by Mark Swaine
“Yes master,” says Shaozu, bowing in accordance.
“I spoke with Yeman Ren,” says Chika appearing worried,
“Do as I command, train your people well, and I will retrieve your two sisters from the grip of the Darkness,” assures Yu-Huang.
“You will do this?” says Chika, surprised.
“I will try, but I cannot do this alone. There are many innocent souls being held against their will, and I seek to attack the Darkness on its own ground. ‘Tis the last thing they will expect, I will gain a surprise advantage, but not for long,” says Yu-Huang.
“Send word, for I shall join you in combat,” replies Chika,
“Very well,” replies Yu-Huang, “Mǎkè, at first light tomorrow, a scaled visitor will await your presence. That is of course if you still wish to further your knowledge of dragon flight,” replies Yu-Huang.
“Yes, yes truly,” says Mǎkè excitedly.
“Very well, I look forward to our next meeting,” replies Yu-Huang.
“Emperor Yu-Huang!” says Mǎkè suddenly remembering something. “A dear departed friend of mine would have wanted you to have this,” says Mǎkè, offering him lime marble hilt sword sheathed in a scabbard.
“Weizao,” says Yu-Huang solemnly accepting the blade.
“And Yeman Ren, do not wander far, I have something for you,” says Mǎkè with a smirk.
“FarewellMǎkè,” says Yeman Ren.
The three warriors and the musician step into the Bonsai portal as Mǎkè and his iron honking donkey watch on.
CHAPTER twenty-NINE
One season later: spring.
The people of the Huanghua city toil hard in the fresh chill of a bright afternoon, and all that was burned and pillaged stands new again. Even though there is still much work to be done, things are slowly returning to normal. The people of the city could bear losing their properties, livestock and homes, but for those who had lost loved ones in the attack, their faith in the Emperor's might had waned. As Yu-Huang walks amongst the city observing its progress, he happens across General Arachie, Liu Chan and Kamui Li taking a well deserved break from rebuilding the wall of the citadel whilst training in magic and Cuju on a small field surrounded by houses under construction.
The bare-chested men volley a ball of fire to one another, and Liu Chan and Kamui Li steer well clear of the General's unpredictable and undisciplined foot. As Kamui Li gently volleys the ball to the General as if a delicate child, his foot bursts into flame and sets his slacks on fire. Kamui Li throws a bucket of water over the General and Liu Chan stares at him in disbelief.
“How many times must I tell you to roll up your slacks,” sighs Liu Chan.
“Just pass me the ball,” barks the General rolling up the scorched material of his slacks.
“I hope I am not interrupting,” says Yu-Huang approaching the trio of men.
“Of course not, care to join us,” asks Liu Chan.
“No Captain, I have many duties to attend to. General, how are you progressing?” asks the Emperor.
“Very well Emperor Yu-Huang,” replies the General whilst ignoring Liu Chan's short snorting laugh.
“Kamui Li, may I speak with you?” asks Yu-Huang.
“Of course, to what do I owe the honour of your visit?” asks Kamui Li, walking with the Emperor.
“The Black Dragon has requested your presence,” says Yu-Huang.
“My presence, for what reason?” asks Kamui Li strangely.
“I know not, but I suggest you do not keep him waiting. May I suggest we keep this knowledge from the Ministers, for the time being,” says Yu-Huang.
“Indeed,” replies Kamui Li without pause. “Will that be all Master?”
“Minister Denshi has chosen to accept a life of immortality. I wish for you to train under his tutelage in the Tower of Guang. Together you will study the ancient manuscripts and further your knowledge of the unknown; I will be announcing Master Denshi's title of Elder Priest at a special ceremony five days from now,” says Emperor Yu-Huang.
Kamui Li placates the Emperor with a smile and sighs heavily as he attempts to find the right words. With the Emperor putting so much faith in his Ministry, how is he to convince him that Chung Denshi might not be who he claims to be. Kamui Li knows if he fails to convince him of his suspicions, he may lose his chance to get close enough to Chung Denshi and expel the Darkness within him.
