Tsung plopped down on the same limb and slipped one of the scrolls into his robe. He whipped open the other scroll. “Very interesting,” he said calmly.
Malao rubbed his eyes and stared up at Tsung. He couldn't believe what he had just seen. As he picked up his stick and returned it to the folds of his robe, Seh laid a hand on his shoulder.
“I think we're in trouble,” Seh whispered.
Malao nodded.
The sound of snapping branches caught Malao's attention and he turned to see Fu burst into the small clearing.
“What's going on here?” Fu demanded.
Tsung looked down at Fu. He shook his head and went back to reading the scroll.
Fu looked up at Tsung, then over at Seh. “Who is that guy?”
“He's a traitor,” Seh said, glaring up at Tsung. “He's responsible for the destruction of Shaolin.”
“What!” Fu roared. He looked up at Tsung. “Get down here, you coward! Fight like a— Hey! He's got one of the dragon scrolls!”
“Actually, he has both of mine,” Malao said.
Tsung looked up. “What was that? Both of yours?” Tsung stuffed the open scroll inside his robe and pulled his feet up onto the limb. He sat back on his haunches and turned toward Fu. “What secrets do you keep, big boy?”
Fu growled and tightened his sash. Malao saw every muscle in Fu's body begin to tense.
“Wait!” Malao said to Fu. “You don't understand. That guy—”
Tsung leaped out of the tree and hit Fu so fast, Fu didn't even have time to bring his hands up. A perfectly formed leopard fist struck Fu square in the left temple and Fu crumpled to the ground. Malao and Seh raced to Fu's side, but by the time they made the five steps it took to get there, Tsung had already reached into Fu's robe, removed the third scroll, and raced back up the tree.
Malao and Seh stared at each other in disbelief. Together they looked up at Tsung.
Tsung grinned and placed the third dragon scroll inside his robe with the other two. He yawned. “So, which one of you two would like to die first?”
Malao shuffled his feet, speechless for the first time ever. He looked at Seh. Seh's eyes narrowed.
A voice suddenly rang out from high in the trees behind Malao.
“Well, well. If it isn't Spot, the Emperor's favorite pet. I see you're out of uniform again.”
Seh looked at Malao. “Is that who I think it is?”
Malao took a deep breath. “Uh-huh.”
Malao whipped his head around and saw Ying perched high atop a dead oak.
Tsung looked over at Ying from atop the limb. “That's General Tsung to you, Lizard Boy. And I'll wear whatever I please, whenever I please. What are you doing here?”
“I might ask you the same question,” Ying replied. “Where are your men?”
“They're off getting some well-deserved rest,” Tsung said. “Have you come to learn how a real man handles an attack on a warrior monk temple?”
Ying sneered and pointed to Malao, Seh, and Fu. “I came for the boys. I had no idea you planned to duplicate my attack on Cangzhen.”
“Duplicate?” Tsung said. “I destroyed all of my former brothers. It looks to me like a few of yours not only escaped, they managed to make off with some valuable documents.”
Ying scowled.
Tsung grinned. “Don't fret, young man. I'm here to help. Look.” Tsung removed the open scroll he had stuffed in his robe. He straightened it out and began to roll it up. “I have two more besides this one. You want them?”
“Yes—”
“Then come get them!” Tsung growled. He finished rolling the third scroll and returned it to his robe. He tightened his sash. “I've heard stories about your fighting skills, boy. People are starting to say that you are in the same league as me. Apparently, they need to be reminded that I am in a league of my own.”
Ying laughed. “You don't stand a chance, Spot.”
Tsung paused. He cocked his head to one side and stared off into the forest beyond Ying. “Are those your men I hear coming?”
“Yes,” Ying replied. “Are you going to scamper away?”
“Not at all,” Tsung purred. “I was hoping for an audience.”
THWACK!
Malao turned to see five armed soldiers hacking their way into the clearing with large machetes. They lined up beneath Ying.
“You men are just in time for the main event,” Ying said to the group. “Where are the others?”
“Fanning out over various sections of the Shaolin compound and surrounding area, sir,” one of the soldiers reported. “Commander Woo is determined to seal off all possible escape routes.”