The temperature fell as night deepened, and fog condensed in a thin, white haze all about them.
The fire was going strong in the middle, and around it they had erected some simple tentage.
Li Luo sat by the fire, keeping watch on his surroundings. Neither Zhao Ziyang nor Gu Ying were around, although their four teammates were here, both for their protection and as guards.
Li Luo stretched lazily, inhaling deeply. A familiar fragrance clung to the wet, night air, and he turned to see Lu Qing’er approaching. She sat down beside him.
She had just returned from her bath in the mountain spring, and her green tresses hung damp, drying slowly as she held it out towards the fire.
“Not going to rest yet?” Li Luo asked cheerfully.
“Are you plotting something again?” she whispered, ignoring his courtesies.
Li Luo made sure everyone was out of earshot before replying, “Plotting? Who? And against who? You?”
“Stop playing the fool with me,” she said with a steely look. “Tell me straight: did you betray Zhu Xuan and the others?”
Li Luo’s smile showed that he was impressed. Lu Qing’er had always been a smart one. His actions in the last two days had been enough for her to piece things together.
“Let the dogs bite each other. It does not matter to us,” he said softly.
“Don’t think that Zhu Xuan and his team are here to protect us. It’s more likely that they only came because they heard that you have the Golden Dragon Qi. Believe me, only I’m true to you. Qin Zhulu is half a barbarian, so he’s only half true. All that I do is for you.”
Li Luo looked deep into her eyes. Lu Qing’er smiled, resting her chin on her hands. “Very charming.
“Well, I do believe you. Whatever you decide, I’ll support you fully. Even if Ning Zhao or Zhu Xuan make trouble for you when we get back, I’ll help you speak to my mother.”
Li Luo gave her a big thumbs up. “I love your very rational way of speaking.”
Qin Zhulu emerged from the treeline, holding his heavy spear loosely. He was covered in sweat and wood splinters alike. Evidently, he had been taking out his frustrations on the local vegetation again.
Giving Li Luo a disapproving grunt, he put his spear on his shoulder and disappeared into the tentage.
Li Luo didn’t know how to react.
He had no idea how to handle this man-child-bear who growled like a kid not allowed to play outside.
He spoke briefly with Lu Qing’er, then watched as she returned to the tents as well.
Li Luo looked further out into the night, to where Zhu Xuan’s team was on guard. Zhao Ziyang and Gu Ying were probably leading people their way…
Tonight promised to be intense, but it was none of his business. He was just a good boy waiting by the tent.
…
In the thin fog.
Zhu Xuan was perched high on a tree trunk, back leaning against it with his arms crossed and an emotionless expression. Slightly ahead of him was Ning Zhao, seated comfortably on a thick branch with his legs dangling off. He was bouncing a tiny spark of lightning resonance between his hands, humming each time it returned to his kunai knife.
Neither spoke, simply watching the forest with an expectant mood.
A chilling breeze blew through the forest.
Zhu Xuan turned his neck and watched the dark shadows between the trees. “Sneaking around so suspiciously… I knew you bunch were dirty.”
Two people walked out of the darkness. Zhao Ziyang and Gu Ying.
“Zhu Xuan, your squad arrived late. Of course you should play by our rules. Wait a few days, prove yourselves,” Zhao Ziyang said coolly.
“We weren’t planning to do anything to you, not until you pushed the limits and took our profits. So now we aren’t going to play nice either.”
“Shameless,” Zhu Xuan sneered. “Do you really think the Golden Dragon Qi is yours alone?”
“Without our protection all this time, do you think they could have held on to the Golden Dragon Qi? We’re just claiming remuneration that is rightfully ours.” Gu Ying tittered. “And don’t pretend you’re so noble either,” she challenged. “Aren’t you here for the same greedy reasons? You think we would believe you’re saints?”
Zhu Xuan refused to admit it. “The Golden Dragon Qi is with Qing’er. She’s from the Xia Kingdom, same as us. We’re definitely a hundred times closer than you are.”
“Which makes your exploitation all the more heartless,” Gu Ying said maliciously.
Zhao Ziyang took another step forward, his vermilion resonant power heating up the space around his arms. “Enough talk. Zhu Xuan, I give you a choice. Will you leave? Or will we make you leave?”
Zhu Xuan’s answer was to pull out a flaming, red brass-staff burning with power.
“I’ve always wanted to know if your lava or my fire resonance was stronger.”
Ning Zhao followed his lead, silver kunai crackling and humming with electricity.
“Zhu Xuan, looks like greed has made you stupid,” Gu Ying said, shaking her head. “You think a squad like yours can hope to compete?”
She waved a hand.
From the shadows, more people emerged, staring down Zhu Xuan’s team.
Zhao Ziyang commanded an alliance of four squads. Although they had left a few to watch Li Luo and the others, they still had an overwhelming advantage in terms of numbers.
Zhu Xuan watched them appear with noted indifference. He had expected it, of course.
“Oh, Zhao Ziyang, do you really think we would remain here without any preparations of our own? You’re not the only clever person in the world,” he said mildly.
Zhao Ziyang and Gu Ying’s eyes narrowed with suspicion.
Zhu Xuan’s red brass-staff was raised high in the air, and he sent up a column of fire that lit up the night sky.
Soon enough, they heard the familiar sound of whistling wind that announced the arrival of more people.
A few moments later, there were blinking flashes of resonant power seen through the trees.
At least a dozen people.
Zhao Ziyang and Gu Ying tensed. “Looks like you’re well-prepared!”
Zhu Xuan laughed. “I already knew you wouldn’t accept us willingly. Luckily, I found others who would. You’ve made many enemies along your way here… whereas I’ve made many friends.
“Zhao Ziyang, since you won’t share a sip of the wine, I’ll have to take the whole jug away. I’m not even going to leave you the pithy dregs.”
“Bold words. Show me, don’t tell me!” Shouting, Zhao Ziyang’s vermilion power burst forth as he shot towards Zhu Xuan, his arms glowing with deadly power.
Zhu Xuan’s own bronze staff was red-hot with his fire resonant power, creating its own heat wave as it distorted the air around it. He met Zhao Ziyang’s attack head-on.
Dang!
It was a colossal clash that signaled the start of a larger conflict between the two groups’ fighters.
The peace of the night was shattered in a flash.