Xin nodded slightly as Kyang pointed out that the bandits would want to surround someone, and that there might be some who had taken to the trees like themselves. He broadened his field of view further...

On the other side of the road, just as Kyang had suspected, something too large to be an animal moved in the treetops. There was an almost reflective quality to parts of it--exposed skin on the hands and face, something that in monochrome vision caught the light of the sun in a way that plant matter and fur didn't. Dai Xin focused on the movement, memorizing the body shape as color rushed back and time's natural flow resumed...

In the few seconds it took to reorient himself, Liu fended off an attack but took a wound. Dai Xin's already stony face became as hard and sharp as flint as the younger man bore the pain in his shoulder. Liu pointed and shouted.

The main body of the tree behind Dai Xin let out a sharp crack. The red-robed man flew like an arrow himself, his footprint leaving a deep imprint in the wood. He soared in an arc over the road, pulling his legs up to his chest and throwing his arms back as if he were flapping wings. He came down on another branch across the way, landing on all fours and scurrying along its length for just a moment, to get his feet under him, then shot off again at an angle. He landed, and stood straight this time, along the length of another branch--the same one the fleeing archer had just jumped to himself. He saw the man's eyes widen in fear even as honed reflexes drew the bow and let loose a shaft. Dai Xin ducked under it and darted to the side, leaping again and this time stepping off of the trunk of the tree. In mid air he twisted and kicked the man across the face. The man's head spun as his jaw let out a loud crack, and the bow dropped from limp hands as he began to tumble off the branch.

Dai Xin's hand shot out and caught him. Then the world suddenly became a rush of wind and color as they returned to the road. Dai Xin landed with a loud thump, a cloud of dust shooting away from the point of impact. As he stood, he held the stunned thief fully off the ground by the collar, like a kitten, with a single hand.

"Young master, there were too many arrows for one archer." he said quickly. "Keep this one for questioning or as a hostage--I shall pursue!" He dropped the man to the ground in a tumble, and turned back towards the forest...