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The Optimistic Heroes - Chapter 23

Published at 7th of February 2019 05:48:22 PM


Chapter 23

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Dash's Secret

 

 

 

       Everyone has secrets.

 

       Dash was human.

 

       So Dash also had a secret.

 

       It was hard to believe that someone like Dash actually had a secret.

 

       He never went anywhere by himself, he rarely even got out of bed.

 

       Swally would never have imagined that Dash would have a secret, even in his wildest dreams.

 

       But Swally was the first person to discover that Dash had a secret.

 

       How did he make such a discovery?

 

       The first time he realized Dash had a secret was when he saw something very strange.

 

       He saw a kite.

 

       There isn't anything strange about kites, but there was indeed something very strange about this kite, something shocking, even perhaps terrifying.

 

       Judging by the calendar it should have been spring, but no matter where you looked, there wasn't a trace of spring in the air.

 

       It was still very cold, with strong winds, and seven or eight inches of snow covering the ground.

 

       There had hardly been any sunny days.

 

       Dash, Swally, Big G, and Forest were all enjoying the sun in the courtyard.

 

       They were like all the other penniless vagrants who would never miss out on free sunshine.

 

       During the cold winter days, enjoying the sun was one of the limited joys for poor people to take advantage of.

 

       Dash had found the most comfortable chair possible, and was slouching lazily under the eaves.

 

       Forest was sitting on the stone steps beside him, holding his head and staring blankly, thinking about who knows what.

 

       Big G had used to wonder about him, but now he already knew what Forest was thinking about.

 

       But what was Swally's secret?

 

       Big G couldn't help but quietly pull Swally off to the side: "Don't you think it's about time you told me that secret of yours?"

 

       Since they had returned, this was already the seventy-eighth time he had asked.

 

       Swally's answer was the same as before.

 

       "Wait!"

 

       Big G: "How long are you going to keep me waiting?"

 

       Swally: "You can wait until I feel like telling you."

 

       "Are you really going to wait until I am about to die?" he said impatiently.

 

       Swally gave him a funny glance, he waited a long time before finally saying, "You really don't know what my secret is?"

 

       Big G: "If I knew why would I keep asking."

 

       Swally looked at him intently before suddenly smiling, "Old Mr. King was right, you can be smart when you need to be, but sure are muddle headed when it comes to certain things," he said shaking his head.

 

       Big G: "It's not like I'm some kind of parasite living on you, how am I supposed to know what your secret is?"

 

       Swally sighed lightly, "Perhaps its better if you don't know."

 

       Big G: "What's better?"

 

       Swally: "What's not better? Aren't we enjoying happy lives at the moment?"

 

       Big G: "Would I somehow suddenly be unhappy if I found out?"

 

       Swally sighed lightly, "Maybe! Or perhaps we would start fighting and arguing every day."

 

       Big G stared at him and stomped his feet loudly, "I really don't get you, you clearly are an easy going person, but sometimes you're more difficult than a women," he said spitefully.

 

       Swally: "You are the one being difficult."

 

       Big G: "What's difficult about me?"

 

       Swally: "Why must you insist on forcing people to do things they don't want to do."

 

       Big G: "What people?"

 

       Swally: "Me."

 

       Big G took a long sigh and grabbed his head in irritation, "You just had to say people when you were clearly talking about yourself, you are sounding more and more like a women, when will this end."

 

       Swally smiled sweetly and intentionally changed the topic, "Why do you think Skinned Alive left all of a sudden?"

 

       Big G didn't want to answer, but he couldn't hold back from saying, "He didn't want to leave, that old women made him leave."

 

       Swally: "Why?"

 

       Big G: "Because that old women was worried that we would look into her background."

 

       Swally: "Sounds like her identity must be a secret, and she must have some kind of special relationship with Skinned Alive."

 

       Big G: "Yeah."

 

       Swally: "Why don't you go and find out where they are hiding?"

 

       Big G: "Why would I want to do that?"

 

       Swally: "To dig up their secret."

 

       Big G: "Why would I want to go and dig up someone else's secret? Some secrets aren't so easy to dig up anyway, when the time is right all things will come to light."

 

       "Since you understand that then why are you always trying to force me?" Swally said smiling.

 

       Big G glared at him, sighing suddenly, "Because I don't care about that old lady, I only care about you."

 

       Swally slowly looked away, as if he was intentionally avoiding Big G's gaze.

 

       As soon as he looked away he saw a kite.

 

       A large, exquisitely designed kite that looked like a moth's larva. It seemed to be dancing in the wind, under the blue skies and white clouds.

 

       Swally clapped his hands smiling, "Look, what's that?"

 

       Big G noticed it as well, finding it very interesting. He intentionally kept a straight face saying, "It's just a kite, what's so strange about that, haven't you seen a kite before?"

 

     Swally: "Why would anybody want to fly a kite in this kind of weather?"

 

       "Whatever makes people happy, why can't they fly a kite whenever they want," Big G said casually.

 

       Big G knew quite well that the actual time for flying kites hadn't arrived. Even if someone did want to fly a kite in this weather, it wouldn't fly very high if at all.

 

       But this kite was flying high and strait, whoever it was must be extremely skilled.

 

       Swally: "Do you know how to make a kite?"

 

       Big G: "Nope, all I know how to do is eat."

 

       Swally blinked his eyes, "Old Mr. King surely knows. Let's make a kite and let it go, what do you think?" he said smiling.

 

       He rushed over to Dash, but he was just standing there in a daze.

 

       Dash hadn't heard anything they said. He was just staring blankly at the kite with a strange expression on his face, his eyes were bulging as if he had never seen a kite before.

 

       His expression looked like he was actually seeing a living, flying creature in the sky.

 

       A creature that could devour people.

 

       Swally was shocked because he knew that Dash wasn't easily frightened.

 

       Even if he saw seventy or eighty live centipedes crawling around in front of him, Dash wouldn't even blink.

 

       But now his face looked like a blank white piece of paper.

 

       The muscles around his eyes suddenly cringed, as if he had been poked by a needle.

 

       Swally looked up and noticed that there were four more kites in the sky.

 

       There was a snake, a scorpion, and an eagle.

 

       The biggest kite was a large yellow square, with inscriptions scribbled everywhere that were impossible to decipher, they appeared to be demonic talismans. 

 

       Dash suddenly stood up and rushed inside. It was as if he couldn't take it anymore and was about to faint at any moment.

 

       Big G walked over with an astonished look on his face, "What's wrong with Old Mr. King?"

 

       Swally sighed, "Who knows, after seeing those kites he suddenly changed completely."

 

       Big G was even more perplexed, "Why would seeing kites make him react like that?"

 

       Swally: "Hmm."

 

       "Is there something special about these kites," Big G said frowning.

 

       He looked up to the sky, carefully studying the kites in detail, but after some time he still didn't know what was going on.

 

       It wasn't possible for anybody to tell what was going on.

 

       Kites are kites, there wasn't anything extraordinary about that.

 

       Big G: "Why don't we go in and ask old Mr. King and find out what's going on."

 

       Swally shook his head, "There is no point in asking him, there is no way he is going to tell us," he said with a sigh.

 

       Big G: "But these kites!"

 

       Swally interrupted him, "Has it occurred to you that the problem isn't with these kites!"

 

       Big G: "Then what is the problem?"

 

       Swally: "The people flying the kites."

 

       Big G smacked his hands, "Old Mr. King probably knows who is flying the kites."

 

       Swally: "Maybe they are some kind of bitter enemy from his past."

 

       Forest had been standing there listening the whole time, "I will go have a look, you guys wait here," he suddenly said.

 

       Before he had finished his sentence he was already beyond the walls.

 

       He normally took his time with everything, but when there was a real problem, he moved faster than anyone.

 

       Big G looked at Swally, "Why should we wait here for him?"

 

       Swally was chasing after Forest before Big G could finish talking.

 

       When it came to helping friends, there is no way that they would be left behind.

 

       The kites were flying high and strait.

