Elixir of Immortality

Chapter 19

My tears ebbed away and I was left sitting alone in a corner. Eventually, both Abahai and Ushi stirred, waking up. "That son of—ugh, hmph," Ushi mumbled, rubbing her forehead. "Xiong was a true traitor."

"I told you so."

"Shut up, Abahai!"

"This isn't good," I groaned, wiping away my tears. "Chang'e is going to storm Hēi'àn De Mìmì and everyone's lives are in danger. That woman is a witch, I tell you. I truly thought she was going to use the elixir to save Hou Yi."

"She stole the Elixir of Immortality in the first place, looks like the myths about her are wrong," Abahai agreed, shaking his head. "This is my fault, I should have insisted that Xiong was bad news."

I was shocked at how selfless my friend was. Guilt bubbled inside of me. "No, no, it's my fault. I was the one who trusted Xiong and introduced the idea of finding the elixir. I-I actually kind of loved him and I just aimlessly followed him like a puppy."

Ushi held up her hands, her cute space buns undone. "Stop blaming yourselves. It's my fault, I was so happy that Xiran and Xiong were going to be a thing—an English term before you ask, Xiran—that I blindly also followed."

"I suppose we all are to blame," I muttered.

Abahai growled. "No, it's 100% Xiong's fault, that stupid bastard."

While time wasn't really something on the moon, it was probably still nighttime. Ushi was beaten, falling asleep shortly after our talk. Before, Ushi tried to lockpick the lock but it was no use.

I looked over to Abahai, grimacing. "Okay, now that Ushi's asleep, admit that it was also 50% of my fault, Abahai."

The boy blinked. "Xiran, no, it's not."

"I led you two into this, you even warned me about him."

"No, Xiong did." Abahai's hands found mine. "I know, I know, I warned you about him and everything. However, I wasn't sure myself, I mainly said that to you because I didn't like the way you looked at him. I didn't like the way he looked at you too..."

So Ushi was right—Abahai was jealous to a certain degree. I suppose that hardly matters now considering we were going to rot in a cellar. His hands were rough, probably from working in the Soontornvats' gift shop, and I tightened my grasp. "So you like-like me?"

"That's the one English term you understand?" He teased and I sighed loudly, my voice echoing through the dark cellar. A blush crept to his cheeks. "Yeah, I mean, I liked you as a friend for a while, but then, you know, hormones."

"Ugh, you sound like Chaluai." I looked at him, really looked at him. Wow, I thought, time flies by. Not too long ago, Abahai was shorter than me and we'd play by the river every day with Ushi. Now, we were grown and we would have to continue to grow up. "I don't know how I feel, I'm sorry, Abahai."

His face faltered slightly, but he forced a smile. "I expected this, it's okay, Xiran."

All of a sudden, there was a loud BANG! against the cellar's bars. I yelped as Ushi screamed, awoken from the noise. "Sorry, sorry," a rough voice grunted in Cantonese. "I banged my axe against the bars. I hope Chang'e did not hear that."

"Wu Gang?" Abahai gasped and the woodcutter held up a candle in his hand, the other swung his axe over his shoulder. The flame lit up his face. "What are you doing here?"

"As Chang'e's woodcutter, I also have a master key," he replied, producing a key from his pockets. He placed the candle on the floor, fumbling with the key before the cellar's door swung wide open. "Now, go. I fear the Moon Hare already has created the elixir for Chang'e to return to the mortal world."

"Thank you," I thanked Wu Gang. "But why help us?"

"I have been serving the Moon Palace for years, chopping that damned cassia tree. If Chang'e and the Moon Hare leave... I would forever be alone. I don't think Chang'e is a bad woman, she just needs healing."

"I would beg to differ," Ushi scowled, sneering. Her disdain for Chang'e was clear and so was mine. "Wait, how will we get off the moon? We don't have a rocket ship!"

"If you get there in time," Wu Gang suggested, "you will still find Xiong Lee. He can teleport, correct? Grab him and you'll be forced back into the mortal world. Well, mortal-spirit-manifestation world anyhow."

"Let's not waste any time! Thank you, Wu Gang." Abahai gestured for us to follow. We found our way up the stairs and through many hallways of the Moon Palace. Sweat trickled down my forehead as I prepared myself to meet Xiong again.

That stupid bastard.

"There's the Throne Room!" Ushi exclaimed, surging forward. We quickened our pace to match hers. The door was thrown open at the same time I saw Chang'e gulp down the Elixir of Immorality—or whatever it was created into by the Moon Hare. "NO!"

"Quickly!" Chang'e hollered at Xiong. A searing light blinded us as we raced forward. I latched onto Xiong's shoulder, Ushi dove and yanked onto Xiong's ankle, and Abahai gripped Xiong's wrist.

One moment we were in the Moon Palace, the next, we were back in Hēi'àn De Mìmì.