ZhenYu did not know that they would meet again like this. In all scenarios which he had conjured up in his mind, there was never a moment, he had thought that he could find her like this, facing him.

Her face so close to him and looking down on him with one of her hands on his chest, with blue eyes and a flower pattern with a similar colour on her forehead.

However, their happy reunion had to wait, as ZhenYu noticed from the corner of her eyes that the man was trying to land another attack on LiQin. ZhenYu blocked it with his sword and deflected it, before getting up on his feet and launched a series of attack; left, right, top, and bottom and after repeating the cycle for two more times, he then launched a feint to trick the person, it worked, and he knocked him out using his elbow.

JinGe took off his attacker's mask and saw that the man she thought was actually just a young boy, who might have been only fifteen or fourteen.

While JinGe was looking at the boy, ZhenYu walked over to her and grabbed hold of her and hugged the girl tightly.

"LiQin, I have been looking for you," said ZhenYu. There was no mistake the girl he was holding onto was LiQin, his wife, "It is really her," even though her eyes are now blue and there is a strange flower pattern on her forehead. He knew that this person was his wife.

ZhenYu didn't care about what she had done and the reason which led to her decision. He was just relieved that she was safe and alive. And they could go back home together.

In that one moment, her determination was weakened, JinGe wanted to return his hug, being close to him like this, smelling the earth through him, the sound of his heartbeat getting faster and the familiar yet disorganized rhythmic beat to it. It was unbearable and her hands were reaching out for him, but she clenched her fist halfway, and hardened her heart and pushed him away.

"Who are you?" said the JinGe as she acted as if he never knew him before, trying her best to pretend, to be confused by his sudden approach.

She even slapped him in order to add more realism.

"What are you talking about LiQin?" asked ZhenYu while feeling the sting on his cheek.

"I am not LiQin. I am JinGe, Yang JinGe. And gentleman please do not touch me casually," replied the girl.

"You are her. Do not lie to me," said ZhenYu, grabbing her arm.

"No, I am not. You have the wrong person," insisted JinGe, trying to get away from his grip.

Just when ZhenYu wanted to say something to her, someone came running towards them with two people on his back, it was BuDao, and he was carrying his mother and ChunWah at the same time.

"Da Jie, the hideout is on fire. Let's run," said BuDao.

JinGe looked over at the hideout and saw smoke was coming out from the front. Its roof was dancing with fire and the embers were flying around. "There is a slight wind," thought JinGe raising a wet finger up in the air, feeling the direction of the wind. "Coming from the east, the fire will spread to the other parts in no time."

JinGe looked over to the ground where the white clothed girl laid. "She must be different. When she attacked me, she stopped for a moment? I need to save her."

And she looked over to ZhenYu and ordered him, "You carry the girl. I will go open the doors."

JinGe tore up a piece of cloth from her skirt and tied it around her bleeding arm which was shot just now. ZhenYu was amazed by the girl he thought to be LiQin. LiQin was never someone who was commanding neither was she the sister of the boss of bandits, but no matter what he still felt that she was her, there was no mistake.

As ordered, ZhenYu lifted the white clothed girl up and carried her by the shoulder.

Everyone joined JinGe who was at the door, but she could not unlock it. "Those white clothed guys must have locked it from the outside," said JinGe. She looked around, they can't climb over the wall, and "It is too tall."

"We will go back, and go through the front," said JinGe.

Everyone followed her advice and ran along the corridor leading to the hall. It was heavy with smoke, but it was still bearable. "Move forward, everyone. Mother used your sleeve to cover BuDao's and your nose and mouth," said JinGe to her stepmother.

BuDao ran as fast as his legs could carry him. However, just as the bald man passed the place, the ceiling fell, separating JinGe and with the rest of the gang.

BuDao and ZhenYu placed everyone on the ground and tried to lift the pillar so that JinGe could pass under it, but they were unsuccessful. It was stuck tight and JinGe could not get through it as well.

The fire was burning fiercer, and the smoke was getting thicker.

Through the hole, ZhenYu called to LiQin, "Stay there. We will get you out." But she could no longer hear him because the bleeding and the smoke had caused her to pass out.

