A Daily Life of a Fire Dragon

9.Dongzhi Festival (Winter solstice festival)

He lands well outside of the city. The main roads are filled with travellers these days. He better hurry and book them a room at one of the inns for the two days of the festivities. Mixing in with the crowd is not easy. He stands a good head taller than the rest. And his clothes tend to stand out even more. The cultivators in Junmeng wear light blue or purple, depending on what family they’re from. His penchant for red will not go unnoticed around here. Deciding on an inn, he steals himself for the attention he’ll get, and strolls inside like he’s got no care in the world.

“Here, here, my fine sir!” The server greets him loudly. Naturally, all heads turn in his direction. What the hell happened to discretion?

“I want to book your best room. My lady will be joining me later,” Shi Lang states calmly.

“Of course, of course!” The server exclaims. He leads him up the wide stairs to the second floor. The best rooms are always at the back to give the guests more privacy.

“Bring some food up, it’s too noisy downstairs,” Shi Lang orders. He slips a few coins into the man’s hand: “would you stop with the shouting? I hate loud noises.”

Shi Lang doesn’t wait for a response. He closes the door in the server’s face to make a point. It’s all more for Dayin than himself. He can ignore everything around him with ease, but his little squirrel can’t sleep with all the racket. He lays her on the bed and makes a small nest for her out of the blanket. There is still time before the server comes back with their food. Just watching her sleep, he gets lost in his own thoughts for a while. Footsteps on the stairs and light clinking of the plates on a tray bring him out of reflection. He sends a small amount of his own energy to Dayin.

“Dayin! Wake up. I need you to be human for a while,” he whispers close to her ear. Then he goes over to open the door for the server. He is confident that she will do what he asked.

“I brought the food,” the server whispers. The man’s eyes suddenly opened wide, as his gaze falls on Dayin. Shi Lang catches the tray before everything lands on the floor.

“You can go now,” he chuckles. He doesn’t have to turn around to know that Dayin is sitting on the bed with only that blanket around her. Probably with some of her white skin on display. Her power is not great enough to transform with clothes. The poor human must be mesmerised by her beauty. Shi Lang snaps his fingers to take the attention off of Dayin.

“You could have warned me,” Dayin accuses him with her gaze. She picks up the clothes he brought with them. This time he chose a white and silver combination with fur trimmings. Winter down here in Junmeng is not nearly as harsh as on the mountain, but she likes to be warm.

“He was too fast,” Shi Lang shrugs. Modesty is not something she knows, but the human might be shocked to death. “Come eat something. We can go to the market later.”

At the word market, she forgot everything else. The sparks in her eyes make him smile. At five hundred years old, she is still just a child in many ways. Shi Lang shakes his head before he corrects her clothes. The sash is only half tied, the lapels of her shirt are out of order, and the outer robe is only draped over her shoulders. But, she did remember to pick up the chopsticks before she started eating. Is this a small victory on his part? Maybe in another five hundred years, she will turn into a decent lady?

On the way to the market, they pass an open courtyard full of kids. They seem to be involved in an intricate game. Shi Lang stops an elderly woman to ask about it:

“What are they doing?”

“Building snowmen,” the woman answers. There is affection in her voice.

“That doesn’t look like snowmen at all?” He is looking at the figures that are taking shape, but none look human in any way. There are dragons, horses, snakes even.

“That is the charm of it. The kids let their imagination out and create all kinds of creatures. They compete in building the most intricate designs out of snow,” the woman explains.

“So? An ordinary snowman is boring?” Dayin asks.

“Not for most. But these are the children of cultivator clans. They are naturally more competitive, so they turn every kind of fun into a competition,” the woman chuckles.

“I see,” Shi Lang smiles. “Dayin? We might do something like that if you want?”

“Aren’t we going to the market?” She inquires while half dragging him away from the kids.

“Sure,” he nods. But the snowmen have awakened something in him. He will definitely build one later. With his thoughts jumping from plans of snowmen to the market, he doesn’t notice that there is someone following them in the shadows.

