Riro captured and meeting of Shifu Wu.

At a hill top in Wong Su was Fo's house, Fo was seen in his balcony in thoughts while sitting on a chair. Woo passed by unnoticed; then she walked up to Fo.

"What is troubling you?" Woo asked.

"Nothing; I just need to clear my head."

"It's getting closer to battle time and instead of you to be at the cantonment, you returned home; I certainly know something is wrong. Tell me my love." Woo said as she pulled a stool to sit opposite him.

"It's just that the people has refused to join Wong Su forces, the meeting I held last week with them was futile,"

"They insisted that they don't see the need fighting Za Ming's invincible since we would still be defeated, and I am left with a handful of soldiers." Fo said as he looked away facing the open field.

Woo exhaled;

"I know it is hard for the people, but you still have time, don't lose faith in the people. They need to heal, so also you too."

"So give them time, they would come around." With that Woo held Fo's hands and they both talked for a while before they went inside with snowflakes descending from the skies.

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At the palace in Wong Su, Woo and Kara is seen with basket half filled with berries as they go through the farm hand picking the ripe ones.

"Berries have always been your favourite fruit little wonder, it's in the palace." Woo said while smiling at Kara.

"Yes, I love them so much. I remember planting these ones against the wish of Fara, he wanted to plant orchard here." Kara said.

"I love them too but not that much, you know."

"So how is Fo coping? I hope it is not too much for him after the demise of my husband." Woo was silent for a while and spoke up;

"It is. The people has refused to join Wong Su forces, since their great loss last time,"

"They have decided to ditch Wong Su brotherhood call." Woo said as they reached the end of the farm.

Kara and Woo sat down at a chair made of weaved woods. The maids came to take their baskets away;

"He never told me about this!"

"I think he never wants to bother you with another sad story; since you are already in pain." Woo said whilst staring at the gloomy countenance of Kara.

"But he should have. Remember I am still the queen even in this black garment. I still have the authority and the backing of the people." Kara said reinvigorated.

"So what are we going to do? Because our men no longer see the need to respond to the brotherhood call and the time for battle is drawing nearer each day."

"Don't worry. I know what to do about it!"

With that Woo drew near to Kara, who whispered into her ears as Woo continued nodding in affirmation. The day glows away to perfect brightness with the sun racing to complete its half circuitry.

*************************************

At an open field close to a nearby market in Wong Su are seen gathered, crowds of women and girls, some chattering in groups while others stood alone with folded arms. At a platform made of sturdy tables facing the crowd, Woo and Kara emerged. With Woo behind Kara.

"Women of Wong Su. Good morning!"

"It's I your queen Kara Lu Chin who called you this day; to draw your attention to the recent happenings in Wong Su."

"We all know of the impending war, but yet there are not enough soldiers to protect us." Her words were received with murmuring of apprehension and shock.

"Our elite men and fighters have lost faith in Wong Su brotherhood and most importantly in themselves; because of our great loss."

"So, I called you all, to hear your voices on what to do to salvage the situation!" Kara paused and stared at the crowd.

A plump woman at the centre of the crowd raised her hand and Kara beckoned on her to speak;

"Greetings, My queen! The last battle took so much from every one of us, most notably our King but that doesn't mean we should lose faith in Wong Su as a treasure worth fighting for. But since our elite men and fighters have refused to stand up for Wong Su, what can we do? We are only but housewives, with no fighting skill." She paused as she looked to the downcast faces around her. The crowd was silent with no one saying a word, and then Kara spoke up;

"I look around all I see is faces of women who have spent years attending to chores and weaving, but with hearts of love, faith, hope and honour. That is all that makes up a good army. All we need is a little training. Women are known to protect their young ones; today we either stand for Wong Su or leave our fate at the mercy of Za's invincible,"

"To Wong Su!" Kara shouted; the responses crescendos with every woman shooting their hands into the air with great morale.

Kara continued talking to the women, with Woo at a distance smiling at the outcome of the meeting. As Kara's voice fades in the ears of Woo.

*******************************************

At the fortress in the barbarian's camp is heard shouts of pain, there five prisoners were tied to a stake and were tortured by barbarians. On the stake were Egret, Koala, Lee and Donnie with Riro in the middle. Their bodies were smeared with marks from whips and coloured with fresh and dried blood. The leader of the barbarian scouts and Tang Wai walked in while the barbarians in charge of the ordeal stepped aside.

Tang Wai went straight to Riro, punched him severally on his face with shouts of approval and jubilation; then he pulled out his hand knife and stabbed Riro at his side.

"This is just the beginning of your mystery, you would beg for your death!" Tang whispered into Riro's ears.

"Carry on!" Tang Wai shouted.

Then he walked away; closely followed by the leader of the scouts. At the door way of the fortress, several feet's away from the prisoner's;

"Commander Tang, I think we should get it over with, because if the capital finds out that we are delaying, it won't be good!"

"No need for that! I would eventually kill them but not until I make Riro pay for this!" Tang shouted pointing at his severed hand.

"What of if Emperor Za hears?"

"Who would tell him?"