 

       Swally sized up the distance, "It looks like these kites are flying from the graveyard. When I was young I often went to the graveyard to fly my kite. "

 

       'Prosperity Villa' was near the graveyard and they arrived in no time.

 

       The only person standing there was Forest.

 

       Big G: "Did you see anything?"

 

       Forest: "Not even a shadow."

 

       Then who released the kites?

 

       Five scarecrows.

 

       The scarecrows were dressed in coarse hemp clothes that were worn during mourning, and each one of them was holding a staff in one hand.

 

       The other hands was holding the strings to the five kites.

 

       Scarecrows obviously didn't know how to fly kites.

 

       The scarecrows looked like they were in mourning.

 

       What kind of mystery are these people trying to create?

 

       They all looked at each other, they had already realized that something complicated was going on.

 

       Swally: "The kites haven't been flying very long, maybe they are still close by."

 

       Big G: "Right! Let's have a look around."

 

       Swally: "There is probably five of them let's stick together."

 

       They circled around the graveyard, they could see the small wooden cabin at the bottom of the hill.

 

      This was the little wooden cabin where they had discovered Sour Plum.

 

     "What if the people who had released the kites were also hiding inside?" The three of them all thought at the same time, Big G was the first to charge forward.

 

       "Be careful," Swally gasped.

 

       Big G had already kicked open the door and charged inside.

 

       The wood cabin was still a wood cabin, but it had changed completely.

 

       The pot and stove that Sour Plum had used for cooking were gone. The wooden cabin had been a dirty mess, but now it was spotless, there wasn't even a speck of dust anywhere.

 

       There was just a table sitting in the very centre of the room.

 

       There were five pairs of chopsticks, five cups, and five daggers shining brightly.

 

       The knives were thin and sharp, with a unique curve to them.

 

       Other than that, the cabin was completely empty.

 

       Big G had just picked up one of the knives to have a look when Swally suddenly rushed in, "How could you be so careless! You just came charging in here, what if there were people inside? Have you ever considered that these people could have set a trap for you?" he said stamping his feet.

 

       Big G smiled, "That doesn't scare me."

 

       Swally: "Well it scares me."

 

       As soon as he finished speaking he started blushing, his face went bright red.

 

       Fortunately nobody was paying attention.

 

       Forest had also been studying the knives on the table, "These knives are for skinning flesh," he suddenly said. 

 

       Big G: "How do you know?"

 

       Forest: "I have seen them before, the Hu people beyond the great wall like to use this kind of knife for skinning."

 

       Big G: "Do you actually think they are from the Hu tribes beyond the wall?"

 

       Forest was deep in thought, "Perhaps, but the Hu people don't use chopsticks."

 

       Swally suddenly had a frightening thought, "There isn't any meat here, what are they planning on skinning?"

 

       Big G smiled, "They couldn't be planning on skinning Dash's flesh could they?"

 

       Although he was smiling, he was forcing himself to pretend everything was normmal.

 

       A cold shiver went down Swally's spine, "We should get back, I don't think it's a good idea to leave Dash alone by himself."

 

       Big G's facial expression suddenly changed, "You're right! What if they intentionally lured us away."

 

       All three of them rushed out.

 

       They ran past the grave as fast as possible, "Something isn't right," Swally suddenly stopped.

 

       Big G: "What's not right?"

 

       Swally's face turned pale, "What happened to the scarecrows that were just here."

 

       Big G suddenly started to feel a shiver go down his spine as well.

 

       The five scarecrows had just been here, but now they had disappeared.

 

       The weather was exceptionally good, all blue skies and white clouds.

 

       But the kites had also disappeared.

 

       They ran back to the house as fast as they could, and were shocked when they arrived at the entrance.

 

       The five scarecrows were waiting for them at the front door. They were still dressed in mourning clothes, with a staff in each hand, but there was a white piece of paper stuck to one of the scarecrow's chest, and it seemed to have writing on it.

 

       The writing was in small letters making it hard to read.

 

       The piece of paper was rustling in the wind, it appeared to have been stitched into the hemp cloth that the scarecrow was wearing.

 

       Forest was the first person to arrive and reached out to grab the piece of paper.

 

       The piece of paper had been stitched on tightly, and he had to pull down to tear it off.

 

       In that very instant, the staff in the scarecrows hand suddenly shot up, striking toward Forest's abdomen.

 

       Forest didn't have a lot of experience, but fortunately he reacted quickly. He flew backwards, avoiding the blow from the staff.

 

       When the staff struck out, something had shot out from the tip.

 

       Forest had avoided the staff, but the hidden projectile seemed to have pierced him.

 

       All he felt was a tingling on his right hipbone, as if he had been bitten by a mosquito.

 

       By the time he regained his footing, he was no longer able to stand.

 

       In the blink of an eye his entire right leg was paralyzed and he fell to the ground.

 

       "A poisonous needle," Big G grasped, the color draining from his face.

 

       By the time he finished saying needle, Swally had already sprang into action, first he hit all of the pressure points surrounding Forest's right hipbone, and pulled out a knife from his boot using his free hand.

 

       With a flash of his blade, Forest's clothes had been cut open, with another flash, he cut away the poisoned piece of flesh, blood was spilling everywhere.

 

       His blood had turned black.

 

       Big G was staring wide eyed.

 

       He never imaged that Swally could react so fast, with such unbelievable speed.

 

       "I have already died seven times."

 

       Big G had never really believed Swally until this very moment.

 

       Only a person experienced at flirting with death could have such a quick reaction time.

 

       Forest was already sweating from the pain, but he still hadn't forgotten about the note in his hand.

 

       He was biting his teeth, "What is written on this piece of paper?" he asked panting for breath.

 

       The tiny writing was scrunched together, "If you aren't Dash, then you can suffer for his mistakes!"

 

       There was an evening breeze.

 

       The scarecrows were blowing in the wind as if they were challenging them.

 

       Big G suddenly became angry, he instantly struck out with his fist.

 

       Scarecrows clearly didn't know how to dodge.

 

       Just as he started to punch out, Swally grabbed him by the waist. Although his body weight had been pulled back, he fist had still lightly struck the scarecrow.

 

       When his fist came in contact with the scarecrow's chest, it felt as if he had been bitten by a mosquito.

 

       His fist started to itch from a tingling sensation, a black dot had already appeared on the joint of his middle finger.

 

       With a flick of Swally's knife he cut away the black dot, the blood flowing from the wound was black.

 

       There was a rancid smell coming from the poisoned blood.

 

       Swally didn't care about the smell or the dirt, he instantly used his mouth to suck out all of the poisoned blood.

 

       Big G was practically on the verge of tears.

 

       He suddenly realized that Swally's feelings towards him went beyond friendship, there was an intimate affection that went deeper than mere friends.

 

       But he couldn't find the words to describe this kind of affection.

 

       He didn't say a word even after Swally stood up, not a single word of thanks.

 

       The thankfulness that he felt couldn't be expressed using words.

 

       "How do you feel now?" Swally asked gently after taking a sigh of relief.

 

       Big G smiled bitterly, "I feel like an idiot, that was pure foolishness."

 

       Forest had been watching them the whole time, he suddenly sighed deeply, "You definitely are an idiot!"

 

       The color was coming back to his face, but he still couldn't move his right leg.

 

       Swally hadn't helped him suck out the poisoned blood, but it seemed perfectly normal to him, and he didn't blame Swally in the least.

 

       Had he seen something? Had he realized the secret that only Big G was too blind to see?

 

       Swally's face seemed to have turned red slightly, he quickly turned around and started using his knife to cut off the hemp clothes from the scarecrows.

 

       Only then did Big G notice the poisonous needles covering the scarecrow's body. There was a dark glint reflecting from the needles, even an idiot could tell that they were covered in more than enough person to take someone's life.

 

       If Swally hadn't held him back just then, and he hit the scarecrow as hard as he could, even if he didn't die, his hand would have been written off.

