by Shinn A. H.
“…Shifu Lau,” Kellie said painfully. Her hands feeling clammy and her throat dry, she had to ask, “Do the attacks have anything to do with me?”
Both masters displayed anguish on their faces; she suspected they didn’t want to answer her. Shifu Tao though, still looked as if he wanted to say something.
“We are not sure,” Master Zheng finally responded. “Shifu Mah, Shifu Guo, and Shifu Wu were attacked in their rooms at night by something they described as an aberrant assailant. This person ransacked their rooms and they heard him mutter over and over again, ‘Bao Yu.’”
“He said my name?” asked Kellie, hearing her own voice tremble.
“Yes, but we do not know for sure if it is you he is looking for,” he answered, unsuccessfully easing her fears.
“Do you think he is the one who killed Shifu Lau?” she asked, feeling both fear and disgust for the attacker.
“We do not know. Perhaps.”
“Did anyone get a look at him?”
“No. It was always dark and he seemed to disappear out the open window from where he came.”
“Could there be a reason why this man is looking for me?”
“We unaware of one,” said Master Chen.
“Anguo,” remarked Shifu Tao under his breath, unable to stay quiet any longer. All eyes turned to him with different intent. Master Chen flashed a warning stare; Master Zheng had an expression of hesitancy; Kellie wanted to learn more.
“What is Anguo?” Kellie asked.
“You have not heard of Legend of Anguo?” he asked her.
“No.”
“And is not suitable time,” said Master Chen, visibly unhappy that he brought up the topic.
“With respect, Master Chen, you expressed that Kellie should know all truths, so she should learn what is thought of back home.”
Master Chen and Master Zheng exchanged another meaningful look.
“What is the Legend of Anguo?” Kellie asked with pleading eyes. Master Chen let out a long sigh and gestured to Shifu Tao to proceed, disapprovingly.
“Legend of Anguo,” began Shifu Tao, “is ancient old tale in China. Anguo is believed to be an essence that existed since beginning of time. It maintains balance by bringing peace and fortune to us. If removed, balance would be shifted and we would experience bad luck — disaster and devastation would befall us and spread throughout the country. Anguo is believed to have occupied tree, bird, flower, teapot, royalty, commoner, and many other unknown vessels. It only leaves its tangible dwelling on special night…transferring itself to next object or being.
“Many people have tried to obtain Anguo because some believe if they have possession of it, they will amass great fortune, luck, and power. Others think they could use its energy for strength — There are tales of a secret group that protects Anguo. Not much is known about this secret society, but we call them Protectors of Anguo. The Protectors usually do not know exactly what they are protecting due to ever changing form of Anguo, but they have thwarted efforts of those selfishly seeking it in the past. But if they do know where Anguo lies, they must safeguard it with their lives.”
“That’s an interesting story,” said Kellie politely, but what does it have to do with me and the attacks?”
“Some of us back at monastery have considered you to be Anguo,” he let out at last.
Kellie gasped. “I’m sorry…WHAT?”
“Yes, it is most ridiculous,” Master Chen agreed. “Shifu Tao is new monk….He has great deal to learn.”
Shifu Tao took much offense to what Master Chen said and responded back swiftly. “I am new to Taiping Monastery, but I have been monk for many years…since I was young boy. I learned much at Heping Monastery, but departed to Taiping Monastery because of its rich history, strong principals, and wise teachings in kung fu.”
“Shifu Tao is well studied,” Master Zheng agreed.
A stampede of questions trampled through Kellie’s brain.
“Shifu Tao, why do the monks think I could be Anguo?”
“As Master Zheng mentioned, Mother Nature has not been good to us…and as I have been told, it started soon after you and Master Chen left, and got much worse a few months ago. Winters have been getting colder, days shorter. Plants and trees have been slowly dying. Animals are disappearing and ones left have grown fierce. Du Zhen also encountering much problems. Soon it will spread to rest of country.”
“We do not even dare enter Shenmi Forest anymore,” added Master Zheng.
