Escaping Destiny?

                                    

                                          


                          
                The path away from Leifeng Sect's mountain was quiet and still, this early in the morning. Spring air carried intriguing scents, some heady, some not quite so pleasant. All new and different and a distinct pleasure after spending three years in the chill antiseptic environment of a hospital. Shirong strolled happily along, listening to birds and gazing interestedly at the plants. Just like a xianxia movie, he felt. All the way down to the flowing robes and hair.
                          
                "What was your name before," Shu Shun asked suddenly.
                          
                "Song Shirong. Though it's just as well not to use it, Shixiong."
                          
                Shu Shun shifted uncomfortably, gazing fixedly ahead. "You're not really my Shidi, you know."
                          
                "I know. But everyone thinks I am. It'll seem strange if I don't call you that." Shirong smiled, adding, "And you can continue calling me stinky brat, if you really want."
                          
                A slight snort escaped Shu Shun's iron control. "At the moment I'm more likely to call you idiot. Have you given any consideration to how difficult this is going to be? The Revered Predecessor wanders all over the place. If he doesn't want to be found, he won't be."
                          
                "If nothing else, it keeps me away from the sect. Besides, if I'm right, I'll find what I need to." It occurred to Shirong that he might have found what he needed back at the sect as well. Except that'd keep Shu Shun there and now he was certain that was the worst place for the man ever.
                          
                The look on his Shixiong's face the night before had proved it to Shirong. That moment when the older boy realized what his fate was supposed to be had been devastating. Those dark eyes had almost filled with tears. Those elegant lips had trembled. And every good intention in Shirong's head towards staying away had broken. He couldn't save Shu Shun from his bad luck, but he'd damn well try to mitigate it.
                          
                He'd wondered at one point if he was wasting his time, trying to protect someone who might just be a character in a novel. Except he couldn't think of anyone here as just characters. From their Shizun, whose worried glances at Shu Shun revealed his deep concern for his grandson, to cute and aggravating little Xiaojing, to Shu Shun, devastated and desperately acknowledging his fate, they were all people.
                          
                Maybe he couldn't save Shu Shun from becoming the Demon King. But he'd damned well try. And if he failed, he'd do his best to make sure the rest of the prophecy turned out safe for him. The more he watched his Shixiong, the more sure Shirong was that he could not, would not, become something evil.
                          
                "Well, well, well. What have we here. A pretty little girl and her boyfriend on a walk." Several men came out of the woods ahead of them. More showed up behind. Ten in all, dressed in rough clothes, heavy weapons in hand, faces hidden behind strips of cloth,.
                          
                A low growl escaped Shu Shun's lips. "Girl?"
                          
                Shirong quickly wrapped his arms around Shu Shun and pretended to cower. He'd pay for this later, he knew, but he hoped his Shixiong would have the forbearance to play along. He let his voice rise an octave. "Please, misters. Xiaoshi is scared. Xiaoshi will faint!"
                          
                The bandits stopped. Stared. One muttered, "Hell. That's the girl?"
                          
                Taking advantage of the men's moment of confusion, Shirong whispered, "Tossing you left," into Shu Shun's ear. Then, as the man relaxed into his grasp, he picked him up and flung him off into the trees. That made everyone look in Shu Shun's direction, giving Shirong a chance to leap off the path the other direction.