Chapter 20: Tables Turned

Fa Lien weaved through the underground garrison of their stronghold. Deep beneath the belly of the mountain, the air was thick and heavy as if the tremendous weight of the mountain bore down upon her shoulders. Still, it was a wondrous sight to see the stronghold come to life with lights, fire, and many brave soldiers of the Shan Gui coming together in preparation for the great revolution. It had been a very long time since a congregation such as this had assembled. There were only so many times in its history that the garrison had been this alive and congested.

Everywhere she tread, soldiers stopped to bow and give her a salute. Smiths would stop mid strike, their steel smoldering red-hot over the anvil. Torches and paper lanterns riddled the streets and brought a warm glow that radiated over the stronghold. Fa Lien loved it.

She proceeded into higher ground and scurried up the structures that hugged the terrain. She shimmied up the tower, digging her hands and boots into the crevices and protrusions on the structure's face. She perched on the highest ledge that overlooked the massive cavern and took in the view. She breathed in the stale air, and from the rear, felt the slightest disturbance in the draft.

"Do you bear good tidings, Lotus?" Jade Lotus approached behind Fa Lien from the other side of the tower. Her cloak swayed gently with the underground breeze as she retracted the cowl that obscured her masked face.

"I have discovered something, something you should see, but it may cause you to become alarmed," she said with caution. Lotus pulled out a leather-bound book from her satchel and handed it to Fa Lien. "It's Liu's journal. Records of his thoughts and events from recent weeks have been outlined here. Turn to Week 3, Day 5."

Fa Lien turned the pages as she glanced to notice Jade Lotus's worried body language. She was hunched over with her fists clenched around her sides with thumbs curved outward.

"You're worrying me, sister. Are you sure you were not detected and followed?" asked Fa Lien.

"Yes, I'm quite certain. I went in and swept the area clean and left without a trace. Naught but shadows fluttered past my route. I fear that nothing here is what it seems," answered Jade Lotus. Fa Lien opened the Week 3 entry and read it under candlelight:

Week 3, Day 5

There are many layers to the grand scheme of the snow-skinned lords. All that transpires under their orchestration is but one step closer to the creation of the utopia, the world that men alone can never bring by themselves. I have been greatly honored to have been chosen to take part in its making. The Bringers of Illumination are rallying the outcast armies of the Underworld that will set the fires of this great change, but only for a time will they be employed. The proper balance of this new world can only be restored after they have done their part in this divinely noble cause. When all has come to fruition, they shall be brought forth as a sacrifice and I, with great esteem and honor, will ascend toward illumination and life everlasting so I and the others who have come with me may lead the outcast armies to defend and protect the new world. Holy elixirs will cleanse and restore their minds, preparing them for righteous leadership under the lord eunuchs, through the blessing of the Lords. Those who would be sacrificed must not be troubled, no, for this gift is the greatest honor one can receive in this plane. They must rejoice, be of good cheer, for their names will be remembered for ten thousand years. The White Wasp is prepared as sacrifice after the grand assault on the capital has completed.

"It's true isn't it, Commander?" said Jade Lotus. "The eunuchs have deceived us. They are only using us to only seize command of our forces after we've worn out our use. We're the top of the command chain and shall be replaced according to plan. They only want to use our warriors as cannon fodder to further their grander agenda."

Fa Lien ripped off the page from the journal and crumpled it in her hand. She trembled with furiousness; her blood rushed to her head and her breath shivered with the discovery.

"Of course... the eunuchs plan to eliminate the sect leaders so they can lead our warriors themselves. I should have seen this coming. It should have been predictable."

"But... why us? Do we not all walk the same path to reach the same prize?"

"It is what they would have us believe. It will only last until we have completed our task in helping them overthrow the Ming dynasty and destroy the old world in order to make a new one. Once that is done they won't need us anymore. It makes sense now. The sect leaders and masters are a liability and have the potential to threaten the eunuchs' plans or question their motives. They don't want to take any risks dealing with us. An army cannot serve two masters. They have no intention of fighting for power with the masters of the Underworld and who gets to command our armies. I knew we couldn't trust the bastards," growled Fa Lien. "Make preparations, and gather the sisters stationed in the surface. In three days, we are going to pay the eunuchs a visit."

Several of them, clad in black, weaved silently through the trusses and rafters that supported the chamber's high- domed ceiling. It was dark, and the lights at the base of the chamber could not reach them. Below stood Liu Jin, who personally inspected a battalion of special operations warriors of the Shan Gui.He paced back and forth while over a thousand of them stood completely still and silent as they awaited the eunuch's instruction. His shrill voice cut through the stale air as he indoctrinated them.

"You are all instruments of a higher calling now. No longer is your allegiance to the Shan Gui alone, but to me and to the White Lords, of course. Look at what we have gifted you in exchange for your unwavering loyalty and service. You are superior creatures of speed, strength, and skill. Behold the coming of a new age and the burning of the old world. Rejoice! Rejoice!" the eunuch yelled. The warriors roared, howled, and whooped to Liu's proclamation.

High above their heads, Jade Lotus, and a squad of their Elite Guard sisterhood waited to strike. Fa Lien signaled for them to ready their blades. They each uncovered their weapons without a single sound. They awaited the perfect time to strike and save their order from the schemes of eunuchs. Fa Lien poised her body for an assassination maneuver as soon as eunuch Liu passed right beneath her. The other seven eunuchs moved in unison around him- one for each of the assassins crouched on the rafters; the opportunity was perfect and everything seemed to move in slow motion. Fa Lien raised a closed fist, but before she could signal for them to strike, Liu spun around and looked up directly at her.

