QIEMO LAY In the vast Gobi Desert, surrounded by endless sand. Even the closest settlement, Liugong City, was two days' travel away. The court was determined to hold onto this oasis waypoint, and thus Gao Yi had been sent to stake their claim.
Alas, Gao Yi was incompetent. He'd allowed Xing Mao and Duan Qihu free run of the city for years without making a peep. He cowered in his office like a tortoise, hoping their strife wouldn't touch him.
Feng Xiao's group of four was only passing through on their journey to distant Suyab, where they were to meet Apa Khagan and convince him to cooperate with the Sui dynasty. But on arriving in Qiemo, the chief of the Zuoyue Bureau, Daoist Master Cui, once again couldn't suppress his restless itch to make trouble.
A small disturbance wasn't enough: if he were to do something, it'd be earthshaking. He'd bag Qiemo in one fell swoop—a feat even the court couldn't manage—and bring the whole county under direct control of the Sui empire.
Even Feng Xiao, who feared neither heaven nor earth and was only too happy to raise hell when he had nothing better to do, was shaken by his audacity.
"I see your appetite knows no bounds!"
If a border general or powerful martial artist had proposed such a thing, it wouldn't have sounded quite so outlandish. But Cui Buqu was sickly; most days, he looked like he might not last the night. To think he still had such ambitions.
"Is Deputy Chief Feng afraid?" asked Cui Buqu coolly.
Feng Xiao smiled. "I've never known the meaning of afraid. But this isn't something you can do alone. Trying to drag me down with you?"
Cui Buqu gave him a queer look. "Drag you down? I'm offering to split a fortune with you. If we succeed, it will be a tremendous achievement. Aren't you always angling for merits? On this trip, we'll not only persuade Apa Khagan to become our ally, we'll expand the reach of the Sui dynasty here in Qiemo. This city has a magistrate from the imperial court, but it's never truly been under the oversight of a dynasty of the Central Plains. If we seize it for the throne for the first time, it will be a grander accomplishment than simply reclaiming lost territory."
Feng Xiao knew all this already. But with great reward came great risk. Xing Mao and Duan Qihu were no pushovers. They wouldn't release their territory and influence without a fight. "What's your plan?"
"The three factions have never coexisted peacefully," Cui Buqu explained. "The events of the banquet will linger as a thorn in their hearts. Even if Duan Qihu hasn't accused him outright, he must suspect Xing Mao ordered his poisoning and had the steward silenced when it failed."
"Duan Qihu's been a lawless force on the borderlands for a few decades now; it wouldn't be out of the question for him to take the initiative and end Xing Mao. But Xing Mao will also worry about that possibility. Perhaps he'll be the one to move first."
"Correct. This is our opportunity. We only need to persuade Gao Yi and wait until one side weakens the other. When they least expect it, we'll subdue them and absorb their forces. Once one's taken care of, the other won't pose a problem."
"Gao Yi is a toothless, bumbling old fool content with muddling his way through life. Why would he risk standing with you against Duan Qihu and Xing Mao?"
Cui Buqu smiled mysteriously. "Everyone has their weaknesses. I know how to deal with Gao Yi. But we can't rely solely on his men; they're not enough."
Feng Xiao paused. "It's getting late. We should bathe and go to bed!"
He stood and was about to walk out when a hand grabbed his sleeve. "The sun hasn't even set. What's the rush? Let's talk a little more."
Feng Xiao's expression was unreadable. "I fear if we continue you're going to suck me dry."
Cui Buqu's smile grew brighter. "There are troops stationed in Liugong City, but Gao Yi has no authority to mobilize them. I happen to know Deputy Chief Feng also holds the illustrious title of Zhenxi General and carries a military tally personally bestowed by the emperor. You can mobilize the army. Quality over quantity—how about a thousand elite soldiers? Surely that's no problem?"
"Were you already thinking about this when we were in Liugong City?"
"How could I be?" Cui Buqu blinked innocently. "I'm not a prophet. It's not as if I knew what would happen at the banquet."
