Chapter Five: Legs

“Bai Hu?” Jade repeated, just to make sure that she heard correctly.

Mei nodded. “You can see my star sign here,” Mei added, lifting her skirt to show a distinct birthmark on her thigh. “It’s supposed to be a manifestation of the beast god Bai Hu.”

“How long have you had it?” Jade asked, eyeing the birthmark with interest. She thought it strange. The mark didn’t look like anything special at all—just a patch of skin that was a little darker than the rest. Dark enough to be highly noticeable, but not unusual. Jade also had a birthmark, a particularly shaped one at the bottom of her right feet—which was also nothing special.

“Since I was born.”

“And how did you know that you were one of Bai Hu’s stars?”

“When I found out about what I can do, I just knew that I was part of something bigger. Look.” Mei left her bed and walked towards Jade. She lifted her skirt to show her mark one more time. “If you look closer, it’s actually a character—kuí. Legs. That was all the clue I needed to figure everything out.”

Jade stared at the mark; she still had no clue about what she was supposed to be seeing. What the heck does legs even mean? Not wanting to sound like an idiot, Jade feigned complete understanding by nodding her head approvingly. “Yes… yes. You’re right. I can totally see it now. Bai Hu’s legs. That’s exactly what it says.”

All of a sudden, Jade felt a blunt force on her chest that was strong enough to knock her off the cot and into the floor. Then, a pair of hands grabbed her arms and pulled them forcefully towards her back. Jade yelped in pain.

“WHO ARE YOU?” Mei’s voice was firm and menacing.

“You’re hurting me! Get off!”

“I said, WHO ARE YOU?”

“What do you mean who am—OWW!”

“Are you a spy? Tell me now or I kill you!”

Mei’s words were frightening, but her actions confused Jade more. What had happened? What brought about the sudden hostility?

Jade tried to pull her arms free, but Mei held on tightly. “Okay, I’ll tell you. Please, just let me go! I won’t hurt you!”

Mei pulled her arms tighter. “How can I be sure you won’t kill me once I let you go?”

“For fuck’s sake! Do I look like a killer to you?”

Mei eased her hold a bit. “No.”

“Then please, let me go… I promise, I’ll tell you the truth.”

After a few seconds, Mei completely let go. Jade remained on the floor for a while longer as she waited for the strain in her arms to dissipate. When her arms started to feel better, Jade pulled herself up to face Mei—who was sitting on the cot, eyes glaring. “Speak.”

“Okay,” Jade started. “I’m not a spy, and I wasn’t sent to kill anyone. I’m… the truth is, I’m not from here.”

Mei raised an eyebrow. “You mean, you’re not from Fuxi?”

Jade shook her head. “I’m not from Fuxi. But I’m also not from here. Do you understand?”

Now, it was Mei’s turn to be confused.

“I’m from… I mean, I’m not from this world. I’m from somewhere else.”

“Not from this world?”

“No.” Jade proceeded to tell Mei all about what happened, starting from the events in the museum, how she met Jin, how he offered to help her find her way home, and how she landed in prison.

“And it was this man who told you all about Bai Hu?”

“Yes.”

“That explains it then,” Mei exclaimed. “No wonder you didn’t have a clue about who Bai Hu really is. Everyone from Fuxi knows about the beast gods, and their seven stars. That’s what gave you away.”

“Sorry I didn’t tell you earlier,” Jade said. “But you didn’t have to kick me so hard, you know? It still hurts.” Jade rubbed her chest as she gave Mei the side-eye. Mei apologized profusely, assuring Jade that that would never happen again.

“I’m curious though,” Mei said as she returned to her bed. “Why Bai Hu?”

Jade fell into a pensive. Now that she thought about it more clearly, she didn’t really bother to ask Jin for an explanation on why he thought Bai Hu was their best option. The only explanation she could think of at the moment was that, maybe Jin was part of a cult dedicated to the beast god and was keen on spreading the word about it. Did religion exist in this place?

“Well, I don’t know what else Jin told you,” Mei continued. “But I have a feeling he’s not told you everything.”

“What do you mean?” Jade pressed.

“I’m not entirely sure, but it wouldn’t hurt to be too careful.”

“Good advice,” Jade added.

They talked a little more about the beast gods, and of where and how they will find the rest of Bai Hu’s stars. It wasn’t until they heard the crows of a rooster did they decide that it was finally time to sleep.