The market is bustling with activity. Dayin drags him from stall to stall to try out every kind of candy and food. If he’s not careful with her, she will end up in a food coma for a few days. But, telling her no, is like speaking a different language altogether. Giving her some of his energy is paying off. It’s been well over an hour and she can still hold her human form. They stop at a hairpin vendor. Some of them are actually very well made. He might even select one for himself. The one that has gotten his attention is made of dark wood, with an intricately carved dragon.

“I’ll take this one,” Shi Lang shows it to the vendor. “And whatever she took.”

“She? Who are you talking about?” The vendor asks, confused.

“Dayin?” Shi Lang looks around. “Where did she go? She was just here with me? Petite, dressed in white?”

“Oh? Her,” the vendor nods. “I didn’t know she was with you. She left with the Young master Gong.”

“s**t!” Shi Lang is not prone to cursing, but losing Dayin in the crowd was not planned. What if she transforms back? That will only invite trouble. He throws a few gold coins to the vendor before he runs off.

Would the young master take her home, or somewhere else? It’s a guessing game with several possible outcomes. Shi Lang knows where the Gong mansion is. He’s been there before. How many years have passed? Is the Young master his friend's grandson or great grandson? Gambling with her fate, he takes a shortcut through some side streets and back alleys. Careful where he steps, he thinks that Dayin would find the patches of yellow snow interesting. She has never seen it before. It would be hilarious to explain that it’s nothing special and she should stay away from it.

Why is his brain always stuck on something trivial when there is imminent danger? Explaining what yellow snow means to Dayin who is not even here at the moment is only a distraction. But when his brain is busy, all his senses are on high alert. Shi Lang, you are really messed up! He reprimands himself. The Gong mansion is just around the next corner. The guards at the door won’t know him anymore. He will have to ask politely about the master, and display some patience. Why the hell didn’t he put a tracking spell on her? He should have been prepared for anything.

Shi Lang approaches the main gate. As predicted, the guards lowered their spears and prevented him from entering. He smiles slightly: “Tell Master Gong that Shi Lang wants to see him.” Then he pulls one of his rings from his left hand and gives it to the closest guard.

“Oh,” the guard mouths almost silently. The ring must mean something to him, because he motions to the other guard to step back. “Right this way, Master Shi.”

“Of course,” he nods politely. Will he be lucky? There is no way to guess what will happen next. He follows the guard across the courtyard and into a grand reception hall.

“Do my old eyes see right?” An Elderly man with grey hair and a long beard exclaims. He’s sitting on a throne-like chair, decked with fur and several blankets. “Shi Lang! My old friend. Forgive me for not greeting you properly. My old legs cannot carry me anymore.”

“It’s fine. As long as you can still wine and dine, life is worth living,” Shi Lang chuckles. It was their old adage, so to say.

“Someone!” Master Gong calls. “Bring food and wine! And you come sit up here with me.”

“Thank you. But, I’m really here to bother you with something else,” Shi Lang half bows to his friend before he sits on the stairs at his side.

“Now, I’m curious,” Master Gong smiles at him.

“I came to town with my companion. A very young cultivator. She is inexperienced in life,” Shi Lang sighs. “She slipped away at the market, and the vendor told me he saw her leave with Young master Gong.”

“Your companion? A girl?” Master Gong leans over to him.

“Yes,” he nods.

“Guards!” Master Gong shouts. “Bring that ungrateful, spoiled, good for nothing grandson of mine here! At once! If there is a girl with him, treat her with utmost care and respect.”

The first to show up are three young boys with trays of food and wine. They serve them while they wait for the guards. If a few dancers show up, it would be just like old times. Shi Lang wonders where this house has gone astray, or if it’s just the grandson who messes around. His old friend might seem slightly incapacitated, but he knows the guy is a badass when he wants to be. The ability to walk is in no way related to magic. And Gong Jun used to be one of the best in the cultivator world.