Bai Guo awoke in a field of tall grass. The morning breeze chilled the sweat running down his brow. He rose from his makeshift bedding and wiped his forehead. This night, like many others, had brought him little rest. Ever since he had separated from his master weeks ago, he was plagued by these nightmares. He had never actually witnessed the events that kept replaying in his head; he was not even certain that they ever took place. But his vivid memories of the sect master''s halls during his time as a captive made the imagery all too easy to believe each and every time.


    When she returned to him that night, her robe was caked in the blood of more than just one person. That was Bai Guo''s initial impression. At first, Bai Guo was contented by her reassurances to the contrary. But when his uncle threw the accusation right at their faces, Bai Guo''s suspicions were reignited. He could not continue to deceive himself so easily. The mere possibility of it being true had unsettled him deeply, rendering his nights restless.


    He glanced around, wary of every shadow. He found nothing but the morning dew glistening atop the blades of grass. His anxiety began to wear off. Bai Guo''s bloodshot eyes filled with focus. He took up his bedroll and mounted his auburn steed, rushing towards a settlement not far from his camping spot. Bai Guo and his master had previously spent a night in this place during their tumultuous travels. He sought out a familiar face, a young man a year older whom the young apprentice had made quick friends with over a few drinks.


    Bai Guo found the youth in question lazing at the porch of his father''s inn. His mouth gaped in surprise at the sight of the weary traveler before curling into a smile.


    "Well, if it isn''t brother Guo!" The young man sprayed out his arms as he approached. "And you told me not to expect you back any time soon!"


    "This was unexpected for me too, brother Chong." Bai Guo said with a friendly smile of his own. "I was out on an errand, and I ran into a bit of trouble."


    "What''s wrong? Anything that I can help with?" Brother Chong was quick to volunteer. As Bai Guo feigned hesitation, the young man became more insistent until Bai Guo finally gave in.


    "Look, the truth is, I''m being pursued by people from the Jianghu Investigative Bureau." Bai Guo explained. "They''re tailing me in the hopes that I''ll lead them to another brother of mine, and I just can''t seem to shake them off."


    "Those rats!" Brother Chong spat. "I''ll get my father to make sure that nobody in this town tells on you. He''s well respected, they''ll listen. Though I doubt that it will stump them for long, I''ve heard they''ve really got a knack for digging up information. But what else can we do?"


    "I might have an idea." Bai Guo said. Brother Chong nodded along eagerly. "This coat I made from a wolf is pretty distinctive, right? You and I are about the same height and build, so if you wear this, it''ll be next to impossible to tell us from afar. It''s already getting warmer, so I''ll be fine without it. Take my horse and ride out north, and take your sword with you too; not because I expect them to give you any trouble, but because it will make us look even more alike. By the time they catch on to the ruse, I''ll be long gone."


    "That''s clever, brother Guo." He grinned. "How far do you think I should go?"


    "As far as you can, brother Chong, and for as long as you can. Here''s a bit of travel money to make it easier on you."


    Bai Guo took out a golden tael and put it in his friend''s hands. Brother Chong gawked at the hefty chunk of gold in his palm. "Brother Guo, isn''t this a little much?"


    In the midst of his confusion, Bai Guo continued. "Since I''m imposing on you, I should at least help you feel more comfortable on the road. Feel free to treat yourself. The more you spend, the better. It''ll draw more attention."


    His friend laughed with excitement. "You can count on me, brother Guo! Rest assured, I''ll keep those rats off of you for a long time!"


    The two of them hugged, and Bai Guo''s plan was set into motion. Shortly after brother Chong had set off, Bai Guo waited on the second floor of that same inn, observing the streets from a window. Just as predicted, he had spotted half a dozen mounted investigators clad in blue and white crossing the street. They halted briefly to question the locals, and rushed their horses off in pursuit of the false trail.


    Bai Guo breathed a sigh of relief. He purchased a black horse and continued east. Several days later, he arrived at Cui Shen''s old residence. The old servant, Eagle Eyed Yan, managed to make him out from a mile away. But because his masters were home this time, the old man could offer little hospitality without first putting him through due courtesies, and the young man had little desire to socialize with them. After assuring him that Cui Shen was fine when he had seen him last, Bai Guo asked him to take care of his horse while he was gone. The elder promised to oblige him with at least that much.


    Bai Guo was soon back to that familiar bog, seeking out the mansion that lied hidden deep within. For the very first time, his eyes were able to make out the shapes of snakes and toads lurking in the grasses. Terrified of the dangers their venoms held, Bai Guo gave the slithering denizens a wide berth. He had assumed that finding his way back to the residence was going to be a simple matter, but his trek through the swamp stretched on and on. Bai Guo had eventually wandered into a place so dense with vegetation that even the sun''s rays could only barely seep through.


    His ears picked up the soft sound of a low, barely audible whistle. By the time he had thought to turn towards it, something flew past his eyes and wedged into a tree. It was a long needle, thick as a finger. Shortly after being struck, the tree began to wilt; the green leaves along its branches darkened and fell to the ground. Bai Guo next heard the squeaking of dirt right behind him. Turning around, he found the old mistress of the land. Lady Ouyang had crept up so closely that the young man was startled by the sight of her. He nearly stumbled over his feet as he backed away.


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    Her stern face remained impassive beneath her wide-brimmed hat, but her eyes, one of them marred by a long vertical scar, glared like a pair of green daggers.


