- Chapter Start –

"Zhan, saddle up two of our fastest horses," Madam He orders.

"Yes, He-zhuren." Zhan YunFei bows and strides out of the room.

"A-Mei, pack two days' worth of food and water."

"Yes, He-zhuren." A-Mei curtseys and hurries off.

"Thank you, niang," Fang DuoBing says. "A-Fei and I will wait outside."

"You know what I think of those martial arts sects; full of greedy people looking to further their own agenda instead of helping the common people. Hmph!" Madam He scoffs before her face softens in a sad smile. "But Li LianHua is different. He's a good man. Bring him home, XiaoBao, we'll take good care of him."

- o -

Fang DuoBing tries not to fidget as Di FeiSheng wears a path in the grass, stopping every few steps to glare in the direction of the stables.

"What is taking that man so long?" He snaps. "Every minute counts!"

"Zhan-ge will be here soon," Fang DuoBing says. "He's devoted to Li XiangYi too."

Di FeiSheng snorts, turns around to begin pacing again only to swing around once more. He raises an eyebrow at Fang DuoBing.

"'Devoted'? That's you and him. As for me, I'm going to shove the bloody Styx Flower down his throat the moment I see him. Why hasn't he taken it yet?"

"Ah."

"What?"

"He umm… gave it away," Fang DuoBing mumbles, shoulders slumping.

"What was that? Speak up." Di FeiSheng takes a step closer.

"He gave it away."

"He what?!" Di FeiSheng's voice rises exponentially.

"He gave it away!" So does Fang DuoBing's.

Di FeiSheng's eyes almost bug out. He makes a sound in his throat that can only be described as the squawk a rooster might make if its tail feathers are pulled out. Except that it somehow manages to sound deadly as well.

"Who did he give it to and why didn't you stop him?" He hisses, taking another step closer.

"I didn't even know until I checked the box and found it empty."

Di FeiSheng squeezes his eyes shut, looking like he's in physical pain.

"Tell me what happened."

- o -

A minute later…

"He gave it to the Emperor?!" Di FeiSheng roars.

"Shh!" Fang DuoBing glances around in alarm. Grabbing Di FeiSheng's arm, he tugs him further away from the main doors.

"What illness does he have that's more serious than Bicha poisoning?!"

"Shh!" Fang DuoBing glances around again. "Li LianHua said the Emperor is a good man who cares for his people, and that our country is prosperous and at peace because of him."

"He also has a thousand physicians at his beck and call!"

"I know!" Fang DuoBing takes a deep breath, trying to ignore the dull ache in his chest and the tightness in his throat. "I know."

"What the Hell do you know?!"

Fang DuoBing opens his mouth and shuts it again to avoid saying something he might regret. Di FeiSheng's temper is unpredictable, especially right this minute. It wouldn't do them or Li LianHua any good to start arguing or worse, fighting.

Right now, the most important thing – the only thing that matters - is finding Li LianHua.

Before it's too late, a voice whispers in Fang DuoBing's mind. He shakes his head and exhales.

"Forget it," Di FeiSheng says, more calmly this time. "Our horses are here. Let's go."

He whirls around, dark blue robe flaring out, and stalks over to where Zhan YunFei is holding the reins of two horses. A-Mei is also there, placing parcels inside the saddlebags.

"Maybe we can work together after all," Fang DuoBing mutters.

"Get over here or I'm leaving without you!"

"Or maybe not."

- o -

The two of them reach Wangjiang Pavilion in record time and gallop along the cliffs. They follow the path of the river until they see a pier in the distance with a scattering of small houses a stone's throw away.

The sun is starting to set in the horizon, but neither men pay any attention to the beautiful colours staining the sky. They dismount from their horses and go around, stopping everyone they meet and asking about a stranger who landed in a boat earlier today.

After a few minutes, someone points them to a middle aged man peering curiously at them.

"Qianbei!" Fang DuoBing hurries over to him. "We're looking for our friend who leaped from the cliffs overlooking the river and fell onto someone's boat. Have you seen him?"

The man looks them up and down.

"What are both your names, gongzi?"

"I am Fang DuoBing. He is Di FeiSheng." Fang DuoBing sees no reason to hide their true identities in this small village.

"So you two are the recipients of the letter he wrote while on my boat."

Fang DuoBing's heart leaps.

"You met Li LianHua?" He and Di FeiSheng ask in unison. "What letter?"

"The letter he wants delivered to the East Sea in a few days' time. I was going to get my brother to deliver it."

"Where is he now?" Fang DuoBing and Di FeiSheng demand, again in unison.

"Who, my brother?" The boatman asks, confused.

"No! The man who wrote the letter!"

"At my home, but I don't think he'll last the night." He gives a heavy sigh and shakes his head. "Come with me, gongzi."

