by Mark Swaine
“Where are they now?” asks Xunsu.
“I outlived them long ago, now they live on in many cherished memories,” says Yu-Huang, portioning the roasted rabbit.
“Do you miss them?” asks Xunsu, barely noticing the meal before her.
“They live on, so long as I remember them,” replies Yu-Huang, avoiding his true feelings.
The truth that he misses their physical presence every time he pictures their faces is apparent to his young friend, for she understands all too well. Xunsu ponders upon his response and senses a hint of sadness behind his voice, so she quickly changes the delicate subject.
“Master, you speak of magic as though it to be deadly. Magic is beautiful and exciting,” says Xunsu, tearing into a well done rabbit leg.
“Many would use this force of nature to do evil onto others, ‘tis not the use of magic that concerns me, but the one who would harness it to do harm onto others. ‘Tis only the use of black magic I forbid in my kingdom, which is to corrupt the very essence of its purity. But even pure magic is dangerous in the hands of an untrained mortal,” says Yu-Huang.
“I do not even know how to summon magic,” says Xunsu, picking her teeth.
“Show me the palms of your hands, clean them first,” says Yu-Huang, frowning.
Xunsu wipes her fingers on her shoulder and extends her arms to show Yu-Huang the palms of her hands, much to his chagrin. Breaking a sturdy twig in half, he points to three creased and dirty lines in her palms and guides the stick firmly across each one.
“Earth, fire, water, air, even shadow, each of these elements can be summoned from the trained and disciplined mind. The lines in your hands are exit points for the manifestation. Should one combine these elements with various commands, thoughts and emotions whilst harnessing their flow of Chi, they will give life to magic,” explains Yu-Huang.
To theorise his teachings, he conjures four miniature dragons formed of blue fire. Flapping their flaming wings, they fly in circles between his arched crosswise hands, rumbling and crackling with power. Satisfied that he has conveyed his lesson successfully to his student, the dragons morph into fireballs before receding into puffs of smoke.
“Can you teach me?” pleads Xunsu, with her mouth full.
“I think it would be most unwise my eager pupil,” says Yu-Huang, smirking in disbelief at his student's enthusiasm.
“Please, I’ll do my best,” pleads Xunsu, washing her hands thoroughly.
Eventually he buckles under the pressure to please the child and gives in to his knowledge-hungry student.
“This is not a good idea... Follow my instructions to the word,” commands Yu-Huang exasperating. “Face the palm of your hand upwards, like this,” says Yu-Huang.
Demonstrating an optimal position for a beginner, he places his hand upwards in the mid-section of his gut. Xunsu imitates his actions and he whacks the bottom of her hand with the end of the stick, instructing her to raise it a little.
“Now breathe, close your eyes and focus on a vision. Clear your mind of everything but that vision. Now imagine the elements circling that vision. Choose one element from the ones I spoke of, and one only. Breathe, do not lose that vision, then very slowly, channel your energy into your hands. Focus that vision away from your palms immediately Xunsu, or you will spontaneously combust or lose your hands,” warns Yu-Huang.
After some time, a layer of white swirling mist slowly begins to circle the palm of her hand. The swirl of mist picks up speed, travelling faster and faster until it implodes and disappears. Yu-Huang quickly opens his eyes, suddenly aware she’d conjured none of the aforementioned elements.
“Xunsu, which element did you choose for your manifestation? I sense neither fire, air, water nor shadow,” says Yu-Huang.
“I, I know not. Another element appeared before me, one you did not speak of,” replies Xunsu, baffled.
Yu-Huang quickly places a protection spell over the child, fearing she has used an element he’d intentionally omitted.
“What have I done?” asks Xunsu, wincing with fear.
“Hailed the dead... stay quiet, stay silent, say nothing,” whispers Yu-Huang, intensely.