“Master Denshi, he approves of this arrangement? The last words we shared were not of kind nature,” says Kamui Li.
“Master Denshi spoke to you in such a manner to fool his brothers; I thought you knew this,” says Yu-Huang.
“Is it not forbidden for outsiders to enter the great Tower of Guang?” asks Kamui Li.
“Extremely forbidden, though I do not regard you as an outsider. Do you accept this offer of great knowledge?” asks Yu-Huang.
“You honour me with such a great task. I accept, Master Yu-Huang,” says Kamui Li, bowing to the Emperor.
“Wonderful, you may return to your game,” says Yu-Huang happily.
“Master Yu-Huang, what will become of the Samurai liberated from the Darkness?” asks Kamui Li.
“At present they desire nothing but to be released from their shame, were their Katanas returned to them, they would surely commit Seppuku,” says Yu-Huang sadly.
“‘Tis their right, ‘tis not for you to deny them,” replies Kamui Li sternly.
“My friend, their minds are broken, their spirits crushed. I would give them a reason to fight, a reason to live, a reason to reclaim their honour, and when they rise once again they will find reason to stay their blades from their guts. It will take some time before they resemble the men and women they once were, but look at how you and your people have flourished since your arrival, look at the progress you have made. These new arrivals deserve the same chance to redeem themselves, do they not?” says Yu-Huang.
“My Emperor, those were entirely different circumstances. By denying their wishes, by refusing our traditions and customs I risk losing the trust and respect of my people,” replies Kamui Li.
“Kamui Li, your traditions and sacred birthrights were overruled the day Tatsu Kazuko selected immortals and dispatched them to serve a Chinese Emperor,” says the Emperor.
“Then what choice do they have if you refuse their deaths? They would rather die than be locked away like animals,” says Kamui Li.
“I have spoken with Warden Seto. They are to be treated well and held separate from the main population. At present they pose far too great a danger to be released, but when they begin to show signs of improvement, I shall have them moved to the temples. I too shall offer them counsel, as will the Houses of the Ministry,” says Yu-Huang.
“Temples of the Ministry, why?” asks Kamui Li.
“The temples possess healing qualities; many of those held prisoner are immortals and ‘tis their minds that require time to heal, not their bodies. Time is all they need my friend, you shall see,” replies Yu-Huang kindly.
Kamui Li bows in gratitude and Yu-Huang returns the gesture before leaving. During his stroll, Yu-Huang inspects the works being carried out around him, but as he recalls the demonic face from his dream, he turns back to observe the Samurai playing as a normal youngster would with his friends. The Emperor dismisses the ridiculous notion and continues walking. Back at the friendly game of Cuju, Kamui Li volleys the ball to General Arachie and the General generates a crackling storm of grey clouds and lightning around his foot as he prepares to execute an aerial roundhouse kick.
The General leaps and brings his foot around but kicks the ball off the field and sends it bouncing across a wide lane and into a tall dark alley. Liu Chan groans and sets of running after it as two nearby laughing children venture into the darkness to retrieve it for him. The boy and girl soon regret having entered the alleyway as its gloom is a forbearing of eerie contrast against the sun filled and joyous day. Even though that warm, friendly and unthreatening dimension remains within sight,
they would have to walk backwards into the dripping unknown to know that it remains. With every step they take they watch that comforting light grow further and further away until it looks as though it would take a lifetime to touch should a sudden frightening noise give them cause to flee. The children’s apprehensions are overcome as they see the feather stuffed ball resting against the wall on the wet muddy ground. The little girl smiles and goes to retrieve it and the younger boy frowns with revulsion as he steps in something soft, wet and squelchy. The boy feels for the leaking object under his foot and appears puzzled as he touches a soft coat of damp warm fur. Grabbing what resembles a tail, he holds the object up to a thin beam of pale light and stutters a scream as his horrified face stares at a disembowelled cat. The little boy looks at his friend as she nears the ball and she suddenly recoils in fear as an unseen force pushes the ball in her direction. The ball stops at the little girl's foot, and with her friend they back away slowly as a tall cloaked figure wearing a wide metal conical hat appears to glide toward them through the shadow. The figure stops and crouches by the ball and picks it up with its five long fingernails. With the curved daggers wrapped around the ball, his arm elongates forward to offer it back to the two youngsters. The creepy stranger tilts his head up and reveals his eyes glowing silver in the dark, and the luminosity of his eyes gives light to his hollow cheek bones splashed with smeared and dripping blood. The children hold hands whilst backing away, then run for their lives just as they feared they would. They see the sunlight beating down upon the wide lane and green grassy field, and they hope to make it. The two children scream at the top of their voices as they run into the outspread arms of a shadow.