 

       Forest had already realized that there was a spring contraption connected to the piece of paper and the staff, as soon as he pulled on the piece of paper it had released the trap.

 

       The scarecrow was basically covered in poisonous needles, as if waiting in ambush to kill someone.

 

       Big G took a deep sigh of relief, "Just one scarecrow was enough to take the two of us out. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I would never have believed it," he said smiling awkwardly.

 

       Forest: "The scarecrows are terrifying enough, but what kind of person would make something like this?"

 

       Big G: "Dash wouldn't be afraid unless these people are seriously scary."

 

       Swally's face turned pale, "Since the scarecrows are here, I wonder where they are?"

 

       "Let's go see Dash, don't worry about me, I can still move my arms," he said with a sense of urgency.

 

       Big G didn't say anything, he just reached out to support him.

 

       "Old Mr. King... Dash!" Swally shouted as he ran inside.

 

       There was no response.

 

       Dash was nowhere to be seen.

 

       The bedding was a mess, but Dash wasn't on the bed or anywhere inside.

 

       They looked everywhere and couldn't find him.

 

       They all understood Dash.

 

       There wasn't much that could make Dash get out of bed, and only something serious could ever compel him to leave the house! What if something had already happened? What if Dash was already...—!

 

       Big G didn't even want to think about it.

 

       Forest was sitting on Dash's bed, his pale face was turning red from anxiety, "I already said don't worry about my leg, go and find Dash," he said loudly.

 

       "Of course, but where are we supposed to start looking for him?" Big G said anxiously.

 

       Forest just sat there dazed.

 

       He looked at Swally, he was also deep in thought.

 

       Two of them were already wounded, but they didn't even know who these people were.

 

       They had no idea what was going on.

 

       All they knew was that these people were Dash's enemies, of the most dreadful kind.

 

       But how did knowing that help them? There simply wasn't much of a difference if they knew that or not.

 

       They suddenly heard footsteps coming from the corridor.

 

       The sound was slow and gentle.

 

       Their hearts practically missed a beat.

 

       It definitely wasn't a scarecrow this time.

 

       Scarecrows didn't know how to walk.

 

       Swally gave Big G a look, they both rushed to hide behind the door.

 

       The steps were getting closer and closer, and finally rested outside the door.

 

       Swally was holding his dagger high.

 

       The door was unlatched, a hand came forward to push the door.

 

       With a flick of his wrist, Swally's knife flashed out towards the main arteries of the hand.

 

       Forest was hiding under the bed, "Stop!" he suddenly yelled.

 

       Swally instantly stopped after hearing Forest yell, the edge of the knife halted less than half an inch from the wrist of the hand.

 

       The hand stayed its course, slowly pushing open the door.

 

       It was as if his nerves were cast of iron.

 

       The door opened, Dash slowly walked inside, he was carrying a jug of alcohol in his other hand.

 

       Swally's knife was flashing in the light.

 

       Forest was lying on the bed now, it was clear to anyone that he was wounded.

 

       But it appeared that Dash hadn't noticed anything, his face was completely free of any expression. His entire body and nervous system seemed to have been made of iron.

 

       He walked inside sluggishly, and placed the jug on the table.

 

       Big G was the first to not hold back, "Where did you go?" he asked loudly.

 

       "To buy some alcohol," he responded casually.

 

       He answered so casually as if it was the most rational thing he could have done.

 

       Big G was staring at him, he didn't know whether to laugh or to cry.

 

       Dash broke off the jug's seal with a smack of his hand, he took a whiff and seemed very satisfied. He finally smiled slightly, "This alcohol isn't bad, everyone come and enjoy a couple glasses."

 

       "I don't feel like drinking right now," Big G couldn't help but say.

 

       Dash: "You must have a drink, even if you don't want to."

 

       Big G: "Why?"

 

       Dash: "Because this is my way of saying farewell."

 

       "Farewell? Why would you be saying farewell?" Big G gasped.

 

       Dash: "Because all of you need to leave soon."

 

       Big G jumped to his feet, "Who said that we are leaving."

 

       Dash: "Me."

 

       "But we don't want to leave," Swally interjected.

 

       Dash's face became sullen, "You all have to leave, do you actually think I'm just going to let you all slouch around here forever," he said coldly.

 

       "Have you guys ever paid rent?" He said, his face was cold as iron.

 

       Big G: "Nope."

 

       "Then why do you all keep hanging around?" He laughed cynically.

 

       "Fine let's go," Swally suddenly said.

 

       He actually turned around and started to leave, but when he passed in front of Big G he gave him a signal with his eyes.

 

       Big G reacted quickly, "That's right! Why would we stick around here anyway."

 

       He got up and left! It was as if he couldn't stand it there any longer.

 

       Forest was shocked, "You two aren't even going to have a drink?"

 

       Big G: "Since we are being kicked out, we're too ashamed to stay for a drink."

 

       Forest looked at Dash.

 

       Dash still had no expression on his face, "Fine don't have a drink, it's not like the alcohol is going to get moldy just sitting here," he said coldly.

 

       Forest: "Can I stay? I can't move."

 

       "If you can't walk than crawl out," Dash said with a straight face.

 

       Forest was momentarily dazed, but he finally let out a sigh and started to hobble out with them.

 

       Dash just stood there staring at them coldly as they left, he didn't even move.

 

       All they heard was a SLAM as somebody shut the main door with a loud bang.

 

       Dash instantly grabbed the jug on the table and started gulping—after seven or eight mouthfuls he finally stopped and wiped his mouth: "Excellent! Such fine drink and they didn't even have any! These people must be stupid."

 

       He looked at the jug of alcohol in his hand, his cold eyes suddenly started to turn red, it looked like he was about to cry at any moment.

 

       Swally walked out the main door without even looking back, then he suddenly stopped.

 

       Big G walked up and suddenly stopped beside him.

 

       Forest had slammed the door and was following behind them, "I never thought you two would just get up and leave," he said glaring at them.

 

       Big G looked at Swally.

 

       Swally didn't say a word, but he sat down on the stone steps beside the main door, facing the scarecrows.

 

       Big G instantly sat down beside him facing the scarecrows as well. "A lot of strange things have happened this year, scarecrows know how to fly kites and kill people, don't you find that strange?" he mumbled.

 

       Forest: "Strange indeed."

 

       He sat down as well, he was pressing tightly against his wound with one hand.

 

       He realized what Big G and Swally were up to now, so he didn't have anything else to say.

 

       After who knows how long, they could hear Dash's quiet footsteps walking slowly. He walked through the courtyard, over to the main door, and dropped the door latch with a loud thud.

 

       Instantly the door latch came off again and the door opened abruptly.

 

       Dash was standing in the entrance staring at them wide eyed.

 

       Swally, Big G, and Forest, the three of them were sitting in a row just outside the door, not one of them turned to look back at him.

 

       "Why are you guys still here? Why are you sitting here?" He couldn't help but ask.

 

       The three of them just ignored him.

 

       Swally glanced at Big G, "Is it against the law for us to sit here?"

 

       Big G: "It's perfectly legal."

 

       Forest: "Even scarecrows are allowed to sit here so why can't we?"

 

       "This is the main entrance to my house, you are blocking my way," Dash said angrily.

 

       Swally glanced sideways at Big G, "Apparently we are blocking somebody's way."

 

       Big G: "Then we can sit somewhere else."

 

       The three of them stood up and sat in a row across from the main door.

 

       Swally: "What about this spot?"

 

       Big G: "There isn't anything wrong with sitting here, it's not somebody's house and we aren't blocking anyone's way."

 

       Forest: "And we can sit here as long as we like."

 

       Dash was still staring at them.

 

       They were looking to the left and right, but wouldn't make eye contact with Dash.

 

       "What the hell are the three of you doing sitting here?" Dash asked loudly.

 

       Big G: "Nothing at all, just having a seat."

 

       Swally: "We can sit wherever we please, and that's nobody else's business."

 

       Forest: "It sure is cool here."

 

       Swally: "Cool and comfortable."

