Johan stepped closer, his footsteps making no sound on the jagged stone.
"Enlightenment is a heavy burden for 'simple' scholars to carry," he said, his voice as smooth as silk.
"But since you've come so far, perhaps you could join us? We are heading to a waterfall... a place where things tend to wash away. Masks included."
Long Xiao's eyes widened slightly. "A waterfall? How refreshing. We would be honored to accompany you unique travelers."
"Master, you're doing it again," Lei whispered telepathically. "The 'creepy' polite voice. Stop it."
"Mhm," Long Xiao shot Lei a glare.
"Since you're well rested, Xinyi, do you mind getting back in the sky?" Gong Feng approached Xinyi with a bored expression.
"We might still make it if we keep moving." Gong Feng got onto Xinyi's back.
With a groan, Xinyi lowered herself more, permitting Johan and Li Ping to climb. They looked at the two scholars expectantly.
"Master, I think they want to know if we're flying with them or not." Lei whispered.
Oh...
"Fret not, We will fly beside the giant lizard," Long Xiao smiled, levitating.
With a snap of his fingers, a flying cloud formed beneath him.
Gong Feng laughed quietly at Long Xiao's words, finding him even more interesting. Xinyi flapped her wings aggressively as she abandoned the ground, clearing herself a path in the sky.
"Master, what about me?" Lei asked from where he stood on Silent Rest.
He was easily weakened in human's form. Surely his Master wouldn't let him fly like this the whole journey.
"The gods help those who help themselves, Brother Lei." Long Xiao smirked, his cloud tailing Xinyi.
Lei wasn't even surprised at this point. He knew what his Master was capable of. Without specific instructions from his Master to turn back to a phoenix, Lei decided to jump onto Long Xiao's cloud.
"Master, watch out!" He said telepathically as he landed onto the cloud.
It heavily dipped down as it obviously would. Long Xiao glared holes into Lei but he didn't dare comment to avoid prying eyes from their fellow travelers thus enlarging the cloud ride.
"So... how far is this waterfall?" Long Xiao asked, anchoring the cloud to fly nearby.
"About a hundred kilometres more." Gong Feng responded absentmindedly.
"What?!" Long Xiao's face paled as he heard the distance left.
"One hundred kilometers?" Long Xiao repeated, his voice reaching a pitch that was definitely not "scholarly."
He quickly cleared his throat, smoothing his expression.
"I mean... what a marvelous opportunity for... meditation on the vastness of the realm."
"Master, your eye is slightly twitching," Lei whispered telepathically. "Just admit you wanted to be there in five seconds."
"I am a scholar, Lei! Scholars appreciate the struggle!" Long Xiao snapped back silently.
As Xinyi cut through the clouds, her massive wings creating a steady thrum-thrum in the air, Johan watched the "scholar" on his cloud. He noticed how the cloud didn't seem to be affected by the wind at all. It was too stable. Too perfect.
"You seem troubled by the distance, Master Scholar," Johan called out over the rushing wind, his voice perfectly steady.
"For someone seeking enlightenment in the High Peaks, surely a few leagues is nothing?"
Long Xiao stiffened. He could feel Johan's gaze. It wasn't like a normal human's. It felt like a cold blade trying to find a gap in his armor.
"Master Scholar?" He repeated, a small laugh escaping his lips.
"I'm no Master Scholar, fellow traveler. I'm called Xiao Long." Long Xiao said.
That was the only name Long Xiao could think of at the moment.
"Distance is but a state of mind! I was merely... calculating the amount of tea we would require for such a trek." He added, his divine eyes observing the Green Devil Mist that moved like a storm in Johan's body.
"Tea. Of course, Brother Xiao." Johan murmured, his smile not reaching his eyes.
He didn't speak any further.
The journey continued in a tense silence. Xinyi occasionally glanced back, her golden eyes narrowed at Lei. Even in human form, he smelled like heavenly fire, and it made her scales itch.