4 comments/ 11060 views/ 20 favorites The Staff of Wuzen Ch. 01 By: JianYe It was spring in the Jade Empire, on the third month of the year, when the peach trees would blossom. A lone monk, holding a stout wooden staff, his shaved head covered by a wide-brimmed hat that granted a measure of protection against the light but incessant rain, made long, confident strides over the muddy country road. The monk's name was Fuyun, and he was returning to the Wuzen Temple after completing his mission: to hunt down a man who had murdered an entire village, a deed so bloody that it shocked even the Martial World, and bring him to justice. Fuyun's master was clear, there could be no mercy for the perpetrator of this evil act. Finding the murderer was easy, the man was the leader of a notorious outlaw gang. Fuyun tracked him to his lair and stalked the outlaws for thirteen days. He struck from the shadows, slaying without leaving a trace. The terrified outlaws began to desert, first in trickles then in droves, until Fuyun's quarry had only a few loyal bodyguards remaining. A terrific battle ensued, with Fuyun emerging victorious. Justice had been served, and the dead were avenged. The task done, Fuyun hurriedly began the journey home. The Great Martial Tournament, an event held only once every five years, was fast approaching. As Fuyun climbed over a hill, he saw in the distance down the road a group of people engaged in battle. The distance was too great to make out details, but it seemed that there were at least six fighting against two. Fuyun frowned as he watched the scene. Six against two was unfair odds, but he was hesitant to intervene in a fight that did not concern him, at least, not without even knowing the cause. Nevertheless, there was always the possibility that innocent travelers were being set upon by brigands. With this thought, Fuyun hurried his strides. As he approached the battle, he saw that the fight had reached a natural lull. Six men, clad in black and yellow and brandishing steel sabres, had surrounded two women. The women, barely older than girls, were standing back to back, their raven black hair in disarray and their rain-soaked clothes torn in several places. One of them was holding her sword in her left hand, as her right arm hung limply at her side. Fuyun stopped twenty paces away from the combatants. Unlike an inexperienced would-be adventurer, Fuyun knew that could be as dangerous as men, and that appearances were often deceptive. Without knowing the cause of the battle, Fuyun was reluctant to intervene. One of the girls, for Fuyun decided that they really were no more than girls, saw him approach. Her eyes widened in recognition of a Wuzen monk. Hope flashed across her comely features, fading quickly as she realized Fuyun was not about to intervene. With a roar in unison, the men in black resumed their attack. The two girls met their charge with grim determination. The sound of metal striking metal echoed, as the two swords danced among the sabres. A few moments later, one of the men screamed out in pain, quickly followed by a cry from one of the girls, and the fighters separated again. Only five men stood this time. The one who had screamed was lying face up on the ground, a still swaying sword sticking out of his chest. The older of the girls, the one who had see Fuyun approach, was now unarmed, and a fresh bloody gash tore her left sleeve. Fuyun had seen enough. Whatever this battle was about, he could notrisk letting two innocent girls die while he stood idly by. Even if the girls were somehow evil, he did not want to see more bloodshed when he can stop it. "Halt!" Fuyun cried out. One of the men, the oldest of them and their apparent leader, glanced at Fuyun. He gave a little start as he recognized a Wuzen monk. "This matter does not concern the Wuzen!" The leader said, as he focused his attention back on the girls. "Do not interfere in something you know nothing about!" "Mercy of Nuwa," replied Fuyun. "What evils have these two young girls committed, that six grown men would wish to kill them so fervently?" "These bitches are vile assassins." The leader answered. "We are simply bringing them to justice." "Don't listen to them!" One of the girls, the younger one, cried out. "These men ambushed my sister and I. They want to take us to their master to serve as concubines!" Fuyun's eyes narrowed. "Is this true?" He asked the leader of the black-clad men. Just then, a sharp whistle screeched from the distance. Upon hearing it, the black-clad leader grinned. "No reason we can't have some fun, especially considering the pain they've been." "Do you think that I will allow you to do that?" Fuyun's voice took on a dangerous edge. "You? Probably not." The leader replied. "You Wuzen losers are always so eager to meddle in what you shouldn't, but I don't think you can stop us." As if on cue, a dozen black and yellow clad men appeared at the end of the road. "You overestimate your abilities..." Fuyun's words barely trailed off before he moved, fast as lightning. He took off his hat and sent it spinning toward one of the men in black, catching him in the throat. The man went down with a strangled yelp. Even before his body had hit the ground, Fuyun had covered the twenty paces that separate him from the men in black, his ironwood staff whistling through the air, arcing toward their leader. The leader brought up his sabre just in time to parry the blow, but the force of the impact sent him reeling, his sabre flying out of his grasp. Fuyun spun in the opposite direction, making use of the force of the staff's rebound, and swept his staff across the midsection of a third man in black. That man could not bring up his sabre in time, and crumpled around the staff, the air knocked out of his lungs. Fuyun followed up with a sharp kick, knocking him over and out cold. Fuyun heard a feminine cry, and before he could stop her, the younger girl had thrust her sword through the disarmed leader's chest. The older girl picked up her sword and attacked the two remaining men. The men, seeing three of their numbers taken out in an eye blink, turned to flee toward their comrades in the distance. The two girls looked at each other and simultaneous reached into their clothes. "Wait!" Fuyun called out, but it was too late. The girls swung their arms and two darts flew out, striking the fleeing men. Both collapsed in mid stride with a cry of pain, and moved no more. "Quickly, we must go!" Fuyun said after a silent sigh. "Their friends will be upon us in a moment!" "My sister is hurt!" The younger girl exclaimed. "Can't you defeat them for us?" Fuyun frowned. "I could not have defeated the three of them so easily without the element of surprise. I would not wish to fight a dozen of them head-on." "Don't worry about us, xiao-shifu." The older girl spoke up, for the first time. Her voice was as sweet as a fresh mountain spring. Xiao-shifu, an honorific title for young monks. "Thank you for your assistance. You must go now, those men will not chase after you." "But jiejie! You are wounded!" The younger girl cried. "Hush, meimei. We cannot drag this xiao-shifu into our own troubles." For a moment, Fuyun was mesmerized by the older girl's voice. With a start, he came back to himself and scowled. "Don't be ridiculous," He said gruffly. "If I didn't want trouble, I wouldn't be here." He pulled a yellow sash from a man's clothes and handed it to the younger girl. "Bandage your