“Settle down, why are you screaming?” asks Liu Chan concernedly.
“Something, there is something down there,” replies the girl.
“A man, a monster,” adds the boy.
“The monsters are gone now, there is nothing down there. Come with me and see for yourself,” says Liu Chan.
“No, do not go down there Captain Chan I beg of you,” pleads the girl.
“You are going to feel very foolish upon my return,” says Liu Chan in an adult manner.
The children, feeling more secure in the company of an elder, jog to the breaking sunlight at the end of the alleyway and wait for him there. Liu Chan walks on ahead completely ignorant to their warnings and sees the ball resting at the dead end. Liu Chan takes the ball and wipes of the mud before heading back. He suddenly stops in mid stride and grimaces as he feels a subtle gust of cold air around him, and he senses something. It was a new sensation to him, one he'd considered useless even though his Uncle the General had trained him to trust it with his life. Was this the sixth sense that his Uncle often spoke of? If so, he did not care for its spine-tingling sensation. Liu Chan feels eyes upon him, yet sees nothing as he looks around the cold, dank alley. Liu Chan touches the back of his neck as he feels something sharp nick his skin.
Cursing what he assumes is a hungry mosquito he looks at the dark smear of blood on his finger. The Jade Captain shakes of the paranoid sensation and continues walking, whilst branding himself a fool for entertaining his childish paranoia.
“Was it there, was it there, did you see it?” asks the little girl anxiously.
“What was it? Did you see it?” asks the little boy.
“Yes... I saw it. It was... hideous, vile, not of this realm,” says Liu Chan solemnly, “but worst of all, when it spoke, five green tongues came from its mouth,” adds the mean Captain.
“It spoke? What did it say?” ask the two children together.
Liu Chan looks over both his shoulders discreetly, then gestures them closer with his finger as if preparing to tell them both something very sacred.
“It said, if you do not bring Captain Liu Chan a pot of tea and a bowl of shredded wheat every morning... it will come for you when you least expect,” says Liu Chan quietly.
“No it did not, you lie,” says the girl suspiciously.
“You do not believe me? Very well, go and ask it yourself,” replies Liu Chan, gesturing to the nightmarish alley.
“I believe you, I will do it, I will, I will do it I swear,” says the terrified boy, backing away from shadow line of the alley.
“I was jesting you scared little fool. There is nothing in that alley but the contents of your imagination. The monsters are gone, and if they come back we will be ready. Now go, play,” says Liu Chan ruffling their messy heads of hair.
As the children run down the lane, Liu Chan jogs off with the ball and looks back at the alleyway for a second, and as he looks into the dark he feels another, stronger chill up his spine, his shoulders shudder. The Captain turns away finally and boots the ball far across the field to Kamui Li. As the Captain's loud voice becomes a faint din as he rejoins his company, a pair of silver eyes opens by the shaded entrance to the alley. Long drops of cat blood dangle from its top set of extended fangs, and it licks a drop of Liu Chan's blood from the tip of its fingernail.
