A Hail of Chopsticks

"Dao Ge, it's an ambush!" Qingqing shouted, using her foot to pull a bench out and kicking it swiftly at Lao Lu as he came at her. "Watch out for yourself!"

Dao Ge kicked over the table as he leaped up, snatching up his saber, while the noodle stall erupted in screams of terror and the other customers grabbed their bowls and ran. "Behind you, Young Master Qing!" he bellowed, driving WangFan backwards with a cut of his knife.

Qingqing was busy dodging SuanRong's cudgel, and winced as it glanced off her fist, making her knuckles smart. She shook her stinging hand and hopped backwards nimbly, making sure she kept the table between them.

"You sneaky cowards, how dare you drug our food," she panted, eyes gleaming. "Just admit you're not our match and don't resort to these disgraceful tricks!"

"Young Master Qing underestimates us," sneered Lao Lu as he entangled himself from the broken bench. "Don't be sore just because you didn't see it coming. You're not much of a gentleman yourself!"

His dagger flashed and almost cut Qingqing as she sprang back hastily.

"Forget it. Should have known I can't talk morals to pigs and dogs," she gasped. "I'll save my breath for actual people."

She shoved the table towards him, winding him with the corner, and then flipped it onto its side with one hand like a shield.

Undaunted, WangFan came barrelling towards her, a short knife in one hand. Qingqing's fingers tightened around the chopsticks she was still holding and she lashed out swiftly, striking him hard left and right across the face and leaving red bars imprinted across both cheeks. As he staggered back, gasping, she took a moment to admire the large bruise blossoming across his forehead like a beautiful purple flower, from the trotter bone she had thrown at him the last time they fought.

"A work of art, truly. I'm sure the shape is auspicious," she murmured approvingly, and backed away quickly behind the table as he struck out blindly, enraged.

There was a vague heaviness creeping onto the fringes of her consciousness, and Qingqing frowned as she tried to shake it off. She had only had a mouthful of noodles; the drug must be strong. Who knew what kind of drug it was? Would it get worse?

There was a shrill, piercing scream, like a pig being slaughtered, and they all looked at SuanRong to see him drop his cudgel and clutch wildly at the red line Dao Ge's saber had left across his face.

Qingqing couldn't resist clapping. "Ah, now the precious brotherhood between you three won't be spoiled by who's the handsomest! You're all equally ugly now. Are you sure you didn't cut his nose off, Dao Ge?"

To her alarm, she saw Dao Ge's hand falter, while he shook his head confusedly, and knew the drug was taking action. After all, he had eaten more than her.

Thinking quickly, she wriggled out from behind the table, though it felt like a tempting refuge, and snatched up a chopstick holder on impulse as she made her way towards him.

"Dao Ge, let's go!" she cried, jumping ontop of the table besides them and bringing the chopstick holder down heavily on Lao Lu's head as he lunged at her. The bamboo holder split open neatly and Lao Lu crumpled to the ground as a hail of chopsticks came flying out into WangFan's face. While he swiped madly at them, Qingqing grabbed Dao Ge's arm and dragged him out of the chaos that had filled the noodle shop. "Come on, we'd better get out of here before the drug gets any worse."

When they were too tired and giddy to run any further, they sank down behind a shed, lungs bursting for air. Qingqing shut her eyes, exhausted, and leaned back with a groan. "Those bastards," was all she could say, feebly, but she made a vicious movement with her hand.

Dao Ge broke into a wheezing laugh. "You're a fierce one," he managed to say, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "Ah, I feel like I'm seasick. Are you sure they didn't poison us?"

Qingqing shook her head, not bothering to open her eyes. "I know idiots like them. Their ego--more fragile than a sugar figurine. They drug us--just enough to make us lose humiliatingly--so it looks like they killed us in a fair fight. Just sit still. Should go away after a while. We didn't eat much."

They sat there side by side, puffing and blowing like two beached fishes, until the giddiness gradually wore off.

"They'll come after us again, once their wounds are healed. The wretches. We ought to have killed them just now, what a pity." Qingqing said between her teeth.

Dao Ge drew a long breath. "I owe you for this, little brother. If you hadn't been so quick-witted I would have eaten the whole bowl of noodles and probably gone down without knowing what hit me. I never expected them to be so low." He sighed.

"Well, you did help me out the other day, so let's consider the debt paid." Qingqing said breezily, stretching her legs out and relaxing.

"Our friendship seems rather ill-fated," grunted Dao Ge. "Every time we meet there are people trying to kill us. What a life."

He nudged her with his shoulder. "But you're a good one to face bad fortune with. After today, Dao XieMing will be at your service."

Qingqing raised an eyebrow. "Dao XieMing? So that's your full name."

Holding out his hand, Dao XieMing said gruffly, "If you don't look down on my humble person, Young Master Qing, let's be sworn brothers."

Qingqing's face looked a little wistful. "I don't need a brother," she said with a sigh. "But I could do with a friend."

"That's fine with me," chuckled Dao Ge, amused but not offended at this unexpected answer. "Little Brother Qing, you're an unusual one."

But Qingqing was already not listening. She was staring at something behind him with a curious expression on her face that made her look suddenly vulnerable. As he spoke, she leaped to her feet, weariness forgotten, and broke into a run.