sister's wounds quickly, and make your way to those woods over there. Stay there, I will come and find you." "What will you do?" The older girl asked. "I'm going to buy you some time. Now bandage your wound and get going!" Fuyun bent down to retrieve his hat. Without a further word, he charged toward the men in black. His charge took them by surprise, and his sweeping staff scattered their ranks. They tried to surround him, but Fuyun was moving too fast, his staff a spinning whirlwind. Two men who tried to get close got their sabres knocked out of their hands, and one of them collapsed in a heap as he was struck on the temple. With one of their numbers down, the others became more cautious. They swung their sabres defensively and slowly widened their distance as they moved to form a circle around Fuyun. Once they surround him, it would be difficult for Fuyun to escape. Seeing this, Fuyun made a feint and leaped out of melee. As soon as he landed on his feet, he ran. Not toward the woods he had directed the girls to head toward, but away from the road into the muddy grass fields. He turned his head in time to see the men split into two groups. Half of them came after him, while the others ran after the girls. Fuyun kept running, but deliberately slowing his pace so that the men chasing him could keep up. When the two groups were sufficiently far apart, Fuyun suddenly veered and ran toward the group chasing after the girls. At his full speed, those men in black had no hope of catching or escaping him. He crashed into the second group from behind, setting upon them like a tiger upon sheep. His staff knocking one man unconscious as a circle kick knocked two others to the ground. The remaining men in black cautiously backed away from him, obviously waiting for the arrival of their comrades. It was enough. The girls must be in the woods by now. With a laugh, Fuyun shadow-stepped out of sight. * * * It wasn't difficult to find the girls. They were obviously unused to moving through woods, for they left a clear trail of crushed leaves and sheared branches, and the occasional piece of torn clothing. The look of relief when the girls saw him was evident. "Did you kill them all?" The younger girl asked upon seeing him. "No, I didn't kill anyone, Nuwa have mercy," Fuyun said. "But you have nothing to worry about, at least for now. I left two of them unconscious, and the rest won't be so eager to follow me, especially not into woods where their numbers won't give them any advantage. Still, we'd better get going. There's no telling how many more of them are in the area." "My sister is still hurt. We need to find some place to rest!" The younger girl said. The older girl opened her mouth to protest, but Fuyun spoke before she could. "Let me take a look, I might be able to help." Without waiting for either girl's reply, he knelt down beside the older sister and picked up her arm. The girl's worst wounds seemed to be a long gash on her left arm and a deep cut on her right shoulder. The cut on the right shoulder was by far the more serious wound. In addition to martial arts and Zen philosophy, Wuzen training included healing and warding magic. Though he knew only the most rudimentary levels of Cleansing, it was enough for Fuyun to stabilize the girl's bleeding and clean the wounds so that infection won't set in. Though the wounds improved little, at least they would heal cleanly. While Fuyun worked, the three of them made introductions. The two girls were sisters. The older girl's name was Ziyi, and the younger one was called Meiya. Though they were only two years apart, Ziyi seemed every bit the older sister, and Meiya seemed to relish her role as the younger sister. When Ziyi's wounds have been Cleansed and bandaged anew, the three set out deeper into the forest. After only a few minutes, Ziyi's steps began to falter. "She's lost too much blood, she needs rest." Fuyun told Meiya. "Here, I'll carry her." Fashioning a sling from his monk robe, Fuyun hoisted Ziyi onto his back despite her protests. With Ziyi thus secured, the three of them resumed their journey. They walked in silence at first, Fuyun lost in concentration as he carefully picked his way through the undergrowth. Suddenly, Meiya giggled. "What's so funny?" Asked Ziyi. "I just remembered," Meiya said. "Aren't monks supposed to be forbidden from touching women?" On hearing that, Ziyi started giggling too. Fuyun hoped that his blush wasn't visible. "We Wuzen monks are supposed to help those in need, and that's exactly what I'm doing right now." Fuyun tried to make his voice sound gruff. "Do you want to carry your sister instead?" "Oh no," Meiya laughed. "She's way too heavy for me!" Upon hearing that, Ziyi pretended to be angry and tried to strike Meiya, who lithely dodged out of the way and began running circles around Fuyun and Ziyi. The two girls giggled and played around until Ziyi leaned too far and almost fell off. Fuyun caught her just in time, but Ziyi had hurt her arm in the process. Seeing this, Meiya began to apologize profusely, until Fuyun silenced her with a growl. "Be quiet! Do you want to bring our hunters to us?" Meiya stuck out her tongue and remained silent. Fuyun, however, could not concentrate as clearly now. He became all too aware of how sweet Ziyi's breath felt against the back of his neck, how soft her hair felt, falling in waves upon his shoulder, how warm her flesh felt, pressed against his bare back... "Grace of Nuwa, by Thy Mercy, grant me the strength to resist earthly temptations, that I may open my eyes to Enlightenment..." Fuyun prayed under his breath, hoping that the familiar mantra could drive those improper thoughts from his mind. Unfortunately, the more he tried not to think about how good the girl's body felt, he more aware of it he became. Fuyun hoped that the heat he felt on his face wasn't readily apparent. Hoping to take his own mind off Ziyi's soft body pressed against him, Fuyun asked, "So do you know what clan those guys are from?" There was the slightest hint of hesitation before Ziyi answered, "They told us they were from the Black Mountain Gang." "A common outlaw gang?" Fuyun shook his head in disbelief. "Those men were skilled fighters. No outlaw gang I know of has this many good fighters, and if they did, they wouldn't remain unknown for long." "Well, it's not as if you know every outlaw gang in the world!" Meiya said. "Perhaps not, but I'd like to think of myself as fairly knowledgeable in this matter. Furthermore, these guys fought with the same style. This suggests a school, perhaps even a clan, and not just an outlaw gang." "Then it must be as you say, Fuyun dag'e. You are much more knowledgeable and experienced in the world than my sister and I." Ziyi said. dag'e -- big brother -- a friendly, sometimes intimate title conferred to a slightly older male. Had he not been a monk, this appellation would've been appropriate. As it was, however, especially considering the way Ziyi was resting on his back, as if she had no strength left in her entire body, the title took on an all too intimate feeling. Fuyun cleared his throat and kept silent, unable to think of anything to say. Unable to think of anything other than that soft body pressing against his back. They walked in silence for a time, Fuyun daring not to stop to rest. Ziyi soon fell asleep on his back. They reached a small river as the sun began to set. By now, Meiya was stumbling from exhaustion, and even