"No. Not again," thought ZhenYu. "I can't let her die again under my watch." He took his sword and slashed at it until one of the beams broke down and a small hole was created.

It was too small for BuDao. He was the only one who could fit through it.

BuDao knew exactly what ZhenYu intended to do when they saw the hole he made. "Even though mother could, she is too weak to help Da Jie," thought BuDao.

"Child, your mother could still walk. Let me down. You can carry the other girl from this young man."

ZhenYu saluted the woman, with his fist in front of his chest and bow to her. There was no need for words, time is of essence, and he turned towards the hole and began crawling through the narrow hole, squeezing himself to reach JinGe.

"LiQin, wake up," he called out to her while cradled her in his arms and slapping her face lightly to wake her up.

In her daze, she called out to him, "ZhenYu." And realized immediately her mistake and tried to mask it, "Thank you Mister Zhen."

"Come on, let's go," said ZhenYu, seeing how his wife had opened her eyes. "Can you walk?"

JinGe nodded and ZhenYu helped her up and supported her with her arm around his shoulder, JinGe said in a soft voice to ZhenYu which he relayed it to the others on the opposite side, "You guys go ahead first. We will meet up in the front gate."

"Okay," shouted back BuDao before everyone split up into their own direction.

A Chance to Talk

The planned to return to the boss's room as suggested by JinGe, to leap out from the window in the room and walked along the edge of the hill to get to the front yard. Although, it would take longer but it was safer, as they could avoid the fire and the smoke.

"I heard you call me ZhenYu, just now," said ZhenYu as they proceeded along the corridor as decided.

"I did not," retorted JinGe.

"I am just happy you are-"

"Ouch," said JinGe pretending her wound hurt in order to stop ZhenYu from saying something unnecessarily that might change her resolve.

JinGe needed to strengthen herself to get her revenge against her enemies but with him here, it was not happening. The longer she was with him the more she wanted to go back, "But the place called home, does not belong to me. It is LiQin's," thought JinGe.

They were walking slowly along corridor when the young boy before, stood at the end of the hallway behind them, with a loaded wooden crossbow in his hand. He had regained consciousness and like the others even though they were heavily injured, they never cried out in pain when slashed, neither would they stop. The individuals just kept on going like nothing had happened to them at all like a string puppet.

With a bloodied body, he stood there unwavering and fired an arrow at JinGe.

There was no time to evade, because both of JinGe and ZhenYu only noticed the incoming arrow when they heard the sound of the arrow as it was released with a 'thung'. It was too late as the string of the bow pulled back into place. It had fired.

JinGe could only stare at the incoming arrow. There was nothing she could do as the arrow shot towards her. Given the amount of time, she might be able to inch just one small step in order for the arrow to hit her shoulder. Maybe she could survive, maybe she could not.

The time to even think of a solution had passed her.

For all her calculations she did in her mind, what she missed out and did not predict was the person beside her. JinGe had forgotten about ZhenYu.

Without hesitation, ZhenYu used his body to cover her, hugging her tight in his arms. His heartbeat a pace faster, his muscles tensed all around him especially those on his back, ready to receive the arrow on JinGe's behalf.

And surely, it hit straight at his back, only missing his heart by a few inches and due to the pain, he was scowling but still, he mustered a smile at the girl, "It was nothing" in order to not worry her when he finally released her from his grip.

He went for the sword he was carrying, ready to chase after the young boy, but JinGe stopped him by grabbing onto his wrist, "Do not go" she whispered to him.

ZhenYu was glad, his heart was racing just hearing her voice even though he knew he should not, in this critical hour but he couldn't help himself. JinGe looked at his wound. "It is bleeding," she told him. "It's better if we do not pull it out yet."

ZhenYu nodded, it was better to keep it there. They still needed to run away, and he can't do it while his back is bleeding. Both of them do not have anything that could ease the bleeding. "Let's go."

And with that said, the both of them hurried to their destination.

With the both of them hurt, it would be better that they leave here as fast as possible. ZhenYu and JinGe were no match for the white clothed boy and their lot. The boy might be telling his superiors about them right now.

Staggering side by side, they finally arrived at the room. As soon as they were in it, she closed the door behind her. "I must never let the same thing happened again." And then she hurried to the boss's room and pushed opened the window. She wanted to jump first but then ZhenYu hold her back. Before she could argue, he leaped out from the window.

