Stronger Than a Bronze Dragon

by Mary Fan

  “You … are certainly there.” Tai tilts his head. “Yet not fully so … It’s like touching water. You can cup it in your hands, but it easily slips out. I suppose this is why Yueshen can’t lift anything larger than a sword.” The glow fades around him, and the colors of his face saturate. He’s human again—and his hand is warm against mine. His lips quirk. “That’s better.”

  Heat rushes into my cheeks. I pull away and ball my hand behind my back.

  Beings of light whirl across the dark, lightning-streaked sky. This is the stuff of legends—descending into Hell, destroying Mowang’s physical form, freeing the Yueshen from their unjust captivity. It’s a story Tai’s people will tell their children and grandchildren. And I’m a part of that. Because of what we’ve accomplished here, a piece of me will always be immortal.

  But only a piece.

  While Tai’s quest has ended in triumph, mine lingers on. Mowang may be vanquished—for now—but Hell and all its infernal inhabitants remain. The Ligui will continue ravaging Dailan, and I’m still the only hope for my village to receive the protection it needs.

  I glance at Ibsituu’s sword. Though the River Pearl’s luster remains bright, the supernatural light that surrounded it during the battle has gone. I feel as if a light has vanished from me as well. My fate remains the same as it was before. The bridal carriage is still waiting for me in Tongqiucheng.

  Tai holds the River Pearl sword out to me. “Take it.”

  “About time.” I accept the weapon. A weight sits on my heart as I realize I may have wielded a weapon for the last time. Unless I run into Ligui on my way back to the viceroy’s palace, I’ll probably never fight again.

  Tai glances from the sword in my hand to the one on my back. “You look as if you could take down an army alone. Are you sure you have to go back to marry the viceroy?”

  “Dailan is still counting on me.” A glimmer of hope shines in my heart. “But once Viceroy Kang hears of what happened here, he might allow me to fight in his army instead of sitting in his palace.”

  Tai lets out a dry laugh. “You may have become a legend, but that still makes you a story. And stories are often doubted.”

  “You’re saying he won’t believe me?” I grimace. “You tell him, then.”

  “He wouldn’t believe me either. He wants me dead, remember?”

  My heart sinks. To Kang, Tai’s still just a thief. I glance up at the Yueshen, who are quickly blinking out, no doubt transporting themselves back to their realm of moonlight. They don’t seem to care that I helped save them all from a terrible fate. Still, perhaps one of them could help convince the viceroy of the truth. “Everyone here saw me—surely if enough of them tells Kang about what I did, he’ll believe me.”

  “Good luck convincing them to help. They aren’t exactly fond of humans. But you shouldn’t have to convince the viceroy of anything. After all you did, you shouldn’t have to return to him.”

  “This changes nothing.” I pause in my tracks and stab the River Pearl sword into the ground. “Mowang said the Ligui would keep attacking. I still need Kang to protect Dailan—I can’t defend them alone.”

  “Don’t marry him.” Tai grips my shoulders. Without his usual teasing glint, the intensity of his eyes is startling. “I know you can’t love him. If it’s for honor, embrace the dishonor. If it’s for power, well, you already have a different kind of power. Just, please, don’t marry him. He’ll destroy you.”

  I stare at Tai, my gut twisting. The pounding in my heart intensifies, and my breaths grow short. He’s right—I spent little over a day in the viceroy’s palace, and I became a shadow of myself.

  But this was never about me. It was always about my home, my family. Tai knows that … I’ve told him enough times. Anger crackles in my soul—something deeper than the mere irritation Tai sparked in me before. Does he honestly think I want to marry the viceroy? Or does he believe I’d abandon my people?

  Either way, the wrath coiling up my veins is so strong, it’s all I can do to keep from hitting him hard. I tighten my hands around the sword, fearing they’ll ball into fists and fly without my permission.

  “I told you before not to talk about my engagement.” I barely manage the words through my clenched teeth. “My way is set.”

  He releases my shoulders and backs away. “Enjoy it, then.”

  “Go to Hell.”

