A new chapter! Whoo! I own nothing.

Oh yeah, this chapter might be a bit boring, I honestly have to get Dai Gui free right now before the final battle.

NI TANG
Chapter 29

Jade sat in an air plane next to Hsi Wu and tried to look like nothing bothered her. She was starting to get impatient and not only because she had nothing to do. This all was really starting to get on her nerves.

The only demon they had left was Dai Gui, the earth demon, and when he was free the whole demon family would be together again and able to do anything they wanted. Then they would be dealing with something really serious and Jade didn't look forwardto the upcoming mess.

She didn't seem to be the only one who acted nervously. All of the demons were here to open the last portal and greet Dai Gui. The earth demon wasn't very important, but Tchang Zu demanded they all had to be there anyway.

It was sure that Chan and his companions would do everything to stop them, this was their last chance and they couldn't afford to lose. When forced into acornerhumans usually did something desperate and the thunder demon didn't want to take any risks.

The accident with Ni Tang had affected them all, though their reactions were different. Hsi Wu still didn't understand what had happened and was dying with worry, but since no one explained him anything he had settled with it and hid the feeling inside him. Shendu and Xiao Fung were really disappointed, they wanted to see the show they had missed.

Tso Lan, Po Kong and Bai Tsa were the only ones who at least somehow understood how serious this was. In a short time Ni Tang had become an important part of the demon family and especially the ones who had been freed first noticed they missed him.

The thunder demon didn't share this feeling, to him the polar demon had been a mere tool in getting free and building a new demon empire. He had never expected him to be with them forever and so he was not sorry. Not happy either, this mess had come on a bad time and they were all more or less confused.

And just when they were supposed to be on their strongest.

Shendu sat next to Xiao Fung and glanced at his older brother in despise. The wind demon gobbled the air plain food for all of them and seemed to beenjoying himself. Shendu had never understood the taste of his brother, it seemed he could eat anything he was given and his stomach probably didn't have a bottom at all.

"You are disgusting," he hissed angrily and Xiao glanced at him quickly. Then he spooned up broccoli pulp and shrugged.

"And you should learn to enjoy life, brother," the wind demon commented. Shendu hadn't even touched the stuff the flight attendants had given him. He couldn't stand it. Not that he was special, Bai Tsa had pushed heo food away immediately after tasting it and the expression of Tso Lan had been worth of seeing too.

"I have a very different taste than you," Shendu stated.

"I agree with you on that, but maybe you should open your eyes. You are so set in your ways and never try anything new. You just won't fit into this world if you don't change your attitude," Xiao Fung answered calmly.

"I've been here much longer than you! I know more of this world than any of you, so don't talk to me like that!" the fire demon snapped with hurt pride.

"Let's agree then., Xiao Fung caught a magazine and opened it from the middle.

"Do you think I could have one of these... uh... Toyota Corollas... once I've rebuilt my empire?" he asked from Shendu and showed him the picture of a shining car. Shendu sighed.

"I want to sit next to Tso Lan," he muttered to himself.


To the fortune of Shendu and other demons the plane landed in Spain soon. They stepped out as soon as possiblewith the proud Tchang Zu in the lead and Hsi Wu as the last one.

It was noon and the sun boiled everything. There wasn't even the slightest blow of wind and it was very nasty for all of them.

Expect for Shendu, whose element was fire. He felt excellent and eyed the others in amusement. He didn't dare to say anything though, the older demons were already in a bad mood and didn't want to hear his bragging.

Tchang Zu glared at Shendu knowing what the dragon was thinking. The thunder demon was a mighty sight in his human form, his blond hair was cut short and his green eyeswere hardwith pride. He was the strongest looking of them and was dressed in a sleeveless white shirt and black trousers, which were uncomfortably hot now.

"Lead us to the portal of Dai Gui. We have no time to lose," he said sharply. Shendu nodded.

"Of course," he said and stepped in the lead of the group next to Tchang Zu. He left the word 'master' out, he was not going to give Bai Tsa or anyone else a chance to smirk at him.

"This way. It is not difficult to reach his portal," Shendu announced and the group started moving. They were quite a funny sight walking there, they were all so different and didn't seem to fit together at all.

