| Fan Fiction |
by Melanie
CITY OF LAM ON
ON THE SECOND FLOOR OF SKY DRAGON RESTAURANT
Koo Yat Keung, Chau Mo, and Lau Dong sit at a table near Sky Dragon Restaurant's second floor balcony overlooking the busy marketplace of Lam On. The three Sun Moon Sect members sip wine as they plan their next course of action against the Lam family.
Koo Yat Keung brings his miniature cup of wine close to his nostrils for a sniff. "Have you sent our people to survey the lay of Lam Mansion?"
Chau Mo nods. "Yes, we have, Second Young Master. According to reports, Lam Siu Tin and Chan Yin Yuk are away, leaving their four children to guard Lam Mansion. There are a total of four entrances to the mansion, each with two stationed manservants serving as guards. Change of guard duty occurs at sunrise and at sunset."
Keung nods approvingly. "Have you found out any more useful information?"
Lau Dong smiles. "As a matter of fact, yes. One of the servants, a Mok Yee San, appears to have romantic feelings toward the second Lam son. It also appears that she is very rash and short-tempered. In addition, a few days ago, the Lams acquired a new maid, who used to be one of the "untouched" new girls at Yee Heung Lau, Lam On's most popular house of ill-repute."
Keung rubs his chin thoughtfully. "Very interesting, indeed. I want you to find out more information on these two servants. They may be the keys to the downfall of this family of invincible martial arts experts."
Chau Mo nods in assent. "Yes, we will see to this immediately. Grandmother Fa wants us to inform you that she will meet with you tonight for any reports of new developments."
Chau Mo and Lau Dong get ready to leave the restaurant. While descending the stairs of Sky Dragon Restaurant, they brush pass Sui Han, who is coming up the stairs to look for a table to sit while she waits for Lun. Delighted at finding an empty table near the balcony overlooking the bustling marketplace, she quickly walks over to claim her spot. Now that she is free of Yee Heung Lau, she feels lighthearted and cheerful, emotions which she has not experienced since her Big Brother Sai Chung died. Humming a soft tune to herself, Sui Han glances down on the street below, trying to catch a glimpse of Lun.
At the next table facing her, Keung looks up from his wine, trying to locate the source of the gentle, sweet melody, and sees a vision of delicate beauty in front of him. He gazes at her, bewitched, his wine forgotten. For Keung, the rest of the world has faded away, leaving only this fair maiden.
A toddler, who has escaped his mother's grasp, energetically chugs his stubby legs towards the balcony, where colorful lanterns sway in the gentle breeze. He clumsily bumps into Keung, bringing him out of his trance. The little boy, who has fallen down from his collision with Keung, now sits on the floor wailing, more from shock than from pain.
As Keung and Sui Han rush toward the child, both of their hands accidentally touch in their haste to pick up the boy. Sui Han hurriedly withdraws her hands, uncomfortable. At that moment, the child's mother rushes up to them and claims her boy.
The child's mother gushes effusely. "Thank you so much, Sir. Thank you, Miss."
Keung acknowledges her gratitude distractedly. "You're welcome." He keeps his eyes on Sui Han, who has her head turned slightly away from him, uncomfortable at being stared at so blatantly.
Sui Han goes back to her seat and resumes her watch for Lun, while Keung also returns to his table. Out of the corner of her eyes, she notices Keung's steady gaze.
Sui Han mutters under her breath. "Pervert!"
Extremely uneasy, Sui Han tries to ignore him. After a few minutes, she peeks over in his direction, hoping that he has lost his fascination with her. Unfortunately, her gaze locks with his the second she glances over. He smiles charmingly at her. Unimpressed, she leaps up from her seat and hurries downstairs.
Alarmed that he has scared her off with his smile, he attempts to pursue her, but his chase is thwarted by the appearance of huge, overly friendly, burly man.
The burly man envelops Keung in a bone-crushing embrace. "Thank you, Sir, for taking care of my little boy when he fell down." The man delivers a couple of forceful slaps to Keung's back before walking off with his family.
Stunned at what just occurred, Keung stands rooted to the ground for a few minutes before he remembers Sui Han. Quickly, using his lightness kung fu, he leaps down the balcony and runs down the street, urgently scanning the area for the young woman who has stolen his heart within a matter of seconds.
Sui Han, hiding behind a large woven basket in an alley, sneaks a peek at Keung as he rushes past her. "You pervert! You've got some nerve to stalk me in broad daylight!" She grumbles angrily under her breath. She waits a few more minutes after he has passed before walking back toward Sky Dragon Resturant to wait for Lun.
MUCH LATER THAT SAME DAY
IN THE GARDENS OF LAM MANSION
Sparrows flutter from tree to tree, chirping furiously as their peace is disturbed by Yik Wah's swift and accurate sword strokes. He flies into the air and flips from one tree to the next, scattering leaves with his sword. With one final air-borne somersault, he lands on the rooftop, sits down, and chugs from a small gourd of wine to quench his thirst. On the ground below him, the scattered leaves form the Chinese character, "Lam."
Nearby, Chi Chi, who is also practicing her sword skills, stops and runs over to admire her Second Brother's handy work.
Chi Chi exclaims excitedly. "Second Brother! I want to learn how to form Chinese characters with scattered leaves!
