Author Notes: Hello again, everyone! Enjoy this next chapter :)

Beta & Co-author: jeangirlmy

- Chapter Start -

Princess gives Jia KeZi and Li JiaLe effusive 'See you later' pats on the cheeks before Jiang ZiSuan and Huo DaoFu help them into their hazmat suits.

"Back to the hotel. No detours. When we get back, I expect to see you two in bed," Huo DaoFu says sternly. At their startled looks, he hastily adds "resting."

It's Jiang ZiSuan's turn to disguise a snort as a cough. He waits for Jia KeZi and Li JiaLe to leave before nodding at Huo DaoFu.

"Let's go."

- o -

Not long after, they find themselves following a large group of soldiers into a large chamber filled with gigantic bronze pillars.

"Two of your little friends are over there," Jiang ZiSuan says in a low voice, pointing to where Bai HaoTian and Liu Sang are hiding behind some rocks. "Follow me."

They look surprised to see Jiang ZiSuan with Huo DaoFu. When Princess pops out of Jiang ZiSuan's collar, Bai HaoTian's face lights up while Liu Sang leans backward, eyes widening in alarm.

"Isn't that Wu Xie's pet?"

"Yes, her name's Princess. She won't bite you, don't worry." Bai HaoTian gives his arm a reassuring pat while winking at a scowling Jiang ZiSuan. "By the way, Liu Sang's hearing is shot, but he can read lips. Who are those men?"

"Another group of people," Jiang ZiSuan replies, making sure to face Liu Sang as he talks. "They're setting up explosives."

"We have to warn Xiao San-ye right away!" Bai HaoTian jumps up only to stop, eyeing Jiang ZiSuan with ill-concealed wariness.

"We can trust him," Huo DaoFu assures her. "I'll stay here with Liu Sang. Xiao Bai, you and Jiang ZiSuan go warn Wu Xie since you know where he's gone."

"No tricks," Liu Sang says, staring intently at Jiang ZiSuan. "And take care of Xiao Bai."

"And Princess," Huo DaoFu adds as the shellfish leaps to Jiang ZiSuan's shoulder.

Jiang ZiSuan can't help rolling his eyes.

"Guard the two females. Got it."

"I've changed my mind," Huo DaoFu decides. "Princess, take care of them both."

"We'll see you two later," Bai HaoTian says, trying not to laugh at Jiang ZiSuan's incredulous expression.

As they go off, Liu Sang starts questioning Huo DaoFu about Jiang ZiSuan.

"What is he doing here? Doesn't he have something against Wu Xie?"

"I blame you for getting me involved," Jiang ZiSuan scolds Princess. "And you don't have to take care of me."

The shellfish just pats his cheek in a 'there-there' manner.

- o -

As they're sneaking around the soldiers, the bronze pieces on the walls start clattering and the pillars amplify the sound of thunder overhead. Jiang ZiSuan and Bai HaoTian wince in pain and clap their hands to their ears, but the sounds prove to be deafening. Even the soldiers are writhing in pain on the ground.

As soon as the sounds die away, Jiang ZiSuan helps Bai HaoTian up and they rush inside the next room. Pang Zi is lying unconscious by some steps while Wu Xie is on his hands and knees by a pillar, coughing. Mr. Jiao is there, wet from head to foot. He seems to be in a trance and walks off without saying anything to Jiang ZiSuan or even noticing him.

"Xiao San-ye!" Bai HaoTian falls to her knees beside Wu Xie and starts thumping his back. Princess jumps to his shoulder and starts patting him all over his face.

"Xiao Bai? Princess?" Wu Xie looks surprised to see them there. His eyebrows go up when he notices Jiang ZiSuan. "Oh. You're here too."

"We have to leave this place," Jiang ZiSuan says. "There are explosives outside. Let's go."

"Tianzhen, you're healed!" Pang Zi rushes over, beaming even though his hands are bound behind his back. "The South Sea King didn't trick us after all!"

"Xiao San-ye, is this true? You're healed? You're really healed?" Bai HaoTian's eyes grow shiny with joy.

Jiang ZiSuan sighs when Pang Zi and Bai HaoTian start cheering while Princess leaps from shoulder to shoulder in excitement.

"Oi." He pitches his voice louder. "Explosives. We have to leave."

"Wait. Why're you here?" Pang Zi squints at him.

"He's our guide!" Bai HaoTian says brightly as she starts tugging on Wu Xie's hand. "Let's go!"

The three of them hurry off. Shaking his head, Jiang ZiSuan starts to follow when someone calls his name.

"ZiSuan?"

He turns to see Sanye stepping out from a corner. The trepidation in her face pricks his curiosity.

"Why didn't you shoot me earlier?"

"Why didn't you accept my advances all this while?" She counters, tipping her chin up.

Jiang ZiSuan supposes she deserves an explanation at the very least.

"You look like A-Ning, my older sister. She died ten years ago."

Sanye rolls her eyes.

"So that's why you kept your distance. Does this have anything to do with Wu Xie?"

"I..." Jiang ZiSuan hesitated. "He wasn't quick enough. Anyway, I'm leaving. You should too."

In the chamber with the bronze pillars, he finds another mini celebration happening. The Iron Triangle is in a three way hug while Princess runs around from head to head to hood. Bai HaoTian is staring at them with a hopeful smile on her face which turns to giggles when Princess gets tangled up in Pang Zi's hair.

"Princess, ow! Stop struggling, you're gonna pull all my hair out! PiaoPiao doesn't want a bald Pang-ye!"

That brings an end to the three way hug.