Hsi Wu looked around gloomily and walked beside Jade after the others. Where was Ni Tang? Was the younger brother even alive anymore or had the old chi master done something to him? Was that why the others told him nothing? Were trying to protect him from the pain?

It didn't seem likely, it just wasn't like the demons to care like that. None of the older demons would care if he broke his heart because of his brother.

Then why did he care? Why did Ni Tang mean so much to him?

He shook his head and tried to force himself to think straight. He just had to be patient, sooner or later he would find out what had happened. No one could keep the truth from him forever.

And maybe it was good that the polar demon wasn't here. He sure wouldn't have liked this heat and light.

The sky demon glanced at Jade from the corner of his eye. The girl looked like the sun didn't bother her at all. Hadn't she said something about how they had taken the sun away from her?

She was strangely calm and in a good mood, or at least she looked like it. Hsi couldn't understand why, just few days ago she had again been taken freedom and family, shouldn't that make her depressed? But for some odd reason the girl didn't seemed to worry at all and it made Hsi worry. Maybe she knew something he and his siblings didn't?

But this wasn't the reason for Jade's calm expression. Of course she knew what others did. Jackie would do everything to stop the demons on the last portal. And she hoped he would have success, she sure didn't want to see the demons taking over the world.

But one demon could be nice...

Jade couldn't say why, but she had somehow started to think Hsi Wu was her friend. The sky demon was so like her, they shared the desire for freedom and were both underestimated by others. Hsi Wu's position in the family was horrible and no one appreciated Jade's flying imagination or other talents.

So she thought she and the demon were kindred spirits and she even hoped they could be real friend. In her heart she knew it was impossible, Hsi Wu was just as much a demon as his siblings and would never feel anything towards a mere mortal.

Hsi could of course take her as his lover when she grew up, but Jade didn't want to be a mere toy to him. The girl didn't know what she wanted, she was still too young to understand the matters of heart, but Hsi Wu was nevertheless a part of her dreams she didn't know even existed.

She held the Pan Ku box against her chest and flinched despite herself. When Dai Gui was free the demons wouldn't need her anymore and could get some really nasty ideas.


"This is so frustrating," Jackie said darkly and wiped sweatoff his forehead. The sun wasblazing down at them and he hoped the demons hadn't chosen this to be the last portal.

"Then do something useful and help Tohru organise chi ingredients!" Uncle snapped angrily and placed the castanets and the drum down so that he could grab them when needed. He knew he couldn't banish all of the demons back now, but he wouldn't leave until at least one of them was back in the Netherworld.

Or something else happened.

"But I have to keep and eye on the road!" Jackie defended making Uncle glare at him.

"Then don't complain!" the old man snapped.

Captain Black had given them his fastest plane and wished them luck. Unfortunately he had been unable to give any men to assist them, his superiors were starting to get really suspicious and hedidn't dare to do anything radical now. Only when the demons made a public appearance he could do something.

So they had rushed to Spain, where the portal of Dai Gui was, and hurried to the old Spanish manor to be there before the demons. Jackie had been worried about that maybe the demons had travelled there by magic, but Uncle assured him that it was impossible. To manage such a long distance each one of them had to take part in the spell and most of them know the place.

And since only Shendu had seen the portal the demons had to settle with ordinary ways of traveling.

Jackie felt like their enemies would arrive soon and he was going to be ready. No matter what happened he wouldn't leave empty handed, they had to do something this time.

They had failed miserably in California. They had managed nothing and it frustrated him. Of course they had found out that the new demon was actually Valmont, but...

The archaeologist shook his head and frowned in thought. He still couldn't believe it. He and everyone else was already so used to the thought of Valmont being dead and that they would never have to think about him anymore.

And now he was back.

Uncle was still sure that the breaking of the spell hadn't been enough to save Valmont from the demons, but Jackie had no idea what he meant. Though he thought it had something to do with the Brit's demon-self, someone couldn't transform around just like that without side effects.

And Valmont had more information about the demons than anyone else. He had lived with them and been one of them, he had to have lots of useful things to tell. But they would never find out before they found the man.

