Lǐzhèng is flipping through annual expense account records from previous years, worries written on his heart and wizened face.
Jiǔ Niángzǐ is sure to report for duty on time, and he must have a decision ready before she does.
Lizheng: In past years, the Festive Animals used in the Fortune Walk and the Bridge Leap were less than three.
Lizheng: "A cow, a goat, and a donkey. Without exception."
Lizheng: The poorer the harvest, the less food for the animals and less well-fed donkeys, so people had to use horses instead. However ...
Lizheng: Aren't there too many Festive Animals this time? Even if it is for celebrating the birth of Zhíxú? Not to mention some of them are transformed from humans! We shall act prudently.
Lizheng: If we have to cancel the ceremony, we must make the decision before New Year's Eve ...
He writes the words "Fortune Walk" and "Bridge Leap" into a blank space on the account records in his hand, then circles them in red ink to serve as his reminder.
As he does, he ponders and shifts his gaze nearby to the portrait of a giant bird.
Lizheng: ...
Lizheng: A giant bird ... a feather man ...
Lizheng: sighs There is always trouble around New Years.
Suddenly, there comes a loud fluttering of wings. This sound is not like one of common birds flapping, but is rather a droning hazardous sound the kind of a titanic bird of prey approaching.
Lizheng: Hmm?
A winged shadow covers the portrait on the desk.
Lǐzhèng turns his head to see the visitor clearly, meeting it with a look of shock and heart-shaking doubt on his face.
Lizheng: You?!
The visitor is no less than the very giant bird or feathered man depicted in that portrait.
He glides in as smoothly and naturally as if he were entering an open glade. It seems as though the guards of the Zhící were unaware of his arrival entirely.
???: You … Are you responsible for this place?
???: It was ... someone else when I last visited.
???: sighs
???: No matter. I have an urgent matter to discuss, or it will be too late.
Without waiting for Lǐzhèng to react, a bizarre horse, or something like it, rushes in behind him.
The horse's mane and tail are both red, and it bears a tiger-stripe pattern along its body, the combination of which produces a truly incomparable sight.
Striped Horse?: neighs
It steps forward, allowing Lǐzhèng to see it clearly. It suggests a great sort of intelligence in its movements.
As for the feather man—he simply folds his wings and lands. The narrow space forces him to pinch himself tightly into the cramped room.
Lǐzhèng notices a hint of embarrassment in his visitor as a result.
Getian: I'm Gětiān, and I'm here to advise caution. The lady owner of the tavern can turn people into Lùshǔ. She needs to be stopped, or more people will suffer.
Getian: She has extremely light bones, which means she's still in the stage of development. She might be unstable, hence a danger to keep in the city.
Lizheng: You are referring to ... Jiǔ Niángzǐ?
Getian: Precisely.
Lizheng: Bones ... Are you the Goddess of Lí Mountain that can read one's bones? But you don't look like her at all ...
Getian: ...
The brief silence conveys Gětiān's astonishment at the unexpected change in topic.
Getian: I am no Goddess of Lí Mountain.
Lizheng: Then your words have no weight at all. You should have claimed to be her.
Lizheng: Besides, "Goddess of Lí Mountain," take a look around you.
Though puzzled, Gětiān looks around as advised, only to find some paper with the same bird totems painted on it. Some of the papers even bear ink stains yet to dry, indicating their recentness.
Getian: You mean ... these paper-cutouts?
Getian: A man-faced bird with a red tail. You're drawing me ...
Even though he recognizes the image in the painting, the idea of being "worshipped" through such artwork comes across as quite unnecessary.
Striped Horse?: neighs
Horseshoes impatiently clank on the ground, seeming to urge a sense of haste. This prompting though goes unnoticed.
Getian: But I'm not a Xiángruì. These paper-cuts won't send me your prayers and wishes.
Lizheng: They're not paper-cutouts for worshiping the Xiángruì, but wanted posters, and you are wanted.
Gětiān is stunned for a moment, as if unable to understand Lǐzhèng's words. Whether paper cuttings or wanted notices, they are complex things found only in the world of the mundane.
As such, he opts to ignore them for now and continue on with the purpose of his journey.
Getian: The most important thing is to find Jiǔ Niángzǐ. She's the culprit of the missing persons cases in the city.
Lizheng: Humph.
Lizheng: I thought you came here to confess or make peace, but it seems not.
Lizheng: You come to defame Jiǔ Niángzǐ, while being ignorant of the fact that you're the top suspect.
Upon learning that the culprit is not in fact the one he identified as Jiǔ Niángzǐ, Gětiān falls into an even deeper confusion.
Many things outside the mountains are beyond his understanding.
Getian: How am I related to this?
Lizheng: Every time a disappearance was reported, you were witnessed bringing animals to the Zhící.
Getian: No, the nature of my visit has been taken wrongly. The Zhílǐ there knew what I came for.
Lizheng: Humph. When we arrived at the Zhící, you had already fled without a trace.
Lizheng: No one could testify in front of the Fǎcáo for her, so her words were considered nonsense. Now, she has returned to her hometown.
Upon hearing this, Gětiān breathes a sigh of relief.
Getian: I wouldn't have shown up in the city if not for the urgent matters. What's the purpose of lingering around when my business is done here?
Getian: Besides, the Zhící allowed arcane skills to be cast without restrictions in the city, so it is your responsibility to bear the consequences of such negligence.
Lizheng: You're very articulate ...
Lizheng: But how can you explain the testimony provided by the two foreign merchants?
Lizheng: All roads are leading to you.
Getian: ...
Getian: Yes. The two foreigners.
Lizheng: ... Do you confess?
Getian: They are the other reason why I'm here.
Getian: One of the two is here with us. She can explain to you.