    "You stupid kid." She berated. "You''re so lucky, you should consider yourself born again. Had I not recognized you at the very last moment, you would have been dead. Without your master at your side, you look just like any other overcurious fool trespassing on my domain."


    Bai Guo shivered as though he had been doused with cold water. He bowed. "Thank you for sparing my life, lady Ouyang."


    "Why have you come here? Where is your master?"


    "I''ve come alone. I need to speak with brother Shen."


    "Making sure I''m holding up to our agreement, I see." Any interest Ouyang Chen may have held in the matter was gone without a trace. She turned away. "Follow me."


    They took a sharp turn, heading in the opposite direction of Bai Guo''s initial path. They trudged through the swamp in silence, their course shifting constantly until the young man had once again lost track of where they were.


    Lady Ouyang''s voice startled him. "How is that master of yours? Does the girl still squander her time playing with weapons?"


    "...Yes." Bai Guo forced out after an awkward pause.


    But just as he grasped the curtness of his reply and rushed to elaborate, the old woman responded, "What a waste."


    Bai Guo held his tongue. They had soon finally encroached upon familiar territory for Bai Guo. He distinctly remembered being led along the same path by Ling Ling during their very first meeting. A short walk brought them out of the darkness into the vibrant flower field surrounding the old house. Try as Bai Guo might, his eyes failed to spot a single blemish left over from Tao Geming''s rampage. Though some of the flowers had changed, the harmony of colors was preserved.


    "I heard you helped quite a bit the last time you were here. Well done." Lady Ouyang said, reading him like an open book. Her words sent a chill down Bai Guo''s spine. Her deadpan praise may have sounded innocuous, and it truly may have been no more than what it seemed. But since his time with Ling Ling was a secret they both tried to keep from her, he couldn''t help but feel like there was a warning hidden within.


    The mistress'' early return, and with a guest no less, had drawn out the residents. The youngest girls seemed glad to have the appearance of a familiar yet fresh face break up their daily routine; the old nun and Ling Ling were surprised, but not particularly enthused. Ouyang''s apprentice began to search for something else to look at. The swordsman clad in black, Cui Shen, approached his sworn brother, both relief and worry in equal measure written on his pale face.


    "Little brother, is that you? Where''s your master?" He asked, instantly grasping the unease in Bai Guo''s features.


    "I came alone. I have to speak with you." Bai Guo explained. Cui Shen nodded and invited him inside. To his surprise, the young man remained unmoving. He was wrought with reluctance. But after a silent struggle, he pressed on. "No, I must ask you now. Brother Shen, did you kill senior Long Delun of the Jianghu Investigative Bureau?"


    Cui Shen flinched at the question. As the accusation lingered in the air, his dark eyes filled with shame. He lowered his head and answered, "I did."


    "Why?" Bai Guo hissed through his teeth, his fists clenching.


    "When I was making my way through the Wuyi Sect, that elder interfered. He was determined to stop me at all costs. But I could not abandon my task."


    "That makes no sense." Bai Guo shook his head. "Senior Long was a man of integrity. Why would he act on that villain''s behalf?"


    Cui Shen closed his eyes. "It did not seem right to me either. Our battle revealed the strength of his character. It was difficult for me to accept that someone like him could abide by that kind of evil. I have spent a lot of time thinking back on that encounter. I believe he simply wasn''t aware of the sect master''s crimes."


    Bai Guo rubbed his forehead. In his agitation, he had nearly forgotten the sequence of events. The letter he had written to his uncle must have been the first time the Wuyi Sect''s atrocities had been revealed, and he wrote it days after the killings in the mountains.


    Cui Shen asked, "Who was this man to you?"


    "An old mentor of my uncle and I..." Bai Guo said. Their brief exchange seemed to drain him completely. "So he died just because of a misunderstanding...?" He muttered in disbelief. Since neither of them were willing to accept that Long Delun could have been complicit in the crimes of the Wuyi Sect, and since Bai Guo was likewise unwilling to doubt his brother, only that remained as the sole explanation.


    Bai Guo languished in silence. Cui Shen had nothing to say to ease the young man''s burdens. After a time, he looked up at his older brother.


    "The Jianghu Investigative Bureau is looking for you now." He finally said. "They want to avenge senior Long."


    Cui Shen turned grave. Lady Ouyang snorted upon hearing his words. "You came all the way out here just to deliver that warning? Those cowards wouldn''t dare to show their faces around here. I can''t believe you couldn''t figure that out on your own. You really wasted your time coming here."


    She turned back towards the bog. "I don''t have time to attend to our guest. Cui Shen, you can handle this yourself. You two are free to catch up with each other at your leisure."


    Bai Guo bowed as the old woman took her leave.


    Ling Ling then also bowed to Cui Shen. "I must prepare for my trip with mistress Ouyang tomorrow. Junior martial brother, sorry for putting this all on you."


    "It''s not a problem." He assured. The girl offered a stiff bow to the guest and left without so much as looking him in the eye. The other residents followed her. Cui Shen asked, "Brother Guo, will you be staying?"


    "I shouldn''t impose..." Bai Guo replied, still half-stuck in his daze.


    "There''s no harm. Knowing your master''s traveling habits, you must have come from afar. You should at least rest a little before you go back."


    Bai Guo weakly nodded. Cui Shen led him inside.