“If you don't mind my asking, sir,” Commander Woo said, “what is the ingredient?”
“Blood,” Ying replied. “But not just any blood—a very specific kind. And it must be fresh.”
Commander Woo swallowed hard. “Dare I ask what this potion does for those who drink it?”
Ying smiled. “Let's just say it brings me closer to my kindred spirits.” He lurched forward, baring his pointed teeth and flicking out his forked tongue with a hiss. Commander Woo jumped.
Ying laughed. “Relax, Commander. I'm just toying with you. Now, I want you to—”
Ying stopped in mid-sentence. Every muscle in his body seized in an act of total concentration. He sensed something moving. Something specific. He leaped high into the air and thrust a powerful eagle claw around the tree next to him. When he hit the ground, a green tree snake writhed in his iron grip. Ying looked at Commander Woo.
Commander Woo backed away.
“Get over here,” Ying said.
“But that snake is poisonous, sir!” Commander Woo said. “I can tell by the shape of its head. Be careful.”
Ying scowled. “I know it's poisonous, Commander. That's the point. It has to be a poisonous variety for the elixir to be effective. I'm holding it firmly behind its head. It won't bite you—unless I release it down your collar.”
“S-sorry, sir,” Commander Woo said as he walked briskly to Ying's side.
With his free hand, Ying removed a small ornate goblet from the leather bag and handed it to Commander Woo.
“Hold this cup in one hand,” Ying said, “and hold the pouch open in the other.”
Commander Woo did as he was told. Ying dipped a long fingernail into the powder and scooped up a small amount. He dumped it into the goblet.
“You will use a small spoon for measuring,” Ying said. “I will show it to you another time. At the moment I seem to have my hands full.” He grinned and grabbed the snake by the tail with his free hand. He unwound the snake from his wrist and found it to be nearly as long as his arm.
“This is a good length,” Ying said. “Now, hold that cup perfectly still, Commander. Don't you dare move.”
Ying placed the snake's tail between his sharp teeth and clamped down hard. Waves of pure muscle rippled through the snake as it struggled to free itself. Ying lifted the snake's head high into the air and leaned toward Commander Woo. Commander Woo flinched but held the goblet steady.
Ying positioned his face over the goblet and thrust a razor-sharp fingernail into the underside of the snake. Blood poured down its belly into the goblet. After a moment, Ying hurled the snake into the underbrush. He smiled a wide, toothy grin.
Commander Woo grimaced.
Ying laughed and took the cup. He began to stir the blood and dragon bone mixture with one of his long fingernails. “Do you think you can handle that, Commander? I'm guessing you'll use a knife, though.”
Commander Woo took a deep breath and nodded. “Yes, sir.”
“Good. I will expect you to bring me one each evening no later than one hour after sunset.”
Ying licked his lips with his long, forked tongue and raised the goblet. He closed his eyes and drank slowly, savoring every drop.
It was the middle of the night when Malao felt someone shake him gently.
“Wake up,” Hok whispered. “We need to talk.”
Malao sat up and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. “What's going on?” he mumbled. He looked around the hollow and saw the white monkey sitting in one moonlit corner.
“You fell asleep again,” Hok said.
“I did? When?”
“Hours ago.”
“Is everything okay?”
“No,” Hok replied. “I went out and did a little reconnaissance. There's something you need to know.”
“Don't even tell me Ying is catching more animals,” Malao said. “What he did to that snake earlier was disgusting.”
Hok closed his eyes. “What I have to tell you has nothing to do with Ying. It has to do with Fu. He's been captured.”
“WHAT?” Malao said.
“Hush,” Hok said. “Do you want us to get captured, too?”
“Sorry,” Malao whispered. “Where is he?”
“He's in a village less than a day's travel from here. Ying's number one man, Tonglong, has returned, and I overheard him and Ying talking about it. Ying has sent his number three, Captain Yue, and fifty soldiers to collect Fu from the villagers.”
“Let's go,” Malao said. “We probably don't have much time.”
Hok shook his head. “We can't. I'd like to help Fu, too, but we don't even know where the village is located. We have to wait until we know more.”