The Caravan’s Journey - Part 6

Content warning: Some profanity

The caravan trudged on in tense silence through the mountain pass. Leiyu was at the front with Bakhat, and a fresh warding talisman floated above him. Every now and then, he’d make an almost imperceptible head turn to check whether the others were keeping up.

A few paces behind him was Chen Yun, seated at the front of his cargo wagon, face glum as he held the reins to his horse. Further back were Liang Fusheng and Wang Yihui along with their respective horses and vehicles. The gaps between the wagons narrowed and widened at random times, like the sections of an earthworm inching forward through the muck.

“Leiyu,” Chen Yun said. Leiyu turned his head toward him. “Sorry, I made things awkward. We really do appreciate everything you’ve done for us.”

Leiyu shrugged. “Don’t worry about it. You’re not the one who needs to apologize.”

Chen Yun sighed. “Fusheng’s not bad. He just…” Chen Yun poked his head to the side to see if the others were listening. “He just runs his mouth sometimes without thinking.”

Leiyu smiled wryly. “He’s getting married, right? Then going right back to being a traveling merchant? Guess his absence at home will lead to marital bliss.”

Chen Yun nearly choked on his saliva. “Wow, that was a surprise coming from you. I wish you’d share your thoughts more often.”

Leiyu looked sideways. “Don’t know if you’d find them that interesting.”

“We might. There’s still a long way to go before we reach Ishkhandar. I don’t know how long we’ll stay there or what goods we’ll pick up before leaving.  I heard from other traders that Ishkhandar is known for its fine glassware and gemstones.  Maybe we can buy some from the bazaars and bring them back home to sell in the markets.” Chen Yun looked at Leiyu earnestly. “Will you accompany us on the return trip? I mean, we could always hire other guards when we get there, but I don’t think we’d be able to find anyone with your abilities.” Chen Yun lowered his voice. “Or did you already have other plans?”

Leiyu looked at Bakhat’s mane and then returned his gaze to Chen Yun. “Don’t have any particular plans once I reach the West. Might just see where the wind takes me.” Chen Yun raised an eyebrow. “But I can accompany you back to the East. The journey is dangerous. Wouldn’t want you to get attacked by bandits on the way home.”

“Thank you,” Chen Yun said. “If we do make it back home safely, we’ll forever be in your debt.” Leiyu raised an eyebrow. “Whatever the palace is paying for the goods, we’ll split evenly. Heck, I’ll even give you some of my share - just not in front of the others.”

Leiyu sighed. “You don’t owe me anything. Probably better that way.”

Chen Yun frowned. “If you don’t want money, maybe you could visit my hometown instead. It’s modest, but you’re welcome to stay as long as you want. We have fresh fish from the river, ducks and geese from the lakes, and the finest hand-pulled noodles around.”

A warm smile broke out on Leiyu’s face. “That does sound nice.”

“Yeah? A whole lot better than eating flatbread every day.”

“I like flatbread. It’s convenient and lasts a long time.”

“Yeah, I get it. But some days all I want is a nice crisp pear or a juicy plum.”

Leiyu had a faraway look in his eyes. The expression reminded Chen Yun of the time he asked Leiyu about his hometown. He decided to change topics. “So, when do you think we can get through this mountain?”

“I wouldn’t know,” Leiyu replied. “Just have to keep going forward. Hopefully, we don’t have to spend too many nights here.”

“Yeah, ghosts and all. Do you think the ghosts here are different from the ones back home?”

“Ghosts are dead people, right? Does it matter where they died?”

Chen Yun made a face. “Well, yes, but do you think they follow the same, I don’t know, rules? Each of the regions has a different goddess and different customs. Like, is an Eastern warding talisman going to work on Western ghosts?”

Leiyu laughed. “I don’t know. I’m not even sure they work that well at home. But the ghost voices did quiet down once I activated the talisman.”

“What did the voices say?”

“I don’t speak the Western Region languages, so I couldn’t tell. But there was a certain thought that kept repeating. Despair.”

Chen Yun’s eyes widened. “Despair?”

