\u201cMie\u2019er!\u201d Xie Li called out to the familiar figure before him.
\n<\/p>\n
\u201cYes?\u201d smiled the young man, turning around to face him. His sharp eyes and boyish grin easily caught the attention of the ladies around him.<\/p>\n
\u201cMie\u2019er,\u201d said Xie Li once more. His hands came up instinctively, then he put them down by his side.<\/p>\n
\u201cHey, it\u2019s dangerous, get out of the way,\u201d yelled a man driving an oxcart down the busy street.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh,\u201d said Xie Li, turning around to look at the busy traffic on the street he was standing in the middle of.<\/p>\n
\u201cCareful,\u201d said the charming young man, grabbing Xie Li\u2019s arm and pulling him away from the street.<\/p>\n
He ran his hand over the young man\u2019s chest and felt the leather ridges differ from what he was seeing. \u201cThe clothes are enchanted?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d said the young man. \u201cIt\u2019s more convenient this way.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHm.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSpeaking of clothes\u2026\u201d said the young man, his lips pouting slightly at Xie Li\u2019s outfit. \u201cBlue really isn\u2019t your colour.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere did Mister Xie go?\u201d asked Jianjin, looking about the wagon. He looked at his brother and followed his gaze across the street.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh my heavens,\u201d gasped Jianjin. \u201cThat\u2019s Di Shibo in disguise, isn\u2019t it? What\u2019s he doing with\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShh, leave it be,\u201d said Jianshi to his brother. \u201cWe didn\u2019t see anything.\u201d<\/p>\n
*<\/p>\n
At the clothing shop nearby, Di Mie grinned as he picked out a few ready-made outfits and placed them on the counter.<\/p>\n
The shopkeeper, seeing he was picking out a particular colour scheme, quickly helped bring suitable accessories to match.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you find something to your liking, we can alter them on the spot,\u201d said the shopkeeper cheerfully.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re always making me try on clothes,\u201d huffed Xie Li. \u201cIs this that fun?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI haven\u2019t done this for ages,\u201d said Di Mie. \u201cI\u2019m going to do whatever I like. You\u2019ve got a problem with that?\u201d<\/p>\n
Xie Li shook his head.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo what you want.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI damn well will.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the end, he picked out only one outfit that didn\u2019t need much alteration. He frowned at the lack of suitable accessories and picked out a simple hair ribbon with a spot of jade instead. He held up a face veil, wondered for a moment, and then put it back.<\/p>\n
\u201cI guess we\u2019ll have to put up with this for now. The bigger towns should have a better selection.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not the one picky about clothing\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSit down and let me fix your hair\u2014\u201d Di Mie paused, looking at Xie Li\u2019s wrapped wrist. \u201cCan you take this off?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMn,\u201d said Xie Li, taking it off to reveal a jade bangle.<\/p>\n
Di Mie raised a brow, but said nothing. He continued perusing the accessories. \u201cWe\u2019ll have to add another piece of jade to your sash to match the bangle.\u201d<\/p>\n
The shopkeeper watched on, feeling full in both her heart and purse.<\/p>\n
*<\/p>\n
\u201cOho?\u201d said Auntie Ma, her eyes sparkling. \u201cWho are those two beautiful men across the street?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIsn\u2019t that Xie Li?\u201d said Old Niu. \u201cOh wow, now that I see him wearing some proper clothes, I realise how inadequate my hand-me-downs were.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEhh? Ah-Li?\u201d gasped Auntie Ma, looking at Xie Li up and down once he walked up to the wagon. \u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHello, Auntie Ma. I hope you don\u2019t mind me dressing him up,\u201d grinned Di Mie.<\/p>\n
\u201cWait\u2014\u201d realised Auntie Ma. \u201cYoung master Di? Oh my heavens! You look exactly how you were ten years ago! I feel as if I was back working in the canteen.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAhh, to even change your features and hair colour, this must be a very advanced spell,\u201d admired Old Niu.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not that hard,\u201d said Di Mie. \u201cIt\u2019s just a seal-based spell.\u201d<\/p>\n