Feng Xiao chuckled; he didn't believe a word this man said. "Give me your Zuoyue chief token, then. And you'll owe me a favor."
"I can't give you my token, but I can owe you a favor. If you like, we'll cooperate with the Jiejian Bureau on future cases. Don't forget, you'll also get a piece of the credit for this."
"Credit?" Feng Xiao snorted. "I have the authority to mobilize troops, but if this goes sideways, the blame will fall on me. If that's all you have to offer, I'm not convinced!"
With a sigh, Cui Buqu fished out an exquisitely crafted little seal from his sleeve. "My personal seal. I'll leave it in your hands for now. Once this is over, you'll return the seal to me. Will that do?"
Feng Xiao took the seal and turned it over. It was carved with four words: Seal of Cui Buqu.
"Your name is really Cui Buqu?" he asked, confused.
All this time, he'd assumed Cui Buqu was an alias—who had a name like I won't go? But if it appeared on his personal seal, it must be his actual name.
"Of course," said Cui Buqu. "I've been using it since I was ten."
"What about before you were ten?"
"I forget," he said, deflecting the question.
Feng Xiao smiled and tucked the seal into his sleeve. "Fine. Since you've shown me your sincerity, I'd be rude to refuse you. But even if I ride as swiftly as possible, it'll take two days to travel to Liugong City and two to travel back. If I go and Fo'er shows up during that time, I fear the three of you will be at his mercy."
This was indeed a problem. Cui Buqu smiled. "I have a solution."
"No can do," said Feng Xiao.
"I haven't even told you," said Cui Buqu. "How can you reject it?"
"You don't need to say it. I already know. You want to give Qiao Xian my tally so she can bring the troops from Liugong City."
"Qiao Xian is trustworthy."
"To you. Not to me."
The two of them locked eyes, silence stretching between them.
Feng Xiao's frank words didn't offend Cui Buqu. If he were offended so easily, he could never have crossed the threshold of the Zuoyue Bureau, let alone become its lord chief.
He and Feng Xiao were in the same boat now, but it was a temporary alliance. Even the emperor and empress, known for their matrimonial harmony, kept their guard up to some degree. If Empress Dugu really trusted that the emperor would never betray her, she wouldn't have created the Zuoyue Bureau. As for Feng Xiao and Cui Buqu, such wariness went without saying. Today the two of them got along swimmingly: Feng Xiao was even escorting Cui Buqu to treat with the Göktürks. But not long ago, they'd been cheerfully plotting against each other and trying to do each other in.
Feng Xiao refused to believe Cui Buqu had forgotten the incense incident so quickly.
Suddenly Cui Buqu laughed. "I'll be here with Deputy Chief Feng as a hostage. Surely you aren't worried Qiao Xian will run off with the tally?"
"You're ruthless toward others, but even more toward yourself. Never mind a tally: to gain my trust, you subjected yourself to incense of helplessness."
Cui Buqu rolled his eyes. "I only do what I'm confident will bring me success. I'm not a reckless lunatic. Tell the truth—have I upset your plans so often you've grown frightened?"
Feng Xiao's answer was blunt: "Yes."
Cui Buqu was silent.
"I'll hand the tally to one of my own agents," said Feng Xiao. "He will accompany Qiao Xian to Liugong City to summon the troops."
It was a concession.
"Deal," said Cui Buqu happily.
Feng Xiao was still skeptical that Cui Buqu could persuade Gao Yi. The man was timid as a mouse and content with the status quo. Unless something forced his hand, Gao Yi would never involve himself.
"How are you so confident you can persuade Gao Yi?"
Cui Buqu raised three fingers. "I have three plans for dealing with him, ranked from best to worst. Plans A, B, and C."
"Start with the worst one—Plan C."
"We march straight to his door, reveal our identities, then put a blade to his throat and force him to obey."
