Reunion: The Guardians of the Five Elements

Chapter 14

Wu Xie, Black Glasses Ge, and Zhang Qi Ling rushed towards the wall, looking for anything that can make the wall open which they all mutually know that it's futile. "Darn it." Black Glasses Ge hissed as he hit the wall to vent out his frustration when suddenly they saw Liu Sang ran towards them and immediately carrying Xiao Mei in his arms, getting Pang Zi by surprise. "Let's go before it comes for us." He said, running towards the tunnel where a drawing of a sword can be seen as the rest followed when Kan Jian screamed pointing his flashlight at the end of the cave where they all entered before. From there, they saw medium-size spiders crawling at an incredible speed towards them. They are not your ordinary spiders. They are man-eating spiders. Not wasting any time, all started running towards the tunnel as Zhang Qi Ling and Black Glasses Ge used the torches around the place and throw them at the creatures to give them some time to enter. When they all got inside the tunnel, a wall falls at the entrance trapping them in, just like what happened to the other tunnel. It took them a while to catch their breaths and when they all did, Pang Zi looked at Liu Sang who is still carrying his daughter in his arms. "You can bring my daughter down now, jinx. Those spiders can't possibly get through that wall." Pang Zi said looking at Liu Sang who just looked back at him as if he's out of his mind. "Hey! Did you hear me, Liu Sang?" "Yes, I heard you! I'm just not going to do it." "Wha-" "Xiao Mei will die once I put her down. Do you want that to happen?"

Silence engulfs everyone, shocked by the sudden revelation. Huo Dao Fu walked closed to Liu Sang and checked Xiao Mei for any irregular pulse rate like he has been doing when they started walking around the tomb. "I think you might have heard of the element's Chéng Cycle? A cycle that can harm a certain element. In our case, the wood depletes earth, Xiao Mei, and you, Pang Zi, will get weak since the two of you are the guardians of the earth stone. You might not have felt it yet, but your daughter relies on the stone to stay healthy as it is the one healing her right now. Now that we are getting near the tomb, you will feel more exhausted than before. Much more." Their doctor explained as to not be disrupted by Pang Zi's and Wu Xie's questions which irks the two but didn't argue him about it. "We will take turns carrying Xiao Mei. Pang Zi, don't touch anything. Don't remove your gloves. Whatever happens. Don't. Alright?" Wu Xie looked at Pang Zi intently, knowing well how hard-headed his best friend is. "Yeah yeah, Naive. I get it." Pang Zi then looked at Zhang Qi Ling, silently telling him to watch over him, which the older understood immediately. Then he looked at everyone else as if telling them already what to do, Liu Sang walked ahead as Xiao Mei held the map for him with Huo Dao Fu right beside him for assistance. Jia Le and Kan Jian are in the middle with Pang Zi, getting ready for anything as they walk. While Black Glasses Ge, Zhang Qi Ling, and him behind them all. He prefers to be behind them all. But this formation will have to do. I'm not as fast and strong as Xiao Ge and Black Glasses Ge. He thought. Also, he then looked at Liu Sang since his ability is needed now more than ever. He sighed. And I have to make sure Fatty doesn't do anything stupid. Wu Xie thought and then looked at his watch when he noticed the black-colored beads that Bai Hao Tian gave him while they were walking around. Xiao Bai, make sure you get to the tomb, all of you, alive. He thought as their group pushed on towards the tomb.

~*~*~*~*~
This is the adventure Papa tells me. Not exactly safe like how he always says in his stories but, an adventure I always wanted to have. This is what it feels like to be alive. And, as they keep me alive, I can feel all of them getting tired. Especially, when we climbed down from a slope. Kan Jian Ge was the one carrying me at that time when Jia Le Ge switched with him when getting on stable land when I heard my muscle Ge catch his breath and my serious Ge release a soft grunt from my weight in their arms. This is not what I had in mind of adventure. Being carried around a lot like I'm sick all over again. But, they are doing this for me so I must help them as much as I can as well. Xiao Mei thought as she softly whistled a soft tone every once in a while to let her big sisters know where they are and to get a reply from her soft calling as well. On the other hand, the boys thought her action was nothing at first since they thought she was getting bored like how his father would do when he does get bored. Now, though, it's like their little companion is calling out to someone. To them. "Any answers from them?" Xiao Mei looked at her Liu Sang Ge who is now carrying her for the fifth time, surprised but then smiled cheerfully at him. "You knew what I've been doing Gege?" "Only a stupid person would not know, Xiao Mei." The little girl chuckled. "Are saying that some of us have no idea what I've been doing?" "Maybe?" Liu Sang said looking behind them as Xiao Mei looked where her Gege is looking only to see a confused Kan Jian, blinking twice and looking behind him then went back looking at the two people in front of him, still confused which Jia Le shook his head and sigh at his friend's slow reading of the situation. The little girl chuckled at that as Liu Sang smiled gently at her. He could tell how stressed and worried the little girl is because of her predicament. He didn't have to use his sharp hearing ability to figure her out. "Don't feel burden about this. We are doing this to make sure you stay alive. To be honest, I don't like having you and the girls on this expedition. I thought you would bring problems throughout the journey." Liu Sang said and looked at Xiao Mei listening intently which he smiled back and continued. "But I was wrong. Maybe, I'm not used to having women around, especially in an expedition like this. So far, you and the girls have made this journey worthwhile and it's a chance that all of us needed. Don't think about being a burden. All of us will do everything to keep you safe and alive. You're important. Never doubt that." He said as he wipes the dirt on Xiao Mei's face with a smile on his face which she returns with a wide-teary-eyed smile for cheering her up.