"I SEE YOU," he hissed- his snake-like eyes widened and stared directly deep into her own. A dozen of the warriors that stood in the battalion leaped out of their formation and flung iron chains topped with barbed blades at Fa Lien's position. They penetrated deep into the heavy wooden trusses and rafters that supported the chamber's ceiling. Together, they pulled down on the chains with their enhanced strength and collapsed the wooden structures causing Fa Lien, Jade Lotus, and her squad to fall onto the stony ground. Support beams the size of tree trunks, along with large stones, were shaken loose and fell down upon them. Liu and the eunuchs leaped out the way of the falling debris. Fa Lien and her companions jumped to their feet and attempted to dive for cover but, alas, could not move swiftly enough to avoid them all. A large wooden beam pinned her to the ground, and stones covered her completely. Underneath the rubble, she heard the screams and shouts of struggle from the sisters of her elite guard. The clash of blades and the sounds of combat seeped through the cracks and she even heard Jade Lotus cursing and shouting. Fa Lien struggled to stay awake and free herself from the tremendous weight above her. It was not long until all the shouting ceased and all became silent. Fa Lien could struggle no longer. She coughed violently before passing out.

She roused with a start, struggling to gasp for air when none seemed to be filling her lungs. Fa Lien growled with the great and terrible pain that surged through her back and abdomen. Her hands and feet were bound tightly, and she strained to worm her wrists and ankles from the bindings. She was careful to move carefully, being sure that no bones were broken. No sign of pain in her limbs was a good thing. She turned onto her back in the cold stone floor and felt no pain when her robes brushed against her body. She had no open wounds. It was completely dark and quiet, but she quickly realized that all of her effects were gone. Not even a lock pick remained in the folds of her robes and boots. Her breathing rate increased and the pain continued to inflict her entire body as she struggled to loosen her restraints. The sounds of her struggle were not left unheard and it was not long before company arrived.

Liu and a pair of guards entered her cell located in the lowest chambers of the Shan Gui's underground stronghold. He appeared chilling in the orange light of their torches. He looked down upon her with his hands placed on his hips. "I deeply and sincerely regret that it has come to this pitiful state, my friend," Liu said. "Why did you make an attempt on my life? You are the leader of this proud and powerful organization and yet you have betrayed me."

"You would know all about betrayal, you filth. You are twice as treacherous for planning to kill me and the other masters from the start!" Fa Lien spat.

Liu bent down to her level and gazed into her eyes. His pupils had become sharp like that of a snake and they widened in the dim lighting. "Ah yes, of course" he whispered. "I should not have left my journal lying around so carelessly. Despite what you thought you may have read in it, you are far from understanding my intentions. Were we not one in accord with this grand mission? Were we not of like-mind in the creation and establishment of a new world? If your death was my aim, I would have attempted it long ago. The eunuchs and I have been given a great responsibility to help lead your forces."

"Like hell I'll be turning my warriors over to you. They'd rather die than take orders from a stoneless government dog. How could you possibly kill me? You're not even a man. I ought to string you up by your own entrails," she said.

She turned her attention to the two guards who stood at her cell's entrance. "Remember who you are! Recognize that I am your commander White Wasp. You have been deceived. This man is our enemy! Untie me at once and seize him!" The guards remained still with not even give the faintest reaction to her voice. Their eyes stared blankly into nothing and their faces remained unbothered by their leader who had been bound and injured.

Liu shook his head. "Tsk, tsk, tsk. Don't you see, White Wasp? They have finally learned to recognize what is good and true for the Shan Gui. You always were a defiant one, fortunately, I am merciful and reasonable. Come into the light, Fa Lien, and see the undeniable truth. Accept my offer of illumination. I will untie your chains if you give up resisting us, and join me with your whole heart. Put an end to your struggle now."

Fa Lien lowered her head into the ground. She slumped against the wall in silence as if in deep pondering. Her face turned sour and her eyes began to water. Tears ran down her cheeks as she slid to the floor to lie on her side. She might as well give it up. There was no use in fighting what had already been ordained. "You're right. You're so right," she whimpered. "I... I... I became lost in my own vain ambitions. I deceived myself. Forgive me. I truly just want nothing more than what was promised by the White Lords and take every opportunity to see it through. I realize my folly." Fa Lien burst into tears and she cried into her hands. Liu patted her back and smiled. He removed a large knife from his waist strap and cut her restraints. He held her shoulders and helped her to her feet.

"I am greatly overjoyed at your change of heart, child," he said.

Her watery eyes locked straight into his. "You know the one thing that just won't change?"

"What would that be, child?"

"I still want to kill you." In a burst of speed, she disarmed the eunuch, grabbed his knife, and forced the full length of the blade deep into his chest. The guards reacted instantly, but with great reflexive action, she outmaneuvered their approach. The first was dispatched with an open-handed strike to back of the neck, and the second swung his saber at her face. She ducked beneath the blow and landed an uppercut right into his groin. The impact burst the organs, and the guard roared in extreme agony. When he fell to his knees into a fetal position, she lifted her boot and stomped it onto the back of his head to silence his screams of pain. She grabbed a ring of keys hanging from the guard's belt and proceeded to make her exit from the cell.

Eunuch Liu groaned at the intense pain of his stab wound. It had pierced his heart all the way through but yet it was not enough to be fatal. He shouted in pain as he slowly pulled the blade from his chest. Blood burst from the wound but ceased in the next moment. He reached for a cylindrical container from his belt pouch, pulled the cork, and ingested the entire quantity. It was not long before the pain subsided and he stood to his feet feeling completely revived. The Terukk elixirs were a miracle. He stormed out of the cell infuriated.

Fa Lien clutched her abdomen trying to fight the pain of her injury. The tunnels were empty save for some guards that patrolled the dungeons in loose circuits. She had completely lost control of her own order. The warriors of the Shan Gui had fallen to the eunuchs and she was powerless to do anything about it. She had to search for Jade Lotus, her second-in-command and whatever remained of her personal guard... if they were even still alive. She moved into the lower chambers of the stronghold and stayed hidden in the shadows until the guards had passed. They wore patches with the image of a spider, signifying their new allegiance to the eight eunuchs. It was as if the guards were under some spell or some unseen influence that had taken a hold of their minds. It must have been the elixirs the scheming eunuchs have recently administered to increase the ease of indoctrination. The entrance to the supply room was left ajar but her personal belongings had been stashed there. After putting a guard to sleep with a chokehold, she crept into the room and resupplied herself. A belt of many compartments, a small bag with a sling, and her twin sabers finally found their way back within her reach. She strapped hardened leather vambraces and spaulders, and donned a lamellar cuirass with attached tassets.

