(Day 290)

  Chen Hongzhang and Chen Zhi walked slowly, talking quietly to each other as Jin Nanxi led them through the narrow fissure. The boy was quite a distance ahead. Well out of earshot. He gave darting looks upward, as if he expected an enemy to attack from above at any moment. And when he wasn’t searching the canyon walls he was shooting furtive glances back at the elders.

  “What will happen?”, Zhi asked the Sect Head.

  “I don’t know. It’s a mess.”

  “No one has come looking yet. Maybe nothing will come of it.”

  “Maybe.”

  “But you don’t think so?”

  “I don’t know. The future has always been a mystery to me.” Chen Hongzhang sighed. “I wish Master Enlai was here to guide me.”

  “You’ve done well on your own.”

  “It’s different now. We’re so close to rejoining the world. And the closer that day comes, the less equipped I feel for my position.” The man’s frame was sturdy despite his age, but his shoulders sagged under the weight of responsibility.

  They walked silence for a while. The stream that had coursed through the canyon at the height of summer had receded. The cold of autumn had put an end to the snowmelt. The rock beneath their feet was littered with the detritus that had been left by the receding waters.

  Nanxi stopped at a natural alcove in the rock wall. Too small and shallow to call a cave.

  “Here.” The boy said simply.

  The elders dusted off boulders and swept up their robes to sit comfortably. The Sect Leader fixed the disciple with a glare.

  “Well? Get on with it.”

  “Ugh…”

  Nanxi crawled into the nook on all fours. Only his hindquarters stuck out of the opening. Small and large rocks began to roll out between his legs as he uncovered what he had buried there months before. After several minutes, he backed out of the crevice dragging a large worn out sack.

  “Show me.” Chen Hongzhang commanded.

  Nanxi reluctantly pulled open the bag.

  The empty eye sockets of a human skull stared upward, and more bones were just visible beneath.

  ******************************************************************************

  (Day 330)

  Breath in. Breath out. The inner sea of his dantian churned and he contemplated the ‘Mystical Heaven Infinite Skill’ method. According to Chen Rulan, it was a dead-end for Pengfei. Something he would need to replace on his journey through the martial arts. But for now, it was the best he could do.

  There was fog with each exhale. The short season of warmth was already over. Long gone. Wasted in the work of the valley and the isolation of the cell. It was true winter now. Snow occasionally fell despite the generally dry climate of the region.

  Not even the neigong Pengfei practiced could completely protect him against the cold. He meditated with his heavy coat on, and a blanket wrapped over his shoulders.

  The Great Circuit of the Governing and Conception meridians. Then circulating to the major organs and their paired opposites. The pathways of his energy maintained the balance of Yin and Yang in his body.

  Pengfei couldn’t feel that balance. The subtleties of qi were still lost on him. Equilibrium wasn’t something he was striving for. But until he found a more suitable style, he wouldn’t venture one way or the other toward the extremes.

  He could feel the increase in his reserves of energy. It wasn’t much, not enough to bring him into range of his peers who had practiced longer. But he was gaining. The isolation, the boredom, had seen to that.

  The neigong helped Pengfei maintain his sanity as the lonely days stretched into weeks. He had begun this period of confinement like the previous. Focused on his martial arts, especially the ‘Heaven Shaking Fist’ and the ‘Arhat Fist’. But his taste of freedom in the valley had made this stint even more unbearable; made worse by the knowledge it would not be the last.

  Still, he had dutifully wiled away his time in a silent repetition, carried on from one day to the next.

  Wake. Practice. Eat. Practice. Read the provided texts of mathematics and astronomy, just to give his mind some stimulation. Then more practice.

  The meditation, the cultivation of energy, was something he did in the evenings. Once the cave was dark and his body was tired.

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  But then, what should have been the last day of a month-long imprisonment came and went.

  Pengfei counted and recounted the little marks he had made on the stone wall. Twenty-eight days. He was due to be released again, so he could tend to the horses in the valley and instruct his fellow disciples in riding. That was the schedule the elders had agreed upon in the clinic, on the night that Chen Weidao had stormed in and demanded Pengfei’s expulsion.

