The professor Jiàoshòu was right when he talked about the daytime. Though the days were pretty long during this seasons, the half of the current day was already over when the march to the desert finally started.

Luckily the storm from yesterday was already passed their way so the expedition team had a just a bit cloudy weather where though the sunshine showed it's presence very often.

The road though was still very wet at the start of their journey but during the sunny phases it grew more comfortably dry again, together with the wet smell in the air.

This travel took longer than the last one the Jade-Palace did trough the big desert back when the Po and his friends moved out to face Shen. This time they weren't in a rush so they did not take the most dangerous routes which leaded trough the highest mountains, snow paths and many many deep cliffs.

Instead they used the more common roads trough the fields of China or also paths trough mountains which though were more civilised and less dangerous.

All in all the trip was very quiet. During it Jiàoshòu shared his stories of explorations and operations he leaded from time to time.

Mostly he spoke about, what he already explained, he is proficient at: Historical facts and legends. He found abandoned villages deep in the wastes, forests and mountains, ruins, temples and shrines of ancients. Abandoned gods from civilisations which adapted to the modern world.

But yet, despite all of this stories, he often also said he didn't find everything special yet. There were places and legends he searches that reach from the legendary Kung fu museum (which Tigress refused him to tell where it was since it was a Kung Fu master secret) up to the legendary Chintamani stone. It was told whoever possesses it, gains unspeakable power and the ability to wish for everything, that's how he described it.

Shiren wondered if his parents died while searching for it. Or were still on the search, lost somewhere. He knew his father was an adventurer, just like this professor. But just without being a professor. His mother took this part. She knew about legends and according to his aunt Hao she and her husband researched together and investigated secret places nobody could ever imagine. But they never told Shiren if they were any successful or if what Hao said was true. And as young as he were, he didn't questioned the older ones, especially his own parents.

And what the professor here said was… pretty much what he expected them to do.

He never knew what his parents ever really did outside from everything he was told.

Maybe right now Shiren was on finding something they failed to find out.

All in all Shiren spoke very little during the conversations.

There was nothing he was really up to say or discuss on any time. His thoughts were his own and he barely had interests on the other's stories. Even Yong grew very silent in front of him. It was like she wanted to say something but at the end didn't do it. Or she just wanted to spend some time with Shiren. Either way he tolerated her. As he already said, he didn't expect her to backstabbing him in any way.

He knew she couldn't dare to do anything fishy, especially in front of true masters.

Loosing her home was something they had in common. But she was more lucky. The people did not reject her. She wasn't venomous. As dangerous, yes, but still had no sign on her had that told everyone around she always carried venom with her or any other potentially deadly weapon.

This envy made him mad but he refused to give her any fault.

On the move Manits asked Shiren about his behaviour. It was one of the rare times Shiren had an actual conversation with someone:

"So, eh…" Mantis asked: "How do you feel? Your wounds are still very deep. Are you sure you are ready for this walk trough the end?"Shiren looked down at him. Did he really look like that weak so this mantis had to ask?

Shiren answered confident and with decent strength in his words again: "I'm more confident than you can imagine. If these wounds would be enough to stop me, I would be already a dead man. Stop questioning my decisions."

Shiren couldn't show them any weakness. Not them; Not anyone. He knew he lost cautiousness but he had to move on. Else he would disappoint the only person he, in his mind, yet still could loose the respect of. Himself.

Mantis fell a bit away from him. Not because he was scared but he gave him the space he desired in his tone of his voice the way he answered. He said: "I was just asking. As your doctor. I'm not judging any of my patients."

Shiren nodded respectfully since he couldn't deny what Manits have done to him. "I'm doing well. You did your work decently, doctor," he said respectfully. But still with a slight tone of disappointment of himself.

"… Thanks, I guess…" Mantis said a bit looking aside. Either he was proud of himself someone called him doctor or he wasn't really sure how Shiren meant it.

Shiren didn't bother paying Mantis too much attention after this conversation.

Though he respected the aid he has given to him, he was ashamed he needed the help of him at the first place. He shouldn't have lost the cautiousness in the forest. Then he wouldn't been in such an unwell situation where he had to be concerned about Viper.

Something told him she was up to ruin his days but yet he wasn't able to get rid of her. For now. He was sure she and the others would try to convince him to become "normal" again or something.