The crime lord had disappeared, just like that, and taken Hak Foo with him and despite their good try Jackie, Uncle and Tohru hadn't seen them again. Jackie knew Valmont had a lot to think about and the man had to organise his world again, but couldn't he still have taken part in destroying the ones who had betrayed him?

Jackie woke from his thoughts with a start when he noticed a group walking on the small road. He slit his eyes though he didn't have to guess who they were.

"The demons are coming," he said to Uncle and Tohru.


Tchang Zu raised his gaze and shadowed his eyes from the sun while eyeing the mansion. It was very old and he saw no one anywhere. There were no trees, but everything was covered in small bushes or nothing.

"Prepare the spell," he said to Po Kong, Tso Lan and Bai Tsa, whose responsibility was to open the portal.

Tso Lan nodded, drew a bottle of red liquid from his pocket and sprinkled it on the lock Shendu had showed him. Each one of them were still in their human forms, but they would transform when the portal was about to open.

"I have a bad feeling about this," Shendu said in thought looking around. He slit his eyes under the sun and brushed a lock of brown hair from his face. Unlike his siblings he didn't sweat at all.

"You always have a bad feeling," Bai Tsa commented referring to their adventure in Japan. Shendu glared at her.

"And usually I am right," he answered. The water demon didn't say anything to that, but concentratedon hanging blue threads of silk around the lock on the door. Even though she wanted she couldn't deny that Shendu seemed to sense difficulties faster than the rest of the family. Probably because there was always trouble wherever he went.

"Don't argue, but hurry!" Tchang Zu ordered angrily. He was very impatient and wanted to free Dai Gui as soon as possible. At first he had been forced to wait his turn fortoo long and he didn't want to wait more just because the younger demons couldn't do anything else but to snap to each other.

Bai finally hung the last thread and eyed her work. Then she backed away giving way to Po Kong, who was supposed to read the spell and free the portal from all the spells on it.

The mountain demon straightened her back and started to chant with a clear voice. But she didn't manage to say much before Uncle, who had been on the roof of the mansion, started to cast his own spell. The old man was sure that banishing Tchang Zu would kill the fighting spirit of the others so the thunder demon was of course his main target.

Tohru desperately tried to hold the castanets in his big fingers and Uncle glanced at him angrily. He expected at least some style.

Tchang Zu felt a shudder in the air and immediately knew what was going on. Someone was trying to banish him back! He took a quick glance around, but saw no one.

"Quickly! Chan is here!" he shouted a warning and everyone except Po Kong was immediately on guard. Shendu slit his eyes in suspicion and in the next moment started taking his real form. He would not wait, but act immediately. This time nothing would save Chan from him.

The scales of the dirty yellow dragon shone in sunlight and his red eyes seemed to reflect the heat of Spain. With afew swift leaps the dragon had climbed on the roof and rose on his back feet there.

"Aah!" Tohru yelped and dropped the castanets in surprise. He wasn't actually scared, he had dealt with Shendu way too much, but everyone would be surprised when a dragon with flaming eyes appeared just like that.

There was a nasty crack when the fallen castanets were crushed under Tchang Zu's foot.

"Fool! Who told you to do that?" Uncle asked furiously and rushed to whack the Japanese man with his fingers. The old man didn't pay any attention to the demon next to him, but totally concentrated on scolding his apprentice.

"But it wasn't my fault," Tohru tried to explain and Shendu snorted watching these two. He wasn't interested in them, Jackie was his target.

"Chan! Where are you?" he asked demanding the archaeologist to appear. He got what he wanted almost immediately when Jackie jumped from somewhere and landed nimbly on the fire demon's neck. He didn't stay waitingfor what would happen, but continued leaping down and grabbing the wall to avoid a hard landing.

When he was finally on the ground he faced five human formed demons, who all glared daggers at him. Po Kong didn't seem to notice anything, she was still chanting her long spell.

Jackie didn't wait for the demons to attack him, but made his own move. He rushed past the demons and caught the Pan Ku box from Jade before the girl even understood what had happened.

"Run!" Jackie shouted and hoped he had the chance to help the girl, but before coming here they had agreed that Pan Ku box was their target, nothing else mattered. It hurt him, but he knew Jade could take care of herself and when the demons left after him she had the chance to escape without anyone noticing.

