- Chapter Start –
Li LianHua opens his eyes to a solid wall of darkness. Lifting his head, he squints around until different shades of black come into focus.
Right. He's not blind yet. He can still see.
Over the past few weeks, his senses have taken turns deserting him temporarily, but they seem to have returned, thanks to Fang DuoBing and Di FeiSheng's Qi earlier. He can hear the chittering of insects from the open window and smell the musty odour from the blanket covering him. He can also feel the warm hand holding his right wrist captive.
Raising his head a little more, Li LianHua peers at the dark head pillowed on the arm alongside his own. Fang DuoBing is going to wake up with a crick in his neck.
"It's still early. Sleep," says the shadow sitting cross legged at the foot of the bed.
Li LianHua feels a knee pressing against the side of his leg and huffs, lying back down again.
"I wasn't going to run away, A-Fei," he mumbles and closes his eyes.
- o -
The next time he wakes up, it's morning. A yawning Fang DuoBing is sitting at the small table with one hand curled around a cup and the other around his neck. He looks up when Li LianHua pushes away the blanket.
"You're awake!" Setting down the cup, he bounds over and helps pull Li LianHua upright. "How do you feel?"
"Still alive," Li LianHua quips and regrets it when the bright smile dims. "Good morning, XiaoBao. Where's Di-mengzhu?"
A long shadow falls across the room.
"Here. The horses are ready and waiting," Di FeiSheng says. He looks grumpy for some reason.
- o –
After a quick breakfast of steamed bao and tea, they take their leave of Lao Wang. Fang DuoBing presses a few more silver coins in his hand and thanks him for his hospitality.
"I didn't do anything," Lao Wang says, "but my prayers go with your friend."
"Thank you." Fang DuoBing gives him a proper bow while Di FeiSheng offers a nod.
Li LianHua adds his thanks. He would've suffered a very different fate if the older man had simply tipped him out of his boat after he started coughing up blood. But that would've also meant that Fang DuoBing and Di FeiSheng wouldn't have tracked him down.
Hmm. Perhaps Lao Wang doesn't deserve his thanks after all.
"Let's go before it gets too hot," Di FeiSheng says.
"Right. Li LianHua, you're riding with me," Fang DuoBing says. "I'll mount first and then -"
"He's riding with me."
When Fang DuoBing swings to Di FeiSheng, Li LianHua feels a sense of déjà vu coming on.
"Why?" Fang DuoBing demands. "You weigh more than me so Li LianHua should sharemyhorse."
"I'm the better horseman," Di FeiSheng says without batting an eye.
"Says who?" Fang DuoBing swells with indignation. "Iwas given horse riding lessons when I was ten! How old wereyouwhen you learned to ride?"
"Oh boy," Li LianHua mutters, glancing at Lao Wang who's staring at the quarrelling duo in bemusement.
- o –
In the end, they agree that Li LianHua will share Fang DuoBing's horse for the first half of the journey before switching to Di FeiSheng's.
"A-Fei, help Li LianHua up," Fang DuoBing orders as he mounts his horse.
"I can get up – ahhh!" The powerful boost up from the large hands under his thighs has Li LianHua clutching at Fang DuoBing's robes with an undignified squawk. But once they leave the village, he frees his hands and sighs.
"Can we go faster? Hulijing will get fed up of waiting for me," he complains.
"You had no qualms leaving him with me earlier," Fang DuoBing shoots over his shoulder. "Are you holding on tightly?"
"Yes, of course," Li LianHua lies.
"No, he's not." Di FeiSheng tattles from behind them.
Lips pressed together, Li LianHua places his hands on Fang DuoBing's sides and resists the urge to stick out his tongue at Di FeiSheng. He learned to ride a horse around the same age as Fang DuoBing which gives him two decades more experience.
He doesn't need to hold on.
- o –
After an hour, Li LianHua doesn't feel so cocky. The morning sun is too hot and too bright, forcing him to keep his eyes closed. His poor head feels like splitting open and his stomach is threatening to upend his meagre breakfast.
When he hears another set of hooves, he opens his eyes a crack to see Di FeiSheng frowning at his sweaty face.
"Fang DuoBing, stop."
Fang DuoBing stops at once and looks over his shoulder.
"What is it? Li LianHua, are you alright?"
"Am fine," Li LianHua mumbles, swaying.
Without a word, the other two dismount and grab his arms to help him down. His world tips sideways and he sags heavily against Fang DuoBing only to feel an arm going around his waist and tugging him close to another body.