“That could be a coincidence,” said Kellie, trying to make sense of it. “How do we know Master Chen is not Anguo.”
Master Chen chortled after her rebuttal.
Shifu Tao didn’t seem amused. “Master Chen does not have unusually powerful chi — Master Chen did not undergo a physical manifestation — The attacker is not calling out Master Chen’s name.”
Kellie was taken aback with how much he knew about her; he seemed to have acquired many facts about her and she wondered what else he knew.
In his distinctive tranquil tone, Master Zheng said, “It has been discussed, the intruder invading our monastery, may believe ‘Bao Yu’ is Anguo. It does not seem though as if he knows exactly what he is looking for.”
This was unsettling to Kellie. Could this man be after her and want Anguo for himself? And if he found her, what would he do to her to get a hold of the essence that brought luck and power? If she was Anguo, agreeing with Master Zheng, the stranger must not know it and not have put two-and-two together that she left China, causing the changes they are experiencing. This is absurd, she told herself after the ridiculous notions. Master Chen was right. How outrageous it was to imagine she could be Anguo; but in the back of her head, she wondered if it was possible. This was just a legend after all, or could it be remotely true?
“Shifu Tao, you said if Anguo was removed, it would bring bad luck….What if Anguo was returned?”
“Harmony and our livelihood would be restored.”
Master Chen appeared uncomfortable and shot up from his seat. “Anyone like more tea? What about biscuits?”
“Then I must go,” Kellie spoke softly.
Upon hearing this, Master Chen reacted vehemently. “I will NOT allow this!”
Kellie shook from his outburst. She wasn’t used to this side of him; his behavior was emotional and explosive.
“Yes,” agreed Master Zheng unruffled, “it is not safe for you there.” He stood up, trying to appease Master Chen. “Please my brother, have a seat.”
Master Chen’s whole body trembled as he lowered his body back down, his temper subsiding at the sound of Master Zheng’s mellifluous tone.
“Master Chen,” said Shifu Tao suggestively, “perhaps you need to meditate.”
The red flowed back into Master Chen’s face and he spewed crisply, “You telling me, one of the masters, what to do?”
“With respect, brother —”
“You have no respect,” snapped Master Chen. “Kellie will not go to Taiping Monastery and you will not stay here.”
“Please, please, PLEASE!” Kellie shouted to be heard. It was her turn now; after all, she was the center of the dilemma.
“Master Chen, I appreciate how much you care for me…for how much you try to protect me, but they need me back home. I owe it to the monks for taking me in and raising me. I can’t hide here while they are in danger and it’s not fair that they have to move. What if I am Anguo? I owe it to Taiping Monastery and the people of Du Zhen to go back…and see what happens.”
She turned away from his heartbroken face and looked at Shifu Tao. “Thank you for telling me about Anguo and for being honest about what is happening back in China.”
“Master Zheng, I have to go back. Please take me back with you.”
“Kellie, I will not allow you to return there,” said Master Chen, trying to reason with her. “It’s too dangerous. What if attacker finds you?”
“I-I didn’t think that far. I’m terrified, but I have to do th
is….The monks will protect me…and I’ve been training my whole life,” she said, beginning to configure a plan.
“Yes,” said Shifu Tao, “we will guard her…and assure you no harm comes to her.”
“You cannot assure that! You leaving monastery out of fear!”
“Master Chen is right, Kellie, it is not safe there,” Master Zheng said with finality. “Things happen for a reason….Du Zhen has its own fate. We will move out of Taiping Monastery in three months when the new monastery is built. Perhaps, Master Chen should stay here with you until it is ready.” He flashed her a proud smile and said, “You are very brave and honorable. Master Chen has been raising you well.” He got up and bowed respectfully to his brother. “We will be in touch with you soon.”
“Thank you for your hospitality,” Shifu Tao said to Master Chen flatly, and before Kellie knew it, they were gone. She watched Master Chen slump down into the couch and rub his face with both hands. She didn’t know what to do or say next.
EEP! BEEP! BEEP!
