Kung Fu Kellie and the Legend of Anguo

by Shinn A. H.

  The mare stepped up to them graciously. Kellie slowly raised her hand and placed it on its muzzle, stroking it tenderly, and said, “You’re free.” After the double-horned creature allowed Jake and Jory to pat its side, it pranced off into the heart of the cave. They ran after it to watch the animal gallop around with vigor, creating warmth inside the expansive area. All that could be seen were the gleaming horns resembling shooting comets and specks of blue from its irises, the rich black hair blending with the dark of the surroundings. The swirls of radiance grew distant and hooves sloshing through water were heard.

  When the glow faded and they found themselves in the pitch-black once again, Kellie heard a click. Jory turned his flashlight back on, revealing his and Jake’s awestruck expressions from the tour de force they had just witnessed.

  “It’s so warm in here,” said Kellie, recognizing what the unicorn provided them.

  “We’re lucky,” said Jory. “I was worried we would freeze to death.”

  “Thanks for sharing,” muttered Jake, as he approached their spot. “Hey, our socks and shoes are dried!”

  They put them back on and in a matter of minutes, they were leaning back on the large stone, with the blanket loose over their legs.

  “Who do you think tied up the unicorn?” asked Kellie.

  “Dunno…I thought unicorns were just a myth,” said Jory.

  “I think we’re learning that the line between truth and fable doesn’t exist anymore…” said Jake.

  Impressed by his wisdom, Kellie thought about his words.

  “I’ll keep watch,” said Jake, taking hold of the light.

  Kellie gladly closed her eyes, never feeling more worn-out, and dreamt about the gorgeous steed.

  “Kellie! Jake!”

  Kellie’s eyes flicked open and found Jake’s head propped on her shoulder, snoring with a clatter. The flashlight was a few feet away, appearing as if it rolled away from his hands.

  “Kellie! I found it!”

  It was Jory shouting from the middle of the cave. She jumped up, awakening Jake.

  “It wasn’t all a dream…” Jake mumbled, rubbing his eyes.

  Sunrays entered from holes at the top of the cavern and Kellie could now see how gigantic in width and height their haven truly was. The entire place was made of gray slate and seven large boulders were lined up near the walls like they were strategically placed there. The only obvious décor in the monotone dwelling was a modest fountain sitting alone in the center, amongst the bareness. Made of the same gray stone, it held a pool of still water.

  Jory stood by the fountain, holding something green in his hand.

  “I found it!” he repeated, waving his discovery at her. “Your necklace!”

  “Your necklace?” Jake repeated, springing to his feet, fully awake. “That means Hagos was here!”

  Kellie and Jake darted toward Jory, the necklace rattling in his now nervous hands.

  “D-do you think Hagos lives here?” Jory stuttered.

  Kellie looked around, trying to find a clue to that answer. It was such an unusual set-up: the seven boulders formed a half-circle around the fountain, which was directly under a grand ceiling with perfectly carved openings, allowing in the daylight.

  “Doesn’t look like anyone lives here, but I think we should leave,” she said as she grabbed the jewelry and put it around her neck, tucking it safely under her shirt.

  They scrambled to get their things and speedily exited the shelter.

  Assessing the area outside, Kellie had a feeling they were all thinking the same thing. How were they going to find their way back? Jory already was fidgeting with his compass and Jake was making a fruitless attempt with his GPS.

  Waiting semi-patiently for someone to take the initiative and decide which direction they should go, Kellie scouted the vicinity herself, but something about the position of the trees and shrubs was strangely different. It was hard to see in the night when they found the cave, but she could have sworn when Jory spotted it, they were standing to the right. Dense thicket now covered that section.

  “If I’m correct,” said Jory, “we should head in the southwest direction.” But when he looked that way, he stared at the same foliage with no visible pathway. He scratched his forehead and examined his compass some more when something startled them.

  The bushes in front of them swayed and crackled.

  Hagos, Kellie feared.

  A point was emerging from the leaves. Could it be a spear or a sword?