Fuyun was feeling weary. "We'll stop here for the night." Fuyun announced. He woke up Ziyi and gently deposited her against a tree. "You two rest." Fuyun said to the girls. "I'll set up the camp." The girls were too tired to do anything other than nod. Fuyun soon had a fire going, and seeing the two girls fast asleep, he sat down by the fire and ate his provisions in silence. In the light if the fire, his eyes could not help but wander back again and again to the two girls sleeping, huddled against each other. Ziyi looked to be about 20, while Meiya looked to be about 18, and both of them were heart-achingly beautiful. Never before had Fuyun felt the constraint off his vows. He was born a poor farmer's son, but barely remembered his parents. War had come to his village when he was still very young. He became separated from his family while they were fleeing the fighting. His master had found him and brought him back to the Wuzen Temple. For 20 years, the Temple was the only home he knew. Life there was simple and peaceful. Even during his many excursions at the behest of his master, he had seldom dealt with women, and never with a girl that had set his heart racing. Though he knew he was smitten with Ziyi, he could not help but notice how equally pretty Meiya was. While Ziyi had a gentle grace, Meiya possessed an exuberant innocence. He thought that he could not decide which one he desired more. In fact, his heart Todd him that what he really wanted was the both of them. With a start, Fuyun realized what he was thinking. Here he was, a monk of the Wuzen Temple, sworn before Nuwa to remain pure in body and spirit, sworn before his master to uphold justice and righteousness, and all he could think about was how soft Ziyi and Meiya's bodies would feel in his arms, how smooth and silky their skin would feel under his hands. Thoughts obscene, impure, and forbidden by everything he was taught! Fuyun shook his head and tried reciting prayers and mantra to drive these thoughts from his mind. He tried to meditate, but could not clear his mind. Finally, exhausted as much by the day's events as buy his inner struggle, Fuyun fell asleep, and dreamed... * * * It was twilight, and he was waking in the woods. He heard the sound of a river and suddenly felt thirsty, so he made his way in its direction. As he emerged from the undergrowth, he heard echoes of sweet girlish laughter. Ziyi and Meiya were frolicking in the river... and their clothes were scattered along the riverbank. Abruptly, their laughter stilled, as they noticed Fuyun's presence. Both girls turned toward him. Ziyi smiled shyly, while a wicked grin bloom on Meiya's face. Taking her older sister's hand, Meiya began walking toward Fuyun, dragging a somewhat reluctant Meiya behind her. As the girls emerged from the water, Fuyun saw that they were both completely naked. Ziyi had a soft and curvaceous body, just as he imagined. Her breasts were full and round, with large pink aureoles, her hips and thighs perfectly shaped, as if sculpted from an artist's fantasy. Meiya was lithe and athletic, but just as feminine. Her breasts were smaller, her hips narrower, but just as round in all the right places. Fuyun felt his throat dry as the girls walked up to him. They snuggled into his arms, one on each side. Their bodies were softer than Fuyun could ever have imagined. Ziyi rose on tiptoes to kiss him on the lips. The sensation was so strange and wonderful at the same time. His hands moved of their own accord, avidly exploring every inch of their bodies. He was barely aware of Meiya tugging at his sash and pulling down his trousers. Fuyun was pulled out of his intoxicated daze by a sudden wet warmth between his legs. The feeling was so alien and yet so pleasurable that his entire body shook. Fuyun broke from Ziyi's kiss and looked down. Meiya was kneeling in front of him, her lips wrapped around his raging erection, her head bopping up and down the length of his shaft. Fuyun had never seen anything so erotic in his life, and gasped out loud as he felt his knees buckle. Ziyi reached behind his head and pulled his gaping mouth down onto her soft breast. Instinctively, Fuyun closed his mouth around Ziyi's nipple and began sucking on her tits as eagerly as Meiya was sucking on his cock. After a while, Ziyi pushed herself away from Fuyun and said, "Meimei, you've hogged Fuyun dag'e long enough. It's my turn now." With obvious reluctance, Meiya let go of Fuyun's cock and leaned aside. Ziyi knelt down with a marvelous grace, took his now massive erection in her small, delicate hands, and placed it between her deep cleavage. She squeezed her full, round tits together and began moving up and down the length of his shaft. Seeing this, Meiya moved under Fuyun, and began licking his balls. The Staff of Wuzen Ch. 02 This chapter contains scenes of non-consensual sex. Reader discretion is advised. Comments and feedback would be most appreciated! ***** The forest around them was quiet... too quiet. There wasn't a single bird call to disturb the silence. Fuyun focused himself and closed his eyes. The faint sound of rustling leaves was coming from all around them, but to the west, he could just make out the sound of padded feet crushing the thick forest mulch. The key to defeating an encirclement is to strike at the weakest point in the enemy formation. The group to their west was ahead of its allies, it was the most vulnerable. "Follow closely and prepare for battle!" Without waiting for their replies, Fuyun began running. He held himself low to minimize his profile, his left hand holding his staff parallel to his body, his right hand held out in front to shield himself from low-hanging branches. He heard the girls' soft footsteps as they followed his instruction. Fifty paces. Fuyun focused intently, scanning the vegetation before him. One hundred paces. Fuyun had accelerated into a full sprint. Two hundred paces. There! A flutter of black cloth among the screen of leaves. With a roaring battlecry, Fuyun crashed like a thunderbolt through the undergrowth. The men in black and yellow were utterly caught by surprise. Three of them fell to his staff before the rest fanned out in a defensive formation. As Fuyun shift into a more cautious stance, two silhouettes flowed past him on either side. The girls had joined the fray. Silver steel cut through the black clad figures. Cries of pain and death rose as crimson blood splattered in all directions. Fuyun waded in on the girls' heels, laying about him with righteous fury. Within moments, over a dozen black-clad bodies lay on the forest ground. "We have to keep moving." Fuyun said. They had broken through the encirclement but the hunt was now on. * * * Snake looked at his brother Fang - together they were known as the Snake Fang Brothers - sitting on a tree a stone's throw away from his own. He was bored out of his mind, but Fang seemed to be enjoying the view. "Hey dipshit, see anything?" He called out. His brother answered by giving him the finger. Snake settled back into his post. This job had sounded like easy money, but he hadn't known it would involve spending the night on a tree. His brother might be the tree hugger type, but he preferred the cities, where booze and cooze were always plentiful. The Man had found them in a seedy tavern in Moyan three days ago. He offered them an astounding amount of silver to help hunt down two wenches. Seeing as how they were almost broke and running