by Mark Swaine
Later that night, Xunsu and Yu-Huang awake fully rested and are shown to the banquet hall. The two guests climb ladders attached to their high chairs rising ten feet to a stone slab table. The army of trolls seated beside them at the long table mumble and grumble amongst themselves in grunts and drawls. Yu-Huang looks around at the unorthodox company of trolls as his keen skills in dialects decipher their topics of conversation.
“Urgggggg-urg-gurrrrrhhhhhhh-turkssshhh-arrrgghhh (no matter how many times I try, I just cannot seem to bring my leg around fast enough!” grunts the troll.
“Raaaaghssaaray!-urg-urg-krarrr (I know, I saw it coming from yesterday),” replies his sparring partner.
“Garrrr-grarrrg-Hurrrrr-durrrrg, krarrrrr, grrr-grrr-GRRRRRR! Tarrrrr-yabfashaaa-narrr (try keeping your knees bent and twist the top half of your body before striking with your foot. Spin first, and allow your leg to follow, it will have no choice),” says Yu-Huang aiding the troll with his dilemma.
The troll bows his head graciously, happy to receive advice from the master of Wushu. Xunsu smiles admirably at her master before attempting to converse with the troll struggling with his Wushu training.
“Varrrr-goar-narrr-dorrrr-fren-sharr-jaw!” says Xunsu in a deep grizzly voice.
The troll sits back and shoves the two trolls beside him as they burst into fits of laughter and Yu-Huang rolls his eyes and smiles sheepishly as the joke is relayed down the table in waves of hysterics.
“What did I say?” asks Xunsu joining in with the laughter.
“You just told this troll that I wish to play with his nipples,” says Yu-Huang shaking of the mishap.
The laughing stops immediately as maids enter the dining hall with platters of steaming food. Xunsu gawks at the giant feast being laid on the table and her stomach grumbles loudly as the scent of cooked meat enters her nose. The trolls and Xunsu tuck into the racks and ribs of barbecued beef, platters of herbed white rice, stir fried noodles, chunky golden fried chips, goblets and pots of ale, wine and milk and loaves of bread the size of a troll’s forearm. One of the trolls sniffs the out of place garnish of salad and fresh fruit specially prepared for their guests, then recoils in his seat whilst pushing it aside. King Kao Lu, sat at the head of the table, stands to his feet and raises a giant goblet of ale to his kinfolk and two miniscule guests. The trolls rise from their seats in silence, awaiting their King's sacred words.
“From the dirt to the sky, we are greatness,” says King Kao Lu strongly.
“From the dirt to the sky,” recite the trolls honourably.
“EAT,” bellows the King joyously.
King Kao Lu is impressed by Xunsu's strong appetite and her ability to belch just as loud as his beloved troll queen sat beside him. Kao Lu chuckles at the young girl stripping the succulent meat of the foot-long rib bones smothered in rich smoky barbecue sauce. The saucy ribs leave dark saucy smudges across her cheeks and ear lobes as she devours one after the other leaving imprints of large curved smiles across her face. After ten rib bones and three large mounds of rice mixed with chips, she exasperates deeply whilst staring at the eviscerated platter of carnage before her.
“That was the best meal... ever,” says Xunsu to the King, clearly satisfied as she slumps back into her chair with a smile of relief.
“I hope you left room for dessert. We have prepared something special just for you,” says the King quite proudly.
“Dessert? I love dessert,” says Xunsu rhythmically patting her stomach.
Xunsu struggles to maintain her smile as a troll maid enters the dining area holding a clay platter. Upon the platter wasn't a nest of sweet shredded candy floss, nor did the platter hold a dragon scale of jelly containing various fruits, nor did the large heavy tray even hold a loaf of sugar stuffed Bing Bread. The object on the platter grows bigger in sight as the troll bounds toward the massive high dining table, and Xunsu gulps at the sight of the smooth white bulbous object covered in bright dots.
The platter is placed before her and every troll at the table gazes lustfully at the three foot long dome shaped insect.
