Page 49 of The Wind Dancer
The elder, despite being well over fifty, looked impeccable. His narrow face, framed by jet-black hair, seemed carved from marble. There was something snake-like in his gaze, as though he already knew my thoughts and plans.
When he spoke, his voice was low, almost a whisper, yet every word sounded as if it were spoken directly in my head.
“Feng Lao,” he said, “how nice of you to honor me with your presence. Have a seat.” He gestured to the spot across from him.
I had no intention of obeying right away. Instead, I looked around the room. His two disciples stood against the walls like statues, ready to move at any moment. One of them, a big man with a scarred face, took a step forward, about to search me. I shot him a cold stare and a contemptuous smile.
Fu Shang raised his bone-thin, pale hand.
“Leave him be,” he said. His voice was barely a whisper, but there was steel in it. “Feng Lao is our guest. We won’t violate the rules of hospitality. Right?” A mocking smile touched his lips.
“Of course, Elder.” I grinned and sat down at the table.
His disciple retreated, but I could feel his gaze on me, as if he was looking for a reason to provoke a conflict.
Fu Shang poured tea into his cup first, then into mine. A gesture meant to show it wasn’t poisoned, but he could have taken an antidote beforehand.
“You look tense,” he said, his voice like the rustle of leaves in the wind. “Are you really afraid of me, Feng Lao?” His thin, almost bloodless lips curved into that familiar, unsettling smile.
I took the cup but didn’t drink. Instead, I looked him straight in the eye.
“Afraid?” I repeated. My voice sounded like a thunderclap after his whisper. “No, Elder. After recent events, I seem to have forgotten how to be afraid.”
His lips twitched, but there was no trace of amusement in his eyes.
“You should not have, my boy. You truly shouldn’t have.” He took a small sip and continued. “Fear reminds us that we are mortal and that we need to think and act wisely to keep living.”
I took a sip from the cup without breaking eye contact. The tea was perfectly brewed, but it seemed bitter, as if it truly were poisoned. I put the cup down and leaned forward.
“So why did you ask for this meeting?” I asked, skipping the formalities. “We both know you don’t waste time on pointless talk.”
He tilted his head as if studying me.
“Straightforwardness.” There was a subtle note of approval in his voice. “That’s a good quality, Feng Lao. But it isn’t always appropriate. It seems that we had a little misunderstanding, so I invited you to discuss the future.”
“Discuss the future?” I raised an eyebrow. “That must be a joke.”
His lips twitched again, but this time there was something in his eyes that I couldn’t read.
“The future is what we forge today,” he said. “And I see that you are playing dangerous games, Feng Lao. You are young and hot-headed. You decided to show your teeth without having proper support to back you up. Are you sure that it’s the right choice?”
“My mentor taught me the rules of life, and I follow his teachings.”
“And where is Feng Shen now?” He leaned forward, and his black eyes seemed to dig into my soul. “He is just scattered ashes now, and you don’t have his abilities or connections. Give back what you took, and we’ll just forget any misunderstanding.”
“The rules state that a Shadow gives a percent of his loot to the guild treasury and keeps the rest for himself. I already paid the fee for this job.”
Fu Shang’s smile widened.
“I need the amulet.”
“Amulet?” I asked, as if this was the first time I had heard about it. So that was what this was about. It seemed like the truth. After all, when I took it, I started having strange dreams. The cult needed it, and I needed to figure out why.
“Do not play dumb with me. You got very lucky and managed to get your hands on something you should not have been able to obtain. I suggest we come to an agreement. While it’s still an option.” He looked like an angry snake, ready to strike at any moment.
I looked straight at him. For a few moments, we stared at each other, trying to see if either would falter.
“Why do you need it?”
