Page 46 of The Wind Dancer
I raised my hand and froze, watching as thin strands of bluish light coiled between my fingers, twisting like tiny snakes.They were unstable, ephemeral, yet undeniably real. It felt like the energy that was pulsing inside me was looking for a way out.
My fingers were shaking.
I didn’t know what this was.
I tried to touch the light with my other hand, but the moment my fingers brushed it, it vanished. It was as if nothing had happened. Yet the sensation remained — something warm, fluid, and alive.
I was trying to understand what was happening to me.
I stood up, feeling myself grow more anxious by the second. Something had changed in me. I could’ve tried to blame it on fatigue, overexertion... if it hadn’t been for the missing wounds, if it hadn’t been for that strange light arcing between my fingers. And even the headache was completely gone.
I closed my eyes for a moment and immediately felt air currents moving through the room. I could just reach out and touch them.
The wind gently rattled the closed shutters. It was calling me. It told me I was wasting time on irrelevant things.
I let my breathing slow down, taking deep, long breaths.
And then I heard a whisper in my mind.
Or more like a guiding feeling.
“The time has come. Ascension awaits.”
I needed to go outside.
By the time the first light touched the roofs of Cloud City, I was already seated in my usual corner of the small noodle shop.
The strong aroma of a spicy broth filled the space, mixing with the smells of soy sauce, fried garlic, and fresh herbs. The kitchen was buzzing behind the partition: oil sizzled, knives dutifully sliced and chopped, and the cook and his assistant quietly chatted.
It was always crowded in the early morning, and the hubbub was exactly what I needed. Something was happening to me, and I couldn’t even begin to imagine what it was. The worst part was that I didn’t have a single person I trusted enough to confide in. I looked around, studying each customer carefully, letting the familiar routine steady my thoughts.
Most of them were dock workers, merchants grabbing breakfast before opening their shops, and a few late-night stragglers looking for a last meal before bed. There were a couple of minor officials, but they sat apart from the rest, as if to show how far above them they were.
A large bowl of steaming noodles, generously covered with thin slices of beef, green onions, and cilantro, was set right in front of me. The broth was rich, seasoned with my favorite spices, and drops of fragrant oil with red pepper flakes floated on the surface. I picked up my chopsticks and carefully lifted a bundle of noodles, watching them glisten in the dawn light. A small plate of fried tofu sat beside the bowl, crispy on the outside and tender within. Pickled vegetables with garlic and ginger, along with a fresh bun, completed my breakfast.
I took a bite of the meat next, and it melted in my mouth, releasing all the juicy, spicy flavors. Then I brought a spoonful of broth to my lips. It was hot and rich, with a slight peppery kick, exactly what one needed to finally wake up. But even with all thisdelight, my mind couldn’t rest. I was going over the plan to meet with Fu Shang this evening.
I could feel the wind around me. It was guiding me to go down. Somewhere deep underground. And it kept calling to me over and over again.
This feeling was there from the moment I woke up. As though I needed to go into the underground tunnels that were on my mentor’s map. And it bothered me.
I forced myself to focus on Fu Shang who was a real threat. One that couldn’t be ignored. Unlike me, he wasn’t just a Shadow, but also a man with resources, connections, and a network of loyal people. I was, for all intents and purposes, alone. And even if I could survive many things that others couldn’t, even if I had the skills, the speed, and was damn lucky, it wouldn’t be enough.
I dipped a piece of tofu into the soy sauce and then let it practically melt in my mouth. I needed to come up with something. Fighting him directly would be suicide. Fu Shang was too cautious to come alone, and too smart not to prepare an ambush. So I would have to set a trap of my own.
And the only option was to use Mei Lin’s people and resources. She wanted his head and the answers he held. Our goals aligned perfectly. But how would I lead the old rat into a trap?
I took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of spices, and narrowed my eyes in thought. I’d have to improvise. If he wanted to see me, then maybe he was interested in the documents or the amulet, which meant we could arrange a proper meeting.
That meant I could drive the price sky-high and play the fool, hiding calculation behind greed. I was pretty sure he wouldn’t even consider paying me for any of it, but what difference would that make? The trick was in tricking the trickster.
The problem was that Fu Shang was far from a fool. He could sense a trap from miles away. Otherwise, he never would’ve raised so high in rank. I needed to divert his attention somehow.
The noodles were almost gone. I caught the last few, dipped them in the broth once more, and quickly ate them. The breakfast was sublime, but I had a long day and a very dangerous evening ahead of me.
I grinned.
Fu Shang was a dead man.
