by Mark Swaine
Xan Li unsheathes her Katana an inch from her scabbard silencing the merry man immediately, but she takes a seat at the round table with the drunken stranger and Mǎkè anyway. As the pipe smoking barkeeper slams three jugs of ale onto the table with a spilling slosh, Mǎkè also buys a drink for Chao Gao upon his finish. The barkeeper shouts across to Chao Gao and points to Mǎkè waving excitedly, and then the bar. Chao Gao briefly acknowledges and smiles as he rapidly slices some veg.
“My name is Mǎkè Shīwěixián,” says Mǎkè looking at his drinking buddies.
“Xan Li,” says the moody Onna-Bugeisha filling her tankard.
“Zui,” says the drunkard leaning his wooden staff against the table.
“Hǎo, Gan Bay (well, cheers),” says Mǎkè making do with his quiet and miserable company.
“Gan bay (cheers),” mutters Zui.
“Kan-pie (cheers),” says Xan Li indifferently.
An hour later, the drinkers fall about laughing whilst ordering another round of ale.
“You were robbed by a little girl while you were sleeping?” laughs Xan Li whilst pointing at a chuckling Zui.
“Twice, I fell asleep at my usual tavern, the little shit was supposed to place a wager for me,” says Zui whilst gesturing to the bar tender for another round.
“Maybe you should buy one of Mǎkè's mechanical chicken's to wake you,” jokes Xan Li.
Mǎkè spits out his ale in laughter then wipes his chin before looking confusedly at the two drinkers.
“I told you about the “Rooster Waker?” asks Mǎkè unsurely.
“That is what you have named it?” laughs Zui.
“How do you conceive these wild inventions Mǎkè?” snorts Xan Li before knocking back the rest of her pint.
Mǎkè's laugh stops to a few short chuckles as he pours himself another, and then cryptically answers Xan Li's question
“I watch, and I listen. So many people are blinded by the illusions of what cannot be accomplished, and all they do is talk about the idea of possibilities, instead of making them a reality,”
“You behave differently to how you think,” says a smitten Xan Li.
“You are a man of action Mǎkè, I respect that,” says Zui chinking his cup.
“My gratitude Zui. Take the Emperor for example, I know not of any limit to his abilities,” continues Mǎkè.
“That is different Mǎkè, you operate within the realm of physicality. The almighty and self righteous Yu-Huang's power comes from within, 'tis divine and magical. You work with iron and steel, and power your inventions with the realm's natural resources. Your work, requires muscle and mind,” says Zui.
“True, but my point is there are no boundaries within the mind, no limit to what can be achieved. The Emperor is true example of what one may accomplish” says Mǎkè sobering the atmosphere. “Take a good long look at Húluóbo,” addsMǎkè pointing to his cart.
“Húluóbo?” asks Zui, dumbfounded.
“Yes, Húluóbo, my mechanical donkey,” says Mǎkè.
Zui and Xan Li hide their smirks well as they turn to look at the beast of iron and steel resting on its legs whilst imitating sounds of a donkey.
“If such a creation is possible in this age, who knows what will be possible in the next,” says Mǎkè, marvelling at the infinite possibilities.
“Are there inventions in your inventory that you value the most?” asks Xan Li.
“Two, but I have not tested them as yet,” says Mǎkè, apprehensively and secretively, paranoid of Zui's interest in his works.
“Well, what are they?” asks Xan Li.
“Pleasure me with another kiss and I might just tell you,” smirks Mǎkè.
“That earlier kiss was intended to serve my purpose, not yours sweet Mǎkè,” says Xan Li kindly.
“Mǎkè I will kiss you, put me out of my suspense,” slurs Zui.
Mǎkè hesitates, then looks over both his shoulders to check for eavesdroppers, or potential sneak thieves.
“The first is a suit of armour,” says Mǎkè quietly.
Zui stumbles over the table with his lips puckered and Mǎkè pushes him back whilst laughing.
“You did not mention you are a forger of weaponry,” says Zui sitting back on his stool.
“What of the second invention?” asks Xan Li.
“That I can not reveal,” says Mǎkè.
“Not even for a second kiss,” says Xan Li in jest.
