the Dueling Peaks might throw at them.

…They truly were one of a kind, her companions.

“This may be the last night of peace we have until we return home. The last night where people aren’t scrutinizing our every move,” Xiulan warned, somewhat sadly. “So… I have something for us.” She opened her pack and took out a gift from home and from Jin; a small bottle of spirits. Not the mead from Vajra, but still a powerful vintage that could even get cultivators as strong as them to feel it.

“One last time, let’s let loose!”

A cheer rose up from her companions.

Tigu handed out cups to everybody. Xiulan poured them all a saucer of the wine, and then raised it up in toast.

“To us dandelion seeds, floating in the breeze!” Xiulan shouted.

“To a province that no longer has to fear the dark!” Tigu replied, raising up her saucer.

“To marching forwards into that new dawn!” Xianghua said, copying Tigu.

“To those who came before us!” Delun called.

“And the ones who’ll come after!” Rags completed.

“To a world that isn’t defined by suffering!” Loud Boy called.

“To all of us finding our places!” Yin continued.

“To more adventures!” the Torrent Rider finished.

“Yip!” Shaggy Two joined in.

“Ganbei!” all of them shouted.

Their saucers clinked together and they downed the potent brew.

“YEEEEAAAAH!” Rags roared after he finished his drink. Tigu grinned and pulled out the pippa she had bought in Grass Sea City. Loud Boy produced a reed pipe.

Xiulan laughed as one of Master Jin’s songs started echoing out across the plains, seeming to touch the moon high above. She did wish that Jin, Meiling, Bi De, Chun Ke, and all the rest of Fa Ram were here as well. She would have liked to do this with them too.

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Xiulan stood and held out a hand to Xianghua. Her friend grabbed it, and Xiulan pulled her up so they could go and dance around the fire like Rags, Yin, and the Torrent Rider were already doing. Delun looked like he was going to remain sitting, so Xiulan grabbed him too.

He barked out a laugh, but made no move to stop her.

It was a wonderful night. They danced, they sang, and they drank. Loud Boy and Rags put chopsticks in their nose and under their bottom lips and started an impromptu comedy routine.

The pippa was traded around—some people playing with more skill than others. Yin made the instrument positively howl when she finally got a turn, so much so that Shaggy Two leapt up and started gnawing on her face.

They played simple, silly games. They collected crickets and raced them as the firebugs danced through the air. They sang the raunchiest songs they knew, songs that had the Torrent Rider’s face go pink when he finally got some of the innuendo.

It was wonderful. Eventually, it all had to come to an end, however.

As the embers burned low, they gathered around once again and stared up at the night sky, brimming with thousands of stars.

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When they awoke the next morning, it was still dark.

They packed up camp swiftly, and for the last hour they simply sat together, facing the shadow in the distance.

Slowly, the sky lightend. First to grey, and then to purple, and finally to pink.