by Mark Swaine
“Evil cannot be defeated with evil. You are no good to me,” says Yu-Huang plainly.
“My actions were kind by comparison to their betrayal!” shouts Gang Huojin, losing his temper and punching the cage. “Evil I am not. I... I lost control... you would not understand,” says Gang Huojin, regaining his calm disposition.
“Understand what? The choice you made that ended in the vengeful death of your family? Look around, look at where you are,” says Yu-Huang, pitifully. “From all the choices you could have made, you chose the one that has fated your child to one of turmoil and heartbreak,” says Yu-Huang.
Gang Huojin's eyes shut tight as he turns his back on the Emperor.
“You can turn your back on me, but never on what you have done to your child... and your soul. Many choices were placed before you,” says Yu-Huang.
“What choices!” growls Gang.
“What choices!? You could have turned your back on them; their shame would have lasted until their dying day. You could have cursed them by the anger of Raijin,” says Yu-Huang.
“Stop,” pleads the prisoner.
“You could have cast them out from your life,” says Yu-Huang.
“Stop!” repeats Gang Huojin, clenching his fists and covering his face with his forearms.
“You could have walked away Gang Huojin!” shouts Yu-Huang.
“Leave me alone!” shouts the troubled inmate, grabbing the back of his hair in agitation.
“No I will not, not until you face the burden, not until you give in to your guilt and remorse,” pressures Yu-Huang.
“They betrayed me!” screams Gang Huojin.
“It matters not, the punishment you dealt does not fit the crime. You did not have the right!” says Yu-Huang.
Yu-Huang frowns as various chuckles and sniggers accompany Gang Huojin's heavy bawling.
“Pssst, hey Gang, do not despair, I bedded your beloved lonnnng before your brother,” says an inmate from across the corridor.
“Silence,” says Yu-Huang, looking over.
“I heard she even makes house calls,” says another.
“For five cowrie shells she will even...”
“I said silence!” commands Yu-Huang, more sternly.
“It was an accident,” sobs Gang Huojin. “I wanted to kill him, she got in the way! You are not mortal, you would not understand!” says Gang Huojin, breaking down in tears with his head lowered.
“I take no pleasure in tormenting you Gang Huojin, but should you wish to serve the Empire in the war against demons, you must first face your own. That goes for all of you!” bellows Yu-Huang, gesturing towards the occupied cages lining both sides of the vine-creeping corridor.
Gang Huojin turns back to the Emperor and grips the bars of his cell and hangs on tightly with his head down in despair whilst confronting his heavy conscience. Yu-Huang takes pity on the man and places his hand on his greasy haired head. Yu-Huang transfers his memories to Gang Huojin, memories of his magnificent and enlightening adventures with his little friend Xunsu. In sharing his cherished memories with Xunsu's father, he inadvertently takes in Gang Huojin's memories. Yu-Huang, bonded to the prisoner, grunts harshly as he absorbs the man's suffering, and he sees that Gang Huojin had never harmed a single human soul during his harrowing upbringing. He sees his rough upbringing, and not even a daily beating could break his love for his fellow man, or the women around him. He sees him toil and work hard all through his young years to provide for his beloved family. He sees the time he spends with Xunsu, and how he loves her like she is the most precious person in all the realms.
Yu-Huang suddenly winces as he sees through Gang's eyes, the tale that brought him to this hellish place. He enters the small shack after a long day at work to find his wife and brother caught in a naked embrace behind the bed chamber screen door. Yu-Huang senses Gang Huojin's hate as he impulsively reaches for a sword leaning by the door. As he barges in she gets in the way of Gang Huojin's brother as he drives the sword forward. Removing his sword in a state of shock she drops to the floor, and his brother backs away with his hands raised defensively. In a frenzy of heart break, anger and shock, Gang strikes down his brother and stabs him repeatedly. With his world torn apart, Gang Huojin drops to his knees and awaits the guards to come for him. As Gang Huojin is lead away by guards, Xunsu returns after playing out late with her friends. Watching her father being lead away, and her Mother and Uncle being loaded into the back of a horse cart, she runs after them. Xunsu's teacher, Laoshi, standing amongst a devastated crowd, pulls the girl back as she shouts insanely for her family. Yu-Huang pulls his hand away quickly and clenches his sore wrist as he looks at Gang Huojin with a disturbed and confused expression.
