Yong was very appalled when she asked: "Shiren! God damn, what are you doing?", right as she took the scroll from him.
Shiren was so focussed on reading he did not realize Yong entering this room. Even an elephant could had walk into this room without Shiren even noticing him.
Shiren got frightened the moment Yong with a fierce momentum took the scroll and starred furious in his face. "You know how much I can stop myself from slapping you with this thing?", she blustered and hit his head with this scroll right away and went on: "Right! I can´t!"
She groaned annoyed and turned away from Shiren. "You know...", she explained impatiently: "we´re all are wondering where you are."
The whole time from when Shiren begun to read the scroll to now, he was still sitting in the same room in which he found the scroll and he did not realize how much time passed or how long he read at all.
Aroused he shook his head to wake up again and answered: "I'm Sorry. I was just making sure I found the right scroll. And you know what? I think I did!"
Yong clapped unamused with her paws and criticised: "Congratulations! I'm so proud of you! You are so smart. Now tell me: What's the Chi, hm? You probably would say what you just read, right? Do you even realized what you just read? Is it the truth? Hm?"She starred at him angrily for few seconds and Shiren did not dare to answer in his panic state. Then she waved away to end this conversation and said: "Come on. The others are waiting. If this is not the scroll than it's not here. We did what we came for.", she said without waiting for any kind of answer or explanation from Shiren and went out.
Shiren really made her mad and feared the reaction of the others once they met again.
Which did not took very long. The way back went way quicker since Shiren was very busy trying to keep up with Yong who rushed along those corridors like she was running for her live but without all the panic. She knew where she had to go which Shiren really noticed. He would have to think on few of the paths which one he came from as he arrived here if he would be honest.
As they arrived in the room with the six corridors Shiren was a bit out of stamina.
"I found him.", Yong said to the others, who relaxed there like they would sit on a campfire.
Xing turned up with a worried face: "Damn, Shiren, what happened you´ve been there so long? Were you trapped?"
"Yeah, kind of.", Shiren just answered without going into this conversation way further: "But at least I got what we wanted. The scroll!"
Ku Zhan nodded and stood up: "Alright. So, everyone, move on down this mountain. We shouldn't stay here longer than necessary."
Right as he started to move Yong turned back to Shiren and gave him back the scroll like she would try to punch his tail with it and siad: "Take it!", and made sure he is running before her.
Ku Zhan started to lead the way out of the palace but the group did not come very far until someone thwarted them.
It was a red fox, which confused Shiren a little bit but as he realized Yong was still behind him and confused by his inner riot he thought for a moment Yong strangely turned against them and forced them to stop while saying: "Stop there. Stay where you are.". But he quickly realized the person right before him was another fox and grew back into attacking mode; Prepared for a battle.
He knew he would better not ever mention to Yong he mistook her for another red fox. She would riding that statement for months.
"I knew it could never have gone that smoothly.", Lao said and Yong walked forward as she kept eye contact with this other fox. The other fox was older than Yong and probably live here so Shiren assumed her to be very strong and talented.
Yong asked: "And you are? Some kind of palace guard? If I remember correctly all the masters are sent to engage our little attack on the front."
"How flattering and charming but I must disappoint you. I am no master of this place. Just a guard, yes.", the other fox answered with a smile in her face.
"A pretty strong one if you think you can take us all at once.", Yong said like she is not impressed by her and since she stood with her back to Shiren he was not even able to look in her facial expression but he already suspecting her to look how she speaks.
The other fox hesitated and Yong immediately waved to the others to move on.
"I can take her. Go and bring our little souvenir to our chieftain.", she told to her friends.
"You´re kidding?", Ku Zhan asked and Yong immediately turned to him sharply and said: "I do not lead any conversation about that. You leave now and do not worry about me at all, got it? This is a god damn order!", she said and completed the discussion by turning back to her foe. Shiren was the first one slowly passing them. Still cautious about any attack from the fox but the moment she made any move Yong made a countermove and got between her and her goal, focussed and very effectively. The fox turned back to Yong and asked:
"Don´t you think you bite off more than you can chew?"
Yong grinned as she would play any kind of card game and knew how to beat her opponent. She really had a perfect face for such situations people could really believe she actually had everything to beat them. Anyway, this time Shiren refused to believe on her success but he also knew she was counting on them bringing the scroll back to the alliance no matter the cost.
"Thanks sister. But I am comfortable with what I am doing. I mean, everything I need to do is to make sure you do not follow them, right?", Yong answered while both of them prepared for a duel.
After everyone except Yong and the other fox escaped out of the palace Ku Zhan said:
"I do not like this at all." and Xing answered:
"Me either. I don´t like leaving anyone behind but we have to trust Yong now. I know she would never let us help her. I wonder if she already planned to get left behind."
"Don´t put it that way. She knows she will survive it. The Jade Palace is after the scroll and keeping peace. I´m sure she is going to be fine and whatever comes we will reunited tomorrow.", Shiren cheered her up.
"If you say so...", she, worriedly, agreed.
"Eh, guys?", Lao said, who looked around on the mountain while a cloud of goose flew in their direction: "We got company."
Right as Lao said so the four students found themselves surrounded by few other goose's. Shiren counted maybe five and without high hesitation they fought a battle which leaded nearly five seconds after the guards were retreating and flying away.
"The reinforcements of them are coming!", Shiren said and already turned away but Lao held position. "Go this way.", he said. Shiren stopped again and looked backwards to Lao which looked at the sky and around the mountain towards all the guards coming this way while they would arrive in like one minute while they were still forming up themselves. "I will distract them from following you while you make your path down the mountain again."
