Legendary Book of Sun-Moon Swordplay

[FanFan]

hi mel <IMG SRC="smilies/wave.gif" border="0">, got a chance to read your last chapter and good job. wonder who are sui han's rescuers? <IMG SRC="smilies/confused.gif" border="0">

[Melanie]

CHAPTER 23 --- KIDNAPPED!

Previously, in Legendary Book of Sun-Moon Swordplay…

Back in chapters 9-11, the Lam family falls under the ambush of the Sun Moon Sect members, Koo Yat Fei and Koo Yat Keung. As a result, the Lam family's second son, Yik Wah, sustains severe internal injuries due to poisoning. The oldest son, Yik Lun, sets out with his servant girl, Sui Han, to journey to Sun Moon Sect headquarters to steal the antidote for his younger brother. However, mid way through the journey, Yik Lun encounters his love rival, Yat Fei. While battling each other, both men fall under the attack of a secret society of assassins led by a mysterious person known only as the Master, who is involved in the slaughter of many innocent children. The Master's agenda shall be revealed as the story progresses.
Meanwhile, Sui Han, bumps into Lam Chi Chi, who was captured by the Koo brothers. While helping Chi Chi escape her captors, Sui Han unknowingly runs into the Master and his assassins. She sustains serious injuries when she tries to stop the Master from killing an innocent child. Unconscious, she is saved by two unidentified people.

At the same time, Yik Wah and his parents, Lam Siu Tin and Chan Yin Yuk, have left the Lam Mansion in search of the Seer, a reincarnation of a person of tremendous powers who has the ability to see the future. According to Siu Tin and Yin Yuk’s teacher, the Seer must not fall into the wrong hands, or chaos will result. More information about this mysterious person shall be revealed in later chapters.

On their search, Siu Tin and Yin Yuk encounter a young couple by the riverside. Their toddler son, Hong Yee, brings back memories of Yin Yuk's own missing son, coincidentally also named Hong.

The story continues from this point on…

Characters appearing in this chapter:
Kenix Kwok Ho Ying---Kwok Mong Yuet
Frankie Lam Mun Lung---Lam Yik Wah

Guest appearances in this chapter:
Sean Lau Ching Wan---Lau Yuen
Margie Tsang Wah Sin---Chu Sau Fa

LATER THAT SAME NIGHT…
IN A SMALL VILLAGE IN THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE CITY OF HOI YEUNG

A calm settles in following the storm. The dark clouds separate like a curtain to reveal a full moon, which glows bright and luminescent, its shiny fingers reaching across the wide expanse of endless fields dotted with tall corn and wheat stalks. A gentle breeze stirs the tall weeds, which undulate rhythmically to the silent tune of the night.

Two field rabbits weave their way among the tall stalks of corn, their short bushy tails twitching intermittently as both scrounge for food. Sharing the cornfields with the rabbits, a tomcat lazily searches the area, his sharp, green eyes glowing in the dark as he surveys the land for field mice. From the corner of his eyes, the tomcat catches sight of a brown, furry mouse scurrying by. Without warning, his long body shoots into the air, and within minutes, he lands directly with his sharp claws clamped on top of the mouse, which wiggles and squeaks desperately before succumbing to inevitable death.

Inside the small, one-room, wooden cottage situated at the far end of the field, a single flame flickers furiously, casting odd shaped shadows onto the walls. Supplementing the meager light source inside the dark cottage, silvery rays of moonlight peak through the partially open window, bathing the three figures in the room with soft, white light.

Chu Sau Fa, graceful and serene, sits on the bed, cuddling her young son in her arms as he sleeps fitfully, his brow drenched with sweat. She is the young wife of Lau Yuen. The couple and their toddler son, Hong Yee, was on their way home from a visit to Sau Fa's parents in a neighboring village when they passed by a stream and met Chan Yin Yuk and Lam Siu Tin. Shortly upon returning home, their son developed a high fever for two days without any sign of improvement. Frightened, the young father, Lau Yuen, journeyed to the nearby city of Hoi Yeung to ask for the help of his childhood friend, Kwok Mong Yuet.

A long time friend of the Lau's and the granddaughter of former Royal Physician Chun Ying, Mong Yuet is a gifted healer in her own right. Upon hearing news of Hong Yee's illness, she left immediately with Yuen.
Now, sitting next Sau Fa on the bed, Mong Yuet, gently takes the child's pulse with one hand while dabbing at his small forehead with the back of her other hand. Yuen hovers by the bed anxiously as his son's labored breathing fills the silence of the room. Smiling softly at the couple, Mong Yuet stands up and walks to the table where her medicine bag sits. Taking out two small yellow packages of medicine, she turns toward Yuen.

Unable to hold in his concern any longer, Yuen speaks haltingly, his voice laced with worry, "How is Hong Yee? He has been like this since we arrived home from visiting my mother-in-law in the neighboring village."

Speaking confidently, the young physician reassures him. "Yuen, Hong Yee is fine. He just has a mild cold and will get better with some rest." Handing him the two packages of medicine, she gives him instructions on how to prepare the medicine. "Boil the larger package for twenty-four hours and feed him the medicinal soup. Then follow the same directions for the second package on the second day. He should start feeling better by the day after tomorrow."

Smiling reassuringly, Mong Yuet walks over to Sau Fa, reaching her hands out to comfort the scared mother.

Speaking gently, Mong Yuet pats Sau Fa's shoulder, "He'll be alright."

Sau Fa looks up, her eyes glistening with tears, as she smiles bravely, "Thank you for coming, Mong Yuet." Hugging her son more tightly to her chest, she glances around suddenly, her voice ringed with mild embarrassment. "We don't have any money to pay you now…"

Mong Yuet cuts Sau Fa off quickly, "Don't be silly, Sau Fa! I have known you and Yuen since childhood! Hong Yee is like a godson to me. I refuse to accept payment for this visit." Seeing Sau Fa open her mouth again to object, Mong Yuet quickly interrupts her, "Don't you consider me your good friend, Sau Fa?"

Sau Fa nods quickly, her eyes wide with surprise at the question. "Of course, you're my friend, Mong Yuet! We grew up together and you introduced me to Big Brother Yuen." Her eyes shone brightly with unshed tears as she recalls her past. "If your grandparents hadn't found me abandoned in a ditch all those years ago, I would not be alive today. I owe your family so much…"

Mong Yuet crouches down beside Sau Fa, who sits on the bed, clutching Hong Yee desperately to her chest. Shaking her head slowly, Mong Yuet looks compassionately into her friend's eyes. "No, you don't owe us anything, because you are part of our family. Remember how proud Grandfather and Grandmother were when you married Yuen?" Pausing, she smiles fondly at the memory. "Grandmother beamed for days when you announced that you were pregnant with Hong Yee."

