That evening, Lu Ming finally couldn't take it anymore.
He lay sprawled on the communal sleeping platform, both hands resting on his stomach. His ten fingers were swollen like a bunch of little carrots, and two large blisters had formed in the webs between his thumbs and forefingers.
He rolled over to face Wen Ning, his voice carrying resentment that had been building for days.
"Wen Ning, we can't just stay undercover like this forever. I chop firewood every day until my hands swell up. And with all that mountain patrolling you do, your legs must be wearing thin, right? Are we just going to keep doing this? If we don't push things forward ourselves, I swear this undercover mission won't be over even by New Year's."
Wen Ning lay on the sleeping platform beside him. His legs really were aching badly. Following Rabbit Spirit A over mountains and ridges for more than half the day left both legs feeling as though they were filled with lead.
He listened to Lu Ming's complaints, stayed silent for a moment, then sat up.
"You're right. I'll go talk to Master Jin."
Lu Ming rolled over and sat up, his eyes lighting up. Was this ordeal finally coming to an end?
"You're going to lay your cards on the table?"
"Not necessarily. Just... sound him out."
Wen Ning put on his shoes, draped a jacket over his shoulders, and pushed open the wooden door.
The light was still on in the room in Master Jin's little courtyard, spilling through the window.
Wen Ning reached the courtyard entrance and knocked on the doorframe. Master Jin's voice came from inside.
"Come in. The door's unlocked."
He pushed the door open and went in. Master Jin was sitting cross-legged on the heated brick bed, an open