Pia's prediction proved correct; Buzhi tasked her with hunting and foraging over the days they traveled east.

"These robes weren't meant for hunting, darling," he'd said, shaking his overrobe out as he sat beside the fire Pia had started.

At least the land they traveled through was abundant with rabbits, pheasants, and deer. Though, the rabbits and pheasants were much easier to hunt.

On the first night, Pia returned to their campsite with two rabbits to find Buzhi lying in a swathe of fabric suspended between two trees.

"What is that?" she'd asked, curious, depositing the rabbits beside their fire.

Moving to inspect it, she'd found it was made of thick fabric, similar to a tent. Leather straps tied to the trees kept it from touching the ground, allowing the person to lie above it.

"It's called a sleeping cocoon," he'd informed her from its depths. "Much more comfortable than the cold, hard ground."

"Did you make it?" she'd asked with amazement.

"No, they're popular in southern Baisha. It's hot all year round there."

A bit of jealousy had stirred in her. It'd be nice to avoid sleeping on the ground.

"Don't suppose you have two?"

"Suppose away, I don't."

She'd slept on the ground on her thin sleeping mat, while he snored away above her. Sleep was hard to come by between sleeping on the rugged ground and the night terrors that haunted her. Not even the orchestra of frogs and crickets crooning through the night brought peace to her nights. Each night, she passed out, exhausted, and was chased relentlessly by terrifying dreamscapes that woke her in a panic.

They slipped into northeast Siji on the sixth day, following a thin rock trail alongside the mountain. Talking was impossible as they hugged the mountain, avoiding the edge of the path that revealed a steep drop-off. The lack of sleep and the growing dampness in the air left her feeling particularly irritable. With nowhere for that feeling to go, she focused it on the green-robed figure before her, and she scowled fiercely at his worry-free back.

The path grew thinner as they rode, and the anxiety it caused did little to help her mood. There was hardly enough room on their ledge path for the horses. Watching Shuai traverse a particularly tricky spot, her heart froze when she saw his left hind foot briefly step into the air. Level-headed as he was, Shuai quickly corrected, but in that heartbeat of time, Pia's heart thundered in her chest.

When it was Tudou's turn, he handled it like a seasoned mountain goat, and relief caused her muscles to tremble. She was so grateful for her perfect horse. Stepping over a thick section of rock, Tudou's foot dislodged a rock, and it clattered over the edge, falling straight downward. She shivered harder, imagining that it could be her or Tudou.

That day seemed endless. They were always moving downward on the narrow path, with nowhere to stop. As they curved around the mountain, another came into view on the left. Ahead, the path became straighter, and it was easier to see that they were heading for a pocket canyon that sank down between the two mountain faces. The trail widened gradually, and with each step they took closer to the bottom, the tension melted from her shoulders.

By the time they reached the bottom, everything in her body ached. The path turned from rock to a soft mix of dirt and sand. Wild grass grew in clumps, courtesy of the thin stream that ran the length of the canyon. The mountain towered above them on both sides, narrowing near the top.

The two dismounted and untacked the horses, letting them free-roam the canyon. When Buzhi went to sit on the ground, her irritation flared to anger. Grabbing the brushes, she went and brushed both horses, carefully avoiding stepping in the stream when they wandered near it. Despite how much she loved Tudou, the work brought her no relief, and even the rich smell of his coat, usually enough to center her, did nothing to cool her inner frustrations.

Very few trees grew in the canyon, and it took Pia some time to gather enough wood to light a fire. The setting sun cast early shadows across the canyon, making it difficult to see. Every time she glanced at her companion and saw him reclining on the ground, her anger flared hotter.

As she got the fire going, she was grateful for the bag of provisions Lan Tiao had given them. Cured meat and dried buns were not the most appealing, but they were filling on nights when hunting was impossible. Using a pot from their packs, she sprinkled some dried tea into water from the stream and placed it on the fire. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw Buzhi wasn't paying attention. Carefully, she poured tea for him, handing him a cup.

"Thanks," he said, offering a grin. Pia didn't return it, still feeling sour towards him, even knowing it wasn't fair to direct her anger at him.

Around the fire, the soft sounds of the horses grazing, the crackling of the fire, and the wind curling through the canyon filled the air. Buzhi drank tea while she added wood to the fire. All the while, her anger, sleeplessness, and anxiety boiled within her.