The flames of the small campfire recede as if to cower below the logs and kindling. A howling breeze chills the surrounding camp as an unseen force breathes on the back of their necks as hushed giggles resonate around them. Xunsu's bottom lip trembles as she shivers in fear at the hidden spirit toying with her senses. Yu-Huang maintains eye contact with Xunsu and offers his hand to ensure her safety. She nods fearfully and accepts his hand with a tight grip. Yu-Huang closes his eyes and meditates on the unwelcome spirit, leaving Xunsu alone in her dread. Xunsu is startled as she hears the crunching of footsteps beyond the sight of darkness and her eyes dart about her surroundings as she desperately tries to set eyes upon the unseen force she's invited into this realm. For a few minutes it seems the spirit had become bored with the two travellers, as it gives no more indication of its haunting presence. Suddenly she feels an overwhelming sense of claustrophobia and dares not peer where she senses the lingering of an otherworldly presence. Xunsu listens to the breaths of gentle whispers as the ends of a bright white gown drapes into her line of sight from above. Morbid curiosity eventually overcomes the shaking youngster as she hesitantly tilts her face upwards. Her eyes glisten as she looks at the entity hovering above her. Too petrified to scream, she squeezes Yu-Huang's hand as the robed spirit hovers above them as if to lay face down in some calm, invisible lake. Xunsu stares into the transparent spirit's white eyes as it descends in a slow tranquil motion. The spirit's white gown slowly ripples without the aid of wind and her black hair spreads out in thick wavy strokes. The spirit smiles at Xunsu as tears stream endlessly from the fear stricken girl. She smiles in confusion at the sight of her her fallen mother as bright ectoplasm drips from the deep cleave inside her chest.
“Xunsu my daughter, my sweet child, give me your hand,” says the spirit with a soft and welcoming voice.
“Mother, is that really you?” asks Xunsu, reaching for her transparent fingertips.
Yu-Huang opens his eyes and looks directly at Xunsu. With his jaw clenched and eyes filled with warning, he shakes his head slowly and affirmatively, silently warning her against interacting with the confused phantom. Xunsu slowly and reluctantly refuses her mother's deadly invitation and withdraws her hand. The spirit senses Yu-Huang's influence over the girl and becomes enraged with his intrusion. The spirit wails madly as her pale beautiful translucent face turns skeletal and monstrous. Her fingers elongate into long curved nails as her black hair flows furiously outwards.
“Give her to me, she is mmmmine,” whispers the spirit angrily.
“You are not welcome here; return to your domain, spirit,” says Yu-Huang, strongly.
The troubled soul growls in frustration and disappears in fading wisps, as if she were never there.
“Is it over?” asks Xunsu, whimpering.
Yu-Huang remains silent, deciding upon the girl's answer.
“No, her spirit yet remai—”
Yu-Huang suddenly grimaces as four, deep scratch marks rapidly tear across his face. Slapping sounds of a hard palm across skin happen around his face as he braves her vicious attacks. Tearing at his clothes and skin with her clawed fingers, he maintains concentration as the spirit wails and screams into his face. Suddenly Yu-Huang's neck compresses as her transparent fingers grip his neck, but still he preserves his composure.
“Be at peace within the light," says Yu-Huang firmly.
Yu-Huang produces a blinding light from the palms of his hands, sending the spirit into a screaming frenzy rapidly circling the small camp. The Emperor places his palms adjacent to each other as his hands of light produce a flowing white mist. The ball of mist connected to the palms of his hands by wisps of vapour catches the spirit's attention as it glows ever brighter. Drawn towards it in a peaceful state, the spirit’s anger subsides as she floats toward Yu-Huang.
“I
absolve you of all regret and release you from the realm of the living,” says Yu-Huang in a coarse voice.
The spirit's attempts to resist the invite of eternal peace are much too strong, but not so strong to stop her from giving Xunsu one last embrace, an embrace that will last forever for the redeemed spirit as she smiles goodbye to her daughter, Xunsu. Xunsu tearfully begs her to come back as the spectre of the night peacefully disappears into the ball of light commanded by Yu-Huang. The night is still, quiet, yet no longer deadly.Yu-Huang quickly focuses on healing the dark red gorges across his face before turning to Xunsu.
“Are you well?” asks Yu-Huang.
Xunsu nods ashamedly as she buries her face into her arms folded across her knees.
“This is why I forbid certain practises of magic, the reason why I enforce limits of knowledge regarding the sacred arts. Those who fail to respect power they not fully understand, respect not the consequences of their actions. Magic is indeed beautiful and exciting Xunsu, when harnessed for the will of good. Black magic Xunsu, beware of it, for there are many beings within the great Empire's throughout the known realms of Earth, who would use it to bring pain and suffering,” says Yu-Huang.