Kellie flopped her hand on top of the alarm clock to hit the snooze button. Her eyes barely slit open to get a glimpse of the time. She closed them and fell back asleep, only to have the dreaded noise blare in her ears again. This time, she turned it off and managed to get herself out of bed.
The weeks were going by fast and the weekends even faster, her days filled with nothing but school and kung fu.
Her body was painfully sore since she had been training harder than ever. For the past several weeks, Master Chen had been pushing her to the limit in sparring and reactions, as well as weapons training with the staff, various swords, and the sai, to name a few. She didn’t understand why he was being so tough on her in the studio. She never once questioned her training with Master Chen, but this time, she considered it necessary to bring it up.
The days were getting colder, being well into the fall season, so she grabbed a jacket and proceeded to the family room where all she saw was her breakfast and sacked lunch sitting deserted on the dining table along with a note.
The little scribbled piece of paper read:
Dear Kellie,
I go run errands. Here is breakfast.
I am sorry I leave before you awake.
Do not forget lunch.
Master Chen
Kellie wondered what Master Chen had to do so early that day, as she opened the refrigerator and took out the carton of milk. After pouring it into the bowl of cereal, she sat down and ate her breakfast alone for the first time. She was rather used to seeing and talking with Master Chen before school; today, she didn’t know what to do, except stare at the cereal flakes. They didn’t have a television to watch because Master Chen believed it was an “obstacle to living life.”
Her mind drifted to the conversation that transpired on the day of Master Zheng and Shifu Tao’s visit. Master Chen hadn’t mentioned anything that was discussed since then. She wanted so badly to know what was happening at the monastery; when she tried to bring it up, his mood shifted and he changed the subject. She also tried to learn more about the Legend of Anguo; she researched it at her school library, but turned up nothing.
The duty to go back to China scraped at her insides, but the solid objection from Master Chen ruled out that possibility.
Drinking the last of the sweetened milk, she couldn’t help from thinking about the intruder, which she imagined to be gigantic and hairy, with missing teeth, large knuckles, and callous eyes. She was glad to be safe in her house in Milldale, far away from Taiping Monastery, but when she thought about the monks who encountered the attacker, she felt shameful. They were in danger, possibly because of her. Not only that, if she was Anguo, they were enduring desolation because of her absence. There was something she had to do…but what?
She put her bowl away, zipped up her jacket, and walked to school. To Kellie’s surprise, the first person she saw on campus was Jake, sitting on a bench doing schoolwork.
“You’re here early…and doing homework?” asked Kellie in disbelief.
“Yeah, my mom’s been on me about my grades,” he explained. “I’m doing an assignment my tutor gave me yesterday.”
“You have a tutor?”
“Yeah, I have to meet with her during lunch. It kinda sucks.”
“Ahhh…that’s why I haven’t seen you in awhile,” said Kellie, now understanding his nonappearances under the tree.
“…so you’re still taking Lisa to the dance?”
“Yeah. She reminds me about it every day. Do you think it’s too late to get out of it?”
“I think that would be detrimental to your health,” said Kellie with a humorous warning. “Are your parents going to chaperone?”
“My mom usually works Friday nights. I don’t have a dad.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know,” said Kellie, feeling bad for asking.
“Never met the man and I don’t really care.” Jake closed his book and asked, “What about you? You live with Master Chen?”
“Yes…I never met my parents. I was adopted by about fifty monks…fifty-five to be exact. I grew up in a monastery in China until I was seven…then Master Chen brought me here. That’s my life in a nutshell.”
“Wow, my story is nothing compared to yours. What was that like…to be raised by monks?”
“I loved it! Every single one of them helped raise me and I’ll never forget that. A part of me wished we never left, but I understand why I was brought here…sorta. I guess a monastery isn’t the typical place for a young girl.”
“Have you been back?” asked Jake, seeming awestruck by Kellie’s out of the ordinary past.
“No…” she answered, her voice trailing off.
“I can’t imagine living in China, let alone at a monastery. Did you sleep on a mat?”