"Get him!" Tchang Zu ordered pointing at Jackie, who was running down the hill and finally the demons seemed to realise what had happened. In human form none of them would match Jackie and most of them were pretty useless in their real form too. Bai Tsa didn't even have legs, Po Kong and Xiao Fung were not runners and Tso Lan would probably fall over with his long robe and no one could imagine him floating fast in the air , so only three brothers could take part in the hunt.

Shendu was the most eager one of them and he jumped from roof after Jackie before Tchang and Hsi had even taken their real form. The dragon's claws raised dust when he increased his speed to catch Jackie as fast as possible.

The two brothers who had been left behind weren't any slower and soon Tchang Zu was running next to Shendu and the dragon glanced at his brother in suspicion. He wanted Chan for himself. After what the archaeologist had done to him it was just right that he was the one who ripped the man apart. Hsi Wu flew above them hitting the air with his wings and he soon took the lead.

Jackie took a look behind him and tried to increase his speed when he saw the two demons were getting nearer and nearer. He didn't know where he'd take the Pan Ku box or how he'd get rid of it, but he had to come up with something.

A shadow was cast on him.

Jackie didn't even have the time to scream when something hit him and he fell over. The box flew from his hands and all he could do was watch in desperation as it fell on the dusty ground. But then he had to concentrate on something else and he tried to stand up with no success.

Hsi Wu pressed Jackieto the ground with his clawed hands and grinned. The pathetic human had no chances against him!

"We meet again," he rasped.

"Unfortunately," Jackie said through clenched teeth and breathed heavily as the demon pressed painfully his back.

"You really believed you could take the Pan Ku box from us? You couldn't even save your niece!" Hsi continued maliciously and Jackie closed his eyes in desperation. The demon was right, he had failed in everything...

"Chan is mine!" Shendu shouted suddenly and Jackie felt as the weight of the demon was lifted away. He immediately stood up and stared at the scene in confusion.

Shendu and Tchang Zu had finally caught them and the fire demon had attacked his younger brother thinking he was about to kill Jackie. Shendu was incredibly jealous over what he considered to be his and the mere thought he couldn't have Jackie was driving him nuts.

"How dare you to steal my prey?" the dragon asked in rage throwing Hsi on the ground.

"I wasn't going to do anything to him! I have my own slave!" the smaller demon defended and fought to release himself from Shendu's grip. The fire demon snorted.

"Don't lie to me Hsi," he said. Hsi Wu slit his eyes, Shendu was in that certain mood again and would listen to no one. He quickly raised his claws and slashed his brother and when Shendu let got of him to protect his wound Hsi Wu stood up and spread his wings.

"You will pay fort that!" Shendu hissed angrily swiping blood from his face and turning to face his brother. They had both totally forgotten Jackie, who was slowly creeping towards the Pan Ku box.

"Don't even think about it," Tchang Zu thundered right behind him and the archaeologist stiffened. Then he slowly turned around and smiled nervously.

"Hello."

Tchang Zu didn't answer the greeting, but grabbed Jackie from his collar growling.

"You stupid mortal," he scolded. Then he turned to watch the Pan Ku box on the ground. He couldn't touch it himself, so he couldn't afford to kill Jackie just yet.

"Take the box," he ordered.

"What if I don't?" Jackie wanted to know. The thunder demon slit his eyes and gestured behind them where the rest of the family had decided to do something useful and had caught Uncle, Tohru and Jade, who hadn't got too far away.

"Then they will suffer," he warned. Jackie took a look at the prisoners and then at the box. He couldn't decide what to do. He knew what he wanted, but was it the right decision?

The archaeologist didn't want anyone to get hurt or die in this fight, but would it be selfish to allow the last of the demons to be freed just because he didn't want to endanger his relatives and friends? Should he not give up and watch as the demons killed everyone he loved until they had no one to carry the box?

Then again, even though they died it wouldn't be hard to find a person who wanted to join the demons. Countless of greedy and selfish people existed and most of them would carry the box if they got money and power in return.

So their sacrifice would be for nothing and then there'd be no one to fight the evil.

Jackie sighed in defeat and lifted the Pan Ku box from the ground. It felt incredibly heavy and he could almost feel its edges eat his flesh. Tchang Zu smirked.