  Two projections surfaced as it glittered in the sunlight, and a familiar black muzzle appeared. It was the double-horned unicorn! The dazzling animal bellowed at them and turned around, pointing its head in the southeast direction.

  “I think it wants us to follow,” said Jake.

  The unicorn trotted ahead of them and they trailed behind. They walked through unfamiliar territory for some time, tailing the animal going at a leisurely stride. Jory asked the unicorn a few questions to see if it was a mystical animal, but it only neighed and occasionally nuzzled into his neck.

  Kellie was getting hungry, listening to Jake list off his favorite foods and what he was going to eat first when they landed in America. She felt confident following the enigmatic horse, but worried because they were out of food and water. That’s when she recognized where they were.

  “The stream! I know where we are!” She was overcome with excitement and relief.

  She turned to the unicorn and caressed its mane, soft as mink. “Thank you for showing us the way.”

  After taking a sip of water from the stream, the unicorn galloped off, its duty fulfilled.

  Kellie briskly walked alongside the stream, full of optimism and satisfaction. The purpose of the expedition was accomplished: they reclaimed the jade stone. They would soon be back at the monastery and though she felt triumphant with their feat, she knew she would have to face many disappointed monks. She pondered the idea of telling them that she, Jory, and Jake went to retrieve and recovered Anguo. They couldn’t have argued with that explanation for sneaking off into Shenmi Forest, but having heard the stories about the sacred essence, she comprehended the importance of keeping its secrecy. She patted the necklace over her shirt for reassurance.

  “Why do you think Hagos left the necklace in the cave?” asked Jory, adding a good point to Kellie’s reflection on the situation.

  “Maybe he learned it’s not what he’s been looking for…” Jake answered.

  This was a valid argument. The stone held the essence of Anguo, but what if that wasn’t what Hagos has been desiring all these years? Or maybe he hadn’t discovered its secret.

  Regardless, Jake surprised Kellie again with his incredible insight and she was about to commend him when he said, “Or he could’ve been letting it dry after cleaning it in the bird bath.”

  “It was in the cave for a reason…” she said.

  “I’ll bet he’ll be mad when he finds it missing,” said Jory.

  This prompted Kellie to hasten their journey back. Her stomach churned at the vision of Hagos’s rage when he finds it gone, and how he may retaliate.

  “We need to get to the monastery fast and warn the monks to leave,” said Kellie. “Jory is right. Once Hagos finds the necklace missing, he may attack again.”

  “ARRGH!”

  They halted abruptly in their tracks, listening to the cries. Then loud monkey screeches superseded the wailing.

  “More monkeys!” Jory whimpered, ducking away from the trees, staring up.

  “I think the monkeys are attacking someone!” said Kellie. “What if it’s one of the monks?”

  Kellie presumed the monks would be searching for them and feared they were in danger. Scampering toward the screams, she saw Shifu Su, Shifu Wong, and Shifu Fang being beaten by Hagos and two primates. Shifu Wong and Shifu Fang were fighting off the wild monkeys. The animals were jumping on top of them, scratching and biting them. Hagos though, was fighting in a different way: he was using kung fu on S
hifu Su, assailing him with chops and kicks.

  “Did you set it free?” Hagos demanded, showing no mercy.

  Shifu Su could not block Hagos’s blows and he was badly injured. The monk was scrambling away on his hands and knees when the old kung fu master gripped the back of his head. Kellie’s heart pounded out of her chest and chills skidded down her spine, envisaging the horrendous action that could result next. Without a moment’s hesitation, she ran toward Shifu Su and ripped Hagos off him with her left hand. Hagos’s flummoxed expression caught Kellie’s open right palm, as she hit him with a tiger strike with all her might. Hagos’s old withered body tumbled back.

  Jake and Jory grabbed the biggest stones and branches they could find and went after the monkeys attacking the other monks. They threw the rocks at the animals, knocking them on their noggins. This only angered them, making the boys their new target. Jake and Jory swung the branches at the creatures, successfully fending them off.

  “Shifu Su!” yelled Kellie, rushing to his aid.