“Master what is that?” asks Xunsu, nervously with a fake smile.
“'Tis a ‘Ruǎn Tián Pí’ (Soft Sweet Tick),” replies Yu-Huang.
Yu-Huang goes on to explain the tick's luscious appeal and just how much time and effort is required to prepare such a gourmet dish. First of all, Soft Ticks are not easy to find, and their breeding patterns are most irregular since they never nest in one single place. Tian Tangs are mostly found around sleeping Scavenger Dragons, the massive multi-legged bugs can be found in the dozens lumbering around their host. Scavenger dragons rear no young and are only interested in feeding and travelling, and hold no allegiance to any divine mortals. Scavenger dragons rest mainly within wooded areas, out of sight from humans looking for a prize to claim. The exceptionally strong mouthed ticks will crawl behind the scales of the slumbering reptiles and latch on to the exposed leathery skin of its host. Dragon blood is known to be the richest blood on earth and is believed to provide its consumer with good health and fortune. Should one approach a dragon with silent feet and breath, with a hot blade and a steady hand the ticks can be removed whilst the dragon is at rest when its scales are loose and flexible. The fresh blood of the dragon will stay preserved within the tick for at least a week, then the tick's mandibles are placed onto a vanilla pod for two sundowns causing an allergic reaction within the bug that causes it to expand. The tick's mandibles are then placed onto the udder of a cow for at least one sundown allowing the milk to curdle and dilute the potent dragon blood. The combination of juices mixed with the ticks own sweet blood is told to be one of the delicious and sought after flavours in the history of ancient deserts, and a delicacy not often presented by the trolls. Yu-Huang finishes his thesis on the dessert his student so longed for as the maiden shakes the tick for the youngster before setting it back down before her.
“You know not the gift the trolls have bestowed upon you this night, they favour you,” says Yu-Huang discreetly.
“Master, look at the size of that thing. Is it even dead?” asks Xunsu prodding it with her finger.
“Don’t prod it, eat it,” says Yu-Huang sternly.
“How? This thing is almost bigger than me,” says Xunsu, protesting.
“Remove its head, and drink from it. You will offend them if you do not,” says Yu-Huang sternly.
Xunsu turns the platter so the head of the tick is facing her, then attempts to remove the first of its eight legs before removing its head.
“Oh no, no, no you save the legs for last,” says an enthusiastic troll sat opposite whilst practically drooling over the table.
Xunsu grips the tick's round pale blue head and twists it off with a hard pull. As a thick milky and creamy substance streaked in pink and red oozes out onto the plate Xunsu looks around feeling pressured. Xunsu grudgingly lifts the spurting neck of the tick to her mouth and squeezes the fat soft body ever so slightly as she swallows a tube of the stuff. What Xunsu imagines will taste of grimy fetid nastiness does not match the flavour inside her mouth as she continues to squeeze the luxurious desert. Xunsu places the tick back onto the platter and smacks her lips together whilst analysing the sweet vanilla aftertaste and enjoying the cinnamon flavoured rush of dragon blood coursing like fuel through her veins. Noticing the desperate look on the troll's face opposite her, she offers him the tick. The troll appears confused as nobody had ever willing offered him food before, especially a Ruǎn Tián Pí’. The troll looks at King Kao Lu for permission.
“Take it,” says King Kao Lu, smirking at his tribesman's rare reaction of graciousness.
The troll graciously and gently accepts the tick. He squeezes a drop into his mouth and his eyes light up whilst smiling in delight. He passes the tick back to Xunsu and she gestures to pass it on to each troll at the table. With a drop of the sticky and stretching goo being enough for everyone, the grateful giants send their leftovers of ribs and steaks down to Xunsu. Yu-Huang leans in to Xu
nsu's ear.
“I have never been more proud, child,” says Yu-Huang with an earnest and kind expression.