She proceeded deeper into the dungeons into the unlit chambers where Jade Lotus was being held behind a heavy iron access. Fa Lien crept to the opening at eye level.

"Do you live, Jade Lotus?" she whispered.

"Aye, Commander. But I may as well be dead. All has been lost," she moaned from the darkness.

"Don't fret. I will get you out!" Fa Lien insisted.

"The Shan Gui has fully given itself over to the eight eunuchs and we have no more power to command them. They are no longer themselves. They have even taken our sisters in the elite guard and attempted to indoctrinate them through the elixir. They resisted and many were beheaded... and they made me watch," she said, her voice trailing away.

"Good grief. For how long was I away?? A week?" said Fa Lien

"It's been a mere three days, Commander."

"Well at least you're still here, eh? That must count for something." Fa Lien fiddled with the set of keys she snatched from the guard. None of them could even fit through the key hole. The lock had been replaced and modified making it impossible to pick and break.

"I am already dead. Don't waste your time, White Wasp. Only the eunuchs have the power to decide who comes and goes now."

"Shut up," Fa Lien commanded as she continued to dig into the lock with a pick. The shouts of several guards echoed down the passageway followed by thundering boot falls. The guards were already on her trail. She cursed under her breath and the cell lock refused to budge.

"Get out of here, Commander. Nothing will matter if you're dead. You have to save yourself," said Jade Lotus.

Fa Lien pressed her face against the opening. "I will come back for you, sister. I promise. Just... don't die."

There was no other exit in the chamber. She mustered what little strength remained in her arms and legs and shimmied up a rock wall at the far end of the chamber. She leaped onto one of the wooden platforms near the ceiling and waited for the guards to pass right beneath her.

"She's hiding. Search every hall and chamber. Check the prisoners' facilities. She might be attempting to free the others!" barked one of the guards. His voice sounded odd, as if it was not even his own.

"So there are others..." she said. "I curse all of you, wretched traitors. I'll have all your heads mounted on a pike," Fa Lien whispered to herself. She hated it. She hated what was happening to the brotherhood her ancestors built. Everything they had worked for was being undone by a bunch of government dogs- years of growth and preparation were going to waste. She resented the Terukk for allowing them to take over her order, but the priority had shifted to her own survival and the lives of any surviving loyalists. Killing the eunuchs and saving the Shan Gui would have to wait.

Two of soldiers stayed behind to guard the cell of Jade Lotus while Fa Lien waited for the rest of them to exit the premises. She executed silent precision jumps to get from rafter to rafter. She swung down onto one of the support beams running across a tunnel entrance and dropped to the ground with a tuck and roll. Fa Lien the White Wasp, leader of the Shan Gui, was now the most wanted person in her own order. Very strange how much had changed in a few short days. "I have to warn the others," she said under her breath. The problem now was that many of them assembled with their disciples on the far side of the stronghold. She raised her collar and lowered her broad hood, casting a visor of shadow over her eyes."The best work is often done alone. It's just you and the shadows." She remembered her father's words so clearly but never thought it would need to be applied within her own home.

A series of old ventilation shafts, corridors, and sewer systems long forgotten crisscrossed through the stone structures of the stronghold, but navigating through them would prove to be taxing. Even the greatest practitioners of stealth would have difficulty getting passed a dozen li of tunnels and chambers full of hostiles. "Ah, bugger. Sewers it is," she said. Fa Lien sneaked through an open area where a division of guards made preparations for the impending assault on the capital. It was the Incendiary Division. The whole hall was packed full of barrels and crates filled with explosive powder. They were occupied filling bombs and improvised explosive devices but despite the extremely volatile workspace, they all moved in complete silence. None uttered a word as they moved about mechanically and even mindlessly. Their eyes appeared to stare into nothingness. "These are no longer my men," she thought. Fa Lien would have little trouble getting rid of them.

She needed to make a diversion, have the guards focused on clean up rather than searching for her. One dive roll into a shaded corner of the room and she was already in their midst, unseen and unheard. A trio of guards strategically placed around the hall paced back and forth constantly scanning the area for even the slightest shift in light and shadow. Fa Lien once again sought elevation by shimmying up the stone structure that encased the hall. Wooden frames protruding from the pillars provided her a path to get to the far side of the hall. She dropped down silently and dashed behind a thick pillar to wait for one of the guards to pass.

"Pssst!" she hissed, trying to lure him toward her direction. She stayed hidden behind the pillar with a combat knife at the ready. He had made only made seven paces toward Fa Lien's location before his throat was slit with one swift technique. Fa Lien gently lowered his body behind the pillar away from view. No one else in the hall had noticed. Good.

She looted the body for any useful supplies. A flint, some slow-burning matches, a length of fuse, round shell casings, and a pouch full of powder now belonged to her. "Wow, this is very convenient," she said patting him on the shoulder. "I trained you boys well."

It would not be long before the body would be discovered, however. She proceeded to the darkest corner of the hall and hastily assembled a grenade. Again, Fa Lien remembered the lessons of her youth, studying old manuals on pyrotechnics and fire weapons. She tightly packed a spoonful of the powder and a short length of the fuse into the shell then sealed it air-tight. The largest stash of crates and barrels were stacked near the center of the hall. She calculated the distance and included the bounce and roll the grenade would make once it landed. The fuse was long enough. It was doable. "Here goes, nothing," she breathed.