 

       Big G: "And there certainly won't be anybody asking us for rent."

 

       Dash turned around and quickly went inside, latching the door again with a heavy thud.

 

       Swally looked at Big G, he looked at Forest, the three of them started smiling at the same time.

 

       Although they were smiling, their smiles betrayed a hint of sadness.

 

       The sun had already set beyond the mountain.

 

       Spring was arriving late and the days were still short.

 

       When the sun set behind the mountain the sky gradually darkened.

 

       Who knew what was going to happen once darkness came? They had no idea and were scared to even speculate.

 

       Swally quietly grabbed Big G's hand, "How is your hand?"

 

       Big G: "Nothing serious, I can still hit someone."

 

       Swally turned to Forest, "And you?"

 

       Forest: "The pain has been creeping in slowly."

 

       "Then it should be ok," Swally let out a sigh of relief.

 

       When the wound from a poisoned projectile started to hurt it meant that the poison had ran its course.

 

       Big G was still worried, so he asked, "How bad is the pain?"

 

       Forest just smiled, "Although I won't be able to jump over a wall anytime soon, I can still fight."

 

       Swally: "Are you guys hungry?"

 

       Big G: "I am so hungry I could swallow you whole."

 

       Swally laughed, "But you can still fight on an empty stomach, right?"

 

       Big G smiled, "That's right."

 

       Darkness had arrived.

 

       The three of them were starting to look a little nervous.

 

       But they were ready for a fight.

 

       Big G was holding his fist and looking around, "We are ready for anything, now all we need is an eastern wind."

 

       "What is the eastern wind?" Forest had to ask.

 

       Big G: "People that need a beating."

 

       Just at that moment he saw someone.

 

       Someone carrying a jug of alcohol.

 

       The main door suddenly opened, Dash walked out hugging the jug.

 

       This time he ignored them, and sat down on the stone steps beside the main door.

 

       They just sat there looking at each other, nobody said a word.

 

       Obviously Big G was the first one to break the silence.

 

       He sighed before muttering, "I remember that some guy seemed to have wanted us to have a drink with him not too long ago."

 

       Dash didn't reply, he didn't even look at him, but he suddenly threw the jug towards him.

 

       No matter what you threw in Big G's direction, there was a good chance he would drop it, but a jug of fine drink, if you threw some alcohol in his direction, he would catch it even if he was sleeping.

 

       He gulped down several mouthfuls, and then passed it to Swally, he took a few swigs and then passed it to Forest.

 

       "A wounded person getting drunk, that kind of person must have some kind of death wish," Dash said all of a sudden.

 

       Forest: "Who said I was hurt? Some tiny insect just bit me that's all."

 

       "What kind of insect?" Dash couldn't help but ask.

 

       Dash suddenly rushed over to him and grabbed the jug, "How long are you all planning on waiting here for?" He asked, a dark expression had come over his face.

 

        "We are going to sit here until those people come looking for you," Big G couldn't help but to proclaim loudly.

 

       Dash: "Who said anything about people looking for me?"

 

       Big G: "I did."

 

       Dash: "How do you know?"

 

       Big G: "The scarecrows told me so."

 

       He looked at Dash out of the corner of his eye, "These scarecrows not only know how to fly kites, they can talk, isn't that strange?" he said smiling.

 

       The color drained from Dash's face, he slowly sat back down on the stone steps.

 

       Other than the sound of alcohol swishing around inside the jug, there was complete silence.

 

       "Even the alcohol has something to say, can you hear it?" Swally asked.

 

       Big G: "What is it saying?"

 

       Swally: "It said that someone's hand is shaking so much he feels dizzy."

 

       Dash stood up abruptly and glared at him.

 

       He still didn't look at Dash.

 

       The three of them kept looking around, but they wouldn't look at Dash.

 

       A spark suddenly shot through darkness, landing on the midsection of the first scarecrow.

 

       With a burst, it instantly was ablaze.

 

       The flame was a pale blue and wisps of smoke started to circle out.

 

       "Hurry, get inside," Dash urged.

 

       He threw Big G the jug, picked up Forest and rushed inside.

 

       Dash finally moved.

 

       When he moved, he was faster than anyone.

 

       Big G also got moving, the first thing he did was put down the jug.

 

       Because he didn't retreat inside, he actually rushed towards the direction of the flying spark.

 

       Of course Swally followed behind him.

 

       "Hurry get inside, don't go that way," Dash yelled.

 

       Big G didn't hear anything, it was as if he had suddenly gone deaf.

 

       Since Big G didn't hear anything neither did Swally.

 

       Forest sighed, "This guy just loves going where he's not supposed to go, you should know that by now."

 

       For a house to be called a mountain villa, there had to be at least a few basic requirements.

 

       It definitely couldn't be too small.

 

       Even if it wasn't built on a mountain, it should at the very least be situated at the base of a mountain.

 

       And no matter how big the house was, there should always be a little forest outside of the main door.

 

       Although 'Prosperity Villa' wasn't very prosperous, it was at least an authentic mountain villa. So outside of the main door there was a little forest, and just now the small spark was shot from that direction.

 

       "Did that spark shoot out from behind that tree?" Big G said in a low voice.

 

       Swally: "I didn't get a good look."

 

       Big G: "Me neither."

 

       It was already quite dark outside, it was even darker among the trees. It was completely silent and it was too dark to even make out a shadow.

 

       Swally: "I think we should go back and talk to Dash about coming up with a plan."

 

       Big G: "These people are not here to talk, so what the hell will talking do?"

 

       When Big G started swearing it meant that he was angry.

 

       Swally: "Enter dark forests with caution, have you never heard that basic saying from the world of martial arts?"

 

       Big G: "Nope. What do those stupid rules have to do with me, I'm not your typical martial arts expert anyway."

 

       He suddenly dashed forward into the forest.

 

       There seemed to be a chilling light glistening in the dark.

 

       Big G rushed forward before he could even get a good look.

 

       Then he saw a knife.

 

       A curved blade.

 

       A curved blade for flaying flesh.

 

       The knife was sticking into the tree, there was a piece of paper stuck to the tree.

 

      Of course there were tiny little characters written on the piece of paper, it would have been hard to make out even during the day.

 

       He was about to pull out the knife, but Swally had already grabbed his hand.

 

       Swally's face was pale, "Are you falling for the same trick again? You really want to be poisoned again?" he said staring at him.

 

       He was upset and anxious, but Big G was laughing.

 

       Swally: "What's so funny?"

 

       Big G: "You."

 

       "You're an ass," Swally could help but say.

 

       Swally only ever swore when he was furious.

 

       Big G stopped smiling, "Even if they were trying to trick us again shouldn't they at least try something new, do they think we are actually stupid enough to fall for the same trick twice," he said seriously.

 

       Big G sighed, smiling bitterly, "Fine, I won't use my hand because you asked me to, but taking a look should be ok."

 

       He put both his hands behind his back and walked over.

 

       He didn't move his hands, looking with his eyes seemed to be perfectly safe.

 

       But the writing on the paper was too small, he had to look closer.

 

       He could finally make out the small writing on the piece of paper, "Watch your feet."

 

       By the time he could make out the writing the ground beneath him gave way, and he was already falling down.

 

       There had been a trap on the ground.

 

       "Be careful," Swally had gasped.

 

       He rushed over and grabbed Big G's hand.

 

       Big G pulled up and used the momentum to jump out.

 

       His Qinggong wasn't bad, he easily cleared the jump.

 

 

       Unfortunately jumping out was also a trap.

 

       The tree leaves rustled and a big net suddenly shot out from among the trees.

 

       It was a very large net.

 

       If Big G had wings or even if he was a bird, he wouldn't have been able to avoiding getting caught.

 

       Not to mention when he was jumping through the air it was as if he had jumped right inside of the net. There was no way he could have avoided the net.

 

       Not only Big G couldn't escape, but Swally as well.

 

       They were about to be trapped inside the net for good when all of a sudden a black shadow came flying past. It seemed to be a cannonball flying faster than humanly possible.