“With respect, not even for one pleasurable night with you, as beautiful as you are fair Onna-Bugeisha,” says Mǎkè sternly. “Now let us change the subject,” says Mǎkè awkwardly. “So, Zui, why do you hate the Emperor so much?” he asks cheerfully.
“That is not of your business,” states Zui belching at his mere title and gritting his teeth.
“Very well,” replies Mǎkè even more awkwardly. “Xan Li, I hear the Five Islands of Japan are delight this time of year...usually,” says Mǎkè instantly realising his slip up.
“Usually,” replies Xan Li.
“‘Tis not the Emperor I despise, but his order... his General,” says Zui, rescuing Mǎkè.
“The General is a shameful pig,” adds Xan Li.
Zui chinks Xan Li's cup and they both drink to her statement, and Zui looks solemnly into his empty cup.
“He was once a great man, and a good friend, and now I have none,” says Zui.
“What do you speak of, no friends? You have us,” says Mǎkè merrily whilst filling his and Xan Li's cups.
Zui smiles at Mǎkè and Xan Li and nods gratefully.
“The General was a great man?” scoffs Xan Li. “Hhe berates my soldiers at every turn,”
“'Twas not always the way,” says Zui staring into the distance, “as for the Emperor, he not knows the corruption within his ranks. Were he so enlightened then I would not have served five years in Liumang prison,” scowls Zui.
“But look at all he has done for the people, for his country,” says Mǎkè defensively, “he is the enlightened one,” adds Mǎkè.
“If he is so enlightened, then so is my rear,” replies Zui.
“I too served hard time in Liumang prison,” says Mǎkè changing the sore topic.
After a brief silence, Zui and Xan Li laugh hysterically in disbelief.
“I did, I served hard time in Liumang prison,” says Mǎkè more firmly.
Zui and Xan Li laugh harder and eventually Mǎkè too joins in the contagious laughter. Xan Li's laughter gradually stops and as she rises from her stool, sniffing the air whilst looking to the sky. Feeling a strange repeated draft hitting her face, she looks around the square at the battalions of unaware Jade soldiers. Zui too, also begins to sense a change in the atmosphere and a slight scent of rotted meat. Five Onna-Bugeisha storm the circular courtyard and hail Xan Li as day darkens. Xan Li, followed by her comrades, approaches the Captain of the Jade soldiers, commanding them to various strategic posts.
“I not take orders from a woman; we will handle these winged beasts ourselves. Now take cover with the other women and children,” says the Jade captain scornfully.
“You proud and arrogant fool, you not only face winged beasts, but a horde of evil you know not how to defeat,' shouts Xan Li as undead dragons fly overhead.
“Disobedient wench, know your place woman!” shouts the Captain.
Xan Li curses the Jade captain as she and her warriors disperse through the square as fifteen muscle bound armoured mercenaries rappel from a hovering dragon and onto the ground. Armed with and axes and scythes too large for an average sized man to wield, they’re animalistic presence causes screaming panic all around. Chao Gao ushers panicking civilians to take cover behind his stall as he reaches for an assortment of wrapped items concealed under his counter. The former assassin and dragon slayer turned chef straps on his armour of dragon scales and head guard and unsheathes his long Zhanmadao sword. Zui turns his back on the madness and takes his staff and pot of ale and returns to sit at the bar.
“Zui, we are
under attack! We must help these people, we must do something,” shouts Mǎkè.
“Not my problem, have the all powerful Emperor work his magic,” says Zui pouring himself a drink.
“What?!” exclaims Mǎkè.
“You heard me, do I slur,” replies Zui indifferently.
“How can you say that? These are our people,” shouts Mǎkè.
“Not mine, not anymore. Should you wish to survive this day, do not be a hero my friend,” advises Zui.
“There are no cowards amongst my friends. Good luck to you Zui,” says Mǎkè, disappointed and cross.
“I care not for the merits of luck, only mead and Baiju,” says Zui reaching for a full jug.