ZhenYu surveyed the slope very fast but in detail, and he saw that if he could manage to grab hold onto the vine then he would manage to climb on it and reached the other side, but he overestimated himself.

He had forgotten about the deadly arrow on his back, when he jumped it, the movement of his body had caused the arrow to shift slightly, he had tried to minimize his movement when he jumped but apparently, it was not enough, the wound caused him a tremendous pain, pain which caused him to close his eyes. Luckily, he was a trained soldier and he tried to suppress the pain and kept his eyes and focused on grabbing the vine.

He almost failed but luck was still on his side, there had been other vines growing nearby. It was not a lot, but he survived by clutching on the other vine that was growing just a few spaces from the original vine he planned to seize.

With the help of the vine, he managed to climb onto the hill.

ZhenYu arrived at the top, panting and pale. He was quite on harsh on himself as the man thought, "My father must be ashamed if he saw me like this. All those training he had given me, but I cannot withstand the pain of an arrow wound."

But what he did not know was that it was not his fault. It was the arrow. It was a special arrow.

JinGe followed behind. Although, she was unwell just now, however, when she stood at the window and the wind blew past her, she suddenly felt so much better, "The wind is my friend," thought JinGe.

Her wounds seemed to have healed and she jumped with ease, almost flying through the air, with the aid of the wind under her, she grabbed hold onto the vines easily.

JinGe proceeded up the slope and when she looked up ZhenYu was there, illuminated by the orange glow emitting from the burning hideout, his hands outreached towards her, but she ignored it and climbed up to the top by herself.

Supporting each other, they walked along the burning hideout, JinGe took a glance at the boss's room which was starting to burn as well but it was not her foremost concern.

It was ZhenYu. He was worrying her, even though it was not exactly clear, but she noticed how as more time went by, ZhenYu's expression was getting more ashen.

"Why are you stopping? Let's go to the front gate," said ZhenYu when JinGe suddenly stopped in her tracks. His eyes are getting a little unfocused as he said those words, but he looked at her, nonetheless, trying his best to look fine.

JinGe hardened her heart, she took out a small packet.

"A choice without strength to support will always remain as a choice. I am leaving you," said the girl as she gazed at ZhenYu.

He was confused by her words when suddenly JinGe splashed the contents inside the packet at him. ZhenYu inhaled some of the white powder.

"Stay here," she told him and ran off by herself. JinGe knew that he would try to help her, that is just how he is, but with the state he is in now, he can't.

"Do not even try to follow me," she shouted behind her shoulder.

ZhenYu did not manage to grab hold onto her hand and fell down on the ground. He did not even have the strength to chase after her, "She is using such effective numbing powder," he thought to himself.

ZhenYu sat down and look up at the night sky that did not shine brightly with stars, "Where did they go? Did they go on a holiday, leaving you behind just like me," said ZhenYu to the moon which stood alone by itself in the darkness.

"I did not even get to talk with her."

Trapped

"Boss how are we going out from here," asked an eye patch lackey to BuDao who had a few black spots of ash on his face but otherwise fairly alive and well.

However, their situation isn't, they are trapped like mice, in the front yard there were a bunch if white clothes armed with a bow and arrow on the roof, ready to strike at anyone who came out from the burning building and at the back the fire was rapidly approaching them.

The white clothes had purposely set the place up in order to gather everyone at open courtyard. The closed back door was their doing as well.

"Let me think," said the boss but one of the younger and impatient lackeys was restless.

"No, I do not want to wait anymore. I am not going to be burn to death," said the young lackey. "Let's rush out from here."

His motivational speech touched some of them and they all came out to him and stated their desire to follow him.

The eye patch lackey tried to persuade them, "Hey let's wait for the boss. I think he could figure something out to save us." But the rest just ignored him and pushed his hand away when he placed his hand on another's shoulder. "Boss, Ah Zhong, we will be leaving with this boy. We do not want to die," said one of them guilty, trying to look away from their boss. "Thank you for all you have done for us, boss."

"Our boss does not have any un-loyal lackeys like you guys," said Ah Zhong.

The young boy smiled triumphantly, "Let's go." They all stood behind him.