Xie Li narrowed his eyes a bit.<\/p>\n
\u201cHeavens,\u201d gushed Auntie Ma. \u201cYou two look so dashing that Auntie could faint.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you all going to wear disguises and have aliases?\u201d asked Old Niu.<\/p>\n
Di Mie looked at Jianshi and Jianjin and felt the look of despair on their faces was going to be worth it.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy not?\u201d said Di Mie, easily playing along. \u201cJianshi and Jianjin can continue to be disciples of the Border Mountains. I look about their age, so they can be my senior brothers.<\/p>\n
\u201cDi Shibo\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHmm?\u201d said Di Mie.<\/p>\n
\u201cUh, Di\u2026Shi, shi\u2026shidi*\u2026\u201d Jianjin tried, and immediately cried uncle. \u201cI cannot do it, Di Shibo, please spare your pitiful junior nephew!\u201d<\/p>\n
*Shidi = junior brother<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cNow, this Brother Xie looks older than us, so\u2026\u201d Di Mie had a mischievous sparkle in his eye. \u201cWe\u2019ll call him Shizun*.\u201d<\/p>\n Shizun = master\/teacher <\/em><\/p>\n Jianshi looked at Di Mie and blinked very fast, trying to process what he just heard.<\/p>\n \u201cWill you let me call you \u2018Shizun\u2019?\u201d asked Di Mie.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you want to,\u201d said Xie Li.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy are you not refusing him?\u201d said Jianjin, facepalming.<\/p>\n \u201cDi Shibo, please reconsider,\u201d pleaded Jianshi. \u201cWe have a Shizun already. We can\u2019t call someone else our Shizun, even if it\u2019s pretend\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, then you two call him \u2018Senior*\u2019, and I\u2019ll call him \u2018Shizun\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n *in Chinese it\u2019s \u2018qianbei\u2019 (senpai)<\/em><\/p>\n Jianshi tried to negotiate a little further\u2014\u201dIt\u2019s too rude for us to call you our junior, may we call you \u2018senior\u2019 too?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHm,\u201d said Di Mie, looking a little reluctant. \u201cYou can call me ‘Shixiong\u2019, then.\u201d<\/p>\n Shixiong = senior brother <\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThank you, Di Shixiong,\u201d said Jianshi, breathing a huge sigh of relief at the concession.<\/p>\n Auntie Ma and Old Niu just smiled and looked confused at the whole scene, but they didn\u2019t care since they got to see Di Mie\u2019s handsome bare face, even if it was an illusion.<\/p>\n \u201cCome, Shizun, let me help you,\u201d said Di Mie, hopping up the wagon and holding out his hand for Xie Li.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay,\u201d said Xie Li, taking his hand and letting himself be helped up the wagon.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s go on a trip,\u201d said Di Mie. \u201cThis time, together.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMn.\u201d<\/p>\n *<\/p>\n Jianshi and Jianjin took turns taking the reins next to the experienced Old Niu, who gave them pointers on how to drive a wagon.<\/p>\n In the wagon, a briefing was happening.<\/p>\n \u201cShizun, here\u2019s the map,\u201d said the younger-looking Di Mie, opening a cloth scroll and pointing out the locations. \u201cAt this speed, it\u2019s about fifteen days to Bainiao Lake City. The talks will be held at Du Manor there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf you rode a sword, it would take less than three days to get there,\u201d said Xie Li, seeing how they\u2019d have to take a long way around in some parts on land.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have time,\u201d said Di Mie. \u201cIt\u2019ll be good to do a little sightseeing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSight-seeing\u2026\u201d sighed Xie Li. He rubbed his chest and coughed.<\/p>\n \u201cHm? Are you feeling unwell, Senior\u2026Xie?\u201d asked Jianjin.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n Xie Li was looking pretty pale now, turning away from them as his coughing intensified.<\/p>\n \u201cOh dear,\u201d said Auntie Ma. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n He raised two fingers and aimed it at himself.<\/p>\n \u201cStop that,\u201d said Di Mie, grabbing his hand just before it hit the pressure point in his chest. \u201cIt\u2019s bad for your health to seal your gag reflex by force.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re motion-sick?