Three
There were only two apples left so Ni Ren Po took one and handed it to Zhao Long. The second one, he cut it in half and shared it with Xiao Zhan.
"So when we reach the next turn, there's a village situated in the mountains where we can refill our supplies," Zhao Long pointed at the drawings on the map, taking a bite of the apple in his hand.
He paused and looked at the fruit. "And maybe after this, you can learn to conserve food, Ni Ren Po."
The young man chuckled wryly. He nudged Xiao Zhan. "Running out of food is not nearly as terrible as carrying around a map with no labels."
Xiao Zhan scoffed but didn't say a thing, glancing at the both of them. Zhao Long was not amused. For several days now, they had been travelling together from village to village, and because of Ni Ren Po's wastefulness, they had to make many pitstops in villages that weren't even in their itinerary to begin with.
"Choose; starve or remain ignorant to names," Zhao Long dared, glaring at Ni Ren Po.
Ni Ren Po glanced at Xiao Zhan who raised his hands defensively. "Don't look at me," he said between bites.
Ni Ren Po sighed. "Fine. Let's go to the village and get more supplies."
"Thank you." Zhao Long rolled up the keyless map. "We head in that direction." He pointed to the west, trailing his finger along the far off trail wiggling up to the foot of the mountain.
There was a whole barren patch of land, a dense forest and another patch of land between themselves and the mountain. A whole day's walk. With Zhao Long's stick up the behind attitude, they might make it to the village in half the time. They always went to sleep exactly after dusk, and prepared for the next journey hours before dawn. "The sun mustn't rise before us," Zhao Long would always say. Ni Ren Po swore the young man forgot they were all on a leisurely journey to explore the vast countryside. But it helped to have the voice of reason between the quiet voice and the loud one. He balanced the equation since Ni Ren Po always talked over Xiao Zhan.
"Come on!" Ni Ren Po pulled Xiao Zhan away by the arm. "Let us move on before father dearest blows his top off."
Zhao Long scoffed and followed along. Ahead, Ni Ren Po and Xiao Zhan ran ahead, laughing and playing along the patchy grass scattered along the trail.
"Look, a twig!" Ni Ren Po called out, snatching one from the ground.
Xiao Zhan laughed. "Okay," he shook his head.
And Ni Ren Po was away again, bending down to pick up another random object. "A rope!"
"No, it's a snake!" Xiao Zhan cried.
Ni Ren Po cried in surprise and immediately flung the critter as far off as he could before it could react, sinking off in the distance with an indignant hiss. He looked back to the others and immediately barked out a laugh, one that carried shock and surprise, wiping his hand on his coat.
Zhao Long groaned, rubbing his eyes. "Ni Ren Po, it's a long way to the next village and I'm not planning on carrying you and your luggage all the way there."
Ni Ren Po, still laughing but keeping a safe distance from the dry grass, responded, "Xiao Zhan will carry me!"
The person mentioned glanced around furtively.
"Right, Xiao Zhan," Zhao Long rolled his eyes. "Just… be careful, Ren Po. I don't want to drag you all the way back to your grandfather and have to explain why you are paralyzed."
Ni Ren Po sighed dramatically and crossed his arms. "Alright, da-ge!" He emphasized it disingenuously, rolling his eyes. Then his sights turned to Xiao Zhan, who froze under his gaze. He grabbed him and threw an arm over his shoulder, dragging him along and muttering to him along the way.
Zhao Long followed quietly, his arm extended and brushing over the dry grass, watching Ni Ren Po's silent antics.
Before noon, they were already in the center of the forest. Zhao Long was keeping a watchful eye out while Ni Ren Po burst into his playfulness.
He nudged Xiao Zhan. "Play with me!"
"Uh, well, I—" Xiao Zhan deflated as Ni Ren Po darted behind a tree, enthusiastically popping his head back out.
"Where am I?" He sang.
"Stay in the trail," Zhao Long grumbled.
Ni Ren Po continued to dart around in the forest, hiding behind boulders, trees, anthills and other large forest objects big enough to hide his form, continuously asking where he was. Zhao Long didn't pay attention to him, and Xiao Zhan was the only one who paid attention to him, calmly pretending to try to guess where he was.
"Foolish," Zhao Long muttered to himself.
When the sun neared the west, they were already making their way across the other plain, the mountain standing majestically ahead of them. Ni Ren Po ran rampant out in the open, Xiao Zhan struggling to keep up while Zhao Long watched with a detached expression, nibbling on a blade of grass.
Almost at sunset, they set foot in the unnamed village. It was a lively settlement composed of merchants, travellers and locals who lived a calm and organized life. Here and there, the black sheep showed up, but the overall atmosphere was welcoming.
Zhao Long gave Ni Ren Po a list of things to get and things to trade. He waited by a stall and watched a few entertainers playing to a group of children, his head tilted in detached curiosity.
An hour after sunset, Ni Ren Po and Xiao Zhan returned with the supplies. "Zhao Long! Zhao Long! Look how much stuff we got!" Ni Ren Po cheerily announced, grinning from ear-to-ear.
Zhao Long turned to look before going pale.
Xiao Zhan raised his arms defensively. "It was all him."