"If we all rushed out, we will sure survive," said the boy. "At least I will," thought the boy in his mind and gave out a sly smile. It quickly disappeared just as fast as it had arrived and he looked at the men, confidently. "Follow my lead."

The boy strategically placed the men in a pyramid formation with himself at the top. "Run," yelled the boy and everyone ran across the front yard.

Everyone had expected that the boy would lead them away, but they were just fool because the moment he ran out and saw how the archers were tensing their muscled he quickly fall back, causing the strategy he planned himself to fall apart, all over the place.

One by one they bandits were shot down while the young boy darted under them, like an agile squirrel using their bodies to shield himself. Eight archers, sixteen arrows launched, eight bodies lying on the yard. At the end of the battle only the young boy and three more had survived the ordeal, with more than quarter of them died.

"Do not hate me. I never promise to save everyone," said the young boy as he ran into the forest waving a goodbye at the people who were still trapped inside. Another arrow shot just pass his hair, "Opps, better run. I do not want to end up dead like those suckers." The other three and the boy disappeared into the forest at the dead of the night.

"What are we going to do now, boss? There are even less of us now and there are more ill, old and unconscious," said Ah Zhong pointing towards the two girls he is carrying on his shoulder and Scarface who was saved by Ah Zhong from the hall.

BuDao was out of ideas, how can he save everyone without sacrificing any. It was a tough question, he was not able to formulate anything, and usually it was Scarface who gave him ideas and he implemented them. He was out cold and could not help him.

When he was feeling most depressed and helpless, someone called out to him. It was his new family member, "DaJie." He could not believe his eyes, when he saw her rushing into the house, it was most valiant and kind of her, even though they had just met, and he even treated her badly, she would still come back for mother and him, calling out to him like a ray of hope, "Brother."

She was blocking the arrows with the white cloth girl's short sword which she took away, however it was still heavy for her, "LiQin's body is not suitable for handling a sword yet. It is still too weak and frail, even though whenever I have time, I tried to train it," but escaping, hadn't give her much time.

"The body still lacks a lot of muscle," thought LiQin while swinging at the incoming arrows, left and right, turning it around in a circle for easy manoeuvre.

JinGe tried to look at BuDao, giving him a hint as she took off her robe and spinning it with her other hand.

Her swinging and appearance had given BuDao a boost of confidence and an idea, "Hurry all the men take off all your clothes and hold it out like this," ordered BuDao. He himself took off his shirt and twisted it. "ZhuQian, give me yours," and he took the scrawny bandit's cloth twist away from him. "You carry Scarface and protect my mother and follow me from behind. Those who are old stayed in the center. All others stand in a circle and swing the cloth like this."

He looked towards Ah Zhong, his right-hand man. There was no need for words. They understood each other just from exchanging glances.

BuDao began swinging the cloth in both of his hands and led the others with Ah Zhong beside him, and they rushed towards JinGe's aid with the two women carried by another two kitchen helpers. It was a funny sight when JinGe saw the half-naked men rushing towards her but she could not help smiling at BuDao who understand her hint.

The leader of the group had noticed their movement and signalled to the others to shot at the men.

But each arrow was blocked away by the swinging men. They were all deflected away efficiently.

"DaJie, let's go," said BuDao and they were about to reach the front gate and leave into the forest when all the white cloth men and women jumped off from their respective point and blocked their way. Their strategy was not working, and they changed their plan.

They weren't equipped well for combat against the white cloth group; they had shaper blades, and better armour as compared to the now half naked men, some who did not even carry a single weapon, maybe except for a kettle or pot in their hand, as some of them are kitchen helpers and cleaners.

The people who are capable to fight are JinGe, BuDao, Ah Zhong, and another two more, who carried dull blades in their hands. They are useful to scare off peasants and the common folk but quite useless in battle.

JinGe threw her sword short to the one of the men which he grabbed hold and smiled a crooked smile as a thank you to JinGe while the other one with a short pony tied behind his head, thought that he would die, tried to snatch the short from the other but was almost hit by the other when his hand tried to reach for it.

They are a bunch of people they needed to protect, and most of them are either unconscious or incapable of fighting, there was a slim chance they could survive, do not even mention to win over them.