She struck the flint with her knife and ignited the fuse. With all her might, she tossed the grenade across the hall over the heads of everyone present, and it landed precisely where it needed to be. She dove and took cover behind the stone frame of a tunnel entrance. Before any of the soldiers could turn their heads, it detonated and created a massive chain reaction of violent, fiery explosions that shook the entire stronghold.Bodies flew in every direction, shards of steel and planks of wood flung outward impaling and tearing through everyone in its path. A pillar toppled over and crushed those who were consumed in flames. Others ran about, completely engulfed in fire. Some stumbled over limbs and burnt torsos. The sounds could be heard echoing through the tunnels and passageways for many li. Dust and the smell of burnt flesh flooded the tunnels that led to the hall.

It was not long before horns and bells could be heard ringing and droning throughout the entire stronghold. Fa Lien opened an access hatch that led directly to the sewers as hundreds of guards made their way toward the blast site. Fires raged and scorched the stones into black. At least now they would be occupied with controlling the fires. Fa Lien hesitated for moment when her boots hit the watery ground. She felt sorrow for what had just happened. Nearly a hundred of her once-loyal soldiers were gone in an instant. "Suck it up, Lien. You're becoming soft," she told herself. Pain, exhaustion, hunger and thirst must have been creeping up on her. She simply clenched her fists and gritted her teeth before proceeding down the dark and narrow passages. Dim orange light seeped through the cracks and crevices above, and the shouts and barks of the guards echoed through the sewers. Foot falls and the clattering of steel reverberated as well.

She had soon found herself beneath the stronghold's kitchens and the smell of food led her to surface through a small manhole not far from it. Seeing it was empty, she grabbed pouches of brown rice and bean buns after stuffing a few into her mouth. A catwalk meandered through the stronghold and it was loosely patrolled by guards. It was a preferable alternative to the sewers and drains. The corridors were becoming crowded as soldiers ran to and from the site of the catastrophe. Others still continued to scour the many chambers and halls, searching for any sign of her whereabouts.

Keeping her head low, she dashed through the catwalk with only the light thumping of her boots to signal her passing. She leapt from ledge to ledge and used her remarkable acrobatic skills to traverse rails and climb rocky wall faces. A deep gorge separated the two halves of the Shan Gui stronghold but she cleared the gap by swinging onto the rope that dangled from a system of pulleys near a wooden crane. No one on the nearby rope bridge had even noticed. The drop-roll landing was nearly silent were it not for the rattling of her gear. She made a bee line toward one of the main command chambers where the other leaders of Wulin gathered to discuss the impending attack on the capital. A team of guards stood outside the iron entrance to the command room and there was no way to sneak past them even if it had been completely dark.

"It's almost too easy," she said sarcastically. She reached into her belt compartment and produced a small terracotta canister containing a concoction of various flammable chemicals. After igniting the wick protruding from its lid, she flung it right at the center of the guards' formation. It shattered and popped as the fire seared the chemical compounds, sending plumes of noxious gasses that put the guards to unconsciousness in mere moments before they even had a chance to don their masks. Fa Lien smirked with satisfaction and took a bite off a red bean bun from her leather satchel. "Here we go," she said.

The iron doors creaked and groaned as they were pulled open, and she was greeted by another entourage of guards that stood between her and the rest of the eunuchs standing among other sect leaders. The guards drew their weapons and directed them toward her.

"White Wasp, you're alive?" said Warlord Li Hong.

"It takes much more than a simple fall to deliver me into the afterlife," Fa Lien replied.

"They said you had turned against us and had attempted to murder the eunuchs," said Master Zhuang.

"Is that what they told you now?" she tilted her head back and laughed. "This whole thing is a lie. The eunuchs have betrayed us, comrades. They plot to do away with the masters so they could lead our armies for themselves- one eunuch for each of the sects with Liu Jin at the forefront. Look for yourselves! Do you not see how he has turned them against me?? I came here so I could warn all of you. I have proof from what I found in his journal."

The others looked to each other, skeptical of her claims. "There is a journal? What journal?" said one of the eunuchs, who glared at her maliciously.

"I... I don't have it with me, but I will find it and prove it to all of you," she said.

"No you will not because there is no journal, fool," said the eunuch.

Liu Jin made an unexpected entrance into the command hall, hands resting behind his back. "Do you not see, my brothers? Even now she works to turn you against us and against the Pale Ones. She is the one who seeks to betray you and take all your authority for her own, just as I said. Did I not warn you that this was going to happen?" He turned his gaze to Fa Lien and glared at her with a wicked smirk. "You have always been ambitious and power-hungry. Now it is your undoing. The united leaders of the Underworld will never relent to you, White Wasp."

"You bastard! How did you get- "

"Guards, remove her head!" The guards raised their blades and charged at her while the other sect leaders simply looked on. It was hopeless. Fa Lien was alone, and now she had to escape from her very own home. She made a beeline toward the exit which quickly filled with fighters. Fa Lien executed a wall run to avoid the incoming guards. They gave chase, trying to kill the one whom they had considered to be their undisputed leader just weeks prior. She may manage to stay several paces ahead, but the entire stronghold now considered her to be their enemy and she would not be able to evade them for long in their own territory. She tossed a handful of caltrops over her head and could hear the screams of agony some moments after. Risking a look over her shoulder she saw many of them stumble over the painful traps but many more leaped over them and continued their pursuit. Several crossbow bolts and arrows whistled past her face and one managed to graze her cheek.

Fa Lien cursed under her breath as she skillfully vaulted over a set of boxes and fence posts, but even with her acrobatic skill, the pursuers managed to slowly close the distance. She headed toward a long tunnel that forked into three other passages. Several smoke pellets detonated in sequence at the entrance to the fork and reduced visibility to mere hand lengths. The pursuers coughed and squinted through the smoke as they masked their faces. Fa Lien had disappeared. When the smoke and dust had dissipated, all trace of her had vanished.

