"What do you want?" Tan asked, wiping his hands on his pants. Unlike Shen Ju Rong, Tan was a skinny boy with fishmonger skills. He was not the growing warrior Shen was, but he was still fun to be around.
"We're going into the fog."
"What?! No way, no chance. You're out of your mind."
"Come on, you don't believe all the tales, do you?"
"That the great dragon lives in the fog and swallows up any lost in the mists? Yes."
Shen rolled his eyes. "Come on, Fishbait, there's no such thing."
"Stop calling me that, it's demeaning."
"I'm sorry, Princess Fishbait. Let's go."
"You're on your own, Shen. I've... got work to do."
"Coward," Shen said, punching Tan in the arm... perhaps a little too hard.
"Now you're really on your own. Hundan."
"Please?"
Tan turned and walked back to his father, leaving Shen standing in the road looking like a fool. No matter. He would go, he would personally defeat the fog and come back a hero.
It took him notime to rush back to the temple and put tack on his horse. He rode hard to reach the Dragonwall and the western gates. "Where do you think you're going?" the guards asked as he approached. The Emperor knew none entered or exited the fog, these guards were ceremonial. A show to the people of Shou Lung that all was as it was and ever would be. "Into the mists," Shen said, his chest out. The guards broke into hoots of laughter. "We will open the gates for a boy on a mission?"
One of the guards jumped down from his post and rolled his head on his shoulders. "Tell you what," he said. "If you can beat me, I'll let you leave and die in the mists. Sound fair?"
Shen leapt from his horse and lead it off to the side. He walked to face the guard, his expression determined. "Yes." More laughter. "Watch out Ying," one of the guards on the wall hooted. "He's a killer!"
Shen closed his eyes and drew in his breath. His mind slowed obediently and came into focus. Slowly, he extended one arm, his other back near his head, and lowered his body. He uttered a single word and his fists crackled suddenly with energy. His eyes glowed an electric blue as he stared at his opponent. He then spoke a single word that came out softly, but seemed to echo. "Da."