  But the sun rose and set, again and again, with no sign of reprieve.

  Pengfei tried to keep to his routine. Focus on the martial arts and put all other concerns to the side. However, with every punch and kick, his focus drifted. His eyes kept wandering to the mouth of the cave, looking expectantly for the arrival of Chen Ji. Or Chen Rulan. Or one of the other elders. Anyone who could take him away.

  Footwork became anxious pacing. His training was hampered by the anxiety of simply not knowing. The only freedom he found was in his neigong. In the quiet concentration he could forget the external world. His conscious thoughts faded into background noise.

  More and more of his waking hours were spent in the self-imposed catatonia. Pengfei would slip inside himself while the sun was just appearing, watch as the cycles of his energy flowed through their mesmerizing revolutions, then open his eyes in the night.

  One week passed like this, then two. Soon, and agonizingly slowly, another month had elapsed.

  And here he was again, breathing in and out, huddled under a mass of fabric that insulated him from the temperature. The sun was setting. Pengfei slowly opened his eyes to see a sky purple in the twilight.

  --They’ve forgotten me.--

  It was the first thought he could articulate as his conscious mind returned to the forefront.

  He stood and walked stiffly, only to lay back down a few paces away and traded one kind of unconsciousness for another. He slipped into an apathetic slumber as soon as he was flat on his bedroll.

  The wind howling across the cave opening was deafening at times. As loud as the fiercest storms he had seen growing up in Sichuan. But he could sleep through the sound easily now.

  It was a candle that woke him. A spark, when his dozing mind knew there should be only darkness. Pengfei sat bolt upright and instinctively crawled backwards away from the light.

  A short figure was there. Only the face was illuminated, but the identity was hard to read in the strange interplay of shadows. Only recognizable when the candle was put down on a nearby crate.

  “Elder Ji!” Pengfei shouted and sprang to his feet. He rushed to the man and hugged him. In that moment, he felt genuine affection for the strange little man. “I thought you would leave me here forever!”

  “Alright, alright.” Chen Ji huffed kindly, patting the boy’s shoulder. “Pack your things.”

  “Of course!” Pengfei grabbed a canvas satchel and began to fill it, faster than he needed to, eager to be gone. “You know, I’ve packed and unpacked this a dozen times. Hahaha, you really made me wait this time.”

  “Yes… sorry about the delay child.”

  One bag was filled with the small library he had accumulated. He stuffed his short swords into the other bag, with clothes and small personal items.

  The sky was just beginning to lighten with a hint of dawn when Pengfei finished. Chen Ji carried the candle as he walked through the cell for a final time. He seemed satisfied that everything had been collected and led the way to the ledge.

  “Give me those. Focus on the climb.”

  The elder took the bags from Pengfei, freeing the boy to make the nerve-racking climb unencumbered. It was the most eager the disciple had ever been to take that first terrifying step onto the cliff face.

  A smooth ascent, even in the dim light. Just a few minutes to reach the mountain path above the cells and then they were headed back toward the sect. Pengfei expected Chen Ji to lead him past the main gate and down into the valley, but the elder actually ushered him into the main compound. The boy didn’t say anything. He was simply happy to be in the grounds after nearly five months. He looked this way and that for any sign of his friends but he knew it was too early for them to be about.

  --Wonder if he’ll let me grab a hot meal while we’re here?--

  Instead, Elder Ji brought them to the Medicine Hall where Chen Lei and Chen Rulan were waiting. Pengfei didn’t impulsively embrace the men like he had just a few minutes ago, but couldn’t keep a smile from his face when he saluted.

  “Elders! It’s good to see you.”

  “Pengfei. You look like you’ve lost weight.” Chen Lei observed, with a warm pat on the shoulder.

  “Probably. It was hard to force down the grain balls in the cell.”

  “Haha…This one has been feeding me worse than that.” Chen Rulan chuckled with a nod of his head toward the doctors.

  “Oh, are you feeling alright, sir?”

  “Fine, fine.”