Buzhi was quiet, eyes fluttering as they stared into the fire. His head began to nod, feeling loose and heavy on his shoulders. Seeing it, Pia felt a bit of relief. It'd worked.

"Buzhi," she asked, curious about something that'd been on her mind for days. "Why'd you take me to Quiet Hearth to meet Zhe Mian and Lan Tiao?"

He blinked, roused from his half-doze at the sound of her voice. Firelight gave his face a solemnity that it lacked in the daylight.

"It was just chance that they'd both be there..." he said, and his voice was sluggish. "It's Lan Tiao's, but many people use it. I was hoping it'd be empty."

She frowned, feeling that his words weren't entirely truthful. Over the days of traveling, she'd had a lot of time to think about it. Something didn't sit right with her. It seemed that he'd purposefully led her there, wanting her to meet the two men. Why hadn't they just camped along the trail as they had since? No, Pia was confident there was a reason, and she was tired of being in the dark. As her mind turned back to Quiet Hearth and Zhe Mian during their ride, a wild idea had dawned on her. Why didn't she get the answers herself?

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

"Is that true?"

His face scrunched, and he rubbed it with his palm, trying to clear the heaviness from his body. Pia smirked to herself. Good luck trying, she thought.

"No. I was fairly certain Lan Tiao would be there. I wanted you to run into him."

Curious, she asked, "Why?"

"Because he's been your shadow since Ruwe first took you on as an apprentice."

Stunned, she turned in her seat to face him.

"My shadow?"

He shook his head, his face perplexed. His gaze met hers, and a bit of suspicion flickered across his face. Buzhi looked down at his teacup and then back up at her.

"Did you…drug me?" he asked incredulously.

Pia's face flamed, and a hint of guilt cut through the resentment within her.

"Just a tiny bit," she admitted.

He let out a slow laugh, amazed.

"Was it in the tea?"

She nodded.

"You're sneakier than I'd have expected," he praised, voice slightly slurring.

"My shadow?" she repeated, pushing him.

Sighing, he leaned his elbows onto his knees, though it was more of a droop due to the poison she'd slipped him, looking back into the fire.

"You know how protective Ruwe is. When he first accepted Mow's task to find you, he sent a message to Lan Tiao, asking him to be your shadow. Everywhere you have gone, Lan Tiao has been nearby."

Her shadow? Pia wracked her brain, trying to recall any feelings of being watched or shadows that might've moved. None came to mind. Was that why he'd felt familiar to her? Yet her mind kept running up against why? Why had she needed a shadow?

Feeling bewildered, she crossed her arms and asked, "Why did I need a shadow? I was always with people he trusted."

Another slow, slightly bitter laugh left Buzhi.

"Ruwe doesn't trust anyone entirely. He'll task three people to look in three directions rather than rely on one lookout. He and Mow might be close, but there's a lot of tension there. After what happened to his wife, Ruwe will never fully trust Mow again."

If she'd been stunned before, she was utterly astounded now.

"His wife? Master Ruwe is married!?"

Buzhi cringed, tapping his mouth with his hand. In his drowsy state, it was more of a slap. If the information she'd just learned wasn't so shocking, Pia might've laughed.

"Ah, let's never repeat that outside of this campfire, darlin'," he drawled. He sighed heavily and continued, "Yes, he was married. His wife was murdered. Despite being under the protection of those he'd trusted wholeheartedly. So, when you ask why you have a shadow, consider that."

If Buzhi had told her a god had come down to offer her immortality, Pia would've been less shocked. Dizziness made her head spin, feeling almost like she poisoned herself. Master Ruwe had been married. His wife had been murdered. He didn't fully trust his Master. Did that mean Mow had something to do with his wife's murder? Who had he trusted to protect his wife?

Buzhi's head fell between his legs. She shook her head, not wanting to waste precious time of him under the influence of the poison

"Who murdered his wife?"

"Dunno," he said, managing to bring his head back upright. His gaze was unfocused, his pupils wide and dilated.

Her eyes narrowed. That didn't seem right.

"You don't know?"

"I don't."

She scooted closer to him, folding her arms around her knees. She didn't believe that. The poison she'd given him, Drunken Fragrance, wasn't very potent, only making a person drowsy and inclined towards honesty. She wished she'd had a more potent poison to truly loosen his lips. Immediately, that thought made her feel ashamed, as Buzhi, odd as he might be, had treated her well.

"If Lan Tiao was my shadow, why isn't he anymore?"

