The group woke up early. Lao hated to move with her squad at half of its strength. Wang Zen and Ip Chun never returned during the night like she had hoped they would. She was now leading the group, with Deng Dandan taking the rear.

The fog rolled over them, decreasing visibility in the area. She could have sat in one place and waited for the fog to clear but they would still be sitting ducks. She would rather have whoever was hunting them to struggle to find them.

“Fog’s pretty thick,” Dandan said. “You sure you don’t want me out front, Captain Lao?”

“No,” she said.

“Still don’t trust me?” Dandan said. “I guess that’s why you never woke me up so I can takeover look out duty in the night.”

“It has nothing to do with trust,” Lao said. “I could do look out for the whole night, so I did. Keep your eyes open, something is wrong.”

Dandan looked around. “What’s wrong?”

“The temperature of this place… this fog… it’s too hot,” Lao said. “Xiu, stick close to me.”

“That action would be futile.”

They stopped, looking around the fog for the source of the voice. A silhouette emerged from the fog.

“We do not want to fight you,” the man said. “Give Xiu to us and we won’t need to fight you.”

“We are under contract to keep this girl safe,” Lao said. “She might be a liar but we still will keep her safe.”

“Ah, I understand.” The man said. “Judging from your uniforms, you are part of the Blue Swallow Sect. How about this? Whatever she is paying you, I will triple it.”

“Well, she is not paying us enough for this.” Lao said.

Xiu could be heard whimpering in fear.

“No!” Dandan protested. “We can’t give Xiu to this man!”

“Quiet!” Lao snapped. “I am the leader. I say what we can or cannot do.” Lao turned her attention back to the man hidden in the fog. “I wonder, stranger, what is to stop me from just killing you and taking whatever money you have. That way, we can just get 4 times the money this mission is worth.”

“Ah, smart. Well, I am not alone.” The man said.

The fog lessened and forward, a few more fighters stepped into sight. One was swinging his meteor hammer around, sparks of lightning dancing around the chain and the weight attached at the end. The man laughed as Lao briefly looked at him, it was the same man who had attacked them yesterday.

Another stepped out, a woman, tossing a knife and catching it. Dandan guessed that this was the knife thrower. Another woman appeared, twirling a bo-staff before placing it beside her. Then another one, appeared. A big burly man with black hair and moustache. Twin streams of grey gas whistled from his nostrils.

“Ghou Gin!” Xiu said.

Lao’s eyes widened at the name. “Ghou Gin? As in the Steam Dragon of the Red Dragon Sect?”

“It’s just Steam Dragon!” Ghou Gin said. “I’m no longer part of the Red Dragon Sect unlike little Xiu.”

“You’re part of the Red Dragon Sect?” Dandan said in surprise.

“Not anymore!” Xiu said. “Honest!”

“Old man Xiu, do you know of the tri-shield manoeuvre?” Lao said in a low voice.

“Of course.” The man said.

“I’ll need you to fight with us to protect your daughter.” Lao said. “You might need to ri…”

“…risk my life? For my daughter? Do you need to ask?” Old man Xiu said.

“Dad, no…” Xiu said in a shaky voice.

“Alright, now!”

Lao, Dandan and old man Xiu changed their positions. They formed a triangle with Xiu in the middle. Lao had changed her position, facing the Steam Dragon.

“What’s this?” the man said, stepping forward. He revealed his ginger hair and tattered cloak but more strangely, a pair of silver eyes that looked out in boredom. “I thought you were taking my deal?”

“I’m not but I have a deal for you,” Lao said, glaring at the Steam Dragon, “leave now and I will not kill you all!”