“Lonnnnnnng Jiiiiiaaaaaaao,” says the Jiangshi in a low whisper.
Later that day as the sun sets, Captain Chan finishes his duties and prepares his units for the following day before heading over to his childhood home to drop of the General's gauntlets that he'd left behind. Liu Chan stops short at the doorstep, wondering whether or not to even announce his presence. He looks at the small pond in the garden with goldfishes splashing and circling the lily pads. He smiles softly at the memory of he and his Uncle Arachie paddling in the cool pond with tankards of fresh lemonade prepared by Aunt Yuming. It had been some time since his last visit, and as uncomfortable as he feels under their roof, he is long overdue a visit, even if it is just a brief greeting.
Liu Chan takes a deep breath and before he can even announce his presence, a short shadow rushes to the screen door and slides it open. Aunt Yuming welcomes him with a loving smile just as she always does then guides him indoors before he can even utter a word. Aunt Yuming, wearing a traditional white long sleeved gown, wooden clog sandals and pinned up hair embraces him before preparing a small pot of tea.
“It has been so long my dear child,” says Aunt Yuming.
“I know, forgive my long absence, it is good to see you Aunt Yuming,” says Liu Chan earnestly. “Unfortunately I cannot stay,” says Liu Chan bowing respectfully.
“My boy, my dear Liu Chan, I have prepared food and tea, I always make extra should fortune see you visit us for dinner,” says Aunt Yuming.
“My gratitude Aunt Yuming, but I am only here to return the General's armour. He left it behind at training,” replies Liu Chan.
“Please Liu Chan, stay. I will handle the General,” says Aunt Yuming.
“‘Tis not only him,” says Liu Chan looking eerily at the fresh pink lotus flower resting beside his mother's ashes on the balcony.
Liu Chan sets the gauntlets down and turns to leave, but he doesn't get far as a coarse voice stops his exit.
“Liu Chan, leaving so soon?” says his sweaty and bare-chested Uncle Arachie. “Come, I wish to show you something,”
Liu Chan sighs silently and follows the General out to his open air dojo in the back garden.
“Watch, I have been following your instructions to the word,” says the General excitedly.
Liu Chan stands at the edge of the canvas floor training area with his arms folded and watches the General aptly perform a series of rapid flying round house kicks. Liu Chan smiles impressively as he watches the General fire consecutive green fireballs from his foot at a target range of basket lids. As each of the basket lids blaze alight into a flurry of green flames, the General lands and looks to Liu Chan with a hopeful expression.
“Impressive General,” says Liu Chan nodding in approval.
“I feel it now Captain, I am now able to visualise the desired element in my mind’s eye,” says the General feeling a sense of accomplishment.
“Well done General, you have completed your training, and much sooner than I expe
cted,” says Liu Chan, bowing respectfully. “I will leave you in peace General. I will report to you tomorrow on the updates on the Northern sector repairs,” adds Liu Chan formally.
“Will you not at least dine with us?” says Arachie wiping his armpits with a wet rag.
Liu Chan would like nothing more than to stay for dinner and relive the comforting nostalgic memories of a home cooked meal amongst the loving faces from his childhood, but feels like an awkward imposter. As a child, the more he became an adolescent, the more he disrupted their peace with his rebellious adolescent antics that often ended in blazing rows with his Uncle. Feeling more estranged from his adoptive parents with each passing day, he also feels there are matters regarding his parents that are being kept from him. But mostly, Liu Chan doesn't wish to be a further burden to his Aunt, and his Uncle is no longer the jolly man he remembers from his early childhood. As much as he loves his Uncle Arachie, he is now nothing more than authority figure, a man commanded to command him, and to send him to die if he must. Liu Chan has lots of friends, too many to count, but he would trade them all if he could make things as they were with the General. But nothing would make Liu Chan breathe more easily at this very moment than getting as far away from this place as possible, but he would also do anything to avoid insulting their sensitive and well meaning natures.