Elixir of Immortality

Chapter 11

I hoped that it was Abahai and not Chaluai who answered the window's latch. I knocked repeatedly on the window while Xiong supported me as I sat on his shoulders. A sleepy figure opened the window and I nearly fell down once I saw Chaluai.

"X-Xiran?" she spluttered, puzzled. "What the hell?"

"Can you get Abahai?" I asked in English as my legs wobbled on Xiong's shoulders.

"Why? Are you two going to hook up?"

My cheeks went red. "No! Can you wake him up for me?"

Chaluai nodded and went back into the shadows. I sighed as Xiong lowered me back to the ground. I had never snuck out before, I just hoped that Nǜshì Lian was keeping Bàba and Māmā busy.

"I still find it ridiculous that we need to enlist your friend, Abahai. How do we know he's trustworthy with my secret and mission?"

"I need to talk with him." I had the impression that Xiong and Abahai weren't fond of each other. I switched back to Cantonese. "After this, we are going to Ushi's house. They are both trustworthy, don't worry. Who knows, maybe they'll help us with your mission."

Xiong crossed his arms. "You're all I need."

I didn't know how to react to that.

Thankfully, I didn't have to since Abahai stuck his head out of the upper floor window. "Xiran?" Abahai hissed once he saw me and Xiong. "I-I thought you wouldn't want to talk to me after our argument."

I glanced at Xiong. "We need to talk about a lot of stuff. Can you come outside?"

After a few minutes, Abahai came out of the giftshop's backdoor, out of breath. He was just wearing a tank top and stained sweatpants. "Sorry, Chaluai was threatening to tell my māmā. What's up?"

Xiong sighed loudly before reciting everything he said to me. "Now, I need Xiran's help. The plan is to find the original estate of Hou Yi's and Chang'e's home, we'll find the second Elixir of Immortality."

"There's a spare?" Abahai gasped. "That changes the entire history of Chinese mythology!"

"Not entirely," I reminded him, but I was thoroughly surprised that he took the Hēi'àn De Mìmì thing well. I felt guilt stab through my heart as I remembered I was the one who didn't believe him before. "But Xiong is convinced we can help Chang'e reunite with Hou Yi in the Heavens."

Abahai ran his fingers through his hair. "Okay, let me process this."

I cocked my head. "Process?"

"English slang," he supplied, crossing his arms. "Let's go to Ushi's."

I looped an arm through Xiong's and motioned for Abahai to do the same. Xiong closed his eyes and silently chanted a verse. "Ràng wǒ kěyǐ qù rènhé wǒ xiǎng qù dì dìfāng lǚxíng (Allow me to travel wherever I desire)."

My stomach flipped upside down as I felt lightheaded. A blinding flash sliced through the dark night as I felt myself fade. My pulse quickened but relaxed once I was whole again in Ushi's bedroom.

A scream echoed through the bedroom, startling all of us. "Get back! I'll kill all of you!" Ushi's trembling voice hissed. The lights in Ushi's bedroom switched on as Abahai rolled his eyes, his fingers on the light switch. "Xiran? Abahai? Xiong?"

"Ushi!" Ushi's bàba's voice called from downstairs. "What was that?"

"Er...nothing! I just knocked over my lamp!" she shouted back, her wide eyes still fixated on all of us. She was in blue PJs and her space buns were loosely dangling. She lowered her voice. "It's so late! What are you doing here?"