QingYu: A Wuxia Tale (Going Through Reediting)

Personal Assignment

(Qing's POV)

There is a saying in another region's belief.

If Muhammad won't go to the mountain, then the mountain will go to Muhammad.

That saying doesn't make any bit of sense to me. I take it that Muhammad is a name of a person. How can a mountain move to go to a person? It baffles me.

But I think I am taking it too literally so I don't blame the saying.

I thought of that saying because of the report on the raid I got from the Hall of Records. It's too empty, few, almost without any substance at all.

It bothers me.

So I thought, if no one will give any solid facts about that raid, I will investigate it myself. Easy peasy...

Now all I need to do is pack, cross the SiChuan border and find that particular border land where the raid happened. That would also mean leaving my soldiers on my second in command who is now looking at me puzzledly.

"You are leaving? To where?" Mei asked.

I look at him to my friend, Captain Jiang, who is also looking at me puzzledly.

"You know that there's only twenty more days before the Master General and you father arrive here in our base, right? But you going to leave?" Jiang shook his head, "Not your brightest idea,"

"I won't take long." I assured them.

"Can we vote on this?" Mei said raising his hand, "Those who are not happy with the Captain's decision, please raise your hand with me,"

Mei tried raising Jiang's hand but the other Captain refused. "Love, please leave me some dignity,"

I snickered, "You calling him "Love" doesn't help with your dignity thing,"

They both scowl at me. These two who danced the "mating ritual" aroung each other. They are so sharing a pallet. I have a strong feeling about that.

And I trust my feelings.

Like in this decision of mine to go. I feel like someone is pulling me to go search for that place and to know what really happened. It's my instinct, my guts telling me to go.

"My decision is made. Tomorrow I will leave the camp for my personal assignment..."

"Does this involve "The Shadow"?" Jiang interrupted my speech.

"No! Well technically no but..."

They both groaned. "You are chasing a ghost Captain. A shadow!" Mei is clearly frustrated.

"I am not chasing him. I just want to know what is his next move. Those officials he killed, those soldiers he slaughtered. It feels personal to me. If you look at his old kills, these new victims are brutalized. He is killing them like he is leaving a point!"

"And you know this because?" Jiang's skeptical look won't vanished from his handsome face. "Qing ah," he is one of the few who can use my given name. "I think you are obsessing about this monster for far too long now. Ever since you heard he is back at SiChuan, you are constantly thinking about this monster. Maybe you need to slow down,"

Mei nodded his agreement to what Jiang said.

They won't understand. Of course they won't. They don't have feelings like mine. Hunch like mine. They don't feel the pull. The presence.

They are not me.

Time for a new approach. "Just give me this one chance. I promise to be back before the Master General and my father arrive. Give me ten days, no, seven days! Just seven days and I will be back by that time."

Mei and Jiang look at each other.

Jiang sighed, "I think he already made his decision. I am even wondering why he called us here,"

They look at me. I smiled at Jiang, "I need you to absorb my soldiers for a while. Continue their training on the knife and make them go for a walk once this week."

Jiang looked tortured, "Your soldiers are a stubborn bunch, like you. The only redeeming thing about your troop is your second in command," he winked at Mei who rolled his eyes.

"I can take care of our troops Captain. Put your trust in me," Mei said.

"No, I have a different assignment for you. Can you look out for Dayu for me? He was feeling a bit down lately. I don't want something happening to him,"

Now Mei looked pained, "You want me to babysit a helper?"

"Please. Dayu is..."

"Is a distraction," Jiang finished for me. "Almost two weeks here in the camp and that boy a still turning every head. I will admit, he is really pleasing to look at,"

Mei and I glared coldly at him. Jiang raise his hands, "But not as pleasing as you Mei," he gave my second in command a pleading look but Mei ignored him.

Instead Mei focused on me, "I will look out for Dayu, Sir. You are right, I think he is in danger," he gave a sidelong scowl at Jiang who winced.

"Good!" I clapped my hand. "Like I said, just give seven days and I will be back here to assume my job. I will trust the two of you, okay?"

They reluctantly nodded. But reluctant nodding is enough for me. These two won't let me down.

Next I search for Dayu. I told him my plan to leave the camp.

"When will come back Captain?" he gave me a nervous look.

He must feel scared because his keeper is going away. Poor boy...

"I will be fast. Someone will look out after you. You will still sleep in my cabin. Alone. Always lock the door when you leave or if you will sleep. I want you safe..."

He is my responsibility after all.

Dayu nodded and I ruffle his head.

"Stop feeling down. Take care of your wound. Make sure by the time I come back it is fully healed,"

He nodded again. I step away before I do something like hug him to give him comfort.