\u201d realised Auntie Ma. \u201cJust hold on, I have some sour plums you can eat.\u201d<\/p>\n Xie Li started coughing again, then clapped a hand over his mouth as he gagged. He tried to jab his pressure point but was stopped by Di Mie once more.<\/p>\n \u201cJust throw up if you need to,\u201d said Di Mie.<\/p>\n \u201cOh dear, oh dear,\u201d said Auntie Ma, watching as Xie Li threw up all over himself. He glared at Di Mie, then looked away.<\/p>\n \u201cDo we need to stop?\u201d asked a concerned Jianshi sitting with Old Niu.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a tea shop just ahead,\u201d said Old Niu. \u201cWe\u2019ll take a break there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI guess our journey will take longer than planned,\u201d chirped Di Mie. He hopped off the wagon and offered his hand. \u201cCome, let this obedient disciple help you.\u201d<\/p>\n Xie Li ignored his offer and climbed off the wagon himself, heading to the well near the tea house.<\/p>\n He drew a bucket of water, squatted down and began washing the soiled part of his robe, not caring that his long hair was sweeping the floor behind him.<\/p>\n Auntie Ma jogged over and offered to help him, but he shook his head and only asked for her for some soap.<\/p>\n She sighed at her stubborn nephew and walked back to the wagon.<\/p>\n \u201cHe looks angry,\u201d said Auntie Ma, digging out a jar of soap flakes from her pack. \u201cHere, help me pass it to him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy me?\u201d said Jianjin, wanting to cry. \u201cIf he\u2019s angry, I\u2019m scared too\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll do it,\u201d said Jianshi, taking the bottle from Auntie Ma and sparing his brother the pain.<\/p>\n \u201cThe weather\u2019s fine, so let\u2019s have a cup of tea since we\u2019re here,\u201d said Old Niu, hopping off the wagon perfectly while using crutches.<\/p>\n Less than an hour out of town and the road trip had already run into a snag.<\/p>\n \u201cHere\u2019s the soap, Senior Xie,\u201d said Jianshi, holding out the bottle.<\/p>\n Xie Li took the bottle from Jianshi without looking back and continued scrubbing.<\/p>\n Jianshi pondered a while, then squatted next to Xie Li, trying to get down to his level. There seemed to be a lot of incomprehensible things this Xie Li did. However, from what he could see right now, this strange \u2018senior\u2019 was trying his best to clean his new clothes.<\/p>\n \u201cHm,\u201d said Xie Li, holding up the wet part of the robe to inspect his work. \u201cThis should be clean enough.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCome sit down and drink a bit of this herbal tea to soothe your throat,\u201d said Auntie Ma from the table.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s all right,\u201d said Xie Li, shaking his head and trying to give them a smile. \u201cI\u2019ll go back to the wagon first. Please enjoy your tea.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI knew he was kind of shy, but was Xie Li always this\u2026reserved?\u201d asked Uncle Niu.<\/p>\n \u201cHe does seem pretty tired out lately,\u201d said Auntie Ma. \u201cAll right, let\u2019s finish up our tea and get on the road.\u201d<\/p>\n They managed to get to a village inn by nightfall without incident, but Auntie Ma frowned when she noticed that Xie Li\u2019s lunchbox remained untouched. All he did was sit still with his eyes closed, ignoring everyone and everything.<\/p>\n Not even Di Mie seemed able to get him to eat anything. Only when they reached their destination did he stir.<\/p>\n Jianshi and Jianshi took the horses to the stable while the others checked into the inn.<\/p>\n Xie Li stood straight, looking expressionless and almost aloof as he took his bundle and went into the room with Auntie Ma.<\/p>\n \u201cAh-Li?\u201d asked Auntie Ma, trying to gauge his mood.<\/p>\n \u201cLet’s rest soon, we have another day of travel ahead of us tomorrow,\u201d said Xie Li, giving her a practised smile.<\/p>\n \u201cAll right,\u201d said Auntie Ma, defenceless against his smile. \u201cI\u2019ll go look and see if there\u2019s a restaurant nearby. Come join us for dinner in a bit.\u201d<\/p>\n Outside the room, Di Mie was waiting to change rooms with her.<\/p>\n \u201cAuntie Ma,\u201d grinned Di Mie, exuding so much youthful charm that Auntie Ma couldn’t refuse him.<\/p>\n *<\/p>\n Xie Li took out a copy of the map Di Mie passed him earlier in the day and pored over it at the table. He traced the marked locations where incidents involving the undead occurred, including the case that involved the spirit-devouring beasts.