up long tabs at almost every bar that let them drink on tab, they accepted without hesitation. That these wenches were supposedly skilled fighters only added to the appeal of the job. Snake was just starting to doze off with a daydream of cornering a busty barmaid in a dark alley when the amberite ring on his finger began to throb. He started in surprise and looked toward his brother. Fang was already on his feet, moving into a more concealed position. With a muttered curse, Snake pulled himself up and readied his spear. Their quarries were near. * * * "Look out!" Ziyi's warning came almost too late. Fuyun acted on instinct, throwing himself to the side as a brace of throwing knives whistled past, missing him by mere inches. As he rolled back to his feet, two figures landed on either side of them. One was holding a short silver spear, while the other was wielding a pair of knives. "Well fuck me like a duck!" The spear holder said. "It's that monk that ruined our contract in Moyan! Small world, ain't it, Fang?" "Yup, and payback's a bitch!" The knife wielder - Fang - replied. "Do you know them, Fuyun-dag'e?" Ziyi asked. "They call themselves the Snake Fang Brothers. My Wuzen brothers and I came upon them attacking a merchant caravan, and drove them off." "I see," Meiya said. "So they're just common bandits." The spear wielder almost choked at Meiya's words. "Common bandit? I'll make you eat your words, wench!" He spun his short spear and charged at Meiya. Fuyun raised his staff to deflect the spear thrust, and the two began a deadly dance. The short silver spear darted and probed like a rattlesnake, moving with the agility of a striking cobra. Fuyun swung his staff in blurring figure-eights, using its reach to keep the spear wielder at length. Behind them, he heard the chime of clashing steel as Ziyi and Meiya engaged the knife wielder. Fuyun's staff moved with blurring speed, but somehow the spear wielder was faster, and Fuyun was unable to land a single blow. The spear wielder bobbed and weaved through his attacks, seeking to close in with his shorter weapon. Fast as he was, however, he was not able to penetrate the staff's defensive arc. The two combatants could only keep the pressure up against each other, unable for the moment to gain an advantage against the other. On the other side, the knife wielder was being pressed by Ziyi and Meiya. He fought defensively, buying time for himself with the occasional thrown knife that forces one of the girls to break off her attack to parry or evade. He seemed to have an endless supply of those knives, for every time he threw one, another appeared in his hand as if by magic. Fuyun made several attempts to disengage, but the Snake Fang Brothers were too skilled. The spear wielder easily matched him in speed, and Fuyun dared not slow his attacks. Though they pressed the knife wielder hard, Ziyi and Meiya could not take him down just yet. So they fought on, knowing full well that with each passing moment their pursuers were getting closer. Soon enough, a dozen men in black and yellow flooded into the area. Fuyun and the girls were forced to fight back-to-back as they were surrounded. The Snake Fang Brothers pulled back to watch and wait for a weakness. "When I give the command, you two must go. I will hold them off." Ziyi said. "No jiejie! I will not leave you by yourself!" Meiya cried. "Hush, meimei. You must believe in me, I will be fine." Ziyi replied. "I will hold them off," Fuyun offered. "You two go first!" "No, Fuyun-dag'e, you are not able to do this. You have to trust me. Now get ready!" Without waiting for further protests, Ziyi leaped into the air. A sudden, brilliant flash of light momentarily blinded their foes. When it cleared, a whip of golden light lashed down from above, crashing into the encircling formation. There was a thunder clap and three men in black were knocked off their feet, creating a momentary gap in the formation. "Now! Go now!" Ziyi's shout came from above. Fuyun looked up in astonishment. Ziyi hung suspended in mid-air, wearing a silver and violet armor of silk and lacquered wood, and in her hand she held a long whip seemingly made of pure light. "Go! You must both go right now!" Ziyi cried again. Fuyun grabbed Meiya's hand and began running through the breach. They ran fifty paces before turning around. They saw Ziyi, still suspended in mid-air, ripping through the ranks of men in black with her whip of light. The Snake Fang Brothers were nowhere to be seen. "Jiejie!" Meiya called out. Ziyi turned her head to look at them, and had just begun to smile when the air exploded behind her, slamming her in their direction. "Jiejie!!" Meiya screamed. Ziyi crashed into the ground, rolling a dozen paces before lying still. Fuyun and Meiya ran to kneel beside her. "She's alive," Fuyun said, "but her pulse is faint." He raised his head toward the source of the explosion. A middle-aged man with a long black beard stood there, looking in their direction. Meiya suddenly stood. She raised her sword, and with a guttural cry, charged toward the man. The man showed no reaction. Meiya leaped into the air, her sword thrust forward. Suddenly, she was slammed backward, the force of it knocking her sword out of her grasp. Before she could fall, an invisible force caught her and held her in mid-air. The middle-aged man made a gesture, and Meiya began to scream, her body wracked by pain. More men in black was now flooding into the area. Fuyun lifted Ziyi into his arms and shadow-stepped. * * * The girl was crumpled on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably as her body still experienced the lingering effects of the terrible pain. The Man was berating them for letting the other girl go, but Snake didn't give a shit. They had done their job. If anyone screwed up, it was the bastard's own people. "Take her to the old shrine." The bastard in question was saying. "Wait for me there. I will go hunt down the other vixen." "You're the boss." Snake said with a shrug. "Fang, go pick that wench up." "Don't see why you always get to order me around..." Fang muttered. "Bind her hands and feet with these." The Man produced a pair of silk cords. "They will inhibit her magic and sap her strength." Fang did as instructed, then lifted the girl up on his shoulder. She had stopped sobbing but made no attempt to struggle. The hike to the old shrine took the entire afternoon. By the time they settled down and had a fire going, it was fully dark. The girl sat propped against an old altar, staring numbly at the fire. Fuck she's pretty, Snake thought. The fire light danced across her delicate features. Despite the dust and dry leaves still clinging to her hair, her skin was as fair as the moonlight. Her clothes were torn, revealing a pale and enticing expanse of bosom. "What's your name, wench?" Snake asked. No reaction. He sighed and got up. He walked over to the girl and jerked her head up. "I asked you a question, wench. What is your name?" The girl's eyes widened in fear. "Mei... Meiya." She stammered in a barely audible voice. Snake released her hair and sat down. "See, that wasn't so hard, was it now?" He said with a smile. "If you behave like a good girl, we won't hurt you. Isn't that right, Fang?" "Yup, damn right!" Fang replied. Snake reached over to stroke Meiya's face. "You're real pretty, you know that?" He grinned. Meiya's eyes shone with fear. "Please... Please don't..." She said in a trembling