Mǎkè dismisses Zui's negative remark and sees an isolated old woman crying with a baby in her arms on the other side of the courtyard. Mǎkè pushes his way through the crowd to reach the woman calling for aid, leaving Zui to drink his troubles away. The fifteen mercenaries identify their targets and as Chao Gao approaches the tanned foreign mercenaries, five of them are commanded by the leader to kill him.
Ever since Chao Gao had lost his family and homestead to a ravenous dragon coerced by mercenaries into wreaking havoc in his small hamlet, he's harboured a murderous hate not only for marauders, but dragons too. 'Twas in his quest for revenge he'd hunted down his family's killers, but in his remorse, he kept searching for more like them, until he'd become the very thing he sought to destroy. The massive mercenary swings his axe around his head and strikes down upon Chao Gao, and the strong stout cook counters the heavy blow, striking his sword across the mercenary's toned abdomen. The mercenary shouts wildly into the air and holds the diagonal wound reaching up to his shoulder and Chao Gao drives his sword into his chest before ripping it out through his waist. Chao Gao parries with another mercenary and ducks as the long scythe swoops by his neck. Chao Gao cuts the man's legs above his shaved and tanned knees and watches the towering muscular torso drop to the ground along with his scythe. Caught off guard, Chao Gao is forced into a backward parry toward his cooking stall. As the Onna-Bugeisha and Jade soldiers meet the mercenaries in battles, the Jade captain is cut in half by a downward drop of a sparkling scythe. Xan Li side steps and ducks whilst driving, striking and thrusting her Katana across a mercenary's tough skin. Leaderless without their Captain, and witnessing Xan Li's ability in battle, the Jade soldiers pay heed to her next command.
“Cover the exits, nobody gets in or out!” shouts Xan Li.
As the dragon wings fly overhead and remorseless killers cut into Jade soldiers, undead bodies begin dropping upon the once peaceful square as it turns into an uproar of screaming panic. Women and children squeeze into lengthy alleyways cluttered with broken crates, fallen tiles and discarded tankards. The families of men and women carrying children and holding up the elderly feel their way along the turns of the pitch black alleyway until reaching the dead end of a T-junction. The parents and guardians urge the children to be silent whilst holding them close, preying they won't be found. In the adjacent corner of the short dead end, a cloud of breath follows a long whispering growl.
“You are not safe here,” says the quiet voice warningly.
The families recoil as far away from the stranger as possible as they watch his silver eyes glint in the darkness.
“We are safer in here then out there,” says a mother strongly.
“Not from me,” replies the invisible stranger.
“Please don't, don't hurt my children, take me if you must but please do not harm my children,” begs the mother.
“Ssshhhhhhhhhh, I wish you no harm, but I hunger, you found me at my feeding hour. If I must, I will only feed upon you, not your children... fair?” asks the imposing and creepy stranger.
The mother nods gratefully whilst quietly keeping her eyes on the unseen entity in the quiet of their hiding place. Outside, more mercenaries drop from the sky, though much weaker and less disciplined than the previous giants currently battling the Huanghua city forces. Chao Gao counters a heavy strike knocking him against his stall and he holds his sword lengthways above his head to block the vertical swing of an axe. The mercenary, wearing strangely fashioned headgear brings his partially covered face close to his whilst baring his yellow teeth.
The mercenary's biceps flex as he brings the edge of his axe close to Chao Gao's face and the warrior chef knees the man in his ribs before pushing him away. As Chao Gao lifts himself of the side of his stall, it rocks back and forth dislodging the dragon gland fuel tank from the network of pipes. An angry crazed mercenary tackles Chao Gao and the two roll over the counter and into the kitchen area. With no space to wield his sword, Chao Gao grabs the nearest weapon he can find, a meat cleaver, and drives the flat sharp edge into the man's shoulder. The mercenary wails loudly and is distracted with pain. Chao Gao removes the man's helmet and slams his disfigured face into the side of the cooker, further dislodging the massive piece of dragon cartilage under the counter. Mǎkè reaches the old woman's location across the square but finds she’s disappeared from sight, and noticing Chao Gao desperately needing assistance not too far away, he races to aid him. Chao Gao continues slamming the merc's head into the black searing surface of the oily slab of iron then slices his throat open with a meat knife. Chao Gao throws the dead merc over the stall counter and he lands with an awkward thud before Mǎkè.