The white cloth group were closing on them, forcing them to move back. They were feeling the heat from the burning hideout which was emitting from behind. Beads of sweat were starting to form at their brows.

The sweat was travelling down JinGe's face and was dangling at her chin, just a little more, it would fall off her face and onto the hot ground. Another bead joined the first, but it was not ready to fell off yet.

A third bead formed at the side of her face. It was slowly sliding towards her chin. "We need to make it," she thought desperately.

Suddenly, ZhenYu appeared at the front gate just in time. In his hand, he was holding a bow and arrow. With swift lightning, fast movement, he shot several arrows at the white cloth men, hitting every one of them at the back, only a few which missed.

When the third bead joined the rest, as the droplet of sweat finally falls off and touched the ground, several of the white cloth had fallen down on the ground as well. But he gave no chance to them to recover. ZhenYu charged in with his sword, throwing the bow and empty quiver on the ground.

JinGe and the group also took advantage of the surprise to launch an attack at the group. They fought, attacking while defending; some was attacking furiously while some just kept on defending against the white cloth men. They all had different style of fighting, but JinGe and ZhenYu was the best among all of them.

The both of them had beaten most of the men. JinGe would slash while ZhenYu would watch her back, he would strike while she sliced through; back-to-back against each other they were invincible. They were like a whirlwind.

They had beaten another and are now facing the leader of the gang, the white shawl man; his only difference with the others was the red plum blossom print on his shawl at the corner of his shawl. His was better skilled from the others as well. The both of them felt it as they duel with him. His defence is too strong; they did not get any chance to hit him at all.

JinGe and ZhenYu, both felt the man's killing aura even though they could not see his face. Without waiting for him to strike again, they took the initiative and attacked him. ZhenYu thrust his sword at the man while JinGe followed, just as they were nearing the man, he evaded ZhenYu's attack as predicted.

This was the moment they were waiting for, JinGe sliced through the air diagonally, aiming for his neck while he was still busy blocking ZhenYu's attack.

It misses by only an inch and cut part of the shawl. The man leaped away and ZhenYu and JinGe returned to their position. They nodded again and whistled, the same whistled that the bandits used during the day. Every bandit in the area even the kitchen helpers and the cleaners all ran out through the front gate and split up into the forest, leaving the white cloth men.

Forest

The kitchen helper took out two pieces of lint and made a small torch by tearing a part of pants and tied it around a branch and lit it. He gave the branch to BuDao who scanned everyone's faces in the dark forest. They were all here except JinGe and ZhenYu. Before this, Scarface had set a save point for emergency cases such as what is happening now, "Thank the heavens that he is so clever," thought BuDao as he looked at the unconscious man leaning against the tree.

"Ah Zhong made another two more torches, we will be leaving here and towards the edge where we will head out to the other save point where our supplies are stocked." The man followed his orders and began making them with the kitchen helper while the other looked over.

"Later you all will take turn carrying the girls and Scarface. I will be carrying my mother all the way," said BuDao to the others before heading towards where his mother stood.

"Mother are you alright?" asked BuDao at his mother who was breathing heavily, leaning against a tree.

"I am alright, just that I have not been running for so long," joked his mother as she looked at her son. Noticing the sweat on her son's forehead, she quickly used her own sleeve to wipe it away. "Mother you are sweating too," and BuDao used his own hands to remove the sweat.

"It is done, boss," reported to Ah Zhong.

She climbed onto his broad back. She felt so safe and grateful, to have him as his son. She was never so grateful for the heavens for giving her this happiness.

"Little Dao, you are so wonderful," whispered his mother in his ear as he carried her.

"That is just your thinking," said BuDao. "Just like just now, if DaJie did not came for us we might still trapped inside."

Before his mother was able to disagree with him, someone was suddenly pointed out, it was the crooked smile bandit, "The other girl is missing," he told BuDao and the rest and flashed the torch around the empty space.

The kitchen helper came in front and scratched his head, "I remember I put her here, just right beside the white cloth girl," he said it to his partner.

"Yeah, I remembered we put them here together, side by side," agreed the other helper.

"Never mind," said BuDao. "We will still take turns carrying the white cloth girl and we will tie her at a same spot later when we procure some rope. Let's get moving everyone."