"This is what makes you humans weak. You care too much about your relatives," he said and glanced at the still fighting duo.

"You two! Stop immediately and come to greet brother Dai!" he barked and his voice ringed in everyone's ears. The two fighters stiffened, Hsi was holding Shendu's throat, and they glanced at their brother and then at each other. Growling angrily the sky demon released his grab and Shendu let go of his brother's left wing.

Together, bruised and bloody, the duo hurried after Tchang Zu promising the argument would be solved some other time.

Bai Tsa snorted when seeing them and raised her nose in despise.

"You are ridiculous," she commented bitterly making both Shendu and Hsi glare daggers at her. Tchang watched Po Kong with curious eyes.

"Everything ready?" he asked and the mountain demon nodded.

"All we need is the Pan Ku box." she said. The thunder demon turned to watch Jackie, who kept his gaze on the ground and looked like he wantedit to swallow him.

"So it is your turn now," the demon said to him and threw him violently against the door. The Pan Ku box fell from Jackie's hands and he stumbled up trying to grab it in desperation, but it was already too late.

The box glowed bright green light and they all backed away to avoid being crushed under the earth demon when he arrived.


Dai Gui was in a very bad mood. The red Netherworld surrounded him from everywhere and he had no other company than the huge stones he and his siblings had slept on. Now the stones were empty and he had crushed afew of them in his anger.

Firstly, he was very impatient. It had been so long since his portal had been opened and he had been banished back in no time. He would have given anything just to dive into the ground and build himself a new magnificent palace.

But what he missed the most was the song of the Earth.

None of his siblings could hear it and it made the bull-like demon feel special. He wasn't the strongest, wisest or oldest so he didn't get very much respect at all. He had temper though and it made the others think he was stupider than he really was.

And yet he was the one who had been blessed by the nature.

The Earth sang to him every time he stopped to listen, its sweet tunes flowed through his huge body making him feel pleasure nothing could match. He could spend hours by listening to the voice of the Earth and every time the song faded away he felt so empty.

No one had believed him when he had told about this so long time ago. He had been a young demon then and naive enough to believe the others would be excited. Hah! They had laughed at him! Dai Gui clenched his fists, no one would laugh at him again!

So he had kept the secret to himself after that and never mentioned it to anyone. Yet Tchang Zu talked about it at times when he had nothing else to laugh at and Dai Gui couldn't think anything more annoying.

He took a look around. What was taking so long?

It hadn't of course been that long since Tchang Zu had been freed, but Dai Gui had never been a patient demon. He wanted to be free now and he couldn't think about anything else.

What if they weren't even going to free him? What if they wanted to get rid of their brother, who heard things and leave him here forever?

Then he'd never hear the song again. It was the worst fate Dai Gui could thinkof with his poor imagination and he felt really empty.

But then, as an answer to his thoughts filled with anger and desperation, a huge green portal opened right next to him and he saw the familiar Spanish landscape on the other side. The earth demon quickly stood up and jumped through the portal.

He felt the sun on his skin and raised his eyes to greet it. He wasn't actually a friend of light, he enjoyed the darkness of his underground tunnels much more, but compared to the red sky of the Netherworld the sun felt like an old friend.

Then he paid some attention to his siblings who were all there in their demon forms. Tchang Zu stepped forwards and greeted his brother pleased.

"Now when we are all here we can finally start building a new empire," he announced and something in the passionate voice of the thunder demon made the others feel huge pride and they felt as if they were loaded with energy.

Shendu pointed at the humans who had gathered together and eyed the demons in suspicion. Especially Uncle looked like he had something in his mind.

"What about them?" the fire demon asked, though it was clear what he wanted to do. Then again, he didn't want a fast kill which was the only choice if they were to get rid of them now. They simply had no time to concentrate on complicated and long methods of torture, despite how fun it sounded.

"Jade is mine. No one will touch her!" Hsi Wu announced and Jackie placed his hand on the girl's shoulder ready to protect her.

"She's yours only over my dead body," he growled angrily.

"We can arrange that, Chan." Tchang Zu commented. Shendu glanced at his brother in suspicion. Was the older brother going to steal his kill?

