v4c7: The Children of the Mist

“Welcome, Honoured Guests, to the Misty Lake Sect,” the members of the Misty Lake Sect intoned.

Zhang Fei, known as the Torrent Rider, kept his back as straight as he could as he marched into the center of a sect’s compound. The main walkway was flanked on either side by disciples and students, their hands clasped in salute. Xianghua was at the head of their group, discussing something with a cool-looking old guy. He looked so dignified! Like a human Master! He was even stroking his beard like how Master stroked his wattles. Surely, if Master had a human form, he would look just as old and wise!

He was certainly powerful, too!

It was still a bit strange to be welcomed like this, but Zhang Fei did his best not to show that he was nervous and let everybody else down. Instead, he mentally recited his Master’s teachings on how to walk properly and matched the unhurried pace that Xianghua and the distinguished old man were setting. He was the smallest and least impressive out of everybody, and he hoped that he wouldn’t detract from them.

Xiulan looked regal as she strode forward, and most eyes were on her. Big Sis Tigu, just to her right, oozed danger and grace. Delun, the next up, looked like he would make the earth tremble with each step, standing head and shoulders taller than the others and clad in thick plates of armor. Yin, her mouth currently shut, looked like an ethereal fairy gliding through the mist, while Loud Boy and Rags ambled along, their smiles a matching pair of roguish grins.

Zhang Fei brought up the rear with Shaggy Two. He took a deep breath, concentrating on his Master’s teachings of temperance and a calm mind. He drew strength from his rooster mask as well, its form imparting him with some measure of his Master’s noble and erect bearing. With it on he was sure he did not look out of place; instead, he looked like a mysterious warrior, a protector of the weak!

He pushed his doubts from his mind and focused instead on his surroundings!

Because the compound that was steadily emerging from the mist was huge.

Fei guessed that the island they were on was already at least twice the size of the one that Master Jin lived on—and unlike his island between two rivers, this palace was nearly filled with buildings.

In contrast to the Lakemen’s mobile homes, the buildings here looked far more like traditional Imperial architecture. They had wide tiled roofs, instead of thatch, but there were still some design elements that looked similar; just rendered in wood instead of reeds.

And… the entire place just felt old. It was a palpable feeling in the air. The weight of centuries—and aside from the greeting earlier, the entire place was almost eerily silent.

The walkway also had, at even intervals, massive stone pillars. They were inlaid with veins of topaz, jet, and white jade that had been worked to look like koi. The faint sunlight shining through the mist caught the faceting on the reliefs, the flashing light making it almost look like they were moving.

Coming from a family of miners and silversmiths, he could appreciate the craftsmanship. Judging from the noise Big Sis Tigu made, so could she.

Eventually, they peeled off. Xianghua went with her Elders, and the rest of them were directed to a pavilion that looked out onto the lake that already had tables set and servants waiting to get them food and drink.

The Torrent Rider kept himself composed, even when he realized he would have to reveal his face to the world to eat properly.

“You holdin’ up okay?” Yin asked him. The woman was looking at him with a bit of concern.

“I think I’m good,” he whispered back. He had learned decorum lessons from his Great Master and Lady Pi Pa! He was ready for anything!

Hopefully.

Yin smiled at him and then went back to eating, scooping a massive pile of rice into her mouth and then chewing loudly. Truly, Zhang Fei was lucky to have such kindly Sisters looking out for him.

The entire journey had been very nice so far, actually. Zhang Fei had gotten to learn and see so much! He got to defeat some more bandits on the road! He got to see the city! He got to study his Master’s teachings without all the interruptions of looking after the sheep or helping with the chemicals they used to get the silver out of the rock.

Yin, Rags, and Loud Boy taught him all kinds of swears. Mr. Delun taught him how to better take care of his spear, and they swapped notes on metal refining. Miss Xiulan meditated with him in the mornings; Big Sis Tigu had been given permission by his Master to teach him, and she was super kind and patient—when she wasn’t fawning over Shaggy Two. And Big Sis Xianghua was just a funny lady.

The only thing he could say he didn’t like was that Yin, Rags, and Xianghua seemed to like using his head as an armrest.

They finished their food, and then, like the village parties Fei had been to, it seemed time to mingle and get to know people.

To Fei’s surprise, he was approached almost immediately by a boy who looked about his age, while Xiulan and Tigu were greeted by a few people that they seemed to know.

“So… you’re one of our Young Mistress’ companions?” the boy asked. He looked a bit like Big Bro Bowu and Xianghua, something about his eyebrows. But he had a bit of a nasty look in his eyes.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“Yes! This one is Zhang Fei, known as the Torrent Rider!” Zhang Fei introduced himself politely despite his misgivings. “Might I have the honour of knowing your name?”

“You may address this Young Master as Liu Xianglan,” he said. “I am the Young Mistress’ cousin—and my noble father is Elder Liu Xiangshi.”

“It’s nice to meet you. Your sect is amazing; the murals of the koi are especially spectacular.”

The other guy seemed a bit taken aback, but his chest puffed out in pride as he took in the compliment. “Indeed, our Sect is quite grand—you’ve probably never seen anything like it.”

“I haven’t! Are there any places that you could show us? Miss Xianghua told us she would show us around, but she’s busy right now.”

“I suppose I could—no, that can wait until later!” Xianglan said, shaking his head. “I would take your measure. I will allow you the honour of trading pointers with this Young Master! What say you… ‘Torrent Rider?’”

The boy was smirking again. It seemed almost like what Xiulan had warned him about—like Xianglan was just looking for an excuse to hurt him. But they were in Xianghua’s sect, so they were friends, right? It would just be a normal sparring match, wouldn’t it?

Fei turned to look at Yin, who was indisposed—a man was leaning across the table and trying to flirt with her. She was completely ignoring him, but that just seemed to be making him try harder.

Instead, he managed to catch Xiulan’s eye. She looked at him for a moment, then nodded.

He had permission then! “Ah, yes! Let’s have a good match?” he said.

And then the entire courtyard went silent.

Tables were quickly cleared away, and there was an impromptu arena ready for him and Xianglan.

“Good luck, Torrent Rider!” Tigu shouted from the sidelines. Shaggy Two yipped from her arms.

“Ha! He’s going up against Elder Xiangshi’s boy. It’s already over,” the man who was flirting with Yin said. “And really, he’s your companion, Fairy Sister? What kind of fool wears an ugly chicken mask?”

Zhang Fei’s face flushed, pulling the mask down over his face. It wasn’t ugly! It was cool! It looked like his Master!

Seeing her companion’s reaction to the insult, Yin finally turned to speak with the guy who had been trying to talk to her.

“Haaa? Ugly? It’s better lookin’ than you, asshat,” she said evenly. The man looked like she had just stabbed him in the heart, but she continued with merciless disdain. “And what kind of man wears it? The kind of crazy little fucker that went toe to toe with a Spirit Beast when he was a mortal.”

Her declaration echoed throughout the pavilion as Zhang Fei unlimbered his beloved spear, Moon Spur—and his sparring partner suddenly lost his smirk.