“Keep your eyes on the ridge lines,” Susu whispered, more to herself than her disciples. Scouts usually positioned themselves with clear sight lines to the road while remaining hidden from below.

She’d chosen three promising vantage points to investigate, spots where the natural terrain provided both coverage and escape routes.

As she moved quickly through the forest, Li’er clung to her back, her arms wrapped around her mother’s neck. The conical hat occasionally brushed against low-hanging branches protecting her from scrapes.

Wei Zhen and Liu Fang followed, trying their best to keep up with Susu. They had recently entered the Mind Awakening Realm and had recently the carriage creaked as Hong Quan and Luan made their way through the forest. Dusk had arrived and painted the sky in hues of purple and orange, light filtered through the canopy in scattered beams that seemed to dance with each passing breeze. The straw men shifted with each bump and turn, their rough-spun robes rustling as they continued their journey.

Luan held the reins, his hands holding the leather as he scanned the ridgelines above. The canyon walls loomed on either side, its jagged edges catching the last rays of sunlight whilst casting long shadows across the narrow path. In these shadows, Luan knew, death could be waiting. The air grew cooler with setting sun, carrying the scent of flowers with the earthy dampness of the forest floor.

Hong Quan sat beside Luan, meditating. As he meditated, he was tracking every sound and movement around them. The deeper they went into the forest, the quieter it got, which was weird. The natural chatter of birds and small animals gave way to an uneasy silence.

The carriage rounded a bend, entering the narrowest part of the pass where the canyon walls pressed in close enough to brush the wagon’s sides. The wheels echoed off the walls, amplifying in the growing darkness. Quan twitched his fingers, trying to listen through the nose.

A flash of movement caught Quan’s attention. He turned right saw something through the trees ahead, purple robes running towards them. His heart quickened for a second, but calmed itself the next second, recognising Susu’s disciples in the short distance.

Luan pulled back on the reins, bringing the carriage to a stop as the rest of the group emerged from the forest. Hong Quan leapt off the carriage, his eyes scanning for Wei Long, realising he wasn’t with Susu. Did something happen?!

A chill ran down his spine, he realised that Wei Long wasn’t there. Merchants, disciples and Susu gathered around the carriage. The merchants were heaving from trying to keep up with Susu and her disciples.

One of the disciples was injured, Liu Fang. Wei Zhen was propping him up and the agony painted on his face told Quan everything he needed to know…something went wrong, but he could care less.

“Where’s Wei Long?”

“I don’t know,” Susu said firmly, cuddling her daughter on her back.

“What’s going on, I thought we had a plan, why are these people here?”

“…these people, were ambushed by Phantom Fox Brigade.”

“What?” He asked confused.

“I didn’t stutter Hong Quan, these merchants were ambushed. We had to save them.”

“That’s expected of us, but Where is Wei Long?” Hong Quan repeated, his voice growing angry by the second. “You still haven’t answered my question!”

Susu adjusted Li’er on her back, her expression remaining neutral. “He volunteered to search for an antidote. Liu Fang was hit with their poison arrows.”

“Volunteered?” Hong Quan snapped like thunder. “He’s a child! You let him go back there…. ALONE?!”

“He said he’d retreat if there’s trouble.”

“He’s SEVEN years old!" Quan stepped forward, his qi flaring visibly around him. “Seven…you let him go back WITH THOSE MISCREANTS?!”

“Master Quan,” Wei Zhen pleaded, but Quan silenced him with a sharp gesture.

“I told him to retreat if he saw any bandits," Susu said coldly. “He understood the risks.”

“He understood the risks?!” Quan laughed bitterly. “Like your daughter understands risks? The one you keep hidden behind veils, hats and over-sized CLOTHES!? The one you won't let out of your sight for even a moment?!…But I suppose other children’s lives don't matter as much, do they?”

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

“You don’t understand—“

“No!” Quan snapped, “I understand perfectly…you’ll sacrifice ANYONE, as long as your daughter remains safe!”

Susu didn’t respond, she stood there, looking at the swordsman, unfazed. She swallowed deeply and sighed, trying to quell her frustration.

How could she? He was right.

“Silence? This is first from the GREAT Scorpion Maiden!” Quan spat,

Susu’s hand caressed Scourge, but she removed it realising what she was about to do. “You’re not wrong Cold Steel. I will put my daughter before everyone…because why wouldn’t I?”

Hong Quan stepped forward and Luan and Wei Zhen appeared in front of Susu, separating the master martial artists. “They’re trained well, it is pity they are wasted on the likes of the Purple Mist Sect!”

“Hong Quan…you speak as if you know me. When I entered the Martial Arts Tournaments all those years ago. I remember your scorn when you saw me. ‘Susu the Parsonian’”

Hong Quan froze, stunned by Susu’s words. I never called you that…that was everyone! He thought bitterly.

“That’s different—are you not Parsonian?”