  “You…alive!” he praised in gratitude, but couldn’t hide the pain he was enduring. He had difficulty moving his left arm and a claw mark went down the side of his bald head. “We have been seeking you and boys….”

  “I’m so sorry,” said Kellie remorsefully. “We have to get out of here.”

  Kellie was helping Shifu Su up when he hollered in terror, “MONKEY!”

  Kellie spun around and saw Hagos about to strike her. She evaded him the way Zurich taught her, gliding out of the way and feeling the tips of his hair graze her skin. She got behind him and jarred him with a double heel palm.

  Getting back on his feet, Hagos’s narrowed eyes glared at Kellie. Bewildered by her skills, he looked her up and down as if he was planning his next move.

  Kellie’s hands were up, fists clenched, and ready to fight Shifu Lau’s killer. Her pulse raced and she could feel the adrenaline coursing through her veins. Her jaw was tight as she stared hard at her enemy, anger brewing within her core. How dare he harm the Taiping monks, and especially take the precious life of one! For the first time, she wanted revenge.

  She aggressively advanced, swinging at him like a crazy person. He too easily, blocked every sloppy hand and foot strike.

  “For a moment there,” he said with a smirk, “I thought you were something special.” He continued to block every one of her movements and seemed to enjoy the sparring.

  “Leave Taiping Monastery alone!” she shouted at him, still attacking, but missing all her targets.

  “I was done with the monks, but now I can’t find it again!” he said, looking infuriated, as if he remembered his purpose. “Who set it free?”

  Hagos switched from the defensive to the offensive and hurled his claws at her. Kellie didn’t take her sights off him while dodging his moves, but in the corner of her eye, she saw Jake, Jory, and the monks battling a few more wild monkeys. On the other side of her, Shifu Su was leaning on a tree, dazed from the beating.

  How were they going to get out of this mess? Her anger subsided and so did her self-confidence, remembering he was an original kung fu master. She backed away, knowing very well Hagos’s superb speed and abilities from their last encounter.

  He pursued her and she evaded with the crane’s way, although not very skillfully: she stumbled around. Hagos grinned at this. He was toying with her like Mulin did with the common tigers. His blurry arms were hard to focus on and she attempted to “dance” around him, but instead staggered. His left claw drew close to her nose and she spun to avoid it, but found herself eye to eye with him.

  The next second, her body flew back from the double strike to her face and stomach. Kellie landed hard on her back, the wind knocked out of her. Lying in the dirt, Derek Dodger fell into her head, and she knew how he must have felt after she hit him in front of Mr. Patterson’s class.

  Dizzy, she saw Hagos dragging his foot toward her.

  “You’re as dim as Lau….Do you know what happens to those who try to trick me?”

  Kellie stared up at a drifting white cloud in the shape of a frog in the blue sky. Longing to see Shifu Lau again, a tear rolled down her temple. The frog-shaped cloud began to multiply and pain shot behind the back of her forehead.

  Hagos was now standing over her, spewing words of rage. She heard him say, “I want what is rightfully mine!” as his decrepit knee raised up.

  Kellie’s heart, still aching for Shifu Lau, thumped so loud she could hear it. Her upper body then shot up, and while leaning on her side, she lifted her leg and kicked Hagos with a loud roar. His flimsy mass hurled back and tangled in the tree branches yards away.

  The power of her chi stunned all those around, including the monkeys. They hooted in frenzy, searching for their leader. Kellie could see Hagos up in the tree with an astonished gape before he disappeared. The leaves rattled above; she stood up, head tilted, trying to catch sight of him.

  “BAO YU!” screamed Shifu Su.

  Kellie whirled around and saw Hagos in midair, holding a branch with a sharp end aimed at her. He released the stick in shock, looking at Shifu Su, and then at Kellie.

  Shifu Su threw his hands over his mouth, realizing what he had done.

  Hagos landed on his two feet, as the new revelation seemed to sink in and change his objective. “You?” he grunted at Kellie.

  Kellie shook her head, fibbing. Not seeming as though he believed her, he called to the animals and all the primates were gone in a flash.

