act15side

5上

The breeze in the mountains is ever crisp and cool.

And mornings as refreshing as these are always fine for settling muddy, murky matters.

In a mountain-sat village, when kitchen's smoke has just sprung up, the snow still unreceded in spring, one old and one young stand off against each other.

The only sound, the single strike of a faraway gong.

You've kept me waiting.

Tch. Bloody lout... Light, stay cool for the moment.

I've seen you before. Hmm. So it was you.

Unexpected, for sure. A Rim Billitonian, silently lurking in Shangshu since the very beginning.

I can't understand you, sorry.

Hmph.

Light!

What—?!

A snare?

You train these slumberfoots well. An ordinary woman would be headfirst in the ground by now.

(He didn't just notice the snare behind him, he stepped on the rope without hesitation... Bastard...)

Don't worry, I won't make this hard for you, girl.

Do you know what that goblet you're holding is?

It's not my concern, or my interest. It's newbie bounty hunters that ask too many questions.

Then you have only yourself to blame.

Don't get so full of yourself! Helmet! Drill!

If you don't know what it is, then be wise and hand it over. Don't be used for nothing.

H-How dare you do that to Helmet—! You asked for it!

...A headless bolt.

(H-He caught it barehanded? At this distance?! And I *just* changed the string on my crossbow—!)

Fine.

Seeing how you're unwilling to take my life, I'll give you one chance.

Hand over the goblet to me, and then tell the one instructing you: Tread carefully. Don't be selfish.

Hmph. You know who hired me?

Whether I know or not doesn't matter. What matters is I can stop you, right here.

Why should I listen to you?

You have no choice.

Maybe you can run, but you could never bear to see these beasts of yours meet a sorry fate.

You're threatening me?

You have skill. But aside from your crossbow, you've got nothing in a fight.

You can pull out before you're in too deep. You need a good eye and the right people, if you want to survive here.

True. They never told me someone as capable as you would get in the way.

If I had someone do something dangerous for me, I wouldn't give them the whole picture either.

It's just a job to you, stranger. Why stake your life on it?

Give the cup to me, and I vow on the Escorts' name that whatever they're paying you, we'll double it.

Hah, I was taking a loss anyway with all my volunteer work.

Call this a favor for a friend.

A friend.

So even you bandits of the wild don't mind a sacrifice for a friend.

Sounds like you've got something against us.

No... not at all.

The longer you do business, the more fine people you meet, the less friends you end up with.

Then be smart, and go back to your business.

Yes, business is always easiest done in the mountains.

Three Mounts, Seventeen Peaks, hundreds of passes. Is there any road without a teahouse and station for travelers to rest their feet? Is there any road... without our people?

I hope you see clear now, girl.

You really don't think anything of me.

A direct confrontation might not be my style, but you've pissed me off just far enough... isn't that right, my darlings?

(Rim Billitonian) The old todger wants to have a go, let's give 'im a go! We've been around the paddock a few times, we're no strangers!

*Sigh*...

Some just refuse to learn.

If that's your answer, then you'll pay the—

Even if a third party was stood there watching, they wouldn't have a clue just how the coming step came to land.

Simply put, the man is adept in walking passes, in climbing mountains. The steps he lifts and places, day after day after day, are truly too many to count.

In one clean noise, clay bricks shatter in the ground. Before him, dust drifts down. By his gaze is a simple, common bamboo-wood carrying pole. His gaze itself, faint rage.

Far away, the gong strikes again.

—H-How... Where did he come from... Wait, Light, calm down! And Drill! Back to me...!

...It's you.

You finally came to the mountains.

So I came to find you.

*Sigh*...

What comes will come. Nothing's avoidable forever. Is there a need to be so hasty?

Hey. Miss.

...Are you talking to me?

(His movement—is that wooden stick one of their carrying poles? What did he do just now... to shatter bricks made of stone?)

Do you know him?

No.

Then there's some problem between you.

I only see you between us.

You're right. I'm your problem, then.

When I'm done here, I'll come see you. But not now.

Miss. Does this relate to the item in your hands?

Uh... it does...

This is personal business. And major at that. Stay out of it.

How major?

The safety of the nation is at stake! Life and death!

Since that rainy night those years ago, I've rarely heard you use such a tone.

I see. How could you be the villain here? What a chivalrous swordsman. What a dutiful innkeeper.

Then get out of the way—

—But I know just who you are, and that's why you'll never see me.

And if you won't, then it changes nothing if I find you. That's why I never came down from the mountains.

So. If...

Hey! You—!

Give that back!

It was ten years.

Ten years ago, you watched as my son died... so you could protect this goblet.

Shang Zhong!

Miss. This is nothing to do with you now.

You steal my things while I'm not looking, and then tell me it's not my business?!

This was never yours.

Hmm...

Shang Zhong, have you lost it?!

You're free to go now.

Shang Zhong!

Leave!