  “We’re already there.”

  When I realize the irony of my insult, a new flash of rage ignites within me—though I don’t know if it’s directed at Tai, the viceroy, or myself. I stare at the weapon in my hands. The River Pearl had the power to vanquish Mowang, but not the power to change my fate.

  It occurs to me that it’s still stuck in a hilt. I consider bringing Kang the whole sword but realize that would mean having to admit to aiding the thief.

  I look back at Tai. “Can you take the pearl out of the hilt?”

  “I’m afraid not.” Tai’s returned to his usual carefree demeanor, as if nothing we just said happened.

  “I thought the Yueshen were masters at magic.”

  “They are, but I’m not.” He lifts his shoulders. “I am a half-breed, after all.”

  I try to discern what his tone might be conveying. “What does that mean? You looked like one of them to me.”

  “I can take their shape, but I don’t possess all their powers. I—”

  “Tai!” A Yueshen woman floats down toward us, her black brows arched over sharp black eyes. She looks older than Tai, but not by much. Her strong cheeks and broad mouth carry an air of authority. “What are you doing with that human? You swore an oath!”

  Tai throws her an irritated look. “Anlei obviously knows the truth. You could show her a bit more courtesy.” He gestures at the woman. “This is my cousin Suyin.”

  Suyin glances down at me with a look of disdain. If there’s any familial resemblance between her and Tai, I don’t see it. Not only does her round face contrast Tai’s prominent cheekbones, but she lacks any of Tai’s good-natured charm.

  She glowers at him. “You were about to tell her about your Yueshen abilities, which you know is forbidden. Especially after what happened to your mother. How dare you?”

  Tai glares at her. “It’s not—”

  “You will tell the human girl no more. By breaking your oath, you would shame not only yourself, but your ancestors as well. It’s bad enough that you let her see you transform. Your mother would weep to see her son so dishonorable.”

  Tai turns his gaze to the ground.

  I scowl at Suyin. “Why do you hate me? I just met you!”

  “It’s not you she hates.” Tai shakes his head. “It’s humans. According to them, my father lured my mother to Earth then failed to protect her there. And Mowang claims he imprisoned them because of humans, though he didn’t mention why.” He throws his cousin a furious look. “But she should be thanking you for saving our people.”

  “If it weren’t for her kind, we wouldn’t need saving.” Suyin’s tone is light, but from the way she looks at me, I might as well have been personally responsible for her imprisonment in Hell.

  “What are you talking about?” I march up to her. “Mowang trapped you!”

  Suyin gives me a frigid look, then waves her hand at Tai in a beckoning motion.

  “Come. There are Yueshen matters I must discuss with you.”

  Tai hesitates. “I still have business here.”

  “No, you don’t.” Suyin gestures at the ship. “Your human friend has a way to get home.”

  Ignoring her, I turn to Tai. “Why did Mowang trap your people in the first place? You never explained that.”

  “I don’t know,” Tai says. “I wasn’t there when it happened … I only found out because Suyin managed to escape long enough to tell me that Mowang was rounding up all of our kind. He used his magic to cast a net and draw the Yueshen into his domain. But it didn’t work on me because the spell was meant for spirits, and I’m half human.” He glances at his
cousin. “Do you have any theories?”

  “That is what we must discuss.” Suyin lifts her brows. “After we return to our realm.”

  “Your realm.” His expression darkens.

  Suyin lets out a biting laugh. “This again? You’re too old to whine about living on Earth.”

  “If Earth is my place, then I have no reason to leave.”

  Suyin’s jaw hardens. “Our people just escaped Hell and are running around in confusion. They need us—why would you linger here? For her?” She looks down at me. “I suppose you want to see her safely home.”

  I clench my fists. I want to knock her teeth out. “I don’t need anyone’s help.”

  Tai gives me an apologetic look. “Anlei—”

  “Go! She’s right.” I jerk my head at Suyin. “Your quest is over, and now I must complete mine.”

  “I wasn’t going to abandon you.”