"Split! Scour every chamber and alcove that these tunnels lead into! She cannot outrun us forever!" shouted the commanding officer. They were right. Fa Lien could not out-run them forever. That was why she hid. After all the puppet soldiers had proceeded down the tunnels and the darkness had resumed, she released her spider-like grasp in the tunnel's high ceiling and dropped into a silent landing. She pushed against a brick in the tunnel wall until a hatch in the floor unlocked with an audible clack. With a pull and heave, Fa Lien opened the hatch and descended into the old, forgotten corridors of the original stronghold from days long past.

"Sometimes it pays to keep some business secrets to yourself," she muttered. The passages, unused for centuries, winded and turned throughout the underbelly of the stronghold and continued for several li and eventually led to the catacombs. There, hundreds of key disciples of the Shan Gui's ancient past were put to rest. Some of her own ancestors were laid to rest inside many of the sarcophaguses that populated the monumental hall. She raised her torch and navigated the maze-like expanses of the catacomb until the path led to a sealed cellar. With a pull of the lever, the heavy stone door unlatched itself from the wall and swung open. Inside, a wide array of weapons, tools, and wears were laid out before her. She replenished her supply, sharpened her sabers, and changed into the black and golden robes and armors of her renowned grandmother.

"I'm sorry, grandmother. I have failed. I hoped to have rebuilt the order to its former strength and beyond... but now all is lost." Fa Lien proceeded to the far end of the cellar and climbed a ladder some twenty stories to the surface world...

****

"Do you hear that?" asked Wen Ping as he craned his neck to hear the approaching commotion. "It approaches from the northeast," he said.

Xin signaled for the team to take cover in the bushes. The sounds of grunting and struggling fast approached. There were many feet, all were in a sprint, running, and leaping. "Less than a dozen, maybe ten are moving in haste on foot," Xin whispered as he closed his eyes to listen to the incoming commotion. He crept to an elevated position for a better view of what was approaching. A young woman dressed in black combat attire flew through the woods with great speed. Her hair was long and unfurled and trailed behind her. There were many others, similarly dressed, running close behind, though they had their swords and axes drawn. Several more moved from treetop to treetop using the large branches as platforms for their acrobatics. The woman spun around midair and hurled a throwing knife into the trees and one more into one pursuing from behind. One of the pursuers fell from the canopy, while other on the ground collapsed unto the forest floor. The knife had buried deep into his eye socket, and the other received it straight through the throat.

"It seems we have already found the Shan Gui," Sun Xin whispered to himself. One of the figures launched from an extended tree branch in an attempt to assassinate the fleeing woman from the air. A short sword extended from his hand ready to strike. Right before it found his target, a crossbow bolt found his head instead and caused him to flip backward head over heels and collapse into the rocky ground. Xin emerged from the bush and openly engaged the Shan Gui agents, while the team engaged from close behind. The black clad figures redirected their attention to Sun Xin and his team and moved to fight them. Xin reloaded his crossbow and released a short arrow into an assailant's chest before proceeding to cut another one down with a throwing knife. He crossed blades with a third who rushed him from the rear. The attacker was incredibly strong; his strength was greatly disproportionate to the size of his frame, and Xin felt it as he was shoved backward with relative ease even after he dug his boots into the ground for some traction. Xin sidestepped to redirect the force then executed three quick slashes across his chest before finishing him off with a spinning wheel kick. The force of the blow sent the Shan Gui warrior stumbling into the protruding roots of a felled tree, which impaled his body in several different places. Despite his small victory, Xin recognized that the assailants were no ordinary cutthroats.

Buff Baby roared and grappled with two at the same time. He managed to grab one by his head and fling him into a distant boulder. The second assailant swung a horse cutter great sword down toward his face, but the blade was broken in two when it clashed against Buff Baby's heavy Guan Dao glaive. Weaponless, he attempted to wrestle the weapon away from Buff Baby's grasp but was mistaken to underestimate his strength. He failed to disarm Buff Baby and was thus disemboweled with one quick swing across the belly and he died before his entrails finished slopping onto the forest floor.

Zuo Shilong joined the fray, bringing his iron rod to bear. He spun the weapon around at the nearest opponent who attempted to parry the attack with a broadsword. It bent and buckled beneath the blow and gave way enough for the rod to smash into his head. The second was more cautious in his approach as he spun a pair of chained sickles in his hands. He lashed them out toward Zuo Shilong, who struggled to duck and evade the flying blades. One had managed to graze across his leather cuirass, cutting across the chest area, barely tearing through his robe. Zuo Shilong evaded the attacks with backhand springs and then thrusted his staff forward when there was an opening in the attack; it caused his opponent to stagger back but quickly recover nonetheless. Zuo Shilong only managed to finish off the Shan Gui agent by sweeping him off his feet and neutralizing him with a downward slam. Blood trickled down his upper cheek and was surprised that the Shan Gui fighter managed to cut him a second time.

Nearby, Wen Xiao and Wen Ping barely managed to finish off one other who was exceptionally skilled in an acrobatic style and were left exhausted after the scuffle. In the distance, Big Bang fired off several rounds from his multi-barreled hand cannon, but none had found its target. Ironically, he managed to fend off his opponent by using his weapon as a club.

Jirgal, however, had attempted to avoid conflict altogether. When confronted by one of the assailants, he turned to run for his life and stumbled over creeping tree roots just in time to fall underneath the fighter's sword swing. Jirgal scrambled back to his feet and desperately pushed through a protruding tree branch to get away. He bent the branch to its fullest tension until he was through; the branch snapped back to position and, in the process, disabled his attacker with a blow to the face. The last of the assailants attempted to rush him head on as Jirgal struggled to draw his rusted old saber. Jirgal could barely remove it from its scabbard, and it fell from his grasp by the time he managed to free it. Timely enough, the attacker swung at his face as soon as Jirgal bent down to pick it up. The attacker staggered forward from the miss and was knocked out when Jirgal stood up and bumped his head right underneath his chin. He hit his head upon a stone and never got back up.

