Disclaimer: I do not own Hero: 108.

Chapter 1:

Lady Green sighed, slightly bored with the lack of action recently as she sharpened her blades with a spare piece of rock. She looked up and her eyes lit up as she noticed Lin Chung walking towards her.

"Lady Green," he nodded his head courteously, "Commander Apetrully would like you to join us in the briefing room."

Lady Green stood up. Maybe it might be something good, to distract her from this seemingly endless boredom. She nodded, giving him a friendly smile. They walked side-by-side, both in comfortable silence as Lin Chung greeted many of the animal rulers and humans that they happened to bump into.

When they reached the briefing room of First Squad, she was surprised to find it already full with four members of the Air Force that she was not familiar with, Second Squad, First Squad, Commander Apetrully, and Woo the Wise.

Lin Chung silently left her side and went to join First Squad, while Lady Green paused for a moment, wondering where should she stand. At Lin Chung's barely imperceptible nod, she moved to stand next to Lin Chung, near Commander Apetrully.

"Now that we are all here, I will tell you what you are to do." Commander Apetrully declared.

Woo the Wise pulled out a map. He unrolled it on the table, and all crowded around it. "There is a village here. Its name is not known, but it was known as Huangchun back then."

"Yellow Village." Lin Chung easily translated.

Commander Apetrully smiled, delighted. "Yes. It is north to where the East Citadel is, and is near a place which used to house outlaws."

"Of Liangshan Marsh?" Lin Chung volunteered again.

Woo the Wise nodded. "Yes. 36 'Heavenly Spirits', and 72 'Earthly Fiends'. 108 important members in total, with many other bandits and men who served under them."

"What's this got to do with us?" Kowloon asked, impatient.

"The people in the village are complaining of odd happenings recently. Not too long ago, a boy found a crystal, one which showed events from the past. We have positively identified two figures from the event as two warriors from Liangshan Marsh."

"You want us to investigate?" Alpha Girl asked, sounding bored. "Why all of us then?"

Commander Apetrully looked up sternly. "Do not take this lightly, Alpha Girl." He chided. "This is important. It is said that Liangshan Marsh is haunted with the lives of the 108 spirits who were unfairly killed after being granted amnesty from the Emperor."

He looked up at each of them, before turning to Lin Chung. "You are familiar with the village?"

Lin Chung nodded. "I was raised in one of the neighbouring villages."

Lady Green startled. She was unaware that Lin Chung came from a small village, based on what she could see from the land around Huangchun. She would have thought that he had come from somewhere near the East Citadel. But, then again, that would explain his humbleness and modesty to all the great feats he had achieved.

She looked up again as Commander Apetrully finished. "I want all of you to go to the village. There is an elder there who has descended from 3 generations. She will know anything about the Outlaws that visited her. The Air Force is to bring you there and remain there until all of you return."

There were small nods.

Master Chou cleared his throat. "With all due respect, Commander, Lin Chung is the only one who has passed the Parachute test and the Air test."

Lady Green felt herself turn slightly nauseous. She was part of the Navy, not the Air Force.

"Well then, you have to have the test taken immediately! You are to leave at dawn."

For some reason, Lady Green felt a chill go down her spine. She ignored the feeling and focused on the Air Force, who were currently leading the rest to the Hanger. Rosefinch stopped her from following them.

"You are a member of the Navy, Lady Green. Your training for all sorts of emergencies and situations qualifies you for flying the planes."

Lady Green exchanged a quick smile with Rosefinch.

She didn't know Rosefinch well, and would look forward to knowing her better - she seemed like a strong, independent young woman, and it was rare that Lady Green found another woman in Big Green. She barely knew Alpha Girl, and Mystique Sonia used to hate her.

Lady Green jumped as she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Lady Green smiled, before turning to Lin Chung. "So, tell me more about the village, if you don't mind."

As Hu Sanniang left, she banged into someone, and winced as it hit a bruise near her hip. Lin Chong, curse his sharp eyes, noticed immediately and frowned in concern.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm fine." She answered calmly, hoping that he believed her and left her. She was not sure how much scrutiny her facade could take before it crumbled down.

"You do not seem fine."

"Just a bruise. From training." She added quickly.

Lin Chong frowned. "Have you not had that looked at?"

Hu Sanniang looked down. "I did not have the time to."

"Follow me." Lin Chong ordered without preamble and led her to his hut. Hu Sanniang's heart pounded wildly, wondering what people would think. But then again, he was supposed to work together with her. What was he going to do?

He led her inside his hut, and rummaged around in a trunk containing some neatly folded clothes. He took out a jar of a cream of some kind.

"Take this."

"What is it?" Hu Sanniang asked, knowing that she shouldn't stall. But, compared to Wang Ying, Lin Chong was welcome company. She tilted her head as she realised what the cream was. "I never knew that you got so injured that you needed this much. A whole personal jar for you?"

Lin Chong let a ghost of a smile flicker across his face. It changed his face immensely, even for a brief moment. His eyes crinkled up and turned tender, and any sort of worry lines on his face almost seemed to fade.

She wondered why he didn't smile more often.

"Apparently so. Wu Yong gave me more in fear that I would get injured before I fully recovered."

"That is a reasonable fear." She murmured. Lin Chong laughed.

"That is true, indeed." He pressed the cool jar into her hand. Hu Sanniang knew she should pull her hand away, but found both of their hands lingering.

Looking up, her breath hitched suddenly as she realised their close proximity. They stared at each other for a while, before Lin Chong stepped back. "Good day."

"To you as well."

Hu Sanniang quickly retreated from the room, wondering what she had gotten herself into.