Hanghua Village was only an hour’s flight from the Liu mountaintop. And soon enough the two cultivators touched down on the outskirts of the busy little hamlet. Swords commanded to return with the elegant flick of their fingers, the blades obediently returned to their sheaths, sliding home with a musical ringing note. After patting down his robes and smoothing out the wrinkles from the speed of his travel, Liu Li-Tai looked around, head turning with curiosity as he examined the small village. Being part of the inner family of the clan, Liu Li-Tai had led something of a charmed life, though he hadn’t let it make him prideful and covetous. He was still less jaded by the lives of mortals than most cultivators. The movement prompted his companion to shake his head and sigh theatrically. Zhou Jinhai had been an outsider, joining the Liu clan as a small boy when his Shizhun had come to his village and scouted the 4 year old Xuilan. As such he still had roots in the mortal world, thought his parents and siblings were long dead. Nieces and nephews, now full grown, still called his name in joy when he visited, rightly proud of their relative who had broken the bonds of mortality and stepped upon the path of the Immortals. His visits gave his family line much prestige in their small village, though it had been a long time since his last trip. Such concerns slowly faded the further one drew from their mortal origins. Zhou Jinhai and Liu Li-Tai were both in the middle part of their journey, their cores powerful and pure. Masters in their own right, and yet still so far from the pinnacle of the Cultivation world.

Done with his initial examination of the area, Liu Li-Tai grinned at his companion then set off, leading the way into the heart of the small hamlet, following his nose to the bustling market that was in full-swing. They had a mission to complete, but that didn’t prevent them from enjoying the local delicacies on offer. Well used to his partner’s distractable temperament, Zhou Jinhai followed along behind placidly. Their robes instantly marked them as high level Liu Cultivators and the road cleared before them as they went, merchants called out more fervently having seen the quality of their robes and the swords they carried, eager to sell their highest valued items. While the farmers, housewives and gangs of unruly teenagers made way, not daring to bump the pair, partly in respect of their individual power, and partly due to the good standing the Liu Clan held in their territory. Each man and woman well aware that these two were not mortals, and while not gods, were still far above the simple lives of the common folk.

Despite the presence of the two Cultivators, the market bustled with activity, fresh produce sweetened the air with their scents and the calls of ‘never again’ deals spilled through the crowd. The details of which merged together, and of course would be repeated tomorrow and the day after. As Liu Li-Tai browsed, bartering for a basket of fresh fruit and some smoked meats, Zhou Jinhai watched the crowd, looking for any hint of the trouble that had called them there. Old ladies and young men bustled about, no one seemingly in fear of an imminent attack. It wasn’t until they reached a tea house that he heard any kind of unsettled gossip. The two shared a quick glance before Liu Li-Tai stepped in, ducking under the cloth at the entrance, followed a moment later by Zhou Jinhai. The pair seated themselves at one of the empty tables, swords lain at their sides, legs crossed, the cushions worn but well cared for. Zhou Jinhai sat with his back to the group of four men who had initially peeked their interest. Allowing Liu Li-Tai to watch them from over his shoulder without the group catching on.

A server came over and waited expectantly for their order, no doubt assuming that a pair of Cultivators dressed in such fine robes would have more than a tael or two of silver to spend. Obediently Liu Li-Tai ordered for them both, a jug of the local wine, lotus seeds to snack on and a dish of stuffed steam buns. Neither man was truly hungry, but the refreshment after an hours’ flight would be welcome, and it gave them an excuse to linger. Once the food and drink had arrived, Zhou Jinhai served his partner a cup of the sweet wine, placing it before the man before pouring his own. Behind him, the argument was growing heated.

“I told ya! Lil Miss Changming’s brother went off into the mountain to gather herbs, and didn’t come back! When they went to look for him, the whole area was a sea of blood.” One of the four men insisted, gesturing wildly with his hands. Beside him, a thick-set man with a red face grunted. “Ain’t what I heard.. Apparently the brother had offended Qingbai’s daughter, trying to take liberties and all. So old Qingbai dragged the boy up the mountain to teach him a lesson. But no one saw either of them again.” He nodded at the first speaker sagely. “That’s when they found the pool of blood. The trees dripped with crimson rain, so great was the mess.” The first man took a deep gulp of his cup before nodding. “Either way, they ain’t the only two to go missing up there.” He held up his free hand, two fingers already extended. Then started listing off names, counting with his fingers until he had to set his wine cup down at 6 but was interrupted by a third member of their party. “Folks been saying you can hear the howls of a demon at night if you stand at the forest edge.” His rough voice was low and careful, as if afraid talking about it would summon the creature into the inn. Another man shook his head. “It’s the cries of a woman, apparently she was jilted by her lover and hung herself. Now her spirit wanders the forest, snatching up any couples who go up there.” The group was quiet for a moment, as if considering this idea. Then the first shook his head. “But Miss Changming wasn’t meeting anyone..” The speaker was instantly cut off. “You said it was her brother!” A small squabble started between the two, knees and elbows shoving. They stopped when the table off to one side all looked over in annoyance, a group of three officials, clearly just passing through as they had been eating quietly and quickly, wanting to finish and be on their way.