"Well that was easy, wasn't it?" said Jirgal. "These guys aren't so tough after all," he continued to say, feeling quite good about himself even though he was visibly trembling from fear.

Zuo Shilong dabbed the cut on his cheek with a handkerchief as he ran his fingers across the deep slice upon his leather armor. He was quite bothered that the blade had managed to make its mark on him, more so than the fact that it could have been fatal had he not been wearing protection.

Fa Lien limped toward a clearing as she clutched her abdomen. "I did not need your help, fool," she grunted to Sun Xin. Fa Lien readjusted her gaze and her expression changed to surprise. "Oh, well... hello, beloved. It's been so long and no word you," she said with a cheeky smirk. She glanced at the rest of the team."It looks like the legendary Wandering Wolf has found himself a few sidekicks."

"Beloved?? You did not say you were betrothed, Master Swordsman," quipped Buff Baby.

"I'm not betrothed."

"Well, then I must compliment your taste in dames, though I wonder how you could have scored a lass so lovely and simply walk away. She at least a paramour for some good old moonlit trysts ,eh?" Buff Baby gazed at Fa Lien as he rested his foot on a tree stump and leaned forward upon his knee. Zuo Shilong nudged his elbow, signaling him to be quiet.

"This is White Wasp, Bao. The Shan Gui's current lord, though I have doubts considering..." he said as he looked around at the dead bodies strewn all around them. "Has your throne been usurped, Fa Lien?"

She frowned and spat onto the ground. She reached into her belt compartment to grab another red bean bun.

"Don't even think about it," Wen Xiao barked at her. The sect leader laughed and casually brought the snack to her mouth for a nibble.

"You shouldn't be so tense, dear."

"Why were your men pursuing you, Lien?" Sun Xin asked tersely.

"And here I thought you didn't care about me anymore," she replied with a raised eyebrow as she looked into his eyes.

"I care because it's my responsibility to eliminate psychopaths... and anarchists like you."

"Your sense of nobility is cute, considering you thought it noble to betray and kill my father after he trusted, loved, and chose you as his own. You've got some nerve, you whoreson."

"Your father was a mad man. If I had decided otherwise, he would have left the entire empire in complete anarchy," said Xin. "If I could do it again and again for a thousand times, I would."

Her eyes twitched as she glared at him, wanting nothing more than to scar his brooding handsome face. Without warning, she reached for her knives and swung wildly at him, but Xin caught both of her wrists before they could bring the blades down on his neck. He slammed her between the eyes with a head butt. Blood dripped out of her nose, and she spat out what trickled into her mouth. She wiped away the rest with her braced sleeve.

"You're a bastard, you know that?" she said as she struggled to catch her breath, evidently exhausted and in pain. "Fine. Next time, I'll just wait until you're sound asleep."

"I don't sleep soundly. And I never will because people like you exist," Xin answered.

She limped to a nearby boulder and leaned against it with her arms crossed. She shot Xin a gaze that could pierce steel. She was intelligent, headstrong, and independent and perhaps one of the most dangerous individuals in the Middle Kingdom. Sun Xin had long learned to keep his guard on high alert when dealing with her. "The assembling Underworld, the unification of the sects- tell me everything your masters are planning," said Xin.

"Hah! Wouldn't you and your cute little ragtag team like to know," she replied.

"Yes, we would. As far as I can tell, there's not much going for you right now. I just saw your own men trying to bring their blades right down your neck and I couldn't care less why. I don't have any problem killing you where you stand. I'll find some other way to get answers. I always do... or you can save me a sword stroke and tell me everything you know now," said Xin glaring at her spitefully.

"What? No woos and whisperings of sweet nothings to my ear? You used to be much more fun to have around, beloved. Try taking notes from your large friend here," she chuckled, referring to Buff Baby. "It seems that the road hasn't been too kind these past few years."

"No, it has not," said Xin, his tone growing more impatient.

"You sure know how to take the fun out of courtship."

"I don't have time for your flirting, Lien. What are the rallying sects planning? What are your masters trying to do?"

"They're not my masters," she said with voice raised as her eyebrows crinkled. "That big battle your people fought on the peninsula and in the gulf was merely a distraction meant to buy them more time. I am sure you all have realized by now that it was merely the first step in a grander plan."

"I'll let you know if I finally hear something that surprises me," said Sun Xin, staring her down with a narrow gaze.

"What you didn't know was that the foreigners who arrived here some months ago have made... plans that do not agree with me. Several of the eunuchs from your petty emperor's palace showed up and were put in charge of operations, and have dared to undermine the authority of the sect masters. Of course, being the scum eunuchs are, they have been scheming behind my own walls. I discovered their plot to usurp the leadership of the Underworld once we have fulfilled our roles, and they have made good use of the Pale Foreigner's elixirs to rewrite the minds of my soldiers and turn them against me in order to pursue their own agenda. Some had resisted the change, but most turned, transforming into unquestioning drones loyal only to the eunuch dogs. I tried to fight back, but you saw the rest. I shouldn't have left my people to them." Her facial expression changed. She lowered her gaze, trying to hide the devastation she felt. "I'll tell you the rest if you can help me get some measure of vengeance. I guarantee, we'll both get something we want," she cooed with her eyebrow raised. She twirled a strand of her hair around her finger.

Sun Xin paused for a brief moment, just staring her down in the eyes. "What do you know about a necromancer, Lien? Does an army of Jiangshi ring any bells?"

A faint look of surprise passed over her face for a short instance that Sun Xin immediately caught. "Agree to my proposition and I will tell you all you want to know," she said.

"Or I can just kill you right now and find my answers elsewhere," said Sun Xin, becoming irritated as he reached out to grab her collar. His other hand gripped a dagger aimed directly at her face. "I don't have time for games! The army of undead is real, Lien! We were nearly killed in the first encounter. This changes everyrthing! Tell me what I want to know or Heaven help me, I will bury knife into your eye sockets!"

