| Fan Fiction |
by Melanie
JADE ORCHID TOWN
MARKETPLACE
NOODLE SHOP
Just as Sai Chung is about to lift his teacup to his lips, he spies three newcomers, two men and one woman, entering the noodle shop. The hand holding the teacup freezes halfway up to his suddenly dry mouth, and his heart pounds thunderously against his rib cage. Clutching Chi Chi’s hand, Sai Chung quietly, but urgently, insists, "We have to quickly leave!"
Feeling the constricting hold on her hand, Chi Chi glances up at Sai Chung with surprise. "Huh?" She sputters, a tad annoyed. "But I haven’t eaten my spicy noodle soup yet!
"We have to leave!" Sai Chung repeats, his voice soft and low, but filled with fear. "I’ll explain later." He mutters through his teeth. Intending to drag Chi Chi along if he has to, Sai Chung looks furtively at the three newcomers, hoping they have not noticed his presence yet.
Unfortunately, before Sai Chung is able to drag Chi Chi to the back entrance of the noodle shop, the older of the two men glances in their direction. His eyes narrowed in recognition as he focuses in on Sai Chung, Fong Sing Duk lowers himself calmly down onto the empty table two tables away from the one occupied by Chi Chi and Sai Chung. Without any change in his expression, he shifts his eyes toward Chu Kot Chuet Ching, giving his subordinate a signal with a subtle jerk of his head.
Responding to the Association Leader’s order with a nod of understanding, Chu Kot Chuet Ching takes a step toward Sai Chung’s table. Before he is able to go far, Sum Guk Yiu, who is standing next to him, clutches at his hand, her pleading eyes trained on his emotionless face. Shifting his eyes briefly toward Sai Chung, Chu Kot Chuet Ching immediately guesses correctly Sum Guk Yiu’s concern for Sai Chung’s safety. A jealous rage suddenly unfurls within him, threatening to consume him. Carefully controlling his emotions, Chuet Ching returns Guk Yiu’s beseeching stare with an unfathomable look and pulls his hand out of her grasp. Turning away, Chu Kot Chuet Ching walks toward a tense Sai Chung.
Smiling, Chuet Ching gazes at an oblivious Chi Chi. "Good afternoon, Miss." Ignoring Sai Chung, he speaks directly to Chi Chi, his tone charmingly pleasant.
Startled, Chi Chi glances up, her eyes resting on Chu Kot Chuet Ching’s convincingly friendly expression. "Oh!" She gasps in surprise, her mouth forming a small "o."
"How do you do, Miss?" Chuet Ching bows slightly. "My surname is Chu Kot. I am Brother Sai Chung’s old friend." He lies smoothly. Shooting Sai Chung a challenging look, Chuet Ching shifts his attention back toward Chi Chi, his expression winsome once more. "May I sit down?"
"Oh, well…" Chi Chi beams at Chu Kot Chuet Ching. "Of course! You are certainly welcome to join us!" As Chuet Ching settles himself down on the wooden stool next to Chi Chi, she peeks over at Sai Chung, chattering happily. "It’s a good thing we didn’t leave earlier, Big Brother Sai Chung, or else, you would have missed meeting your good friend!"
"Oh?" Chuet Ching smiles coolly. "Brother Sai Chung, you were trying to leave just when I came into the noodle shop?" He queries, his tone taunting.
Tense, Sai Chung consciously forces his facial muscles to relax into a smile. "Fancy seeing you here, Brother Chuet Ching. Don’t you remember what I told you the last time we saw each other that night in the forest?" He stares steadily into Chuet Ching’s eyes, a threat apparent, as he refers their last encounter when Chuet Ching faked Chi Chi’s death and injured him.
"And do you remember what I told you last time we saw each other?" Chuet Ching replies, his tone calm, but no less dangerous, as he refers to his threat that nobody can leave the Association without permission alive.
Unsure what is going on, but sensing the thick tension between the two men, Chi Chi darts her eyes uneasily back and forth between Sai Chung and Chuet Ching. "Umm…is everything all right?"
Ignoring her, Chuet Ching continues to stare solely at Sai Chung. Keeping his eyes trained on Sai Chung’s face, Chuet Ching reaches for the teapot and pours tea into the teacup in front of him. "We haven’t had a chance to sit down and chat for a long time, old friend. Today is the perfect opportunity to do so. Here, have a drink!" Lifting the cup, he thrusts it forward toward Sai Chung.
"No, thank you, Brother Chuet Ching. I’m not thirsty." Blocking the thrust, Sai Chung pushes the teacup back toward Chuet Ching with his palm.