“By blood, but I am by rights a Huaxian just like you. I grew up here, I trained here. I WAS BORN HERE…my skin colour shouldn’t matter!”

The merchants and disciples watched in tense silence as the two masters faced each other, the air thick with unspoken accusations. Li’er remained silent on her mother's back, her face hidden beneath her conical hat, while Liu Fang’s laboured breathing provided a grim reminder of why they were all here.

“You’re right,” Hong Quan said softly, his anger deflating slightly. “Your skin colour shouldn’t matter. And I... I was wrong back then. When I saw you at the tournament, I let prejudice cloud my judgment.”

“And yet here you are, doing the same thing again,” Susu answered, flustered “Judging my decisions without understanding them. The only difference is now you show me respect because I’ve proven myself with my martial arts.”

Hong Quan's jaw tightened. “I apologized for that behaviour years ago. I was young, immature, and I learned from those mistakes. But this...This isn’t about you being Parsonian. This is about sending a child…Wei Long!”

“I know!” Susu snapped back. “I weighed the options poorly. Wei Long was crafty in how he moved through the forest. He’s young, but I believe he could do this without issue…I thought...” She said adjusting Li’er on her back again, then caught herself. “I was wrong. I shouldn’t have let him go.”

The admission caught Hong Quan off guard. His qi subsiding slightly, as he processed her words.

“Quan…we need to focus on what matters now," Susu continued, turning to the group. “Liu Fang needs immediate attention. The poison is spreading.” She then looked at the merchants catching their attention. “Who’s the leader here?”

“I am,” A portly man said walking forward with sweeping robes.

“Your name?”

“Jing Tou,”

“Mr. Tou…take my disciple Liu Fang to the Martial Arts Alliance command office within Sichuan city. His name is Ming Lei he should be able to look after.”

“Not a problem…may I ask your name my Lady…”

“Susu, Ban Susu…”

“The Scorpion Maiden,” He said with a bow, “thank you for saving me.”

“Not a problem, please hurry. Take our carriage.”

“I’ll ensure he gets there safely,” Jing Tou said.

“I appreciate it.” Susu nodded. “Wei Zhen, help them prepare for the journey.”

Susu turned to Hong Quan and give him a nod. “We’ll follow Wei Long’s track and might be able to find clues,”

Hong Quan watched as they carefully moved Liu Fang to the merchant’s wagon. When he spoke again, his voice was measured. “Let’s go, Luan, follow us. Wei Zhen will come when he can, but don’t be rash.”

“Yes Master Quan.

The merchants departed with Liu Fang, but the tension between Hong Quan and Susu hadn’t dissipated, but it transformed into something more focused and productive.

The forest seemed to grow the darker it got. Shadows between the treelines deepened as night approached.

The purple-orange sky turned to an inky black that seemed to drip through the canopy above. As Li’er clung to Susu’s back, she sped through the forest as quick as she could.

The disappearance was playing on her mind. It wasn’t that she was cold hearted, it was simply the fact that protecting Li’er was foremost important to her.

After her early life experiences, she had to feel loved, she had to feel protected, she had to feel that theirs more to life…. that this.

The smell of decay grew stronger as they progressed. It wasn’t natural rot of fallen leaves, but something metallic and sharp that spoke of spilled blood. “The earth’s natural vital energy is disturbed.” Wei Zhen whispered. “It’s like what Master Ying described.”

“Mmhmm,” Hong Quan said with a nod. He could feel the lingering traces of violence that hung in the air like wisps.

The trees seemed to stitch together, in strange shapes that loomed in the growing darkness. Light from the moon caught the edges of spider webs strung between branches, making them glitter like strands of silver.

“We’re here.” Susu said suddenly, pointing ahead with her free hand.

The clearing opened up before them, a roughly circular space where the trees thinned out enough to let in what little starlight penetrated the clouds above.

The ground was churned up, telling its own story of the battle that had taken place. Broken arrows littered the earth, their purple fletching marking them as the Brigade’s work.

“You killed any of Brigade’s men?”

“I did,” Susu answered.

“I guess the reports of them taking their dead is true.”

They spread out across the clearing, searching using the moon’s light. Arrows, bloodstained grass and dead leaves splattered everywhere, but no Wei Long.

They continued their search for a half hour, but found little else of use. The Brigade covered their tracks perfectly for the growing darkness which made it difficult spot clues.

Susu gathered them back in the centre of the clearing. “We’re losing time…we need to split up.”

“Agreed,” Hong Quan said, surprising her with his quick acceptance. “But we do this carefully. The Brigade could still be watching.”

”Wei Zhen, you’re with Hong Quan, Luan, you’re with me. We’re looking for blood trails. That’s our best chest to find their hideout.”

“Are you bringing your daughter with you? I didn’t want to say anything, but she should’ve head back to the city.”

“She stays with me!” Susu hissed.

“We’ve already lost one child today. Scorpion Maiden…you can’t fight at your best with her on your back like that.”

“Watch me.”