<\/p>\n There was a knock on the door, but he ignored it, continuing his thoughts and murmuring to himself.<\/p>\n \u201cThe two rivers connected to the lake should be investigated as well\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAt least drink a bit of soup,\u201d came a man\u2019s voice, the unexpected sound jolting him out of his train of thought.<\/p>\n Xie Li looked up and saw Di Mie standing at his table, setting a bowl of hot vegetable soup in front of him.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay,\u201d said Xie Li. He set down the map and took the bowl of soup, looking at the bits of tofu in the soup and taking a deep breath. He took a spoonful and set it down, sighing.<\/p>\n \u201cNo appetite?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI dirtied the new clothes you got me,\u201d said Xie Li, staring at the soup.<\/p>\n \u201cYour hair is dirtier than the clothes you threw up on,\u201d said Di Mie, huffing in amusement. He went behind Xie Li and cradled a lock of his hair in his hands, dusting the dirt off the tips. \u201cAfter I spent all that effort braiding and tying up your hair, you went and swept the floor with it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh,\u201d said Xie Li, trying to look over his shoulder.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not going to share a bed with you when you\u2019re this dusty,\u201d said Di Mie. He brought the washbasin over with a jug of water.<\/p>\n \u201cDrink your soup,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Xie Li watched as Di Mie\u2019s skilful hands cleaned the tips of his hair, and absently started to slowly drink his soup.<\/p>\n *<\/p>\n \u201cAh-Jin, it\u2019s your turn to go,\u201d came a voice outside the door.<\/p>\n \u201cNooo, I\u2019m scared.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUgh, fine.\u201d<\/p>\n A knock on the door, and Di Mie stirred. He groaned and lay back down. Mornings were hard for him. Especially on a small, cheap bed like this.<\/p>\n \u201cMmmphh,\u201d came Di Mie\u2019s sleepy protest.<\/p>\n A second round of knocking.<\/p>\n The door cracked open and it was Xie Li staring at them.<\/p>\n \u201cSenior Xie,\u201d greeted Jianshi. \u201cI\u2019ve come to inform you and \u2018Senior brother\u2019 Di that we shall be setting off in an hour.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay,\u201d said Xie Li. \u201cI\u2019ll let Mie\u2014, uh, Di Mie know.\u201d<\/p>\n Jianshi saw that Xie Li was holding a bundle of wet laundry.<\/p>\n There was a faint smell of blood coming from his hands.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll be having breakfast outside if you need us\u2026\u201d said Jianshi, backing away.<\/p>\n \u201cMn,\u201d said Xie Li, closing the door on them.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was scary,\u201d whispered Jianjin, his imagination running wild. \u201cWhy is he washing his tunic, and why\u2026.why is there the smell of blood?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t think about it,\u201d advised Jianshi, his mental defences kicking in.<\/p>\n Xie Li finished up his laundry and hung the wet undertunic at the window to dry, then went over to the bed and gently shook Di Mie\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n \u201cMie\u2019er, wake up,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cMmmm,\u201d protested Di Mie. He grabbed Xie Li and pulled him into the bed on top of him.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you don\u2019t get up, we\u2019ll both be late,\u201d said Xie Li, fumbling to get up from Di Mie\u2019s grip.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to sleep. I don\u2019t care,\u201d said Di Mie.<\/p>\n Another knock on the door.<\/p>\n Xie Li hadn\u2019t bolted the door after opening it earlier and the knock pushed the door ajar.<\/p>\n \u201cYoung master Di, Ah-Li, we\u2019ll be having breakfast at the restaurant across the inn. Oh, your door is unlocked\u2014\u201d said Auntie Ma. She stared at the scene for a moment.<\/p>\n \u201cOh. My. Heavens.\u201d<\/p>\n She left, quickly closing the door behind her, murmuring, \u201cI didn\u2019t know Ah-Li is the dominant type\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n The night before, Old Niu, Auntie Ma, Jianshi and Jianjin sat around the restaurant table and had an intense conversation.<\/p>\n \u201cDi Shibo told me to leave them alone in their room…,\u201d whispered Jianjin. By that, he meant that Di Mie waved him away like he was a pest.<\/p>\n \u201cThey are indeed spending a lot of time together,\u201d said Jianshi, trying to be as objective as he could. \u201cI wonder if they knew each other beforehand.