Book 2 Chapter 80 – Homeless

Li Wanyu was tired.

He had continued north through the mountain range, attempting to lose his pursuers and using the many spirits and beasts within as whetstones with which to hone the power from his new bond.

A bond that he truly wished he’d met under better circumstances. Bingxin was a steadfast spirit, and she deserved better than what he could offer as her binder.

All he could give her was a name, and that felt woefully insufficient for the chance at survival she’d given him.

His family still chased him relentlessly. There had been many a close call and he’d long since given up hope that they’d ever stop. This would be his life unless he started killing the cousins, aunts, and occasional niece that crossed his path in pursuit of him. Which was a line he still hadn’t crossed despite being pushed to the brink many times.

Not for the first time he considered going further east through the mountains to the Duchy of Seasons. The Winter Court would likely take him in, and he saw no reason for his family to pursue him that far outside of their territory.

And yet he didn’t.

If he had headed south instead of north he could’ve gone to the Endless Empire and made a life for himself somewhere in its vast borders. His father came from there and had told him inconsistent accounts of what life had been like for him in that strange land, but there was a chance that he would’ve found happiness where his father hadn’t.

Yet he’d chosen the path that took him closer to his family. The very same family that had been making his life a living hell.

What did that say about him, he wondered?

He wasn’t sure he’d like the answer if he found it.

Friend/Warmth stop hurting self.

Sensing his internal turmoil through their bond, Bingxin placed an icy hand on his shoulder and drew him out of his melancholic musings.

She’d changed a lot from when he’d first bound her. Whether that was due to the name he gave her, or due to her lack of loneliness he couldn’t tell since he was not an expert in such matters.

Her claws and maw of icy teeth were much reduced, though their lethality still remained when she chose to use them as weapons. Bingxin’s form had generally shifted to a more human-like one outside of battle. With the main exception being her piercing blue eyes.

Which were currently staring at him awaiting his response.

“Thank you, Bingxin. I’ll endeavor to do better.”

The spirit of ice and loneliness nodded, content with his response for now. The two then continued to move on their current path to the western edge of the mountain range, with their end goal being to attempt to briefly dip back into civilization for some creature comforts.

His current outfit was ragged, though he’d supplemented it with pelts of some of the spirit beasts he’d slain for warmth and protection, and he hadn’t had a properly seasoned meal in months. A side effect of his new bond’s concept is that his appetite had returned in full force, despite his body technically no longer needing to eat as frequently. Which meant he had to stop for meals more often and he was beginning to tire of only having the same local herbs as seasoning.

He would trade the entirety of his frayed wardrobe for a pinch of salt right now.

Li Wanyu knew that his cousins would inevitably show up to interrupt, but he hoped that he’d built enough of a lead on them that they wouldn’t be able to set a trap for him.

He’d thankfully figured out their method of tracking him, even if he couldn’t actually do anything to stop them from making use of it. It at least removed some of the mystique in how they were doing so, and meant he could devote his mental energies elsewhere.

The answer had turned out to be fairly simple. His cousin, Li Hui, had a spirit of bloodlines that she could use to track the family of anyone she had blood samples from. He was more aware of her poison spirit which had been used to periodically paralyze him during their time together, so the second spirit had been a surprise when she’d used them during one of their encounters.

Once more being treated like an outsider in his own clan had caused him trouble. He didn’t doubt that the spirits of everyone in the clan were open secrets for those more connected than him, but being born a man had severely limited him in that regard.

He was given training resources, and he’d been talented enough that he was able to inherit his father’s spirit with minimal fuss. Yet he had to constantly walk a fine line, doubly so when his sister had been born.

Suddenly and without warning, his excellence had become expectations for his baby sister.

Every milestone of his that she didn’t surpass became a mark against her, much to his chagrin.

An icy finger poked his forehead, interrupting his thoughts once more. How Bingxin was able to move at this pace backwards to do such a feat was impressive, but the fact she continued doing so to give him a flat look was enough to make Li Wanyu crack a smile.

“Apologies, friend. I don’t know why my mind is wandering more than usual. It could be the fatigue getting to me.”

Then Friend/Warmth should rest. I can protect.

His tired smile grew wider. “I know you could, but I really don’t want to lose the lead we’ve made.”

She looked at the overcast sky pointedly. Storm is coming. Strong one. Should find safe spot.

Li Wanyu considered the darkening clouds. Those had certainly gotten a lot more ominous in the past few moments, hadn’t they?

He signalled for them to slow to a stop. “We’re almost out of the mountains, but you’re right. I don’t want to fight the elements if I don’t have to.”

Not to mention the powerful spirits that would almost definitely come out for such a phenomenon.

The two of them began to search for a cave or at least an overhang that could shield them from the elements, eventually finding a rocky outcropping that should suffice for the evening as rain began to pelt down and thunder began to rumble. They had to share the space with lesser earth spirits and some goats, but there seemed to be an understanding that violence was unnecessary.

Li Wanyu stared out into the storming darkness, comforted by his companion and appreciating the contrast of the flashes of lightning and roaring thunder as he sat warm and mostly dry.

Perhaps it was fine for him to rest for a few moments.

The outside world was dark and full of terrors.

But here he was safe.

And that was enough.

He closed his eyes and his dreams were calm and unobtrusive.

While a pair of piercing blue lights kept watch over him, staying alert and protecting him from dangers both known and not.

For he was his new spirit’s friend and home in one, and she would do anything and everything in her power to not lose something so precious to her.