But there was just no way. He experienced too much as he could just forgive the world. For everything it did to him. He wanted to give back every single pain he experienced. It didn't matter who got it as long as it weren't innocents. He still had some pride for himself. Innocents were mostly not armed or trained in any way. Not even half worth his time. Becoming normal again would mean to forgive. Something he wasn't able to do. Something he gave up at some point.

Viper seemed to know something about the place they were going to investigate but he doubted she would tell him anything about it. The only thing she would tell him right now would have been to stop this all. After all Shiren was the only reason this expedition was possible to do since the professor needed a snake and Viper refused to help him.

He didn't expect her to understand or share his opinion. But not knowing where they would go still bothered him.

But if the professor was interested into this Shiren had to know what it was.

The professor was one of the few, if not the only person in this world he trusted right now.

He was there when Shiren needed him. When the others weren't even bothering looking for him. Or having any pity for him when he was half starved on the streets.

Shiren owed him his life and he was ready to do the same for him.

He looked at Tigress and wondered.

Did the Jade-Palace now saved him too? Last night they aided him though he didn't wanted it. They took care of him and probably saved his life by taking him to the Jade-Palace.

But he didn't think they really saved him there.

If they wouldn't have interrupted him in the forest he would have done it.

Where he once looked up to, was just some minor remains left. He respected the strength of the Jade-Palace and her codex and that was pretty much it. Despite their popularity he did not want to have anything to do with them.

They were just such heroes all the people look up to. Loved and honoured wherever they go doing what ever they want. Their food was even, if they wanted, brought to them, they did not have to fight for it. They stood together whatever might happen and their had each other in good and bad times.

Shiren had no empathy for such kind. He did what he had to do and even if he would given the chance to decide his ways again, he would have taken the same options again. He knew he tried to be a good snake and help all the people but this time in loneliness was the lesson he needed to know better: If you weren't born into a noble and eminently respectable family, you had to keep care for yourself because nobody else would.

He was done being the good guy. Tired, trying to help. He steeled himself and for that his softness had to pass.

During his journey he learned how to protect himself and how to survive. Nothing else mattered.

He looked over to Yong. A familiar face he once called his friend and he nearly felt the same way again. Very often she had saved him from something; Helped him when he needed her help.

But she abandoned him when he needed her the most. Like anyone else this day. If he would be dead now they wouldn't care. People he used to like, turned quickly into enemies. Showed their true faces. Tried to stop him. Jil, Huan… Everyone the same. Just the same.

His aunt's murderer was still alive and it was just a question of time until he would come back for Shiren. He knew it.

Yong caught his view and raised an eyebrow. "Hm?" she wondered.

"Nothing," Shiren answered calmly: "Absolutely nothing."

"Missing the old times?" she asked smilingly. Such a happy smile that tried to get trough his steeled mind. But he refused to believe in that smile. What did she try? Why did she even come with them?

Whatever it was, a single smile would never be strong enough to beat his defence.

He answered coldly: "I told you I'm done with my past. If it matters to you though, I won't stop you or anything."

She didn't give up just yet: "You're done with your past, you say? So how about a new beginning then? This here looks like a great opportunity," she suggested while slowing her speed so they were travelling next to each other to make it easier to speak with each other.

"Don't test my patience. I'm at peace with myself. There is nothing I want from this. At least as much as friendship goes."

"I maybe know what you could want. You want a family back that was taken from you. And you want a home, ain't I right?" Shiren knew she was right but he already realized this was nothing he could ever hope for.

"You think you are capable of resuscitate the dead? Rebuild an entire village and it's residents? Give me a home where only ruins left over? Is that what you want to tell me?" he asked.

Yong lost a bit of her confidence and hesitated before her next answer. "… I do not think so," she answered.

"So in that case we're done. If you want to help me, don't stay in my way and don't step me in the back."

She grew a bit salty when he said that:"Hey! That's going too far! I would never backstabbing anyone! You know that, don't you? Shiren."

"… You know I'm done trusting anyone. Now if you excuse…" Shiren realized he indeed has gone a bit too far, even for his like, and hoped to end this conversation but Yong refused.

"No! You should know me better than that! Way better! Yes, I get it! You had a rough time and all but that doesn't give you the right to-"

"Hey, you two! That's enough!" Tigress interrupted and went between them, what Shiren appreciated: "We can't strike against each other now, alright? Yong, keep your temperament under control. Shiren, pay attention to what you're saying. You're under civilized people. Okay? Do you two get along with each other again?"