Sau Fa smiles weakly. "But…"

Shaking her head vehemently, Mong Yuet grasps her friend's hand tightly. "No buts. Family and friends help each other out unconditionally."

Yuen walks up and whispers gratefully, "Thank you, Mong Yuet."

Smiling, Mong Yuet stands up and dusts her gown off. "Don't worry. Hong Yee will be fine. I'll stop by in two days to check on him. I should leave now. It's very late."

Slinging her medicine bag over her shoulder, she moves toward the door, but Yuen stops her.

Yuen, lighting up a small torch, follows behind Mong Yuet. "Mong Yuet, wait! I will walk you back to the city of Hoi Yeung. It's dark and I don't want you wandering outside alone." He turns back to look at his wife and son. "Will you and Hong Yee be alright by yourselves for a few hours?"

Sau Fa nods hurriedly, "Yes, we will be fine. I will start preparing the medicine for Hong Yee while you escort Mong Yuet back."

With a final nod, Yuen leads Mong Yuet out into the dark night. Jiggling her son in her arms, Sau Fa, her heart strangely heavy with worry, watches them until the darkness of the night engulfs their figures.

Brows wrinkled in confusion at her racing heart, she turns toward the small, wooden table and picks up the medicine packages. Glancing at them curiously, she does not notice the black shadow peering down at her son through a small peephole on the roof…

*********************

Walking along the dirt path in comfortable silence, Yuen slings Mong Yuet's medicine bag over his shoulder and looks down at his good friend. "Thanks for your help tonight. Sau Fa and I worried for days when Hong Yee's fever wouldn't come down. We wouldn't have bothered you if we didn't…"

Sighing in exasperation, Mong Yuet laughs in amusement as she interrupts him. "Since when did we become so formal with each other?" Looking up at Yuen fondly, Mong Yuet tilts her head teasingly. "Remember how we used to play and pick fights with each other?"

Chuckling self-consciously, Yuen shakes his head. "Yes, you even threw rocks at me when you couldn't outrun me. If we didn't grow up together, I would have never guessed that you used to be so violent."

Skipping a little as she remembers her carefree childhood, Mong Yuet covers her mouth and giggles like a schoolgirl. Blushing a little, Mong Yuet jabs a finger in Yuen's direction threateningly. "You were a big bully! You picked on me horribly, but whenever Sau Fa joined us, you would act the perfect gentleman!" Wrinkling her nose in ire, she glares playfully at her longtime friend. "I always knew you were in love with her even when we were just children."

His turn to blush, Yuen clears his throat uncomfortably as Mong Yuet correctly guesses his feelings for his sweet wife. "Well…she was all alone back then with no family. It would have been cruel of me to play pranks on her."

"Ha! Oh, why don't you just admit you loved Sau Fa the first instant you laid your eyes on her? What? The mighty bully is actually embarrassed?" Flashing him a brilliant smile filled with sisterly love, Mong Yuet continues her teasing mercilessly. "Oooooo, Sau Fa. Let me help you with that…," she sings out in a high pitched, dramatic voice. "Ooooo, Sau Fa, you look so pretty…"

Suddenly an ear-piercing scream shatters the playful atmosphere. Halting at the eerie cry, Sau Fa grasps Yuen's arm in surprised fright as she nearly slips on a loose pebble on the ground. Jerking her head toward Yuen with her eyes large and round, Mong Yuet clutches one hand to her chest as if to soothe her racing heart.

Quickly scanning the darkness, Yuen sees a familiar figure racing toward them and sobbing. As the person nears, he recognizes her as Sau Fa. His heart thundering with dread, he races toward her and meets her halfway.

Slamming into his arms, Sau Fa clutches onto him for dear life. "Big Brother Yuen! You have to save Hong Yee!" Hiccuping, she lifts her tear-stained face up.

"What happened?" Yuen searches his wife's grief-stricken face anxiously. "I thought you were home taking care of him."

Shaking her head furiously, Sau Fa cries out, "I was! I was! But then suddenly out of the darkness, a black clothed man leaps out and snatches him from my arms. I tried to chase after him but he was just too fast!"
Hearing their conversation, Mong Yuet rushes to their side. "Sau Fa! Do you remember which direction Hong Yee's abductor escaped to?"

Pointing breathlessly toward the forest, Sau Fa half drags her husband toward that direction. In her anxiety, she lets go of his arm and runs ahead. Rushing blindly forward, she trips on a loose root. Lunging toward her in an attempt to save her from falling, Yuen reaches her a second too late.

"Ahhh!" Crying out in pain, Sau Fa reaches for her ankle.

"Sau Fa! Are you all right?" Examining his wife's ankle worriedly, Yuen looks toward Mong Yuet. "She sprained her ankle. Look after her for me while I try to find Hong Yee." Not waiting for an answer, he races off, leaving a frantic Sau Fa and worried Mong Yuet behind.

Looking at Mong Yuet beseechingly, Sau Fa winces in pain as she stands up with her friend's help. "Mong Yuet, let's go after him."

Shaking her head, Mong Yuet glances down at Sau Fa's swollen ankle with misgiving. "But your ankle…"

Interrupting Mong Yuet, Sau Fa jerks toward her friend with a ferocious gleam in her eyes. "My son is kidnapped! I can't just sit here on the ground twiddling my thumbs! Tugging on Mong Yuet's arm, Sau Fa implores her, "Please, Mong Yuet! Help me go after Big Brother Yuen so that I can help him!"

Nodding in understanding, Mong Yuet wraps an arm around her friend's waist, supporting the Sau Fa. Together they hobble awkwardly toward the dense grove of trees, toward Hong Yee's captor.

IN THE FOREST

Blackness surrounds Yuen as he enters the thick woodland. The smell of death lingers from the bloody battle a few hours earlier between Sui Han and the Master's team of assassins. Bodies of assassins litter the damp earth, their corpses twisted at awkward angles. Vultures circle the sky above, their sharp eyes spying the feast of dead flesh below.