  “This was always where we were supposed to part ways.” A sudden pain stabs my heart as I realize I’ll probably never see him again. I always knew I’d have to return to Tongqiucheng, hand over the River Pearl, and marry Viceroy Kang, but … but I never thought …

  Why should I care? Tai is merely someone I agreed to help. Now that the journey’s finished, there’s no reason for us to linger in each others’ lives.

  Tai clears his throat. “Are you sure you know how to fly the ship on your own?”

  I give him an irritated look.

  “I need a verbal affirmation so that if you end up crashing it, I have a witness who can testify that it wasn’t my fault.” He gestures at Suyin. Though he appears to be resuming his usual maddening jokes, there’s a weight to his voice.

  Part of me wonders if it’s because he doesn’t want to leave me—but that’s ridiculous. Maybe we didn’t kill each other on this journey, but we were never meant to be more than temporary allies, and I don’t understand why his leaving is affecting me so much. I give him a haughty look. “Without you to distract me, I’ll fly it better than you ever could have.”

  “Enough!” Suyin holds out her hand. “Tai, are you coming or not?”

  Tai hesitates, his gaze fixing on me. He parts his lips, as if there’s something he desperately wants to say. Then he shakes his head with a mirthless laugh. “I wish you a happy marriage.” He shifts into Yueshen form and takes Suyin’s hand. They vanish in a flash of white light.

  “Hundan!” I yell at the empty air where he stood. “Good riddance to you!”

  My words ring across the empty land. Though thunder rumbles above, the space around me feels eerily silent. The very air seems hollow, as if someone sucked the life out of it.

  I stick the River Pearl sword into the strap beside my father’s blade and march toward the ship. After a moment, I quicken to a run. This realm is stifling me; I need to get out now.

  By the time I reach the ship, I can barely breathe. My legs are sore from running, and I almost don’t have the strength to pull myself up the rope. I rush to the ship’s wheel. Gritting my teeth, I turn to the control panel and flip its copper switches.

  Even after I take off and follow the map back into the terrestrial realm, the hollowness remains. Neither the hum of the engine nor the colors below fill the lonely void around me.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  TO COME

  Wind whistles past my ears as I steer the bronze ship through the clouds, heading back toward the river outside Baiheshan. Though I’ve learned how to control it, it still feels like it belongs more to Tai than to me.

  He doesn’t need it anymore, now that the Yueshen are free. He doesn’t care that it’s the reason he was able to save them at all, that it carried him loyally to the completion of his quest. He just—left it behind. Like he left me behind. Without even a real farewell. Yes, I told him to leave, but … how could he be gone so easily?

  A powerful swelling rises behind my heart. What’s wrong with me? I have no time for such idle sentimentality. The sky around me is fading fast, which means the Ligui could appear, and there’s still the danger of Kang’s fleet.

  I set the controls to instruct the ship to keep traveling forward on its own. I suppose I could have done that hours ago, but I preferred the control of steering it manually. If nothing else, it kept my focus occupied during the long, empty hours.

  The pale moon hangs in the darkening sky, becoming clearer and clearer as the sun’s last rays fade away. I search the white halo ringing its almost full shape, trying to discern the beings that live within. Their apparent disdain for humans taints the image I had of them before. I hope more of them are like Tai than Suyin.

  I wonder whether the sky’s dark enough for the light to count as moonlight. What if the Yueshen appear in a reflection? What if Tai does?

  I have no business dwelling on him when I still have a duty to fulfill, but even though that quest is over, I can’t stop my mind from dragging me backward.

  I feel the walls of fate sealing me in once again, as they did when I was staring at my reflection before what would have been my wedding. Except nothing will interrupt me this time. I can’t let anything interrupt me. Kang would not tolerate any more hindrances; it will be challenging enough to convince him to forgive me for running off, even if it was to return something he considers his.

  A breeze whispers across the deck. Ghostly voices waft through it. A chill envelops me, and I tense. The voices seem to come at me from everywhere and nowhere at once, filling my ears and ringing in my head. Yet I hear no words, and soon they fade to silence, leaving me to wonder.

