I'm really not the Saviour! (我唔係救主囖!) [danmei/BL xuanhuan]

43 - There's no such thing as a miracle doctor

CW: gore, death

***

Cheng Baak-hap dropped her tired face into her hands and began to cry.

Chan Bik raced away to get some warm tea, while Gou Dzing placed gentle but firm hands on his Junior Sister's shoulders.

Gaam Yuk Ying, arms crossed, frowned at the dirt floor of the tent.

When Chan Bik returned with a teapot of wu loong and cups, Gou Dzing brought a drink over to Gaam Yuk Ying. "Are you okay?"

"Something's about to happen," Gaam Yuk Ying replied, not taking the cup that was offered to him.

"Come on, take it. What do you mean?"

This time, Gaam Yuk Ying took the cup but didn't reply.

"So what do we do now?" Chan Bik asked, holding Cheng Baak-hap's hand tightly. Her freckles moved as she her brows and nose tightened.

"Our best," Gou Dzing said, sighing. He leaned against Gaam Yuk Ying. "We can't control the demons, Chan Si-mui. We'll just have to try keeping them away from the Mortal Realm as long as possible while trying to diffuse tensions with the other kingdoms and sects. And working on communications at the same time."

"Cheng Si-dze's exhausted," Chan Bik said plaintively. The woman in question stared blankly at the scrolls before her, cheeks wet. Her teacup, still full, was clutched loosely in her free hand.

"Let's all stop for a bit," Gou Dzing suggested. He finished his tea and began tidying the papers into piles. "Yuk Ying, can you get a blanket for Cheng Si-mui?"

For the next hour, barely a word was spoken. Chan Bik and Cheng Baak-hap snuggled wearily together under a blanket in one corner of the tent. Gaam Yuk Ying cleaned his swords, eyes bent downwards, frowning all the while.

"Have you worked out what's going to happen, Yuk Ying?"

He shook his head. "Gou Hei Lok was there."

"My cousin? Where?"

"The Sek'seun border."

It was Gou Dzing's turn to frown. "I expected my- the Gou Family to take part but... Hei Lok isn't really a warrior. What was she doing there?"

Gaam Yuk Ying shook his head.

Not long after, the rumble of Wong Tang's voice could be heard through the campsite. Chan Bik and Cheng Baak-hap sat up, rubbing their eyes blearily. They tried to stand and bow as Wong Tang entered the tent, but she waved them back down and turned to the two young men.

"Report to me."

"A scouting party of the Two Dragons Five Tigers army attempted to cross the border of Cheon and Dzue in the west. We prevented them, and Her Majesty Gong Ming Dzue has taken charge of that area. Lady Gong Lau Yan has gone to her."

"Ah, Ming Dzue... Really..." Wong Tang sighed. "Anything else?"

"Teem Djeung Baak appeared," Gaam Yuk Ying added, "and crossed into Cheon."

"We haven't heard what she did there yet, but we could smell a lot of blood. And... Gun- The Gou Patriarch was there with the scouting party."

Wong Tang nodded comprehendingly. "It was good for you to leave."

"Another part of demons left the Demon Realm," Cheng Baak-hap said hoarsely. "We couldn't stop them... The army in Sek'seun killed them all. I feel like I've been wasting my time..."

"You can't save everyone, Cheng Si-mui."

"I know. I feel like I've failed somehow, though."

"Did you see anything, Divine Majesty?" Gaam Yuk Ying's eyes shifted back to the Grandmaster.