“No, I didn’t sleep on a mat,” answered Kellie, amused, and sounding as if that was the silliest thing she had ever heard. “I had a bed…and we haven’t had the chance to visit since we left.” She broke eye contact, the issue of the canceled trip, still carved in her mind. “We were supposed to go during winter break…but, um… our plans got changed.”
“Why?”
Kellie debated whether she should tell him, as he stared at her with curious eyes. Her answer would not be what he could ever presume. As a matter of fact, he would probably think she lost her marbles. She longed to discuss her predicament with someone, especially since Master Chen was ignoring the situation. Should she confide in Jake? What if he stops associating with her, thinking she was nuts?
“Master Chen postponed it…because it’s not a good time….”
“Well, hopefully you’ll get to visit soon,” said Jake as he packed up his books. “I gotta run. I need to finish my assignment in homeroom. See ya later.”
Kellie watched him leave, while she convinced herself not expanding on the answer was the correct choice. With a moment to spare before class, she sat down on the bench Jake was studying on to enjoy the last seconds of peace before the school day began.
Absorbing everything around her, she inhaled the cool morning air. She tried to forget what was happening in China, but had a difficult time doing it. The turmoil at the monastery and the uncertainty of the legend flooded her brain. She had to figure out a way to bring it up to Master Chen again. She also wondered if there were any more attacks at the monastery and what the conditions were like there and in Du Zhen. Master Chen and Kellie hadn’t talked much about anything since the monks were in Milldale; it seemed as if the only thing he communicated to her was about her training.
She didn’t tell him about the day in P.E. when she slam dunked the ball. He has been so concerned about protecting her, she didn’t want to worry him; although, carrying the burden of her strange physical occurrences wasn’t easy. She had been feeling fine in the past weeks, not experiencing any pain or abnormality in her senses, but didn’t expect it to stay that way forever….
Kellie closed her eyes and began meditating the way she was taught at
the monastery when she needed to calm her anxieties. The breeze was chilly and she felt the hair on her neck stand up. She could hear the wind blowing past her ear, the buzzing of bees, the chirping of birds, and the laughing and chattering of many voices. She took in a deep breath and smelled perfume that reminded her of the roses in her yard; she could also make out sausage and what smelled like brand new leather. Taking in another breath, she inadvertently took a whiff of rotten eggs, making her nose wrinkle.
“Are you praying?” probed a boy with a patronizing tone, purposely disrupting her tranquility. Kellie opened her eyes and saw Derek and Peter staring at her with antipathy.
“It’s none of your business,” said Kellie, trying to maintain her composure.
“Her DNA results are gonna come back as a praying mantis,” Peter scoffed. They both buckled over, Peter snorting as he laughed and Derek slapping his thigh like it was the funniest joke he had ever heard.
Kellie got up and walked off without a word, not wanting to get into a verbal spat with them. Seeing Derek and Peter wasn’t the way she wanted to start off the morning, but they did remind her that they were going to get their DNA results that day, which she had been anticipating.
As she headed to class, she just barely sidestepped a football, whizzing by her cheek. “Sorry!” some guy yelled out from the middle of the quad. As she got closer to class, she saw Mr. Patel, the chemistry teacher, wearing a protective mask over his nose and mouth, mopping the floor near his door. “You better plug your nose,” he advised, when he saw her walk by. “Sulfuric acid,” he said, pointing his head down toward the broken glass. Now on the other side of the school, she caught sight of Lisa and her friends passing around a bottle of perfume, spritzing it all over themselves. Then inches from walking into homeroom, she witnessed the most repulsive belch from a big guy in a football jersey sitting at a lunch table, going on his third breakfast burrito: two crumpled wrappers were tossed in front of him.
Later in the day, finally in biology class, Kellie was eager for the last step of the experiment: analyzing their DNA.
“Overall, I am pleased with the results,” announced Mr. Patterson. “The purity was better than I hoped for…” he said as he viewed his students with a mixed expression of satisfaction and skepticism. “Your assignment today will be to analyze your DNA sequence and we’ll be using the computers to search for known genes. I’m sure all of you will find your results very interesting.”