A Handful of Amulets

In the peacefulness of the night, a sudden shattering sound made the slumbering birds squawk nervously, and a scared-looking errand boy jumped as an empty jar crashed to the ground behind him. He took to his heels instantly, wailing "It's a ghost!"

There was a rumble of amusement from Dao Ge and Qingqing slapped the roof tiles weakly.

"Come now, that's the third poor fellow you've scared out of his wits," he protested, as she laughed unrepentantly.

"It's frightfully amusing," she said lazily. "Watching them leap higher than you'd have expected. Pass me another jar, will you. I'll see if I can make the next one jump even higher."

Dao Ge growled. "No you don't. You've drunk more than enough. Eat the peanuts."

He took the last two jars of wine and hugged them to himself protectively as he lay back down on the roof tiles. In the coolness of the night air, with the most delicious breeze rustling one's hair and the kindest shadows, it was a very pleasant place to be.

Annoyed, Qingqing tossed a peanut into her mouth and chomped it, glowering. "Stingy old man," she muttered rebelliously.

"It's good to be alive," sighed Dao Ge, staring up at the moon, smiling down at him from right above looking like a hot copper coin with its edges rimmed in pink. "Remember that the next time you're tempted to do something stupid."

"I'll remember the taste of that braised duck," sighed Qingqing dreamily.

Unexpectedly he chuckled. "You're one crazy little fellow, Qing Xiong. I won't forget the sight of you vomiting out that fish. That and the way he screamed when you held it out to him. What ghost possessed you?"

"I told you no one should get on my bad side," she replied calmly. "That's the least of my abilities."

"He'll have nightmares for the rest of his life, the poor fool. Well, we managed to get out after all. I'm rather surprised, I have to admit." He glanced at her. "I didn't expect you to be so ruthless. Before I knew it you had given Lao Lu and WangFan their death blows already."

Qingqing looked steadily ahead. "There's no point sparing people like that. If I had killed them the first time then we wouldn't have had all this trouble." She silently reminded herself not to mention SuanRong's death. What Dao Ge didn't know wouldn't hurt him.

"Young little maid like you, dealing death left and right without blinking an eye," muttered Dao Ge, somewhat disturbed. "Just doesn't seem right."

Qingqing reached over and punched him warningly in the shoulder. "What did I say?"

"Little hooligan," he amended quickly. "Where did you learn to fight, anyway, Qing Xiong?"

"Oh, I picked up some tricks from my years of wandering the jianghu," she replied carelessly. "I'm no master. But I've learnt that speed and surprise are the essence. To be indecisive is to die early."

They lay there, pleasantly warm within from the wine, with the cool wind tickling their skin. Just as Qingqing thought he had fallen asleep, Dao Ge sat up, and fumbled in his clothes.

He held out something to her. "Here."

She peered at it in the moonlight. "What's this?"

"Safety amulets. I was thinking about it, and I believe you need them more than me."

Qingqing had to laugh. "Eh, there's almost ten of these. If they all work I won't be dying for the next hundred years."

"Good," he said with a throaty laugh. "Then you can still preserve your little life even after this old man is dead."

"What are you talking about," Qingqing said softly. "You're the worst safety amulet ever, you big fool."

There was a comfortable silence as she threaded the red string bracelets onto her arm.

"You know, Qing Xiong," Dao Ge said sleepily. "Nothing wrong with you wandering the jianghu and having your fun. You're a sharp lass. But I can't help but wish you had someone to return to, just in case you get tired of this one day and want to take a rest. Don't you have parents? Or some good young man you can rely on?"

"Now you're sounding like some naggy old matchmaker," snapped Qingqing. "You sound as if good young men are for sale at any market. I've seen enough of men to know they're not worth one's bother. I'm better off relying on myself."

Suddenly sober, she sat up and propped her arms over her knees, staring moodily into the night.

Dao Ge pillowed his head on one arm, careful not to disturb the cuts he had bound up with bandages. "I'm guessing you've had plenty of young chaps chasing after you, with that face," he chuckled, with a shrewd glance at her. "Didn't you like any of them?"

Qingqing stood up on the roof and stretched out her arms, enjoying the breeze. "Plenty. I had to throw shoes at them to keep them away," she replied carelessly.

Dao Ge hooted with laughter. "Ay, I can picture you doing that. Not a single one? You've got high standards, Qing Xiong."

"Well, have you ever met anyone like me?" she demanded, turning to him.

Sitting up, Dao Ge drank some wine before he answered. "You're right. I've never quite met anyone like you. If I do, though, I'll tie him up and send him over to you, I swear!"

"So now you're going to help me find a husband?" Qingqing burst out laughing. She reached slyly for the wine but Dao Ge swiftly held it out of her reach.

"Well, you can save yourself the trouble. I, Qingqing, won't get tied down by any mortal man. I already had my fair share of weakness." Dropping down beside him, she reached up and tried to touch the moon, which was so bright and clear that it seemed to be dipping out of the sky.

"And who was that?" Dao Ge mumbled, wiping his mouth and leaning his head on his arms as he gently swirled the last mouthful of wine inside the jar he held.

"A stupid woodcutter who makes the best noodles in the world." she sighed. "Plain and stubborn as a block of wood to boot. I'm a fool, aren't I?"

"Everyone's a fool in love." Dao Ge replied comfortingly, though his voice was rather muffled.

Qingqing glanced at him thoughtfully, a shaft of moonlight revealing the wistfulness in her face.

After a long pause when he did not move or speak she gave him a nudge with her toe. He made a snuffling sound, having fallen fast asleep.

Pouncing on the wine jars, she gave a sound of disgust as she realized both were empty. "Greedy pig," Qingqing muttered. "You didn't leave even a mouthful for me. See who's the one getting drunk now."

She put the jars down, and abruptly leaned her head against his shoulder with a small sound like a sigh.