"I don't think it is a good idea to kill them now. We have other things to do and we can leave it for later," Tso Lan suggested in thought.

"But if we let them go they might foul up our plans," Bai Tsa remarked. Tchang Zu snorted.

"So what? They are mere mortals, they can not match us," he said arrogantly.

"I think we should take them as prisoners and make sure they will never interfere with our business again," Shendu said not believing someone could even suggest sparing Chan.

"Of course it is what you want. You never think about anyone else than yourself," Bai Tsa said in despise.

Dai Gui, Xiao Fung and Po Kong, who had been quiet until now, glanced at each other.

"Dai Gui wants to kill!" the earth demon announced.

"Silence! I decide what to do here!" Tchang Zu shouted. He didn'twant to let the dangerous humans go either, but now when it seemed the others believed that was his intention he couldn't back away anymore. If he let them to be killed the others would think it was a sign that they could tell him what to do.

Uncle followed the arguing of the demons for a while and slipped his hand into his pocket. He had learned something from California, always have an escape plan. They had come here in desperation, but the old man had never included death in his plans. They had many things to do before that.

Now it seemed the demons might let them go, but it was such anunbelievable option that Uncle didn't dare to trust in it. Now they were all close to each other and he could use the spell he had planned for this.

He wrapped his fingers around a small crystal ball.

Amongthe arguing demons Hsi Wu was the only one who saw what was coming. He had kept an eye on the humans all the time to make sure they didn't take Jade away, so he realised what the old man was up to. He quickly charged at Uncle and snatched the ball from his fingers before he managed to do anything with it.

"Don't even think about taking my slave from me!" the sky demon hissed angrily and made everyone else notice what was going on too. Uncle didn't even flinch under the gaze of the demon, but answered with his own glare.

"Jade is not yours and never will be," he answered calmly as if he was explaining something to a child. Hsi Wu slit his eyes in rage and pressed his sharp claws on the old man's throat.

"Silence!" he hissed and looked like he was about to rip Uncle apart.

"Don't you dare touch him!" Jackie shouted and was about to rush to help the old man, but Shendu grabbed him and forced him to stand still. If dragons were able to smile Shendu would have been smirking.

"Watch carefully, Chan. Watch as one of your loved ones is slaughtered in front of your eyes and know he won't be the last one," the fire demon whispered in his ear and despite the heat of the air the demon's hot breath made Jackie flinch.

Hsi Wu took one glance at his brother and turned to face Uncle again. Yes, it would be a pleasure to kill the man, who had banished so many of them back and disturbed their plans...

"Stop!" a sharp voice shouted and Hsi turned to watch in surprise. In his passion for the kill he had totally forgotten Jade, who was now watching him with a rebellious expression in her brown eyes. Uncle gestured the girl to go away.

"Do not interfere, Jade. Uncle is old, no need to endanger yourself..." the old man tried and Jade didn't remember he had ever sounded this desperate. But the girl didn't care about her uncle's pleas, she stepped closer to the sky demon.

"I beg you, don't hurt him. He means so much to me," she said and the rebellious attitude was cast away by pleading expression. Jade's brown eyessparkled and for a while Hsi Wu thought she was going to cry. He could just stare at the girl, during this whole time she had never behaved like this. As if she was already starting to break, even though he hadn't hurt her at all.

"Please, Hsi Wu," Jade said quietly and the sky demon felt he was melting in front of her. He glanced at the old man in his grab one more time before throwing him away.

"You were lucky," he spat and grabbed Jade so that she yelped in surprise. Hsi Wu pressed her against his chest and backed away from everybody so that no stupid trick would take her away from him again.

No one said anything. Especially the demons were surprised because of Hsi Wu's unusual behaviour and even Tchang Zu couldn't say anything.

Uncle caught the shining ball again and said one simple word. Red smoke rose from the ball surrounding him, Jackie and Tohru, but Jade was too far away and Hsi wrapped his wings around her not wanting to take any risks.

"They are gone," Shendu stated bitterly.


They appeared in a near by village. Uncle wasn't strong enough to take them too far away. Jackie kicked the ground in anger.