Xunsu smiles at her master's exceptional compliment then outstretches her arms, yawning with her mouth agape. Yu-Huang kindly gestures to the maiden troll that has a soft spot for the girl and she scoops her up and takes her back to the bed chambers. With young and innocent ears now absent, King Kao Lu asks Yu-Huang if he would like a private tour of the palace's ancient colonnade of former Kings. Yu-Huang accepts the invite with keen interest and the two mighty leaders exit the rowdy banquet hall. In the mountainous reach of the ancient gallery, untouched by Yu-Huang during his devastating attack, he and Kao Lu admire the high reaching sculptures of former troll Kings. Kao Lu takes in the strength of his ancestors whilst discussing the potential threat of invasion from the enigmatic evil force threatening both their lands.
“You humans... fascinate me,” says King Kao Lu sternly. “‘Twas not so long ago that I believed in my very bones you were my one and only enemy,” adds King Kao Lu staring at the stone image of his great grandfather.
“What of now?” asks Yu-Huang.
“All it has taken for me to change my course of thinking is the heart of that child. My people are smitten with your cub,” says King Kao Lu.
“Xunsu has become like family to me, I love her as if she were my own child,” replies Yu-Huang.
“Tis not only the precious Xunsu that has swayed my way of thinking. I am grateful for your support in releasing my father from the demon's hold, you might have declined. But Xunsu fought indiscriminately, unafraid, she is selfless. Through her generosity, loyalty and innocence, we see qualities in the humans that resemble our own young, all except generosity,” says Kao Lu honestly. “Our two species indoctrinate our young to despise one another, our actions will be bound to history, and scribes everywhere will recount our bitter hatred and murderous deeds,” says King Kao Lu,
“When I was very young, the Black Dragon told me future leaders would use this trait as a tactic to pit various tribes against one another,” says Yu-Huang sadly. “He was teaching me, for one of my guardians was teaching me something very different,” says Yu-Huang.
“What was this guardian teaching you?” asks King Lao Lu.
“No mercy,” replies Yu-Huang staring up at the giant stone troll in admiration, “but I knew, or at least hoped there would come a day...”
“...when there was peace between us,” says King Kao Lu, hopefully.
“And all our bitter hatred would become nothing but a thing of the past,” says Yu-Huang.
“Small steps,” says King Kao Lu humorously.
“In time,” adds Yu-Huang jokily.
“Look at us,” laughs Kao Lu in disbelief, “only three sundowns ago, you were my only enemy. Now allies, allies who share a threat more powerful than both of us combined,” says King Kao Lu conscientiously.
“Dark times lay ahead my friend, I fear for the safety of my people. This dark force has already consumed the Empire of Japan. How far across the realms of Earth this Darkness has spread, one can only guess. We face not only an army of mortal men, but creatures, spirits and demons, entities that have no place to so commonly co-exist within the living realm. The willing host of the Darkness does the bidding of its master, and its master is patient. Hisako-Hisa is biding her time, testing our weaknesses,” says Yu-Huang.
“If this Hisako-Hisa is so powerful, why does she not yet strike?”" muses King Kao Lu.
“She fears the Samurai, for reasons I not yet understand, she fears the Samurai... Kamui Li,” says Yu-Huang.
“Kamui Li, the one my father... the demon, spoke of. You trust this man?” asks King Kao Lu.
“With my life,” replies Yu-Huang. “Overconfident and arrogant he may be, but he is as wise as he is courageous. I must ask, did your father not mention anything more whilst under the influence of the demon?" asks Yu-Huang.
“One night, before my curious self was discovered, I decided to slay him during his slumber. ‘Twas then I found him awake, speaking to the shadow that not does belong to him. Little of what he spoke held any meaning, but the demon had spoke of another plane of existence. He made great mention of a Trail of Light within a distant realm across the stars. He said there are only two means of travelling there, a portal of some kind,” says King Kao Lu.
“And the other?” asks Yu-Huang.
“Mortal death,” says Kao Lu with disquiet.
“Of what portal did your father speak of?” asks Yu-Huang.
“A bonsai tree, a tree living inside of you,” says King Kao Lu, captivatingly.
