Looking around, Trip saw a pile of square wooden boards in a corner. Each was about the size of an average human torso. She picked one up and passed it to Elder Mu.

“When I say go, please toss it up in the air.”

Looking slightly bemused, Elder Mu nodded.

Trip took a few steps back, and said “Go!”

Elder Mu’s arm blurred, tossing the wooden board up so high, that it soon seemed to be about the size of a pinky fingernail.All eyes were on it, as it began to fall back down.

Trip waited, calm and still, hands loose and ready at her sides. When the wooden board seemed to be about the size of her palm, she moved in a blurred flurry of motion.

Her hands reached under her duster, drawing a single-shot pistol in each hand. A shot rang out. It hit the wooden board, causing it to slow its downward trajectory while spinning in another direction. Another shot rang out. Then another. And another.

Each time, it was obvious that the shot hit the wooden board. With every shot, the wooden board spun in a different direction, but never in one that would take it beyond their sight.

Each time she shot, she would smoothly holster the pistol then draw another one.

After the fourth shot, she looked directly at Elder Mu, seemingly ignoring the wooden board still in the air.

“Ah...wha-” began Elder Jing.

He was interrupted by the wooden board falling to the ground at Elder Mu’s feet. Four holes could clearly be seen, grouped around the center of the board.

Elder Mu gave a single approving nod, a tiny smile cracking his stern expression.

“Ah, well, being able to shoot is all well and good, but we do still need to know if you’ll be able to investigate the matter properly.” said Elder Jing.

Trip still looked at Elder Mu, not reacting to Elder Jing in any way.

“In your village, the rate of infant mortality has been increasing with each generation. Most of those who survive are handicapped in some way.” said Trip. Her tone was firm. It was one used when making a statement.

Elder Jing gasped, his eyes and mouth wide open. “How… how did you…?”

She continued. “Also, in Gao Village, almost everyone is related to one another. Maybe not since the beginning, but marriage among relatives has been going on for at least several generations.”

Elder Jing nodded numbly.

“You pass.” said Elder Mu, a thoughtful expression on his face.

“Thank you. May I begin investigating? Or do we meet Lord Gao first?” said Trip.

“Oh, no, Lord Gao is much too busy! Also, he’s always accompanied by our Head of Security… that person wouldn’t be happy about such a danger… er… capable stranger like you entering the village. It’d be so much better if you could finish up and leave the village without that person ever finding out about it.” said Elder Jing.

“You can’t wait to kick us out? When my Mistress is just-” growled Wukong.

“No no no!” said Elder Jing, waving his hands in a panic. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend! It’s only because that person is scary, very scary, and behind them, they have an even scarier army!”

“The Crimson Army!” said Trip.

“Yes! They have a battalion nearby, ready to charge into the village at any time!”

“How will they know when to come to the village?” asked Trip.

“Oh, that person has big fireworks that they use to signal the troops. I’ve seen it before, when I was… oh, so long ago, when the previous Lord Gao… he tried to…”. Elder Jing’s expression became increasingly sad as he went on.

“That’s enough. Let’s get started.” said Elder Mu.

“Us?” said Trip.

“Yes, I’ll be joining you. Jing, you too.” said Elder Mu.

“Much appreciated.” Trip inclined her head towards Elder Mu. “First, I need to know more about Gao Xin, Gao Lang, and Bajie.”

“Oh, I could tell you all that. Bajie was an orphan that Lord Gao’s youngest sister found wandering outside the paddy fields one day. She took him in and took care of him. At the time, she was pregnant with Gao Xin. Sadly, she passed away when Gao Xin was born. Lord Gao’s mother, Madame Gao, was furious, saying that Bajie was an unlucky star, so he was driven out to live as a worker in the fields. But somehow, Gao Xin got to know Bajie when they were kids. They think nobody knows, but most of us here had seen Gao Xin sneak off to play with Bajie at one time or another. By that time, Madame Gao was no longer around, and Gao Xin had always been such a… mmm… such a…” Elder Jing’s voice broke “sweet kid, everybody loved her, and she’s Lord Gao’s favourite too, so nobody said anything.” Elder Jing sniffed loudly and sighed.

A loud, suspiciously teary sniff sounded off to one side. Everyone turned to Wukong, only to see him hurriedly wiping his eyes with his arm.

“Gao Lang is Lord Gao’s grandson.” said Elder Mu.

After a moment, Trip said “I’m surprised that Bajie wasn’t immediately executed because of Gao Lang’s words. If he’s Lord Gao’s grandson, wouldn’t his words have much weight?”

“Well, you see, everybody knows that Gao Lang hates Bajie. He grew up together with Gao Xin too, though he’s a few years older. But instead of playing with him, Gao Xin would always prefer running off to play with Bajie… so…” Elder Jing trailed off.

“So there’s always a chance that brat is trying to get rid of Bajie.” said Elder Mu with a snort.

“Alright.” said Trip, looking thoughtful. “I’ll need to examine a few things. Gao Cai, would you mind leading me to them?”

***

“This is where Gao Xin’s body was found.” said Gao Cai, pointing to a small flattened patch among thick long grass, growing beside a small path that led to the paddy fields. From the village, they had walked down a wide path before turning into this small one. Beyond the long grass was a large, dense, bamboo grove.

Trip looked at the small flat spot, surrounded by the long grass. She turned towards Gao Cai, and asked “Did Gao Lang say which direction Bajie was running towards?”

“He didn’t. But we found Bajie in the fields.”

“What was he doing?”

“The usual. Working. I think he was tilling the land, he had his usual big rake.”

“How did he seem? Angry? Sad? Did he struggle?”

“No, he came along peacefully. If anything, he was confused.”

“I see. Was the area searched?”

“Searched? What for?”

“Nevermind. We need to search the area for anything out of place.”

Trip, Elder Mu, Elder Jing and Gao Cai searched the immediate area, but couldn’t find anything.

Wukong planted his quarterstaff firmly in the middle of the path, then jumped up to stand on the other end with one foot. He was so balanced and steady that it seemed he was standing on a sturdy pillar instead. One hand shaded his eyes as he scanned the area.

“Mistress! There’s a path in the bamboo grove!” he said, as he hopped off his quarterstaff.

***

After a short distance, the path in the bamboo grove led to a large clearing. Filling it, was a beautiful flower garden. Lined with smooth rocks, divided into sections.

“Oh,” said Elder Jing “so this is where she got her flowers.”

“What do you mean? Did she sell flowers?” asked Trip.

“Ahah! Goodness, no! Gao Xin always liked to give people flowers, especially the little children. Every now and then, she would show up with a circlet of flowers, and she’d wear it until the flowers began to wilt.” said Elder Jing, a sad smile on his face.

Elder Mu looked at the meticulously cultivated garden, at the pool of water in a corner with two large pails on a carrying pole beside it. “This seems like a lot of work for one girl to be doing, just for some flowers.”

“I don’t think she was doing the work alone.” said Trip.

Beside the pool of water, they saw two sets of footprints. One small and shallow, the other large and deep. Very deep.

-- Chapter 27, End --