The group walked through the forest in a thin trail. Lao was walking ahead of everyone, with Chun and Dandan on either side of Xiu, who was in the middle. Old man Xiu was walking just behind his daughter with Zen bringing up the rear.

“So, old man Xiu,” Wang Zen said. “I guess you are retired now.”

“Yes,” he said. “I used to be a low city guard.”

“Ho, you must have been in some serious fights.” Zen said. “Especially during the Civil War.”

“You have no idea, kid.” The man said before he began regaling Zen with his stories.

Xiu smiled as she heard her father speak with passion.

“Oh man, that smile melts my heart!” Chun said, walking closer to her. “You know, later tonight, you can join me for a drink.”

“Seems you’ve already had that drink, Chun.” Dandan said.

“You know, Dandan, maybe you need a drink. Might help you loosen up.”

“I would never share anything that’s touched your lips.” Dandan said, her face twisting in disgust. “That mouth probably has a thousand…”

Lao moved quickly before Chun. She flicked her coattail in the air much to Chun’s confusion. “Lao, what’s up?”

Lao raised her coattail and revealed a knife that she caught. “Throwing knife,” she said.

Dandan cam over to their side. “Where was it thrown from?”

Lao pointed, “It came from…”

“Look out!” Zen stepping into Xiu’s exposed side while summoning a short dao blade. He raised his sword to block an iron sphere that shot at Xiu. He was able to block it but from up close, saw the chain attached to the iron ball. The ball swung around his short blade, the chain attached to it winding around it.

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“A Meteor Hammer?” Zen said before he was paralyzed by a shock that ran across his body.

At the end of the chain was a man, his hands were sparking with electricity, electricity he was currently sending down the chain to shock Zen. The man yanked the chain and Zen was pulled forward along the ground.

“No!” Chun said, placing both hands on the ground.

A wall erupted from the ground, stopping Zen’s forward progress.

“Pull him back!” Lao said, summoning a longer single edge blade.

“I don’t know how to do that!” he snapped.

“Useless boy!” Dandan said as she raked the ground with her fingers and pulled.

The ground beneath Zen pulled him back and freed his sword of the chain.

“Protect Xiu and her father!” Lao said, rushing past Zen, who was still lying on the ground, to engage the man with the Meteor Hammer.

“I can help…” Zen said, getting up.

“No! You’re useless, stay back and let her handle it!” Dandan said.

“We still have to worry about whoever is throwing knives,” Chun said. “Maybe we should build an Earth Wall.”

“And leave Lao to face these people alone? Coward! But why am I surprised, you’re a man!” Dandan said.

“I have a better idea.” Zen said. “Moon Aura!” Whirling ki erupted from Zen. He spread his arms out and the ki grew to engulf them. “This should protect anyone inside.”

Sure enough, more knives were thrown at them but the swirl of ki deflected the knives away.

“Nice!” Chun said.

Meanwhile, Lao was charging towards the man with the Meteor Hammer. Water came out of the blade, shaping itself into a much bigger blade. She slammed the sword down and a wave of water shot out at the man.

The man slammed his electric iron ball at the incoming wave. Their was an explosion and water rained down from the sky. The man tried to charge electricity but was shocked, bringing him to his knees.

“Finding it hard to use your lightning technique with all this water, huh?” Lao said, as she rushed forward. “Only someone who is really good with Lightning can use it amongst all this water without shocking themselves.”

“Genuis!” Dandan said.

The two fought each other, the puddle of water beneath them splashing as they jumped around. Electricity surrounded the two as they traded blows but the man with the Meteor Hammer was the only one getting shocked.

The man drew back. “Consider yourself lucky! Lightning Vanish!”

Lao’s eyes widened. “You wouldn’t!”

She leapt back, trying to get clear of the puddle. The man’s body glowed with power before a bright flash of lightning shot up into the sky from where he stood and when the lightning ended, the man was gone!