Suddenly a fraction of Emperor Kazuko's message begins to make sense, but for what purpose he was entrusted with this gift he could not guess.
“What plane of existence?” asks Yu-Huang. “Its name, Kao Lu, do you remember the name of this place?” urges Yu-Huang.
“The demon did name this foreign land beyond the stars, he called it... Purgatoria, a realm between damnation and paradise,” says King Kao Lu.
“So, it is so,” muses Yu-Huang, “the gods had indeed spoke to Emperor Kazuko,” frowns Yu-Huang.
The Emperor stares at Kao Lu, and cannot help but wonder where he fits into this revelation.
“There is something you are not telling me, or something you do not wish to. The strategic defences of your palace perimeter, the Wushu training of your warriors, the archives you have built. The spell of the tongue that you appear to have harnessed with such ease. If you are educating your people, then who is the one that educated you?” asks Yu-Huang.
“Expect a visitor within the Huanghua city very soon my friend,” says King Kao Lu.
“A visitor?” asks Yu-Huang.
“Had I told you about this matter so shortly after your arrival, we would surely be locked in combat this very moment,” says King Kao Lu.
“Tell me,” says Yu-Huang, sternly.
“Two years ago during the winter season whence the nights were longer, I ventured into the hills to go hunting. One morning I checked the snares as usual, but all I found were blood trails leading to my favourite spot, a place where I gather my thoughts. So I followed the trail, and there he was. Now I know he had been watching me for some time, studying my patterns,” says King Kao Lu.
“Why do you heed this individual with such danger and caution?” asks Yu-Huang.
“My first reaction was to kill and skin this thief that had stolen my kill, but as I drew closer, I could see this man was no ordinary mortal. His wide hat of wicker and iron cast a circular shadow over his entire body, and steam rose from his body as if angered by the mere presence of the sun. Under his hat, he growled wildly whilst ripping the animals apart and swallowed them whole. Curious to his breed, I commanded the stranger to state his business, and he told me to return once the sun had set,” recalls King Kao Lu.
“This corrupt mortal is now amongst my people?” asks Yu-Huang.
“I returned after sunset to confront this man with five of my brethren. He subdued us with the greatest of ease. Cornered by the stranger, it was then he told me he wished me no harm, and wished to liberate the trolls from my father’s curse,” says King Kao Lu.
“Your assisting friend? What was this creature?” asks Yu-Huang.
“He could not remember his name, but he claimed to be a Sorcerer a long time ago. His tone of tongue is not native to this country, nor does he bear the face of Chinese man, Japanese perhaps,” guesses King Kao Lu.
“One thing I know for certain, after my father slayed my mother, were it not for this stranger's intervention, I too would surely be dead. ‘Twas the stranger who brought about my father's weakened state by feeding of his blood, only then were we able to restrain him,” says King Kao Lu.
“This stranger, did his eyes glisten as he fed, or whence exposed to the moon?” asks Yu-Huang.
“Yes, his eyes were like that of silver when he fed upon my father's wrist,” concurs King Kao Lu.
“His fingern
ails and teeth, pointed and sharp?” asks Yu-Huang.
“Yes,” says Kao Lu.
“A Jiangshi (vampire),” says Yu-Huang, worriedly.
“You have crossed paths with these creatures before?” asks King Kao Lu.
“Only in ancient codex, ‘tis the only detailed record of the rising dead I have discovered,” says Yu-Huang.
“‘Twas he who shared with me the ‘Spell of the Tongue’ and taught me the value of reason without robbing us of our instincts,” says King Kao Lu.
“He also taught you Wushu?” asks Yu-Huang, puzzled.
“No, as a child I observed your techniques from afar as you trained in the Red Sun village,” says King Kao Lu.
“When did this stranger leave your hospitality, and why is he journeying to the Kunlun city?” asks Yu-Huang.
“He left before the winter season, whilst the nights held longer cover of darkness. I know not of his reasons for leaving for the city, he would not say,” says King Kao Lu. “Now you know everything I know,” adds King Kao Lu.