"Who says'es not still?" Buzhi said, giving her a dopey smile.

Looking around the canyon, only the shadow of night greeted her. The horses moving through the canyon were the only sounds that echoed through the canyon.

"That doesn't make sense…" she muttered, resting her forehead against her arms, rocking forward onto the balls of her feet. "Lan Tiao's following us?"

Buzhi's head lulled side to side, a silent no.

"Never far away," he mumbled. "I'm your shadow now," he said with laughter. "A sticky shadow that sticks. I stick to you."

Her lips turned down, irritated once more. The poison she gave him wasn't that strong. He shouldn't be growing worse... Suspicion grew within her. Her eyes narrowed, feeling frustration grow once more.

"You're not feeling the poison anymore, are you?" she asked hotly.

Buzhi's eyes snapped open, and he grinned, giving her a wink.

"It was a good attempt, but poison doesn't work on me," he said, picking up the teapot and pouring himself another cup. "A perfect sleight of hand, though. I almost didn't even taste it."

Anger flooded her, and she squeezed her legs fiercely with her arms. She felt ready to explode from her skin. Had it all been a lie?

"Was any of that true?" she hissed, voice low and furious.

He looked at her, traces of his humor gone.

"I told no lie. You were willing to go that far; I thought you deserved some answers. Ruwe's wife was murdered. Lan Tiao has been your shadow for years. Silently monitoring and protecting you."

The anger in her simmered down, even as her mind flashed with doubts.

"I never knew," she said softly. Her heart squeezed for her Master. Looking back at how he'd been with her, so much of it made sense.

A thought made her bite her lip.

"Did Mow really have something to do with his wife's murder?" she asked.

Buzhi sighed heavily and tipped his head back, looking at the sky.

"I hope not. Ruwe's been searching for answers for many years. Someday, I think we'll find out the truth…and gods help those who were involved," he said fiercely.

The fire crackled and popped between them, and Pia's mind churned.

"I'm sorry," she said after a long time.

In the firelight, Buzhi's bright smile gleamed.

"Don't be, it was fun."

It relieved some of the tension in her body, and she sighed, relaxing into a sitting position, crossing her legs underneath her. Idly, she picked at scraps of bark that had fallen from the wood she'd gathered.

"Can I ask why Lan Tiao would even be willing to be my silent shadow for years?" she asked, hoping he'd answer.

He hummed over his tea, thinking it over.

"Lan Tiao has been with Ruwe for a long time. Ruwe helped Lan Tiao achieve his vengeance against an enemy of his. I'd say that it likely motivates his loyalty to Ruwe."

Mulling that over, she couldn't hold in the further questions.

"Lan Tiao had an enemy?"

Though the man in question was calm and stoic, she remembered that aura of intimidation he'd had. It was an intensity that hovered about him. Similar to how Master Ruwe had felt to her, before she'd grown used to his personality.

Laughing, Buzhi looked at her and said, "Yep, he sure did." He paused and raised his brows at her, waggling them. "It was me."

Him? Dubious, she gave him a flat look, which made him laugh again. Yet, it wasn't a happy laugh. It sounded vaguely self-deprecating to her ears.

"Lan Tiao and I are like enemies to lovers, y'know those stories?" he asked. When her cheeks flamed, he grinned and waved his hand. "Figures Ruwe would hold the good stuff back from you. Anyway, the short version is that Lan Tiao and I were on opposing sides once upon a time. I did something to him, he did something to me, and so on. More things happened, I got revenge, he got vindication, and then eventually we found a friendship forming."

The vagueness frustrated her. Everything always had to be confusing; why couldn't anyone ever be straight with her? Seeing the frustrated look on her face, Buzhi relented.

"Lan Tiao and I were from two warring sects that lived on two separate mountain peaks. Neither got along and many misunderstandings and miscommunications led to years of off-and-on war. My sect was a bit larger, but his sect was more skilled. Anyway, let's just say that Ruwe helped Tiao in his revenge. Ironically, that revenge led to Ruwe meeting me, and as they say, ta-da the rest is history."

Once more, she felt a tingling of suspicion. Something about the way he downplayed it felt…off.

Keeping her face free of those feelings, Pia asked, "You say Master Ruwe is protective…yet he lets me travel alone with you?"

"Indeed. What could that mean?" Buzhi asked her in return.

The smile he gave her over the fire was wide and wicked.