Liu Sang then looked at the map Xiao Mei is holding not bothered by the others after sharing his opinion about their other members. No one has voiced out what they thought about their new members but, for him, Xiao Mei needed cheering up. The little girl already felt small because of how she is treated. Her whistling gets too high as if she's holding her tears on each blow. Then he heard Wu Xie walk towards him, giving him a friendly grip on his shoulder and pointing at that map. Liu Sang smirked at that. No words are needed for him to understand the meaning of the gesture. Thanks for cheering Mei Mei up.

"There's a big area up ahead. If we're lucky, the girls would be there already. Xiao Mei, try calling for them again. Liu Sang, try hearing them out. This tunnel feels strange as we continue like this." Wu Xie said as he walks in front of them as the two follow his orders when at the third whistle, Xiao Mei cut short getting everyone's attention when Liu Sang heard a strange sound. "Something happened to them! I heard Ah Sying Jíe's code, Ge." Instantly, Liu Sang was running ahead of them until he was able to see the clearing when Zhang Qi Ling grab them and hid them at the corner with the rest. "Chief?" "Xiao Ge Shū?" Zhang Qi Ling looked at the two and gestured them to stay silent as he discreetly went ahead to check the area. "Kan Jian suddenly saw a strange light up ahead. I think it's a flashlight." Huo Dao Fu said as he took Xiao Mei from Liu Sang's arms to switch. It was supposed to be Jia Le or Kan Jian but the timing right now is different. He needed to get one step ahead of them for him and their little Xiao Mei's safety. "Stay behind." Black Glasses Ge told him while smiling gently at the little girl as Huo Dao Fu and Xiao Mei move to the back when Pang Zi walked towards them and patted his daughter's head. "You've done a great job, Mei Mei. Now, I want you to stay here with sour dumpling. Don't do anything that will get you killed, alright?" Xiao Mei didn't argue anymore and nodded at him as Huo Dao Fu looked at Pang Zi with indifference and roll his eyes at him which the other chuckled softly then left towards Wu Xie and Black Glasses Ge. He and the doctor already made a silent agreement for Xiao Mei's safety if anything happens.

Wu Xie looked at Liu Sang when he saw his hearing friend concentrating. He was about to ask when Liu Sang spoke. "The rest of the girls are there. I can hear Chief getting as many people that surround the whole area. It won't be long when they notice something amiss." Wu Xie nodded trying to assess their situation through what he can see from where he is. When he was about to ask Liu Sang to make a simple drawing of the positions their new friends are in, he already saw him showing it to Pang Zi and the others. He chuckled. "You already know what I'm about to do." Liu Sang smirked at him as he gestured for him to come to them so that they can all see it. Then all looked at Wu Xie, waiting for his command. He may not be the best strategist but from his experiences, he has a ton of it. So, he looked at Pang Zi and smiled wide. Fatty laughed softly and get ready for his big explosion. "Jia Le, you and Kan Jian, take out as many as you can once Liu Sang fires his first arrow. Black Glasses Ge, your the fastest, do the same thing but at a much farther distance from the two. I'll be right behind you. Liu Sang, warn the girls. You know our knocking code. Use it. I think they can understand what we are planning. Hopefully, they can hear it. If not, we will just have to move accordingly. Wait for my signal before shooting an arrow. Also, stay near the kids. They might stray too much. Without want them to get lost now, do we?" "I'm not a babysitter, Wu Xie but I will try my best." "Hey! Who are you calling kids, San Yè?" Kan Jian said as Jia Le smack him hard on the head. "Shut it, dumbass. They will hear us." Liu Sang sighed and shook his head as he takes out his crossbow and gets into position between the two kids while Black Glasses Ge and Wu Xie get ready as well.

"Ready when you are, Fatty."

"Hohoho! I'm always ready, Naive."