Kunlun Mountain Part 4 - The Return

Chapter 34 - New Beginnings

Gaogui made his way quickly to the base of the Mountain in search of his father, which was difficult due to the thousands who were cramming the lower valleys.  Huge tents had been erected and bodies came and went all around him.  Some looked to be well enough, while others looked as if they should not be walking around at all, but above the sounds of conversations, orders being issued, demands for attention and names being called in the hope they would appear, the soft sounds of children crying for their mothers was heard coming from every tent he passed.

But his mind was on only one man as he passed a group of young women sewing cloth into what looked to be childrens robes.  

"Lord Mo Yuan.  Do you know where I can find him?" he asked politely.  He could have opened his magic to search for him, but being one of the few with an extraordinary amount of energy while most had lost theirs to helping the multitudes, he was not yet ready to divulge this knowledge, not until he had a good grasp of the situation, which was obviously dire.  But to make it known now, he would be inundated too soon, and there was a conversation that had to take place first.

Looking up at him, the young women sat opened mouthed gawking up at him.  To their minds, he looked as if he had just arrived from a different world that they were now facing.   His long white hair, fair skin and beautiful rich red robes that fluttered about his body was just so unreal that they could not tear their eyes away, never had they seen any man as beautiful as he was.  But most alluring was his eyes.  They were so soft and gentle, and the way he looked at them as if they were the centre of the world, had their hearts beating very fast. 

And instantly one was on her feet smiling and blushing shyly at him.  "My name is Lanfen, I can lead you if you like.   Lord Mo Yuan prefers his solitude." she said smiling sweetly at him.

"Thank you, you are most kind." he said as she turned him towards the south and began to walk him in he direction they all knew where to find him.

"You were making clothing for the children." he asked in his usual soft tone, which instantly had her heart racing so fast she merely nodded back at him, too dizzy to dare open her mouth least she say something stupid.

Though the moment they left the area where the tents were, the stench of the dead hit them both.  It was an area that was kept separate from the rest and being in the downward wind, the smell rarely hit their own area.  Work was already underway to clear the bodies into makeshift pits and then lit to send their spirits back to heaven.  Because there were so many, and wood was a precious commodity needed for the hearths and cooking stoves, it only seemed so much sadder, that they would leave their world without a proper funeral or even knowing who they were.

But they soon passed through the area quickly.  "May I ask your name My Lord?  I don't recall meeting you before." Lanfen asked before ducking her head shyly when he turned his attention back to her.

"I am Gaogui." he replied smiling down at her soft blushing and shy side ways glances.  He was also not prepared to share his lineage just yet either, though more to give himself and his father privacy.  It was known that he had been in a marriage alliance with his mother before he died, and it was also known widely that she had given birth to his son.  However, none had met him until then, and he wanted time alone with his father first.

And it wasn't long before he finally came into view.  Still sitting on a rock, staring blankly into space, Gaoguis heart lurched in sympathy for him.  So stopping her in mid stride, he thanked her for her kindness.

"I will go on ahead." he said making it clear, he no longer needed her assistance.

Disappointed but not about to argue, she had a feeling the two would want to be alone anyway, so curtsying gracefully she turned back to her friends.  Watching to ensure she did leave him alone, he chuckled lightly at the way her head kept turning back towards him, before she finally disappeared among the tents and out of sight.