voice. * * * Fuyun had found a small grotto formed by the roots of an ancient tree. Gently depositing Ziyi into a carpet of moss and lichen, he sat down beside her and meditated. He was unhurt from the day's battles, and his chi reserve was quickly replenishing. Wuzen kung fu thrived on combat, and the day's exertions were akin to a day of monastic training for him. Night had fallen when Ziyi finally awoke. Her fantastic armor was gone, replaced by her ordinary clothes. Fuyun was pulled out of his meditation by the sound of her voice. "Meiya! Where are you, Meiya?" "Meiya was captured. I had no choice but to get you out of there." Ziyi struggled to sit up. She was still weak and had to lean against the grotto wall for support. "Meiya... Oh no... I... What happened?" "A high mage. That was a high mage back there. Why is there a high mage after you two?" Fuyun demanded. "Then... Then he has found us." "Who? Who found you?" "Shang Tsung." Ziyi said in a resigned tone. Fuyun sat back, surprised. Shang Tsung was the Archbishop of the Shadow Sect, Right Hand of the Shadow Master, and one of the most feared men in the Martial World. The men in black and yellow were Shadow Sect then. Noticing Fuyun's silence, Ziyi continued. "This is not your fight, Fuyun-dag'e. I am grateful for what you've done, but there is nothing you can do against Shang Tsung. I will find a way to rescue my sister myself." "And if you can't?" Fuyun asked softly. "If I can't," Ziyi answered, "then at least we will die together." For a long time, neither spoke. * * * Snake could almost smell the girl's fear, and it was driving him crazy with lust. His hand lingered on Meiya's cheek, savoring the feeling of the soft, smooth skin. Then he stood up, lifted Meiya by her bound wrists, and propped her up on the old altar. The girl tried to push him away, but her attempts were feeble and easily ignored. He reached forth to grab both sides of her neckline and, with sudden violence, ripped them apart, exposing her luscious breasts. For a moment, Snake was mesmerized by the scene before him. The girl, now half naked, tried in vain to hide her bare bosom. Her eyes were wild with fear, like a doe caught in the cross sights of a hunter's bow. Her breaths were quick and shallow, and her extraordinarily perky tits trembled querulously with each heave of her chest. The sight drove Snake wild with desire, his hardened member straining painfully against his clothes. He had never desired a woman more than he desired this girl at that instant. His mind blanked out all concerns save a single goal: to have this wench, and make her his. With an animal grunt, he set upon her. * * * "You didn't answer my first question." Fuyun said, breaking the silence. "Why is Shang Tsung hunting you?" "Meiya and I... we killed his only son." "You two killed Shang Lung?" Fuyun asked incredulously. By all accounts, Shang Tsung's son was an accomplished sorcerer himself, and notorious for abducting and ravishing female adventurers. Young female fighters from several of the Righteous Clans were rumored to have fallen under him. There were tales of a reprisal party sent by the aggrieved clans to hunt down Shang Lung, only to have him slip between their grasp and take several more of their female party members. "How is it that you two were able to accomplish what an entire war party of the Righteous Clans could not?" Fuyun asked. "We made use of his weakness and lured him into our grasp." Ziyi answered. "You mean his penchant for beautiful women?" "Yes. Do you... disapprove?" Ziyi asked cautiously. "No, not at all." Fuyun said quickly. "Shang Lung was a vile rapist, and if you two killed him, then he only got what he deserved. "Still, he must have been a formidable opponent." Fuyun went on. "Can you tell me anything about the battle? Perhaps there's something we can use against Shang Tsung." Ziyi remained silent for a long time, her arms holding her legs and her eyes fixed on the ground. "I'm sorry, you don't have to say anything if it makes you uncomfortable." Fuyun said. He thought back to his dream and what he saw on the riverbank. "Whatever methods you used, you did the Martial World a great service." "It is time that I told you the truth, Fuyun-dag'e," Ziyi sighed. "The whole truth. You will understand then why you cannot, should not, help us." "What are you talking about, Ziyi? Shang Tsung is an evil being. It would be my duty to defeat him, even had I never met you. I only hesitate because I am uncertain of my chances of success." "Fuyun-dag'e, Meiya and I... we are Kitsune-jin." Fuyun was stunned. Kitsune... Fox spirits who seduced men from their wives... He had thought such things but old wives' tales... "Then... It wasn't a dream, was it?" Fuyun asked softly. "No, it was." Ziyi replied. "I had no choice, Fuyun-dag'e. I was wounded and our magic was depleted from days of running battle. I did not dare rely on you for our protection. I chose to come to you in your dream because it would attenuate the effect. You would not have survived otherwise..." * * * Meiya cried out as rough hands squeezed her tits and a hot, hungry mouth engulfed one of her nipples. She tried to push and kick, but the magical ropes binding her were sapping her of all strength. The mouth moved from one nipple to the other, sucking greedily, and Meiya felt a shiver run up her spine. Snake made his way down Meiya's body. His hands gripped her clothes and ripped them off piece by piece until she was almost naked. He pushed her down on the altar and lifted her legs by her bound ankles, exposing her pink and moist pussy. He hurriedly shed his trousers, his cock already a massive iron rod, as Meiya began to struggle harder. He bent down to spit on Meiya's cunt, as was his usual practice with recalcitrant wenches, but the smell of her pussy drove him to lick it instead. Meiya felt the rough mouth and tongue on her pussy and cried out despite herself. Her body began to react on its own as her juices began to flow. Before long, Snake was noisily slurping up her wetness. Her struggles became weaker and weaker under the assault of his hot probing tongue, until they subsided entirely. She felt him stand back up, and something big, hot, and hard began pushing insistently against her pussy. Meiya cried out again as the hard shaft slid easily in between her now drenched folds and buried itself up to its hilt. Snake began pounding her relentlessly, and with each thrust Meiya cried out in a mixture of shame and pleasure. Her still bound legs were propped against his shoulder and her breasts were bouncing wildly in rhythm with his thrusts. His rough hands roamed her body like two marauding oxens plowing a virgin field, now squeezing her round, uplifted ass, then groping her tender, succulent tits. After what seemed an eternity of pounding, Snake pulled out of her. Meiya sobbed as the exquisite pressure left her tender pussy, but her relief was short-lived. A rough pair of hands pulled her off the altar and flipped her over on all fours. As Meiya struggled to keep her balance with her bound hands and feet, a hand grabbed her hair and wrenched her head painfully up. Snake peered down at her "Open your mouth, wench. If you know what's good, you'd better open them wide!" He said. Meiya began to shake her head, but a rough jerk on her hair made her cry in pain. Her open mouth was immediately stuffed with Snake's massive cock, and she had no choice but to close her lips around the hard