“Tell me again why we’re bringing her?”
Kang sighed at Huyanti’s question. Everyone in the group continued to ask him the same damn thing Mulan could see he was trying to rein in his frustration. “Because I don’t remember the way. The last time I saw him I was seven and my mother brought us by the river. Besides, leaving her behind would be a terrible idea. She could tell my brother where we’re heading.” He fixed Huyanti with a hard look. “Unless you fancy being under Jizi’s hospitality again?”
A wintry smile stretched over his face. “Only if it means I get to kill him.”
Silence descended over them once more, the only sounds coming from their shuffling feet over grass and stone. For several hours, they’d headed north, only stopping a few times to rest for short periods. Every part of Mulan’s body ached and the need to curl up under a tree and sleep consumed her, but with Prince Jizi no doubt looking for them, they couldn’t afford to stop for long.
Up ahead, Jiangnu continued walking, her wrists bound in rope, Daocheng and Zong flanking either side. Chuo and Huyanti followed, with Mulan and Kang bringing up the rear. Everyone’s clothes were ripped in various places but unlike her, they’d managed to keep hold of their boots during the underground river ride.
Not wanting to walk for heavens-knew how long in bare feet, Mulan had borrowed a pair of Jiangnu’s. Well, borrowed may have been the wrong word to describe it since she’d not given the other woman a chance to say yes or no.
Besides, the fur lining the insides were like heaven on her feet.
In addition to the boots, they’d also helped themselves to what food and weapons they’d found in Jiangnu’s underground home. How many swords did one huli jing need anyway? At least if they did run into Prince Jizi or his men, they’d be armed.
Jiangnu’s dagger now sat within the folds of Mulan’s ripped clothing.
“How much do you think your father knows?” Mulan asked suddenly.
Kang slid her a sideways glance, his face unreadable in the fading light. Twilight had already descended, bathing the overhead sky in stunning shades of purple. “I don’t know,” he finally admitted, his tone fatigued.
“We know Jizi is involved. Do you think any of your other brothers are?”
Kang exhaled a weary breath and the darkening sky sent shadows dancing over his face. “If any are it’ll be Ziying. He’s younger than Jizi, but just as ruthless.”
“How smart is he?”
“Nowhere near as smart as Jizi, but he’ll do his bidding no matter what he asks.”
Mulan pulled a face as she sidestepped a fallen rock. In the distance, she could make out rocky cliffs and scraggly trees. It wouldn’t be too long before the darkness bathed the entire landscape in shadows. “And Yang?”
“Yang’s smart and ruthless. Whatever agenda he has, it’s his own. Jizi pulls Ziying’s strings. Yang’s no one’s puppet.”
“So we discount him but not Ziying?”
“Never discount Yang, but if Jizi’s involved, so will Ziying.”
“Even though you’re brothers?” The whole idea of families betraying each other seemed alien to her. Even though she and Feng Qing often clashed, neither would ever harm the other.
“Family means nothing in politics. Everyone is out to gain as much power as they can for themselves. The throne is the ultimate prize. Jizi will get it no matter the price.”
Mulan sighed, her shoulders sagging. “Anyone else?” They had to try and work out how far this betrayal went.
Kang threaded a hand through his hair. “I couldn’t tell you, Mulan.” Dark brows winged down. “You know, it’s weird calling you that.”
A small smile danced over her lips. “It’s weird hearing you call me that.”
“What does it mean?”
She slanted him an amused look. “Magnolia.”
“Why doesn’t that surprise me? You always smell like them.” Kang inhaled deeply before turning back to her. “I’m sorry.”
Mulan finally stopped walking, her forehead furrowed in confusion as Kang turned to face her. “For what?”
“For what I said earlier. You were right. You’ve had my head fucked up in all kinds of ways since the moment I saw you wrestling with that soldier at Black Gate.”
She bit her lip at the wave of desire those words conjured and waited for him to continue. Several feet behind him, Daocheng and Chuo twisted their heads back at them.
