The Awakening of the Awakener

make haste

Lu Ping ran as fast as he possibly could to the Wind Takers. He did not know what he was going to do, if he was being honest. All he knew was that he had to beat the Mountain and Sea Gang to the Windtakers. He did not know why he bothered to care too much for them, he should be running away, but instead he was running towards danger. He was an absolute idiot for this, but, Su Tang was right about one thing, he would feel guilty if he just left them to their fate. Whatever cursed emotional ties that he somehow managed to gain. 

He shook his head, continuing his bolted path to the Windtakers. First thing was first, get Su Tang out of there. he would not risk her being caught by them again. He should have thought these things through, but at least he had some sense. Despite his previous thoughts, he realized just how lucky he was that he had decided to spy on them in town. Was it stupid? Yes, did it mean that he could easily get found out? Also yes, but without having done that he would have never known that they were headed towards the Windtakers. 

They would be headed there without delay. A token from the Mountain and Sea gang was no small matter, which was why he had taken it from the bastard who pilfered it in the first place. It was a stupid thing to do and even more idiotic to want to keep it. Lu Ping was really one of the few who could handle the consequences of holding onto the token. 

He made it to the gates of the Windtakers, luckily before both the Mountain and Sea troupe, and before it got burst into flames from their wrath, or sadistic joy, he was never really sure which was which, but he supposed in the end it did not matter. He needed to find Su Tang, he could not focus on ridiculous things. Where would Su Tang be at this moment? 

He glanced up, it was almost...roughly lunch, sometime around there, he was never really sure as he attempted to avoid going to lunches, and generally avoided gatherings as a whole. He closed his eyes, annoyance flashing through his body, before he ran towards where the entire sect would be gathered together for the afternoon meal. He desperately hoped that she would listen to him this time. 

He burst into the room, with absolutely no regard for the fact that everyone was staring at him at the abrupt entrance, or the fact that he was breathing heavily, his eyes were wide and panic shot through them. All in all, he was a total mess. He glanced around the Hall once, locating Su Tang before running up to her and grabbing her by the arm and pulling her up and off of the bench that she was seated on. 

"Woah," She said, shocked by the rough treatment. "Yah, what is it?" Lu Ping shook his head, fear shot through him as he knew they were coming soon. Anytime now, anytime now. he had to get her out of here. "Ge, what is it!" She would not leave until he told her. He looked at her, tears flooding his eyes with water, but he refused to let them fall. 

"They are coming here." He said, his voice shaking, his body trembling slightly. "Here, Su Tang you have to leave. Now. They are not far behind." His breathing came out in slightly panicked gasps but he refused to let himself dwell on his impending panic. Not when there was so little time left. 

"Ge, I am not leaving you," 

"YES YOU ARE!" Lu Ping screamed at her. His eyes were wide and taking on a crazed edge. He glanced around again, grabbing some of the seniors and shoving her towards them. "Get. Her. Out. Of. Here. NOW!" He hissed. 

Something within either his tone of voice, or his eyes told them to obey and they hastened out of the room with her. He close his eyes, breathing was difficult, but he had to manage. He touched the token under his robes. What a mess. 

What a horrible, horrible mess. He had not thought that they would come for it so soon. He shook his head, focusing his thoughts. "We need to get out of here now." He said seriously. 

"Why should we listen to you?" One of the disciples asked. The others showered up choruses of agreements which Lu Ping silenced with a mere look, his eyes deadly. 

"The Mountain and Sea Gang has two powerful members on their way here right now, so unless you all want to die I suggest leaving." He hissed, his eyes dark with intent. He would not leave. Could not leave. Had to get time for Su Tang to leave the town. XiFan stood, hesitantly approaching his junior. 

There it was. The different part of Lu Ping that he had been seeing for a while now. It was hidden, deeply, but these eyes did not show slightly glazed idiocy, but a depth of pain and understanding and fear that he did not even want to begin to think over. It showed that shine of intelligence that he had seen once in a while push through. 

"Lu Ping," He said gently, moving to grab his junior's shoulder. Lu Ping ripped himself away from the contact, staring straight into XiFan's eyes, this time there was no playful mischief, no sparkle of amusement as he played this huge joke on them all. There was fear. Fear and pain and terror all wrapped into one big bundle. 

"Order them to leave." He said softly. "Or they will be bulldozed over when they come. We have less than minutes." He stared at XiFan with that look, and then XiFan realized what it was that he had been hiding. 

He did not know how, did not know if he wanted to know how, but Lu Ping knew that Mountain and Sea gang. Knew them in a way of such deeper meaning than others knew them. There was a personal set of emotions here. He knew them in a way people only dread. XiFan did not know how that was, he did not care to know how either. It would have to be utterly heartbreaking. 

"Everyone. Leave. To the mountains. Do NOT come back down until I, or Lu Ping, head for you. Do not stop for anything along the way. Leave now." 

Was the crazy on right for once? Everyone began to panic as they realized that their Senior Disciple going with Lu Ping's desperate plea meant that there had to be some merit to his story.