Zhao Long picked at the food supplies. Everything was there. Everything and more. Food, a few clothes and other travel supplies. Those did not bother Zhao Long. Instead, he collected all the coins into his hands and blinked at Ni Ren Po.
"Why do you still have all this money?" He asked.
"It was all him," Xiao Zhan repeated.
Ni Ren Po smiled. "Oh, strangers just approached me while I was with Xiao Zhan and gave me the money."
Zhao Long's brow wrinkled when he raised his eyebrows. "Oh, when you were with Xiao Zhan?"
"Mm-hm!" Ni Ren Po nodded with a smile brighter than the lanterns around.
"Alright," Zhao Long resigned, putting the money in a pouch and tossing it to Ni Ren Po. "Let's just—find an inn."
They booked for the night, the same room but with two beds. Zhao Long occupied the other one while Ni Ren Po clung onto Xiao Zhan the entire night, the poor boy lying straight and rigid all night.
When morning came, they left at dawn, Zhao Long busy arguing about it the long way up the mountain, lecturing about how a journey began at dawn was equivalent to departing at noon.
"Time wasted. Never returns!" He pointed at Ni Ren Po who listened quietly.
But an hour later, Ni Ren Po was, of course, back to his old self, picking leaves and drinking the morning dews off them.
By the end of the second day up that mountain, they were at the top. On the third day, they were making their way across the cliffs, taking pitstops the number of times only Ni Ren Po could ask for.
Then they came across a mountain spring. It was a few hours after noon but the sun was still high and punishing. Everyone set their luggage down, shed a little clothing, remaining with their trousers and played around in the water.
Zhao Long waded into the spring until the water rose to his thighs. He calmly started washing himself.
Ni Ren Po waded into the deeper waters until they reached his stomach, splashing violently around. "Xiao Zhan! Come and join in!"
Xiao Zhan, who had dipped his toes into the water, pouted reluctantly. "Um, I'm fine right here, thank you." He gasped when a fish leapt out of the water at his feet.
"Come on! Don't be such a baby, Xiao Zhan."
Zhao Long quietly watched Ni Ren Po wade back out of the water. He scooped the other boy in his hands like he weighed nothing, waded back into the water and then dropped him in like a sack of rocks.
They started splashing each other, giggling and chasing each other around for hours.
"Alright, that's enough," Zhao Long hollered at last. "You're not catching the sniffles on my watch."
Only Xiao Zhan returned to dry land. Ni Ren Po remained splashing around.
"Ni Ren Po!" Zhao Long shouted, holding his hips in exasperation.
Ni Ren Po waited a second before he dived in headfirst, drowning out Zhao Long's concern. A minute later, he burst out of the water with a large fish thrashing wildly in his hands.
"Behold! I have caught supper with my bare hands!" He announced grandly, laughing as he waded back to shore.
Zhao Long watched him with disbelief.
"Here, Xiao Zhan, help me with it." Ni Ren Po said, shaking the water out of his hair like a dog.
Xiao Zhan shook his head and hid behind Zhao Long.
A few hours later, sunset came. The three made a fire on the cliff, staring at the vermilion sunset, clouds fluffy and painted with the colors of the sun. They quietly marvelled at the sight. It was peaceful on the mountain cliffs. The air was fresh, albeit thinner. Then supper was prepared. Roasted fish.
Ni Ren Po burped in satisfaction after eating, watching the last of the violet and vermilion bleed out into the sky. Travelling was nice.
Seeing how relaxed Ni Ren Po was, Zhao Long sighed. "Tell me something, Ren Po… who's Xiao Zhan?"
Ni Ren Po glanced at him, taken aback. He smiled and laughed sheepishly. "Well, that is a funny question I never expected to hear from you." He glanced at Xiao Zhan with a wry smile, shrugging. Xiao Zhan returned his wry look with a silent smile.
"I'm serious," Zhao Long grabbed Ni Ren Po's wrist firmly, shaking him urgently. "You've been talking about this Xiao Zhan ever since we left our village. Who. Is. Xiao Zhan?"
His tone was filled with exasperation and deep concern. Ni Ren Po was confused. He glanced at Xiao Zhan. Xiao Zhan smiled softly and shrugged. "You're the only one who can see me, Ren Po."
Ni Ren Po's face fell. Zhao Long watched his expression. He shook him again. "Are you okay, Ren Po?"
Ni Ren Po blinked, his eyes sparkling with uncertain vulnerability. "I… I don't know."
Zhao Long sighed, shaking his head and released Ni Ren Po's wrist. "You're really worrying me, my friend. You're out here talking to imaginary friends named Xiao Zhan."
Ni Ren Po raised his head, looking at Xiao Zhan. He could not see the meek boy anymore. His eyes stung with sudden tears, blinking at the empty spot next to him.
Zhao Long sighed and smiled, turning away to the last of the sunset. "I am the only ghost you're traveling with." He said.
Ni Ren Po went stiff, a tear streaming like a shooting star down his cheek. He turned to look. There was no one sitting with him. No Zhao Long, no Xiao Zhan. The cliff was empty. He was the only person sitting by the fire. And suddenly, the cliff became silent, just the quiet sound of tears splattering on the rocks, tears originating from a boy who realized the ghosts he had been carrying.