Chapter III

The Shinek's Power

Dangun Jin put his finger on the trigger, and Hex Wolf tightly gripped his blade. The two weapons were aimed to kill. Hex Wolf was furious, and Jin was testing him.

"Do it…slit my throat and be done with it." Said Dangun Jin.

They held position for ten seconds, and a gunshot when off. Dangun Jin walked out of the door with his crossbow resting on his shoulder, smoke lightly coming out of the front. Hex Wolf stood his ground, his blade still held out. His eyes were trembling and a trickle of blood streamed down Hex Wolf's face. It became apparent it was a test. Dangun Jin had missed his fatal shot purposely.

Armed guards ran up to Dangun Jin.

"Stop!" said the guards.

Jin laughed and put his crossbow away, then unsheathed his blade.

"And if I don't"? Challenged Jin.

The first spearman attacked. Jin grabbed his sword and hit the spear up, and quickly cutting the soldier down. He lowered the blade quickly with his left arm and took out his crossbow with his right.

"Do you know what this does? It uses gunpowder to fire bolts and blow your brains out all over these castle walls." Said Jin.

The spearman turned around to run, but Jin pulled the trigger. A loud bang went off, and the bolt shot straight through the man's armor.

"I hate men who run away from a battle." Said Jin.

Hex Wolf was shaking in fury. He sighed and remembered he needed Dangun Jin at his side if he wanted to find what he wanted. He had been looking for an ancient power, said to bring wealth and chaotic hell to those who opposed. He had the power to rule China. All he needed was to find it. It was called the Shinek Relic.

The Shinek Relic was said by many to be a myth for children, some legend someone made up. Hex Wolf knew it was real, and he was going to find it, no matter how long it took. Rather a day, or five hundred years, he swore he would find it.

It was morning when Aoi woke up. Kori had left the previous night but said she'd come back later. Aoi was going to make his breakfast and saw Zhou Liu cooking it.

"I'll let you have it if you teach me to fight." Said Zhou Liu with a grin.

"Or…I can take it from you." Said Aoi.

"You can't have it unless you teach me how."

Aoi walked up to her and she ran around him. Aoi tried to grab her shoulder but missed.

"Can't catch me!" said Zhou Liu.

Aoi's stomach grumbled. He sighed and ran after her. When he caught up she quickly switched position and ran around him again, dodging his hand.

"Come on, this isn't funny!" said Aoi.

Zhou Liu ran around in circles, making Aoi come after her. Aoi turned around and managed to grab her shoulder, and snatched the chicken from her. He held it up out of her reach.

"Now it's my breakfast!" said Aoi.

"Does…this happen a lot?" asked Kori.

Aoi quickly looked next to him and saw Kori mounted on her horse watching.

"Oh, well she--"

Aoi was interrupted when Zhou Liu snatched the chicken and ran inside.

"HEY!" shouted Aoi, but he turned back to Kori, who had raised an eyebrow. "She stole my breakfast…"

Aoi invited Kori inside. He cooked his last chicken and shared it with Kori, and they drank some wine.

"So…why did she take your breakfast?" she asked.

"She's trying to get me tot each her how to fight."

"So teach her, I learned. Best thing that ever happened to me!" said Kori, smiling.

"I don't know, she could get into trouble. If she fought someone really strong she could get hurt."

Zhou Liu walked in with some chicken.

"I'm not stupid." She said. "I'm not going to try and beat up the first big guy I see."

Aoi looked between the two and sighed.

"…Fine…" he mumbled.

"What?" said Zhou Liu.

"You win, I'll teach you to fight, now give me back my chicken."

"Sorry, threw the rest of way." Said Zhou Liu.

"Great, now you get to help get more." Said Aoi.

She moaned annoyingly and asked, "Do I have to?"

"Okay if you don't want to learn to fight…"

"Right chickens, find them, got it."

Zhou Liu ate the last of her chicken and ran outside.

Kori smiled and sipped some of her wine. She looked at Aoi, who in turn replied her look. But in seconds it was interrupted by another explosion.

Aoi blinked in surprise and stood up. He had no time to get on his armor, so he grabbed his weapons. Aoi and Kori ran outside to see Dangun Jin with three armed soldiers, who seemed to be elite men. The four looked around to see several fleeing peasants.

"I hate it when they run, no challenge." Said Dangun Jin.

A millitia of ten ran up to them.

"Well, let's get to it." Said Jin.

The militia carried only swords, and they all charged. Four of the ten when after Jin. Jin defensively thrusted his sword downward, then slashed left and right. He ducked the fourth attack and stabbed the attacker. He slid to the right and slashed down, locking the blades. He took out his crossbow gun and smacked them from the left and the right, then shot the center attacker. He then kicked the right man back and severed the left man's head. The elite men had already slaughtered their targets, and there was one man left. An elite charged him but an arrow flew into his neck, killing him instantly.

The four men looked back and saw Aoi, who shot another guard down, the two guards ran at him, and Kori amushed them, cutting them down. Aoi and Kori surrounded him. Kori slashed rapidly at him, and Aoi shot him in the neck.

Dangun Jin laughed and approached.

"You again." Said Dangun Jin. "You know I am only so merciful, boy."

Jin ran quickly at Aoi, who fired an arrow. Jin ran to the right, towards Kori, and slashed at her. Kori just blocked ad she was caught off guard. He slid on the ground and pulled out his gun, but an arrow flew into his shoulder. Jin made a small wince and turned aorund, and fired…

Aoi's body fell to the ground and his bow crashed on the stone floor of Liaozhong. Kori's eyes shot open. She ran furiously at Jin. She slashed over head, and spun, whipping her blade at his side, but both were blocked. She made a hasty stab, but Jin moved to the side. He grabbed her hair and threw her to the ground.

"If you don't want to end up like him, stay out of my way." Said Jin.

He turned around and his cape blew in the wind. He put his crossbow gun away but kept his bloody sword unsheathed.

Kori stood up to attack, but ran to Aoi's side, crying.

"Please don't die…don't die now, please…" she said.

Aoi's eyes opened. The shot was made very close, but not on, the heart. Blood puddled from his gashed wound as from his mouth. Kori distraughted and panicked, and rushed him inside. She used her robes o clean the wound, and then covered it.

"Don't die on me, Aoi….please, not now…."