Team Lao looked as Ghou Gin got higher and higher into the air, the Steam Bomb growing in size the higher he got.

“Zen, you said you can stop him?” Lao said. “How?”

“Yun Ip Chun, Deng Dandan, I need you two to use your Earth Technique to launch me into the air towards him.

“You want me to use an Earth technique with him?” Dandan said.

“Dandan,” Lao said, her voice with an edge. She turned to Zen. “I think I get your plan but it would be better if I did it.”

Lao got to her feet but then collapsed.

“We don’t have time for this. I am the only one who can do it!” Zen said. “You’re too weak and we need Chun and Dandan on the ground to perform the technique.

Lao nodded.

“I will need another thing from you, Captain.” Zen said, opening his hand towards her.

A moment later, Zen and Shibi were standing at the ready, in his hand, one of Lao’s sword.

“Alright, go!” Zen said.

Both Chun and Dandan thrust their hands into the ground. A section of the earth popped out from the ground, launching both Zen and Shibi into the air. They shot towards Ghou Gin.

Zen was starting to gain more distance into the air and Shibi slowed down because of his heavier bulk.

“Shibi, now!” Zen said.

Shibi used his forearms to launch Zen even further up while Zen pushed off them. Zen gained even more speed and height.

“Dashing Tackle!” Zen said, as ki surrounded him and he was propelled even further up.

Ghou Gin was now starting to notice him. “You can’t stop me!” He shouted.

Zen clenched his fist as he gathered ki. “Dazzling Jab!” His fist began sparkling with ki.

He pointed the sword at Ghou Gin and a ball of fire shoots out toward Ghou Gin.

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Ghou Gin kept rising higher. He saw the fireball coming at his face. Ghou Gin manifested water around his palm and blocked the ball of fire. As soon as he dealt with that, a ball of dazzling jab ki hit him in the face.

He was stunned for a moment but that moment was all that was needed for him to lose control of the Steam Explosion.

“No!” he shouted as the steam expanded. He thrust his hands out to block the explosion that engulfed him.

Shibi had landed on the ground and he and Team Lao looked up in worry as the steam was expanding to engulf Zen who was already falling to the earth. Zen brought forth another scroll. He activated the scroll just as the steam explosion engulfed him also.

The energy pushed the group on the ground flat against the earth as the massive explosion still reached the Earth.

Ghou Gin regained consciousness. He tried to gulp in some air but found his lungs being drowned in water. He realised he was in a moving river. The explosion had thrown him into the river. He broke the surface of the water and took a few gulps of air. His muscles burned and his body ached. Most of his power had been spent on protecting him from the blast of the explosion. He was in danger of drowning because of his exhaustion.

Using the little Water Elemental Energy he had left, he nudged the flow of the water, hoping it would lead him to the river shore. He mustered all his strength and reached out for a rocky outcrop on the shore.

He desperately clawed at the shore, trying to escape the flow of the river and the threat of death by drowning but his hands kept slipping. The flow of the river won and he was quickly slipping back into the river.

Black hands suddenly grabbed his and kept him from falling back into the water. Ghou Gin looked up at the long-nosed, red face of the being holding his hands. He could not sense any power form the being.

“A demon!” Ghou Gin said in despair.

“Don’t be so sad.” The being said. “I’m not going to kill you… at least, not if you tell me what I want to know.”

Ghou Gin had his back propped up against a tree. He looked at the being in front of him. “Alright, I told you everything I know about the Red Dragon Sect.”

“That you have,” The Red Faced Demon said. It touched a storage stone and out came another, lower quality storage stone. “Here.” The Red Faced Demon placed the storage stone in his palm.

“What’s this?” Ghou Gin weakly looked at the stone.

“Supplies.” The demon simply said. “There should be enough food and water to last you a few days in there.”

Ghou Gin clenched it in his hands. “Thanks.”

“I’d like to ask one more question.” The demon said. “Why would you hunt down the Xiu girl?”

“I need to protect my village, my family.” He said. “If the Red Dragon Sect…”

“Xiu would never betray you the Red Dragon Sect.” Zen said. “She dislikes them as much as you and I.” He summoned a book from his storage stone. “These are all her records, all her maps. Turn to the 53rd page.”

The demon handed the book over and Ghou Gin looked at the page. There was a map of his small village. He tore the page out and used his power to burn it.

“Thank you,” Ghou Gin said as the demon took the book back.

“Take care of yourself, Steam Dragon. Perhaps will meet again in the future.”

The demon began walking away. A Brown Hawk landed infront of him. It looked like it was hurt as its feathers were ruffled and had spots of blood. The demon climbed on the giant hawk and they flew away.