Gětiān leans over and asks the red-maned horse beside him to signal to Lǐzhèng.
Striped Horse?: neighs
The strange horse, after being ignored for a long time, seems to acknowledge that it can now finally make itself useful and steps forward on proud hooves.
Lizheng: Wait, you mean she is ...
Before Lǐzhèng can react, Gětiān flaps his wings, causing the tea on the table to flip onto the ground.
The red-maned horse takes another step forward and turns to the spot where the stone bricks have been wetted.
The tea seeps out over the interior stone, forming a pool in a small indentation. There the reflection of the horse appears in a flash.
Getian: I ask for your patience. Please look at the water on the floor.
Lizheng: Hmm?
Lǐzhèng looks towards the spot Gětiān's line of sight indicates, where the fading reflection remains.
But the liquid drains out along the low-lying and uneven floor, and eventually disappears into the crevices of the stone bricks.
The tea, it seems, is just tea.
Getian: ...
Lizheng: What is this for?
Lizheng: Is this a demonstration of your discontent, because I didn't treat you as a guest, offer you a seat, and give you a cup of tea?
Getian: No ...
Getian: This should not be.
He appears to murmur to himself and turns to the red-tailed horse beside him, his words muddled with confusion.
Getian: Why ... why didn't your arcane skill work this time?
Getian: Or must it be clean water to reflect it?
Getian: No. The water in the river was no cleaner. How did you do it earlier?
Having now weathered this series of absurd confrontations to his limits, the cultured manner of Lǐzhèng breaks along with his patience.
Lizheng: ...
Lizheng: Guards!
Lizheng: Catch him!
Gětiān is startled by the sudden and rapid footsteps, and immediately flies upward.
Within the narrow chamber, the shadow of his wings appears unusually large, and even the red-haired horse retreats beyond the shadow's range.
Getian: What is the meaning of this?!
Lizheng: You're a suspect. That's ...
Getian: What I know, I told you truthfully. Why are you troubling me instead of going after Jiǔ Niángzǐ?
Getian: Find some clean water. I will prove it to you ...
Lizheng: That's enough. Surrender now.
Getian: I will not fight you. But neither will you have me.
Lizheng: sighs
Lizheng: Be careful not to hurt that horse. It might be one of the victims.
COMBAT
Gětiān flaps his wings and flies out, escaping to the courtyard.
He does not leave immediately, instead deftly avoiding the attacks of the guards as he flits around the courtyard. Despite the fact that this brief conflict has already left him injured.
Lizheng: Your strength will eventually run out.
Getian: Is this necessary?
Getian: Find me the clean water, and I will show you what Jiǔ Niángzǐ has done.
Lizheng: How will I know if you're using your arcane skill to fake the result?
Lizheng: The truth is, we know the girl very well, but nothing about you.
Getian: ...
Lizheng: No one had gone missing in Pèi City before you showed up.
Lizheng: So how can we trust you or your "proof"?
Gětiān gently shakes his head and lowers his wings.
Lizheng: And you have denied that you're a Xiángruì ...
Getian: sighs
Getian: It is true that I am not a Xiángruì, nor have I ever visited here.
Getian: I never wanted to leave the mountain.
His movements make the wounds on his wings visible. His stance is low and reverent, suggesting his willingness to discuss a truce.
Lǐzhèng hesitates and, as a result, raises his hand to stop the storming advance of the guards.
Lizheng: But you still left.
Getian: I really shouldn't have come to the human world.
Lizheng: What do you mean?
Getian: My people have left the mountain and come to help you. They renounced their names, families, and even lives for you ...
Getian: They gave up everything so that you would have gods to worship. They became symbols, totems ... except themselves.
Lizheng: What are you talking about, feather man?
Getian: I told you my name. I'm not a "feather man."
Lizheng: ...
Getian: "This feather man is not one of us. No need to call him by name."
It isn't any sort of prescience. It's only that the answer is a simple deduction.
Lizheng: !
Getian: ... Seems like my people have been long forgotten.
Getian: You forgot the Gětiāns who left the mountain, the city-builders, the bridge-masters, the flood-fighters ... They all faded into oblivion. You only remember the Gods of Shètí, who never answered to your prayers!
Getian: That's why I'm discouraged ...
Getian: ... by the idea of leaving the mountain like my people. I don't want to face such suspicion and disbelief after giving you all the help.
Lizheng: Who-who are you?
Getian: Now that I see it, the destruction of the bridge was inevitable. It was bound to happen, like I was bound to be left in the mountain and be the last of us.
Lizheng: The bridge? Did you have something to do with the broken bridge? Feather man, tell us!
Getian: Question no more. You can have me, if that's what you want.
The message conveyed by Gětiān's words and actions forces those present to hold their breath.
He gives up his resistance and sees the connection between the broken bridge and this vague allegation.
Though the onlookers wonder whether this might be merely a stalling tactic.
Jiu Niangzi: Lǐzhèng!
The two who set off from the tavern, heading toward the Zhící, arrive in time to witness the end of the standoff.
Bessmert had been following Jiǔ Niángzǐ closely all the way, but now stops just short of the Zhící's gates.
Bessmert: Ms. Jiǔ Niángzǐ, please wait.
Even without the ability to see it, she stops to analyze the tense atmosphere ahead.
Lizheng: Come no further!
Jiu Niangzi: Huh?
Getian: ...
The gaze of almost everyone in the courtyard converges now on Gětiān, wary of any possible movement. No one present believes that he would just surrender like this.
And in an unnoticed corner, the red-tailed horse deftly bypasses them all before running off in agitation.
Striped Horse?: neighs
The horse that had rushed into the crowd then just as immediately weaves back out, seeming to aim to snatch Bessmert out from behind Jiǔ Niángzǐ.
Bessmert: Ah!
And it succeeds.