As Ming saw his brother, his heart sank. He couldn't bear to fight with him even though they had their lapses as siblings. Out of all his brothers, Qinfen was physically weak. He never practiced martial arts, though Lifen forced him since young. His interest was more on other things and made his mother and father worried about him.
Ming ran toward Qinfen, who only held a wooden rod. He instantly sent his younger brother to sleep with a single pinch on the neck and carried him.
"Xinyi, Nianshi, let's go," Ming hollered at the still fighting two. He waved a hand to General Lofey who was looking at him. Tyriece body turned into a stone, aside from his head, and carried the limping Balin. The four Godingan Chiangdas ran where Ming's group headed.
They all went toward the nearest safest place he could think of, Xionmao's cave. When they reached the place, they stopped because it was full of mist.
"Why are we here and what is this place?" General Lofey asked.
"It's the safest place I know," Ming said as he recalled Xionmao told him to let the children and women to hide there. He thought of leaving Qinfen while asking from the panda for help but suddenly Kuaile flew on top of Xinyi and tweeted, "The panda said for you to go the bamboo hideout."
"Ming, I know another good place. Let's go," Xinyi said.
The general didn't move. "I don't intend to hide. We need to stop that Mafan now. It seemed he got what he wanted and I'm afraid for the innocent people's lives." He wanted to shout at Ming of his mistake of releasing Mafan, but as a veteran warrior, he knew this was not the time to blame. He had to think of the people first.
"I have no intention of hiding. I want to leave Qinfen to a safer place and…" He was about to say about asking Xionmao for advice but held his tongue. "We need to think of a plan first."
"No time to plan. We need to go out of your place. Mafan might be out there somewhere and put all the inhabitants under his spell."
"If you want to go, go now. We will follow," Ming said and gestured at Xinyi. "Lead the way."
Before Xinyi ran off, "Nianshi, go with them and protect Lifen Ma and sister Lei An." Then she darted to the bamboo area.
"General, how about Balin?" Gib reminded by pointing at the bandaged leg.
"Little brother, take Balin with you," General yelled. Ming and Xinyi looked back.
"No, I'm a soldier and a Chiangda. I can still fight," Balin insisted.
"Obey, soldier. You're only a nuisance during the fight." And glanced at Tyriece. "Go."
"Aye yay," Tyriece said and followed Ming.
"Let me go," Balin wriggled, but Tyriece spanked the man's butt.
"Behave, sick man. Just treat us with some Youshian dumplings after we capture that Mafan."
Balin sighed, watching Gib ran away and thought of the man's injury. But before he could say about it, they had reached the bamboo forest.
"Put him down. I'll be the one to bring him in. Just go after big brother now. He might need your help."
Tyriece wondered why but obliged and laid Balin down. "Wait for my return, brother," Tyriece said as he bolted away. Balin tried to stand up but Ming's wind surrounded him and gently placed him beside the sleeping Qinfen inside Xionmao's bamboo hut at the back of the pond.
Both of them followed Tyriece's path. The bandaged man thought of escaping but gaped in wonder when the road disappeared and only thick bamboos were present, where not a single person could pass through. He glanced around but there was no exit at all.
General Lofey, Nianshi, and Gib ran outside the gate but they faced a large group of civilians. Not long after, Tyriece arrived followed by Ming and Xinyi.
The old general clenched his fists. "This is not good."
People from the city kept coming in and Mafan was nowhere. Ming thought of speeding things up and find the source of all this mess.
"Be ready, everyone. Hold on to anything to keep you from being blown away." He began a tornado and Gib saw it. He understood what the other person's intention. Gib added his own and the combination slowly grew bigger, wider, and longer toward the heavens as they let it move toward the people.
Xinyi, Tyriece, General Lofey, and Nianshi held onto the trees as the zombified people were blown away. After they were flown away, they rushed off to search for Mafan.
"Let's go to the city square. He could be there," Ming said while his mind was on his mother and Zhai. He looked at Xinyi but she was ahead of him.
"I'll go find them." And faced Nianshi, "Go with them."
However, Ming recalled his dream. "Nianshi, go with her and don't leave her side." He sprinted, not giving time for any arguments from her.