By this time, the girl had finally calmed down and begun staring at them from across the room. Her steward came over to extend their gratitude and invite Duan Ling for conversation.
“My young master isn’t in the mood right now,” Wu Du said. “We’ll talk at Tong Pass.”
The steward went back and relayed their reply. Duan Ling ate more slowly than usual, consumed by the knowledge that his father’s murderer was seated right across from him. His blood coursed with fiery hatred. As he chewed his pastry, all he could think about was how if it wasn’t for Helan Jie, none of this would be happening. Memories of his father and everything he’d endured since losing him surfaced, one after another, each overlapping the next, piling ever higher and feeding his engulfing rage.
Wu Du! Kill him! Duan Ling wanted nothing more than to scream these words.
But of course he could say no such thing. That was true now, and would remain true even if he recovered his position as crown prince. Wu Du wasn’t merely a killing tool to be ordered around.
“What’s wrong now?” Wu Du asked.
Duan Ling jolted out of his bleak thoughts. It was strange how, whenever he was in low spirits, Wu Du always seemed to sense it.
“I…didn’t rest well. I could feel him staring at us the whole time.”
“Him? He’s as good as useless,” Wu Du said dismissively. “Four of his fingers were severed by the late emperor outside Shangjing, and somehow, he lost his right hand too. He’ll never be able to wield a sword again.”
Maybe if he attached a sword to his amputated arm, Duan Ling thought, he might still be able to use one—but he wouldn’t be able to flick his wrist, turn, thrust, rotate, or sweep as he fought. His skills would be severely set back; he would never vie for supremacy among the elite. Aloud he said, “He definitely still wants to kill me.”
“Your Master Wu wants to kill him, too,” Wu Du replied evenly. “But you have nothing to fear from him.”
Night fell, and Wu Du called for the post house guards to put a screen up for the two of them to lie behind. Duan Ling recalled Master Kongming’s tale in the Northern Temple and concluded the disciple who’d betrayed his sect and stolen the Ender of the Profane must be none other than Helan Jie. The memory of that conversation was so distant it might as well have been from a previous life—it didn’t feel real. Lang Junxia had also betrayed his sect, Duan Ling knew. But for some reason, while he hated Helan Jie with every fiber of his being and would have gladly chopped him to pieces, his feelings toward Lang Junxia were far milder: simple hurt from his betrayal.
“What are you gonna do about him?” Duan Ling asked.
Wu Du rolled onto his side and whispered into Duan Ling’s ear, “We can’t kill him now. We need to find out what his connection is with Bian Lingbai.”
“He’s working for him,” Duan Ling whispered back. “Without a doubt.”
“Yes,” Wu Du agreed.
Duan Ling gave him a curious look. This was the first time he’d heard Wu Du seriously suggest killing anyone. “You don’t want to spare his life?”
“What?” Wu Du replied, confused. “Why would I spare him? Of course I’ll kill him after we finish our job here. What kind of question is that?”
Duan Ling was moved almost to tears hearing this; he could have wrapped his arms around Wu Du and kissed him on the spot. Wu Du surely thought he was just acting strange again. But there was something else Duan Ling understood now: When Wu Du truly wished to kill someone, he wouldn’t hesitate; to him, Helan Jie was as good as dead. The only thing holding him back was that they couldn’t afford to alert Bian Lingbai.
More soldiers arrived at the post house the following morning. Duan Ling had yet to open his eyes when he heard the clatter of hoofbeats outside. He counted silently: Five…ten…fifteen…twenty… Nearly a hundred soldiers. The Tong Pass Garrison was obviously well trained and well organized.
An officer entered first and escorted the young lady out. Soon after, Helan Jie left as well; in but a few moments, the post house had emptied out. Wu Du leaned over him. “If you’re awake, get up.”
Duan Ling sat up and looked around to find that they were the only two left in the hall.
“They’re all gone?” Duan Ling asked.
“Outside,” Wu Du corrected. “Now sit behind the screen and don’t come out.”
A voice called from outside: “I didn’t think you would be so brave as to come to Tong Pass.”
Wu Du sneered as he called back, “Bian Lingbai, I told you to clean your neck and wait for my sword. Did you?”
A general in his thirties walked in and stood just inside the doorway like a soldier at ease. Wu Du lounged on the divan set in front of the screen. More Tong Pass soldiers filed in after Bian Lingbai. They trained raised crossbows on Wu Du, who yawned and cast an impatient look at Bian Lingbai.
“Come on. If I really wanted to kill you, I’d have waited at the door and stabbed you as you stepped inside. Am I supposed to sit here patiently while you assemble your army? You didn’t even check behind the door before entering—you’re as stupid as your dog. Squatting here at Tong Pass for so long has dulled your brain.”
“You—!” Bian Lingbai started angrily. Duan Ling, listening from behind the screen, snickered into his hand. Seeming to recover himself, Bian Lingbai sneered. “Why are you here?”
“I brought someone to see you.” Wu Du pushed himself lazily up from the divan. “But seeing as you’re pointing arrows at us, we’ll leave.”
“Wait,” Bian Lingbai said, gesturing for his soldiers to lower their crossbows.
“Bian Lingbai,” Wu Du continued, chilly. “I don’t expect you to thank me for saving a hostage for you—but are you really operating under the impression that no one in the world can touch you?”
Bian Lingbai’s expression was stormy, but he didn’t dare contradict Wu Du. After all, Wu Du had been Zhao Kui’s right-hand man, privy to a great deal of top-secret military intelligence regarding the border. The general curled his lip. “Then come meet me at Tong Pass if you dare.”
With this, Bian Lingbai turned on his heel and left. When he was safely out of sight, Wu Du took Duan Ling outside to inspect the carriage, then ordered one of the soldiers to drive as he and Duan Ling sat inside, following the general to the pass.