"I guarantee you wouldn't want to. Even if you could search elsewhere, I highly doubt you would even know where to start. You don't have the luxury of time. It'd be too late. Then everything you have had to overcome to get this far would've been in vain. You and I both know there is not enough time to be running around searching for answers. I am your cheat sheet. If you want to take a peek, you just have to help me," she said.

"You want to bet on that?"

"With what I know, Xin, you don't have the luxury of simply killing me and moving on. I guarantee the worst will happen if you do not acquire the answers only I can provide. When I say worst, I mean the loss of thousands of lives. Help me get my revenge," insisted Fa Lien, her expression turning to a sly smile. "I'm too weak and injured at the moment, and I have no other means. Kill Liu Jin and the rest of the eunuchs if you can, then rescue the captain of my personal guard, the Jade Lotus. Then, I'll tell you everything-what the rebels are planning to do, what the foreigners want from the Ming, enough intel to make the Jinyiwei and the Eastern Depot drool. Besides, we both want the eunuchs dead. It's a win-win for you. But you'd better hurry before it's too late."

Xin's entire body shook with anger toward Fa Lien and what she represented, but he could not gamble the lives of thousands. He knew how dangerous the Shan Gui really were. But then again, the purpose of the entire operation was exactly what Fa Lien had proposed. Sever the head of the snake and discover the enemies' plans before they can unfold. "Fine. I'll play your game. If I suspect any hint of treachery, I will kill your sister then come after you," he said, releasing her collar from his grasp.

"I knew you'd make the right decision, beloved, and I'll be sure to keep that in mind, although I would like to add that it might just be you who gets killed if you cross me." she said.

"Something doesn't feel right, chief. This may be a trap," said Wen Xiao. She kept her weapon generally aimed at Fa Lien.

"It probably is a trap, but it's also our only lead. Bai Lang said we'll find our answers here, and now we know who's heading their operation. We can sever the head of the snake," said Sun Xin.

"Regardless of your decision, my sister and I will accompany you to the end, chief. You know that," said Wen Ping.

Sun Xin nodded to him and turned his attention to Fa Lien. "Where are the eunuchs and your men gathering?"

"Twelve li northeast of here, there is a large clearing surrounded by seven small mountains. In the fortress grounds, the eunuchs are gathering the forces of the Underworld, and holding their preparations for the next great offensive. The only passage is through a small secret pass that leads directly into the citadel and the surrounding courtyards. It should be lightly guarded so you shan't have much trouble gaining entry. They're not expecting outsiders to ever come near," said Fa Lien. "You cannot simply walk amidst an army of hostiles. The area around the citadel is massive and there are eyes everywhere. There are guards guarding the guards. Unless you're Ming imperial commandos, you might not survive a straight fight in there. How lucky and convenient for you, I have a map outlining their defensive perimeters and key fortifications, and the fortress at the very heart of the stronghold. There is also a facility used to manufacture those bloody performance elixirs." She reached for a folded sheet of paper between her breasts and handed it over. "The fortress blueprints are on the other side of the sheet. I suggest you salvage the uniforms of the dead and remain incognito if you're going to see this through."

"Very well," said Sun Xin.

"And one more thing: breaking and entering is the simple task, but fleeing the scene is another. Deep beneath the fortress grounds there is an entrance to a network of tunnels that lead directly out of the stronghold. Only my father, I, and Jade Lotus know of it. The path that leads to the inner tunnel networks is highlighted on the diagram. How you will see the rest of the mission through is now up to you." Fa Lien looked into Sun Xin's eyes smugly and with satisfaction. "You're a spoiled brat, beloved. I'm practically spoon-feeding you at this point."

"This information has spared you my blade, nothing more. So stop calling me beloved." Sun Xin turned to Buff Baby, Jirgal, Zuo Shilong, and Big Bang. "The four of you will have to remain here to keep an eye on her.I want her alive and present when I come back. Set up camp here while the three of us continue ahead."

Jirgal was relieved. He preferred guard duty over everything else they had been undertaking. "Ah, finally, a break!" he said, as he grabbed a snack from his pack.

Zuo Shilong was clearly disappointed. "I would very much prefer to go to the action. At least I can meditate if I stay."

Big Bang sat on the ground with legs and arms crossed, mumbling about staying behind. "Hmph! No more fizzes, booms, and bangs," he complained.

Buff Baby didn't protest at the order. He was smitten by Fa Lien, and he could not help but stare throughout the entirety of her interaction with Sun Xin. Zuo Shilong could not help but take notice and nudged him with an elbow.

"Psst! Behave yourself, Buff Baby," he whispered.

"A warrior, a leader, and a gorgeous, rebellious sass... she's perfect," Buff Baby mumbled as he rested his chin on his palm. He gazed at Fa Lien with a juvenile admiration.

"I do not think it wise to get involved with her kind," said Zuo Shilong.

"Meh, you're just a monk. What do you know about women? I bet you've never even been kissed before, am I right?" said Buff Baby, with a teasing tone and a taunting duck face.

Zuo Shilong stammered for a moment, and his cheeks turned pink. "Well, I-I-I pursued spirituality and self-cultivation. Those are far nobler causes than romance. Besides, touching women was strictly forbidden for those of the Shaolin Temple."

"That is the sorriest thing I have ever heard," said Buff Baby.

"There is far more to life than eating and drinking, fighting, and women, you big ape," Zuo Shilong replied.

"Nah, I don't believe there is. Merrymaking is life's purpose!"

"Life's purpose is to help one another."

"Bah, that's boring," scoffed Buff Baby.

Sun Xin gathered the team some stone's throw away from Fa Lien. "Do not be fooled by her charming wit or her flirtatious advances. The White Wasp has many skills, so I implore you to not underestimate her. She had mastered the arts of sabotage, escape, breaking and entering, and assassination before her eighteenth birthday and inherited leadership of the Shan Gui after I... after the death of her father. She is extremely cunning and highly skilled. Do not take any chances, is that understood?" The four merely nodded their heads and shrugged. "If ever she becomes aggressive... just don't die."

