Shin Su 

Another morning on the road. The young man had already gotten used to waking up at the call of his body, although at first it seemed that it would take much longer. After admiring the long fingers for a while and realizing that everyone was still asleep, he quietly got up from his place and went to the nearest bushes. It was cold. It's always so cold in the morning... He looked at the fluffy clouds and remembered himself.

Once upon a time, it is now impossible to know how much time has passed, he was also at a camp. Then he led an army into battle. And he was the last one. The unexpected betrayal of a friendly clan, which sided with the enemy, destroyed everything. He died not on the battlefield, but in his tent. Shin Su remembers where the sword entered, the cold of steel and the treacherous eyes of a "friend".

He shook his head, trying to drive away the memory, and was rewarded with another. The warmth of a hand gripping the hilt of a sword. The soft voice of the master, this one, that one and the previous one. He still didn't understand why the gods had punished him like that, but he resigned himself to it.

Having finished his business, he smiled. His mouth was dry, his tongue was sticking to the roof of his mouth, but he liked even that. He quickly reached the adepts, found a cup and a barrel of wine. Having enjoyed himself to his heart's content, he returned to the master's tent, wanting to lie on the mat a little longer.

Trying not to wake him, he began to settle in his place and froze, seeing Kofi's hand. Black? He blinked several times, but it didn't help, just as rubbing his eyes didn't help. He carefully extended his hand and touched the brush with his finger. And from surprise, he jerked back.

Charred, he turned out to be alive, and the black hand tried to brush it off. She brushed off the second touch, just like the first. Not understanding at all how this was possible, the young man quietly moved to the master and, touching, whispered in his ear:

— Master, Kofi is charred, but he is alive. What to do? — he stared in bewilderment at the trembling eyelashes.

Shoe Sheng Lang (Bai Hu)

When everyone had settled into their places, Sheng could not fall asleep for a long time. Thoughts about his sister, his father's just anger, and returning home occupied his mind for a long time. Finally, fatigue took over, and the young man sank into sleep, which, as if in contrast to the daytime worries, carried him to a calm and fertile place. There, sitting by the fire, he had a conversation with the spellcaster, thoughts of whom he had so diligently driven away all day.

A familiar voice and touch interrupted the dream. Although the words sounded delirious, the meaning was disturbing. Lightly squeezing Shin Su's hand, he answered just as quietly:

— Now we'll see, — having reached Xiao, he sat down next to him and leaned towards his face, almost recoiling. The skin, white in the evening, as befits a person, was now black, like the bottom of a sooty pot. Carefully touched his cheek. She felt normal to the touch - soft and cool, no signs of a burn or other changes.

— Kofi, wake up, — trying not to scare, he said the words quietly and calmly.

Shin Su

Watching what was happening with apprehension, he kept a little distance. Terrible things were happening. A living person, like a coal from an extinguished fire, lies and snores, as if nothing is happening. Having prepared to urgently evacuate, in case he nevertheless caught fire, he fell silent, holding the hem of the master's hanfu in his hand.

Kofi

A light touch interrupted the dream and, trying to remember it, the young man was in no hurry to raise his eyelids, but common sense prevailed. The dream dissipated, as if it had never been. Opening his eyes, he smiled. It's nice to feel alive again and be able to stretch after waking up. Kofi could not deny himself this pleasure.

Stretching out on the mat, he stretched out and even seemed to grow taller. He raised himself and looked questioningly at both of them, as it turned out, looking at him.

— Master Sheng Lang, Shin Su, did something happen?

Shoe Sheng Lang (Bai Hu)

Watching the young man with curiosity, he asked carefully:

— Kofi, how are you feeling?

Trying not to damage the ailing body, he began to carefully feel it, listening to the flow of energy in it.

— Don't worry. You can safely tell me the truth, I will definitely find a way to help you. I just need to understand what is happening to you... — he said the last words barely audibly, more for himself than for the weapon.

Kofi

Question to question. How he loves it. Watching the further actions, he tried to understand what happened, trying not to interfere with his palpation.

— I feel great, I just want to drink, and I’d like to eat, — he wanted to add about his morning needs, but he kept silent. Not understanding what the master was going to help with, he decided to ask, — Master, what's wrong? I was not going to lie to you at all. I would like to understand what you want to help me with.