“Xunsu, my daughter, she is safe. You, you cared for her,” says Gang Huojin, gratefully. “You are right my Emperor, you are right, about everything, what I did was... unforgivable, I know it was,” says Gang Huojin, finally.
“Yes... unforgivable,” says Yu-Huang, no longer certain.
“I saw fragments of your training Gang Huojin. What exactly do you know, and how?" asks Yu-Huang, concerned.
“There is a war coming, my Emperor, a war between men and monsters,” replies Gang Huojin gravely.
“I must go now; your... Sensei and I have much to discuss,” says Yu-Huang, backing away.
Yu-Huang abruptly leaves in a storm of footsteps and lets nothing stop his journey to the dragon's lair. The experience with Gang Huojin had disturbed him to his very core, for he now understands why the convict took such dire action on his loved ones. Even though he deserves his fate in this place, through his Gang Houjin’s eyes he got his first taste of what it feels like to be a damned mortal. He climbs the wide incline of a bronze cast staircase and walks through a giant rectangular entrance to a bronze domed chamber. At the far side of the shadowed chamber, flames grumble, flash and flare behind black, heavy bars filling a wide arch shaped casement in the far stone wall. Yu-Huang feels the impact of heat as he treads further into the chamber, and he looks around cautiously. The Black Dragon is nowhere to be seen, in a room cloaked in shadow he could be anywhere. Yu-Huang stops and listens to the echo of a deep rumbling breathing and notices a cloud of grey breath enter the view of the raging, arch shaped inferno. Two elliptic black scaled eyelids open and its glossy bright yellow sclera appear to divide its eyes in four as its narrow black pupils focus on the Emperor. Suddenly, a bright flare from the outside abyss partially illuminates the chamber and casts a few seconds of glow on the large, black wingless beast. Yu-Huang closes his eyes and clasps his hands to ignite the wall mounted torches of the dome, casting some much needed glow on the blind spots of the room. A light is cast on one half of the giant long beast, highlighting the neat diamond shaped ridges of its scales, and the long scars dragging over its back. Yu-Huang approaches the dragon and stops a few feet from its solid snout, remaining cautious in his approach.
“So, power yet remains in you, my old friend,” says the dragon, accepting the light.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Back at the Gāo Fēng temple Kamui Li sleeps like he did when he was a child, and is unmoving in his deep slumber. As his exhausted body enjoys the care free sensation of stillness and rest, his mind is content without the distraction of dreams. But in the blankness of his sleep, a place begins to form in his mind’s eye and he finds himself walking in a downwards spiral. Kamui Li opens his eyes and finds himself in a cold and wet empty cave, with hundreds of scattered torches climbing a high cavernous wall. The curious Samurai cautiously walks over to a strange table embedded with moveable layered rings and picks up a small vial containing blood. Studying the ampoule closely he observes a fresh red residue against the inside of the clear container, and realises that it has been recently used. His face suddenly tightens as a cold breeze chills his skin, and he looks at the floor by an upturned chair and notices a piece of torn green fabric being lifted by the breeze. He picks it up and stares at the carefully embroidered gold emblem of a horse.
