"Who is he...?" the leader asks Li Qiao, his eyes not averting from mine.
"I'm guiding him to Mount Lishan. We're only passing by." She quickly says.
"He's… not from around here, is he?" He holds his own spear close.
Li Qiao takes in the situation, confused.
He flicks his fingers once, as two men of his charge towards me. I step away from Li Qiao and fight back. Only after a few attacks of theirs do they fall into an unconscious state on the floor.
"We'll get going now. Don't bother stopping us."
"We'll meet again. And you'll regret threatening me!" The mountain leader shouts after us.
I grab one of the horse's leads and take it with us. "Let's go. Oh. Cave man. Next time, satisfy me with someone stronger than me." I don't look behind, I just smirk, guiding the horse away on the path.
She looks at me and catches up soon after.
…
"Did you really have to be aggressive with them?" She breaks the ice finally, jumping on the horse's back, swinging her legs.
I observe her movements. It's not always that I lose my temper even the slightest. The mountain man… looked at her weirdly. It somehow… annoyed me?
"You can't always deal with things through simple words. It's good that your friend from your hometown let me borrow a sword. They clearly have something against you. You might as well get killed if you're so naive." I scoff.
"What? I'm not naive. I just… don't want to make any more enemies." She hesitated to say the last bit. Her blue eyes drifted away to the horse's mane, fidgeting with her fingers.
"You sure know how to make friends." I smile at her in sarcasm.
She ignores me and takes out the map again. "We should be almost there." I look up ahead and spot, in the near distance, a small cottage. It looks like someone lives there… since clothes were hanging to dry in the sun.
As we reach the house, an elder rises from behind the bushes, holding shears in his hand, his face covered by the shadow from the hat. "What can I do for you?" The man asks.
"Do you know… a crazy man who came here not long ago?" Li Qiao asks, getting off the horse, walking up to him. My dark eyes scan them both, mostly the stranger, waiting for any unnecessary move.
"Crazy? I could call myself experienced, though. You're talking to him." He smiles from ear to ear.
"You are him?! No way! Are you lying to me??"
"Why would I? I have no reason to. I'm just taking care of this old house because no one really lives here, and it's a shame to let it go to waste like this."
My eyes narrow at his strangely complex answer. "Why waste your time if no one comes by?"
"Because it's like a little treasure."
"You really are crazy." I mock him.
"Anyways. We need your guidance. This man needs help to get back to his hometown. He didn't even know what the big market is about!"
"Is that so?" He looks up and down at me, intrigued almost. "Where are you from then?"
"New York."
He looks confused at me. "New…York?"
"Yes. You cannot possibly not know it. It's the most popular city in America. It's common knowledge."
"Where is this New York? And what is it, America?"
"America is a continent, and New York is located in the northeastern part of America, between Boston and Philadelphia."
We look at each other, dumbfounded.
"Is this the 900s?!"
"You're from the 2000s?!"
We both say at the same time, in disbelief.
…
"Wait- you know the 2000s?? You're from then, too??"
"Yes!... God! So much time has passed since I've talked with someone during my time! I've also tried traveling back, but due to my leg… time has passed, and I've aged too…" He says, the pain is clear as day in his eyes. I look down at his leg, wrapped in bandages and barely holding him up.
"How did you get here? How did I get here, too?"
"I don't have that answer yet, son. But I do know the way back." He gestures for me to follow him. I glance once at Li Qiao, a silent command for her to stay close.
He guides us into the small cottage. Rummaging through a pile of books and mixed-up papers. He grabs a book and puts it down on the big table. "I can't go back home like this… I can only help you with this…" He opens the book to a specific page, about an ancient portal that can bend time and space. "It'll be a difficult one, son. It's very… complex."
"What do I have to do?"
He gestures to every important point on the visible map. "You'll have to get 3 weapons that are in the possession of the 3 grand lords of the regions. The first one… Lord Xie Yun, the possessor of the 'crystal sword' that is hidden deep under the mountain and is heavily guarded. He isn't one to mess with. The other… Lord Mo Guan. His weapon is an ancestor's bow and arrow. He's very smart and good at negotiating.
He turns the page, pointing directly at a man's portrait. "Last… and most definitely trickiest, Lord Tang Feng. He owns the shield. His kingdom is very large, in every aspect, and people live a luxurious life."
"So, he's basically a power-hungry psycho." I chuckle.
"Not the first I see."
"Will… it be dangerous?" She asks in a hesitant voice.
I couldn't help but look in her direction. She knows her life will be put in danger if she comes with me, but I can't stop her. "If you're scared, I suggest you go back now. It'll be too late once we get to the mountains." My eyes look deeply into hers, waiting for any protest. Why can't she understand the consequences? It's not like she's going back in time with me.
That'll be stupid.
"Think it through, little miss."
She looks down at the tall grass, brushing against her legs. Then she takes a deep breath and tilts her head up to look in my eyes: "Let me think about it thoroughly first."
I nod, not breaking eye contact before she steps away to think for herself.
"Are you…really sure about this?" The man rests his hand lightly on my back. "You'll risk both your and her life." I look at her in the distance.
"If you need help with anything, you'll find me here." The man smiles kindly, slowly stepping away and entering his cottage.
...
In the distance, Li Qiao is sitting on a tall rock under a lonely cherry blossom, swinging her legs up and down in rhythm. The pink petals fall gently, mixing their color with the pouring rain.
I stand under the stairs' roof, simply observing her and falling quietly into a deep thought.
"Tell me, young man. Are you sure about this? There's no turning back…" The old man pats my back lightly. For a moment, even I'm not sure if I should risk my own life going back home, let alone risk a life that's far more precious than mine.
As soon as the rain stops, we grab the essentials and pack everything, stuffing it in the back of the horse's bag.
"James, son!" The old man exclaims, calling out for me. I approach him without any hesitation.
"Here, my boy. This will come in handy in a crisis moment. Use it wisely." The man places a small pocket bag in my hand, the size of my fist.
"What is this?"
"Use it wisely… it controls people's minds once they get in contact with it, but not for long."
I take it and secure it in a pocket around my waist.
Li Qiao, sitting on the horse's back, looks at me closely, waiting. I make my way to her and jump onto the horse's back behind her, taking the reins in hand. "Thank you, sir." I bow my head in gratitude to the man and head northwest.