Lao Lu was sitting cross legged on the floor. Each of her hands were forming a hand sign as she cultivated. Not using her sight for the past few days meant that she was mainly home bound, which gave her plenty of time to meditate on refining more elemental energy as well as widen her perceptions and senses.

Her senses caught something worrying in the distance. She shot to her feet, even with the blindfold wrapped around her eyes, anyone could tell she was worried.

The door to the house flew open. A little girl in a panicked voice said, “Captain Lao, Miss Deng said I should fetch you!”

She nodded, grabbed her blue leather overcoat and made her way out. The girl led her by the hand to where Deng Dandan stood, looking out in the distance.

She their approach and looked back at them, “Captain Lao, it’s bad, they…”

“I know,” Lao said as she came to a stop beside her.

Out in the distance, were Lei, Steam Dragon and the rest of their crew.

The Xiu family also joined them.

“No,” Old Man Xiu said, “How did they find us?”

“It does not matter, we’re in for a fight.” Lao said. “Is that Wun Ip Chun I sense over there?” She turned her head towards where Chun was.

“This useless bastard!” Dandan kicked Chun, who was softly snoring on the floor.

He groaned, “Five more minutes.”

“His drunk!”

“Who drinks so early?” Lao said.

“That’s his secret, Captain, he is always drunk.” Dandan said, kicking him again for good measure.

“Where is Wang Zen?”

“Training a small distance away,” Old Man Xiu said.

“Okay, Old Man Xiu, go with your daughter and fetch Wang Zen.” She said. “We’re going to need all the help we can get.”

“No, I’m staying.” Xiu said.

“Daughter?” Old Man Xiu said.

“If there is a chance I can stop this and spare the village and everyone, then I want to be here to take it.” She said.

Lao nodded. “Old Man Xiu, hurry!”

The man clenched his fists but relented. “Stay safe until I come back, Daughter,” he said before he took his leave.

“That bastard, what’s he doing?” Dandan said.

“What’s wrong?” Lao said.

“That Lei guy, he is creating some kind of grey mist.”

“Grey?”

“Does it mean something?”

“He wants to parley,” she said. “Wait here, be prepared for anything. I’ll go meet with him.”

“What? No!” Dandan said. “You can’t even see, Captain! I’m the only one here who can…”

Lao grabbed the blindfold around her eyes and pulled it off. The medicinal herbs that were pressed to her eyes fluttered away without the binding blindfold. She opened her eyes and looked into Dandan’s eyes with her own.

“I will go meet him,” she said.

Dandan nodded.

Lao began walking towards the group.