“I couldn’t understand for the life of me what was going on. For the most part, I still can’t. Growing up in the palace, you see what happens to relationships. No one loves anyone. Marriages are based on power and money. The few times I did see it, it either quickly transformed into something ugly or someone else used it to their advantage. Either way, it never lasted. I stuck to the brothels simply because they were easier, safer, than forming any meaningful relationships that could be manipulated by others.”
Mulan inhaled deeply at the brutal tone of Kang’s words. “And now?”
Kang stepped forward. Something shifted behind those dark eyes. “We shouldn’t do this. I shouldn’t do this. But I want you in my life, Zhou Mulan. Man or woman, I don’t fucking care.”
Taking the last step forward separating them, Mulan reached out and grabbed a fistful of material, yanking his face down. Her mouth claimed his own in a burning need that consumed every ounce of her being. Encouraging her lips apart, he swept into her mouth, turning the heat up to something that would consume them both. Hands gripped her waist, pulling her closer until their bodies pressed hard against each other.
Magic filled his kiss. It devoured Mulan whole, until nothing remained but raw sensations. When they finally broke away, she looked up at him, her breath catching in her throat. “You know, I think I rather like hearing my name on your lips,” she whispered.
“Better get used to it. I intend to say it a lot from now on.”
“Ahem.” Chuo’s interruption forced them apart. “Hate to break you two lovebirds up, but we’ve got to keep moving.”
Knowing he was right, Mulan and Kang hurried to keep up with the others. No one said anything for several minutes; Daocheng’s head remained firmly fixed on what he saw in front. For a moment, Mulan felt a stab of guilt for her friend. She couldn’t help being unable to return his feelings, but it didn’t mean she wanted him to hurt.
Kang reached for her hand. “Tell me about leaving home.”
Knowing she needed a distraction, Mulan took a deep breath and recounted her adventures on the way to Black Gate. Starting with the full account of what transpired in Yi Ligui’s tent and up to escaping the family home in the middle of the night. Reluctantly, she included the embarrassing interaction with the girl at the inn and the subsequent attack by Panu and his cronies. Hisses shot through the air at that particular story.
But still Daocheng didn’t turn around. Or speak to her.
“Do you ever regret leaving home?”
Mulan paused as she thought about Kang’s question. “I’ve nearly been raped, beaten to a pulp, almost been killed heavens-knows how many times, been a slave for a day, had guards wanting to arrest me for a crime I’ve never committed, and snuck into a guarded temple and killed to rescue you and my friends.” Mulan counted each point on a finger and then shook her head. “No. Despite all the blood I’ve seen, all the horrors I’ve faced, I don’t regret it at all.”
“Well, despite everything – including messing with my damn head – I’m glad you defied your father.”
“Somehow I don’t think the chief will agree with you,” Huyanti quipped from in front. Zong gave a little chuckle. Mulan had to agree. There wasn’t a chance in any of the eighteen hells that her father would approve of her little adventure. The idea of explaining everything to him wasn’t something she relished.
Around them, the darkening sky sent deep shadows over the ground. Night was falling fast. Mulan wondered how long it would be until they could rest again.
“We’re not far. It’s just ar
ound these trees,” Jiangnu called.
Relief swelled in Mulan’s chest at the huli jing’s words. Even if this Xuan Wu remembered Kang – and he did admit it was a long time ago – perhaps he would offer them hospitality. The idea of eating anything other than dried meat and bread sent her tastebuds salivating.
For her friends though, they needed rest. Whilst she’d had the luxury of a magic ointment, the others hadn’t. Instead, they’d suffered horrendous beatings and hung from a bridge for an entire day only to escape through an underground river. Add in a several hour trek through the countryside and Mulan wondered how they managed to stand, let alone walk.
Zong turned back to face them. The deep purple hues of the sky had transformed into black and stars twinkled overhead. Only a small patch of blue at the very edge provided any light, but it wouldn’t be too long before that faded, too. “She’s right. I can see something in the distance but be careful where you tread. There’s a rocky patch just ahead.”
As they circled around the trees, now tall patches of shadows against the darkening sky, Mulan gasped.
A patch of rocks separated them and a wide-open grassy plain that seemed to be bathed in an endless cloak of darkness. Thick strips of tall trees stood either side, blotting out whatever stood beyond. Somewhere in the darkness, though, Mulan thought she heard the soft sound of running water.
