There was a rustle of silk, and Long struck. He rolled out of the bed, swinging his right leg up and around in a powerful arc. He felt his right shin slam into the intruder’s body and heard a muffled “Umf!”

Long sprang to his feet, ignoring the pain that erupted from the healing wound in his side. He thrust his hands in the direction of the cry and found the intruder’s chest. He kept his fists pressed against the man’s body, sliding his hands up and outward until he found the intruder’s armpits and the extremely sensitive pressure points where the man’s chest muscles connected with his upper arms. Long sank his fingers deep into the pressure points on both sides, and the man cursed, writhing with pain.

Long heard a metallic clatter on the floor and guessed it was a sword. He released the intruder and bent down to grab the object. His hands brushed across an ornate sword handle, and he picked up the sword. It felt oddly familiar.

The intruder hissed like a dragon, and Long could hardly believe his ears. He knew that tone, as well as the sword! He said, “Ying! Stand down! It’s me, Long.”

The door to the private suite burst open, and Xie rushed in carrying an oil lamp. “Long, I—”

Xie froze, and his eyes followed Ying’s gaze toward a section of wood-paneled wall that harbored a secret door. The door was open, and a flame flickered beyond it, growing brighter.

Wuya stepped through the secret doorway, into the Emperor’s private suite. “What is going on here?” he demanded.

Xie’s face hardened. “I might ask the same question of you.” He turned and glared at Ying. “And you as well.”

Ying looked from Wuya to Xie and finally to Long. “I believe that I am the most confused of all.”

Long looked at the sword in his hand, and he turned to Ying. “You go first. How did you get here? Where did you get Grandmaster’s sword?”

“I retrieved the sword from Cangzhen Temple,” Ying replied. “I refurbished it in order to kill Tonglong. That is why I am here. Why are you here?”

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“You are in no position to question Long or anyone else,” Xie interrupted. “How did you know about the secret passageway?”

“A little mouse told me,” Ying replied.

“ShaoShu?” Long asked.

Ying nodded. “He traveled here with me, though he is still outside the walls somewhere.”

“How did ShaoShu find out?” Xie asked.

“The Emperor.”

“He is still alive?” Wuya asked.

Ying nodded.

“How did you get the suite door open?” Xie asked.

“I have a key,” Ying replied.

“Where did you get it?”

“ShaoShu stole it from Tonglong.”

“You say this ShaoShu stole a Forbidden City key from Tonglong?” Wuya asked.

“Wuya, why are you so interested in Tonglong?” Xie asked. “And what were you doing coming into Long’s suite through the secret passageway? I can only assume you intended to cause Long harm.”

Wuya scoffed. “Where I choose to go is none of your business. What are you doing here? I ordered you to remain outside of the suite.”

“I entered because I heard a scuffle. Truth be told, I was going to enter anyway. I have important news.”

“News?” Long asked.

Xie nodded. “Tonglong has arrived.”

Long saw Wuya’s black eyes sparkle in the light of his oil lamp. “Tonglong?” Wuya asked. “Are you sure?”

“I am certain,” Xie said. “I climbed one of the turrets and saw his small army of horsemen myself. They are standing outside the main gate.”

“Tonglong is here, without question,” Ying said. “ShaoShu and I followed him long enough to know that this was his destination.”

Wuya scrambled for the suite’s main door. “All three of you, remain here until I return. I have men guarding the secret passageway, the main suite door, and even the windows. Attempt to flee, and you will be shot.”

ShaoShu lay hidden beneath a tiny evergreen shrub next to the Forbidden City’s moat, trying his best not to be discovered by Tonglong, who stood nearby. ShaoShu was soaking wet and shivering with cold, having swum here in the moat after leaving Ying at the Emperor’s secret passageway entrance.

ShaoShu shook the water from his ears and stared at Tonglong silhouetted in the moonlight. It was clear that Tonglong had lost his mind. He stood just outside the open main gate, facing several hundred armed Forbidden City soldiers who were positioned inside. The soldiers were not allowed to set foot outside the gate’s threshold, and Tonglong was not being allowed in. It was a standoff.




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