Chapter 109 — Dark Plumes and Crimson Crests

The general shook his head. "Not one of them lived. They were eaten in midair by the Dragon-Driving Sect's flying serpents. You two are the only ones left..."

Wei Yong gave a start and looked at Shen Mu. If Shen Mu had not been quick-witted enough to throw him off the ship ahead of time, he too would have died aboard. After Shen Mu flung him from the ship he had carried him along on the wind, making straight for the mountain forest below; and Wei Yong had wondered why Shen Mu did not travel through the air, where the going was faster. It had never occurred to him that every scholar who flew in the air had died, and that only the two of them were left alive.

"Brother Shen, this life of mine is a gift from you! From now on you are my own brother..."

Snow Fox said doubtfully, "Fatty Wei, wasn't your life given to you by your parents?"

Wei Yong said hurriedly, "My parents in rebirth—my parents in rebirth! Little fox, stop always butting in; I was just about to speak from the bottom of my heart, and now you've broken in and I've forgotten the whole of it!"

The general said in surprise, "Your surname is Wei? Wei of the Jiangling Wei family?"

Wei Yong nodded. "I am indeed of the Jiangling Wei family."

The general breathed out in relief. "So you are of the Duke of Wei's household after all. Young Master Wei, the Duke will be glad indeed to learn you came to no harm. And this young gentleman is surnamed Shen? Not, by chance, Shen of the capital's Shen family?"

Shen Mu shook his head and smiled. "My Shen is not the Shen of that capital Shen family. I am from Lizhou Prefecture."

The general said, "Lizhou Prefecture, is it. You two scholars had best enter the capital as quickly as may be; the Dragon-Driving Sect is a power of no small strength, and there may yet be remnants about. Here! Escort these two scholars into the capital!"

A great bird strode over, and the soldier on its back said with a smile, "If you two scholars would mount."

Shen Mu and Wei Yong sprang onto the bird's back, which was broad indeed, with a wide deck fixed atop it to stand upon. The great black-feathered, vermilion-crested bird set off at a run, racing toward the capital.

The general breathed a sigh of relief and murmured, "The Duke of Wei is a first-rank minister of the court; it is well his kinsman came to no harm. Otherwise my post would have been hard to keep... And that other boy, the one surnamed Shen, who does not know the Shen family? His clothes look of fine quality, and his strength is uncommon. Only a great house could raise a youth so outstanding. Can there be a Shen family in Lizhou Prefecture as well?"