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI suspected that too,\u201d Auntie Ma joined in. \u201cTo be honest, I don\u2019t know much about Ah-Li\u2019s background either.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIsn\u2019t he your nephew?\u201d asked Old Niu.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s all my one-sided wishful thinking, really. I\u2019ve always wanted a nephew and I\u2019m glad he lets me call him that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo he\u2019s not really your nephew?\u201d asked Jianjin.<\/p>\n \u201cAh-Jin,\u201d said Jianshi. \u201cIf Auntie Ma feels that way, does it matter?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh, so he\u2019s got history,\u201d said Old Niu.<\/p>\n \u201cTell us more, Auntie Ma,\u201d said Jianjin.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I guess I could, since it\u2019s not like I was sworn to keep this a secret,\u201d said Auntie Ma. She put a finger to her lips. \u201cBut let\u2019s just keep it between the four of us, since I don\u2019t want to be a blabbermouth.\u201d<\/p>\n The other three put a finger to their lips in return, promising their silence.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a personal request from Sect Leader Qing Lingfeng himself,\u201d said Auntie Ma, in a hushed tone. \u201cHe brought Ah-Li to me about half a year ago and asked me to take care of him. Since I owed him a favour, I agreed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat favour was that?\u201d asked Old Niu.<\/p>\n \u201cUm,\u201d said Auntie Ma sheepishly. \u201cInns don\u2019t get built from nothing, you know.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh, so he lent you money,\u201d said Old Niu, chuckling.<\/p>\n \u201cIf Senior Xie was at your inn for months,\u201d said Jianshi. \u201cThen how did we not see him until now?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe was sick for a long time. Only recently was he able to get out of bed,\u201d said Auntie Ma. She looked left and right, then said in a hushed undertone. \u201cI glimpsed his scars once and it looked terrible.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cScars? So his sickness was due to an injury?\u201d asked Old Niu.<\/p>\n \u201cI assumed he was a former disciple from the Border Mountains,\u201d added Auntie Ma. “And for someone to have such\u00a0 terrible scars, he must’ve been injured during the Calamity.\u201d<\/p>\n “Would it at the Battle of the North Gate?” asked Jianshi.<\/p>\n Old Niu nodded. \u201cProbably. There were a lot of casualties among my former senior brothers and sisters. I myself lost a leg there.\u201d\u201cOkay, let me get this straight,\u201d said Jianjin. \u201cSo, in summary, you\u2019re saying that Senior Xie was someone from the Border Mountains Sect. He got injured badly during the Calamity and is recovering at your inn.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think that Ah-Li was a retired disciple and perhaps was a junior brother to Valley Lord Di,\u201d said Auntie Ma.<\/p>\n \u201cIf that\u2019s the case, isn\u2019t it rather inappropriate for Di Shibo to call Senior Xie \u2018Shizun\u2019?\u201d said Jianshi.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, that,\u201d said Auntie Ma, as if knowing something. \u201cMaybe it\u2019s because you\u2019re young, but us older ones who worked at the Border Mountains know that young master Di has a bit of a Shizun complex\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n “It’s not just ‘a bit’, Auntie Ma,” laughed Old Niu.<\/p>\n \u201cA Shizun complex??\u201d blurted out the two juniors.<\/p>\n \u201cShhh!\u201d hushed Auntie Ma.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know of this too, Uncle Niu?\u201d asked Jianjin.<\/p>\n \u201cYou bet. A senior sister from Cloudrest Peak even penned a song back in the day. It\u2019s a little cheesy, but I remember it quite well,\u201d said Old Niu. He stroked his sparse beard and sang for them:<\/p>\n The lonely disciple of Hermit Moon Peak The lonely disciple did find some solace On nights when the moon is bright and shadows wane \u201cHeavens! They even have a song about it? My head hurts,\u201d said Jianshi, pinching his brow.<\/p>\n \u201cThe biggest conflict I\u2019m feeling is that I feel sorry for the \u2018lonely disciple\u2019 in this song, but when I picture Di Shibo, all I can see is the face of a scary demon king\u2026\u201d said Jianjin, hiding his face in his hands and shaking his head in despair.<\/p>\n \u201cYou remember the whole song!\u201d said Auntie Ma. \u201cAnd you sing pretty well.