Yu-Huang drops the torn rag as snowflakes begin to fall around him, and he looks at each of them whilst discarding his current surroundings. He feels himself being pulled elsewhere as he's unable to divert his attention from the various incredulous designs of the sparkling snowflakes. With the cave walls no longer visible, he begins walking into the mighty blizzard as if being hailed from afar by someone he trusts absolutely. He walks for what seems like entire seasons until finally clearing through the blanket of snow. His feet crunch beneath the soft powdery ground and he finds himself on a mountain trail surrounded by trees and scurrying rabbits diving into their winter homes. His steady stroll leads to a rounded knoll overlooking a small rundown settlement, and his placid face turns to one of sadness. Kamui Li's sad expression turns angry at the sight of his childhood home, but curiosity beckons him forth. Suddenly a gust of snow engulfs him and he finds himself in a wooded area by the old cabin. Partially concealed by a large tree not so far away, he sees a young figure crouched in a pool of red. He sees a raised knife stabbing into his childhood friend, a homeless dog that he would shelter and feed. The whining dog yelps once more, then lies permanently still. Kamui Li remembers this day clearly, and he approaches the boy stabbing his pet whilst sobbing quietly. The young boy with streaks of blood, dirt and tears across his face, places the knife on the ground and pants heavily whilst looking up at the visitor. Another gust of snow reduces the violent scene to nothing, only to reveal his new setting a few seconds later. Kamui Li, seeing himself as a child, sees his dog's killer fishing by the river. Kamui Li appears pleased to see his childhood friend and runs through the river to join him. Kamui Li sits on a rock beside the boy and picks up the spare fishing rod.
“Hello Wing Shin, what are you doing here?” says Kamui Li, excitedly.
“I have travelled far to see my little cousin,” says the slightly older boy.
Wing Shin scowls as he observes a sling supporting Kamui Li’s broken arm, and a yellow bruise around his eye.
“Where are my Uncle and Aunt?” asks Kamui Li.
“I came alone,” replies Wing Shin.
“Alone? You are going to be in so much trouble when your Mother discovers you missing,” says Kamui Li.
“You should be more worried about yourself. Besides, I need not permission to visit my own family,” replies Wing Shin positively.
“I missed you, it has been many seasons since your last visit,” says Kamui Li, trying to hide his disappointment in Wing Shin's long absence.
“You know our Fathers do not get along, and you know how difficult it is to reach your settlement during the winter,” says Wing Shin.
“I know,” replies Kamui Li sadly.
“Do not look so sad cousin, I come with good news, you are coming back with me,” says Wing Shin.
“Truly?” replies Kamui Li excitedly.
“Truly, you will become part of our clan, just as you have always wanted. My father will teach you the ways of Bushido, both you and I will become Samurai, like brothers,” says Wing Shin, gripping the back of Kamui Li's neck with an affectionate push.
Kamui Li's young and bruised face appears overjoyed, until it dawns on him.
“My parents will never allow me to leave,” says Kamui Li, sorrowfully.
“Do not worry about your Mother and Father, they cannot harm you anymore,” says Wing Shin earnestly. “Now sit with me, let’s see who gets first catch,” says Wing Shin.
After a short period of time sat with his cousin, Kamui Li jumps up as he feels a sharp tug on the end of his line, but finds himself unable to yank his catch from the river. Curiously, he wades into the river and two lifeless bodies tied together bob to the surface beside him. Kamui Li loses his balance and disappears into the water whilst becoming tangled in the loose rope between his lifeless parents. As his weight brings his mothers face to his, he screams a cloud of babbling bubbles as he looks upon her shocked white face. With her pale eyes staring into his and her blue lips unmoving he panics whilst struggling to free himself. A sturdy hand grabs him by the fabric of his shoulder and Wing Shin drags him onto the hard rocky bank. Kamui Li looks shocked as he looks upon the sagging faces of the bobbing heads swirling downstream, and Kamui Li looks back at Wing Shin.
“My mother, my father,” exclaims Kamui Li, more shocked than upset.
“Yes, I anchored them with rocks further upstream, I guess they came loose,” says Wing Shin, grimacing nonchalantly,
“You did this?” says Kamui Li, stepping back.
“My gift... to you. They drank and they drowned, that is the story we will tell my parents,” says Wing Shin, smirking at their frivolous journey downstream. “I poisoned their wine and dragged them into the river. It was a terrible accident and I shall mourn them greatly,” says Wing Shin, bringing his freezing and soaked younger cousin to his feet.