“Yes Master Yu-Huang, I beg your forgiveness,” says Xunsu, still sobbing.
“You need not apologise. The fault lies with me, my student. Reckless I was; you were not ready,” says Yu-Huang, guiltily.
“Is she safe, is she resting like Mafeng?” asks Xunsu, tearfully.
“Your mother is on the other side now, at peace where she belongs,” clarifies Yu-Huang.
“What of your father?” asks Yu-Huang.
“I know not,” reveals Xunsu, sadly.
Before she can burst into another flood of tears, Xunsu reaches for the fatherly embrace of Yu-Huang. Taken aback and unsure of how to react, he allows his instincts as her guardian to take over and embraces the girl as if she were his own daughter. Later, Yu-Huang makes an effort to lighten the mood and he warms up the rest of the huge roasted rabbit. Setting about repairing her battered pride, he recounts tales of how many expert wizards had lost their limbs in explosive accidents whilst practicing magic. Eventually, her guardian informs her that the hour is late and tells her to rest. Xunsu hesitates to close her eyes, fearing nightmares during her slumber and requests Yu-Huang tell her a story. Yu-Huang presents her with three choices, ‘The Legend of Mighty Arachie’, ‘The Courage of Kamui Li’ or ‘The Adventures of Xunsu the Fearless’. The yawning girl chuckles, then much to his surprise she requests that Yu-Huang tell her more about his family. He does so gladly until she falls asleep, without a single nightmare to speak of.
CHAPTER TWELVE
After trekking through the winter and spring seasons, Yu-Huang and his apprentice find themselves traversing the other side of the mountain under the scorching sun. The two voyagers bypass a shortcut, much to Xunsu's quiet dismay, for a sheltered path would have spared them the unrelenting heat of the sun and blazing hot rocks beneath their feet. Yu-Huang informs his student to tread quietly as they cross the mouth of a foul smelling cave.
“We will make our way around the mountain, ‘tis safer,” muses Yu-Huang.
“I can handle myself Master Yu-Huang,” says Xunsu, in a condescending manner.
“Can you handle yourself against a adult troll?” asks Yu-Huang, returning the tone of voice.
Xunsu's reply is absent as she searches for a quick answer, failing miserably.
“Then we must continue around the mountain,” continues Yu-Huang, casually.
Yu-Huang tells Xunsu to scout forward as he rests wearily on a rock. He’s relieved Xunsu is now able to match his speed, for he finds that unpleasant feeling of lethargy creeping up on him once again. Yu-Huang secretly worries about his feelings of tiredness and how his dwindling stamina might affect his ability to protect his student. Maybe I won't need to, thinks Yu-Huang as he gasps a short laugh whilst watching her scale and leap up sharp rocks and sprint upon clusters of searing, sun-touched boulders. Xunsu's feet, legs, arms and hands no longer bled, graze or cut, soon she would be ready to attempt the 1000 Kicks of the Swift technique. Yu-Huang hears her beckoning him onward, he groggily continues onward to catch up with her. Turning the corner of the mountain, Yu-Huang stops in his tracks. Appearing troubled and confused as he looks into the distance, he uses his hand as a visor to block out the blinding rays from above.
“What troubles you Master Yu-Huang?” asks Xunsu.
Yu-Huang crouches and gestures for Xunsu to do the same, then points down at a massive palace not far in the distance. The wide, flat roofed structure of gleaming ridged columns blocks their path to a mist-hidden rope bridge in the distance, partially concealed by the far corner of the mountain. Passing the pink, beige dirty grey bastion overhanging the mountain ledge is the only way across to the adjacent higher mountain, and Yu-Huang ponders upon the risks involved. The Emperor's teeth grind as he recalls the last time he had looked upon the ‘Ròu hé Gǔtou (Meat and Bone)’ palace temple, a fortress he left in ruins before taking his rightful place in the Tower of Guang. A temple he had razed to the ground with his bare fists, he saw to it himself when he banished its occupants over one hundred years ago. Yu-Huang appears indecisive and agitated as he considers Xunsu's safety, and in the back of his mind he curses his dwindling foresight. The main reason for the long detour round the mountain was to avoid the trolls, whom he had banished into the mountains upon their defeat. Yet, there stands their palace, rebuilt to its former hideous glory. Assembled with bones, rocks and excrement and banners of human flesh leading all the way up to the temple gates. The stitched drapes of flayed skin, human and animal alike, cover the huge open panes of the stronghold. Yu-Huang had warned the self-proclaimed Troll King, Yeman Ren of the consequences should he and his kin ever return and Yu-Huang crushes the rock supporting his leaning posture, stewing at their arrogance and nerve. The angered Emperor releases the handful of dust and pebbles from his clenched grip, knowing that he cannot rectify this problem presently, not without endangering his pupil.