  “We must go!” shouted Shifu Su, pale-faced.

  Shifu Fang and Shifu Wong supported him underneath each side of his shoulders and they all fled the forest.

  here they are!” shouted a monk in Chinese, beckoning the others.

  Kellie saw everyone’s face light up when they caught sight of her and her friends. A mob of them rushed over, but delight turned to fuss when they saw how wounded Shifu Su was.

  “What happened?” Master Zheng asked Shifu Fang and Shifu Wong in Mandarin.

  “Monkeys attacked us!” answered Shifu Wong.

  “Monkeys?” asked Master Zheng, with a stricken-look that there was more than one.

  “Only one spoke,” said Shifu Fang. “The others were regular monkeys.” With his hands up in the air, he said, “They are real…the mystical animals…but why is a mystical one hurting us?”

  “Please, get some care,” Master Zheng replied, trying to calm him down. “Take the kids to their rooms,” he ordered the others. “Bring them food and water. They are dehydrated.”

  Kellie tried to stay behind, wanting to speak with Master Zheng. She had to apologize to everyone, feeling sick Shifu Su was maimed so severely because of her.

  “Call Dr. Lee,” said Master Zheng to another monk. “Shifu Su needs immediate attention.”

  “Please…Master Zheng, I must tell you…” Shifu Su gurgled in Mandarin. That’s when he wiped his cheek and gazed up. Light rainfall trickled down his bald head, and one by one, his brothers looked up to the heavens in exaltation; then their eyes fell on Kellie.

  After doing the same, Master Zheng said to Shifu Su, “Don’t speak — you need to preserve your energy.”

  “I am not concerned with me,” begged Shifu Su. “I must tell you —”

  “Not now,” said Master Zheng, “you are hurt. Let us manage your cuts, then you can tell me everything.”

  “This cannot wait!” said Shifu Su with urgency in his voice. “The monkey is going to be back!”

  “How are you sure of this?” asked Master Zheng, letting him explain without anymore protest.

  Shifu Su wept as he confessed. “It is my fault. When the monkey was attacking Bao Yu, I called her name out loud….It knows. The dreadful creature knows she is Bao Yu….He will be back.”

  Master Zheng calmly said, “Try to get some rest. I will handle this.”

  Kellie watched as Master Zheng stood in the middle of the commotion, water spots forming on his robe, and worry settling on his face. She wanted to speak with him
, but Shifu Han touched her arm.

  “He speak to you later,” he said, as if he knew what was going through her mind.

  Kellie opened her eyes and was comforted seeing familiar surroundings. Her muscles ached as she sat up on her bed. Recalling all the events that took place, each episode played in her head like a movie. She thought about the training Mulin and Zurich gave her, being attacked by the tigers, experiencing the beauty of Spring Meadows, witnessing the rebirth of the Bamboo Forest, freeing the double-horned unicorn, and fighting Hagos. Maybe it was a dream, she figured: there were too many unbelievable occurrences. She then touched her neck and felt the jade stone under her shirt.

  It was still daylight and Kellie wasn’t sure how long she slept. She wondered how Shifu Su was doing and where Jake and Jory were. Her stomach growled angrily when she noticed a meal set out in her room.

  Kellie made her way to the table and poured herself some tea. It was still hot and the fluid felt good going down her throat. She removed the lids off a stone bowl and wood container and ogled at what was inside: porridge and dumplings. Devouring the cuisine, she enjoyed each scrumptious bite. She was pouring herself another cup of tea when she heard a knock at the door.

  “Please come in!”

  Master Zheng entered the room and immediately noticed the empty dishes. “I am glad you have eaten.”

  “Would you like some tea?” asked Kellie, expecting the well-deserved lecture that was to come.

  “No, thank you,” he said, taking a seat next to her. He was quiet for a moment, as if he was formulating his words carefully. “I am relieved that you and your friends are safe, but I am also gravely disappointed that you would go into the forest….What could be so important in there that the three of you would risk your lives? Your note only said not to be angry and that you must go into Shenmi Forest.”