 

       The black shadow flew over their heads and reached out a hand, firmly grabbing the net.

 

       The black shadow wasn't a cannonball, it was a person.

 

       It was Forest.

 

       After grabbing the net his body kept flying forward as if shot out by a cannon, after flying for several meters he gradually started to slow down.

 

       Big G and Swally crawled out of the net, but all they could see was Forest hanging from a tree branch with one hand and the net hanging from his other hand, dangling in the air.

 

       Big G's heart was still beating fast, he let out a long sigh of relief, "If it wasn't for you this time I'm afraid I would have gotten myself into a real mess," he smiled awkwardly.

 

       "You don't have to thank me," Forest said smiling.

 

       Big G: "Then who should I thank."

 

       Forest: "The person behind you."

 

       Big G turned around and realized that Dash was standing behind him, his face was cold as iron.

 

       Forest smiled, "I already told you that I couldn't walk or jump."

 

       Big G: "Then just now..."

 

       Forest: "Just now Dash threw me otherwise how could I have flown so fast."

 

       If it wasn't for Dash's momentum nobody on earth could move that fast.

 

       Big G looked at Dash, "Old Mr. King is pretty strong," he said smiling.

 

       Forest: "But you still have his respect."

 

       Big G: "His respect?"

 

       Forest: "He might be strong, but you sure are brave."

 

       Big G stared at him, "Do you really have to talk to us while you're hanging from that tree like a monkey?"

 

       Forest smiled, "I wanted to jump down, but my right leg isn't working."

 

       Dash and Swally had been quiet the whole time.

 

       Both of them were staring at Big G.

 

       "Looks like I can't do or say anything right today," he chuckled bitterly.

 

       Swally finally sighed, "You're at least right about that."

Swally finally sighed, "You're at least right about that."

 

       There was a lamp on inside.

 

       Other than a lamp on the table, there was a piece of paper, a knife, and a jug of alcohol.

 

       Big G had gone back to pull the knife out of the tree, and he certainly hadn't forgot to bring the jug of alcohol back as well.

 

       Although he didn't look like a donkey, he was certainly as stubborn as a mule.

 

       "I told you pulling out the knife would be fine, because I knew they weren't stupid enough to play the same trick twice, now isn't this something new," he laughed haughtily.

 

       "Sure is something, even fresher than a fish in a net," Swally mocked him sarcastically. He picked up the knife on the table, "I know now whose skin they are planning to flay," he said.

 

       Big G blinked, "Are they going to flay some fish?" 

 

       Swally: "You're right about that."

 

       Big G: "Then I might as well be a drunken fish."

 

       He lifted up the jug, "Drunken shrimp is a delicacy south of the Yangtze river, I'm sure drunken fish are great too," he mumbled.

 

       Before he could take a swig Dash suddenly grabbed the jug from him.

 

       Big G was shocked, "Since when are you an alcoholic like me?"

 

       Dash: "You can't drink this."

 

       Big G: "We were just drinking it not too long ago, why can't I have some?"

 

       Dash: "Because that was then, and now is now."

 

       Swally rolled his eyes, "Where did you place the jug just now?"

 

       Big G: "By the entrance."

 

       Swally: "And just now all of us were in the forest, was there anybody at the entrance?"

 

       Big G: "Oh yeah."

 

       Swally: "So you can't drink from this jug anymore."

 

       Big G: "Do you actually think that they could have poisoned the drink in such a short amount of time?"

 

       Swally: "That was more than enough time to poison eighteen jugs of alcohol."

 

       "You all are making these people out to seem like monsters, do you think they're everywhere, and waiting for any opportunity to harm us?" Big G laughed in spite of their warnings.

 

       Dash didn't say anything, but he walked outside abruptly and tossed the jug forcefully onto the ground.

 

       The jugged shattered on the ground with and the drink flowing everywhere.

 

       "What a shame..." Big G sighed while taking a whiff.

 

       He instantly went quiet, standing there dazed.

 

       A tiny snake slowly slithered out from the broken fragments.

 

       It was extraordinarily small, but the smaller the snake the more poisonous they were.

 

       Big G's face went pale, "Looks like these people really will stop at nothing," he couldn't help but take a long sigh of relief.

 

       Swally gasped, "The Crimson Snake of Devastation. Is that actually a crimson snake?" He asked Dash shocked.

 

       Dash's face was cold as iron, he slowly turned around and went back inside, sitting down beside the lamp.

 

       This time, he didn't actually go and lie down on his bed.

 

       Swally chased after him asking, "Was that really... Is it actually him?"

 

       Dash sat there silently for a long time, but finally nodded his head slowly.

 

       Swally exhaled loudly taking several steps backward, he instantly found a spot to lie down.

 

       This time it was Swally who needed to lay down on the bed.

 

       This time it was Big G who ran over asking, "What the heck is the Crimson Snake of Devastation?"

 

       Swally: "It's a person."

 

       His voice had turned incredibly weak and his entire body seemed to have slumped over.

 

       Big G: "What kind of person? Do you know him?"

 

       "If I knew him it would be a miracle that I'm still alive?" Swally smiled bitterly.

 

       He suddenly jumped up and ran to Dash, "But you must know him?"

 

       Dash stayed quiet for some time, but he finally smiled, "And I'm still alive."

 

       Swally: "Staying alive after knowing who he is, that's nearly impossible."

 

       "It truly is," Dash finally sighed, the smiled had gradually disappeared from his face.

 

       Big G was practically yelling: "Are you two talking about a person? Or a snake?"

 

       Swally: "A person."

 

       Big G: "Is he called the Crimson Snake?"

 

       Swally: "They call him the Crimson Snake of Devastation, because if you let down your guard down for even for a second his poison will devastate you."

 

       Big G: "Let your guard down? Everyone has moments when they let their guard down."

 

       Swally sighed, "So if he wants to poison you, there is only going to be one outcome."

 

       Big G: "What's that?"

 

       Swally: "Being poisoned to death."

 

       Big G felt a tingle down his spine, "All of those traps just now were planned by him?"

 

       Swally: "This person has an incredible talent for poisoning people, the best in the world, but he isn't very good at anything else."

 

       "Then I'm not too worried about him," he sighed a breath of relief.

 

       Swally: "Unfortunately he is not alone."

 

       Big G: "Who else is there?"

 

       Swally: "The thousand eye thousand hand Centipede God."

 

       Big G: "A thousand hands and a thousand eyes?"

 

       Swally: "It means that this guy can catch and throw hidden weapons as if he has a thousand hands and a thousand eyes. Apparently he has secret projectiles hidden everywhere, he can even release them from his nose."

 

       Big G glanced sideways at Dash, "Excellent, all I have to do is punch this guy in the nose as soon as I see him," he suddenly laughed.

 

       Swally stood there blinking, "But if you lay eyes upon the saintly Red Women, you could never bring yourself to hit her."

 

       Big G: "A saintly Red Women? Sounds like a really good person."

 

       Swally: "She is definitely a saint, she is aware of how much suffering there is in this world, so her heart is set on sending them all off to the next life."

 

       Big G sighed, "When you put it like that she doesn't sound like such a good person anymore."

 

       Swally: "She is certainly one in a million when it comes to being good."

 

       Big G: "What are her special skills?"

 

       "It's better if you don't know," Swally said seriously in a cold voice.

 

       "Is she exceptionally beautiful?" Big G started blinking his eyes.

 

       Swally: "She is older now, but she is at least a very pretty old women."

 

       Big G: "Is she seventy or eighty?"

 

       Swally: "Not that old."

 

       Big G: "Fifty of sixty?"

 

       Swally: "I don't think she is that old."

 

       Big G: "Around forty?"

 

       Swally: "Sounds about right."

 

       Big G smiled, "That is perfect cougar age, how can you call her an old women?"

 

       Swally glared at him, "What does her age have to do with you? Why do you care so much?"

 

       Big G: "When have I cared?"

 

       Swally: "If you weren't thinking about it then why are you smiling like a vagrant dog."

