Volume Two, Chapter Eight: Dragonfly, Dragonfly

“Were you waiting for me?” Just as he was about to fall asleep, Master Xifeng’s voice came from behind.

“Uncle, Han Yu and the others…” Bing leapt to his feet.

“Destiny!” Master Xifeng said as he pressed Bing’s plump lips, stopping him from speaking further.

“Oh…” Bing nodded unwillingly.

At noon, Han Yu and Mei Niang still refused to let Bing enter, only permitting him to leave the radishes and grapes at the door and hurry back. Helpless, Bing went to check on the Red Zither. Her head was still poking outside the cage; though there was no sign of improvement, at least there was no deterioration, which offered him some comfort.

In the evening, Bing returned again. This time, he couldn’t even enter the courtyard. For some unknown reason, Han Yu and Mei Niang had locked the gate early. Bing called out twice, stretching his neck, but no one responded. After lingering in vain, he could only leave, uneasy.

The next morning, before Bing reached the pond, he heard the excited commotion of the divine turtle from afar. He rushed over, and sure enough, Han Yu and Mei Niang were crouched by the water’s edge. Bing’s long-held worry finally eased. Perhaps stifled by the past few days, the divine turtle was now actively provoking, clearly spoiling for trouble.

“How are you?” Bing asked apologetically.

“We’re fine!” Mei Niang quickly turned back.

“Any changes?” Bing asked immediately.

“Changes? Survival is lucky enough!” Han Yu darted over, frightening Bing into retreat.

“Don’t listen to her nonsense, but indeed, there’s no change,” Mei Niang hurried to intervene.

“Oh…” Bing regarded the two nervously; they truly seemed unchanged.

During the midday break, Bing quickly provided Red Zither with a new cage. The old one had been ruined beyond recognition; it was unbearable even for humans, let alone birds. To prevent further bites, Bing placed the cages mouth to mouth, letting Red Zither crawl through herself. He thought she might resist, but she obediently moved over.

Time spun swiftly, and half a month passed in a blink. Han Yu and Mei Niang remained unchanged. Bing had hoped that with the Hell Lotus seeds, they would at least revert to human form, but after several attempts, they had no success. Red Zither, however, showed some improvement—though still losing feathers, she was livelier and could eat some food. So the Hell Lotus seeds weren’t entirely useless, but why didn’t Han Yu and Mei Niang benefit at all? Bing considered consulting his uncle, but recalling the words “destiny,” he quickly dismissed the idea. He thought it fortunate that there were no adverse effects, and thus, stopped agonizing.

Since Bi Yi arrived at Companion Moon Hill, Bing became more diligent in his cultivation. He was always first to begin and last to leave. Though Bi Yi still largely ignored him, she was no longer as hostile as before. His uncle’s teachings were methodical; the scriptures his master had forced him to memorize now gradually made sense. With understanding, Bing’s mastery progressed significantly. Yet, while others lost their appetite with advancement, his only grew.

One morning, Bing was awakened early by hunger. As he got up, he faintly heard a buzzing outside the door. Thinking it was insects, he opened the door quickly, only for a shadow to crash into his arms and fall at his feet.

“Bamboo dragonfly!” Bing instantly recognized it.

At first, he had eagerly awaited the arrival of this bamboo dragonfly. Though his uncle said one was enough, Bing still worried. After all, Senior Jin had said that if all was well, he’d send word—but so many days had passed without the dragonfly’s arrival. Was Fat Girl not safe? Yet Brother Turtle insisted all was well! Maybe Senior Jin was simply busy or planning a visit, so he didn’t send word. Unexpectedly, the dragonfly arrived today!

Bing picked it up. There were no markings, nothing attached or hidden, but there were clear signs of scorching. What did this mean? Was Fat Girl in trouble or not? The arrival surely meant safety, but why was there not a single word? And why was it burned? Fearing he’d missed something, Bing hurried outside to examine it in sunlight, but found nothing. Anxious, he rushed to the pond.

At this hour, Bing’s arrival surprised everyone. He never came in the morning unless there was a reason, as he needed to accompany Senior Sister Bi Yi in her cultivation.

“Oh, is Senior Sister Bi Yi not here today?” Han Yu asked sarcastically.

“Senior Jin’s bamboo dragonfly arrived!” Bing ignored her, focused.

“What did it say?” Seeing his panic, Han Yu became serious.

“Nothing!”

“Nothing? No writing? No wax pellet hidden?”