Fang DuoBing and Di FeiSheng follow him to one of the huts which smells of drying fish. The light from the setting sun slants in through the single open window, showing an unconscious figure lying on the bed.

"Li LianHua!" Fang DuoBing rushes over, knees thudding to the wooden floor beside the bed. His heart lurches at the sight of Li LianHua's face - ashen despite the sun's rosy glow – and how very still he is.

"I'm too late," he chokes out. "Li LianHua!"

A shadow falls over him and a large hand enters his vision only to rest on Li LianHua's chest. A shaky exhalation soon follows.

"He's alive," Di FeiSheng says gruffly.

"He is?" Fang DuoBing breathes.

"Mm. Feel for yourself." Di FeiSheng lifts one of Li LianHua's limp wrists.

Fang DuoBing quickly grabs the other. Li LianHua's pulse is frighteningly weak, fluttering under his fingertips like a candle guttering in the wind.

"He's alive, but barely." The relief he feels is indescribable. They're not too late.

"Is he your friend, gongzi?" The boatman asks, hovering behind them. "Gongzi?"

"Oh. Yes, my - our good friend." Fang DuoBing releases Li LianHua's wrist with reluctance and gets to his feet, offering a quick bow. "You have our gratitude for taking care of him, qianbei."

"Call me Lao Wang, everyone does."

"You said he wrote a letter." Di FeiSheng holds out an expectant hand, the other still holding Li LianHua's wrist. He grabs the envelope from Lao Wang and rips it open with his teeth, tearing it right down the middle.

"What're you doing? Give that to me!" Fang DuoBing makes a grab for the letter but fails. "Hey, it's addressed to both of us, not you alone."

"Fine. Read it aloud then," Di FeiSheng orders.

"Of course," Fang DuoBing says huffily. He extracts the letter – now torn in two – and angles both pieces towards the waning sunlight, stealing another glance at Li LianHua before reading aloud.

"Where am I going? Let me think. If the boat sinks and I spend the rest of my life here, that doesn't seem so bad either.

Ten years ago, at the Great Battle of the East Sea, I couldn't win even though I had the weaponry advantage and used the sinking of the boat. Your valiance is rare in the world. I sincerely admire you."

It's obvious who he means. Fang DuoBing pauses to glance at Di FeiSheng who looks like a stone statue, sitting on the edge of the bed with bowed head and one hand gripping Li LianHua's. With a shrug, he continues reading.

"It's been years now. I am ill of health, my sword is broken, and I will be gone. It is with great regret that I can't attend the promised meeting at the East Sea. I'm grateful for the Styx Flower you gave me, but I have failed you ultimately.

Years have passed and things have changed. When it's time to go, it goes. When time comes, it comes."

The words blur. Fang DuoBing wipes his eyes and sniffles. His voice wavers despite his attempt to steady it.

"I have passed my skills to Fang DuoBing. He is talented and no doubt will surpass me one day. You have no intention of chasing victory, you just want to reach the peak. Now that I'm gone, if you are unwilling to accept this, please ask Fang DuoBingto stand in my place.

Last regards,

Li XiangYi."

Silence stretches out, filled with a myriad of emotions too deep to articulate - the apologetic resignation and regret from the writer, and the betrayed bewilderment and hurt from the recipients.

"I have no intention of fighting Fang DuoBing," Di FeiSheng states, still staring at the unconscious man on the bed. "It has to be you. Only you. No one else."

It almost sounds like there could be another meaning to those last few words.

"Well, I have no intention of fighting you either," Fang DuoBing says.

"Eh, I don't think he's in any condition to fight anyone," Lao Wang ventures, eyes darting from one to the other.

"Right." Fang DuoBing runs a hand down his face and turns to him with a smile that's more like a grimace as he takes out his purse.

"May I trouble you to buy us some food and wine? Please get some for yourself as well."

"Ah, I can tell when I'm not wanted."

"Quick. We have no time to lose," Di FeiSheng urges. He yanks off his boots and shifts to sit cross legged at the foot of the bed before pulling Li LianHua to sit upright.

Fang DuoBing helps to bend his knees to mirror Di FeiSheng's. Then he removes his own boots and gets onto the bed behind Li LianHua, sitting cross legged as well.

Throughout it all, Li LianHua doesn't stir, head lolling to the side and body limp like a rag doll.

"We have to be very, very careful," Fang DuoBing says in a low voice. "He feels so…"

Weak. Fragile. Breakable.

"You be careful," Di FeiSheng shoots back. His eyes meet Fang DuoBing's for a brief moment before he closes them. Then so softly that Fang DuoBing can barely hear, "I will too."

With their hands on Li LianHua's back and chest, they begin guiding tiny amounts of their inner Qi into the damaged but very precious body between them.

- Chapter End –