“Yes. Also heard some battle sounds. Even had a dream about it last night. Maybe it was the memories of a long ago war?” Leiyu glanced at Chen Yun. “Would you know anything about it?”

Chen Yun shook his head. “I haven’t been to the Western Region before, so no. All I know is that they’ve been a unified empire for the last twenty or so years. If there was a war, it would have been before that.”

“Must have been a lot of turmoil then, if the spirits are still lingering.”

“Yeah, I’d hate to get caught up in something like that.”

“Man, you two are sure doing a whole lot of yapping!” Liang Fusheng called out from behind. “Never heard the wind mage talk so much.”

Chen Yun stuck his head to the side of the wagon. “Yeah, and you were real nice and quiet ‘til now. Why’d you stop?”

“Oh, hush!”

“Are you talking about the ghosts again?” Wang Yihui asked.

Chen Yun laughed. “Yep, that’s all we talk about. Ghosts and food.”

Wang Yihui shuddered. “I hope the ghosts don’t think we’re food.”

A breeze blew through the passageway, and the talisman fluttered. Wang Yihui gulped.

“What’s happening?” Chen Yun asked.

Leiyu narrowed his eyes and strained his ears. He could hear horse hooves clopping, swords clanging, and fires roaring. Screams filled his head. He covered his ears and bent over. His heart was palpitating and his breaths became shallow.

“Leiyu!” Chen Yun shouted. He ran over to Leiyu’s side. Leiyu’s eyes were squeezed shut and he was shuddering. “Are you all right?”

“Is the wind mage okay?” Liang Fusheng asked as he walked towards them. His usual snark had dissolved away. Wang Yihui trailed after him.

Leiyu opened his eyes and took a deep breath. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead. He saw the three merchants looking down at him with concern. “It’s fine,” he said. “The ghosts just became very loud.”

“What were they saying?” Chen Yun asked.

“Not sure,” Leiyu replied. “They were just screaming a lot.”

The merchants stepped back uneasily.

“Are we going to die?” Wang Yihui asked.

“Um, I don’t know about ghosts or whatever,” Liang Fusheng said. “But maybe you’re falling ill, if what Chen Yun said about you sleeping outside all night is true.”

“Yeah, do you want to rest?” Chen Yun asked. “You can just lie down in my wagon. We don’t have to travel today.”

Leiyu shook his head. “I’m fine. I’m not tired.”

Chen Yun sighed. “Please, I insist. It would do us no good if you became ill. We have to think about the long term.”

Leiyu frowned. “I don’t want to hold us up.”

“We’re not in a hurry to get there. If you don’t want to rest for an entire day, could you at least rest for a shichen? Or even half of one?” Chen Yun asked. “It won’t take up too much time.”

Leiyu sighed. “If you insist.”

Chen Yun smiled. He went inside his wagon and pushed aside some items to make space. Leiyu followed him inside. “You can rest here.”

Leiyu awkwardly laid down on his side. He did not feel sleepy, but also did not want to cause too much tension. At the very least, he could use the time to meditate. He closed his eyes, then felt something being draped over him. Half opening one eye, he saw Chen Yun was sitting next to him, holding the end of a silk blanket.

“Thank you,” Leiyu said.

“Don’t worry about it,” Chen Yun replied. “Let me know if you need anything else.”

Leiyu closed his eyes again. He heard Chen Yun exit the wagon and join the others outside. They spoke in whispers, although he could hear their every word.

“Shit,” Liang Fusheng said. “Now I feel kinda bad about ribbing him. Has he been getting sick this whole time?”

“I don’t think so,” Chen Yun said. “He was fine up ‘til now, but I don’t know why he insisted on sleeping out in the cold by himself.”

“I hope he’s okay,” Wang Yihui said. “I don’t want to be stuck with the ghosts.”

“You’re really taking this ghost thing seriously, aren’t you?” Liang Fusheng scoffed.

“Better safe than sorry,” Wang Yihui replied. “Why aren’t you taking it more seriously?”

“I see nothing to gain in being superstitious,” Liang Fusheng said.

“But what would you have to lose?” Wang Yihui asked. “If you believe in the ghosts and they truly are there, then at least you can avoid angering them. If they’re not there, then you’re safe anyway.”