shaft. Tears streamed down her face as Snake began fucking her face, his hand holding her roughly by her hair, his balls bouncing against her chin. Almost at the same time, Meiya was aware of a second pair of hands grabbing her buttocks and spreading them apart. An equally massive cock pushed itself unceremoniously into her pussy, and suddenly Meiya found herself being pounded from both ends. She choked and sobbed, but almost unconsciously began to bob her head and move her hips in rhythm with the two cocks pumping in and out of her. Before she realized what she was doing, she was earnestly sucking Snake off and moaning wildly as Fang fucked her from behind. * * * "Shang Tsung is powerful, but we need not face him directly. We only need to find and rescue Meiya." Fuyun said after a while. Ziyi looked up at him, her turn to be stunned. "You still mean to help us?" She asked disbelievingly. "No matter what you are, Shang Tsung is still an evil man. I cannot stand by knowing Meiya is in his grasp." Fuyun responded. For a moment, Ziyi said nothing. Then she suddenly moved into a kneeling position. "Fuyun-dag'e... on behalf of Meiya and myself, please accept our most profound gratitude!" With those words, she made to kowtow to him. Aghast, Fuyun quickly reached out to block her. "What... Ziyi, there is no need for this!" He looked into her eyes, dark, limpid pools where a man's soul could easily drown. "Truth be told, I would help Meiya regardless. I would die first before I would abandon either of you!" Hearing those words, Ziyi broke into a radiant smile. Unshed tears brimmed her eyes. With a cry, she threw her arms around his neck. Fuyun held her for a long time, his heart a storm of turmoil. His hands gently stroked her silken hair as he felt her heart beat against his own. The Staff of Wuzen Ch. 02 "I will try to magically contact Meiya, but Shang Tsung is surely expecting such a move." Ziyi said as she pulled away from him. "He will try to track me through our bond. We must be ready to move as soon as I reach her." Fuyun nodded and picked up his staff. The two of them moved out of the grotto. The clouds had finally broken and faint moonlight shone through the trees. "Be ready." Ziyi said, and closed her eyes. Moments passed before she reopened them. Her brows narrowed in distress. "I cannot find her!" She exclaimed. "It's as if something is blocking my..." Through the faint moonlight Fuyun saw the air shimmer. Without a second thought he grabbed Ziyi and shadow stepped. The sound of the blast reached them just as they emerged, half a league away. Ziyi looked at him in relief, but her expression was quickly replaced by frustration. "He's blocked her somehow! I don't know how, but he did! How are we going to find her now?" She cried. "It's alright, Ziyi, we'll find another way." Fuyun tried to reassure her. Just then, wolves began to howl. At least, Fuyun thought they were wolves. There was something... wrong... in those howls, as if he was hearing them more with his soul than with his ears. He looked at Ziyi questioningly, and saw her blanch. "Shadow Hounds... they've got my scent..." She whispered. "We'd better get going then." Fuyun said. "No, you don't understand! These things are bred for the fox hunt. They do not tire and move more swiftly than any mortal man!" Ziyi exclaimed. "Then we shall lay an ambush for them." Fuyun replied. Ziyi shook her head. "Shadow Hounds cannot be killed by ordinary weapons, and Shang Tsung will surely be following his hounds closely. No, listen to me, Fuyun-dag'e, you cannot outrun the Shadow Hounds, but I can." "What? Ziyi, I will not let you face those things on your own!" "You can, and you will, because it is our only chance. You see, Shang Tsung may be powerful, but he is vulnerable in close combat. That is why he has Shadow Sect warriors with him. I can lure him and his hounds away while you destroy his minions." Fuyun nodded as he understood. "Without the protective screen of his warriors, he may decide to retreat. It would buy us time to find and rescue Meiya. "Go then, quickly, but be careful! Watch out for the Snake Fang Brothers. Avoid confrontation and wait for me to come find you. I will find you, rest assured." Ziyi nodded, and before he could say anything else, she pulled him into a passionate kiss. * * * Meiya was lying on the ground while Snake and his brother took turns fucking her. First, Fang had laid her down on her side and hammered her from behind. Then Snake moved in to replace him, pulling out a knife and cutting free Meiya's bound ankles so that he could spread her legs while he fucked her. By now all semblance of reason had left her mind and Meiya was moaning like a bitch in heat as she was violated by the two massive cocks. Despite pounding away at her for what seemed to be ages, neither Snake nor his brother have yet to shoot their load. Instead, he was sporting the most massive erection of his life. It was as if his cock was straining painfully against its own skin and that the only way to relieve the tension was to bury it in the girl's snatch or mouth. Snake pulled Meiya onto her knees and placed his cock against her lips. She dutifully opened her mouth and began sucking. Fang came up beside him and slapped her face with his own massive rod. Meiya tried to grab Fang's cock while still moving her mouth up and down Snake's shaft, but her bound hands were making it an awkward exercise. Seeing this, Fang picked up Snake's knife and sliced free her bound wrists. In response, Meiya took Fang's cock in her hand and stroked it while she kept sucking. Meiya remained kneeling as she took turns sucking the two massive erections before her. Holding a cock in each hand, she alternated her mouth between them, wrapping her lips tightly and sliding down each shaft in turn. Her head bobbed eagerly as if she couldn't get enough of those cocks. "You love having a hard cock in your mouth, don't you, wench?" Snake asked her. Meiya moaned in acquiescence, and bobbed her head faster in response. "Good... now beg us to fuck you." Snake ordered. "Please... fuck me some more..." Meiya begged in a tiny voice. "I can't hear you!" Snake said. "Please... fuck me... fuck me hard with your big cocks!" Meiya cried out. "Let's fuck her at the same time!" Fang suggested and lay down on the ground. Meiya climbed on top of him and eagerly lowered her dripping pussy onto his cock. Snake moved behind her and placed his cock against her asshole. Meiya screamed as she felt the enormous erection violate her anus. The brothers began pounding. Meiya screamed with each thrust. Her tits flopped wildly as two sets of balls slapped against her ass and thighs. Impaled upon the two massive cocks, Meiya could do nothing but cry out helplessly as waves of climax began surging through her body. Snake rammed Meiya's ass mercilessly. It was tighter than even her pussy. He could finally feel the long-delayed climax building up. He felt Meiya's body shiver and began thrusting harder and faster. Looking down, he saw Fang had closed his eyes, a sign that he was close to cumming as well. Meiya was screaming louder and louder, and her shivers turned into convulsions as climax took her. With a grunt, Snake gave a final thrust, burying his cock all the way up her ass. Meiya screamed and her anus suddenly felt like a vise, holding his cock in an iron grip. Her ass clenched and unclenched repeatedly, milking his cock. It was too much, Snake screamed as