Shivering slightly from the chill, Yuen uses the tip of his boot to flip over one of the assassins, revealing his deathly pale face frozen in eternal horror before his last breath. Scanning the area uneasily, Yuen runs further into the depths of the forest, while praying to the heavens above for his son's safety.

********************

Unbeknownst to him, Sau Fa and Mong Yuet stumble into the forest a few minutes after his departure. Blinking their eyes rapidly to adjust their eyes to the sudden darkness of the forest, the two young women venture forward timidly, unaware of the numerous bodies covering the forest ground.
Reaching their arms out to guide themselves and fend off prickly tree branches, they proceed nervously forward. Except for their quick, heavy breathing and their hesitant footsteps, an eerie silence suffocates the air like a thick blanket.

Turning to Sau Fa nervously, Mong Yuet suggests, "Sau Fa, maybe we should just wait at the edge of the forest for Yuen." Jerking her eyes from one dark corner of the woods to the other, she tightens her grip on her friend's arm.

Gulping back her fear, Sau Fa takes in a few deep breaths to calm her pounding heart. Forcing herself to be brave, she stutters slightly, "No, I can't just sit around and wait while Hong Yee is missing." Looking Mong Yuet directly in the eye, Sau Fa clutches her childhood friend's hand. "Mong Yuet, why don't you go back? There's no need for you to risk your safety, too."

"No! I won't leave you in this creepy forest alone!" Mong Yuet shakes her head vigorously, her eyes wide with fear. "Let's go," she says, tugging at Sau Fa's arm.

As both continue to creep forward cautiously, Mong Yuet wrinkles her nose distastefully and waves her hand in front of her face. "Sau Fa, do you smell that? Phew! What's that stench?"

"I'm not sure…" She pauses to sniff the air. "It smells like rotting flesh!" She gasps in horror. Shivering from that ghastly thought, Sau Fa takes another step forward in the dark.

Suddenly, she trips over a stiff object. Letting out a terrified scream, Sau Fa leans into Mong Yuet. Not prepared to take on Sau Fa's weight, both women crash to the ground and land on a sea of dead bodies. Still shrieking, Sau Fa tries to pry away the cold, stiff arm tangled around her leg.

Sau Fa cries out, "Ahh! Let go! Let go!"

"Wait! Wait! They are already dead. Look, Sau Fa!" Mong Yuet points a shaky finger at the pasty faces and the mass of arms and legs tangled around them.

Her face twisted in horror, Sau Fa clutches Mong Yuet's arm. "Mong Yuet, what happened here? How come there are so many dead people? Oh no! Do you think Hong Yee and Big Brother Yuen are all right?"

Shaking her head to clear away the images of death in front of her, Mong Yuet replies breathlessly, "I don't know. Let's get out this area quickly. I have a bad feeling about this place…"

Scrambling to their feet, the young women tear blindly away from the sea of dead bodies, racing deeper into the forest and unknowingly into a secret meeting of a group of assassins ahead.

WITHIN THE DEPTHS OF THE FOREST

A man in black flies toward a group of ten men waiting in the forest and lands in front of the leader of the group, a man clothed similarly in black. However, unlike the other men in the group, the leader wears a red sash around his waist.

Kneeling before the leader, the man in black reveals a bright-eyed Hong Yee sheltered under his black cloak. "Red Executioner, I found another toddler in the nearby village born at the ninth hour of the ninth day of the ninth month."

Nodding his head in approval, the leader with the red waist sash takes the toddler into his arms, his eyes narrowing on the child's wide, curious eyes. "Excellent work." Referring to the incident a few hours ago with Sui Han in the very same forest, Red Executioner comments, "The Master was furious earlier tonight after losing the other child when that young woman with the evil eyes interrupted our meeting earlier on. Hopefully, the Master's anger would be appeased with this child."

Hong Yee wriggles in Red Executioner's arms and shivers uncomfortably, still suffering from his high fever. Whining fretfully, he reaches his chubby arms out to his abductor, seeking comfort. Encountering Red Executioner's cold, emotionless stare, Hong Yee presses his lips together and scrunches close his eyes before letting out a loud, pitiful wail. "Mama! Mama!" Hong Yee calls out frantically for his mother, Sau Fa.

Meanwhile, Yuen ventures further into the depths of the woodland. Suddenly, he halts upon hearing his son's familiar cry. His heart quickening, half in excitement and half in terror, Yuen rushes toward the direction of the child's wail. Leaping across a fallen log, he lands loudly on a pile of small branches, alerting the assassins to his presence.

"Who's there?" Red Executioner demands. Jerking around to face the intruder, Red Executioner and his assassins immediately surround Yuen, brandishing their swords. "Who are you? How long have you been here eavesdropping?"

With his eyes focused on Hong Yee, Yuen jabs his finger in the leader's direction. "Give me back my son!"

Hearing his father's voice, The toddler jerks his whole body toward Yuen's direction and lunges toward his father, screaming at the top of his little lungs. "Papa!" Hong Yee shrieks, tears rolling down his fat cheeks, his short arms reaching for his father.

His son's distressed cry galvanizes Yuen into action. Charging forward, he reaches for Hong Yee. Red Executioner, with the screeching Hong Yee still in his arms, flies backward. Lunging forward again, Yuen finds himself trapped within the circle of assassins. Closing in on him, the men in black deliver several kicks to Yuen. Not familiar with martial arts, Yuen is unable to deflect their blows. Collapsing to the ground, he uses his legs to kick at his attackers blindly. A sword lashes out, aiming right at his chest. Deflecting the blow with his arm, Yuen winces as he feels the burn of the steel blade ripping into his flesh. Ignoring the pain from the gash on his arm, he scrambles to his feet and charges at Red Executioner, intending to grab his son.

Red Executioner flips backward out of Yuen's reach, the toddler still screaming loudly in his arms. "Finish him off!" He orders his assassins before executing several back flips and disappearing into the thick foliage.

"Hong Yee! Hong Yee!" Yuen screams before falling to his knees as a blade slashes into the already tattered flesh of his back.

********************

From afar, Sau Fa and Mong Yuet dash through the forest, their hearts pounding deafeningly in their ears.

"Hurry, Mong Yuet," Sau Fa yells breathlessly. I think I hear Big Brother Yuen's voice."

Sau Fa, in her hurry, races ahead up the steep hill, leaving Mong Yuet tugging on her medicine bag as she struggles to keep up. Her vision impaired by the sparse lighting in the forest, Mong Yuet trips on a loose root and rolls down the hill. "Ahhh! Sau Fa, help me!"

