A cloud of dust in the distance revealed riders as it got closer. Shen watched the riders approach with apprehension, the Mistress was with them. He and MeiHua had not yet figured out how to diffuse the subtle blockage in Xuelei's mind. They had tried several concoctions. All of which Xuelei had gamely drank despite its bitterness or foul smelling aroma. Should he tie Xuelei up again while there is still time?

Xuelei was tense. He had also noticed the group heading for them.

"Shen?" he called his brother, uncertainty filled his voice.

"It's okay Xue, we will take care of you."

MeiHua went up to him and whispered. "Remember, it's not your fault. Whatever happens, I will stand by you."

He gripped her hand, he was scared. What if he lost control again and that terrible compulsion came back? He calmed himself down, preparing for the internal struggle should it come.

They stopped ten paces away. The Master and his brothers were looking at him curiously. The Mistress glared daggers at him. He held his ground. MeiHua hid behind him.

"Master, Mistress, brothers." Shen and Xuelei chorused lifting their hands in a fist palm salute.

"You still dare call me Mistress?" her sharp voice cut through the air as her eyes bored into him. "And this girl, who is she?"

"Mistress, please forgive me. I ..." Xuelei pleaded, backing away, bumping into MeiHua. The Mistress cut him off with a wave of her hand. He felt fear, raw fear for MeiHua's well-being. The Mistress could kill her with just a word. His brothers would act on her commands without asking questions.

Suddenly, he felt the compulsion to draw his saber, hatred growing in his chest, a red haze clouding his mind. The Mistress's voice, her presence and proximity was triggering Xuelei. "Shen! It's happening again ... !" he shouted out in panic.

"Don't run away from me. Explain yourself!"

The Mistress dismounted and walked forward closing the space between them, challenging him. He was backing away slowly, trying to maintain distance between them.

"Shao Ling, be careful. You know he can't control it." The Master cautioned her.

"No, no, please Mistress, don't come any closer. I don't want to hurt you," Xuelei begged. Shen kept his body in between them. He looked at his brothers for help.

"We haven't found a cure yet. It is too subtle to remove. We are not as skilled as the one who put it there."

Suddenly a shadow leapt from behind. MeiHua cried out in fright as she was dragged to the side. A man with his face partially covered held a gleaming knife at MeiHua's throat.

"Kill your Mistress and the girl lives."

"No! Don't! She is innocent. She doesn't have anything to do with his!" Xuelei cried turning to face the masked man.

"All you have to do is kill Shao Ling and the girl goes free."

Shen had moved towards the group. All had dismounted. The six brothers formed a defensive line between the Mistress and Xuelei.

"Kill Shao Ling!"

Xuelei had no choice but to obey. He couldn't let the man hurt MeiHua and the man was using the voice. The compulsion to obey overcame him. His indecision dissolved as cold determination enveloped him. His brothers saw the change as the conflict in Xuelei disappeared with the clear directive.

"Damn it, Xuelei! Fight it!"

Xuelei ignored Shen's plea.

His eyes flickered to the Mistress, he drew his saber slowly. The sound of the blade coming out of its sheath was chilling.

The Master flung a dagger at Xuelei aiming for his shoulder. Xuelei saw the glint of metal in the sunlight, moved back a pace and deflected it almost carelessly with his saber. There was nothing wrong with his reflexes.

"Brothers, don't hurt him! Pin him down, neutralise him," Li shouted orders.

Xuelei advanced menacingly. His blood brothers surrounded him and attacked. They had all practiced together often enough that they were all familiar with each other's fighting style.

Xuelei waited until they were close enough then jumped high and spinned a full circle, saber held out. They dodged. He did not wait for them to regroup, instead he attacked the nearest with his newfound skill.

The Swordman's Dance was deadly and effective. The new moves threw his brothers off balance. Xuelei executed neat precise attacks and blocked answering slashes with ease. The clash of steel rang in the air as brother fought against brother. This was what the Dance was for, multiple attacks and defences against multiple foes. Xuelei lashed out with lethal grace, his saber a blur.

