25. Chapter Twenty-Five #2
Ren Shang’s smile falters as he glances at me. I straighten and draw Fanqing closer, ignoring her inquiring glance. “I hope my cousin is well,” I state like I didn’t see him just earlier this evening. “What brings you to Yanzhou, are you still hunting that smuggler?”
Fanqing stiffens under my hold, although I have no idea why my mention of the smuggler causes her to react that way. Surely, she isn’t worried about the smuggler.
I have always been a peaceful criminal, not that there is a lot of violence to be found in smuggling…at least not if you are any good at it, which I like to think I am. But then perhaps her run in with the fox spirit has just left her shaken up and afraid of every shadow.
I want to assure her that the Master of Shadows would never hurt her, but that would involve admitting that I am, in fact, the Master of Shadows. And that’s not a conversation that I can see ending well, even if she hasn’t been personally sent by the emperor to spy on me.
Ren Shang presses his lips together into a hard line before he glances to the side.
“Indeed, as you know, we have been tracking this smuggling ring for some time. However, there is something special about Yanzhou. Despite its size and proximity to the capital, even though it has this large ghost market, their elusive leader has never established ties here.” Ren Shang holds up his hand, stroking his chin. “There has to be a reason.”
Fanqing reaches out, grasping my arm which she then proceeds to grip hard. I grimace slightly. I think I’m going to have indentations of her nails in my skin. However, I force myself to keep my arm around her, she must be very frightened by this conversation to be acting this way.
I pat her shoulder gently, trying to maneuver my arm away from her hold. “I am afraid that I am busy with my own case and cannot aid you.”
“Of course, stopping a killer from prowling the streets is of the utmost importance.” Ren Shang inclines his head to me.
As he does so I catch sight of two familiar figures making their way toward us in the street.
Ehuang is skipping ahead, her head swaying slightly and a smile plastered across her face as if she hasn’t a care in the world.
And a few steps behind her Wen is following along with a glare on his face, looking very put out over having been dragged out this late at night.
He likely angry to be missing out on some prime stargazing time.
I nudge Fanqing slightly. “Ah, I believe that I see your sister and my cousin coming over here. Fancy all of us running into each other here.”
Fanqing’s grip becomes even tighter and it’s all I can do to not gasp out as her nails dig into my skin. “Actually,” she says quietly. “I was hoping to speak to you alone, husband.”
I glance at her startled, surprised that she doesn’t want to speak to her sister. But then, they did just converse earlier this evening. Likewise, I just spoke with Wen, so I suppose that we don’t have to wait to speak of them.
I nod to Ren Shang. “You will have to forgive us, but my wife is tired after a long day. We will take our leave now, please pass on my best to your partners.”
Ren Shang had turned to watch Wen and Ehuang approach, but he whips his head back around to look at me. His eyes dart to Fanqing and then he forces a shaky smile. “Of course,” he says, bowing slightly.
I turn around as Fanqing releases her hold on my arm, I take a hold of her hand, and we start back through the ghost market.
No one calls after us, so I assume that Ehuang didn’t see us.
If Wen did, he wouldn’t make a scene of it either way.
I trace us through some back alleys I just passed through so I know that they will be largely empty.
I stop in front of a low wall that is blocking our path and turn to Fanqing. She glances from me to the wall in confusion before I lean forward, scooping her up into my arms.
“What are you—” she begins as I take two steps forward and leap. There is a crate in front of the wall, I step on that, rising into the air and landing carefully perched on the top of the wall. I glance down at Fanqing as she stares at me with wide eyes before I drop effortlessly to the other side.
Quanyu lands right next to me, not even making a sound as he does so. I glance over at him and nod down the alleyway. “Go make certain we aren’t disturbed.”
Quanyu nods once, he holds my gaze, widening his eyes slightly as if he is trying to inform me of something before he glances at Fanqing, swallows.
Without a word, he takes off down the alleyway with his sword in hand, sprinting out of sight.
If anyone comes, then he will imitate the sound of an owl to let me know.
It’s our agreed upon call signal, and honestly something I was missing greatly while I was out this evening, and he was at the governor’s mansion protecting Fanqing.
Speaking of Fanqing...
I turn my attention back to her, setting her gently on the ground. She steps back, shaking out her clothes and trying to adjust her hair. “Was all that really necessary?” she asks with a little pout.
I don’t know why, but I find her expression absolutely hilarious. I let out a chuckle, reaching out and tucking a strand that escaped her updo back behind her ear. Her eyes widen slightly at my touch, and I quickly drop my hand, clearing my throat. “You said that you wanted to speak alone.”
She folds her arms. “You didn’t have to carry me. I am a cultivator. I am perfectly capable of flying on my own.”
I smirk, remembering our first meeting when she tumbled out of the tree. “I have yet to see any evidence of that. All I have witnessed is you falling.”
Fanqing gasps as she steps back. “That was your fault!”
I can’t help the chuckle that escapes for a second time.
I place my hand over my mouth to hide my smile.
To be honest, I cannot even remember the last time I smiled and laughed freely, but I have the sneaking suspicion it wasn’t any time after I became the Fourth Lord.
“What use is a skill that can be so easily cancelled out by someone else?” I hold up my two fingers, mimicking the position that I make when I use my magic cancelling spell.
Fanqing smacks my hand. “You’re the only one capable of doing that, so as long as you behave yourself, my magic still stands.
Look.” She opens up the small pouch hanging from her belt and pulls out a small leaflet of paper.
She holds it between her fingers, closing her eyes as the symbol for air glows slightly.
Then she leaps up, twirling slightly midair.
Her legs move as if she is walking, but as she does so she rises into the air.
She kicks off the nearby wall, spinning through the air as she moves.
I fold my arms as I watch her. I will admit, there is a certain grace and beauty to her movements.
I could jump up and bounce off that wall if I wanted to, but I would not look quite as good doing it.
Fanqing looks like she is moving with the air itself.
Her skirts flying around her as she lowers back to the ground, smiling smugly as she places the talisman into her pouch.
She looks so carefree now. I’m not sure if I have ever seen her this happy. She truly does love her magic and practicing it.