Kazumi wasn't about to have Lady Lihua seduce her Prince nor was she going to let her insult him. Without Prince Aiguo's command, Kazumi whipped out her sword from her scabbard and wanted to slay down the person Lady Lihua was trying to save. But the moment her sword left her scabbard, everyone heard a loud roar as lions descended on them.  

From the thick forest, the lions attack as Lihua flew towards Prince Aiguo.  Quickly making use to the surprised group, Lihua was able to knock down Prince Aiguo with one move.  She was able to reach Chiyo as Akemi's sword descended on Chiyo's face.  Lihua blocked the strike and sent her hand out punching Akemi in the face.  Her qi activated her snake at the same time and it launched itself out of her arm to bite Akemi on her cheek once Lihua's fist made contact with Akemi's face. 

Her scream could be heard as Lihua reached Chiyo's side.  Lihua was able to cut through the rope tying Chiyo's hands as her lions kept the other's busy.  Her lions were able to mark all of them before Prince Aiguo called out to retreat.  

"Don't think I'll let you get away so easily."  Lihua said as she handed Chiyo one of her daggers.  

She didn't know what held Xin and Dai behind, but all she knew at the moment was that she needed to kill Akemi and Kazumi for all the trouble they have put her family through.  As Prince Aiguo, Akemi and Kazumi made their way towards the cave, her tiger sprung at Akemi, pulling her into the cave.  With their backs to the cave, Prince Aiguo and Kazumi did not know what happened to Akemi.  All they heard was the screaming pain that Akemi was going through and the sound of a snarling beast within the cave that was killing her.  

As Lihua was about to make her move to kill Kazumi with her sword, several red flashes descended towards her.  Lihua blocked the quick as lightning sword that was aimed to her face.  Lihua took several quick steps back to see five Red Maidens surrounding Prince Aiguo and Kazumi.  

Did the Red Maidens originate from Yukah Kingdom?  How were they related to Prince Aiguo and why were they protecting him?  How were they able to infiltrate into the Phantom Mirage?  Are they going to target Takeshi?  If they are she would need to find him quickly to warn him.  Question after questions ran through her as she watch the Red Maidens surround Prince Aiguo in a protective circle.  

Within moments of them appearing, the five Red Maidens unleashed a poisonous fog to hid their retreat.  Lihua screamed out her frustrations as she saw them leave with Prince Aiguo and Kazumi. 

"I'll come back to get you my beauty!" Prince Aiguo taunted.  "I'll make you forget you're Hell King's Lady Wife and make you my Princess." 

Lihua snared at his over confident boast.  As if she would ever be in the same breathing space as him.   Remembering that Chiyo wasn't immune to poison, Lihua turned around and was able to grab hold of her hand and lead her away from the fog.  

Her monkeys were able to catch sight of Xin and Dai as they too fought with Red Maidens.  There were several dead Red Maidens on the ground as the both of them were still fighting.  

"Hurry, the Red Maidens are attacking Dai and Xin."  Lihua said as she activated her swiftness movement within her.  

Chiyo could only be lead by Lihua.  Her imprisonment with Akemi and Kazumi was a harrowing experience.   As they reached Xin and Dai, the last of the Red Maiden finally fell.  

"Chiyo!"  Dai shouted at he reached his sister.  He held on to her as she leaned into him.  The moment her head fell onto his shoulders, she fainted. 

"Let us leave, our location has been compromised." Xin said as he looked at Lihua to see if she was hurt in any way.  

"Lets check their bodies first."  Lihua said.  

After checking each dead body from both locations, the three of them left the area before any beasts came looking for the source of the blood the waft in the air.  

Two lions carried several bags that the dead Red Maidens and dead Yukah fighters wore on their bodies.  The tiger carried Akemi's bag in it's mouth like a prize as she moved next to Lihua.   The three of them continued North and finally stopped once they found a stream.  

Chiyo was still unconscious as Dai laid her down next to the stream.  Lihua knelt down next to Chiyo as she wiped down the dirt and blood around Chiyo's face.  Luckily her face had not been wounded with a dagger or a sword.  It looked like she had been punched several times in the face, marking her face black and blue.  Her lip had a cut in it, that stopped bleeding.  

Lihua scanned over her body and found some wounds made by a sword that had not been treated and had crusted on to her clothes.  Xin took Dai away from Lihua and Chiyo so he could calm down and Lihua could clean and treat Chiyo's wounds.  

By the time Dai and Xin came back, Chiyo's body has been wiped down and cleaned.  Her wounds were bound with clean cloths and she now wore a different set of clothing.  

Lihua was able to get a new set of clothing within the bags that they brought with them.  The three of them went through the bags, dividing up gold and any treasures they found.  The beast qi cores were divided up evenly as well as Xin insisted to go hunting for something to eat.  She would only let him go if two lions and two monkeys hunted with him.  

Dai went to gather wood within the forest as they Lihua sat next to Chiyo.  Waiting for Dai and Xin to come back.  

Lihua used the beast qi cores immediately while waiting, storing the beast qi within her.  Once all the qi has been sucked out of a core, it's bright white light would disappear and the core would turn into a grey useless stone.  Lihua placed the stone in a circle, using the stone as a fire marker for the fire pit.  

Chiyo's eyes fluttered as she held back her moan.  She couldn't remember what happened to her after she was saved by the beauty.  She remembered the beauty calling her name and dragging her away from the fog, then nothing.  Chiyo's eyes landed on the beauty who wore all white.  The red armband of the alliance between Bido Kingdom and Cara Country stood out like a red flag, drawing attention to it.  

She watched as the beauty sat back, once she finished what she was doing and their eyes met.  The moment their eyes met, Chiyo suddenly felt her eyes start watering.  Tears seeped out of her eyes as she silently cried.  Somehow the beauty brought her a sense of comfort and protection.  She felt a sense of familiarity with her.  As if she was part of her family.  

"Rest, my dear Chiyo."  Lihua whispered as she brushed the strand of hair away from Chiyo's face.  "I will watch over you.  You are safe."  

Chiyo smiled sadly.  Only her Grandmother called her 'My dear Chiyo', as her eyes closed and she slept.