"Xiao-ge, please free my hair from this little rascal," Pang Zi begs Zhang QiLing

"Take Xiao Bai back to Liu Sang," Wu Xie tells Jiang ZiSuan. "We'll look for Hei XiaZe and join your guys."

"Huo DaoFu is with Liu Sang now," Bai HaoTian says. "What about Princess?"

"She goes with you." As soon as the words leave Wu Xie's mouth, Princes pauses while halfway up Zhang QiLing's arm. She leaps to Wu Xie and dives inside his jacket.

"Princess, come with us. It's safer," Bai HaoTian cajoles.

"Simei's right. Be a good shellfish and listen to her," Pang Zi tries.

"Princess, out you come," Wu Xie says. Nothing happens so he reaches inside his jacket and pulls her out. "Go with Xiao Bai. We'll be with you all as soon as we can."

Bai HaoTian accepts the drooping shellfish and holds her firmly with both hands.

"Be careful, Xiao San-ye. You too, Pang-ye, Xiao-ge."

- o -

Huo DaoFu and Liu Sang greet them with smiles of relief which turn to alarm when an explosion rocks the place, knocking them off their feet.

As soon as the tremors die away, Bai HaoTian jumps up and insists on going back for Wu Xie. Princess scampers up to her shoulder and points a long finger in that direction. Liu Sang also insists on looking for his ouxiang.

"No. We should get out of here. Right?" Jiang ZiSuan turns to Huo DaoFu who returns his gaze with a raised eyebrow. "What?"

"Bring all of us back alive, remember?"

Jiang ZiSuan stares at him in shock.

"You're kidding."

"Look at Princess."

Jiang ZiSuan glances at Princess who continues to imitate a pointer dog and swears under his breath.

"Fine. Don't blame me if we all end up dying."

- o -

As luck would have it, the explosion caused the entrance of the chamber to be blocked with rocks. Removing a few of those rocks allow poisonous gas to filter through, making them cough.

Jiang ZiSuan has newfound respect for Liu Sang who, although deafened and swaying on his feet, leads them to another opening which leads aboveground. He and Bai HaoTian seem to be familiar with the place since they plunge into the nearby pool without hesitation.

Jiang ZiSuan and Huo DaoFu call out in alarm before exchanging startled looks.

"Can you swim?" Huo DaoFu asks.

"Yeah. Let's go."

The water is icy cold. They wriggle through a hole, surface inside another tunnel and make their way to a chamber with four carved pedestals. Three of them have Thunder God statues glowering down at them.

The four of them begin knocking on the bases and hollering. Finally, they hear a voice, faint and muffled.

"We're here!"

It's coming from the base without a statue.

"We're here!"

It sounds like Pang Zi. Princess hops onto the base. Bai HaoTian crouches beside her, face lit with excitement.

"Xiao San-ye! Pang Ye! Xiao San-ye! Can you hear me?"

"Yes! We're down here! Xiao-ge too!" Wu Xie answers.

"Xiao San-ye, you guys stay there and wait!" Bai HaoTian shouts and turns to the others. "We need rope!"

Liu Sang produces the rope and Jiang ZiSuan helps to tie it around the base. The four of them then pull it aside to reveal a hole. Princess leaps into it at once.

"Oh." Zhang QiLing sounds mildly surprised.

"Of course." Wu Xie sounds resigned.

"Hei XiaZi, are you groping me?!" Pang Zi sounds indignant. "I can feel you tickling my thighs! You're approaching dangerous territory here."

"I didn't touch you at all!" Hei XiaZi sounds annoyed before following up with a startled yell that echoes up the hole.

"Princess." Huo DaoFu shakes his head and tosses down another rope.

Zhang QiLing is the first to appear. He turns to lend a hand to Wu Xie and the two of them help to pull out Pang Zi. His left leg is splinted from the knee down, but he rolls on the floor, laughing, like he hasn't a care in the world. The last one to emerge is Hei XiaZi who gingerly points to Princess on his shoulder in a mute plea for help.

Huo DaoFu goes to his rescue while Bai HaoTian hugs Wu Xie and Liu Sang almost hugs his ouxiang. Jiang ZiSuan turns his back on the hugs and backslaps taking place. He jumps when someone clasps his shoulder.

"Mission accomplished. Thank you," Huo DaoFu says with a small smile.

Jiang ZiSuan gives an awkward nod, not quite knowing what to say. Princess chooses that moment to reappear, leaping to his shoulder and stroking his face with great enthusiasm.

"Stop that. I know where those fingers have been," he scolds her and is ignored. "You give new meaning to the word stubborn. Must've gotten it from this doctor, huh?"

"Me? You're pretty obstinate yourself. Maybe she got it from you," Huo DaoFu shoots back.

"Hey, she's Wu Xie's."

"Fair enough," Huo DaoFu agrees.

A peal of delighted laughter makes them blink and turn to see the others staring at them.

"You two sound like a quareling couple!" Bai HaoTian teases them, still giggling.

Ignoring each other, Huo DaoFu and Jiang ZiSuan glare at Wu Xie who blinks at them.

"Why do I get the feeling this is my fault?" he asks warily.

"This is all very amusing," Hei XiaZe drawls, "but can we leave this place now?"

"Right. We need to look for Li JiaLe and Jia KeZi," Bai HaoTian says at once.

"They should be back at the hotel, waiting for us," Huo DaoFu says.

"Thank you." Wu Xie's smile widens when Princess leaps back to his shoulder. "Let's go back, everyone."

- Chapter End -

A/N: Thank you for reading! Please leave a comment if you enjoyed this chapter :)