of Worldly Justice.” The ghost woman pointed north, toward the towering pagodas and pavilions peeking out from behind the squat city buildings. “But I’d think twice before looking for it, if I were you.”
“No one leaves the Chamber of Mirrors,” one of the ghosts said darkly. “You should wait. Your turn will be called.”
“After all, there’s no rush.” Another ghost threw her a narrow look.
That was her cue to leave. “The Chamber of Mirrors,” Mulan repeated. “Thank you!”
She dipped out of the crowd and regrouped with Shang and ShiShi, who’d been waiting for her by the fruit stalls. She was about to ask Shang if he could fly up to the roof and get a view of the Chamber of Mirrors, but noticed his attention was elsewhere.
A dull ache rose in her throat. They’d defeated Huoguai, and they had only one level to go before they reached the gates. Yet ever since they’d left the Cauldron, Shang hadn’t been himself. Yes, he wasn’t the type of man to wear his emotions on his sleeve, but usually when he was pensive it was because he was considering strategy—or analyzing weaknesses to help them win a battle. Now that most of the battles had been fought…why did he act like he’d overlooked something important?
Worried, Mulan went up to him. “Shang—”
“You’re back,” interrupted ShiShi, oblivious to whatever was going on in the captain’s mind. “What did you find out?”
Mulan dropped her hand to the side. “We need to find the Chamber of Mirrors.”
“Any idea where?”
“One of the ghosts said we should start in the Courtyard of Worldly Justice.”
ShiShi nodded and took the lead down the bustling street. Mulan walked beside Shang. “What’s the matter?” she asked quietly.
Shang pursed his lips. “Nothing.”
“Are you worried we won’t make it out in time?” she said, sidestepping a crowd of merchant ghosts. “We will.”
“That’s not it.”
His eyes flickered, and Mulan glanced back to see what had caught Shang’s attention. An elderly ghost with a trimmed beard and a red cape just like General Li’s.
Now Mulan understood. “It’s your father, isn’t it? You think he might be here?”
“No,” Shang said. “You told me that he was hiding from King Yama before he went to Heaven, and I believe you. I just…”
“What?”
“I just hoped I might see him. Before we left Diyu.”
His confession struck a chord of emotion in her. So that was what had been on his mind. Sorrow pinched her heart. They’d been in such a hurry to leave Diyu it hadn’t even occurred to her Shang might want to see his father. And now that they were almost out, it must have been difficult for him to leave his father behind without saying goodbye. “We could look for him.”
“There isn’t time. Youdu is too vast. Besides, my father may already be in Heaven.”
She swallowed, not knowing how to comfort him. In front of them, ShiShi started to slow down. She could tell from his raised ears that he was listening.
“Tell me about your father, Shang,” she said. “We only spoke briefly.”
Shang hesitated. “Growing up, I…I hardly ever saw him. And when I did, I was always so afraid that I would do something wrong or not live up to his expectations.” He drew in a deep breath. “I wish I could have spent more time with him. He was always away on duty. I suppose I wanted to be a soldier so I could see him more. So I could make him proud of me. But now I’ll never have that chance.”
ShiShi stopped walking. “Your father is proud of you,” the lion said somberly. “He was your age when I came to him as a guardian. He was stubborn, just like you. Fearless, just like you. How we fought! Your father rarely listened to me, but he was a man of integrity and grit and pride.
“His death has been difficult on me, too. There is so much of your father in you, Li Shang. Every time I look at you, I see him. And that will ease the pain of losing him, a little each day.”
A glow flickered in Shang’s eyes. Mulan could tell he was deeply moved, but fighting not to show it. She touched his arm. Even though he couldn’t feel it, she wanted him to know that she was here for him, too.
“Thank you,” Shang said quietly. “Thank you both.”
According to the street signs, they’d stopped a few blocks from the Courtyard of Worldly Justice. ShiShi started moving again, but Shang pointed at