Chen Wu looks in the dragon's eyes with a challenging expression. "You heard our captain, dragon. Now leave us alone so we can be your heralds of destruction." He grins as he says the last few words.

Sai leaps to the boat.

With the dragon departing below the waves Hon Yin let's out a long sigh, seeming to shirk to nearly half in size as he does. "Well that went about as well as could be expected. Someone remind me to remember this the next time water travel is brought up as the easy alternative." Standing up straight he scans the faces of those still aboard. "Well what are we waiting for? Pull your men on board, patch up the wounded and let us be off for this dam." Giving a reassuring smile to the captain he nods and walks over to Chen Wu, throwing an arm around the mans shoulder and pulling him close. "You maybe want to tell me why a dragon wanted to kill you?"

Chen Wu cleans his face from any water that ended up there after his close encounter with the dragon. Hon Yin's "hug" pulls him back from distraction. "Pretty sure he was just jealous of my vast intellect. Dragon's pride and all that." The scientist lowers his tone to a whisper. "I'm not sure actually doing what he said is a smart idea. Maybe we should just go back to the road and walk the rest of the way."

Hon Yin's skepticism is clear on his face at Chew Wu's words. "We'll talk about our dragons problems later. Though I do agree - destroying a dam would be unwise. However it is not me you have to convince to turn the boat around and let us off." He nods towards the captain. "You have to convince her and after the dragon I doubt she's in a talkative mood."

Chen Wu nods in agreement. "She's not really in a position to argue much. We just helped save her life, her sister and her boat. Besides, we can always say that we would be removing the problem from her ship and that the dragon wont bother her anymore." The scientist leaves Hon Yin's grasp and approaches the captain. "Captain, how's the ship? Is the damage too serious?"

Sai listens to the conversation, frowning. He sheaths his blades and tosses off his soaked cloak. He walks around looking over the side of the boat at the damage.

After checking that the dragon is not lingering, Zheng Sao turns and hisses, "We obviously will not be destroying the lock at Goldspill. The spirit world is powerful but inconstant, whereas the Jin Unification Army will make my life here and now very difficult. I am sure the dragon's attention was only drawn to us because we passed through its shrines and idols at Daomei. It may watch us more closely now, but I think the lock limits its power beyond, once we cross."

She then turns to glare at Cheng Wu. "And if the dragon does appear again in anger, we will not hesitate to throw you all overboard. You all have given us little reason to care for you and it is certainly not worth more damage to my boat."

Sai asks, "How far to the lock?"

Chen Wu fakes a sigh of relief while he approaches Zheng Sao. "It's a good thing that we agree on that, captain. Let's solve this in a way that wont be problematic for any of us. Steer the boat close to the margin and we'll leave you guys alone. I'm sure the dragon wont bother us out of the river, and, since it looks like his grudge is personal, your crew will be safe."

Swift Snake lowers his head near the dragon's head while carefully removing his spear from the dragon's wound. The two start merging with the water when he starts whispering to the Dragon.

"Spirit Lord you are asking much of us and have attacked us on false assumption that we were your enemies. I have something to ask of you Great Spirit. One of the crew suffers of an unknown illness of the mind probably inflicted to her. I don't know what or how and I don't really care, but the captain has sought your priests help with little success, help Mei and show how you favor those who respect you."

With this he leaves the dragon's back with a back flip diving again in the refreshing water, a gold coin remains embedded in the dragon's wound, a small symbolic offer for the Dragon to accept his request.

"Take care noble spirit" he says while vibrating in the air.

Swift Snake swims to the boat and tries to get on board.

When he manages he turns to the captain.

"The boat is really damaged, I can help fix some of the damage at least temporarily until we reach a port, or I could help make better repairs if we remain here near the trees to harvest enough wood"

He only then notices the subject of discussion. A disapproving look on his face he turns to the rest of the group.

"So what do we do now? What do we know of the damn and the reason of its existence? The Dragon could become a strong ally Captain...or a strong enemy...We should first repair the boat and only then decide what to do."

Swift Snake starts putting the crates back at their position while examining closer the damage to the boat and its cargo.