THE MASTERS CAME TO AN AGREEMENT

One could say that it is really a miracle for the masters to reach a unanimous decision in just a matter of hours. Minister Shi also did not take long to approve it. The gathered martial artists are more than willing to accept. They rejoiced for having the chance to showcase their skills.

The agreement made, in which majority of those present in the courtyard agreed to, is that three days from now, a selection will be held. During the selection, everyone will be given a chance to fight while being observed by the thirteen masters. Winners will have the chance to choose one master to work with as they go investigate and fight the evil that causes unrest to the kingdom. For those who failed to win, it depends if a master would be interested on taking them under his wing. If none, then the losing martial artist would not be allowed to join any of the thirteen troops that will lead the annihilation of evils.

Before the sun settles, the martial artists, with numbers ranging from one to two hundred, chanted vigorous cheers as an anticipation of the upcoming selection.

"Martial artists join hands.

Destroy the evil, protect our lands.

Unite the kingdom's sects and clans."

They repeated the chant over and over again, all of them thinking how to win their future battles. Except Song Xianlong. During the commotion with the sneak attack against the thirteenth master, he realized that it was not the first time he met him. From then, Song Xianlong never let his gaze slip from the master. He wouldn't let him disappear again the way the man did in the forbidden forest. If things get lucky, he would be able to take back the golden leaf from this thief master. But he needs to be careful. The thirteenth master is a martial arts master after all. He must have unpredictable skills under his sleeve. All Song Xianlong could do for now is watch him closely.

Two weeks ago, his father gave him a task to acquire the golden leaf of the enchanted plant, which grows at the heart of the forbidden forest once in every five decades. At one moment, in the forbidden forest, Song Xianlong thought that he would return home triumphant with the golden leaf in his possession. But he did not predict someone to snatch the golden leaf when it was just a hand span away.

Song Xianlong knows that the golden leaf will be used to make a barrier strong enough to protect an entire city. What he does not understand is the reason why would the Northern City need such barrier. Although his father is not a Master like his grandfather, he holds a very prominent position as the General of the Middle Kingdom's Imperial Army. Countless soldiers in his command are settling in and out of their city. If someone attacks, might it be the rebels or bordering kingdoms, these soldiers would definitely not let the Northern City be usurped. What then is his father's reason for aiming to build such barrier?

Deep in thoughts, Xianlong didn't notice the martial artists exit the courtyard one-by-one.

"Brother Song, they are all leaving. Shall we go too?" Chen Yi, a young servant raised by Xianlong's mother in their household, asked.

"Not yet. We are going to catch a thief," Xianlong said, staring at the thirteenth master's direction.

Xianlong made a gesture of approaching him, but stopped halfway on his tracks when he saw Minister Shi heading to the same direction. The least thing he wanted is to let others know his failed mission. Thinking it over, he resolved to cancel his pursuit of the thief, as he is sure that they will meet each other plenty of times again.

Standing several distance away from them, Song Xianlong could hear Minister Shi talking to the thirteenth master. But the replies he could hear from the thirteenth master's are almost inaudible murmurs.

"I am really glad you accepted my invitation," Minister Shi said, bearing his famous smile. "Zhang Meng has someone already preparing your room as I requested."

The unsociable master replied with a single nod.

"The selection is still three days from now. Jade City has a lot of beauties in it. You will surely fall in love with it once you take time exploring."

He acknowledged him with another nod.

"Your Highness! Ah, Thirteenth master!" Zhang Meng bowed to both of them. "The room you asked me to prepare is ready. This way, please."

With that, the thirteenth master disappeared into the inner chambers of the Zhangs' mansion.

"He is really something. The other masters, even the great Dragon Master, have to stay at inns because the Zhangs did not offer them a single room in this gigantic mansion. But this..." Xianlong told Chen Yi, while furiously jabbing a finger at the old master. "...this stinky old master had even the Minister of Peace requests a room for him."

Chen Yi nodded understandingly with a protruded bottom lip.

"Water drops pierce stone; rope saws cut wood," Xianlong recited an old saying. "I just need to be patient and wait for the right time to pay for his evilness."

"But Brother Song, in the forbidden forest, he did save your life from that boulder, right? If he left you there, you are already flat as a leaf now. So the thirteenth master is not totally evil," Chen Yi said, stroking his chin. He admired himself for being so wise to realize such facts.

Song Xianlong glared at him with piercing eyes.

"Go find a way to enter this mansion at night. Spy the thirteenth master's room and report to me his whereabouts for three days. Tell me immediately if he ever set foot outside the mansion," he told him.

He gave one last look at the direction where his archenemy went in before he strode out of the mansion sullenly.

Chen Yi tightened his lips, thinking that disaster really comes from careless talking.