Shoe Sheng Lang (Bai Hu)

Having decided that it was better to tell the truth right away, he nevertheless tried to soften it.

— The thing is, even though your qi is normal, something unusual is happening to you, — taking his hand, he raised it to his eyes, — here. Look for yourself. I have never seen any records of such a disease. We need to return to the Order as soon as possible. It is good that, apart from external changes, you do not feel any discomfort yet. That means we still have time.

Kofi

Trying to understand what had happened, he became more serious than ever. He was used to being given little attention. For some reason, this particular master did not perceive him as an artifact that could be used. An ornament, nothing else. Now he was pleased with such interest.

Looking at his hand, he did not understand what was wrong with it, moved his fingers and found a scratch that had appeared from somewhere. Showing it, he put his finger out.

— Master, I will not die from this, why are you so worried? — he continued more cheerfully, — your guts won’t flow out of your finger.

Shin Su

Listening to both of them, he couldn't hold back.

— Kofi, what are you talking about? Do you feel the fire inside you? — he decided to ask directly, — won't you catch fire?

Shoe Sheng Lang (Bai Hu)

Taking a quick glance at Shin Su, he just sighed. Perhaps there was something in his words.

— Don't try to pretend that everything is fine. It's, of course, good that you don't lose optimism, and even joke, but there's no point in hiding the obvious. We're not blind. If you tell me the truth about how you feel, it will be easier for me to figure it out and find a way to heal you.

Kofi

He felt uneasy, and wondered what they had seen wrong in him. He looked at himself again, and even lifted the blanket, but still found nothing unusual or even unfamiliar. He only got tangled in his sleeves once again and, swearing quietly, turned to the questioner again:

— Master, tell me. What do you want to treat me for, maybe I can help you understand what is wrong with me. I feel great. The wound has healed and doesn't even remind of itself. I was lucky, I got a fairly strong body with partially pumped up meridians.

Shoe Sheng Lang (Bai Hu)

Listening to the speeches, he frowned slightly — it seemed that an incomprehensible disease had affected not only the skin, but also the eyesight. After all, a person cannot fail to see that the color is clearly abnormal. Carefully choosing his words so as not to frighten, he answered:

— You probably don’t notice, but the thing is that your skin has changed. And it seems that the disease is spreading further. The fact that you feel well at the same time does not mean anything. I have never heard of anything like this and I don’t know what to do about it yet, so after breakfast we will continue on without stopping, so as to get to the Order as quickly as possible.

Kofi

He looked at himself again, his fingers, his nails, all the curves, but not finding anything unusual, he frowned slightly. Without understanding at all what it was about his skin that he didn’t like, he looked up at the master and froze, examining the young man.

A sincere, radiant smile formed on his face, and his eyes lit up with joy. Apparently, he was scared of the dark color of his skin, because immediately after acquiring the body it was white, but apparently the past was making itself known. And indeed, during his entire stay in the Shanlu, he had never seen people from his native lands.

Deciding to have some fun with this fact, he sprawled out on the mat and, putting his hand on his forehead, slightly drawled the words, wanting to have some more fun.

— Oh, master, you know... I was thinking, maybe I'm sick after all. Can you bring me something to eat and drink? — Having decided that this was not enough, he turned to the sword, — and you bring me the vessel, otherwise I’m afraid I won’t reach the bushes.

Shoe Sheng Lang (Bai Hu)

Sheng frowned, earlier Kofi tried to hide his poor health.

— It's good that you are no longer trying to pretend that everything is fine. What exactly do you feel?

Turning to the sword, he said quietly:

— Shin Su, tell the disciples to bring us breakfast and a vessel for Kofi. We leave in half an hour.

Shin Su

Without further delay, Shin Su jumped out of the tent and rushed to look for the vessel, while simultaneously organizing the preparations for the journey, glancing at the tent in the meantime, hoping that the xiao would not catch fire. He had never seen such a phenomenon before, and the unknown is usually dangerous. He stopped once again, this time with a cup in his hand, and looked at the barrel of water. It was obvious that Kofi was unwell, and perhaps he needed water. Taking the vessel and giving the Order to bring breakfast, he headed back, urging the half-asleep adepts on.