Blood sprayed in the air as weapons cut into flesh. Battle cries and shouts of warnings mixed with grunts of pain. The brothers kept Xuelei encircled ensuring he could not get past them to hurt the Mistress.

"Please, Xue! Don't do this!"

"Aarrrrggghhhh!!" he cried and attacked. Slashing and hacking he charged the nearest man. His saber was blocked by Dao's but he had no time to counter-attack. He ducked avoiding Li's wicked straight sword which was swinging at him from the back and turned swiftly aiming his own sharp edge at Qian. His third brother leapt out of the way.

Shen threw some darts at the younger man. The darts were coated with sedatives. He did not want to kill. Unfortunately, Xuelei was quick. He dodged and lunged at Shen, hitting him hard with his open palm. Shen flew back and landed on the ground, blood spewed out his mouth. Xuelei had channelled his inner force to hit him and had caused some internal damage.

Jin and Li closed in. Bright red blood soaked Xuelei's sleeve as Li sliced his arm. He retaliated lashing out in a frenzy. Jin cried out and crumpled to the ground clutching his leg. Dao dashed in to pull Jin away from their crazed brother as Li attacked Xuelei again.

It was like a nightmare. Xuelei was surrounded and bleeding from several minor wounds. His brothers darted in and out, each taking turns attacking him, trying to take him down. And he? He was trapped in his mind while his body was trying to kill them. He never felt so helpless and terrified before.

"Stop! WuMing! They are you brothers!"

"Shut up!"

Xuelei faltered at the girl's voice. Immediately, blades flew at him. He deftly knocked them away in the air and turned to glare at Ren. Before he could move, Dao and Li's blades came sweeping down violently at him. He jumped and twisted in the air, his legs split and kicked out at the two assailants hitting their chests. They fell back.

A whip lashed out and curled around Xuelei's ankle and yanked him off his feet. He went down and was dragged face down a few meters on the ground over dirt and sharp stones. "Get him!" Qian yelled frantically. Xuelei scrabbled in the dirt kicking off the whip.

Ren went into action, reaching for numerous blades hidden all over his body, he threw them one after another in quick succession at his youngest brother. He aimed to hurt not kill. Xuelei rolled on the ground and flashed his saber rapidly, blocking and deflecting the incoming missiles. Too many. He did not move fast enough. One lodged painfully in his thigh.

"Ughh."

Xuelei used his saber to laboriously push himself upright. They watched him warily. Maybe that was enough to stop him. He was a mess, his long hair was plastered to his face with sweat and blood. His handsome features a mask of hopelessness. He hunched in pain, balancing on one leg to lessen the pressure on his wounded one.

Everyone around him was bleeding too. Not one of his brothers had escaped unharmed. All seven brothers were holding onto various bleeding body parts.

"We don't want to hurt you, Xue."

Xuelei tilted his head and looked at Li. There was no recognition in his haunted brown eyes. His face was a blank mask.

"Kill her! Avenge Xiuying!" Shuren whispered.

Xuelei clenched his jaw and tighten his grip on his saber.

"Fight it! You are stronger that that!"

He feinted at the group and they dodged. Taking the opening their movements provided, he leapt at the Mistress, his wicked blade aiming at her slim white throat.

The Master appeared in front of the Mistress and pushed her out of the way. Xuelei's saber sank unresisting into his Master's body. The Master toppled over clutching his chest. He had saved his sister.

"No! Master!" Xuelei cried out in shock.

The Mistress took the opportunity the distraction provided to rush back in and plunged a dagger into her assailant's gut. Xuelei looked down in disbelief at the weapon in his bleeding stomach, his free hand trying to stanch the blood. He staggered back in shock and pain.

"Xiumin, finish the job!"

Xuelei took a tortured breath, steeled himself and attacked Shao Ling. She was too close. She couldn't move fast enough. She fell back in terror, turned her head and squeezed her eyes shut. He pinned her down, bloodied saber at her neck.