"Oh, I believe I can handle her, Master Swordsman," winked Buff Baby. "We'll have a peachy-swell time getting to know each other."

Zuo Shilong facepalmed.

Sun Xin and the two Academicians proceeded northeast, wearing the black overcoats of the Shan Gui fighters they had slain. They moved posthaste, navigating the terrain with their superior mobility and acrobatic skill. Sun Xin had grown to admire his Academician escorts. They followed him unquestioningly, knowing full-well that their current objective was virtually suicidal. He had rarely seen this characteristic in other Academicians before.

They matched his pace skillfully, executing vaults and cat leaps with ease, over terrain that would have been impassable for common travelers. For Sun Xin, even in the speed of his strides, he remembered Master Lo. He felt for his master's sword still slung across his back right above his own. In a sense, he felt as if he were there with him going deep into enemy territory.

Sundown was coming shortly and the darkness would do much to aid their disguises and infiltration of the Underworld's army encampment.

"I find it oddly convenient, chief, that one of our greatest enemies has given us the exact information we need to complete this mission," said Wen Ping as he ran alongside Xin.

"It is very convenient. I am not complaining. But something tells me that Fa Lien actually wants us to succeed. I've been in such a similar situation with her before. Have you heard of the saying 'The enemy of my enemy is my friend'?"

"Yes. I just didn't expect to ever be in such a circumstance," said Wen Ping.

"There is more to the mission now than just severing the head of the snake and spoiling the manufacture of the potions. She claims to withhold vital information, and I know her when she's honest. We'll find out what it is when we complete the original objectives."

"I have a very bad feeling about this," said Wen Xiao. "I resent the fact that we're banking on her information."

"Stay close and clear your minds of doubt," said Sun Xin.

They slowed their pace to a jog when the terrain changed into a natural trail. Soon enough, a set of dwarf mountains appeared above the landscape, and the incoming darkness revealed faint torchlights that marked the entrance to the enemy's current base of operations. The trio paused to take a better view of the guard. The map highlighted key guard stations surrounding the entrance, and Sun Xin signaled for the Academicians to take positions near the main entrance. Several Shan Gui guards stood in attention, scanning the area in a disciplined manner. Their iconic dark uniforms stood out from the green and rocky surroundings, but their armor and weapons signaled they were no ordinary foot soldiers.

"I count seven, no, eight elites. Two perched on the tree and the rest crouched near the shrubbery on the adjacent hill," said Sun Xin. "How full is your quiver?"

"I've thirteen," said Wen Xiao.

"Twelve," said Wen Ping.

"Good. I'll get their attention and round them up. As soon as they cluster, I'll signal you to unleash a few volleys. I will take care of the rest before they figure out who's targeting them. Aim for the head." Sun Xin adjusted the fitting of his broad-brimmed hat, secured his gear, and walked casually toward the Shan Gui elite guards. He was detected from a distance and was ordered to halt.

"Stay where you are, scout," shouted the one of the guards. He appeared to have been the ranking officer in the squad. "Why are you in the field? And unaccompanied? All disciples were to report to the rendezvous area yester noon." He hastily approached Sun Xin with one hand gripping his weapon. Xin could see his eyes. They were no longer rounded, almost warped. It was clearly the work of the elixir. The elite guards were no longer just mere men.

"I'm all that's left of a scouting party," answered Sun Xin with his hands in the air, pretending to appear traumatized. "The rest of my squad were wiped out by a Ming imperial patrol some twelve li south of here. I'm all that's left." Xin kept his head low, hiding his eyes beneath his hat.

"Who is the squad chieftain that sent you scouting?" the guard asked. His tone was becoming more suspecting.

Sun Xin hesitated for two moments. "Chieftain Iron Skin. He had us sent out three days ago."

Without warning, the guard drew his weapon and pointed it at Xin. The others emerged from their stations and surrounded him with their own weapons drawn. "Chieftain Iron Skin was killed last New Year's Eve by Ming troops during a routine operation. Not sure who you are or how you managed to find this place but now you'll not be leaving." Before he could raise a hand to attack, Xin raised a signal with closed fist. An arrow cut through the air and pierced the guard directly in the back of the skull. The arrow's tip protruded out from his forehead and he was killed instantly. The other guards spun around to locate the origin of the projectiles, but they too were instantly shot down by the Academicians' superior marksmanship. The last of them ducked underneath a shot but Sun Xin had already cut him down with a swift stroke of the knife.

The Academicians emerged from the undergrowth and regrouped with Xin.

"Nice work," he said.

"All those archery exercises with instructor Shang Jian seemed to have paid off very nicely," said Wen Xiao as she salvaged the arrows from the bodies.

"The imperial commandos couldn't have done better themselves," Wen Ping added.

"Maybe. See what else you can loot from them. Ropes and grapple hooks, small weapons, and explosive smokes could prove helpful," said Sun Xin.

"Found some small impact bombs here," observed Wen Ping. "These men are pretty heavily armed. The body armor isn't a joke either. They're sacrificing some mobility for ample protection. If anything, it seems they're preparing for an open battle."

"An open battle with the empire," Sun Xin added. "The Ming army is the only fighting force with the firepower that'd make them require such gear. Now we just have to figure out where they're planning to attack and why," he thought aloud. "Fighting these grunts will be even more difficult now. They're clearly under the influence of the Terukk elixir, but it does not seem to have ravaged their minds."

"Only way to find that out what they're planning is to see this through and get it over with," said Wen Xiao. Despite being smaller than her brother, she carried herself more confidently.

"Right. We'll find out more once we're inside. Reconnaissance is our secondary objective," said Xin. "Toss the bodies into the river. The last thing we need is an investigation to discover us. Best they think they ran off somewhere for a while," said Xin. "Raise your collars and don your hoods. Your topknots will give us away."