“No, nothing at all! Look!” Bing placed the dragonfly on the ground.

Han Yu and the others crowded around. The rabbit, fox, and turtle lined up and circled the dragonfly three times clockwise and three times counterclockwise.

“It’s been scorched…”

“Hmm…”

“Must be demon fire!”

“How do you know?”

“I just know! Celestial fire is fierce and leaves clear burn marks; demon fire is subtle, with uneven burns.”

“Hmph, you’re a demon, you’d know best!”

“You’re no different!”

“I’m half-demon!”

“Hmph!”

“So, something must have happened?” Bing couldn’t help but ask.

“If it was to report safety, it would have left a message. But now, not only is there none, but it’s also scorched by demon fire. I think it’s a call for help!” Han Yu perked her ears.

“I’ll go find Uncle!” Bing snatched up the dragonfly and ran toward the main hall.

Master Xifeng shared their view. The burn marks were clearly made by demons. Yet, with Tai Miao’s cultivation, ordinary demons couldn’t pose a threat. Still, the dragonfly’s arrival indeed suggested a plea for help.

“Uncle, I wish to visit Mist Cloud Sect! Senior Jin and the others have helped me; I can’t turn a blind eye!” Bing pleaded urgently.

“Hong Kun, Bi Yi, accompany Bing on this journey,” Master Xifeng nodded.

“Yes, Uncle!” Hong Kun stepped forward.

“Master…” Bi Yi hesitated.

“Master, let Senior Sister take care of you! I want to go!” Mo Yan suddenly clung to Master Xifeng’s arm.

“You?”

“Yes, Master, I’ve never left your side! Let me follow Senior Brother Hong this time for experience!”

“You just want to go play!” Master Xifeng scowled. Mo Yan cheekily stuck out her tongue.

“Very well! But Kun, remember—your main task is reconnaissance, avoid confrontation if possible. If anything occurs, send word at once, and I’ll come personally.” Master Xifeng gave a solemn warning. Mo Yan secretly winked at Bi Yi. Bing felt a chill; he hated Mo Yan.

“Any demon capable of threatening Tai Miao is beyond your ability. Remember!” Master Xifeng explained further to ensure Hong Kun understood.

“Yes, Uncle, I understand! Then how should we…” Hong Peng asked.

“Take this cloth bag, but never open it. If danger arises, speak into the bag, then open it. A gust of yin wind will carry the message to me instantly.”

“Yin wind?”

“Yes, demons wouldn’t notice it!”

“Uncle, ingenious!”

“Hmph, since when did you learn to flatter?” Master Xifeng frowned, and Hong Peng blushed.

“Fatty, listen to Senior Brother on the road, don’t cause trouble!” Master Xifeng said meaningfully.

“Yes, Uncle!” Bing bowed hurriedly, sneaking a glance at Bi Yi, only for her to turn away.

While packing, Bing stopped by the pond to notify Han Yu and the others. As soon as he spoke, the pond erupted. Han Yu and Mei Niang insisted on going along, saying they felt too stifled at Companion Moon Hill and needed fresh air, and demanded that Brother Turtle accompany them. Brother Turtle, upon hearing this, tried to escape into the pond, but Mei Niang pinned him down.

“But you two…” Bing hesitated.

“We can’t help otherwise, but sneaking in to scout is doable!” Han Yu glared fiercely at Bing.

Helpless, Bing agreed. Yet, when it came time to depart, the three began to squabble. Bing wanted to carry Brother Turtle in his arms, but Han Yu and Mei Niang refused, arguing why only Turtle should be carried, not them. Their injuries made walking difficult!

“Inconvenient, yet you insist on coming!” Bing thought, but dared not say it.

He prepared two cloth bags, one for Han Yu, one for Mei Niang, and carried them on his back. Still not enough, they insisted Brother Turtle must ride behind as well. Outmatched, Bing found another bag, placing Brother Turtle between Han Yu and Mei Niang.

When they went to bid farewell at the main hall, everyone struggled to contain their laughter at Bing’s three bulging cloth bags.

“Uncle…” Bing said awkwardly.

“Don’t let Fatty down!” Master Xifeng said calmly.

“Understood!” Han Yu and Mei Niang replied in unison, fearful that Master Xifeng would refuse their company.

Before leaving the hill, Bing pulled Hong Peng aside, asking him to look after Red Zither. Hong Peng readily agreed and urged Bing to listen to Senior Brother Hong Kun.

