Gou Dzing stepped back.

Gaam Yuk Ying stepped forwards.

With a flick of Lo Fu Ngaa, he chopped the spear of the Cheon commander in two, then smacked two of the other soldiers on the top of their heads with the flat of Yiu Tsing before they could even blink

Fists formed of earth and rock erupted past him, slamming into three more soldiers and launching them backwards.

The remaining soldiers looked uncertainly to the Gou Patriarch, to find he was watching everything with an expression of conflicted pride. He turned to the soldiers with a sigh. “Pick up the injured and retreat. These two are the Jade Exorcist and Eye of the Hawk. They've broken through to their Third Daan-tin. None of you are a match for them.”

“Eye of the Hawk,” Gou Dzing repeated with a weak laugh. “That's nicer than Hawk-eyed Devil.”

“You think they'll just let us go like that?” The Cheon commander scrambled backwards on the ground, not taking her eyes off the two cultivators before her.

“They will,” the Gou Patriarch said, sadly. He breathed deep, then said to Gou Dzing, “If you change your mind, I'll advocate for you to the army command.”

Without waiting for a response, he flicked his sleeves and walked away. The remainder of the troop hesitantly, but with increasing confidence, picked themselves up and retreated. Gaam Yuk Ying and Gou Dzing watched them leave.

“Go back,” Gaam Yuk Ying said, as soon as they were out of earshot.

Gou Dzing opened his mouth to argue, but instead, he said, “I'll build you some walls.”

As he began to raise structures of earth, Gaam Yuk Ying sheathed his two blades. He watched Gou Dzing work, silently.

“Is that normal?”

“Is what normal?”

“Your grandfather. He didn't... try very hard. To stop you.”

Gou Dzing stopped what he was doing. “Gung-gung has a very strong moral code. He is loyal to his country, and to his family. But his family also has to be loyal to the country.” He scoffed. “I don't know what I expected really. I hoped-”

“That he would hit you?”

“What?”

“That's what my father did, when I tried to leave.”

Gou Dzing walked back and placed his hands firmly on Gaam Yuk Ying's shoulders. “No, Yuk Ying. That wasn't right either. There needs to be a conversation. Each party needs to try and understand either other first, at least. Gung-gung wouldn't listen to me... Your father didn't listen to you. How old were you?”

The other man shrugged. “Young.”

Gou Dzing's hands slid down until they were holding Gaam Yuk Ying's. He squeezed them gently.

“Are you okay?”

“Me? I'm fine. This is to be expected, really...” Oddly, something seemed to be caught in his throat. He tried to cough it away, but it remained there, stubbornly. “I... I should have expected it, Yuk Ying. So... So why...?”

When Gaam Yuk Ying gently kissed his cheek, he realised it was wet. They stood together for a long time, Gaam Yuk Ying holding Gou Dzing up as he tried to calm himself. The soothing feeling of a hand stroking his back eventually provoked a sigh. “Thanks, Ying. I should hurry back to Ming Yuet and brief everyone. It smells like it's going to rain.”

Indeed, there were thicker clouds rolling in off the southern ocean, dense amongst the coastal mist.

“Would you want to see them again?” Gou Dzing asked, as he shaped the ground around them.

Gaam Yuk Ying's expression was one of non-comprehension.

“Your family, I mean.”

“Maybe. I don't know.”

“If you do, I'll come with you. I'll tell them off.”

A rare smirk crossed Gaam Yuk Ying's face. “Thanks.”

“There.” Gou Dzing had constructed several walls and pits from which Gaam Yuk Ying could defend. “Don't get hurt. If there's too many of them, just retreat, okay?”

“Okay.”

They embraced again, feeling the first sprinkle of rain on their faces.

“I'll go back to Ming Yuet first,” Gou Dzing muttered into Gaam Yuk Ying's hair. “I'm sure they'll send troops quickly, so really, don't just stay here and get hurt, okay?”

“Okay,” Gaam Yuk Ying said again, his voice muffled.

They exchanged a fleeting kiss, then Gou Dzing began to run, boosted by the ripples of earth he sent under his feet. Gaam Yuk Ying watched until he was out of sight.

From the west came the faint sound of approaching troops. He closed his eyes, listening. Although his hearing was not as keen as his vision, it far surpassed any normal human, so he could pick out individual sounds – the stamp and snort of horses, the ring of armour, and other, more indefinite sounds. Something stirred in his other senses too, making his hei prickle through his meridians.

