The Antique
Page 50
Run along, kid––visit your loved ones in your dreams.
A wave of agony washed over her, and then a powerful presence entered her mind—she knew there was only one thing in this forest with that much fierce energy—a male tiger.
She followed the scent into the deep forest, her staff close to her chest. As she got closer, she saw a large tiger staring back at her. There was an arrow in its hind leg, but the tiger appeared expectant of her. She felt her mind suddenly connected with the tiger’s and a vision of warning filled her mind.
Something stirred, and the tiger folded its ears; it crouched down and steely focused its eyes back into the deep forest.
Zi-Ling felt an imminent danger. “Hunters!”
The tiger looked back at her and blinked its eyes.
“Tiger, leave—” Zi-Ling took a few steps forward and focused her mind.
Tiger turned away, then looked back at her.
“You want me to go with you?”
The tiger blinked at her, then retreated into the forest.
Zi-Ling heard the hunters closing in, so she followed the tiger into the forest.
An eastward wind carried their footsteps into the nearby valley forest; towering bamboos swayed and created ripples in the sky.
Notes
Prologue
1 Chinese word for spirit.
2 Miao is a Chinese ethnic group. Mostly living in the Southern regions of China.
3 Chinese word for zombie.
4 Yellow Scarves Rebellion was a peasant revolt in China against the Eastern Han dynasty. The uprising broke out in 184 AD during the reign of Emperor Ling.
5 Cao Cao was a warlord during the Three Kingdoms period in Chinese history. He occupied central and northern China during the period, and later laid the foundation for Jin dynasty.
6 In Chinese culture, chi is vital energy of all living things.
7 Bagua is a type of Chinese religious motif. It is used to expel evil spirits.
8 Gu - Means antique in Chinese.
2. Slaves
1 Gāisǐ - Chinese for dammit.
9. The Antique
1 Chinese for ‘should die’.
26. Temple of Ashes
1 Chinese phrase for suppress evil.