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHeheh,\u201d said Old Niu, rubbing his nose, slightly embarrassed. \u201cEven if it was for a short while, I was a proper disciple of the Bard’s Peak. As fate would have it, I am now travelling with the famous \u2018lonely disciple of Hermit Moon\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo, what that song means is that the young Di Shibo was always looking for someone to be his Shizun*?\u201d said Jianshi.<\/p>\n *Shizun = Master<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cSo Di Shibo is roleplaying Shizun and Disciple with Senior Xie because of his Shizun complex,\u201d said Jianjin, feeling a shudder down his back now that he’d said it aloud.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t remember anyone called \u2018Xie Li\u2019 back when I was at the Border Mountains, though,\u201d said Old Niu. \u201cMaybe he was an out-of-town disciple.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh-Li told me he briefly stayed at the Hermit Moon Peak before,\u201d said Auntie Ma.<\/p>\n \u201cHe did?\u201d gasped Jianjin. \u201cThat place is hell even for a weekend stay.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, you\u2019ve been there before?\u201d asked Old Niu.<\/p>\n \u201cUhh\u2026\u201d said Jianjin, and pressed his lips shut.<\/p>\n \u201cWe stay at the Fallen Leaves Valley, which is at the foot of Hermit Moon Peak,\u201d said Jianshi, knowing the right things to say. \u201cWe go a little way up to sweep now and then.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI see,\u201d said Old Niu, stroking his not-really-there beard. \u201cThis Xie Li really is a mystery, then.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHas Auntie Ma asked him about his past before?\u201d said Jianjin.<\/p>\n \u201cThis auntie doesn\u2019t dare ask so much,\u201d said Auntie Ma. \u201cI have no tact at all. What if I bother him with my questions until he vomits blood?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSurely you exaggerate,\u201d said Jianjin.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not,\u201d said Auntie Ma. \u201cThere was this one time he vomited blood when we argued.\u201d<\/p>\n Everyone else stared at her in silence for a minute.<\/p>\n \u201cWow. It seems like we need to be careful with your nephew\u2019s health,\u201d said Old Niu.<\/p>\n \u201cDi Shibo seems to be getting along with Senior Xie Li well,\u201d said Jianshi.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sure it\u2019s due to the power of his\u2014\u201d said Jianjin, with Old Niu and Auntie Ma completing his sentence in unison\u2014\u201d\u2018Shizun complex\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n *<\/p>\n Meanwhile back at the inn at this moment:<\/p>\n \u201cAchoo!\u201d sneezed Di Mie.<\/p>\n \u201cDid you catch a cold?\u201d asked Xie Li.<\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d said Di Mie. \u201cIt must be those two brats talking about me behind my back. I\u2019ll get back at them tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n Jianshi and Jianjin felt a sudden chill running down their backs.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In case anyone’s confused about the meaning ‘song’ here Old Niu sang – here’s a quick rundown!<\/p>\n I assume the song’s about Di Mie when he was young and the only disciple of Hermit Moon Peak, and since he’s ‘knelt’ at Hermit Moon Peak, (meaning that he officially acknowledged the Hermit Moon Peak Lord as his Shizun) so he couldn’t take on a second Shizun(master) here. Eventually, he called the Dream-Wandering Immortal “Shizun” because of his thirst, uh, desire to have a master who wouldn’t neglect him.<\/p>\n …something like that. \ud83d\ude00<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cMie\u2019er!\u201d Xie Li called out to the familiar figure before him.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-101","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-my-hermit-master"],"yoast_head":"\n
\n
\nExtra:<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nNeglected by his master, more he doth seek
\nHe fought among the Tigers and searched the Cranes
\nBut none could take him for his Master remains<\/em><\/p>\n
\nIn the company of many a lords\u2019 grace
\nBut he\u2019d knelt in the hall of the Hermit Moon
\nWith no one else he\u2019d be allowed to commune<\/em><\/p>\n
\nA Wand\u2019ring Immortal appears, shine or rain
\nThe lonely disciple calls him his master
\nSo that for a night, his dreams would be sweeter<\/em><\/p>\n
\n
\nTranslator\u2019s Notes
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n
\n<\/em>The Tigers and Cranes refer to the Mad Tiger Peak and Cloudrest Peak.<\/p>\n