I think it's time for some action....
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Before the Five Elements have a chance to get comfortable, the loud booming voice of Zhang Tian Zen can be heard originating from a non-descript position high in the rafters of the Three Laughter Inn.
"If you treasure your lives then leave the chest and run, otherwise this will be your final resting place!"
Looks of silent alarm spread across the faces of the five great warriors as their alert is stepped up. They each grasp their weapons as Earth and Fire step nearer to the chest, showing thier resolve to protect it with their lives. Water rushes to the door to push it open, but is met with a beam of energy originating from the Chief Emei Master. He jumps away and holds up his chain and ball weapon, ready to sling it like a charging river towards the direction of the meditating priestesses. As he does so, he realises that he has been outdone, for they have disappeared.
The decoy has been successful in creating a distraction of a few seconds and five of Zhang's men crash in through the wooden shutter windows of the in with their weapons aimed precisely towards the chests of the five guardians. However, they are all totally focussed and beat off the attacks with their respective weaponry and skill.
A swipe of the huge golden sabre of Metal sends the first casualty flying in the direction of Qin Nam, who despite the ruckus is still calmly drinking his wine. The young monk on the other hand has lost his calm and is grasping onto Qin Nam, begging him to leave and take him away.
Qin Nam taps the boy on the head and breathes unshakenly:
"Be at peace! They cannot see you... when the time comes, my young monastic friend, we shall leave with our trophy."
More skilled students shoot through the windows, each giving their all in the attempt to overpower one of the Elements. Some fare better than others, but the strength of these men are slow to falter. Wind sweeps away an intruder with a flick of his steel fan and joins together with Fire against one of the Shaolin elders. The whirling toothed discs of Fire powered by the energy of Wind shoot across the room towards the neck of the aged monk, surely soon to meet his death, but within inches of reaching him, an iron ball bearing commanded by the strength of thirty years of internal energy knocks the killing weapon off course and saves the life of the elder. Wind and Fire look up to see who has the power to overcome them both. Zhang and his four sect chieftains have returned and are ready to tackle the five dedicated Elements.
"Silver Horse, Red Ox, Golden Tiger and Blue Crane!" exclaims Sam Siu, who has retreated to a space behind his counter to watch the fight.
"What a sight!"
The aura of internal energy within the inn is becoming suffocating as the five elemental brothers take their positions to join against the impending attack. The confines of the inn are becoming restrictive, but the safety of the chest is still of paramount importance to all.
The five elements encircle the chest facing outwards and sending out a pentagon of energies radiating out towards any attack. The mediocre students continue to move towards them, but are flicked away by the energy like insects hitting the blade of a revolving sword. In a counter-attack, the five Ching Shing masters take their places and combine their energies behind the sword of Zhang to create an energy stream which may be strong enough to break through the barrier.
Shielding himself behind Qin Nam, the young monk watches on. Like a golden arrow shooting towards the heart of a bounding deer, the two energy streams meet and the resounding of the clash creates such a force that the front of the inn is destroyed and Qin Nam's table and the young monk is flung towards the wall at the back of the inn. Qin Nam is untouched, protected by his own remarkable internal energy. He laughs as he still holds his wine in his hand and seems to be enjoying the show.
The force breaks the Ching Shing formation and the five powerful men fall to the ground, weakened and injured.
The chest lies in the space where the Five Elements were stood, they are no longer to be seen and the metal of the chest has been fused into a mass of solid, inpenetrable, iron rock.
The echoing response from Wood can be heard coming from afar:
"You may have defeated the power of the five elements, but you will never reap the rewards of our treasure!"