"From my part," Shiren said and looked aside.

"Yes. I think so. Just make sure he doesn't suspect me ever again ever throwing a knife at him. I have my pride," Yong responded.

Crane shook his head and commentated: "Well, that's going to be funny…"

"No worries," the professor said with confidence: "Once we arrive at the ruins we will all have other issues to discuss and investigate."

Mantis asked: "Again, how did you find this place by the way?"

Viper asked after that to add to Mantis' question: "And why did you not just investigated it on your own with other archaeologists?"

"You see," Jiàoshòu explained: "what we might face could be something world changing. I expect nothing else from a land of gods. And who else would be more able to decide how to handle such instruments than the great masters themselves? I have complete trust in your capabilities of determining for the greater good. After all it is thanks to you, our kind has the possibility to breath the sweet wind of freedom."

"… What?" Tigress wondered irritatingly.

"You know: Tai Lung? Who doesn't know the legendary stories about you defeating a one man army? Not to mention all the stories about the Chi. You won the war against the alliance when nobody knew who the real enemy was. Shen was about destroying our country. But we are still here. Just a shame we won't have the privilege having the legendary Dragon Warrior with us."

"No. You know he is very busy discovering the depths of the Chi," Tigress answered.

"Yes, of course. As his title tells him to. But this is why you should be the first one discovering whatever lies beyond and decide whatever we are going to do with it, master. Now to your question about how I found this place… You can say trough my research, with luck, maybe with help of the destiny? You can choose whatever suits you most."

With that he ended the conversation since nobody responded to this statement.

After a long march trough forests and mountains they reached the desert.

It was hot, dry sand blew around each faces and the sun flew in the sky, sending more and more heatwaves. Majestic mountains decorated the surface of where they came from.

Shiren did barely mind though. He was used to strong heat. Not that he would consider living there or anything.

"Stay close," the professor said while searching for a particular scroll and opened it: "We can't afford loosing anyone here. And if you loose me, you will never find the ruins we are looking for." The scroll looked like a plan of the desert, and some star pictures on the side.

"Well, you would be the first one I know knowing precisely where to go, Mister. Right in the desert," Viper said, disbelievingly.

"Your mistrust is well understandable, Misses Viper. But as an expert I have responsibilities. I wouldn't be where I am if I wouldn't know what to do. My maps are totally accurate. You can see them if you wish so but now, we shouldn't waste time or resources. The next source of water is very far away," he said while marching on.

Crane, who hesitated a bot until he also moved on, asked: "And what if we get lost in the desert?"

Tigress cheered him up by saying: "We better do not. If anything happens, we all know what to do. It's not like this is our first time trough the desert. And it wouldn't be the first time we would get trapped in terrain like these. Now, you heard the professor. Stay close and make sure we do not loose anyone on the way. Let's move."

The time trough the desert wasn't as long as the time from the Jade-Palace to the desert but it felt as long, Trough two entire days they went trough the circle from too hot temperatures to too cold temperatures.

Conversations grew even more rare and everyone took care of their supplies.

The desert was a worthy foe. Shiren wasn't able to do anything against it and he also knew he would die here if he would be alone. Every part of the desert looked pretty much the same but the professor managed to never get lost anywhere or run in any circle. He knew where they had to go and he shew it with such a high amount of confidence like everything was just according to plan.

After a long search he finally said: "There is it." when they entered something that looked like an abandoned camp. Tents were still built up and some boxes laid around the area but everything was filled with sand. Near by the camp there was a pillar that was just barely to see.

"And this is the famous land of the gods?" Tigress asked skeptically while the professor laid down his bag.

"Of course not," he answered and took out a lantern. "We will need light in where we go. Follow me," he said and went around the pillar towards a way downwards.

Before following the others like the rest he looked at the pillar. It said not much to him. He did recognize some of the symbols in there. But just from the view. The notes of his father he was able to have a look at when he was home had pretty similar runes on them. But he just didn't know what they meant. Most likely the professor would know it. "Shiren," Mantis told him, as the last one waiting for him: "We shouldn't loose the professor." Shiren didn't realise the others were already ahead. He nodded and came after them.

The professor showed an entrance to a cave that leaded into a dark corridor underneath the sand. "Looks better, doesn't it?" he said and went forward while firing up the lantern. He handed it to Mantis while saying: "Someone carry this please?"