“Trolls possess poor eyesight in the dark, and most will be at slumber. We shall rest here until nightfall, then we make haste for the bridge under cover of complete silence and darkest shadow,” says Yu-Huang, “and I mean complete silence,” adds Yu-Huang firmly.
“Shadow and...?” asks Xunsu, feigning gullibility.
“Complete si...” stutters Yu-Huang, falling for her act. “This is no time to jest. I mean it student, no sound,” says Yu-Huang in annoyance.
“Okay, okay, no sound,” replies Xunsu cheekily.
Yu-Huang looks back at the palace, watching the interior glow escaping the gapped rows of lateral bone walls. He recalls a blood-filled day, feeling no pride in his actions, only justice. Banishing the trolls into the mountains for reasons justified was the only solution, that was the first condition of Yu-Huang's terms after defeating them. The second term was, they were only ever allowed to hunt animals. That was the agreement forced by Yu-Huang's hand which is sworn enemy Yemen Ren, reluctantly accepted. Yu Huang looks crossly at ten trolls patrolling the exterior wall with contempt for the dim-witted, gluttonous, cannibals. Trudging in their heavy battle armour of hammered rock and forged iron, their capes of silky stitched skin and fur drape over their shoulder guards. Bonehandled, boulder-clubbed hammers and broadswords of well forged iron are sheathed to their weathered wide backs. Yu-Huang observes their marching patterns, studying for openings in their guarded perimeter. The spying Emperor considers their abnormal tactics with a grimace, for they had never been this well-organised before.
“Yeman Ren has developed a deeper mind for common sense,” muses Yu-Huang, resting on a knee.
Yu-Huang hasn't moved an inch as dark approaches. As a breeze moves up draft, Xunsu coughs in her sleep at the foul stench of decay originating from the trolls feeding grounds. Yu-Huang senses the wind blowing against them in the direction of the distant trolls and he nudges Xunsu's shoulder, urgently informing her t
o wake and be ready to move. Were the the two travellers to linger too long in the draft, the trolls would surely pick up their scent. Yu-Huang rubs a scentless balm on his face.
“Quickly, rub this on your face,” says Yu-Huang passing her the balm.
“What is it?” asks Xunsu, applying the green mixture in streaks.
“Urine of Smoke Turtle, it well help block your scent,” says Hu-Huang.
Xunsu looks down at her lime green oily hands and wipes them on her tunic with an irked expression.
Yu-Huang takes the lead as they carefully and quietly make their way down the mountain trail, dashing for cover from one rock to the next. Nearing the perimeter patrol grounds, Yu-Huang leaps over a silk tripwire that he notices at the last second. Yu-Huang's eyes follow the tripwire leading to an entire network of barely visible silk. He follows the ground based web of tripwires to the alarm system source. He sees an adult ‘Pífū Línyù (skin shower)’ Spider with its legs removed, its dual rounded body attached to a frame. The trip wires of silk lead all the way to the pincered spinnerets of its massive bulbous abdomen with a spiral horn fixed over its mouth. Should the live creature sense movement within the mesh of tripwires, its loud amplied hisses would surely alert the patrolling guards. Guard posts with Troll skulls doubling as alarm bells mark every possible entrance to the temple. After comprehending their sudden brain growth, Yu-Huang waits for the slow pounding steps of a Troll's huge feet to pass, then beckons Xunsu not to make a move. Yu-Huang picks up a stone and blows quickly on its edges, instantly sharpening its edges. Yu-Huang skims the razor sharp rock across the silk laden frame, silently slicing through it to create an open path.