X Never Marks the Spot

"Zhao Yunlan told us to give it to you," Chu Shuzhi said with grave reluctance.

"Lin Jing installed a secure GPS tracker app on this phone," Zhu Hong said, in a tone like she was making more sense of something instead of less. "Already signed in with Chief Zhao's phone, and he's got his own app set for this phone."

"I see," Shen Wei said, who didn't.

"So he'll be able to see where you are, and you can see where he is," Zhu Hong said. "Take the phone--please, Professor Shen? If you don't, Lao-Zhao will take it out on us."

Gingerly Shen Wei accepted the phone. Its glass screen was cool to the touch, Zhu Hong not producing any body heat to warm it. It weighed a little more than a dead mouse.

Zhao Yunlan sank to the floor--not quite falling, but not quite controlled, either. He ended up crouched on the balls of his feet amid the shards of the broken light bulb, knees bent, one arm dragged up by the cuff. He dropped his head into his other hand, knotted his fingers in his hair.

Da Qing squatted down beside him, mirroring his pose. "Lao Zhao?" he said, but when he didn't get an answer he didn't ask again, just leaned in, until his shoulder only just touched Zhao Yunlan's.

Zhao Yunlan twitched, but didn't sidle away; he sat there and endured that contact.

brush_and_lantern

Just inside the community center, behind the now-empty frames of the double doors of the entryway, was a figure--a shadow against darkness now inside; the light bulbs hadn't survived that blast, either, but the black cloak was darker yet than the unlit gloom within. He was holding his glaive, planted on the floor amid the shattered glass.

Zhao Yunlan grinned at that sight, even with glass crunching under his boots--overkill for sure, but to stop this guy... He lifted one hand, the other still knotted around Yan Shuyuan's collar, and offered a thumbs-up to that figure. "All good, Hei-laoge, we got him..."

The Envoy didn't hear him--no, ignored him. Zhao Yunlan saw his hooded head turn, saw his gaze passing over everyone below--the wailing and cowering crowd, the police officers with their guns drawn. And Zhao Yunlan--but he didn't pause, not meeting his gaze for even a moment, and Zhao Yunlan's hail died in his throat.

brush_and_lantern

The figure started to step forward, and Zhao Yunlan cocked the pistol, the metallic click loud enough to be heard over the kids' whimpering. "You get one more warning," he said. "Stay back."

The figure didn't move closer, but it brought down its hand in a sharp gesture--Zhao Yunlan braced, but it wasn't calling back its weapon. Instead the black cloak and mask dissolved around it, to reveal a man--a man in glasses and a neatly tailored blue suit. And yeah, of course Dixingren could look as human as anyone if they tried, and most of them did; but still, this guy didn't look like he'd crawled up from any hellish underworld. More like he'd stepped out of an accounting office, or a university classroom.

"Zhao Yunlan, are you all right?" the man asked.

Zhao Yunlan didn't lower the gun, kept his elbows locked so his arms wouldn't shake too hard and his eyes narrowed against the vise of pain closed around his skull. "I'm just dandy," he said. "So who the fuck are you?"

The god Kunlun is as old as the mountain range that bears his name, if not older. Or so the villagers say. He was here before any people were, as eternal as the mountains — moreso, in truth. The mountains might change, but Kunlun remains Kunlun.

sid_guardian

Shen Wei didn't blink. Didn't break or lower his locked-on gaze. "I would forgive you," he said.

"Forgive me?"

"If you broke your promise," Shen Wei said. "I would understand."

Shen Wei’s voice was even, calm; but his hand at his side was curled into a fist, just visible under the hanging sleeve of his bathrobe, and pressed tight against his thigh.

"Shen Wei,“ Zhao Yunlan said, and the way Shen Wei snapped to attention, the slight bow of his body towards Zhao Yunlan, as his too-dark gaze locked onto him–it was almost as usual, but not quite; at once appealing and disturbing. Zhao Yunlan cleared his throat, said, "If my being here makes this harder—if it’s really going to be better for you to go it alone, if you really want me to leave, then I’ll leave. I’ll clear out now and keep my distance until it’s all over.”

"It…“ Shen Wei swallowed. "It would be—you have your duties as Guardian, and this is hardly among them.”

"Not what I asked,“ Zhao Yunlan said gently.