"We left Jade behind again! How can she ever trust us anymore?" he asked in desperation. Even if they somehow got the girl back she would hate them. They had had so many chances to save her and they had failed every time.

"Calm down. That is no good," Uncle said sounding almost gentle and Jackie glanced at him disbelieving.

"Calm down? How could I when Jade is still their prisoner? Didn't you hear what that ugly one said? He calls Jade his own! You know just as well as I dowhat demons do to their slaves!" Jackie shouted raising his voice against Uncle for the first time in a very long time.

The old man whacked him with two fingers.

"Jade is fine. I believe someone is taking good care of her," he said and turned away under Jackie's questioning stare. Jackie was young and hot tempered in his own way. He'd never understand the good sides, but would see only the bad ones.

"Come. We have to return home and prepare for the next battle."


What would he do now?

Valmont sat alone in the small apartment Hak Foo had and stared at the walls. The warrior had left to get some proper clothes for his master.

His dream, the Dark Hand, was in ruins and most of his fortune was gone. Of course he had other investments here and there which he had made with another name, so there was a chance they still existed.

But so what?

Without the Dark Hand he was nothing. He had long time ago said farewell to his family in London and he was sure they wouldn't be thrilled if he decided to stop by. Quite the contrary, they would probably curse the fate for the fact he was still alive.

And he had no friends, an international crime lord couldn't afford having any.

The sun shone inthrough the window and Valmont slit his eyes. The light had bothered him the whole time he had been sitting here, but he had not allowed himself to move.

He had never felt this uncomfortable under the sun, this had come after the... accident. He frowned, he shouldn't care. He was a human, he didn't have to care about the same things than Ni Tang.

The words of the old Chan echoed in his ears and made him feel empty inside. What if the old man was right and the demon inside him wasn't gone after all?

He didn't want to be Ni Tang, he had been born human and he would die as one too! He'd never allow anything to turn him back into polar demon ever again, even if his life depended on it.

But still...

What if he could never have normal life again? What if the ghost of the demon haunted him forever?

Valmont clenched his fists and stood up. He walked to the window and tore the curtains away letting more light in. It hurt his eyes, but he didn't turn away.

He wouldn't give up. He had not given up when Shendu had been inside him and he wouldn't give up now.

If he lived, why couldn't the Dark Hand live too?


Tchang Zu watched his siblings who had all gathered around him. They had returned to San Francisco to think about the situation and make some plans.

"Because we now have more important matters I don't ask what the heck is wrong with you, Hsi Wu," he said harshly to the sky demon who flinched under the scolding stare of the others.

The thunder demon was quiet before continuing.

"We will start taking over the world from this city, because it shouldn't be too difficult. I know we all want to have our old home, China, back as soon as possible, but humans there are much stronger and more courageous than here. So we will take over these pathetic lands first and when we have enough power we can move to East."

Shendu frowned and Tchang noticed it.

"Yes, Shendu?" he asked.

"I don't think our attack should be so public. Times have chanced and it is impossible that we'd survive such an attack without a loss," he said.

"Then what do you suggest?" the thunder demon wanted to know. He eyed his little brother harshly and Shendu shifted nervously.

"It would be wise to make an invisible attack. As demons we can do anything and it is easy to be part of the true rulers of this world. If we get an important position as humans, as a president for an example, the world would be ours to take," he said. Not so long time ago he too would have wanted to just attack and kill everything he saw, but his failures had taught him and now he knew this world.

Tchang Zu laughed.

"You are a fool, Shendu! And a coward too. This world is no match for us! Soon everyone will bow in front of us and beg for mercy!" he threatened and the fire demon clenched his teeth. If Tchang wanted to make himself a fool it was his own problem.

"Tomorrow when the sun rises this city will learn to know the powers of the demonic family!" Tchang growled.


That night was full of excitement for everyone. None of them was as positive as Tchang Zu, but only Shendu thought they would fail. Each one of them prepared for the fight with their own way.

Dai Gui looked around in the dark. He had the best sight in darkness of the family and the darkness of his underground tunnelswas like light to him.

The earth under, next to and around him calmed him and the demon felt as if he was in his mother's arms again, just like so long time ago. It was calming and cold and all worries of the coming battle had disappeared.

And the Earth sang to him.

To be continued...