“Sorry,” the pet vendor said. “The dagger isn't for sale.”

“Do you have knives that are for sale?”

The pet vendor shook his head.

Ying glanced at his fingernails. They were nowhere near as long as they used to be—nor as sharp—but they would probably still work. They would have to do.

“Forget the knife, then,” Ying said. “What about a goblet?”

“A goblet?” the pet vendor said. “What do I look like, royalty? I have a drinking bowl, like everybody else.” He pointed to a small wooden bowl on the table-top. “You're welcome to use it. I will return shortly.”

“Remember, I'm in a hurry,” Ying said.

“Of course,” the pet vendor replied. He stepped through the curtain at the back of his booth and disappeared.

Ying grabbed the drinking bowl and heard Hok shuffle her feet.

“You're not going to do what I think you're going to do?” Hok asked. “Are you?”

“I most certainly am,” Ying said.

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“Well, I can't watch,” Hok said.

“Suit yourself,” Ying said. “You can go off and look for an additional supplier in case this man does not have enough dragon bone for both of us.”

“I think I will,” Hok said, scanning the marketplace. “You won't take the dragon bone and leave without me, will you?”

Ying scowled. “Don't insult me like that. I gave you my word that we would do this together.”

Hok nodded. “I'll return in a quarter of an hour.” She walked away.

“Happy hunting,” Ying called out.

Hok didn't reply.

Ying smirked and got to work. He grabbed the pet vendor's drinking bowl, pleased to see that it was empty and, more importantly, clean. He placed the drinking bowl on the edge of the table, then reached down and grabbed the beauty snake's cage. The snake began striking at Ying's hand, trying desperately to bite him through the tight bamboo bars.

Ying admired the tenacity of the creature. It reminded him of himself when he was locked in the Emperor's prison, constantly being taunted and abused by General Tsung. Ying had endured and escaped. This snake, however, would not be so lucky.

Ying set the cage on the ground behind the pet vendor's table. He located the latch on the cage door and opened it. The beauty snake shot forward, its yellow head heading straight for Ying's face.

Ying was ready. He stepped sideways, out of the snake's path, and snapped his right hand outward in an eagle-claw fist. He aimed for the snake's head, but it was too fast. Ying ended up catching the snake by its thin, vibrating tail.

The snake writhed powerfully and twisted around, lunging backward at Ying's hand. Ying snapped his arm out to the side as if he were unfurling his chain whip, and the snake's head was flung harmlessly out of striking range.

After catching hundreds of snakes, Ying had learned that most of them could only strike as far as one-third their body length. By fully extending his arm, he prevented a snake this length from getting to him. It simply wasn't long enough.

On the other hand, Ying could not access enough of the snake's belly from this position. He took a deep breath and grabbed at the snake's midsection with his left hand. Pain from the qiang wound shot up through his left shoulder and arm, but he ignored it. His palm made contact with the snake's side, and he latched on to it with a firm grip.

The snake began to writhe even more frantically. It twisted around again, its bright yellow head bearing down on Ying's left hand. Ying let go of the tail with his right hand, reached for the snake's neck, and … missed. The snake was too fast. It latched on to the back of Ying's left hand.

Ying fought back a howl. He grabbed at the base of the snake's head with his right hand, but the instant before he made contact, the snake opened its jaws and released its grip. The snake dropped to the ground, slithering powerfully away.

Ying wasn't about to let it escape. He took two long steps after it, then froze as the creature cruised beneath the curtain and over the tops of four pairs of shoes.

Those shoes hadn't been there a few moments ago.

The curtain parted and Ying saw the pet vendor, smiling from ear to ear. He was flanked by three men, all of whom were carrying qiangs pointed directly at Ying.

None of them carried any dragon bone.

“I told you that snake was trouble,” the pet vendor said with a laugh. “You should have listened to me, Ying. And you should have been bright enough to know that I would remember you, even with the mask.”

Ying scowled. He watched the beauty snake slither beyond the four men and on to freedom. He knew he wouldn't get away so easily.

“Put your hands over your head,” the pet vendor ordered.




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