He waited at the border, watching the new troops approaching. The expressions that greeted him were a mixture of hostility, fear, and for some, excitement.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

The Gou Patriarch was nowhere to be seen. Rather, all of the troops appeared to be wearing the spring green uniform of Cheon, some armoured, some not. The Cheon Commander he had seen before was mounted on a horse, and next to her, in deep red robes, sat a familiar-looking man.

Gaam Yuk Ying bowed expressionlessly. “Fire Master.”

“I'm not your master, you traitor.” The Fire Master's expression was one of tense anticipation.

“Apologies... Ying Fo.”

A smattering of suppressed giggles broke out amongst the troops. Ying Fo almost turned as red as his robes.

“Where's your dog of a boyfriend?”

“Dzing got bored waiting for you.” Gaam Yuk Ying drew Yiu Tsing with his left hand, contemplating the blade as he held it in a backwards grip. “I'm also getting bored.”

Ying Fo jumped from his horse, drawing daggers from his belts, eyes flashing red sparks. “Everyone back off. None of you are his opponent.”

“Are you talking to yourself?” Gaam Yuk Ying asked expressionlessly.

Ying Fo's response was to fling his daggers. Narrowly dodging, Gaam Yuk Ying drew Lo Fu Ngaa too. The Fire Master was as fast as Teem Djeung Baak, and perhaps almost as mad. His flying blades were mixed with burning orbs of fire that had Gaam Yuk Ying bouncing back and forth, unable to move closer, but able to avoid being burnt.

He sent Yiu Tsing shooting towards Ying Fo's chest, chopping at the remaining knives and fiery orbs with Lo Fu Ngaa. The Fire Master just managed to deflect Yiu Tsing with two of his daggers, only to nearly lose his head as Gaam Yuk Ying flashed in, swinging his dou. As it was, he managed to turn his head, the blade tip scraping his neck. Blood streaming from the narrow gash, he took advantage of Gaam Yuk Ying's proximity to throw a dagger, aiming for his face. The younger cultivator was forced to backflip, regaining his feet with a slash across his nose bridge.

The Cheon troops were beginning to creep forwards, but the Fire Master waved them back. “He's my opponent! He's a traitor!”

“You're the one opposing the Grandmaster's orders,” Gaam Yuk Ying pointed out, undoing one of his earrings, and sending it zipping into Ying Fo's left foot. The Fire Master barely saw the flash of silver before it burrowed into his flesh. With a hiss of pain, he swiped at the blood on his neck, then flung more daggers, his aim no longer as accurate. Several of the daggers went wide, burying their points into the earth.

Gaam Yuk Ying darted forwards again, but as he did, some sixth sense made him change directions at the last moment.

“Too late!” Ying Fo shouted, clapping his hands together. “Burning Array!”

The thrown daggers hadn't been mis-aimed at all. Combined with his blood, the Fire Master had laid out an intricate trap, the daggers placed such that he could channel his hei to burn whatever lay in the middle.

Gaam Yuk Ying clenched his teeth, preparing for the searing heat. His silvery eyes stabbed at Ying Fo.

At once, two things happened.

The Fire Master grunted in pain, stumbling back in shock as a gash suddenly opened on his chest.

The Burning Array flared up for a second, and then, with a sound like a dull thud of falling earth, the fire went out.

Ying Fo looked about wildly, until his eyes fell on the hillocks and pits that Gou Dzing had left, then he began to laugh, incredulously. “There was already an array here. An Earth Protection Array... What bad luck.”

“What luck?” Gaam Yuk Ying asked coldly, his eyes flashing. The Fire Master felt another sudden sting, this time on his chin, and now that was bleeding too.

“Sword Eyes...” He carelessly put weight on his injured left foot and fell to the ground, grimacing in pain. “Ha... I was never your match even from the start.” When he looked up, his own eyes glittered with blood-red flecks. “Who is that girl with the Fire powers?”

Gaam Yuk Ying abruptly looked away.

“She's strong. Perhaps you'll meet your match, you young monster.”

“She will kill anyone she wants. She's not your friend.”

“The enemy of my enemy is a friend.” Ying Fo grinned. “I hope I see her burn you to a crisp.”

“You're insane.”