"Ok. But it's been two days now and we haven't given them anything to eat or drink. What of if they die of starvation?"

"No need to waste food on a dead flea. Tomorrow I would behead them one after the other; sending all the heads to the capital as extra token from the Barbarians."

Both Tang and the leader of the barbarian scouts started laughing as they both exit the fortress.

****************************************

At noon, along the borders of the barbarians, a procession was seen, leading the procession was Riro and his companions supported by barbarians, closely followed by Tang Wai with the barbarian scouts and lastly, selected barbarian soldiers. They marched to a certain point and stopped. There – was the execution seat of the barbarians, a concrete smeared with blood, buzzing with sound of flies and raised up to an elevation close to the waist level. There – Riro was pushed forward with his hand tied together behind him; he was forced down and his head was served on the concrete. Tang Wai stepped forward with a big axe on his left hand with shouts of "Kill!!" echoed from every barbarian mouth. Riro looked sideways and saw tears in the eyes of his companion as they knelt down some distance to his right and then closed his eyes.

Tang raised his axe upwards and the shouts seized. Like lightning he swung the axe down, midway the axe fell from his hand and he screamed as an arrow impaled his hand. There was discombobulating among the barbarians as they observed frantically at the direction of the shot arrow. Then, arrows hit another barbarian, then another and then a handful; all to the ground. The barbarians quickly circled round the wounded Tang and at that instant, they saw monks with swords and bows emerging from their hideout and running towards them. Fight ensued and the Barbarians fled into the neighbouring bushes with Tang Wai and the remnant was annihilated by the monks.

Riro looked up with his dizzy eyes, he saw an old monk with a conspicuous long beard before him and then he fainted.

***********************************************

Kara is seen at the palace pacing to and fro, and then she heard a knock on the door;

"Come in!"

"Greetings my queen! You sent for me?"

"Yes, I summoned you this day, to the palace like my husband – king Fara would if he were still alive."

"Woo told me about the present state of Wong Su soldiers, shortage of drafts and low spirit amongst those drafted." Kara said as she sat on the throne.

"Yes, My queen! But that shouldn't bother you. It is my duty to find a solution to it; my queen." Fo said rather uneasily.

"The reason for this meeting is for me to inform you of my decision to call for concerted effort from groups other than the men and youths."

"Come again – my queen. I don't understand. Do you mean women?"

"Yes, since the war became unbearable the number of women soared and if we want an army, they should have a right to fight for what they love as well, since they constitute the bulk of Wong Su population."

"No! My queen that would be disastrous; they don't even know how to fight!"

"Then teach them. And don't forget some of them were once part of Wong Su army before they became mothers. Need I remind you, I and Woo is a good example," She said as she smiled in reminisce.

"But my queen, I don't think this is right, they won't be able to cope with the demands of motherhood and military." Kara walked towards Fo and touched his shoulders solemnly;

"I am not asking, I am ordering you as King Fara would. Do this for Wong Su and most especially for your friend." Fo stood rooted to the spot in thoughts as Kara walked away.

******************************************

At Wong Su cantonment, Fo is seen teaching defensive stance to a handful of soldiers filed before him. As he looked around, he saw Kara and Woo leading a large group of women towards his direction.

"We are here, General Fo!" Kara said as she saluted Fo.

"Impressive! Now soldiers to the line!" Fo shouted as he pointed to the soldiers in front of him. Quickly, the women shuffled their feet's and filed behind the male soldiers. Kara and Woo was about joining them;

"No – my queen; I would only consent to this if you agree to be one of my Generals.

"Ok. I agree!" with that both her and Fo started laughing. Then, both of them started giving out instructions to the long file of Wong Su soldiers as the day wore on.

***************************************

At Qing dynasty, Za Ming was in his chambers, when his soldiers brought in ten nubile damsels on bra and pants. The soldier went to the bed post of Za and whispered into his ears; pointing to Bomra, Za Ming simply nodded.

The soldier walked back and stood behind the girls.

"Take the others away!" Za Ming shouted as he waved his hand. The soldier led the other girls out leaving just Za and Bomra; Za walked round Bomra inspecting her, then he grabbed her buttocks, raised her up and threw her to the bed. He quickly removed his night gown and walked slowly to the bed smiling mischievously. As he hops on the bed towards the direction of Bomra, Bomra swung a hand knife which he ducked and somersaulted to the wall, landed with his palms and bounced back to his previous position.

"Oh! I always know beauty is dangerous!" he said while smiling with a maneuvering stance. Both he and Bomra circled the bed frame, as they tried to gauge each other's movement. As they circled to the foot of the bed frame, Za swerved and Bomra swang her blade, then he striked Bomra with his feet and she sprawled on the floor. He disarmed and strikes her on her spine; she fell to ground motionless with blood gushing out from her mouth.

"Guards!" Za shouted as a group of soldiers rushed into the room; with their eyes wide open.

"Take her out!" the soldiers took Bomra out and immediately the other nubile damsels were ushered in. The soldiers left the room with the nubile damsels shivering as they stood alone facing Za. Za beckoned on them to come to the bed with a coquettish smile.