  The tiered roofs of Baiheshan Miao glow under the midday sun. The journey took longer than I’d hoped—a full three days. After spotting distant shapes on the horizon, I took a roundabout route in case they were part of Kang’s search party. I didn’t dare sleep until after I’d hidden the ship back in the cave by Baihejiang, which I did in the dead of night to avoid being seen by Kang’s patrols in the area. I hadn’t wanted to waste time resting after, but my exhausted body won the battle.

  This time, no wagons were heading into the city, and I had to walk the entire distance. By the time I arrived, it was dark. I’m not familiar with the road, and without Tai to guide me, I feared I’d get lost if I trekked through the woods. Furthermore, Kang apparently received permission for his cyborgs to comb the city, and evading them slowed me down. At least none are currently searching the temple.

  Ibsituu greets me at the temple’s gateway. “It’s good to see you again. Your timing is good too—Kang’s men departed earlier today and shouldn’t return for a while.” Her gaze slides past me, and I know she must be wondering where Tai is.

  “Tai left with his people.” I wipe the sweat from my forehead, hot after hours of walking under the summer sun.

  “I know. I felt it when the Yueshen returned to their kingdom in the moon.”

  “Did you know who Tai was?”

  “I did.” Ibsituu gestures for me to follow as she walks into the temple’s courtyard. “Not because he told me, but because when I met him, I sensed immediately that he wasn’t fully human. A simple unmasking spell revealed his true nature, but I promised I wouldn’t tell anyone who didn’t already know.” She steps over the threshold into her room. “You shouldn’t blame Tai for keeping his identity a secret from you. The Yueshen have never trusted humans; they are the descendants of purified souls and see those left on Earth as inferior … petty, greedy, cruel.” She snorts. “They seem to have forgotten that pride was the first sin their ancestors had to relinquish to ascend.”

  I mirror her wry expression.

  “Of course, not all think that way,” Ibsiuu continues. “Tai certainly doesn’t. But though he lives between worlds, he is still bound by the Yueshen’s laws. I’m sure you haven’t seen the last of him.” Her lips form a teasing grin. “I assure you, his thoughts are dwelling on you as well.”

  Heat creeps up my cheeks. “I don’t think so.”

  She arches her brows at me.

  “I didn’t come he
re to talk about him.” Huffing, I pull the sword containing the River Pearl from the leather strap binding it to my back. Its blade scrapes against that of my father’s weapon. “Could you undo whatever spell you used to bind the pearl to the sword? I need Viceroy Kang to think I chased the thief across the country and returned immediately.”

  Ibsituu accepts the sword with both hands and releases a regretful sigh. “Are you sure this is necessary? I’d rather not take it apart.”

  I give her an apologetic look. “I’m sorry. But I don’t know how I’d explain the sword to Kang without revealing that I helped the thief escape.”

  “You could claim that by the time you caught up to the thief, he’d already embedded it in the sword …” Ibsituu shakes her head. “But that would be too much power to grant Viceroy Kang, and it may expose my true talent to him—something I do not wish for. I suppose the pearl was stolen from your people to begin with, so it’s only right that it should be returned in its original condition.” She settles down in her chair and places the sword on the table before her. “Did Mowang say anything to you when you confronted him?”

  I shrug. “Nothing true.”

  “Oh? What lies did he tell?”

  “He said that by holding the Yueshen, he was protecting the rest of the world.” I let out a derisive noise. “Tai didn’t take well to that.”

  “Interesting …” Her gaze becomes contemplative. “Mowang may be wicked, but he never does anything without reason.”

  “That’s what he said too. Do you know what his reasons are?”

  “Perhaps he was speaking of the great shadow looming over the Empire of the Pearl Moon. I thought Mowang’s defeat would lift it, but instead, it seems to have grown heavier.”

  “A shadow …” I lean toward her. “Does it have to do with the Ligui and why they keep attacking?”

  “I don’t know, but it seems the Ligui were not under Mowang’s command. In fact, he may have felt threatened by their growing presence. Unfortunately, I’ve yet to learn where they’re coming from.”