"I've got you," Di FeiSheng says. "XiaoBao, get the tea."
Without waiting for a reply, he drags Li LianHua into the shade of a large tree and lowers both of them down onto a broad tree root.
"Li LianHua, are you alright?" Fang DuoBing crouches before them and proffers an opened flask. "Here. Drink slowly."
"Thanks." Li LianHua accepts the flask and takes small sips at the still warm tea. After a minute or so, his stomach settles and he hands the flask back to Fang DuoBing.
A large hand cups the side of his head and guides it down onto a shoulder.
"Ah, Di-mengzhu," Li LianHua mumbles. "Never would've pegged you as a caregiver."
"No talking. Rest now."
Closing his eyes, Li LianHua listens to the small sounds of them taking turns to drink and then Fang DuoBing's footsteps going back to the horses. The silence is comfortable and Di FeiSheng's shoulder even more so, his scent oddly reassuring.
- o -
When Li LianHua next opens his eyes, he realises he's dozed off. His head has stopped spinning and the warm breeze feels comfortable on his face.
"You're awake. How do you feel?"
Li LianHua straightens up and winces when his neck twinges in protest.
"Better. How long was I asleep?" He asks, tipping his head from side to side.
"A while."
"How long is…" Turning to him, Li LianHua blinks at how close Di FeiSheng's face is. His eyes, fringed by those ridiculously long eyelashes, are dark with concern. "Di-mengzhu, you're staring at me."
"A-Fei."
Li LianHua raises his eyebrows.
"Fine. A-Fei, why're you staring at me? Is there something on my face?"
"Li LianHua, you're awake!" And Fang DuoBing is back, dropping to his knees before them with an eager, anxious smile. "How do you feel?"
"Ah, sorry to have worried you, XiaoBao." Li LianHua smiles back and even flicks him on the nose, eliciting an indignant squeak which makes him chuckle.
"Childish." Getting to his feet, Di FeiSheng strides off to the horses.
"Never mind him. Here, take this." Fang DuoBing grabs Li LianHua's hand and deposits a familiar looking pill in it.
"Another Taisui restoration pill?" Li LianHua asks, amused despite himself. "You know it can't-"
"It'll still help so take it."
Under the glare of those fierce puppy eyes, Li LianHua sighs, downs the pill and accepts another drink of tea.
- o –
To Li LianHua's surprise, Fang DuoBing helps him onto the horsein frontof Di FeiSheng instead of behind him.
"Why am I sitting in front?"
"So that A-Fei can keep an eye on you," Fang DuoBing says.
"I'm not going to fall off," Li LianHua tells him, but is ignored.
"It's embarrassing," he tries again, but the only reply he gets is Di FeiSheng snapping the reins. "Wait, I'm still sitting sideways!"
"You'll find it more comfortable this way," Di FeiSheng tells him with a smirk.
Li LianHua glares at him before turning to face front, crossing his arms over his chest. He'snotsome helpless maiden who doesn't know how to ride a horse!
Unfortunately, the sun is shining in his eyes. With a huff, Li LianHua turns back to hide his face in Di FeiSheng's neck and closes his eyes. He yawns once… twice… and nods off, oblivious to the strong arm going around his waist and the soft eyes looking down at him.
- o –
The next time Li LianHua opens his eyes, they're at the foot of a familiar looking hill, crowned by the imposing roofs of Tianji Hall.
"Awake at last?" Fang DuoBing nudges his horse closer and smiles at him.
"XiaoBao," Li LianHua says with a frown. "If I find that you added sleeping powder to the tea-"
"Of course I didn't!" Fang DuoBing is all big eyes and wounded innocence. "A-Fei and I drank the tea and we're fine."
"… right." Li LianHua doesn't see Di FeiSheng's raised eyebrow and Fang DuoBing's sheepish smile. "Anyway, go get Hulijing and then we'll go straight on to Lotus Tower."
"I can't just sneak in and out of my home without saying hello to a-niang," Fang DuoBing protests. "She'll twist my ear off!"
Li LianHua looks away, lips pressed together. He's not in the mood to see anyone, even though Madam He has been nothing but gracious to him. Then he realises he's staring at a small grove of plum blossom trees not too far away. Nestled between two flowering trees is averyfamiliar structure with a white sign hanging from the roof.
Lotus Flower Medical Hall.
"Fang DuoBing, what is my house doing at the foot of Tianji Hall?"
- Chapter End –