Everyone followed his orders, and they began moving out, with BuDao carrying his mother, leading the pack and Ah Zhong following behind him while carrying Scarface, with two kitchen helpers lighting the way in front and another at the back. The rest are moving in a straight line.

As they walked along the forest path, BuDao's mother quietly chatted with her son, picking up from before she was interrupted.

"You are just as capable as your DaJie, it is just in different areas," said Madam Bu. "You are very good in negotiating the prices of the goods. I still remembered the day when you tell me the story about how you sold thereof your father's gem he stole and bargain it for far more than what they were worth. You even bought another precious gem of higher value in exchange for the third one."

"Yeah, I remembered that time too and I got still got punished later by father because I sneaked out the precious gems."

"You were punished to carry a bucket full of water and-"

"And it fell onto father when I was too tired and slept standing," said BuDao completing her sentence which made the both of them laughed.

"You father did not punish you. He just carried you to sleep, without even changing," said Madam Bu who was remembering the memory of following her husband, worrying about their child. She had thought that her husband would get angry at first, but he did not instead he showed her a gentle side of himself.

"I thought you would really become a really great merchant... If your father hadn't been a bandit," said Madam Bu. The only time she ever regretted that she was married to her husband.

BuDao do not know what he should be saying at this moment, he partly confused and partly worried. There was no path in front of him just like how he is now walking in this dark forest. His mother's words just added to his confusion, he thought he could continue leading the guys living as a bandit, robbing two to three times a week and when they did a really good job, they would celebrate their success in the hideout with a couple of drinks and maybe one day he would die just like his father, killed during a robbing.

But now the hideout is burned and most probably gone, they might have to start all over from scratch, they had to find a new place, and it would be really hard. Furthermore, they would have to find a new area to begin their activities again without attracting too much attention which would lead to new enemies.

His mother interrupted his train of thought; she was calling out several times to him.

"Son, take this," said his mother as she took off her gold ring and waved it in front of him. "Take this and become a-," before she could say anything further to him, she coughed several times.

"Are you alright mother?" asked BuDao.

"Yes, I am fine, just a few little coughs nothing to worry about."

But the other beside her could see that the sleeve she coughed into was covered with blood. They were going to inform the leader, but Madam Bu cut them off, she signalled them to stay silent and pointed to the place where an arrow sliced through her shoulder. It was not deep, but the wound was giving out darkish almost black blood. Everyone knew in their hearts that she was hit by a poisoned arrow.

They were crying silently in their hearts because they knew that she was beyond help already.

BuDao had felt that something was wrong as they proceeded along the forest path, but he just thought the reason she was getting heavier was due to his fatigue of carrying his mother for such a long period of time and did not think that it was because his mother was getting worse and was unable to balance and help to be more convenient when carried.

When Ah Zhong heard the news, he was trying to stay calm and relayed the news to the others quietly and the others started to relay it to the ones following behind. In just a few minutes the whole line knew about Madam Bu and was very silent.

She was good lady. The woman treated everyone's wounds when they got hurt during their outings. She was like their mother as well. Most of the children at the hideout was picked up by the boss and raised by Madam Bu and remembered how they were all forced to call her 'Mother Bu'.

The other kept their heads hung low. Avoiding looking at the boss, trying to hide their sadness and some, crying faces of their own.

"I want every one of you to be good people," said Madam Bu loudly so everyone can hear her words. "And specially you my dear son," whispered BuDao's mother to her son.

Madam Bu was coughing on and off and when the last cough finally passed, she looked around and thought, "I might be living my last moments under these trees, in autumn, carried by my son. This is better than I thought. I never like to die in a stuffy old room. This is good, very good." And the woman passed away.

"Mother are you sleeping?" asked BuDao, there was no answer. "She must be asleep," he said towards the others and continued their journey until they reached the edge of the forest and dawn was slowly creeping onto them.

He cried so much as they walked, eyes were red as well as the nose and everyone accompanied him. Later they all dug a hole for her with their hands and buried her under the earth. They use some rocks and a piece of fallen branch which they cut neatly and erected it in front of her grave before leaving to their save point.

What do you think about the battle scene? Clear? Or a bit confused?