he began shooting, jet after jet of hot semen, deep into her ass. He kept shooting long after he should have stopped. Fang had opened his eyes, his eyeballs bulging, his mouth open in the same frozen scream. Snake kept shooting, and shooting, and shooting... Everything turned black. * * * Fuyun stalked the shadows bringing death to the worshippers of Shadow. The Shadow Sect warriors operated in squads of three spread out over easily reinforceable distances. They had been deployed in an arc and were now heading toward their master. Once Fuyun figured out this pattern, it was easy to track each squad down. Most never even saw him coming. The few who did put up only short fights as the ferocity of his attacks quickly overwhelmed them. Battle lust was upon him as Wuzen chi raged like a storm-churned sea inside him. All Monks of the Wuzen Temple are taught to resist the temptations of material wealth, alcohol, and of the flesh. Yet, it was only upon attaining the rank of Martial Monk, whose duties lay in the world outside the Temple, were they taught that battle held a seduction of its own. Martial Monks were trained to recognize and guide their battle lust. It sharpened their focus and quickened their reflexes, but uncontrolled, severely degraded tactical judgment. Fuyun was now holding his battle lust on a tight but frayed leash. Concern for Ziyi urged him to move faster, despite the alarm of his tactical mind, already finding his current pace risky. The distant howls of Shadow Hounds pushed him to move faster. He attacked before they were fully committed, and they saw him coming. Despite this, Fuyun struck down one Shadow Sect warrior before the other two could react. One rushed him while the other fell back. Fuyun quickly dispatched the charging warrior, but it was too late. The third warrior, the one who had backed up, launched a screeching whistle. Several squads were now coverging on his position. Good, he thought, it will spare me the time to track them down. He moved toward the signaler, but the warrior turned and ran. Fuyun shifted his grip on his staff and launched it like a javelin. The staff whistled through the air and struck the fleeing warrior in the back with enough force to shatter his spine. The man collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut. Fuyun retrieved his staff and prepared for battle with the reinforcement. They arrived within moments, rushing him from multiple directions. His staff caught the first Shadow warrior in mid-stride, knocking him off his feet. In a fluid motion, Fuyun slammed the opposite end of his staff into a second Shadow warrior, striking him in the soft area just beneath the thoracic cage, killing him instantly. Fuyun fought like a demon, his staff a blurring whirlwind of death. He danced among the Shadow warriors, too fast for their blades to find purchase. One by one, the Shadow warriors fell, the last ones falling so quickly that none of them even had time to think about fleeing. When Fuyun flowed into the closing stance of the Raging Storm style, a dozen black-clad bodies lay in a circle around him. For a moment, the night was utterly still. Fuyun stood motionless, listening. A howl rose in the distance, and as if in cue, the night's sounds - crickets chirping in the bushes, leaves rustling in the wind - resumed. Satisfied that the remaining Shadow warriors were either hiding or had fled, Fuyun set off in the direction of the howl. * * * He found her with her back against a tree. She had summoned her battle raiment, but it was tattered and torn. An entire section on her left side had been torn off, exposing her from hip to thigh. Instead of a whip of golden light, she held only her ordinary steel sword. Three huge mastiffs the color of deep night prowled back and forth before her. One growled and leapt at her, only to crash into an invisible wall. Ziyi seemed to stagger from the shock, but the Shadow Hound simply picked itself up, shook itself, and resumed prowling. The Hounds sensed his approach, turning towards him and growling. Ziyi's eyes widened as she saw him, and cried out: "Fuyun-dag'e! No! Your staff can't harm them!" Fuyun ignored her, his attention focused on the Shadow Hounds. They were shades, he decided, not truly existing in this world. Ziyi was wrong. He *can* harm them. "Om Nuwa dvapra yuma..." Fuyun began to chant softly. The Shadow Hounds seemed to hesitate, but the pack alpha led the other two forward. They advanced slowly, their hackles raised, snarling and growling. "Namo amita Nuwa yuma..." Fuyun continued his chant. The pack alpha suddenly launched itself toward him. Fuyun moved with the speed of thought, his staff swung before him. A flash of light erupted as the ironwood struck the beast, and with a pitiful whine, the alpha hound was knocked to the side. An acrid smell of burnt fur wafted into the air. Fuyun's staff was now glowing with a silver light. The other two hounds hesitated, then moved to flank him. They attacked simultaneously, but Fuyun met them with spinning staff. The pack alpha got back up and joined the fray. Fuyun danced between the snapping jaws and struck a flurry of blows. Finally, the Shadow Hounds fell back. "I see the reputation of the Wuzen Temple is well deserved. Too bad you chose to die for a lowly fox-imp." A voice came from above. Fuyun looked up. Hovering ten feet above the ground was the middle aged man who had captured Meiya. "Shang Tsung, I presume." Fuyun replied calmly. "You presume correctly, young master. You have the advantage of me." Shang Tsung said with a slight, mocking bow. Fuyun straightened himself and planted his staff in the ground beside him. "I am Fuyun, First Disciple of Master Fahai of Wuzen. I am here to send your evil back to hell!" "Oh ho, how bold! Let's see if your skills match your bluster!" Shang Tsung raised his hand and a ball of fire hurled toward Fuyun. Fuyun leapt to the side as the fireball exploded, blasting him with scorching air that singed his robes and blistered his skin. He heard Ziyi cry and saw her launch herself into the air to engage Shang Tsung. Shang Tsung waved his hand and a gust of wind sent Ziyi reeling back. Fuyun leapt onto a tree and used it to propel himself upward, his staff raised to strike. Without even looking in his direction, Shang Tsung thrust out his palm toward him. An invisible force slammed into Fuyun, sending him crashing into a tree and falling to the ground. Three dark streaks charged toward his prone form. In desperation, Fuyun slammed his hand against the ground, lifting his body in a spinning motion, using his staff as support to rise higher. The Shadow Hounds pounced through empty air below him, their momentum carrying them beyond him for a few precious heartbeats. When the hounds turned back to face him, Fuyun had lifted his staff in mid-air and brought it down upon the nearest hound. The powerful blow, augmented by holy Wuzen prayers, smashed the hound's skull. It collapsed with a dull thud. The remaining hounds closed in on him, but Fuyun was already running. A bolt of lightning streaked through the clear night sky to strike where he had been a moment ago. Having fought sorcerers before, he knew that the only chance at victory was to keep attacking. Using the momentum from his sprint, Fuyun dashed vertically up a tree trunk, and using the height it afforded, propelled himself once more toward Shang Tsung. Shang Tsung swerved to evade Fuyun's attack, and retaliated with