In the distance, standing on a rocky outcrop, stood the remains of what seemed to have once been a magnificent temple complex. Walls of at least one building seemed to crumble beneath the weight of so many centuries, whilst flames licked orange tongues in some of the windows, providing enough light to guide the way.
Everyone came to stand in a line, staring across the plain. Cool air ran fingers through her air as Mulan gazed in wonder. “Is that where Xuan Wu lives?”
“Yes,” Jiangnu confirmed, her tone betraying a subtle, barely discernible edge of anxiety. Turning to face Kang, she rose her chin to stare him in the eye. “I did what you want. Now release me.”
Tilting his head to the side, Kang fixed her with a piercing look. “What’s the rush?”
“No rush,” she said, but the anxious edge crept closer to fear. “I just want to get out of here. This place gives me the creeps.”
“I don’t like it, either,” Daocheng said, tension straining his voice.
Zong nodded. “I can feel something out there. Waiting. Hiding.” He turned to Mulan, shaking his head, his dark eyes troubled. “But I have no idea what it is.”
A shiver of dread snaked down Mulan’s spine at Zong’s words, knowing how more in tune with the magical world he was than the rest of them. She couldn’t sense anything herself, but something about the trees disturbed her. What dangers hid within the darkness of their branches? They seemed thick and threatening. “We still need to press on,” she finally sighed. “It doesn’t feel safe here.”
Kang nodded. “Mulan’s right. We’re too exposed right now. I doubt my brother knows about this place, but I’d rather have somewhere I can see him coming if he does find it by chance.”
“Great.” Jiangnu lifted her bound wrists and thrusted them in Kang’s face. “Get these off me and I’ll be on my way.”
“Why don’t you want to come with us?” Mulan asked. As much as she tried to keep her tone casual, she couldn’t help the sharpness that came out. “Is Xuan Wu not here?”
Kang’s fist gripped Jiangnu’s throat, making her eyes bulge. “If you’ve lied to us ...” he warned.
“He’s ... there.”
“Then why are you trying to get away?”
For a moment, Mulan thought Jiangnu wasn’t going to answer. Finally, she spoke. “Because he won’t be happy to see me.”
Daocheng frowned. “Why not?”
Shoulders sagging, the huli jing closed her eyes. “I stole a sword and some food from him last time I was here. Xuan Wu doesn’t forget. Or forgive.”
Frustration ate at Mulan’s gut. “Great. With Kang’s shoddy dental treatment and your stealing, the likelihood of him helping us is just as good as the reception we’d get back at Pingcheng.” Taking a deep breath to calm her nerves, Mulan cocked an inquiring glance Kang’s way. “Maybe we’d get better results if I went on my own.”
His dark eyes widened as they landed on her. “Absolutely not.”
She felt a knot forming between her brows. “Why not?”
“Because of his history.”
“What history is that?”
“You really don’t want -” Kang’s words trailed off as flaming torches suddenly sprung up, lining a long straight path centred between the trees. “Oh shit.”
Mulan blinked. In the congealed shadows beneath the trees, something stirred. The softest sound of crunching twigs floated on the wind. There were eyes in the shadows; she could feel them even if she couldn’t see them.
Slowly, smaller shadows seem to detach from the main pool of darkness. Mulan’s heart thumped and her body stilled as they waited to see what horrors they’d become. Gradually, the shadows crept closer until Mulan could finally see eyes peering out towards them. Edging closer to the flaming torches, Mulan gasped as her mind recognised what they were.
Leopards.
A dozen of them.
She’d never seen one before, let alone a leap of leopards if she remembered the right name for a group, but the stories she’d heard didn’t do them justice. Both mesmerizingly beautiful and terrifying, flames licked dark shadows over their pale golden coats, merging into their naturally dark spots. Tails whipped behind their elongated bodies, and snarling jaws revealed razor-sharp teeth that promised a world of pain.
“Shit.” Huyanti’s curse echoed through the air.
The sound of running rotated Mulan’s neck to the left so hard she winced with the sudden pain. Jiangnu’s feet raced over the rocks at lightning speed.
