“Excellent,” Ying said. He turned to face Tsung. “Is this a large enough audience for you?”
Tsung smiled and nodded.
Ying spat and spread his arms wide. “Then let the games begin!”
Ying swooped down from the tree and Tsung sprang into the air. They collided with an impact so powerful, Malao felt the percussion several paces away. Within moments, the fight reached a level of ferocity Malao had never imagined possible. Both combatants were out for blood. Malao noticed that Tsung was definitely faster, but Ying was much stronger. Ying never seemed to be able to connect solidly with Tsung, and Tsung's quick jabs had little or no effect on Ying. Malao knew it was going to be a long fight. He dropped to his knees, next to Fu.
Seh leaned over and whispered, “What are you doing?”
“Trying to think of a way to wake Fu up so we can get out of here.”
“Good idea,” Seh said. “Listen, I just thought of a plan, but it doesn't involve you or Fu. If you see me get knocked down, don't try to wake me up. I'll be playing dead. Understand?”
Malao nodded.
“Hey!” one of the soldiers shouted, shaking his spear. “What are you two talking about?”
Seh stood and walked over to the man. “None of your business,” Seh said defiantly. He shoved the soldier hard.
“Why, you little—” The soldier lunged at Seh with his spear. Seh slid backward, easily avoiding the razor-sharp tip.
“You call that an attack?” Seh said with an arrogant laugh. “You fight like an old woman.”
“ARRRGH!” The soldier rushed forward, lunging with the spear again. Seh slid back farther this time, almost to the very center of the clearing. He stuck out his tongue and the soldier swung the spear at Seh's head. Malao knew Seh could have easily gotten out of the way in time, but he hesitated before ducking. The spear shaft glanced off the back of Seh's head and he slithered to the ground.
Malao giggled softly and glanced over at Ying and Tsung. They were still in the heat of battle. As Malao turned his attention back to Fu, he caught a glimpse of Ying swiping at Tsung's legs with his long toenails. That gave Malao an idea.
Fu was lying on his back, so Malao sat down on Fu's chest and placed one of his bare feet on each of Fu's chubby cheeks. Nothing happened. Determined to wake Fu, Malao began to slap Fu's cheeks with his smelly feet. Still nothing. Desperate, Malao brought his feet together and rested them both on top of Fu's mouth. He wiggled all ten toes directly under Fu's nose. Fu's whole body jerked violently. Fu's mouth slipped open and Malao felt Fu's tongue slide across the bottom of his feet.
Fu's eyes snapped open. He grabbed both of Malao's ankles and yanked Malao off his chest. “What are you doing?!” he shouted. He sat up and spat.
The entire line of soldiers began laughing. Fu stood, red-faced, and looked around. “What's going on?”
“You were knocked unconscious,” Malao said. “You wouldn't wake up and—”
“ARRRGH!”
Malao turned and saw Ying slam Tsung to the ground.
“Ying!” Fu said. “When did he get here?”
“Just now,” Malao said.
“But if he's here already, that means my father is probably …” Fu's voice trailed off.
Malao's eyes widened. “That doesn't mean anything, Fu! It's been ten days since we left the village. A lot could have happened since then. Maybe he's fine.”
“Or maybe he's dead!” Fu roared. He pointed at Ying and tensed every muscle in his body. “You're mine!”
Malao grabbed Fu's thick arm. “Fu, don't!”
Fu hesitated. He pointed to a pile of blue silk in the center of the clearing next to Ying and Tsung.
“Is that Seh?” Fu asked.
“Uhhh … yes,” Malao replied. “But—”
“Nobody does that to my family!” Fu roared.
“Fu, wait—”
Fu charged straight at Ying and Tsung. Malao watched with his mouth wide open.
Fu unleashed a mighty tiger-claw swipe at the back of Ying's neck. Ying must have sensed it coming because he leaped off to one side. Fu's powerful fingers slammed into the front of Tsung's shoulder and raked downward on an angle across Tsung's chest. Tsung's robe was torn open and all three dragon scrolls tumbled out.
Before the scrolls even hit the ground, Seh sat up, whipped his body around, and snatched the scrolls with both hands.
Ying shrieked and lunged toward Seh, but Fu spun around and planted a brutal snap kick square in the center of Ying's diaphragm. Ying doubled over and Tsung leaped onto Ying's back, wrapping his legs around Ying's midsection and his arms around Ying's neck. Malao saw Tsung twist his body powerfully to one side, hurling both himself and Ying to the ground.