a blast of fire. The flames billowed harmlessly around Fuyun as Ziyi dived in to shield him. As he landed on the ground, the remaining two Shadow Hounds leapt at him. He dodged the hounds with a sideways dash and slammed the butt end of his staff into one hound's side. The blow knocked the hound to the ground, where it rolled uncontrollably until stopped by a tree. Fuyun moved in for a killing blow, and a thunderbolt lifted him off his feet. When he regained his senses, Fuyun was lying on the ground. All he could hear was a constant buzz that seemed to come from everywhere around him. A shadow flew toward him and Fuyun struck out with an open palm, catching the Shadow Hound under its jaw. The blow abruptly shut the hounds jaw, but its claws rent furrows into Fuyun's side as it crashed into him. Ignoring the pain, Fuyun snaked an arm around the beast's neck and threw himself on its back. The hound thrashed and buckled, but Fuyun held on, straining with all his strength. The hound began to whimper as its struggles became more desperate. Finally Fuyun felt the vertebra snap, and the hound fell still. Picking himself back up, Fuyun suddenly realized that the area was swarming with bees. He looked up and saw the creatures swarming around Shang Tsung. At first Fuyun thought this was another one of Shang Tsung's spells, but he soon realized that Shang Tsung was trying to fend off the bees. The sorcerer began flying higher, with the bees in pursuit. Ziyi landed beside him. "We have to go, while he's distracted!" Ziyi said. "Where to?" Fuyun asked. "I can sense Meiya now. Though I still can't contact her, I can get a sense of direction." "Let's go quickly then." Fuyun retrieved his staff and they ran into the night. * * * Sunlight streamed through the stone windows of the old shrine. Meiya disentangled herself from the two desiccated corpses and stretched herself languorously, like a kitten who had just had her fill of cream. She discarded the tattered remains of her clothes and stepped out of the shrine. The warm sun felt wonderful upon her bare skin, and the cool breeze raised delightful goose bumps along her arms. Meiya closed her eyes and tried to contact her sister. Meiya! Where are you? I have been trying to reach you all night! A flood of emotions filled her mind, chief among them surprise and relief. Where are you, jiejie? She sent back. Images of flying through treetop canopies battling an all-too-familiar foe flickered in response through her mind, followed by a half-formed gateway spell. With a word of power, Meiya summoned her battle raiment. Choosing the appropriate runes, she completed the gateway spell. The air before her began to shimmer, soon forming the outline of a portal. I'm coming, jiejie! She sent, and stepped through. * * * They spent the rest of the night fighting a running battle with Shang Tsung. Despite the loss of his minions, the sorcerer continued to hound them. As the sun began to rise, they were forced to make a stand. The air around them froze, turning the undergrowth into unyielding crystalline walls, and threatening to freeze them solid. Fuyun drew upon his chi to warm his frozen limbs, but it was a slow process. With a shout, Ziyi burst into violet fire and shot into the air. Fuyun could only watch helplessly as she engaged Shang Tsung. Ziyi was faster in the air, more mobile, but it was all she could do to evade waves and waves of sorcerous attacks. The few strikes she managed to squeeze in glanced harmlessly off Shang Tsung's magic shield. Finally, Fuyun's limbs warmed enough for him to move, but there was nothing he could do. The two combatants flew too high and too fast for him to reach. There was only one attack he could attempt, and he had to make it count. Fuyun drew as much chi as he could and infused it into his ironwood staff. He then took careful aim and threw it at Shang Tsung. The staff burst into azure flames as it shot through the air. Shang Tsung had his back turned, but he reacted with surprising speed, turning and raising both hands before him in a defensive gesture. Fuyun's staff struck Shang Tsung's fortified mage shield and the high mage was knocked back by the impact. Though he was unharmed and recovered quickly, Ziyi lashed out with her whip of golden light. Shang Tsung caught it on his arm, his sorcerous defenses flickering with strain against the whip's blasting magic. After a few moments, he swung his arm dismissively. The whip vanished and a powerful force sent Ziyi crashing into a tree. The air behind Shang Tsung shimmered and a figure in white and green appeared from thin air, holding a spear of white fire. Fuyun recognized Meiya just as she dived at Shang Tsung. Her spear of white fire punched through Shang Tsung's shield and impaled him through the chest. The impact sent both of them crashing down to the ground. Incredibly, Shang Tsung stood up. He grabbed Meiya by the throat and tossed her aside like a rag doll. He then took hold of the spear protruding from his chest. Frost began to cover his hands and the flames of the spear began to gutter. In a moment, the spear was gone, leaving only a cauterized wound in the sorcerer's chest. At that moment, Fuyun moved. Thirty paces separated him from Shang Tsung, Fuyun covered them in the blink of an eye. His open hand slammed into the sorcerer's chest, striking with the Five Point Palm Exploding Heart technique. Shang Tsung's eyes widened in astonishment, a trickle of bright red blood flowed down the corner of his mouth. A moment later, he vanished in a flash of light. "Is he dead, jiejie?" Meiya asked as Ziyi helped her up. "I don't know, meimei." Ziyi answered. "Powerful sorcerers often have contingency spells to pull them back to safety in the event of grievous wounds." "He is dead." Fuyun said. "No matter where his magic took him, he is dead." * * * The rain had started again when they emerged from the forest, albeit so softly it was almost a mist. The three of them made their way back on to the county road and traveled in silence until they came to a crossroad, where they lingered for a long time. "Come with us, Fuyun-dag'e. You saved our lives, let us thank you properly!" Meiya said. "We are forever in your debt, Fuyun-dag'e... My sister and I would gladly serve you any way we can... That is... if you should want us..." Ziyi said. Fuyun looked at them both, taking in their heart-aching beauty, and said with a sigh: The Staff of Wuzen Ch. 02 "I have strayed far enough from my vows in the short time I spent with you. I am glad that you are alright, Meiya, but it is time for me to return to the Wuzen Temple." Meiya looked so crestfallen at his words, Fuyun almost reached out to console her. Ziyi kept her composure, but could not hide the disappointment in her voice. "I... understand, Fuyun-dag'e. Your duty leads you away from us... Please... take care of yourself..." "Ziyi..." Fuyun began, then hesitated. He looked into her eyes, feeling himself sinking into those dark, bottomless pools. "Take care of yourself, Ziyi, and take care of Meiya. If you ever need me, send word to the Wuzen Temple. I will come find you, where ever you may be." With those words, Fuyun turned away from them and resumed his journey home. * * * Ziyi and Meiya watched in silence as Fuyun vanished into the misty rain. "Jiejie..." "What is it, meimei?" "Why is it that men all say the same things? Don't they understand that when a girl needs her man, she needs him now, not later?"