Wah leaps down from the rooftop to pat Chi Chi on the cheek. "I'll teach you only if you promise to not leave Lam Mansion until Father and Mother return."
Chi Chi pouts. "Hey! That's not a fair exchange! I'll be bored to death! You and Eldest Brother never let me go anywhere! He wouldn't even let me accompany Sui Han this morning to Yee Heung Lau."
Wah sighs. "That's because a well-bred lady is not supposed to frequent those places!"
Chi Chi sticks her tongue out at Wah. "I am going to find Sui Han. She is more fun to be with!"
She runs off to the kitchen, leaving Wah staring after her with a resigned look. He picks up his sword and dabs the sweat from his forehead with this sleeve. At that moment, Mok Yee San enters the garden, carrying a tray of desserts. She smiles at Wah and quickly places the tray down on the stone table.
Yee San rushes over to Wah and makes a move to dab the sweat from his forehead. "Here, let me help you, Second Young Master."
Wah quickly moves his head backward, away from her hands. "I am fine." He walks into his room and shuts the door firmly, leaving a fuming and speechless Yee San standing alone in the garden.
IN THE LAM'S KITCHEN
Sui Han busily chops vegetables on a cutting board. Because the Lam's regular cook, Sung Ling, is visiting her ailing mother and most of the kitchen staff is sick with a head cold, Sui Han has volunteered to help prepare today's evening meal. Beside her, Lun stares at the pot of half-cooked rice in confusion.
Lun frowns and mutters to himself. "I could have sworn I added enough water to the pot! But why is the rice only half-cooked?"
Sui Han glances over at him and smiles secretly. "First Young Master, how is the rice coming along over there?"
Lun tries to hide the rice pot from her view. "Ummm…fine. Everything is under control."
Sui Han probes teasingly. "Really? Let me see the rice pot."
Lun stares at her indignantly. "Why? I can cook just as well as any person!"
Not believing a word he says, Sui Han stands on tiptoes to peek over his shoulder at the pot of half-cooked rice. "Hmmm…" She giggles at his insulted look. "First Young Master, you do not belong in the kitchen. Why don't you wait in the dining room until dinner is ready? I can handle this by myself."
Lun, wanting to take advantage of every opportunity to be near Sui Han, objects quickly. "No, I want to help you. You are new here, and it is unfair that you have to take over another servant's responsibilities in addition to your own."
Chi Chi, who has just reached the kitchen, stands in the doorway silently observing her Eldest Brother's lovesick expression. She smiles mischievously.
Chi Chi remarks teasingly. "Eldest Brother, since when did you decide to become a cook? I recall that you dread even the simple task of boiling water. Remember that time you almost burned the whole kitchen down trying to impress mother by making her breakfast?" She turns to Sui Han and whispers to her. "Our old cook retired the day following that incident!"
Lun glares at Chi Chi, willing her to be quiet with his stern expression. "You're making that up!" He denies.
Sui Han smiles at the siblings. "First Young Master, to be honest, I think dinner will be finished sooner if you wait in the dining room."
Chi Chi, upon hearing this, giggles uncontrollably. Lun continues to glare at his youngest sister.
Sui Han, taking pity on Lun, suggests, "First Young Master, why don't you help by chopping more wood for me?"
Lun breaks into a wide grin, relieved that he does not have to re-cook the rice. "Sure! I can do that!"
He walks over to the pile of wood and proceeds to break each large block into miniature pieces with his bare hands. Chi Chi rolls her eyes at her brother's obvious attempt to show off in front of Sui Han.
Chi Chi clears her throat. "Uhhh…Eldest Brother, the axe is right at your feet."
Lun stops and glares at Chi Chi. Sui Han chuckles, convinced that the Lams are a strange but very amusing family.
THAT EVENING
CITY OF LAM ON
IN ONE OF THE CHAMBERS OF A HIGH-CLASSED INN
Koo Yat Keung sits at the table, a small smile on his lips as he stares dreamily at his drawing of the young woman he has met this morning at Sky Dragon Restaurant. Three consecutive knocks on the door interrupt his reverie. Keung quickly rolls up the drawing and places it beside his pillow on the bed.
Keung walks toward the door. "Who is it?"
Grandmother Fa replies, "Second Young Master, it is I, Grandmother Fa."
Recognizing the voice of one of his subordinates, Keung opens the door and invites her in. "Do you have any more news on the Lams?"
Grandmother Fa nods. "Yes. It appears that the oldest Lam son is infatuated with the new maid. He came by my vendor stand this morning and bought all my hairpins in an attempt to impress her."
Keung laughs amusingly. "Interesting! So the lone swordsman known to the martial arts world as cold and emotionless is not so emotionless after all!" He chuckles slyly.
Grandmother Fa asks, "What do you want us to do?"
Keung, with an evil glint in his eyes, muses to himself. "United, the Lams are invincible. Even individually, they are difficult to defeat. However, it seems as if we have discovered a new weak link in this unbreakable chain." He paces the room slowly, scheming. "Grandmother Fa, here's what I want you to do…"
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If you enjoy this story, please also read my other story, Legendary Book of Sun-Moon Swordplay - The Prequel. Thank you.
http://www.winglin.net/fanfic/legendprequel/