A Beautiful Blue

"A message for you, sir."

Dao Ge unfolded the scrap of paper the waiter handed to him. "Eh?"

"From the young gentleman in green. He said to tell you it was from Qing Xiong." The boy bowed and hurried off.

Scratching his head, Dao Ge lumbered out of his bed where he had been snoozing. "He left so early in the morning? This young scamp."

With a sigh, he reached for his boots, grumbling. "Wants me to meet him at Oxcart Road? What is this little devil up to now."

He paused. "He did say he wanted to treat me to a good meal, didn't he? Maybe he's chosen a good restaurant. Oxcart Road has a few good places to eat; I hope it's that braised duck with the chestnuts."

Chuckling, he took up the saber lying on the bed, and slung it behind his back where it hung from its leather strap.

As he strode out of the inn the boy who had handed him the message watched from behind the pillar, then turned away, satisfied. He reached inside his pocket to touch the large coin inside, for reassurance.

Dao Ge hummed softly and tunelessly to himself as he walked down the street with his brisk, slightly rocking gait. A smile was on his lips, unconsciously; he was picturing Qing Xiong with bright eyes, marching up to him with the self-satisfied air of a child who is about to show you something they are proud of.

"This child," he muttered to himself. "And yet, he's not a child--he's shrewder than some men I know."

Looking up, he realized the sky was a beautiful blue--a pale, luminous blue of a startling purity, in which the few clouds hung like wisps trailing from an incense burner. Gazing fixedly at it for a few moments made one's heart felt oddly light and yet full at the same time, as if you were being gently lifted off your feet and carried towards the calm, depthless blueness.

He drew a deep breath, and was conscious of what felt like hope tingling warmly, faintly, in his veins. Life was not hopeless, and tomorrow could yet bring more joy than today.

As he turned the corner that led towards Oxcart Road he felt a gust of air behind him, and swung round--moments too late. A staff came down heavily around his neck, forcing his head back and blocking his hands as he reached backwards to snatch his saber. In front of him, Lao Lu and WangFan appeared at the end of the alley.

"Damn it," Dao Ge muttered under his breath, before it was knocked from his throat.

SuanRong's voice hissed into his ear, "We've got you now, Dao Ge. Don't take this too personally--any more personal than when you scarred my face!"

Dao Ge tried to twist round as Lao Lu darted forward, shaking out a large gunnysack. He smelt a stale, slightly sour musty smell as they threw it over his head, plunging him into a confusing darkness checkered with shadows and slits of light through the rents in the sack. The staff around his neck threatened to choke him, forcing him to his knees, and he struggled as the Three Gambling Ghosts rained blows and kicks down on him.

He fought back as well as he could, but felt consciousness slipping as his head was buffeted to and fro. The last thing he knew was the feeling of rough rope as they quickly tied him up, and the familiar weight of his saber behind his back being lifted off him. With a groan, Dao Ge slid forward and huddled limply on the ground, eyes rolling back into his head. His last thought was the realization that this alley was the closest route to Oxcart Road from the inn he had been staying on. Qing Xiong's message, then--

"That's enough, you fool," snapped Lao Lu, stepping back and leaning his hands on his hips to catch his breath. "We don't want to kill him. Not yet."

WangFang nudged SuanRong irritably as he continued kicking and punching Dao Ge's prostrate form, snarling. "You heard him, brother. Let him alone for now. You can beat him again later if you want, what's the hurry?"

SuanRong drew back, panting, and wiped sweat off his forehead. "True," he said grudgingly, while he glowered at Dao Ge. His face still had the fine scar running across it, right over the bridge of his auspicious nose. He had bought three different salves and ointments, guaranteed to make one's scars disappear, and was applying them all religiously every day. "Well, what now?" he demanded.

"Bring him to the granary." Lao Lu replied shortly, prodding Dao Ge's body with his foot. "You tied him properly, mind. I don't want all our effort wasted."

WangFang chuckled. "Don't worry, brother. If nothing else, I know how to tie a good knot. He won't be breaking out of those alive or dead."

Lao Lu drew a deep breath, satisfied. A crooked grin twitched at his lips. "Well, they weren't so difficult to deal with, after all. It just took some good planning and analysis of their weaknesses."

SuanRong glanced disgustedly at him as Lao Lu gloated. "Don't act as if you had all the credit just because you came up with this plan," he growled. "Brother Wang and I did most of the hard work! And don't forget, the last time you were so sure we could get Dao Xieming with that drug, but in the end it just made fools of us." He spat derisively.

Curling his lip, Lao Lu lunged at him irritably but WangFan pulled him back. "Forget it, Lao Lu. You know he's been in a bad mood because of his nose. Don't get angry."

Lao Lu sighed and rolled his eyes. "Fine, fine. Well, let's get him to the granary before anyone notices."

Without anyone on the main street even realizing what had happened, the Three Gamblings Ghosts dragged Dao Ge's body off, his head bumping against the ground most disrespectfully.