"This is not funny.", Ku Zhan argued: "Lao, we don´t need to separate ourselves from each other that way."
"I mean: Just temporary. I will meet you at the foot of this mountain. Nothing can make me sneak again around those rocks if nothing holds me off from flying. You know: I will laugh seeing you climbing down while I easily fly. I´m lazy and you know it. Got it?", he asked with a grin in his face.
"Don´t make any risks out there. We will maybe need you once again.", Shiren said worriedly.
"Ah. That´s just some goose. I know what you are capable of.", Lao laughed.
He waved and flew away not waiting for any objection.
"Idiot.", Xing bellowed and said to Shiren and Ku Zhan: "He will just get all the attention so he will be surrounded by enemies in a minute. I wonder how he is not considering this as an option!"
"I think he did.", Shiren answered and paused for a second: "But lets not wait here and find out. Common, we have to get down this mountain."
Ku Zhan and Xing both agreed and with lightly resistance they made their way further down the mountain which was very easier than the way up, disregarding the fact they did not had to sneak any more.
Questions grew up in Shiren´s mind while he made his way down which he had not time for to think about. He had to focus on his moves, the way down and had try to not loose the right path.
He quickly realized one thing he did not consider on the way up right as he entered the cave with the gate again. He realized that the gate they passed was closed again and there was only one way to open it and this was from the inside.
So whoever opens it had to keep it open while the rest was going trough. Shiren knew he was not strong enough for it.
"Xing, wait.", Shiren said as he saw her already attempting to open it.
"What?", she asked; "We don´t have any time to waste!"
"How do you enter this after we both are trough?", he simply asked her, suggesting she will realize the problem.
"Than you will do it.", Ku Zhan said to Shiren: "And climb up this little hole there again."
"There is just one single problem:" Shiren explained: "I can´t climb up there. Last time Xing threw me up there."
"Guys, do you hear that?", Xing asked and pointed at the entry which was yet empty but Shiren was able to hear some people coming: "They are already behind us. Make this quick please."
"Common.", Ku Zhan said to Shiren and run to the door. Shiren followed him. "Open it. I keep it open while you make your way here.", Ku Zhan said to Xing who nodded and started to open it slowly.
As soon as he was able to Ku Zhan helped opening it by pulling it up. Shiren already heard them coming. They entered this little cave. "Go, Shiren.", Ku Zhan said and jammed himself under the gate. "Xing! Whenever you´re ready!"
Shiren made his way trough the gate. As he looked back he saw Xing bothering with some guards and Ku Zhan heavily struggling with keeping the gate open.
After Xing defeated the first guard she looked at the gate and her eyes met Shirens. She nodded quickly and turned back to the guards.
"Ku Zhan!", Shiren said: "Get out of there!"
Ku Zhan was struggling for one second to consider his options but decided to give in and rolled out and the gate closed right behind him and he was gasping for air. "That was close..." he said.
In the inside Xing was still fighting; Shiren heard it.
"No.", he answered: "Xing is still behind he gate and I don´t think we can open it again on this circumstances."
"Crap...", he said and sat down for few seconds. "But we still got the scroll?", he asked.
Shiren nodded and pointed on his bag. "Great. Than… let´s go on. I… we´ll meet up with her later.", he said exhaustedly and went on with Shiren down the mountain.
The snake was not able to imagine how much pressure his friend just put on himself for the few seconds.
Despite this considerations Shiren also had another bad feeling about leaving his last friend behind though there were no more guards on the way or any other threat. Lao did a great job distracting the flying guards.
Ku Zhan's stamina did not look great and they had a long way left to go. But whenever he turned back to Ku Zhan, though all his gasping, he grinned and told Shiren to move on. They almost made it.
Shiren tried to smile and moved on. The victory was too close to give up now or throw the mission on the last few steps.
Just as they faced a familiar slope they had to stop. It was the location where Ku Zhan proved his skills on throwing up a ribbon.
"Oh no… I think I left the ribbon up there...", Ku Zhan said as he saw it.
"I have one but I don´t think it can carry your weight.", Shiren said and talked about his solemn ribbon.
"Outch.", he commentated Shiren´s statement.
"Shiren, look. There are few metres left to go and I assume Lao will be out there. Do you think you can make your way to the encampment alone while I wait for Lao to pick me up? You should have the most less problems climbing down these little rocks.", he proposed.
"Good thing I came with you, huh? I knew I could not leave you alone with this mission.", Shiren chuckled.
"I would had found a way. I´m sure! I would had give it to Lao. Maybe we would have never split like this. Don´t think you are that especial if you feel comfortable enough to call me heavy. We would have made some idea up.", Ku Zhan said while sitting down and laying on a rock.
"Great. Just give me away my little single success.", Shiren said with a smile.
"Do you want to discuss this rather bringing back the scroll and clear our victory?", Ku Zhan questioned.
"Oh right, almost forgot about that. Alright, see you soon.", he greeted and slithered the way back down the mountain. With his tiny body and little heigh he did not struggle hard to slither down. He was not even paying high attention any more which path he went. There weren't any more paths he could go the wrong way.
Every path way okay as long as he went down.
Authorsnote:
I know it's been a month I lastly released a chapter but that doesn't mean I stopped writing.
Though I apologise according to my statement releasing one chapter a week. (I even planned to end the story before 2021) But things distracting me from actually writing down my ideas which I'm adding every day.
However now with things being more smooth again I will start to again release more chapters.