“Mǎkè get out of here,” shouts Chao Gao as he sees three scavenger mercs running his way.
Mǎkè's feet dance on the spot in anxiousness, confused as to which way he should run. With the merc already upon him Mǎkè picks up the nearest weapon available, a rag on the splintered broken counter drenched in Chao Gao's sweat. As the merc swings his blade for Mǎkè, he ducks and wraps his wrist in the wet rag before flipping him over his back.
“Finish him off!” shouts Chao Gao.
Mǎkè gently kicks the downed merc in the cheek and Chao Gao urgently repeats himself.
“Kill him!” shouts Chao Gao over the stall,
Mǎkè, unsure of how to kill begins jumping on the protesting merc's face until Chao Gao pushes a giant pan of boiling water onto his head, at least disabling him. Mǎkè ducks a strike from an oncoming merc and trips against Chao Gao's stall. Mǎkè screams as a sword approaches his chest and Chao Gao appears behind Mǎkè and throws a wok full of scolding oil into the scavenger’s face. Mǎkè watches another scavenger racing behind the counter to stab Chao Gao in the back and Mǎkè looks at the rag wrapped in his hand. Mǎkè unties the rag on his hand rapidly twirls it tight and leans over the counter.Mǎkè whips the scavenger in the face with the end of the cloth and the impact sends a spray of dense sweat and blood onto the side of Chao Gao's face as the merc's eyeball explodes.
“I didn’t mean to do that,” says Mǎkè trying to console the screaming merc.
“Gratitude Mǎkè, now go,” commands Chao Gao.
“Do we still have a deal?” asks Mǎkè.
“Now more than ever! Now go!” shouts Chao Gao.
Chao Gao leaps back over the counter knocking over a clutter of woks and other utensils. Chao Gao readies his sword forward to face more massive mercs and they cautiously back away as a loud hiss explodes from behind him. Suddenly alerted, Chao Gao turns to look at a streak of blue flame jetting upward from the concealed tanker below the counter. Chao Gao turns to run and slips on the greasy discarded Wok and lands backward on his counter.
Chao Gao's stall explodes into a massive ball of flame, taking the chef's life with it. Mǎkè turns suddenly as he hears the loud boom and he looks in dismay at Chao Gao's large body slumped and burning against a wall. In his moment of sadness he has an epiphany as the large organic tank shoots across the square, powered by a roaring jet of flame and snagging one of the mercs in its aerial path. Flying in loops above the square, the frantic mercenary's screams are silenced as the organic engine finally explodes. Zui pours himself a drink and knocks it back in honour of the brave fool Chao Gao, then looks discreetly to his side as ten marau
ders surround him.
“Unless you are here to drink, I suggest you leave me in peace,” says Zui calmly.
“We will leave you in fifty!” snarls a raider.
“Fifty it is,” says Zui.
Zui takes up his staff and presses a small round button releasing two curved blades from both ends. In a drunken stagger he whirls the blade around the circle of men, then he sits back on his stool to pour himself another ale. Suddenly the necks and arteries of the raiders open up as gushes of blood splashes inward around the circle. The statuesque raiders stare at one another as their torsos come apart from their legs, arms and heads in bleeding piles of fifty neatly cut pieces. In the dark alleyway in the marketplace a gang of mercenaries quietly journey through the darkness with kerosene lamps, hoping to catch and slay any hopeful hiding survivors. The families huddle closer into the corner as they watch the glow of lanterns growing brighter around the corner. As the glow grows brighter, the parents hold their hands tightly around their children’s mouths as light is cast upon the lone stranger's face. As the adults gasp in fright, the children whimper in fright as their chins crumple with tears falling freely from their wide eyes. As their innocent minds are given their first glimpse of a real life monster sharing their hiding place, the stranger's face disappears as the raiders turn the corner. The raiders smile sinisterly as they discover the groups of petrified and shaking families, and they approach the cowering survivors with murderous intentions. One of the raiders winces suddenly and clutches a tiny bleeding cut on his neck. Blaming his nearest companions, an argument breaks out between them, until a sudden gust of deathly wind blows out their kerosene lamps.