“No, if I was insane, I would keep fighting a losing battle. But I know when I've lost, and for some reason you don't seem interested in killing me.” The Fire Master was assisted upright by a couple of soldiers. “See you next time, Jade Demon.”

Gaam Yuk Ying watched the troops retreat out of sight, eyes narrowed. When they at last disappeared, he squeezed his eyes shut. He tried to blink a few times, his eyes now bloodshot. He did not have a high enough mastery over Sword Eyes yet.

“Is it my turn now?” Teem Djeung Baak asked.

Gaam Yuk Ying immediately dived behind one of the earthen walls, to the woman's apparent amusement.

“Little Handsome, if I wanted to surprise attack you, I would have done it already. You're so funny!”

“You'll attack any time you like.”

“That's true...” Teem Djeung Baak sat down on top of one of the walls, considering the stump where her left hand had been. “It was really mean of you to cut my hand off, you know. But that Junior Sister of yours was even worse. I couldn't even reattach it afterwards.”

“What a pity.”

“So where's your boyfriend?” She looked around, as if expecting Gou Dzing to suddenly pop out of the earth like a mole. “He made this lovely protection array for you and then ran away, did he? I knew I should have killed him when I had a chance.”

“I have the same thought about you.”

“You've been thinking about me? How sweet!” She turned her huge eyes towards the wall where Gaam Yuk Ying was sheltering. “Little Handsome, won't you come out?”

“No.”

“That's a pity.” She spun a dagger in her remaining hand expertly. “I want to play.”

“Go play in Cheon.”

“With the troops from before?” She looking thoughtfully in the direction where the troops had retreated. “That man you fought was nasty to you, wasn't he? Maybe I should play with him.”

Gaam Yuk Ying didn't respond. He remained crouched behind the wall, wiping blood from his neck. All senses on alert, directed towards Teem Djeung Baak, he realised suddenly that she was no longer there. Emerging cautiously from behind the barrier, he scanned the area.

She was gone.

He pulled a small first aid kit from a pouch on his belt, applying salve and cloth to the wound on his neck while continuously scanning the landscape. It wasn't long before, mixed with the fresh scent of light rain, came the smell of blood from over the hills to the west.

He wiped his bloody hands on the dewy grass until they were clean, then sat himself on the top of the wall where Teem Djeung Baak had sat. Squinting westwards despite his stinging eyes, it seemed as though not much time had passed by until he heard sounds, this time from behind him.

“Yuk Ying!”

At last, Gaam Yuk Ying released his unceasing stare to the west and turned to see Gou Dzing and a mix of Dzue and loong soldiers approaching. It seemed Gong Ming Dzue had managed to temporarily escape the palace too. She wore a large veiled hat, but there was no mistaking the fluid way she moved. It seemed as though the rain, where she walked, was heavier, although she herself remained perfectly dry.

She sniffed the air. “I smell a great deal of blood from the west.”

Gaam Yuk Ying tilted his head to allowed Gou Dzing to remove the bandage on his neck and examine his wound. “Teem Djeung Baak.”

“Did she do this to you?” Gou Dzing asked grimly as he worked.

“No. Ying Fo.”

“The Fire Master? He was here?”

“They retreated. Then Teem Djeung Baak appeared.

“Did she say anything to you?”

“Nothing important.” Gaam Yuk Ying closed his sore eyes. “Thank you.”

“... for the protection array?”

“And fast.”

“The platoon was already on their way here. I met them part way.”

“Retreat to Tsaam Lam,” Gong Ming Dzue ordered. “We'll handle the border, whether Teem Djeung Baak or the Two Ducks-Five Kittens, or whatever they're called, turns up.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Gou Dzing's eyes drifted west.

“Yim Se. Fei Ngo.”

Two soldiers, one loong, one human, stepped forwards and saluted.

“Scout ahead to see the result of Teem Djeung Baak engaging with the enemy army. Take absolute care not to be observed. Look in particular for an elderly man with a Gou Family identity plaque.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The two soldiers disappeared into landscape.

“You should go,” Gong Ming Dzue said to the two cultivators. “We will send word after you.”

Gou Dzing crouched to offer his back to Gaam Yuk Ying. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

He set off northeast, hopping from outcrop to outcrop, pushing himself along by moving the rocks, not looking back once. Not one word was exchanged between them.