“I’ll grab her!” she called as she trailed after the fox spirit. With her hands still tied, if the leopards pounced, she wasn’t going to survive for long.
Even though the boots she wore were thick and comfortable, Mulan could still feel the sharp edges of jagged stone bite into her feet. Damn, she’s fast.
A piercing roar resonated through the air, sending Mulan’s heart in a flutter. From the corner of her eye, the closest leopards leapt through the air towards her friends. The swish of swords quickly followed.
Forcing her attention back on the rocks and where she was going, Mulan continued to chase after Jiangnu who now ran towards a small hill. “Get back here!” she shouted, finally leaping over the last of the rocks.
Sucking in a deep breath, Mulan tore over the grass, hot on her heels. When only a few inches separated them, Mulan stretched out a hand and grasped a fistful of her clothes, yanking her down. With a gasp, they tumbled to the ground, rolling over and over. Small stones nipped at her flesh, sending tiny ribbons of pain through her. The world disappeared into nothing but thumping bodies, the force of her sheathed sword against her thigh, and the bitter taste of grass. Somewhere in the confusion, Jiangnu attempted to roll away.
But Mulan refused to let go.
When they finally came to a stop, Jiangnu lay sprawled over the lower half of Mulan’s body, her dark hair in all directions. Mulan sucked in a deep breath, wondering if the world had actually come to a standstill or not since her vision seemed constantly moving.
“Mulan! Watch out!”
Huyanti’s shouts forced her attention away from Jiangnu. A blur of golden fur barrelled in her direction.
Heart jumping straight into her throat, Mulan released Jiangnu, fumbling for her jian. Limited light revealed glistening fangs, elongated and curving, ending in deadly, piercing points, and outstretched claws just as ready to tear out her heart. Mulan blinked and suddenly those claws and fangs were only inches from her face.
Fingers gripping the hilt, Mulan forced Jiangnu off her legs and rolled in the opposite direction, barely missing the leopard’s snarling jaws. Shouts echoed in the background,
mingling with yelps and menacing growls.
The leopard crashed into the spot where she’d laid only a split second before. Jumping to her feet, Mulan raised the jian in front of her. She tensed as the leopard slowly turned around, golden eyes burning bright. Hackles rising, its upper body crouched low. The blood in Mulan’s veins ran cold realising she didn’t have time to take a breath before it pounced.
Light from the burning flames hit its fangs, making it appear as if they were on fire as the leopard soared through the air in a deadly, graceful lunge. Mulan swung the jian with all her strength, the blade missing wildly, exhaustion making her stumble to the side. She barely had time to turn her body round to face it when the creature was airborne yet again, its claws outstretched, aiming for her eyes.
Mulan became aware of hot air and falling was first, then the hard slap of the ground against her shoulder. A groan slipped out of her mouth as she tried to figure out what had happened.
A shriek of pain pierced through her confusion. Glancing up, her heart froze in her chest.
Huyanti lay on the ground, his face towards her, his eyes wide and glassy, his lips parted slightly. Blood gushed from an ugly wound on his neck, seeping into golden fur. White claws dug into Huyanti’s torso, its head twisted away from her. It was only then that she recognised the tip of a blade through the creature’s head, like meat on a skewer.
The leopard may have killed him, but Huyanti had dragged it into the afterlife with him.
Tears rolled down Mulan’s eyes and she shook her head. “No,” she whispered, feeling her heart shatter.
Fingers clutched at her arm and she felt herself being pulled to her feet. “We need to go,” Kang said, his tone deceptively low and calm.
Mulan continued to shake her head, her eyes never leaving her childhood friend. His eyes seemed to follow her, even as Kang pulled her away. “We can’t leave him there.”
Kang’s pace quickened, his fingers tightening on her arm. “He’s dead. We can’t help him. If we don’t get to the temple, then we’ll be joining him. Now run!”
Forced to turn the other way, Kang began running towards the ruined temple, yanking her with him. Realising she’d never outrun the leopards by herself, Jiangnu ran beside him, her face painted with naked fear as she glanced over her shoulder every few seconds.
Honour, She Obeys Page 28
