Li Wanyu had never cleaned dishes before. Senior Rowan was quite insistent that his daughter Maple rest after a long day of chores and cooking, so the task of washing up after the meal fell to the two of them. At first the older man rejected his guest’s help, but after insinuating there was something they needed to discuss in private he relented.
Which is how the young man found himself gently scrubbing down bowls and cutlery in the light of the moon for the first time in his life. He actually found the task surprisingly soothing, the night air was pleasantly cool, the stars were bright, and the act of scrubbing was repetitive without being wholly mindless. He had to be mindful of his strength, and where bits of food stuck to the item he was currently cleaning.
Nearby he watched his companion try to play with his host’s spirit beast. The old creature stood sentry while his friend danced and weaved through the branches that grew from the great beasts back.
He was sad he had to ruin the calm atmosphere with a potentially unpleasant conversation.
“Before I begin, know that I personally mean no harm to you or your family, so please refrain from being “tetchy” with me until I finish.” His opening statement was met with narrowed eyes and a terse nod from Rowan, who was currently scrubbing the inside of the pot.
“I strongly suspect your daughter has bound the spirit the Li clan is hunting. Not just that, she seems to have also bound the yang spirit it traveled with that was being hunted by the Hao clan.”
A groan of metal was heard as the larger man lost control of his strength for a moment at the news. His gaze was now locked on his guest. His beast’s attention followed. Man Yue stopped playing and hovered above them.
“What makes you suspect this?”
“She mentioned that she recently acquired two spirits that could speak the human tongue, and that according to her their names are Change and Harmony. Apparently Change was the one who did something that caused her qi exhaustion.”
The tension in Rowan’s body was clearly visible, every muscle clenched and ready to jump at the perceived threat to his family. “And what are you going to do about this, Li Wanyu” Emphasis placed on his family's name.
In the pale light of the moon he gave a wan smile. “Absolutely nothing.”
His host stared. He stared back.
“Nothing?”
“I, personally, will do nothing,” he clarified. “However my clan will likely send someone when they extract the information from me after I report my failure. Which is why I felt it necessary to warn you senior Rowan. I can buy time, but misfortune will chase your daughter as long as she has those spirits.”
The large man’s face darkened. “The clans have caused enough grief for my family!” Li Wanyu flinched at the vitriol contained in that sentence. “I won’t stand idle while they target my youngest!” Bough rumbled in sync with their master’s anger.
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“Senior, despite your strength you cannot fight off two of the clans at once.” The clanborn youth still couldn’t quite believe what his spiritual sense had found upon meeting this man. He idly wondered if there were any other sleeping giants in this small community.
“Then what would you have me do boy? Hand her over to you so your clan can do unspeakable things to her? Lie down and let the clans take more of my family from me?!” His voice was a whispered roar. His qi bubbled with barely suppressed rage
Still, Li Wanyu tried to find a peaceful solution. “Can’t you ask her to unbind the spirits? At this rate her qi will become a muddied mess of disparate types, which will be disastrous for her future growth. Would it not better serve everyone involved if she were to let them go?”
At that Rowan deflated slightly and shook his head. “She’s stubborn. Took too much after me and her ma in that regard. Damn near broke my heart trying to convince her to unbind with that little candle spirit so she’d still be suitable for her mother’s inheritance. Won’t go through that again, despite the stakes.”
They stared at each other. The younger man was curious what the other meant by inheritance, but knew now was not the time. The silence grew while they both considered their options.
Rowan broke the silence with a rumble. “How much time can you buy me?”
Li Wanyu thought for a moment. “Two years, three at the absolute most.”
The older man arced a thick brow. “That much?”
“I can pretend to chase the spirits trail for another few months, my travelling companion isn’t as invested in the actual searching so I doubt he’ll notice we’ll be chasing the shadows of clouds. Then it’ll be several more months of heading back to the clan to report. Several more of light to severe torture as punishment which they’ll use to confirm my report. That's the biggest variable if I’m completely honest, I’m unsure just how mad Grandmother is going to be with me. Then there’ll be the usual squabbling and inefficiencies of two of the big clans working together on something so that’s half a year gone. Which leaves the several months of getting back here.”
After the young man finished explaining, the older one snorted. “Quite the family you have there, boy.”
“Yet it’s the only home I’ve known.” He replied with a sad smile. “There is another option that I’m surprised you haven’t brought up.”
His host shot him a disapproving look. “I’m not so far gone that I’d violate guest rights. Besides you saved my daughter and brought her home, that means something.”
Li Wanyu’s spirit moved behind his head, casting his face in shadow. “Even if my continued existence threatens her?”
Rowan winced. “Even then boy.”
They sat in silence for a while and the younger man started halfheartedly scrubbing the bowl he still held. He dunked it in the bucket of scummy water beside him and moonlight shone beneath the surface. When it was removed the bowl was pristine, and the water was as clean as when the young man started the task.
Willow’s father made a decision. He tossed aside the ball of twisted metal that used to be his family's cooking pot, and stood up. He went into his home without a word and after a short time returned, with an ornate bottle in hand.
“Was saving this for a happy occasion, but one like this will do.” With a pulse of his qi the cork shot out the top. He grabbed one of the freshly cleaned bowls and poured himself a generous serving. Without missing a beat he poured the rest into the bowl that his guest was still staring into. “Drink up Wan! But make sure to savor it, this is the good stuff.”
Li Wanyu looked up at Rowan in confusion, but the older man just raised his bowl in a toast and said. “To family.” With all the baggage that word carried for the both of them left unsaid.
“To family.”
And so they drank in the light of the moon.