Turning around just in time to see her friend fall down the steep hill, Sau Fa gasps in horror and races back. "Mong Yuet!"

At that moment, a man flips out of the darkness and flies after Mong Yuet. Catching her in his arms, he somersaults back up the hill and lands expertly on firm ground.

Clutching at her savior in shock, Mong Yuet glances up fearfully, her heart still thundering wildly, her eyes glistening with unshed tears of terror from her near fall.

"Miss? Miss? Are you all right?" Lam Yik Wah asks with concern. Unable to see her face clearly, he shifts into the beam of moonlight peaking through the cracks between the leaves of the forest ceiling. Smiling, he glances down at the young woman in his arms and suddenly freezes. "It's you!"

[jeh]

Hmm, I wonder how did Mun Lung know Ho Ying. What is the connection between them? I hope Sui Han is okay. Who was those two mysterious men? Update soon.

[eeyore]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><table border="0" width="80%" bgcolor="#dcdcdc" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1"><tr><td width="100%"><table border="0" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="10" bgcolor="#DCDCDC"><tr><td width="100%" bgcolor="#eeeeee"><font size="1">Originally posted by jeh:
<STRONG>Hmm, I wonder how did Mun Lung know Ho Ying. What is the connection between them? I hope Sui Han is okay. Who was those two mysterious men? Update soon.</STRONG></font></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></BLOCKQUOTE>

I wonder too....

[FanFan]

mel, you brought sean and margie back! but they're in danger. <IMG SRC="smilies/bawling.gif" border="0"> hope lam mun lung can save sean in time. great chapter, writing and suspense is good.

[junzi]

i enjoyed it. especially the part when cheng ka wing spilt the porridge on chi chi. really hilarious. <IMG SRC="smilies/smile.gif" border="0">

[Danielle Lin]

Melanie? Still here, why aren't you updating? <IMG SRC="smilies/confused.gif" border="0"> Update please!

[Melanie]

Oops, sorry. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> I was sticking my nose into the modern round robin here. I will finish my chapter for Legendary Book now. It's halfway done. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

[Psycho Cat aka Cathy]

Please update it or I will go hunt you down and torture you.
HeHaHuHi!
Like my laugh?

<font size="1">[ June 12, 2003: Message edited by: Psycho Cat aka Cathy ]</font>

[Melanie]

Jeh: Thanks for being the first spcnet reader to comment on the story after the posting of my last chapter. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

Eeyore: Hiya! I didn't realize you were still reading. <IMG SRC="smilies/hug.gif" border="0">

FanFan: Hi hi! Hope you like these guest appearances by Sean and Margie. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

Junzi: Hi! <IMG SRC="smilies/wave.gif" border="0"> A new reader! Yay! <IMG SRC="smilies/blob.gif" border="0">

Cathy: Ya, I love your laugh, silly Sai Jie. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

Danielle: Here's the update you are waiting for. Remember to comment. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

<font size="1">[ June 13, 2003: Message edited by: Melanie ]</font>

[Melanie]

CHAPTER 24 --- THE SHIFTING STARBURST, EIGHT MIRROR FORMATION

Characters appearing in this chapter:
Frankie Lam Mun Lung---Lam Yik Wah
Kenix Kwok Ho Ying---Kwok Mong Yuet
Idy Chan Yuk Lin---Chan Yin Yuk

Guest appearances in this chapter:
Sean Lau Ching Wan---Lau Yuen
Margie Tsang Wah Sin---Chu Sau Fa

Staring at Mong Yuet in disbelief, Yik Wah shakes his head slowly, his eyes glazed with shock. "No, no. It can't be you." He continues to shake his head slowly, as if in a trance. "You are already dead. You are already dead…," he mumbles to himself.

A few feet away, Sau Fa runs up to her friend, a look of relief on her face. "Mong Yuet!" She yells, startling Wah out of his dazed state.

Still a bit in shock, Wah settles Mong Yuet onto her feet, all the while staring at Mong Yuet closely.

Uncomfortable under his close scrutiny, Mong Yuet blushes and lowers her eyes. "Thank you for saving me, Sir," she whispers shyly.

Reaching Mong Yuet's side, Sau Fa grabs her arm, inquiring, "Mong Yuet! Are you all right?" She surveys Mong Yuet, searching for any sign of injury.

Sidling up to Sau Fa, Mong Yuet shakes her head quickly before peeking up at Wah. "I'm fine, Sau Fa. This gentleman saved me from falling."

Snapping out of his dazed state, Wah clears his throat. "Umm…There's no need to thank me. I was just passing by."

Now that Mong Yuet is no longer in danger, Sau Fa tugs on her friend's arm urgently. "Mong Yuet, let's go. I have a feeling that Big Brother Yuen and Hong Yee are in danger!"

Holding hands, the two women run up the hill again, with Wah following behind them.

"Wait! Miss!" Wah trails after Mong Yuet. "May I ask what your name is?"
Giving him a peculiar look, Mong Yuet hesitates.

Running alongside her, Wah pleads, "Please, Miss. I wouldn't dare to ask if you did not resemble someone who is very important to me…"

Seeing his sincerity, Mong Yuet gives in and replies, "My name is Kwok Mong Yuet."

"Kwok Mong Yuet…" Wah mumbles to himself. Shaking his head in confusion, he wonders, "I know you are not her. She is already lost to me forever. But how could there be two people on this earth who look like carbon copies of each other?" Turning to Mong Yuet, he attempts to ask her more questions, but is cut off.

"I'm sorry, Sir. Our friend is in grave danger and Sau Fa and I must hurry." Mong Yuet explains their haste.

As Mong Yuet and Sau Fa rush off, Wah refuses to let Mong Yuet out of his sight. Following close behind, he offers to help. "What problems have you ladies run into? Maybe I could be of assistance?"

Sau Fa suddenly stops and looks at Wah gratefully. "Yes! Sir, your help would be greatly appreciated!" She explains quickly, gesturing into the depths of the forest. "You see, my young son was kidnapped earlier tonight and my husband, Lau Yuen, went after the kidnapper." She shakes her head worriedly, gnawing at her bottom lip. "I don't know what I can do to help, but I just want to be there with Big Brother Yuen."

"Sau Fa…," Mong Yuet looks at her friends with concern. "Don't worry, Yuen will be fine."