Once outside Companion Moon Hill, Han Yu and Mei Niang began to chatter incessantly. Hong Kun remained silent, brows furrowed, but didn’t rebuke them. Mo Yan, naturally talkative, quickly joined Han Yu and Mei Niang, ganging up on Brother Turtle. For some reason, Brother Turtle was in high spirits, bantering happily.

“Where is Mist Cloud Sect?” After ten miles, Mo Yan finally asked.

Everyone looked at Bing.

“I remember Senior Jin mentioned Nine Hope Mountain…” Bing answered uncertainly.

“How do we get there?” Hong Kun frowned.

“I don’t know! I…” Bing dared not meet his senior’s gaze. He’d been so anxious, he forgot the most crucial point.

“If you don’t know, how do we get there?” Hong Kun was nearly fuming.

“Should we go back and ask Master?” Mo Yan suggested quietly.

Silence fell.

“Didn’t Senior Jin give you a bamboo dragonfly too?” Han Yu broke the silence.

“That’s right, can’t it guide us?” Mei Niang chimed in.

“It can?” Mo Yan eyed Bing curiously.

“Senior Jin’s bamboo dragonfly can send messages; yours should be able to as well,” Hong Kun approached Bing. Bing took out the bamboo dragonfly from Jin Guishan. “But what’s the password? He never said anything, did he?” Hong Kun looked at Bing.

“No… nothing…” Bing racked his brain, but couldn’t recall.

“Let’s try! Let’s try!” Han Yu shouted, “Go!”

“Mist Cloud Peak!”

“Jin Guishan!”

“Return!”

“Fat Girl!”

They shouted for a quarter of an hour, voices nearly hoarse, but the bamboo dragonfly remained motionless.

“Oh, forget it, let’s ask someone,” Mo Yan finally said, unable to watch further.

But there wasn’t a soul around. They pressed onward. Just as thirst drives one to drink salt, after only two more miles, they encountered a fork with three roads.

“This…” Bing’s face turned green.

“Oh dear! We don’t even know the way and are wandering blindly. Let’s go back!” Brother Turtle, who’d been silent, suddenly spoke.

Bing’s bamboo dragonfly suddenly took flight, hovering in the air before darting toward the western road.

“Hurry, follow it!” Hong Kun rushed after it.

“What did you just say?” Bing, running, asked Brother Turtle.

“I said, ‘we don’t even know the way and are wandering blindly. Let’s go back!’” Brother Turtle replied, and the bamboo dragonfly accelerated.

“Oh, so it’s ‘let’s go back!’” Han Yu repeated, and the dragonfly flew faster.

“Hey, stop talking!” Hong Kun was already out of breath.

“Alright, alright, I won’t say…” Han Yu nearly blurted out again.

After chasing the bamboo dragonfly madly for half an hour, Bing and the others were exhausted. Brother Turtle wasn’t tired, but was dizzy from the jostling.

“Hey hey, I’m going to be shaken to death! Ugh… let’s rest…” Brother Turtle was nearly sick.

Unexpectedly, the bamboo dragonfly immediately dropped to the ground.

Everyone gasped for breath, finally recovering.

“Which phrase was it?” Han Yu asked cautiously.

“It must be ‘let’s rest!’” Mo Yan rolled her eyes.

“I think so too,” Hong Kun nodded.

No one spoke for a while.

“Try it?” Mei Niang broke the silence.

“Bing, you do it!” Han Yu kicked Bing’s back with a rabbit leg.

“Oh…” Bing readied himself, then called softly, “Let’s go back!”

Sure enough, the bamboo dragonfly took flight.

“Let’s rest!” After a dozen steps, Bing cried out again.

But the bamboo dragonfly ignored him, continuing forward.

“What’s going on? What’s going on? Let’s rest! Let’s rest!” Han Yu panicked.

“Seems ‘let’s go back’ is correct! ‘Let’s rest’ is not! Oh…” Mei Niang regretted her words, and the dragonfly sped up.

“Maybe…” Mo Yan halted, “Let’s rest now!”

At once, the bamboo dragonfly dropped.

“Hehehehe…” Brother Turtle laughed, rolling in the bag.

“Hey, you knew it needed an extra word, didn’t you?” Han Yu prodded Brother Turtle with a rabbit leg.

“Hehehe… A bunch of fools! The starting phrase has three words, how could the ending phrase only have two? Luckily this little girl is clever!” Brother Turtle laughed without restraint.

Han Yu and Mei Niang were thoroughly ashamed.