  Pengfei looked his teacher up and down, but was distracted a moment later when Chen Ji took one of the bags from his shoulder and started emptying its contents onto one of the clinic’s beds.

  “Weidao wants this back… and this one.” The elder picked out several of the books and set them aside in a neat stack.

  Chen Rulan stepped forward to protect the ‘Arhat Fist’ manual. “This one is mine. And the sect has plenty of copies of theses… and he doesn’t even know I borrowed this.”

  The collection was divided up between the men, one pile destined for return to the Scripture Hall, and one pile saved from confiscation by Rulan. The approved texts went back into Pengfei’s bag.

  “Did you leave anything in your cell? Or in the dormitory? Any personal items?” Elder Rulan asked.

  “No… I didn’t come to Kunlun with much. This is everything I own, sir.”

  A seed of doubt was taking root in Pengfei’s mind. Confusion.

  --This isn’t like the last time I went down to the valley. What’s going on?--

  Before he could ask, Chen Rulan was handing back the belongings and making ready to leave.

  “Come along boy. I want to be in the valley before breakfast.”

  “No need to rush! Take it easy, you old fool.” Chen Lei chided his martial brother. And to the disciple, the doctor gave more than his usual parting nod. “Stay safe, boy.”

  “Take care of yourself out there.” Chen Ji added.

  Pengfei bowed deeply to them, and then quickly ducked out the door behind Chen Rulan.

  They were back outside the sect’s gate a minute later. The elder carried nothing and kept a brisk walking pace. Pengfei adjusted his luggage awkwardly but kept up with ease. He tried to strike up conversation with his teacher.

  “You’re coming to the valley with me, Elder Rulan?”

  “…Yes.”

  “I’m sure the other disciples will be glad to have your instruction this month. I know I’m happy for it. Do you think we could review the ‘Arhat Fist’ tonight?”

  “If you like.”

  “Unfortunately, I haven’t made much progress with the other martial – “

  “Child, I’m still waking up from a poor night’s sleep. Let’s walk in silence for a while.” Rulan said curtly, but not with any venom. Pengfei took the comment at face value and fell silent with an obedient nod.

  Rulan led the pair down the mountain path. Pengfei didn’t say another word, deciding to let the elder initiate any further conversation. None came. The man never stopped for rest or water, but didn’t use his qinggong either. They barely made it down the mountain by midday, let alone breakfast.

  Pengfei noticed Horse when they came within view of the sect’s herding grounds. She wasn’t particularly distinct in appearance, but the way she sprinted at ridiculous speed for no apparent reason was unmistakable. She had recently kept to the north, near the bunkhouse and paddock that had been built recently. But here she was, in what was still the domain of the goats, sheep, and yaks. And there was another mount tethered to the old outbuilding.

  A couple disciples stood to greet the elder, nodded amicably at Pengfei, when the pair approached.

  “Ready the horses,” Chen Rulan said after waving off the other boys. He wiped sweat from his brow despite the cold air.

  “Yes, sir.” Pengfei responded with an arched eyebrow but did as he was told. He was confused but pleasantly surprised that someone had transported his personal saddle here from the bunkhouse.

  First, the colt out front. Then a whistle brought Horse charging in. A quick rub of the neck was their greeting. She accepted her harness without complaint and even nipped at him to hurry the process along.

  There were saddle bags as well, brought out by the other boys. Pengfei didn’t inquire about their contents, though they were heavy. He just lashed them to Chen Rulan’s mount. Pengfei secured his own belongings to Horse, then stepped up in his stirrup and threw his leg over her back.

  “Ready, Elder Rulan.”

  The man steadied himself at his animal’s side and with great care climbed into his saddle with a huff. He took an oddly long look back at Kunlun’s mountain.

  “Let’s go then. We have quite a way to travel still.”

  The elder dug his heels in and his colt trotted forward.

  “The bunkhouse isn’t that far, sir. It’s just around the next bend in the valley.”

  Elder Rulan pursed his lips strangely. Took a deep breath. “You and I… we’re heading further north.”