Tiger glanced back towards Tak and then his companions over the next few days. They were moving at a walking pace so Tak would ride forward to scout in order to stretch her horse’s legs. Plus, the fact that they took their time also allowed the three injured martial artists to rest a little, though they were aiming to head to a place to relax properly.

During this period Tiger would annoy his companions, until eventually he addressed the issue he was chewing on.

“We’re headed to the hot springs, right?” Tiger asked, still walking along the path.

Wolf nodded. “Yes.” He said as though it was the most obvious thing in the world.

“So what are we gonna do?”

“…”

“I’m talking about Tak.”

“…”

Tiger cleared his throat. “She can’t exactly… stay with us.”

“Why not?”

“…” Tiger gave Wolf a look.

Wolf bowed his head in response. “The hotsprings are large, and there are multiple entrances.”

“Sure, but it’s still a little… Especially since, you know…”

Wolf nodded and the pair looked at Dragon.

Dragon caught them glancing at him. “…”

Tiger smirked. “She’s into you.” He ducked under Dragon’s punch, and then clashed with him on the second punch.

“You’re not as funny as you think.” Dragon narrowed his eyes.

“Yeah, I’m funnier.” Tiger chuckled.

Tiger and Dragon exchanged a few blows before Wolf entered the fray, getting between them to break them up. Tiger was grinning still as Dragon stretched his neck.

“What are you even talking about?”

“Do you see this Wolf? Our little Dragon is still like that.” Tiger chuckled.

“Like what?”

“You can’t see it?”

“…” Dragon narrowed his eyes, obviously annoyed. He cracked his knuckles, ready to brawl.

Tiger chuckled and shrugged, stepping onwards. “When she comes back, just keep your eye on her.”

Tak returned not long after, not saying a word like always. After about ten minutes Dragon slowed so that he and Tiger were side by side.

“…”

“Told you.”

Dragon didn’t respond, instead his cheeks flushed ever so slightly.

Tak had lead the way into an alcove and then went off to go hunt. The three were alone for some time.

“So what are you going to do about her?” Tiger asked as he gathered some firewood.

“…” Dragon glanced up at the sky, his arms crossed and his head cocked.

Tiger then turned to face Wolf. “What do you think?”

“I can’t imagine Dragon like that.”

“Yeah, me neither. I always thought he’d be the last to settle down between us three.”

“There’s no settling down for us.” Dragon said.

Tiger grinned. “Eh? Once I become a master and train my own disciple I’m going to open up an orphanage.”

The other two turned to look at him. Their faces said it all. How is it that Tiger, of all people, has thought that far ahead?

“What?” Tiger raised his brow as if to challenge them.

Dragon shook his head. “I’ll think about it when we-”

Wolf sat straight and then stood. The other two followed. Tiger stretched his arms and smiled. “Looks like we get to have some fun.” He said as he tracked the six strangers within his mind as they sped towards the group.

The three were still recovering from their previous injuries so they weren’t at their strongest. They’d have to be careful as there was one foe with an enormous amount of ki.

The three were then swarmed. Wordlessly they picked their opponents, switching places in order to match with their own strengths.

Dragon clashed with the man that held the large pool of ki, who was wielding a large spear. His fist crashed against their spear, his fist entirely black.

Tiger struck three and Wolf cornered off two. Tiger was confident in his ability to take down these warriors. Wolf crouched low, his fists uncurling into something more akin to claws, ready to give directions.

“Hei?” Wolf asked.

“Trespassers within our land, we shall have your heads!” One of the men he was facing exclaimed.

“Dear Hei, there seems to be a-” Wolf was unable to finish off his sentence as he was assaulted.

Tiger could hear the fight between Dragon and their strongest.

‘He won’t be able to last long.’ Tiger thought as he fought the other three, a wild grin on his face. ‘Wolf’s in trouble too.’

“Wolf.” Tiger called out, conveying his message easily enough. With how much they fought, Wolf would be able to translate his tone of voice into an instruction.

The pair teamed up against the other five, which did cause some issues for Tiger, but would allow Wolf to fight at a higher level. Out of the three, Wolf was the freshest to fight.

They continued to exchange blows, with Tiger taking several blows in order to get off his own Tiger Fang, a slash against one of the Hei. Soon though it was obvious that these warriors of Hei were much more than he anticipated. Tiger wasn’t familiar with them like Wolf, so he didn’t understand that the Hei were masterful with their weapons. They used Ro with such great skill that even with a limited pool of it they were dangerous.

When Tiger finally realised the danger, a cold sensation flowing through him, he heard Dragon being struck down. Tiger glanced back for a moment to see Dragon on one knee, holding onto a spear that was pressed within his side.

“Dragon!” Tiger called out. He could still hear Dragon pant. ‘His Iron Body won’t last too long…’

“I’ll leave it to you.” Tiger whispered.

With that he and Wolf had switched places, Tiger now facing all five of the others. Tiger only grew more dangerous as he faced the five. His body had finally warmed up too.

‘To think I’d have to use my techniques so early…’

Tiger Stalking Prey was a technique that Tiger wasn’t fond of using. Tiger would wait until his opponent made a move and he’d counter it right as they moved. He was too impatient sometimes, but right now he was too slow to be impatient.

Yet even with his body utilising the technique the coldness grew with him. A truth he hadn’t wanted to admit to himself or his companions.

After all this time… his fangs had grown dull.