tasteless drink. But conversation picked up where they had left off.

“I’m not sure where to go next, but I think I should go north and find myself a
pair of white condors just like yours!” Lotus declared.
“They’re pretty rare,” Guo Jing said.
“Then how did you come across them?”
Guo Jing smiled but did not answer the question. How is such a delicate
young boy going to survive the harsh northern winds? Guo Jing asked himself.
“Why not go home? Where do you live?”
“My father doesn’t want me back,” Lotus replied, her eyes moist.
“Why?”
“He was keeping a man hostage and I took pity on him, bringing him food and
chatting to him. My father was furious, he shouted at me. So I ran away in the
night.”
“I’m sure he’s worried and wondering where you are. What about your
mother?”
“She died many years ago. When I was very little.”
“I think you should go home.”
Lotus started to cry.
“I’m sure he wants you back.”
“So why hasn’t he come looking for me?”
“How do you know he hasn’t? Maybe he hasn’t been able to find you?”
“Maybe you’re right,” Lotus said, smiling through the tears. “I’ll go home
once I’ve finished with my adventures. I have two white condors to tame first.”
Guo Jing related his encounter with the eight women dressed in white and
disguised as men who wanted to steal his horse. Lotus was intrigued.
“Big Brother,” Lotus began, “I want to ask you for something. But I fear it is
something you value highly and you won’t want to part with it.”
“Anything.”
“Would you give me your horse?”
“Gladly,” Guo Jing replied without hesitation.
In fact, Lotus was teasing him. It was clear that Guo Jing felt a great
attachment to the animal, and they had only just met. But his reply took her by
surprise and she buried her face in her sleeve.
Guo Jing watched awkwardly. “What’s the matter, Brother, are you unwell?”
Lotus looked up. The tears had cleaned her cheeks, revealing a jadeite glow
beneath. “Let’s go,” she said.
Guo Jing paid and together they went outside. Guo Jing took his horse by the
reins and spoke to it, caressing its mane.
“You will now go with my friend here. Be good and do as he says, and no
more of your foul temper!” He then turned to Lotus. “Brother, up you get!”