 

       Big G: "Because I have always been an adventurous little dog."

 

       Swally glared at him again but couldn't stop himself from smiling.

 

       Big G instantly proceeded with another question, "Sounds like her skills are specifically for taking care of men?"

 

       Swally's face went serious again, "It's not like I know how talented she is, all I know is that a lot of men have met their deaths at her hands."

 

       Forest had been resting in a chair beside them with his eyes shut, "Was she the one who made the scarecrows?" he suddenly asked.

 

       Swally: "Nope."

 

       Forest: "Then who was it?"

 

       Swally: "The Summoner of Death at first sight."

 

       Forest frowned, "Summoner of Death?"

 

       Swally: "This guy is full of evil plots, and he is good with his hands, changing disguises, getting information, and he is nimble with hidden projectiles, he uses strange weapons, and apparently he is a master with all of them."

 

       There was a flash in Big's eyes, "I understand," he mumbled.

 

       Swally: "What do you understand?"

 

       Big G: "A snake, a centipede, a scorpion, a Taoist voodoo curse, now all that is missing is an eagle."

 

       "Just now when Dash and I went into the forest, I saw a shadow fly away from the top of the tree where the net came from," Forest said hurriedly.

 

       Swally: "Obviously there had to be someone in the tree otherwise how could the net fall down by itself."

 

       Big G: "Where did they go?"

 

       Forest smiled awkwardly, "Dash had already thrown me by then, I couldn't see where he went? Not to mention their Qingong was exceptional, he moved just like an eagle."

 

       Swally: "The Soaring Eagle King."

 

       Big G clapped his hands, "Five kites, and now we have five of them."

 

       Swally: "The Eagle King has the best Qingong out of all five of them, and the most impressive kung fu overall."

 

       Big G: "I still think the saintly Red Women is going to be the hardest one for us to deal with."

 

       Forest: "Why?"

 

       Big G: "Because we're all men."

 

       "If men could control their lust, then it shouldn't matter how talented she is," Swally said coldly.

 

       Big G sighed deeply, "But how many man on this earth are capable of that?"

 

       Dash had been sitting there quietly the whole time, not even moving.

 

       He would always avoid moving whenever possible.

 

       Swally pulled up a stool and sat down in front of him, "When you saw the kites you knew that they were coming for you."

 

       Big G also grabbed a stool and sat beside Swally, "So you tried to get us to leave, because you knew that disaster awaits any place that the five of these people visit."

 

       Swally: "You didn't want us getting mixed up in this mess, so you tried to kick us out."

 

       Big G: "But what you don't know is that we're already part of this mess."

 

       Swally: "Since the day we first met you, your problems became our problems."

 

       Big G: "Because we're friends."

 

       Swally: "So no matter where you go, we will definitely follow."

 

       Big G: "So it's too late to get rid of us now."

 

       Dash was watching them, not saying a word.

 

       He already knew that it wasn't necessary for him to add anything.

 

       He was worried that he would be overwhelmed with tears the moment he tried to speak.

 

       Friends!

 

       Such a simple word, but how noble it was.

 

       "You guys truly are my friends," he said one word at a time, while clasping his hands together.

 

       This one sentence was enough.

 

       As long as you truly understood the meaning of this sentence, then nothing else mattered.

 

       Swally and Forest were both smiling.

 

       Big G grasped Dash's hand tightly. This was all they needed to hear, it was more than enough.

 

       They didn't ask how Dash had become enemies with these people or how it had all started.

 

       If Dash didn't say, then they wouldn't ask.

 

       There only problem now was how do we get rid of these people?

 

       Swally: "I knew those kites meant trouble the moment I saw them."

 

       Dash: "Those kites were a warning."

 

       Swally: "Why would they warn you if they were coming to cause you trouble?"

 

       Dash: "Because they want me to die slowly."

 

       His facial expression looked uneasy, "Because they understand that the fear of death is more agonizing than death itself," he spoke slowly.

 

       Swally sighed, "This sounds like a serious problem."

 

       Dash: "Serious indeed."

 

       Big G suddenly laughed, "It's too bad they made a miscalculation."

 

       Swally: "Oh?"

 

       Big G: "Although they have five people, we have four, so there's nothing to be scared about? Why wait in agony?"

 

       Swally: "But they are at an advantage."

 

       Big G: "Oh?"

 

       "How do you defend against the enemy of deception, do you understand this saying?" Swally asked.

      

       Big G: "I understand, but I'm not afraid."

 

       Swally stared at him, "Then what are you afraid of?"

 

       Big G: "You."

 

      Swally laughed sweetly, but he quickly turned serious and turned away. He clearly understood what Big G was saying, because he felt the same way. People like them were only scared about people treating them too good, they were worried about getting too emotional. If someone truly found a place inside of their hearts, then they wouldn't hesitate to chop off their own head if you asked them to.

 

       Big G: "When troubles arises, we can go with the flow, there isn't anything special about these kind of people, other than sneaking around and harming people, their true strength is actually quite limited."

 

       He paused and then added, "The only question is when they will be coming?"

 

       Dash: "Who knows?"

 

       Big G: "Not even you know?"

 

       Dash: "All I know is that unless they have finished me off they won't be leaving."

 

       Big G smiled again, "It's too early to say who is going to be finishing off who."

 

       This was the cutest thing about Big G.

 

       He was always confident and full of optimism.

 

       Even if he knew that the sky was falling, it wouldn't bother him. He truly believed that as long as you believed in yourself, then all things were possible.

 

       He not only had faith, but he inspired confidence in others.

 

       Dash's facial expression slowly started to brighten up, "Although they have a slight advantage, I know how to take care of them," he suddenly said.

 

       "How?" Big G rushed to ask.

 

       Dash: "Going to sleep."

 

       "Only you would be able to think of a plan like this," Big G laughed in surprise.

 

       "What's wrong with playing a little rope-a-dope," he asked rhetorically.

 

       Big G clapped his hands, "That's right, let's get some sleep, then we'll have all the energy we need to take care of them."

 

       Swally: "But we should take turns sleeping."

 

       Big G: "Good point, I will stay on guard with you for the first half of the night, and after midnight Dash and Forest can take over."

 

       "I think it's better if you and I are on the same watch," Forest suddenly said.

 

       Big G: "Why?"

 

       Forest glanced at Swally, "You two talk too much, and you would be so busy talking you wouldn't even notice anyone coming inside."

 

       Swally instantly walked out, because he seemed to be blushing all of a sudden.

 

       Big G: "I still think it's best for Swally and I to take first watch, we won't fall asleep if we’re talking."

 

       He was already walking out after Swally before he finished his sentence.

 

       Regardless of what anyone else said, he would stick with Swally.

 

       These two seemed to be tied at the hips.

 

       Forest watched them walk away, "It's so strange, sometimes Little G can be such an idiot," Forest said loudly with a smile on his face.

 

       Dash was smiling as well, "Don't worry, he definitely won't be an idiot about this for much longer."

 

       Forest: "Actually I hope he stays stupid for a little longer."

 

       Dash: "Why?"

 

       "Because the two of them like this is indeed quite interesting," Forest smiled.

 

       The living room was dark.

 

       Swally walked into the living room and sat down.

 

       Big G also walked inside and took a seat.

 

       Starlight through the windows was reflecting on Swally's eyes.

 

       He had such pretty eyes.

 

       Big G was sitting beside Swally looking at him, "Did you know that sometimes your eyes look like a women's," he suddenly smiled.

 

       "In what other areas am I like a women?" Swally asked with a straight face.

 

       "Sometimes when you smile," Big G laughed.

 

       "Since I'm like a women why do you always insist on following me?" He asked coldly.

 

       Big G smiled, "If only you were a women, I would never let you leave my sight."

 

       Swally suddenly turned his head away and stood up, he found some flint and lit the lamp that was on the table.

 

       It was as if he wasn't willing to sit alone with Big G in the darkness.

 

       The bright lamp cast his shadow onto the window frame.

