Disclaimer: I do not own Hero: 108.
Chapter 4:
The boy found dead was the biggest surprise. The crystal missing was only part of the surprise. After offering their condolences, Lin Chung and Lady Green took a morning walk, sighing as they realised the only lead they had was dead.
Eventually, they returned to breakfast, where the others were discussing trying to get back to Big Green and getting reinforcements.
Lin Chung disagreed, though he did note that one of them should go back and send a message back to Big Green. Mano was quickly dispatched for the job.
However, the rest stayed on in the village in unanimous decision after hearing Lin Chung and Lady Green's peculiar tale of the 'tunnels in the caves'. They voted to go and check it out immediately. When they had finished discussing their plans to get there, Meiren joined them.
"I have located a person from the next village. She has volunteered to lead you to Liangshan Marsh today in the afternoon, if you have nothing on."
They looked dismayed, but Lin Chung quickly consoled them, nodding at Meiren. He, Lady Green, Jumpy, Kowloon and Rosefinch would go and explore the caves, while the rest of them would head over to Liangshan Marsh. They would return to Huangchun by sundown and report what they had seen - even if they haven't found anything.
Lady Green wondered why Lin Chung would choose Kowloon, but remembered that he was a pretty decent fighter. Rosefinch and Jumpy and herself she could understand - they were the closest to Lin Chung.
The caves were dark and looming. A barricade of rocks covered the entrance, and a small gap was visible - probably where the boy had crept in and out.
"Whoa." Kowloon stared up at the rocks in awe. "Must've been something powerful in order to have the rocks cover that much of the entrance.
Lin Chung nodded, his face a lot calmer though the awe was still evident in his face. "Meiren mentioned that Hu Sanniang returned with the children from this direction. As did the old man. If there was a barricade here, and they were fighting, it would make sense why no one came out. It would be almost impossible to do so."
Jumpy gulped. "Dead…bodies…inside?"
At this, even Lin Chung looked disturbed. "We don't know yet. We have to move the rocks first."
Quickly wedging his staff between several rocks, he tugged it, and flicked the rocks away. The rocks scattered around, pebbles rolling down onto the ground. Lady Green jumped out of the way of several medium-sized boulders, but quickly returned to help Lin Chung in his task.
Jumpy giggled as the rest of the group started to work, imagination taking over again.
He eyed Lin Chung and Lady Green, who were surprisingly close together as they worked in sync. They seemed to know where each other was going to be.
Finally, Kowloon stopped, admiring the bigger hole they managed to make. "Well, this is going to be as far as we go."
Lin Chung leapt up, peering through the hole, his eyes narrowed as he tried to use his panther vision to look into the darkness. Something caught his eyes, and he squinted, trying to see it, before shaking his head.
"There's something inside, but I can't see what it is."
Rosefinch sighed, dejected. "Should we go inside?"
Lin Chung looked up at the sky. "It's getting dark. Some of us head back to inform the others and prepare food to bring, while the rest of us stay behind in order to get inside. If we wait until tomorrow, the hole might cover itself up again or someone else will get in before us."
Lady Green nodded. "Then who is going back?"
"I'll go back." Rosefinch offered. "I won't be much help here, I'm afraid."
Jumpy nodded. "Jumpy…go…back…too."
Lin Chung shot him a curious glance.
Jumpy shivered. "Getting…cold."
Kowloon sighed. "I might as well go. Alpha Girl wants me to report back to her privately."
Lin Chung nodded, and he turned to Lady Green. "Well?"
Lady Green nodded with determination. "I'll stay here."
"I will as well." Lin Chung nodded.
Kowloon looked up, and turned back to the path. The sun was starting to set. "Good luck."
He turned and started walking back.
Rosefinch sighed as she turned to Lin Chung. "We'll be back with food soon."
Jumpy gave Lin Chung and Lady Green a hug before turning and hopping away as well.
Lady Green turned to Lin Chung, gesturing to the hole. "Shall we?"
Hu Sanniang lay on her bed, eyes wide in the darkness. A thick blanket had been pulled around her, but she had never felt so cold before.
She thought back to her husband, who she supposed was still back at Liangshan.
Was Wang Ying currently thinking of her now?
She shivered and tightened the blanket around her. Not knowing what to do, she sat up in bed, wrapping the duvet around her. Standing up, she padded quietly to the curtain which separated the hut into two sections for her and her partner.
She quietly called out, hoping that the occupant was still inside.
He was.
There was shuffling from the other side before Lin Chong pushed the curtain to a side, bearing a confused look. "Hu Sanniang? Is there anything that I can do for you?"
Hu Sanniang opened her mouth before closing it abruptly. "I'm sorry, but I couldn't sleep. If you aren't busy, may I have the pleasure of having your company?"
Lin Chong's eyes softened. "Of course."
They made their way outside. Hu Sanniang looked up at the night sky.
"What are you looking at?"
Hu Sanniang pointed up. "The stars."
"What for?" His voice was low, but curious.
She smiled in spite of herself. "When I was a young girl, my mother would tell me stories about the stars. There were many stars, and they each represented one of us."
Lin Chong looked up, head tilted to one side. "And which one are you?"
Hu Sanniang shrugged. "I haven't decided yet."
"No?"
"No." Hu Sanniang spoke.
"Then how are you sure that you are one of them?" He asked again. Hu Sanniang looked at him, frowning slightly.
"Because we are. Whenever someone dies, a star will vanish. Whenever someone is born, a star will appear in the night sky."
Humour coloured his tone. "And what star do you think I am?"
Hu Sanniang turned, suddenly realising their close proximity. She was thankful of the dim lighting that the moon gave out, which allowed her blush to go unnoticed. Lin Chong's body heat seeped through his clothing, and his bare hand brushed her arm unconsciously.
"Well, I think that you can choose one yourself."