“No,” Malao said. “I didn't hear a thing. And I don't believe you came out here just to check on me. I know how sneaky you are. What are you really up to?”
“Listen, I can't talk long,” Seh said. “Do you have any news for me? Tell me, quick.”
Malao paused and blinked several times. “Grandmaster is dead.”
“What?” Seh whipped his head around to face Malao. “Are you sure?”
“Yes,” Malao replied. “I helped Hok retrieve the body.”
“Hok! Where did you see Hok?”
“At Cangzhen.”
“But Hok was the one who pushed hardest for us to run and then separate,” Seh said.
“I know,” Malao said. “Hok really surprised me when he snuck up on me while I was spying on Ying.”
“You returned to spy on Ying?” Seh asked. “That's pretty bold, little brother.”
Malao smiled. “Yes, it is. But not as bold as what Fu did. He swiped the dragon scrolls.”
“What?” Seh said. “I can't believe I missed all this. Fu? Are you sure? Ying said that he sent his number one man to get those scrolls. You mean to tell me that that overgrown pussycat defeated Ying's number one soldier?”
“I guess so,” Malao said.
“Amazing,” Seh said. “I didn't know Fu had it in him. Did you or Hok happen to see Long?”
“No,” Malao replied.
“Me neither.” Seh paused. “So is Hok … okay?”
“Yeah, Hok is fine. Why?”
“No reason,” Seh said, looking sideways. “What are you going to do next?”
“I was going to try to find my way back to Cangzhen and see how Hok is doing. Do you want to come with me?”
“Well … no. I'm going to stay with the bandits and…” Seh's voice trailed off. He listened, then shook his head. “Look, Malao, I've got to get back.”
“Wait,” Malao said. “Do you know why some of the bandits have Cantonese names? I mean, doesn't that seem strange to you? And what's going on with their leader, Mong? I know I saw him with Grandmaster at Cangzhen several times.”
Seh looked sideways again. “I have no idea what you're talking about, Malao. Now, I really need to—”
A twig snapped and Malao sat up straight. He glanced around but didn't see anything. He looked over at Seh.
Seh was staring in the direction of the sound. After a moment, he whispered, “I need to get out of here, Malao. I don't sense anyone, but I can't take any chances. Good luck, little brother.”
Malao opened his mouth to say something, but Seh had already slipped away into the night.
Malao shrugged his shoulders and curled up beneath the small willow tree. He closed his eyes to welcome sleep again and grinned as he thought about Seh's exit. Seh was always so dramatic.
Hidden in the thick underbrush several paces from Malao, Mong also grinned. He, too, turned and slipped away into the night.
Malao woke the next morning when the sun began to warm the willow leaves above him, sending heavy drops of dew cascading onto his forehead. He wiped his brow and walked to the stream for a quick drink, then built a small fire and scoured the area for more mushrooms. It didn't take him long to find some. It took him even less time to prepare them. Soon the heavenly aroma of roasting mushrooms filled the air.
To Malao's surprise, the white monkey appeared again. But instead of lurking in the treetops, this time it came down and sat right next to him beside the fire. The monkey scratched the large scab on the side of its head. Malao winced.
The monkey winced, too, mimicking Malao. Then it crossed its legs and sat up straight, just like Malao. It looked at Malao with its one good eye as if waiting for a reaction.
Malao laughed and handed the white monkey one of the two long skewers he had prepared. He expected the monkey to gobble down the half-cooked breakfast, but the monkey held the stick out and continued roasting the mushrooms over the flames, just like Malao was doing.
Malao grinned and the monkey seemed to grin back. The monkey scooted closer to Malao. Malao and his new friend sat that way long after they had finished cooking and eating.
“Well, my friend,” Malao finally said to the white monkey, “I've got to get going. You can come with me if you'd like. Unfortunately, I don't know how long I'll be gone because I can't remember how to get there.”
The monkey looked at Malao, concern written across its face.
Malao laughed. “Don't worry, I'll be fine. Too bad you can't show me the way to Cangzhen.”
Upon hearing the word Cangzhen, the white monkey began to jump up and down, chattering excitedly. It pointed into the trees.