Zhou Jinhai shared a look with his partner, making Liu Li-Tai sigh with exaggerated dismay. But he obediently stood and walked over to the loud group, taking the jar of wine with him as he did. His face transformed from the sober, even countenance of a cultivator into the overly excited mien of a gossip, setting the wine jug down in the middle of the table as he plopped between two of the men, his slight form neatly settling between them without jostling their cups. “So you think it’s a demon killing all those folks? Or a ghost?” He asked, eyes alight and face avid, instantly endearing himself to the group with his obvious interest. The four all started offering their own opinions, answering Liu Li-Tai’s questions and talking over each other at the opportunity of a new listener, eager to spread their news.

It was some time before Liu Li-Tai extracted himself from the group, now seemingly best friends with the most talkative of them, and made his way unsteadily back to Zhou Jinhai. Brows lifting at the look his companion had trained on him as he feigned a level of drunkenness no cultivator could achieve with just a few cups of watered down fruit wine. Once more settling onto his cushion, careful to list unsteadily to one side for the benefit of the few nosy people still watching him, he  huffed at Zhou Jinhai’s look of expectation. “Something is clearly going on up there, but no one seems to agree on the details.” He offered, reaching to pluck a lotus seed free and started to peel it. “There seems to have been a fight, lots of blood and destruction of the area in the rumors. Weird noises heard late at night if you stand in one specific spot. And a bunch of missing or dead villagers.” He popped the lotus seed into his mouth and chewed, watching the thoughtful look that had taken over his companion’s beautiful features. Zhou Jinhai was a striking man indeed. Even in his traveling robes, his hair mussed by the wind from their sword flight and surrounded by the shabby, well-used interior of the small inn, he shone like a pure spirit. Dark hair and eyes a contrast to his pearl white skin. As smooth as jade and utterly flawless. The gentleness in those phoenix eyes hinted at the noble personality within, sweet pink lips forever caught in a half smile, as if he found the world endlessly fascinating and the people within it remarkable.

As always, Liu Li-Tai felt his heart beat pick up as he looked upon his partner, and finally forced himself to turn his attention to the food spread between them. For his part, Zhou Jinhai was considering what Liu Li-Tai had told him, expression distracted and eyes downcast. He ate slowly, almost automatically, picking at the plates set between them and seemingly not noticing what he ate as he mulled over the options. Liu Li-Tai knew to give the man time, and so he set to eating, enjoying the simple but delicious dishes.

They discuss the info then head back out. Deciding to examin the moutain side before it gets dark.

Together the two cultivators left the small tea house and resumed their path through the village. They stopped at stalls and shops, pretending to browse the wares while they inquired about the many rumors relating to the mountain tragedies. The visited another tea house and spent some time drinking and talking with the gossips. Until finally all they heard were the same stories and opinions, no new information being added. Finally. As they paused to browse a stall selling hair clasps, Zhou Jinhai turned to his companion. “I don’t think we are going to learn anything else here… let’s head up to the mountain and have a look around. If it is demonic or a beast of some kind there should be evidence.” Liu Li-Tai nodded, holding up a particularly delicate silver-wire clasp with tiny jade beads strung along the elegantly twisting design. When the other man raised an eye brow in question, Liu Li-Tai grinned, holding out his free hand, palm up.

Zhou Jinhai narrowed his eyes at his companion’s gesture, but after a long moment where the two stared at each other, he huffed a resigned sigh and reached into his robes, pulling out a small green pouch and dropping it into Liu Li-Tai’s outstretched palm. “Shameless as always.” He scolded, though his words had no effect on the beaming man before him, who instantly turned and started haggling down the price of the clasp he had picked out. Shaking his head, Zhou Jinhai turned his back on the other, instead gazing out over the still-busy street, turning over all they had learned so far in his mind.

Barely a minute later, a finger tapped his shoulder and he turned back, coming face-to-face with Liu Li-Tai looking self satisfied and not a little smug. Gaze dropping to the hand once more stretched out towards himself, he eyed the silver clasp sat upon the long fingers. “You brought it, aren’t you going to wear it?” He asked, head tilting as he looked back up to meet a pair of pleased brown eyes. In answer, Liu Li-Tai reached up with both hands and carefully secured the clasp in place on Zhou Jinhai’s head. Rolling his eyes at his partner’s antics, he let the clasp be clipped securely in place before lightly pushing Liu Li-Tai in the chest, sending him back a single step. “Impossible…” He sighed plaintively, sounding put upon as if his companion’s nonsensical actions were a burden he had to bear. Then they both chuckled, the old routine a familiar one between them.

Shoulder to shoulder, they once again set off down the street, though this time their destination was the far gate, which was smaller and less well used than the main entrance to the village. As it led out onto the mountain itself, and was mainly used by the locals who gathered wild fruit and herbs or herded their animals on the shallow slopes. Gazing upwards at the sky, Zhou Jinhai considered, then motioned to the first ridge. “Supposedly that area is where several people have gone missing.” Liu Li-Tai nodded. “A good place to start at least.” He agreed easily as they passed through the gate and started walking up the winding dirt path beyond.