The following days were filled with more laughter and sunshine. It seemed that heaven itself was taking care of the travelers. Before they knew it, they arrived at Xiao Ge Zi's adopted home. Needless to say, XGZ and XYZ had a wonderful reunion. After XJ introduced everyone (real names and identities this time), XGZ's adoptive parents welcomed them graciously. Because of XYZ and XGZ, they decided to stay a couple of days. The two little birds spent every day together. Because they were not running for their life, everyone had time to enjoy all that the city had to ffer. One day, when XGZ was having her lessons, everyone went into town to find presents for the folks at home. The girls were gathered around a vendor selling intricately carved pieces of wood, jade, and other precious stones while the guys were a couple of shops down looking at weapons.

XYZ: "ZW! Look! It's a little swallow bird! Just like me!"

QE: "Let me see. Wow! XYZ!"

SY: "Oh look! Here's a little dove!"

ZW: "XYZ! I have a great idea! Why don't you get both? You can give XGZ the swallow and keep the dove so you won't ever forget each other."

XYZ: "ZW! You're a genius!"

QE picked a buddha figure: "Sir, how much is this?"

Vendor: "That would be on bronze coin."

QE: "SY, ZW, XYZ, do you think Nai Nai would like it?" When the other girls nodded, she told the vendor: "Alright, I'll take it."

The girls paid for their purchase. XYZ got the birds, QE got her Buddha, SY got a mother figure surrounded with children for Ling Fei, and ZW got a suncatcher in the shape of the word 'Fu' for her mother-in-law. Just as the girls were picking up their packages, a tough looking man approached the vendor and said in an arrogant voice: "Old man! Where is my money?"

The girls watched as a the old man got down on his knees: "Shao Ye, please give me three more days. My wife just recently got sick and our eldest daughter just passed away. I can't come up with the rent just now."

The shao ye hit the man hard: "Well, it's hardly my problem, isn't it?"

He took the money box and made to leave: "I'll just take this for now and send my people to gather the rest later this evening."

XYZ had been getting angrier and angrier. Just as the shao ye turned to leave, she said indignantly: "Stop right there. What right do you have to hurt an old man like that? Have you no pity? The man's daughter just died and his wife is sick!"

The man turned around: "How dare you! Don't you know who I am?"

XYZ retorted: "I don't care who you are. Hurting a weak old man is morally wrong! You are nothing but a big bully!"

The shao-ye sneered: "So what? You can't do anything about it!"

Without a word, XYZ punched him.

Stunned, the shao-ye said: "You're asking for death!"

So saying, he aimed a kick at her. XYZ skipped away and the fight began.

ZW, SY, and QE looked at each toher .XYZ was putting up a good fight, she seemed unaware of the crowd gather around her. Just then, EK, ET, XJ, and YQ joined them.

EK: "Again? Is that XYZ?"

ET: "How come she's fighting again?"

YQ frowned in worry: "I'd better help her."

XJ stopped him: "Wait. I want to see how much XYZ has learned."

EK turned to ZW: "What happened? Are you hurt?"

ZW shook her head: "No. We…"

The old vendor spoke up: "Sir, yonder lady's helping me. The man she is fighting is the son of Lin Da Ren. He is a just man who has ruled us well, but he is growing old and is passing his authority onto his son. I've leased my shop from his family as long as I remember. Whenever I've been late on my payments, Lin Da Ren has always given me a second chance. But his son is a different story…"

ET: "Lin Da Ren? Yes, I've heard he's a good man. That's his son?"

Vendor: "Yes. He's been taught by the best masters, I'm surprised gu niang has survived this long."

Just then, XYZ gave a triumphant cry. Lin Shao Ye lay on the ground, face down in the dirt, XYZ's foot pressing down on his back.

XYZ: "That'll teach you!"

YQ quickly went to her: "XYZ, are you ok?"

XYZ grinned: "Oh YQ! Didn't you see? I beat this dog 'luo hua liu shui' (Basically means she beat him up really well)!"

XJ: "XYZ, I see you've learned much. Mei mei (younger sister), I'm proud of you."

XYZ grinned happily. She lifted her foot and made the man get up: "Now, apologize to this man!"

The shao ye got up: "Never! Just wait until I tell my father! Your days are numbered!"

XYZ slapped him: "Who's your father? Bring him here!"

ZW went up to XYZ: "XYZ, don't you think you've punished him enough? Why drag his father into it?"

XYZ was still angry: "Oh no. I'm going to make sure he never hurts other people again. I can't stand people like him."

Just then, the crowd dispersed to show a graying man who nevertheless wore dignity like a cloak.

The shao ye exclaimed: "Father! This girl just fought with me!"

The man responded: "And I see form your condition that she has won." He turned t oXYZ and her companions and his eyes widened. His dignity thrown away, he immediately kneeled in front of them:

"Wu Ah Ge ji xiang, HZGG ji xiang, MZGG ji xiang, E Fu ji xiang, Qing Ge Ge ji xiang, Sai Ya gon zhu ji xiang, Fu Er Ye ji xiang. Xiao Da Ye ji xiang." (He's giving the proper greetings to the gang)

The crowd began whispering excited as the show ye looked up in amazement. A voice from the crowd exclaimed: "They're back! They did so well at the competition last year! They're back to save us!"

XYZ and company glanced at each other nervously.

Lin Da Ren: "Please excuse my son. I apologize for his behavior. Please, come to cheng's humble abode." (Cheng signifies his position has an official)

At Lin's

Lin Da Ren: "I am very sorry for my son's behavior. I do not have the same strength I used to; I cannot control him."

EK: "Lin Da Ren, how did you know who we were?"

LDR: "HS wrote a letter to the officials of each major city on the way to Da Li, saying you all were traveling South. He mentioned that HZGG liked to help the people and warned us all to give her our full cooperation."

YQ: "Lin Da Ren. I understand you are a good ruler. How come you didn't pass it on to your son?"

LDR: "Cheng is wrong. But Tian-er is my only son and is therefore spoiled by the whole family. I'm afraid he's out of touch with how to rule."

XYZ spoke up: "Ha! He's the most arrogant person I have ever met!"

LDR: "HZGG is right. But cheng sees no way to help him. He has lived his whole life getting all that he wants. Cheng has giving him responsibilities hoping to reform him, but he's only terrorizing the good citizens more.'

ZW: "LDR, your problem is a common one. And the solution is not that hard."

LDR: "MZGG?"

ZW: "Tian-er has not experienced life for himself. Why do we not fix that?"

SY: "But how can he? Everyone's afraid of him and treat him as befit his status."

QE: "I see what ZW's saying. LDR, what if you give him to a master and make him live as a commoner for a while?"

LDR: "Is there a master who would do that?"

XJ replied: "yes, I know one."

LDR: "Oh?"

XJ nodded: 'Yes…I'm afraid he's a ways outside the city, in the middle of the countryside with nothing nearby but his farm."

YQ: "LDR, What do you say?"

LDR sighed: "If it will reform my son, anything."

XJ: "Good. Because both you and he will suffer some hardships."

LDR: "That is fine. Xiao Da Ye, if you will help me make the arrangements? (XJ nodded) Now, enough about my ungrateful son. Cheng cordially invite you to stay in my home."

YQ: "Thank you, but there's no need of that. We're visiting my wife's sworn sister. XYZ won't want to be parted from her."

EK nodded: "Yes. But now that everyone knows our identity, could you perhaps loan us a few guards? Just to be safe."

LDR nodded: "Alright. Thank you for helping me with my son. Cheng apologizes once again."