Pei Yun did not notice her distraction and spoke gently. “Our leader asks your name and why those men pursued you.”
Ji Youyou collected herself and bowed respectfully to the man who sat with his back turned. “Greetings elder. My name is Ji Youyou and I was fleeing from…” Her voice caught. She remembered the warning Yu Xuanhe had given her at their parting to speak of this to no one and her heart ached at the thought he would have her killed.
“Speak sister who was it that hunted you”
“My husband… former husband. But I may not speak his name.”
The man called Qian’an gave a calm smile. “It matters not. We shall not press you.” He turned to Pei Yun. “You know our ways. All who come here must pay respects to the ancestors. See that she does so now.”
Pei Yun nodded his gaze earnest and reverent. “Sister that portrait and those tablets hold the spirits of our forebears. The Assembly of Heroes stands under their protection and every guest honours them on arrival.”
Ji Youyou listened uncertain. “Does this mean I must worship the one in the painting”
Pei Yun nodded full of devotion. He took three slender incense sticks from the altar and offered them to her.
She hesitated still wary. It was unwise to bow before unknown images she thought. If this being was unholy such devotion might bring the affliction she saw around her bodies marred and wasted. “Elder forgive me but I cannot” she said. “My family honours its own guardians and we may not offer worship elsewhere.”
Qian’an fell silent and the air grew heavy. Pei Yun spoke quickly. “Elder do not blame her it is her first time and she does not yet know our ways.”
Qian’an seemed to read her thoughts. “Fear not child these marks are the cost of the arts we practise. You will not suffer them if you do not walk our path. The rite is simply a sign of fellowship so the ancestors may know you have come.”
Reassured and unwilling to seem ungrateful Ji Youyou accepted the incense and bowed three times. Pei Yun took the sticks from her and placed them reverently in the burner.
“I am Qian’an” the man began. “Leader of the Assembly of Heroes. Our order was founded two hundred years ago by our ancestor Fan Mo Xi.”
Ji Youyou glanced toward the portrait. “Is it he” she asked caught once more by the figure’s beauty.
“It is.” Though his face remained turned away she heard the depth of reverence in his voice.
“I have lived long” Qian’an continued. “More than two hundred years. I was but a youth when he walked among us. He built the Kingdom of Joy where all prospered and all might ascend where life was a blessing… Yet it fell. The kingdom was destroyed and our ancestor vanished it is believed he perished.”
Ji Youyou listened and could not help thinking of meetings in her old world where leaders recounted their glory days. Perhaps all ages were alike in that. “He must have been truly great” she said softly.
Pei Yun looked at her warmly. “Join us sister. You need not learn our arts I will protect you.”
She drew back alarmed. Had his kindness been a snare “No” she said firmly. “I will not join any order nor study strange powers. Let me go.”
“You are certain” Pei Yun spoke urgently. “If you leave those men will find you and they serve Yu Xuanhe”
The name escaped before he could stop it.
Ji Youyou stepped back eyes wide. “How do you know that name”
“I… he…” Pei Yun stammered like a fox caught at the hen coop.
“You deceived me did you not” She felt she had fled one danger only to fall into another.
“I did not sister believe me” He came toward her and she raised her hands defensively retreating.
“Stand still” Qian’an’s voice rang out. He had not moved yet his command held fast. Ji Youyou froze in place eyes wide with terror. “Forgive us child we must speak plainly and you were too distraught to listen. A year ago it was we who hunted Yu Xuanhe.”
***
“Xuanhe I have found them.” Si Yirou stood before him reporting with care. “I traced the evil cultivators from the cliff where you fell. Their hiding place is known to us now.”
Yu Xuanhe sat over his scrolls composed and distant. “Then we shall strike at once. There is no better day than this.” He closed the record and drew his sword from its stand its blade clear as ice and cold to the touch.
Si Yirou watched him her admiration undisguised. She had loved him and Xie Lin since childhood and that love had grown into something fierce and possessive. Truly she wished to see the two united as they were meant to be.
Just as they set forth the door burst open. “Xuanhe you shall not leave me behind again” Xie Lin entered feigning hurt.
Yu Xuanhe smiled gentle and indulgent. “I would not have you harmed.”
Xie Lin slipped an arm through his. “Take me with you. Last time you went without me and…” He fell silent recalling the draught he had given Yu Xuanhe.
“And what”
“Nothing. Only that you must take me this time.”
“Very well. You shall come.”
Xie Lin leaned close and Yu Xuanhe found his hand rising as if to stroke his hair a gesture long familiar yet now Xie Lin stood nearly eye to eye with him. He lowered his hand quietly. “Come then Lin’er.”