"I'll try my best to help you two, Miss Sau Fa and Miss Mong Yuet." Wah offers kindly.

Sau Fa starts to hyperventilate, thinking about her husband and her missing son. "Let's go, then!" Not wanting to waste any more time, she runs deeper into the forest, with Mong Yuet and Wah following close behind.

********************

Meanwhile, Yuen fends off the assassins valiantly, but he is out-numbered and his lack of martial arts knowledge puts him at a severe disadvantage. While dodging the fists of one assassin, another delivers a solid kick to his chest, sending him flying backward into a puddle of mud. Brown droplets splatter everywhere, occluding Yuen's vision and stinging his eyes. Wiping the moisture from his face, he staggers to his feet and charges at his attackers.

"Ahhh!!!" Yuen screams and barges with all his might into two assassins. With the element of surprise in his favor, he successfully knocks them over. But his victory is short-lived, as two other black robed men kick him in the abdomen. Spitting out a mouthful of blood, Yuen is helpless as a third assassin throws a sword straight toward him.

Knowing that death is imminent, Yuen closes his eyes and prays for his wife and son's safety. As the blade nears, a shadow suddenly shoots out from the darkness and flings a small wine jug at the assassin's sword, deflecting the blade from its original trajectory.

Kicking the sword out of the way, Wah wraps his ankles around a low tree branch. Suspended from the tree using his legs, he unstraps his sword and, in one swift motion, swipes at the large leaves above him, causing a cascade of leafy greens to rush downward, creating a curtain obstructing the assassins' view.

Taking advantage of their momentary blindness, Wah flips over the branch he is hanging from and flies straight toward the men in black. Using his sword, he ruthlessly slashes several men across their throats. Sensing a formidable enemy, the remaining five assassins exchange worried glances before assembling into a pentagonal formation.

Four assassins guard the four corners of the formation, while the fifth person, using an amazingly swift sequence of footsteps, migrates from one corner of the formation to the other, creating the illusion of a "moving" pentagon. Raising his sword in readiness, Wah stares calmly at the shifting pentagonal formation in front of him. Suddenly, the fifth assassin detaches himself from the formation and shoots toward Wah, whereas the other four members surround him from all four sides, enclosing him in their attack formation.

In the background, Mong Yuet and Sau Fa run up to the severely injured Yuen, who lies motionless on the damp earth, his clothes torn and stained with blood.

"Big Brother Yuen!" Sau Fa sobs, clutching her husband close to her. "Please wake up, Big Brother Yuen!" She shakes his shoulders, hoping to rouse him.
Receiving no response, she sobs louder and hugs him tightly to her chest, tears of grief streaming down her cheeks.

Kneeling down beside the grief-stricken Sau Fa, Mong Yuet looks on sympathetically. Placing a comforting hand on her friend's shoulder, Mong Yuet tries to soothe Sau Fa. "Sau Fa, let me take a look at him. Maybe I can help."

Hearing Mong Yuet's words, Sau Fa jerks her head upward, her eyes filled with renewed hope. "Yes, yes. You'll save him, Mong Yuet. I know you will!" Hovering by hopefully, Sau Fa watches as Mong Yuet takes her husband's pulse.

"His pulse is very weak, but he is still alive." Mong Yuet turns to Sau Fa reassuringly. "He probably lost consciousness from the severe loss of blood, but he is young and strong. He will pull through, Sau Fa."

Meanwhile, as Mong Yuet consoles Sau Fa, Wah continues to fend off the assassins. Their pentagonal formation is surprisingly solid and seems to grow stronger as the dark clouds separate to reveal the bright rays of moonlight. Having never seen such a formation before, Wah tries to break the pentagon by going after the "moving point," the fifth person who constantly changes positions and attacks from different locations.

Sword raised, Wah releases a flurry of sword movements to deflect the attacking thrusts of the assassins. The glint of metal flashes brilliantly in the moonlight as the sword exchange continues for twenty minutes. Breaking apart from the formation, the fifth assassin, the "moving point" of the pentagon, shoots up into the air and flips back down vertically, the sharp point of his blade aimed at Wah's head. Meanwhile, the four other assassins, the pillars of the formation who guard the four corners of the pentagon, close in on Wah.

Flinging his sword in a wide arc, Wah attacks the four assassins acting as the pillars. Executing several back flips to avoid his sharp blade, the four assassins are temporarily forced out of their formation and unable to shield their fifth assassin. Taking advantage of this brief window of opportunity, Wah flies upward and sandwiches the fifth assassin's oncoming sword between his right index and middle fingers. Releasing a burst of internal energy through his fingers, he snaps off the tip of the blade.

Throwing away his useless sword stub, the fifth assassin reaches behind his waist sash to reveal an octagonal shaped mirror with the yin-yang symbol on the back. Throwing it up into the air, the assassin laughs slyly behind the black handkerchief covering the lower half of his face.

The mirror spins and flips, quickly enlarging and multiplying into eight identical mirrors. In a puff of smoke, the five assassins vanish from sight. Remaining stationary, Wah twirls his sword twice in his right hand before flinging it straight toward one of the mirrors. Upon contact with the reflective surface of the glass, a series of explosions erupt, shattering Wah's sword to a million pieces.

The force of the explosion throws Wah backward. Executing several back flips to avoid the shards of metal flying toward him, he lands on his feet just as the mirrors suddenly close in on him from all sides. Flying vertically upward, he tries to break out of the circle of mirrors. However, upon reaching the ceiling of the formation, a surge of electricity stings his arms, forcing him to retreat back into the circle of mirrors.

As the mirrors continue to advance forward, Wah spreads apart his arms and delivers a burst of internal energy through his palms, attempting to halt the oncoming mirrors. However, as his palms touch the glass, a surge of electricity sends him hurtling backward in pain.

Quickly recovering, he sits up and folds his legs together, his hands resting on his knees, palms facing up. Concentrating on centering his internal energy to the core of his body, he prepares himself for the pain of electrical shock as the mirrors close in on him.

Suddenly, from behind a mirror, one of the assassins leap out and fly toward Wah, sword raised in attack. Rolling to the side, Wah grabs at the assassin's wrist and presses down hard, causing the man to scream out in pain and loosen his grip on his sword. Grasping this opportunity, Wah flips the assassin over his head. As the man in black crashes into one of the mirrors, he screams in pain as a bolt of electricity streaks through his body, immobilizing him.