“Sounds like a waste of thoughts,” Liang Fusheng scoffed. “If you spend your whole life fearing pretend things, then you’re jumping into an early grave.”

Inside the wagon, the merchants’ monotonous murmurs lulled Leiyu into a stupor. The sounds of the world slowly melted away.

***

Leiyu saw himself back at the sect compound where he grew up. It was an old wooden building nestled within a copse of trees on top of a grassy hill. There was a pathway of stone steps that led down the slope to the nearby town. A curtain of mist often shrouded their home, adding to the sense of seclusion.

His elder martial brothers often ventured to town to buy supplies or do odd jobs, while the younger disciples stayed home and practiced their reading, writing, and martial arts. They were not a large sect and definitely not wealthy.

Leiyu saw the two disciples that he hung out with most - his shixiong Jianyi and his shidi Anying. Jianyi’s face was all angles. He had thick downturned eyebrows that gave him a haughty and mischievous air, piercing hawk-like eyes, and a smile that seemed more like a smirk. Anying had softer features and a gentler demeanor. As the most junior member of the trio, he followed along with whatever his seniors said.

Leiyu sighed. A long time ago, they had all been close friends.

***

Leiyu woke up. The smell of food was wafting through the air. He arose and poked his head through the wagon’s opening.

”Leiyu, how are you feeling?” Chen Yun asked. He was stirring another pot of millet soup.

”How long was I out?” Leiyu asked. He looked up and saw the warding talisman above them, still going strong.

”Not sure, maybe a little less than a shichen. We’re about to have lunch.”

Leiyu sat down near the merchants and quietly waited as Chen Yun finished cooking.

Chen Yun laid out the bowls. “All right, everyone is getting exactly the same amount.” Liang Fusheng gave him the side eye. Chen Yun ignored him and ladled the soup. They ate in silence.

After lunch, they continued onward. The path narrowed and brambles scratched the canvas of their wagons. The gnarled branches became more dense until the pathway turned into a tunnel of thorns.

”I feel like the mountain is trying to kill us,” Chen Yun remarked. “How did other merchants get through before?”

Leiyu dismounted from Bakhat and walked forward. The further he went, the more the thorny branches closed in, until there was an opening no larger than a peephole.

”Ah damn it, did you lead us to a dead end?” Liang Fusheng grumbled.

”Fusheng, please, you’re not helping,” Chen Yun said. Liang Fusheng crossed his arms and furrowed his brows.

Leiyu drew his sword and closed his eyes. The air around him began to swirl, and the strands of his hair danced around his face. He opened his eyes and slashed the air. Gashes materialized on the thorny branches, and the brambles pulled apart. The merchants’ eyes widened.

”Okay, never mind,” Liang Fusheng said. “I spoke too soon.”

Leiyu spent the next few hours clearing a path through the tunnel of thorns, stopping only briefly to catch his breath. While the other merchants were not looking, Chen Yun slipped him some goji berries to replenish his strength.

As the afternoon sun journeyed halfway towards the horizon, Leiyu saw something and paused. He reached out and examined the branches. Small buds lined the bark. Some of them were tiny and compact, while others were in mid-bloom. The soft petals contrasted with the sharpness of the thorns.

”What is it?” Chen Yun asked.

Leiyu turned towards him. “Flowers.”

”Flowers?” Chen Yun said. “Is that a good or a bad sign?”

Leiyu shrugged. “They’re just flowers. I wouldn’t know whether they have any intent.” Leiyu continued to hack away at the branches, although he was careful not to damage the blossoms too much. Light began to filter through the gaps between the brambles. When he pulled away another layer, he was met with empty space.

They had reached the end of the tunnel of thorns and a vast field opened up before them. Clouds slowly sauntered across the sky. A gentle breeze blew through the yellowed grasses, carrying the scent of lavender. In the distance, they could see the ramparts of a walled city. The tops of gilded buildings peaked over the wall, and at the center, towering above everything else, was a cerulean dome.

“We made it!” Chen Yun exclaimed. “That must be Ishkhandar!”