“Why?” asks Kamui Li, disturbed at Wing Shin's capabilities.
“'Tis what you wanted. You do remember asking of this do you not?” asks Wing Shin, sensing a hint of doubt.
“But I did not mean... to ask of 'you'. I merely wanted to be free of them, ‘tis just...”
“Just what?” asks Wing Shin, sternly.
“...not like this,” says Kamui Li, watching his parents’ bobbing heads disappear around a bend.
“There was no other way, you know this. You must not speak a word of this to anybody,” says Wing Shin, strictly.
“Yes Wing Shin,” says Kamui Li, half-heartedly.
“Not anybody!” repeats Wing Shin, tapping him warningly across his chin.
Kamui Li appears confused and upset by Wing Shin's reversal of character, for he had always enjoyed the company of his strong-minded cousin who often made the long journey to his village even without the permission of his elders. But Kamui Li had no idea Wing Shin was capable of going to such lengths, regardless of his well-founded intentions. As much as Kamui Li still loves his dear cousin, this incident causes Kamui Li to see him in an entirely new light.
“Forgive me brother, I do not mean to be cross. I did it... to set you free. I have always hated them for treating you this way. They got what they deserved. I care for you like a little brother, I always have. You deserve a real family,” says Wing Shin, kindly.
Kamui Li listens to his big cousin's kind words, and as he looks around at the rundown homestead, he realises that Wing Shin is right, and he is now free to pursue a destiny much greater than the one he faces here. He had always desired to become a Samurai. He and Wing Shin would train endlessly in the forest with wooden sticks; it was all he had ever dreamed of. Wing Shin had made his dream come true, at much risk to his own fate. Kamui Li looks around scornfully at his home, and then gratefully at Wing Shin with a firm nod.
“I have always hated this place. I never want to see this place ever again, not even in my dreams,” says Kamui Li. “Aunt and Uncle Shin will allow me to live with you? I do not wish to be a burden,” says Kamui Li timidly.
“A burden, of what do you speak?” says Wing Shin, throwing a woollen blanket around his shivering shoulder. “You belong with us; my mother and father have always loved you as one of their own. Come, let us leave before nightfall,” says Wing Shin, passing Kamui Li a sack of his belongings.
“Much time has passed since I last walked amongst the clans,” says Kamui Li, excitedly.
“Much has changed. Our clans grow stronger by the day: my father has been called to duty by Emperor Kazuko himself and we are moving to the Imperial city next season,” says Wing Shin. “All cannot wait to see you once again. I have told only those we trust of your arrival: cousin Xan Li, Akio, Shun-Shiro, Daisuke. Emperor Kazuko's daughter, Sumika, she remembers you also, she asked of you during Emperor Kazuko's visit last spring,” says Wing Shin.
“Sumika,” says Kamui Li, smiling nostalgically.
The mention of Kamui Li's beloved brings flashes of events transpiring before his eyes, and he suddenly remembers the death of Emperor Kazuko by his own hands.
“Someth
ing is different,” says Kamui Li strangely whilst looking down. “I shouldn't be here,” he adds suddenly, appearing into his late teen form.
Kamui Li suddenly realises he is dreaming, and he looks up suddenly to find that Wing Shin has disappeared.
“It's funny, I thought you never wanted see this place again,” says a tall cloaked figure standing over the river.
Kamui Li looks crossly at the horned demon standing amid the snow, then takes a running leap over the river to face him.
“Then why did you bring me here?” asks Kamui Li landing with a soft crunch in the fresh snow.
“Equal footing,” replies the hollow-cheeked man. “How is Xan Li?” asks Wing Shin, civilly.
“Alive, you failed,” sneers Kamui Li.
“Failed? If I had wished either of you dead, I could have killed you at any time. Be gratified I only ensnared her,” replies Wing Shin. “You made a mistake releasing her. I trapped her there to keep her safe,” says Wing Shin.