Meanwhile, Wah somersaults into the air and takes possession of the assassin's abandoned sword, just in time to deflect the blows coming from the other four assassins who have reappeared from behind the mirrors. Using lightning fast strokes, Wah slashes his sword across all four assassins' forearms, dislodging their blades. As one of the enemies charges at him, he flips out of the way while kicking him in the head mid air, thus rendering him unconscious. Landing near another assassin, he picks him up and uses him as a shield against the electric shock of the mirrors.

Advancing forward, Wah flies toward the mirrors with his human shield. Throwing the assassin toward the mirrors, Wah uses him as a stepping stone, attempting to leap over the mirror maze. From behind, the remaining two assassins fly upward simultaneously and grab onto Wah's legs, thwarting his escape. In retaliation, Wah executes several back flips in the air before changing directions. Heading straight for the two assassins, his palms clash with theirs, forcing them back a few paces.

However, just as Wah is about to win this battle of internal energy, the poison circulating around his body surges upward toward his heart. Clenching his jaw together from the immense pain, he breaks contact with the assassins and lands unsteadily on his feet. Spitting out a mouthful of dark blood, he staggers around before falling to his knees, clutching at his chest in agony.

Taking advantage of Wah's injury, the two remaining assassins fling their swords straight toward Wah's heart. Using his last burst of internal strength, he forces the blades back toward the black robed men. Somersaulting in the air, the assassins grab their returning swords.

Quickly dropping to the ground and assuming a meditating position, Wah concentrates on halting the progression of the poison. In the background, the two men in black run toward him with swords raised at his head. Ducking to avoid the blades, Wah tries to move as little as possible for fear of fire deviation. From behind, one assassin delivers a blow to his neck, sending Wah skidding toward a mirror. Digging his fingers into damp earth, he clutches on for dear life to avoid touching the mirrors.

Ruthlessly advancing forward, one assassin flies over and punches him on the chest while the other mercilessly grinds his boot onto Wah's bloody fingers, trying to dislodge his grip on the ground. Forced to release his grip, Wah uses his last spurt of energy and somersaults toward his enemies, his palms clashing loudly with theirs mid air.

In the distance, thunder roars, signaling the approach of a storm. Lightning streaks across the horizon. The flashes of electricity reflect eerily off the mirrored surfaces of the formation and briefly illuminating the sweaty faces of the combatants within the formation's circle. Another rumble of thunder echoes angrily through the heavens just before the first droplets of rain pour down, rapidly soaking the already damp earth, diluting the puddles of blood into a sickly, dirty brown. Storm clouds block out the moon's silvery rays, covering the forest in a deathly darkness.

After struggling with the two assassins for another ten minutes, Wah, severely handicapped by the poison circulating through his body, loses the upper hand. Crashing backward, he is forced straight into the mirrors surrounding him. Wincing from the pain, he readies himself to feel the sting of the fatal electrical shock upon contact with the mirrors.

Suddenly, just as Wah prepares to say his last prayers, two long sashes of white fabric streak across the forest. Wrapping her white sashes around two of the eight mirrors, Yin Yuk projects a burst of internal energy through the sashes, thus shattering the pieces of reflective glass. As shards of glass spray through the air, Wah raises his arm to protect his face. At that moment, his mother's sash wraps around his waist, safely lifting him out from the formation.

Landing beside his mother, Wah spits out another mouthful of blood. "Mother, be careful." He warns her.

"Wah, start meditating to control the progression of your poison," Yin Yuk orders. Glancing up at the stormy, moonless night, she remarks, "It's fortunate that the dark clouds covered up the moon."

"What do you mean, Mother?" Wah inquires, confused.

Yin Yuk quickly explains, "This maze is called the Shifting Starburst, Eight Mirror Formation. It's power centers around the lunar energy radiating from the moon." Shaking her head quickly, she pushes her son behind her. "There is no time to explain the origin of this maze to you in detail right now. I'll take care of this Shifting Starburst, Eight Mirror Formation. Your father will be here shortly." With those words, Yin Yuk flies into the formation to meet the assassins…

[jeh]

Wow, great job Mel <IMG SRC="smilies/clap.gif" border="0">You describe the fighting scene so well. You have a great imagination to think up that maze. Good job and update soon. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

[Danielle Lin]

Dang didn't know Sui Han could do that, well of course she's the seer! :P
I feel sorry for the infant! Did I miss something? He's collecting babies for?.... Ok have to reread!
Update soon Melanie <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">, dropping comments always take so slow man! Ok sorry...

[SwisheR]

Melanie is working now, six days a week. Poor sweetie. Therefore she can't update as fast anymore. I hope you fans will stay loyal and wait for the next chapter. I know I will. It's worth it.

[SwisheR]

Hey you fans, I know what you can do as you wait for the updates! Let's all go reread the story! Peruse it!

[FanFan]

Hi Mel, good description of the fight scene. Yep, I like the guest appearances by Sean and Margie. They'll get a good ending, yes?

[Melanie]

Jeh, Danielle, Swisher, and FanFan: Thanks for reading, my four readers! I guess the rest left because I took so long to update. Anyway, here's another installment. I hope you guys enjoy it.

CHAPTER 25 --- RETURN OF THE THOUSAND SNAKE BLACK ROSE CLAN

Characters appearing in this chapter:
Idy Chan Yuk Lin---Chan Yin Yuk
Frankie Lam Mun Lung---Lam Yik Wah
Kenix Kwok Ho Ying---Kwok Mong Yuet

Guest appearances in this chapter:
Margie Tsang Wah Sin---Chu Sau Fa
Sean Lau Ching Wan---Lau Yuen

Landing in the center of Shifting Starburst, Eight Mirror Formation, Yin Yuk surveys the maze carefully, her mind quickly calculating the amount of time she has left to destroy the formation before the storm clouds separate to once again reveal the bright glow of the moon, the source of the formation's power. Gathering together her internal energy, she clasps her palms together, her eyes closed in concentration. A mighty gust of wind sweeps through the forest, stirring the leaves into a miniature tornado, which whips furiously around Yin Yuk. As she centers her internal strength, a bright white light slowly appears from between her clasped palms, rapidly gaining power as the halo of light enlarges to surround her, its eerily luminescent beams bouncing sharply off the reflective surfaces of the mirrors of the formation.

All around her, the mirrors shimmer and shift with amazing speed from one position to another, soon becoming a glittering blur in the dark night. Seemingly unaware of her dangerous surroundings, Yin Yuk's eyes remain closed, her expression serene and composed.