 

       Big G suddenly pulled him over as if he was going to hug him.

 

       "You... What are you doing?" Swally gasped.

 

       Big G: "If you stand there you’re basically a living target for that thousand hand thousand eyes guy." His eyes suddenly brightened up, "That is actually a good idea," he muttered.

 

       Swally stared at him, "Could you possibly have any more good ideas?"

 

       Big G: "The Centipede likes to use projectiles, so why don't we find him a few good targets."

 

       Swally frowned, "And who do you want to be his target?"

 

       Big G: "The scarecrows. Let's move the scarecrows inside, and sit them down here, someone looking in from outside the window won't be able to tell they aren't real people."

 

       Swally's frown disappeared.

 

       Big G: "When the Centipede looks through the window he is sure to want to take a shot."

 

       Swally: "And then?"

 

       Big G: "We can wait outside, as long as he tries to take a shot we will have a chance to take him out."

 

       Swally muttered something, "You think this is a good idea?"

 

       Big G: "We have to try something, we can't just wait here to die, might as well think of a way to try and lure them out."

 

       Swally: "Don't forget that even those scarecrows know how to hurt people."

 

       Big G: "At lease scarecrows aren't alive, they must be easier to handle than actual people."

 

       Swally sighed, "Fine! I will listen to you this time, let's see if your stupid idea actually works!"

 

       Big G laughed, "At least a stupid idea is better than nothing at all."

 

       The shadow from the scarecrows could be seen from the window, from outside it was nearly impossible to tell that they weren't actual people.

 

       The scarecrows were not only dressed in clothes, but were wearing hats as well.

 

       It was late into the night, the cold wind felt like cutting knives.

 

       Big G and Swally were hiding below out of the wind, but they were still shivering from the cold.

 

       "If we had some alcohol to drink it wouldn’t be so cold," Swally suddenly said.

 

       "Never thought there would be times when you needed a drink as well," Big G smiled.

 

       Swally: "It's like writers and ink stains, if you spend enough time around alcoholics, sooner or later you're going to become one as well."

 

       Big G smiled, "So sooner or later there will have to be a time when you enjoy the company of women."

 

       Swally's face suddenly turned serious and he stopped talking.

 

       "I never understood how someone like Dash could have made enemies with the likes of the Centipede and the Crimson Snake? They really hate each other," Big G said after a long time had passed.

 

       "If you don't understand than its best not to think about it," Swally replied coldly.

 

       "Don't you think it's strange?" Big G asked.

 

       Swally: "Nope."

 

       Big G: "Why not?"

 

       Swally: "Because I am not interesting in digging up other people's secrets, especially when they are my friend."

 

       Big G had nothing to say.

 

       After a long wait they suddenly heard a strange sound.

 

       "What was that?" Swally's face looked anxious.

 

       Big G smiled awkwardly, "That was my stomach," he said with a sigh.

 

       He was starving.

 

       After another long wait they suddenly heard another sound.

 

       Big G: "What was that?"  

 

       Swally bit down on his lip, "It was my teeth."

 

       He was so cold that his teeth were chattering.

 

       Big G: "Since you're afraid of the cold why don't you come closer?"

 

       Swally: "Shh"

 

       Big G: "What does that mean?"

 

       Swally: "It means stop talking, if you never shut up than that Centipede guy is never going to make a move."

 

       Big G actually stopped talking.

 

       He wasn't afraid of anything, he wasn't scared about them showing up, and the only thing he was worried about was them not coming.

 

       Waiting like this was extremely uncomfortable.

 

       The most agonizing part of the whole ordeal was not knowing when they would appear. Perhaps it would be a few days from now, or it could happen at any moment.

 

       Big G was thinking about using the fish net he had in his hands to capture Swally.

 

       The net was light and soft, but it was made out of something very sturdy. Forest had brought it back, and now Big G was planning on using it on the Centipede: a tooth for a tooth, and eye for an eye.

 

       The net was light, and Swally's heart was brimming with affection.

 

       All of a sudden, a shadow shot past the wall as fast as an arrow, with a flip through the air dozens of tiny projectiles came flying through the window like a blizzard.

 

       He was incredibly fast.

 

       His throwing weapons were even faster.

 

       Big G and Swally couldn't even tell from where he had shot the projectiles from.

 

       As soon as the throwing weapons were released, his foot touched the ground and he instantly jumped back into the air, aiming for the edge of the roof.

 

       As soon as he shot up he suddenly realized that a large net was coming towards his head. His momentum was carrying his body upward, and it looked like he had practically thrown himself in the net.

 

       He struggled to free himself despite the surprise, but the net was like a spider's web closing in around him.

 

       Big G was so happy he couldn't help from yelling, "Let's see you get out of this."

 

       Swally hurried over and kicked the pressure point below his waist to prevent him from moving.

 

       To their surprise dozens of throwing weapons instantly shot out from within the net.

 

       This time it was Big G and Swally who were shocked.

 

       In the same instant, a hook flew over from behind the wall and latched onto the net, there was obviously a rope connected to the hook.

 

       And obviously there was a hand to pull the rope.

 

       The net started to move.

 

       Big G and Swally pounced towards the net the moment it started to be pulled up.

 

       Swally and Big G were both surprised at the same exact time, but only one of them was targeted by more hidden throwing weapons.

 

       All of the hidden projectiles were shot towards Swally.

 

       So Big G was even more shocked and worried than Swally was.

 

       He didn't know how to react, but he had already jumped towards Swally to shield him.

 

       The two of them rolled across the ground.

 

       Big G felt a burst of pain across his back, and then his whole body went completely numb.

 

       Even his senses were going numb.

 

       He didn't see the net pulled all the way up or the person inside jump out.

 

       He was half unconscious and all he could make out were two screams, someone had cried out in shock, and someone had cried out in agony.    

 

       He couldn't tell who had screamed and who it was who had cried out in agony.

 

       All he knew is that it wasn't him.

 

       Because his teeth were already clenched shut.

 

       People often scream and yell, but when you are truly suffering, there is too much pain to make any sound at all.

 

       Big G was that kind of person.

 

       Some people forget all about their own safety when they see their friends in danger.

 

       That was just the kind of person that Big G was.

 

       As long as he could move, he didn't care whether he lived or died.

 

       The screaming gradually became distant, and then he couldn't hear anything at all.

 

       What was this sound?

 

       Was someone crying?

 

       Big G opened his eyes to see Swally's face covered in tears.

 

       Swally saw him open his eyes, "He's awake," he gasped joyfully.

 

       "Only good people die young, a bad thing never dies, I knew he would make it," someone beside him said.

 

       The voice belonged to Dash.

 

       He always sounded cold and composed, but now his voice seemed to be shaking.

 

       Big G looked at his face.

 

       That cold and composed face of his was now full of excitement and emotion.

 

       Big G smiled, "Did you all think that I was actually dead?"

 

       He was trying to smile, but it looked more like he was crying.

 

       Because his entire body ached whenever he smiled.

 

       "Lay down and rest, you're not allowed to move or talk," Swally said while discretely wiping away his tears.

 

       Big G: "Yes."

 

       Swally: "Not even a word."

 

       Big G nodded his head.

 

       Swally: "You're not allowed to nod your head either, don't even move."

 

       Big G surprisingly stayed still, but his eyes were wide open and he was staring intently at Swally.

 

       Swally sighed slightly, "You were hit by a nail of death, a sleeve arrow, and two poisonous needles, you should be grateful that you're still alive, you almost didn't make it."

 

       The corner of his eyes started to turn red as he was talking.

 

       Dash sighed as well, "You not letting him speak might be even harder on him."

 

       Big G: "That's correct."

 

       "Looks like I am going to have to sew your mouth shut," Swally glared at him.

 

       Big G: "I only feel the pain when I'm not talking."

 

       Swally: "Yeah right."

 

       Big G: "For real."

 

       He wanted to laugh but he held back, "Because as long as I am talking, I forget all about my pain," he said slowly.