Feng Xiao shook his head. "You can't guarantee Xing Mao and Duan Qihu's situation will escalate to open conflict. Even if you threaten Gao Yi, it won't do any good. He has the least men out of the three of them. What's Plan B?"
"Use some incense of helplessness on Xing Mao and Duan Qihu. Make them come to us, begging and crying. We'll have subdued our enemies without a fight."
Feng Xiao scrutinized Cui Buqu with the same incredulity as if a flower had suddenly sprouted on his face. "Do you spend all your days thinking of ways to screw me over?"
"Is Deputy Chief Feng a fool? Do you spend all your days being screwed over by me?"
Feng Xiao snorted. "Do you think incense of helplessness is like fried flatbread from a stall? Costs mere coppers, and you order as much as you want? Its formula is exceedingly complicated; I only brought half a vial with me. Even the Jiejian Bureau might not have any more."
Left unsaid was that this half vial had already been used on Cui Buqu.
Cui Buqu shrugged. "Then there's only Plan A."
Feng Xiao waited. When Cui Buqu explained no further, he sighed regretfully.
Not because he thought Cui Buqu's plans were bad. Cui Buqu was too good at spotting even the tiniest changes in people. All their weaknesses became his to exploit in his bid to achieve his goals. It was truly a shame that a man like Cui Buqu couldn't practice martial arts. If he could, there'd be no one he couldn't handle and nothing he couldn't do. Feng Xiao sighed because he thought it was a pity—a pity for Cui Buqu.
Cui Buqu was a worthy rival. For some, the weaker their opponent, the better. But Feng Xiao was the opposite: the stronger his opponent, the more he relished the fight.
Only like this would life be entertaining.
***
This deep at night, there wasn't a sound to be heard.
Though merchants from across the land flocked to Qiemo and the city had no curfew, most retired early; even pleasure-seekers entertained themselves largely within the walls of brothels. Once the hour passed ten, the streets were deserted save for the night watchmen. Now and then a dog might bark in the distance as each house doused their fires and tucked themselves into bed, sinking into sweet slumber.
Feng Xiao, too, was asleep at this hour.
He was a brilliant martial artist, but he wasn't a god. He needed his rest as much as anyone. Yet tonight, he slept fitfully. Like many martial artists, his preternaturally sharp hearing picked up even the softest of sounds. And at that moment, a very distracting sound indeed was coming from outside the inn.
"Help me… Please help me… I'm begging you… Help me…"
It was a woman's voice, barely audible, brimming with hatred and resentment. To those who listened closely, it seemed to echo with endless grievances.
Though it was late spring, a chill clung to the nights. That voice made one's very bones tremble.
Who would cry for justice in the middle of the night?
And who would run to a well behind an inn, rather than shouting for it at the county office?
The answer was obvious: the cries came not from a living person, but from a ghost.
Feng Xiao sighed. He gave up on sleep and sat up. Whoever had disturbed his rest, he'd beat them until there wasn't enough left to make a second ghost.
But before that…
He patted the shoulder of the man beside him. "Wake up. There's a ghost outside."
If he couldn't sleep, no one else would either.
Cui Buqu rolled over, put his back to Feng Xiao, and tugged the blanket right up over his head.
Rousing Cui Buqu wasn't impossible, but Feng Xiao knew it would put him in a foul mood. And whenever Cui Buqu was in a foul mood, he started laying traps for Feng Xiao.
Feng Xiao wasn't afraid of traps. On the contrary, he quite enjoyed matching wits with Cui Buqu. But as he'd just won a round that day, obtaining not only Cui Buqu's personal seal but also a favor from the Zuoyue Bureau, he'd decided to quit while he was ahead and enjoy his victory for a few days at least.
He thought for a moment, then switched tactics.
Feng Xiao walked over to the clothes rack where his jacket hung and picked up the basin of water he'd used to wash his feet before bed. He crossed to the window, then flung the contents of the basin in the direction of the dry well. In a shrill falsetto, he exclaimed, "Who's that blubbering and howling in the middle of the night?! Disturbing a lady's good rest!"