Then, just as the first moonbeams begin to filter through the separating wisps of storm clouds, she suddenly flicks opens her eyes and pushes her palms outward toward the mirrors. The surge of white light concentrated around her shoots forward and collides violently with the mirrors, the energy force so powerful that it shatters the mirrors into a thick cloud of silvery dust. And when the last of the debris floated gently to the forest ground, the two remaining assassins are found lying a few feet away, their lifeless bodies twisted amidst the shards of glass.

In the background, Mong Yuet and Sau Fa, who have dragged an unconscious Yuen over to where Wah sits meditating, stare with shocked expressions as they witness such an impressive display of martial arts.

Satisfied that her son is now safe, Yin Yuk hurries over to Wah and the other three people gathered around him. Kneeling down beside him, she watches him meditate anxiously. "Yik Wah, how are you feeling?"

Resting his hands on his knees with his palms facing upward, Wah clenches his jaw, his full attention focused on forcing a small amount of poison out from his body using the method that his grand teacher has taught him. Gradually, a thin wisp of dark smoke rises from the top of his head, a tiny portion of the poison forced out from his body in the form of a hissing gas.

With that accomplished, he opens his eyes slowly and smiles at his mother. "I am fine, Mother," he reassures her. Turning toward Mong Yuet with a concerned expression, he inquires anxiously, "Miss, are you all right? Those men in black didn't scare you, did they?"

Shaking her head quickly, she flashes him a brief smile of gratitude before focusing her attention back on her friend, Sau Fa. Suddenly, Mong Yuet points her finger at Yuen excitedly, "Look, Sau Fa! He's waking up!"

"Ahh…" The badly bruised Yuen moans loudly, gingerly lifting his head off his wife's lap. Grimacing painfully from his cracked ribs, he sits himself up, glancing around in confusion before zeroing in on Sau Fa's face. Suddenly remembering his missing son, he clutches at her hand urgently. "Sau Fa! Where's Hong Yee?! Is he safe?" He asks expectantly.

Biting her lips, Sau Fa shakes her head tearfully. "No, I don't know where he is. Mong Yuet and I didn't see any sign of Hong Yee when we entered the forest after you." Helping prop her husband against her, she gestures to Wah and Yin Yuk. "If it weren't for this Young Master Lam and his mother, you would have already died."

Glancing gratefully over at his rescuers, Yuen attempts to bow to Wah and Yin Yuk as a gesture of thanks, but his injury forces him back down onto the ground.

Rushing forward to prevent him from standing up and further injuring himself, Wah shakes his head. "There is no need to thank me, friend. I hope all is well with your son." He adds sympathetically.

At the mention of Hong Yee, Yuen and Sau Fa furrow their brows in worry.

Sighing deeply, Yuen clutches his wife's hand tightly, looking at her apologetically. "I am sorry, Sau Fa. I am not a good husband." Glancing down in shame, he clenches his jaw in anger at himself. "I cannot protect you and our son." Pounding his fist into the gritty earth, he stares moodily into the darkness. "I almost saved Hong Yee! He screamed for me! He was reaching for me, but I couldn't overcome those assassins! There were just too many of them and then the one with the red waist sash just leaped into the air and disappeared with our son!"

Eyes wide with hope, Sau Fa asks anxiously. "Which direction did that man with the red sash go? Maybe Young Master Lam can still help us find Hong Yee!" She looks over at Wah with desperate hope shining brightly in her eyes.

"No, Sau Fa." Yuen places a gentle hand on his wife's arm. "This is our problem. We cannot ask Young Master Lam to risk his life for us. Besides, those assassins are ruthless and dangerous. They would kill without a trace of remorse."

"But…" Sau Fa gnaws on her lower lip, torn between wanting to ask Wah and Yin Yuk help her bring her beloved son back and not wanting to endanger these two kind strangers' lives.

Mong Yuet, who has remained quiet and inconspicuous during this entire time, finally whispers to Sau Fa, while looking at Yin Yuk and Wah furtively. "Sau Fa, I think my grandfather may be able to help you." She reminds Sau Fa softly of her grandfather's connection with some of the old imperial court officials. However, as she does not wish for strangers, such as Yin Yuk and Wah, to overhear that her grandfather is the former royal physician, she tries to keep her voice as low as possible. "He still has some contact with some of his trusted friends from the government. Maybe his friends can use their political power to influence the courts to help you locate Hong Yee."

"No, the courts won't be able to help." Yuen shakes his head sadly. This kidnapper is too powerful. With one leap, he vanished into thin air with Hong Yee in his arms."

"But grandpa's court connection may be our last hope to get Hong Yee back." Mong Yuet insists.

"She's right, Big Brother Yuen! We really don't have any other choice!" Sau Fa exclaims.

As Wah listens in on their conversation with interest, Yin Yuk watches her son stare at Mong Yuet with a far away, dazed gaze. Smiling to herself secretly, Yin Yuk's mother's heart begins to blossom with joy at seeing her son interested in a woman again. Ever since her daughter-in-law, Wah's wife, has passed away during childbirth three years ago, her son has closed himself off, pretending to be perfectly fine. Her heart bleeds for her son, knowing how much he loved his wife and how painful it must have been for him to have to bury his beloved Sik Sik. If only the frail baby had not died a week later from illness, Wah would at least have something of Sik Sik's to remember her by.

Sighing softly to herself, Yin Yuk narrows her eyes as she scrutinizes Mong Yuet closely. She resembles Sik Sik a great deal. They could almost be twins, in fact. Seeing Wah's interest in Mong Yuet worries Yin Yuk, for she does not want her son to fall in love with someone only because she looks like his deceased wife. He would never find happiness that way. But at the same time, Yin Yuk could not help but feel a spark of hope. Perhaps, he will find happiness once again with this young lady.

As Yin Yuk continues to silently observe Mong Yuet, footsteps intrude upon her thoughts. Glancing upward swiftly, she thrusts her right arm straight out, sending a stream of white fabric shooting through the air. Out of the dark, she yanks out a man dressed completely in black.

Crashing onto the forest ground, the man writhes in pain from the impact. Recovering quickly, he scrambles to his feet and attempts to escape. Again, Yin Yuk's white sash shoots forward, twisting tightly around his neck. Throwing her arm back, she flings him up toward a grove of trees, hanging him from the branch with her sash.