 

       Swally was looking into his eyes but he couldn't tell if he saw compassion or maybe resentment? Or some kind of emotions that were hard to articulate, or some kind of affection that was hard to describe.

 

       His face was definitely as pale as a sheet of paper.

 

       It was already bright outside, and rays of sun were shining in.

 

       Although it had been a painful evening, it had now passed.

 

       "What about the Centipede?" Big G had to ask.

 

       Swally: "He is now a dead centipede."

 

       The agonizing scream had belonged to him.

 

       "Is he really dead? Completely dead?" Big G needed to ask, because even if a centipede were to die, it would never fall down.

 

       Swally didn't answer, but Forest replied.

 

       Forest: "He had a quick, clean death."

 

       Big G: "Did you kill him?"

 

       Forest shook his head, "Swally did."

 

       He suddenly smiled, "Did you ever think that under those circumstances he would be able to avenge you."

 

       The thought had never crossed his mind, as he clearly remembered his body pressing down on top of Swally. He wanted to ask Swally, but he had already turned his head away.

 

       Forest: "I wouldn't have thought so either, but as soon as the Centipede jumped out, a blade slit his throat and spilled his blood all over the ground."

 

       Big G: "Was there only blood? What about his body?"

 

       Forest: "Gone! The knife and body both gone."

 

       Big G: "Dead people can't move."

 

       Forest: "Because he was on his last breath, he must be dead by now."

 

       Big G let out a sigh of relief, "Looks like they didn't get the best of us," he said happily.

 

       Forest: "That's right, now it's four on four."

 

       "Too bad I am only worth half a person at most right now," he smiled bitterly.

 

       "They are basically three and a half people now as well," Dash suddenly said.

 

       Forest: "The Red Women, the Crimson Snake, and the Summoner of Death."

 

       Big G: "Don't forget about the Soaring Eagle."

 

       Dash: "I didn't forget about him."

 

       His facial expression suddenly looked strange, his eyes seemed to be staring at something very distant.

 

       Big G: "The Red Women, Crimson Snake, the Summoner of Death, and then the Eagle King, isn't that already four."

 

       Dash: "It's three."

 

       Big G: "How is three plus one three."

 

       Dash was staring blankly, who knows what he was looking at, and it was impossible to tell by his face what he was thinking about.

 

       After a long pause, he started to speak very slowly, one word at a time: "Because I am the Soaring Eagle King."

 

       Nobody had asked Dash about his past, because they all respected each other's privacy.

 

       They didn't ask, and Dash didn't share. Dash's secret was finally revealed, and he had told them himself.

 

       Dash wasn't born lazy.

 

       He loved running around and moving about when he was a kid, in fact it was his favorite thing in the whole world.

 

       He started climbing trees at the age of six.

 

       He climbed every kind of tree imaginable, so he had also experienced falling from each and every kind of tree.

 

       He had fallen various different ways.

 

       The worst fall was when he fell head first, that time his brain had nearly split in two.

 

       By the time he could hang from trees like a monkey, he wasn't interested in trees anymore.

 

       Because climbing trees had become as safe as sleeping in his own bed, there was nothing exciting about that.

 

       From then on his father had to arrange all of the household servants to go out looking for him.

 

       Although at that time their family's estate was already in decline, they still had a few servants. Every time they found him and dragged him home he would be exhausted, as if he was about to fall over with the tap of a finger.

 

       But he would still jump around lively like a fish fresh out of water.

 

       Eventually nobody was willing to go out looking for him anymore.

 

       They would rather chop hundreds of pounds of wood then go looking for him.

 

       They would rather pack up their things and leave then to go looking for him.

 

       So all his parents could do was to give up on trying to keep him at home, they would let him play as long as wanted to.

 

       Fortunately he would come home at least once every couple of days.

 

       He would have a shower, eat something and change his clothes.

 

       He would ask for money to spend.

 

       Because he was only twelve then, and he felt that asking his parents for money was the natural thing to do.

 

       But when he was a little older, he felt that he should be more independent. His parents rarely saw him after that. Countless times his parents would secretly swear to themselves that the next time he came home, they would tie him down with an iron chain, or break his legs with a rod to prevent him from running wild away from home.

 

       But the next time he came back looking like a wreck, dirty and hungry, their hearts would always go soft. The worst thing they ever did was bring him to the side study and lecture him.

 

       His mom would be busy in the kitchen cooking up a chicken, and by the time his dad was finished lecturing him, he was already stuffing his mouth full with a leg of chicken.

 

       Perhaps the only people on earth capable of understanding how they felt would be other parents with only one child.

 

       A son or daughter would never understand those kinds of feelings.

 

       Dash was no exception.

 

       All he knew was that real men should venture out into the world and make a name for themselves.

 

       So that's what he did.

 

       He was only seventeen then.

 

       He was more or less the same as most seventeen year olds. When Dash left home he was full of lofty ambitions and passionate excitement.

 

       But after a couple of days with nothing to eat, he started to miss home.

 

       During times like that he would feel empty and alone.

 

       So he strived to make all sorts of new friends, obviously an ideal partner would be someone of the finer sex.

 

       What seventeen or eighteen year old young man doesn't dream about love, fantasizing about romantic adventures?

 

       There was a time when he was feeling extremely lonely, and he happened to come across the saintly Red Women.

 

       She understood his lofty ambitions and she symphonized with his frustrations.

 

       She comforted him and encouraged him, she talked him into doing all kinds of things.

 

       "If a real man wants to truly live, he should experience all sorts of different things."

 

       He believed everything she said.

      

       "People should pursue money and fame, because we're meant to enjoy life."

 

       Back then he didn't know that there were more important things than merely living for pleasure. He did whatever it took to become famous.

 

       So he became famous.

 

       By the time he was twenty, he had already earned himself an impressive reputation as the 'Soaring Eagle King.'

 

       He truly enjoyed being famous.

 

       He acted without thinking, and he became famous without really knowing what he was doing.

 

       He wore luxurious clothes, and drank the best there was to offer.

 

       He knew how to pick out the best tailor made suites.

 

       If his fish wasn't cooked to perfection he would instantly throw it in the face of the cook.

 

       He not only knew how to enjoy life, he was doing extremely well.

 

       He should have been satisfied.  

 

       But for some reason, he suddenly wasn't happy anymore, and his agonizing thoughts were even worse than before.

 

       He used to sleep peacefully as soon as his head touched the pillow, but then he would often lay awake sleeplessly.

 

       When he lay there sleepless, he would ask himself: "Should I be doing all the things that I am doing?"

 

       "Are these people truly my friends?"

 

       "Should people be thinking about anything else other than how to enjoy life?"

 

       He suddenly missed home, and started to think about his mother and father.

 

       The best cook in the world, couldn't compete with the chicken noodle soup that his mom used to cook for him.

 

       All of the flattering words gradually became less appealing than his father's lecturing.

 

       Even the sweet whisperings of the Red Women started to lose their appeal.

 

       None of these things were important.

 

       What mattered most was that he suddenly wanted to be a person of integrity.

 

       He just wanted to be someone who slept peacefully at night.

 

       He started preparations to move on, to leave these kind of friends behind.

 

       He obviously knew that they would never let him go.

 

       First, because they needed him.

 

       Second, because he knew all of their secrets.

 

       Fortunately, he had never talked about his mom and dad in front of them, or told them where he was from.

 

       He didn't know if he was scared of losing his parents, or worried that his parents wouldn't want anything to do with him anymore. His parents were just regular people.

 

       His friends never asked about his family, they only asked, "How did you learn martial arts so well?"

 

       He studied martial arts as a child, a strange old man would wait for him every day in the dark forest, and forced him to practice intensely.

 

       He never discovered who his master was, and he had no idea if the kung fu he practiced was any good.

 

       He didn't know until the first time he got into a fight.

 

       This fortuitous encounter was his strange secret.

 

       So he never shared it with anyone, because nobody would believe him anyway.

 

       Sometimes, he himself found it hard to believe.

 





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