Chương 80: Book 2, Chapter 2: Leaving the Past Behind

The trip westwards was quite different when it was the middle of a soggy afternoon surrounded by friends and family, instead of alone in a heartstopping nightmare. It wasn't pitch black, for one. And there was interesting conversation for another. The main topic being, of course, what they wanted to most do in Chengdu.

"I want to see the pandas," Jinu said excitedly.

"I hear they're the most noble of all animals in Murim. And Teacher An said I should practice hunting a red panda since I'm the best at stalking in the group." He pulled himself up, and let out the soft scent of loamy earth. Song and Dami gave each other a look, and smirked.

"I'd like to try my horns at some of the martial tournaments." Wook said, flexing an arm.

"Test myself against refinement cultivators of the other clans and sects."

"You may have a hard time with that," Tae kicked at his brother in passing.

"Most tournaments happen during the spring, not the monsoon. I'm going to visit some of the poetry houses, or try and find a master calligrapher to study under."

"I need to go to the opera," Dami sighed.

"I've always wanted to see real music."

"You may all get your wish," Eunji commented.

"Cousin Geomu's restaurant has a menagerie, and an arena for martial shows and musical performances. And I know his second daughter is obsessed with the four arts, so she's certain to know some people."

"What can you tell us about Great Uncle's restaurant?" Song asked.

"Gueno's place?" Eunji barked a laugh.

"It's up on the side of one of Chengdu's three peaks – Tazishan. I saw it briefly when I was last in Chengdu. He learned of a strange eastern Huoyan continent iced-drink called sherbet, and sells it alongside fried foods with Nakjo flair. You can eat Bang Bang Sichuan chicken while watching chickens, pandas, and other various has-beens showcase their so-called martial arts. It's popular with children and locals. I don't know what he's thinking, aiming for imperial recognition. It's not really that kind of place.

He named it The Bangbang Dabang." Cyrus laughed. ["Okay. I don't know anything about naming here 'cause I don't get your alphabet. But that is a kickass name. What's it mean?"] ["Bang Bang is a style of Sichuan fried food,"] Song explained in his head. ["And a dabang is a place that sells drinks and meals, but no alcohol. It's like a guanz but more… civilized."] ["I heard that sneer. Civilized, huh? I guess it's kinda like a cafe?"] Cyrus mused.

"I've heard it's quite large," Yu Jii said, continuing his conversation with Eunji.

"And the menagerie is impressive. He even has a few tame demonic beasts."

"That we Lees helped him procure!" Eunji snapped.

"I should think that the Beast Tamer Sect who controls Tazishan might've had something to do with it as well," Jii mock-scolded.

"Enough chatter. I want to get out from under this rain," Eunji snorted and kicked her horse, sending it trotting ahead.

"Keep up or I'll leave you behind for the grasswolves." Everybody wanted to get back under cover, so they complied. They only made one brief stop for Song to show where his life-and-death battle had taken place. Not that there was much to see. Even with his tracking skills, Song was only able to find a few places of scuffed rocks and upturned soil. A week of heavy rains had erased any other evidence that he'd once fought for his life in that very spot.

He eyed the knoll where the foundation grasswolf had ambushed them as they trotted past. Nobody knew where it'd run off to… Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

"I still can't believe you fought a foundation Demon and didn't die," Jinu commented, shaking his head.

"Maybe he really did and now he's possessed!" Tae remarked, trotting past. He made some ghostly wails, then kicked his horse and cantered off, laughing. ["That's a good point. You've got all these eldritch God things and immortals running about, how would you know if you were dead?"] Cyrus asked. ["I would hope that in death I would at least be free of you,"] Song shot back. ["Perhaps I am possessed, by the spirit of an annoying Canadian."] ["Oof. But man, I can hardly believe we survived that. Do you think you used up all your luck for the year?"] Song considered the difficulty he was having with the second technique of the Stellar Crane and sighed. ["Maybe. I just wish we knew where the demons ran off to."] Song's face was a mixture of emotions and his heart in turmoil. Had he cemented his legacy in the Gangho here? Or sealed his eventual doom…

"Is everyone ready to go?" Eunji eventually asked, spurring her horse to rear up for a better view of her little party.

"We're all set, Lee Eunji." Jii was the first to reply, leaning forward on his horse to pet his white gelding between the ears.

"If you're sure it's safe out here with a Core level demonic beast running about," Wook chuckled, kneeing Tae as he trotted past.

"I saw what I saw! The bird spoke to me!" Tae protested. He wheeled his horse about, desperately searching the faces of those around him. Dami rolled her eyes and Jinu gave an apologetic shrug. Tae turned on the only person who couldn't easily dismiss him.

"You believe me, don't you Song? You believe your older brother!?" ["Hehehe, if he only knew."] Cyrus laughed darkly. Song rubbed the back of his head.

"I don't know brother. Why would a Core level demonic beast just… mock you and fly away'?"

"I don't know!" Tae looked up into the heavens, allowing the faint drizzle to run down his face like tears. His howl was plaintive.

"I just don't know~""Be that as it may, we aren't going to be consumed with worry over some mysterious demonic beast. We're not cowards, we're Lees," Eunji snapped.

"Ahem!" Yu Jii cleared his throat.

"And Yus," Eunji growled.

"So follow me. We have a long ways to go before we reach the waystation, and I don't want to spend a single second bedding down in wet rice fields amongst idiot farmers one missed meal away from banditry."

"You have a party of seven cultivators Eunji, it'll be fine," Jii scoffed, sending his horse into a trot up beside her.

"Come now!" The party kicked their horses into motion in a mish mash fashion, each after their own style. Song kneed Bongbong gently in the ribs, Wook flicked his reins with a Hyah!, Jinu slapped his horse on the flank, Dami gently gave hers a command with a twist of the wrist, and Tae gave one small kick to the flank. Song spared one last look back through the morning mist in the direction of the now-vanished Changpo village.

It had been all-encompassing for all his life, but now it was just a black dot on an endless plain. Except it wasn't endless. Because somewhere up ahead the Sichuan mountains stretched up halfway to the sky. ["Feeling down?"] Cyrus asked gently. Song's reply was wistful. ["I've never actually left Nakjo, you know."] ["Yeah, I figured you were a homeboy. Me, I've been to Korea, to the US, and even to France that one time with school, or was it Greece..."] Cyrus petered hesitantly off before forging onwards once more. ["Not to mention I went interstellar at some point. So – uh – you're in good hands with your Spirit Guide. Just think of this as the next grand adventure. Oh, wait, no, that's supposed to be death. I think. It's A grand adventure, you like those right?"] ["Very reassuring,"] Song laughed silently, and turned to place the plains at his back and the mountains before him. Ahead lay his future, and behind him his past.

It would be a bit more poetic if he didn't know that in the Gangho, the past had a tendency to come rushing back. A song rose in his throat, one of leaving loved ones and home behind, and he let it come to his lips. He was joined a short while later by Jinu and Dami, and soon even Wook and Tae joined in, followed by a smiling Jii and reluctant Eunji. They opened with a khoomei, and then transitioned into one of the most famed songs of Silla.

Ai~rang~, ari~rang, ar~ariyo~ Darling is crossing the mountain, But won't get ten li without me. Just as the stars in the clear sky, So too are the dreams in our hearts. Over the boundless horizon, Where even in winter buds bloom Ai~rang~, ari~rang, ar~ariyo~ He wrapped his father's grasswolf clock tightly against the rain, and spurred Bongbong forward, joy and expectation for the future in his heart.