Chapter 2: Birdsong in Hollow Valley

He looks puzzled by the words Wu has said. "Let us have tea and polite conversation. So all may be made clear." Kalam takes his sandals off at the door, then follows Wu into the room towards a table. Kalam waits patiently for the tea to be poured before talking again. "Shifu Qian and I made our way back to Guangming Peak once we learned of Shifu Gen's death. As you know, the sky palace may go anywhere but it does take some time." he takes a sip of tea before continuing. "Shifu Qian was making inquiries about what happened. Though we knew not where you had gone. He sent me to find you. He said, you and what he hope you carried, were of great importance. If you are the last disciple of Shifu Gen, you are the last mountain, and Shifu Qian was right." he takes another sip of tea, he seems in deep thought as he sets his cup politely down. "What happened to Shifu Gen?"

Hearing the seriousness in Iko's voice causes her to drop the subject, figuring this who spirit business is beyond her. Ironic. She turns her attention Wu Meng, lazily walking toward the duo he obviously knows.

"Friends of yours Meng?" She asks casually, eyeing them up momentarily.

Kalam politely gets up and bows towards the newcomer at the table. "I am Kalam Makhir, second disciple to Shifu Qian, master of Sky style of martial arts. May I inquire as to who you are?"

"Forgive my manners." Meng remembered to make the necessary introductions. "My companions are Xian Feng, Iko and Zhang Wei. We have fought together to stop a dangerous foe recently, and are about to embark on another this morning." He then turned. "This is Kalam Makhir. Both Kalam and myself hail from the Eightfold Way, Kalam observes the Way of the Sky, and myself the Way of the Mountain. We have not seen each other for years, permit us to catch up quickly, before we set off on our duties for today."

Turning back to Kalam, "Li Xiong, former disciple of Shifu Gen, betrayed our master and our sect. Allying with unknown assailants, he slew my master and possibly all my fellow disciples. The last thing entrusted to me is this scroll." Meng withdrew a plain scroll case from within his robes. "I understand this to contain part of a sutra my master was working on with Shifu Zhen, and your Shifu. If you have just come from Guangming Peak you would have found our monastery razed, and thus know the rest of the story."

Mimi looks at the woman in the group. "Hope you don't mind me asking, but you are Xian Feng, right? I am trying to study about spirits, and I have heard about your... situation. I hope you don't mind if I stick around with your group as I also heard you are hunting a beast, and I can offer my service as a forest ranger..." She then realises why one of the names that Wu Meng mentioned sounds familiar. "Ah! Zhang Wei, is that you? Oh my god, it's been a while since we last saw each other! I'm Mimi, the one who lead you through the forest that time!"

"Welcome Mimi, I am Wu Meng. Any friend of Zhang Wei is a friend of mine."

Kalam bows slightly to Mimi, "Excuse my manners earlier. I was excited to see my old friend. Mimi, I am Kalam Makhir. It is nice to meet you." Kalam looks at Wu, "Let's continue this another time. Seems we have a job to do, from what I have gathered."

Wei breaks into a smile as he sees Mimi. "Mimi, it is indeed good to see you. How have you fared since we parted company?"

"Yes, well met Mimi. There are many...misconceptions about my situation." Feng does not elaborate on the matter, seemingly lost in her thoughts as she reflects on some of the closer encounters she had with individuals looking into her situation. Admittedly she seems far less violent. "And well met to you too Kalam Makhir, it seems our numbers grow by the day."

"I know Kalam here to be a master of the blade. If he joins us, we stand in good stead in our next quest." Wu Meng was unfamiliar with the search for the beast, and let the others who knew what was to be done explain it.

"I have gotten used to the new land fairly well! I am brave enough to venture into the cities now, but this "money" thing is not easy for me to get. Though I swear I haven't tried stealing anything! Only things people look like they have discarded..."

Mimi then turns back to Feng. "Oh? Then what might the truth be? You have... another spirit in you right?" She asks nervously.

Wu, your praise of my skill embarrasses me. I am but a student of the Sky. Still with much to learn. He finishes his tea, I'll do what I can to aid you though.

"Oh absolutely, my apologies for any confusion." Feng pours herself some tea and sips it delicately. "What I mean is some people believe me to be a victim because of my spirit, or occasionally a prize. Most think I'm possessed, which is only true sometimes, if that makes any sense. I've met exorcists, people who scream in terror upon recognition, oh and several cultists tried to convince me they could help my situation, until it became apparent 'helping' involved killing me to take the spirit for themselves in some strange ritual." Feng discusses her misadventures with hardly a care in the world.

"Oh! I'm sorry if I might seem like another trouble to you, but I promise I won't be trying to hurt you, or the spirit. I'll just be observing how it works, and investigating its nature. Perhaps you can also tell me what you know of what, or who, this spirit is."

A spirit...scientist? Odd. Feng scratches her head, admittedly a bit bewildered by Kuroi's request. "There is little of use I can tell you: only that they are very angry at whoever left them to burn alive, to the point where their soul refused to die and instead chose to inhabit my body. I can talk with them through ash, smoke, and fire. But their answers are nothing but rage and hate, and they're only interested in vengeance or the downfall of evil men. Perhaps that is fair given their situation."

Kalam pours himself another cup of tea and listens with interest.

Meng also hadn't seen Feng interacting with their spirit up close, and paid close attention.

Iko watches the conversation from the other side of the room where he had been speaking with Wei. Kalam seemed nice, and if he was anything like Wu Meng, they would be lucky to have another as disciplined on the team. Kuroi concerned and intrigued him. Her knowledge and curiosity of Xian Feng's spirit sent up red flags within his mind, but it seemed to stop at that. On the other hand, having someone along with more than a passing knowledge of the world of spirits could provide interesting conversation.

Speaking of spirits, Iko would be keeping a close eye on Wei for the time being... a very close eye.

"Ah, a vengeful spirit... Hmm, not completely what I'm looking for, but its a good start. I'm a failed nature druid, what do I know about spirits..." Mimi mutters to herself. "Oh, sorry. I mean that's an unfortunate circumstance for you, but I'll still like to tag along as not only your spirit might still have a link to what I'm looking for, but a friend I met is also with you guys!" Mimi waves to Zhang Wei.

Wei smiles and waves back at Mimi. *Fair enough ancient ones, you were right about our guests. Yet how does this relationship of ours work..exactly?*