Gasping for breath, the assassin fights desperately against the suffocating white sash wrapped around his neck like a noose. "Ahh! Ahh!" He chokes desperately, his legs scissoring in the air as he tries to loosen the knot around his neck.

"This assassin must have come back for his friends." Wah observes the man hanging from the tree as he gestures to the bodies of dead assassins littered on the forest ground.

"It's one of the men who kidnapped Hong Yee!" Yuen bursts out, pointing an accusing finger at the assassin. "I recognize that embroidered crest on his black waist sash!" Yuen attempts to stand up, wanting to immediately rush over to the assassin and demand that he lead him to his son. However, with his serious injuries, he sinks back down onto the ground in pain. "Don't let him die, or we will never find out where Hong Yee is!"

Picking up a stone, Wah flings the rock toward the man in black and slices through the white sash. As the fabric rips, the assassin crashes to the ground, the eerie sound of bone crunching echoing hollowly through the woods.

"Ahh!" The assassin screams in agony. Charging over to the man, Sau Fa grabs at his shirt with all the fury of a worried mother frightened for her son's safety. "Where is my son?!" She hollers at the hapless man. "Where? Where? Answer me!" She emphasizes each question with a forceful shake.

The seriously injured assassin gasps painfully. Realizing that there is no escape and that he would suffer an even more gruesome death if he were to disclose the location of the Master and the leader with the red waist sash, he quickly raises his palm and smashes down onto his own forehead. A trickle of blood drips down from his forehead and his eyes rolls backward in death.

Eyes wide with fury, Sau Fa shakes the dead man ferociously. "Wake up! Wake up! You can't die now! Where is my son? WHERE IS MY SON?"

From behind, Yin Yuk approaches the assassin's body slowly, her eyes narrowed suspiciously on the odd crest embroidered on the man's waist sash.

The crest shows a black snake intertwined around a single black rose, with a single drop of blood dripping onto the petals from the snake's lethal fangs.
Alarmed upon recognizing the clan which this particular crest represents, Yin Yuk turns toward Yuen and Sau Fa, her eyes shadowed with worry. "You said your son, Hong Yee, was captured by this clan?"

"Yes." Confused at Yin Yuk's alarmed expression, Sau Fa nods her head. "You think they are going to sell him to another family as a servant? I have heard of that happening before!"

Shaking her head with concern, Yin Yuk sighs. "No, I am afraid it is not that simple."

Wah approaches his mother. "Mother, what is your concern?"

Yin Yuk gestures to the snake and rose crest on the assassin's waist sash. "Do you see that crest?" Everyone nods curiously, their eyes trained on Yin Yuk, their breaths held in suspense. "It's the emblem of a very old martial arts clan, one that dates even further back than the sect to which your father and I belong to." Crouching down next to the man in black, Yin Yuk strips off his waist sash and fingers the delicately embroidered crest, her eyes filled with worry.

"The Thousand Snake Black Rose Clan used to dominate the martial arts world about five hundred years ago. The leaders of this sect were two sisters, known throughout the martial arts world as Black Rose and Poison Snake. Poison Snake, the elder sister, specialized in rearing poisonous snakes. From their venom, she concocted the three deadliest poisons in the martial arts world. Using these three poisons, she combined them into the lethal Blood Shadow Palm, a sequence of amazingly fast palm moves that leaves a crimson palm print on the opponent, damaging vital organs and causing an excruciatingly slow death as the person slowly bleeds to death from the poisons."

"Unlike her evil elder sister, the younger sister, Black Rose, was gentle and objected furiously to her sister's practice of poison. Gifted with the power to heal, she would cure all those whom Poison Snake had injured with the Blood Shadow Palm. With her trademark weapon, a single white rose, Black Rose would use the stem tip like an acupuncture needle to transfer the poison from the victim's body into the white rose, thus turning the snowy bloom into an ink black rose. Hence, she was nicknamed Black Rose by those in the martial arts world who had the fortune to meet her."

"The Blood Shadow Palm?" Mong Yuet murmurs to herself. "In all my years of training in medicine, I have never heard of such a poison." She makes a mental note to herself to ask her grandfather whether or not he has heard of it. After all, he is the world-renowned former Royal Physician. Surely, he must have come into contact with such a deadly palm sequence.

"But I have never heard of the Thousand Snake Black Rose Clan." Wah muses. "Therefore, I assume it has vanished from the martial arts world before I was born."

Yin Yuk nods. "Yes." Turning to Wah, she continues her tale. "Because of the sisters' opposing philosophies, the Thousand Snake Black Rose Clan soon split apart. The young leader of the Floating Cloud Sect, another prominent martial arts sect at that time, fell in love with Black Rose's alluring beauty and gentle nature. Combining their forces, Black Rose and her new suitor defeated Poison Snake in a battle that lasted three days and three nights. Injured, Poison Snake retreated into the depths of Persia, never to be heard of again."

"After her sister's disappearance, Black Rose married the young leader of the Floating Cloud Sect. Shortly after their marriage, Black Rose gave birth to a son. According to legend, on the night of his birth, a strange phenomenon occurred. That night, the sun, which only rose during the day, actually appeared over the dark horizon, its pale, golden rays reaching out toward the gentle, white beams of the moon, creating a heavenly sight that struck the world speechless. And at the instant, from the sky fell two swords, one with a blue-white tinge and the other with a golden-yellow tinge. These twin swords landed onto the balcony of Black Rose's son's room, their sharp blades embedded firmly into the stone column of the balcony. From that point on, the martial arts world hailed this newborn child as the Guardian of these swords, known to many as the Twin Swords of Sun and Moon."

"Wait." Wah interrupts his mother's story. "Mother, are you saying that our Sun Moon School of Sword Fighting is somehow connected to Black Rose's clan?"

However, before Yin Yuk is able to answer Wah's question, a child's scream reverberates through the forest, bringing chills to even the bravest of souls…

[eeyore]

Mel! it was excellent!!! I really enjoy the fighting scene.. man, you're good!

Waiting impatienly for the next update...

[SwisheR]

Wow, that was great! I'm amazed that your fighting scenes are getting surprisingly even better! I'll always read your fan fiction, so continue writing!

[Hing]

Originally posted by Melanie
Jeh, Danielle, Swisher, and FanFan: Thanks for reading, my four readers! I guess the rest left because I took so long to update. Anyway, here's another installment. I hope you guys enjoy it.

<----- I am a silent reader.