scolded herself. She pushed those warm feelings aside.
“The only reason we came to his aid was because we wanted news.” Mei pouted. “And we thought helping you three might shorten our sentences here in Diyu. For good behavior, you know. Not all of us have Ren’s luck.”
Mulan glanced at Ren, who had been strangely quiet during the whole exchange. He didn’t add anything. “I’m not going to shame the family,” she informed Mei and Liwei. “I know what I’m doing.”
“Do you now?” Liwei snorted. “No wonder your parents try to forget you exist.”
Shang stiffened. “Ping is one of the brightest men I know. He single-handedly saved China.”
“If Ping is so great, why wouldn’t Fa Zhou talk about him?” Liwei inquired. “Is there something wrong with the boy?” He flew up to Mulan. “Something isn’t right about this story.”
“I always thought Fa Zhou only had one child,” Mei chirped. “That girl, Fa Mu…rats, I always forget her name. Fa…”
“Mulan,” Ren finished for her.
“Right.” Liwei eyed Mulan in a way she didn’t like, as if he’d figured out her secret. “A clever girl, at least from what her grandfather said when he passed into Diyu.”
Mulan gulped. “You spoke to my grandfather?”
“He stayed in Diyu for a few days, long enough to tell us some stories. He mentioned nothing about Mulan having a brother.”
“I remember this,” Mei chimed in. “Fa Zhou had just hurt his leg in battle. Grandfather Fa told us Fa Zhou’d been discharged from the army and had promised to spend more time with his daughter.”
Shang’s brows knit. “What about Ping?”
“Grandfather didn’t talk much about me, either,” Mulan said hurriedly. She took extra care to keep her voice low and deep. “The family doesn’t like me very much. I was always getting into trouble—you know how things are…as a boy, haha!”
Mei nibbled on yet another egg cake. “But he gave Mulan that dog. I remember now.”
“Yes, because Fa Li was so sad she could not bear Fa Zhou a son…your grandfather brought Mulan a dog. He said they’d named it Little Brother.”
Just remembering the story made Mulan’s throat tight. She’d forgotten about it until now. Grandfather Fa had passed away only a month after he’d given her Little Brother.
“And surely, if you’ve been fighting in the war with Captain Li Shang,” Liwei reasoned, “you cannot be that much younger than Mulan.”
“That’s enough, Liwei,” said Ren, poking his cane at the ghost. “The boy doesn’t look like a liar.”
“You’re one to talk,” Liwei muttered. “Maybe he takes after you.”
Mulan frowned, wondering what Liwei meant by that.
“There is a tunnel ahead, beyond the forest,” said Ren, arching his neck high while he ignored Liwei’s comment. “Take the leftmost path always. Then you’ll have to pass a few chambers before reaching the City of the Dead—Youdu.”
“A few chambers?” Shang said. “Can you be more specific?”
“You’ll know them when you see them,” said Ren cagily. He folded his hands together and bowed. “May your quest be successful and bring honor to the Fa family.”
Mei dusted her sleeves. “We hope to see you here…eventually.” She winked at Shang. “And if you end up staying, you know where to find us.”
Liwei frowned, still skeptical of Mulan’s relationship to the Fa family. He leaned toward Shang, and said—just loud enough for Mulan to hear—“Remember what I said, Captain Li. I’d be careful if I were you. You don’t know who you can trust down here.”
“Thank you for your concern, Ancestor Fa Liwei,” Shang said coldly. “But I can trust Ping.”
“Fine.” Liwei shrugged. “As long as you’re sure it’s Ping. The Lady of Forgetfulness has a powerful way with illusions.”
“That’s enough,” Ren said brusquely. “Please excuse my grandnephew, Captain Li. His many decades in Diyu have hardened him.”
Shang gave a stiff bow. “I understand.”
Mulan bowed, too, ignoring Liwei’s unfriendly glare. “Honorable Fa Liwei, Fa Ren, and Fa Mei. Thank you for your help. Farewell.”
Out of respect, Mulan stayed to watch the ghosts fly off in different directions. Once they were gone, she found that Shang had already started treading through the grass.
Apprehension swelled in her throat. He hadn’t waited for her.
Mulan hurried to catch up with him. “We shouldn’t wander off too far. ShiShi said he’d find us. Shang?”
Shang took a while to reply. His lips were pursed, and he wouldn’t look at her. “I’m looking for him.” He bent to examine the lion’s paw prints in the dirt. “His tracks stop here.”
“Hey,” Mulan said, reaching out to try to touch his arm. “What’s the matter?”
Shang pulled himself