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

49 - Nothing lasts forever

A/N: A chapter! Amazing!

And it's a long one!

I... have been fighting a mystery sickness for at least two weeks now. Blood tests haven't revealed much, so I guess that's a good thing...? But still, things kind of suck and sometimes it's been hard to focus.

Anyway, I've had a rare moment of clarity so I smashed out this chapter. I think we're coming to the end of this story, everyone! Current projections have it finishing up by around the 60 chapter mark, but we'll see. I'm a pantser, after all, and there is a heck of a lot of stuff I haven't put in here yet. I'd rather not hit you all with a tonne of exposition, so let's see how I go drip-feeding it to you.

Thanks to everyone who has been patiently waiting for chapters and reading along, especially with my changes in transliteration of names, typos, and even just my inconsistent use of italics. I will be going back later and giving the story a good edit, but for now I just want to get it out there :)

Onwards!

***

"It doesn't make any sense."

No-one had to ask Chan Bik what she meant. She'd been saying the same thing for the past few hours. Gazes had continuously turned towards Lord Gaam Bing, but he had merely continue to glower into middle-distance. His expression grew darker and darker as the hours passed. Eventually, he stood suddenly and disappeared eastwards.

"Do you think he's worked something out?" Yuen Muk murmured to Gaam Yuk Ying.

"No."

"Hm. I guess he's probably continued on to Tsun Dzan."

Yuen Muk had been alternating shifts with members of the Mou Dang medical corps to treat the injured. With the most seriously wounded having received treatment, the frantic pace had slowed, and he was able to exchange medical knowledge with his peers. The Mou Dang Sect valued balance, ensuring yam was always equal to yeung to prevent excessive heat or cold, shadow or light, action or inaction. Occasionally, the arguments would fall into awkward silence as everyone present remembered where they currently stood in the current political environment, but Yuen Mu brought the conversation easily back. This was not the place to discuss politics.

Not when there were people to be save, or be buried.

While Yuen Muk was professionally squabbling with the Mou Dang physicians, Gaam Yuk Ying sat beside his Master, meditating silently. A tiny wrinkle had formed between his brows.

Chan Bik raged.

She called Teem Djeung Baak every curse she under the sun she could think of. She paced. She shook Gaam Yuk Ying, demanding he go and comb the forest with her for any sign of the woman.

"You know she's long gone," Yuen Muk said, the next time he returned, his hands splattered with ink and full of pages of notes. His clothing was stained with far worse.

"We've got to do something."

"Go tell someone."

"Are you insulting me, Gaam Yuk Ying?"

"He's being serious, Bik Si-mui," Yuen Muk interceded, taking off his outer robe and examining its state ruefully. "How often can you use that fire bird summon?"

"If I have the spiritual energy to power it, I can use it. Oh! I'll go straight away to the Grandmaster!"

"Do you even know where she is?" Gaam Yuk Ying asked, eyes still closed. Chan Bik smacked him.