In counterattack, Chuet Ching swerves the hand holding the cup to the right and immediately lifts his hand upward, thrusting the teacup forward again toward Sai Chung. Blocking Chuet Ching’s move, Sai Chung hits his opponent’s hand from the bottom, dislodging the teacup, sending it hurtling straight up into the air above the table. Following this move, Sai Chung punches forward with his right fist, only to have Chuet Ching block the fist with an open palm. To counterattack, Sai Chung opens his fist and sweeps forward with his palm, aiming for Chuet Ching’s shoulder. Twisting his torso to the side, Chuet Ching evades the punch, executing a perfect somersault in the air before landing neatly back onto his stool. Meanwhile, Sai Chung uses his palm wind to send the still airborne teacup hurtling toward his enemy. With swift reflexes, Chuet Ching grabs onto the cup flying in his direction with his hand, while simultaneously thrusting his right foot forward, attacking Sai Chung from below the table. Quickly, Sai Chung raises his right foot to meet Chuet Ching’s. Almost at the same time, both men’s left feet cross over their right ones, meeting in a deadlock.
Tossing the cup once again up into the air, Chuet Ching picks up the pair of chopsticks lying in front of him and deftly picks up a peanut from the small dish sitting at the center of the table. Sending the peanut hurtling toward Sai Chung, Chuet Ching intends to seal his opponent’s accupressure point with the peanut. In response, Sai Chung slams his right palm down onto the table, bringing the small dish of peanuts flying upward, just in time to catch the single piece of peanut coming towards him. Within seconds, the peanut dish lands safely back onto the table, without any spillage, a testament to Sai Chung’s skill.
As the teacup once again starts its descent back toward the table, Sai Chung utilizes his palm wind to push the cup back toward Chuet Ching. "You must be thirsty by now, Brother Chuet Ching. Have a drink!" He offers, as the cup spins rapidly through the air, shooting toward his opponent.
In response, Chuet Ching channels his internal energy toward his palm. "No, thank you! You drink it!" Pushing his palm forward, he sends the cup hurtling back through the air at Sai Chung.
For the next few seconds, a tug of war occurs, as two opposing internal energy force fields suspend the teacup midair between the two combatants. Finally, unable to withstand the energy field surrounding it, the cup explodes into a million pieces.
Almost immediately, Sai Chung picks up a pair of chopsticks. Following his move, Chuet Ching also latches onto a pair of chopsticks. As two pairs of chopsticks clash, each man sends forth a burst of internal energy, causing the wooden eating utensils to glow with a bright white light. In a matter of seconds, the chopsticks break under the pressure. Instantly, Sai Chung and Chuet Ching meet in a clash of palms. Unlocking their feet below the table, both simultaneously kick at the wooden table legs, causing the table to splinter and crash to the floor.
Shocked at the rapid turn of events, Chi Chi leaps back from the crumbling table to avoid being hit by pieces of flying wood. Her eyes round as she hugs onto the two travel bundles tightly, Chi Chi jerks her head back and forth between the two men while they continue to exchange stances.
Around them, chaos erupts as the noodle shop’s other customers scream at the outbreak of a fight.
"Please, please!" The nervous shopkeeper runs up to the two men, his hands wringing anxiously. "Please do not fight, gentlemen! Please spare my humble noodle shop!"
However, the shopkeeper’s pleas fall on deaf ears as Sai Chung and Chuet Ching continue to lunge at each other, legs kicking, fists punching. Tables flip over, stools lie overturned, dishes crash to the wooden floor, as bedlam ensues. Frightened customers scurry and trip over each other in a mad dash to exit the shop. Soon, even the shopkeeper runs for safety, abandoning the restaurant. The shop quickly clears, leaving only the two combatants, the motionless Chi Chi hovering near the window, a concerned Sum Guk Yiu, and a very calm Fong Sing Duk, who continues to sip tea slowly as if nothing out of the ordinary is occurring.
As Sai Chung flips up onto the second story of the noodle shop, Chuet Ching follows right behind. Hooking his arm around a pillar, Chuet Ching kicks forward. In retaliation, Sai Chung somersaults into the air and wraps his legs around one of the rafter beams, dangling upside down. Receiving each of Chuet Ching’s kicks with sweeps of his palm, Sai Chung exchanges fifty stances with his enemy.
Suddenly, Chu Kot Chuet Ching flings a sack of flour at Sai Chung. Raising his hands up, he hurls the sack back at Chuet Ching, ripping the sack in the process. As white powder disperses everywhere, obscuring Sai Chung’s view temporarily, Chuet Ching unleashes a flurry of poisonous darts, aiming for Sai Chung’s torso. Quickly leaving his upside down perch from the rafters, Sai Chung flips vertically in the air and grabs onto the closest available weapon – a long pole with a metal hook on its end used for reaching baskets of herbs hanging from the beams on the second story. Holding the weapon horizontally in front of him, Sai Chung uses it as a shield as the four darts embed into the length of the pole. Then, lunging forward with the pole, he twirls it around rapidly before striking at Chuet Ching. Leaping back, Chuet Ching barely avoids the sharp tip of the metal hook. Sandwiching the tip of the pole between his palms, Chuet Ching channels his internal energy toward his palms and snaps off the hooked end. Now, with each man holding onto one end of the pole, a battle of internal energy ensues. Each channels his internal energy towards the other via the wooden stick. Within seconds, the pole bends and snaps in the middle, as both Sai Chung and Chuet Ching fly toward each other, meeting in a resounding clash of palms.
Suddenly, a loud, shrill yell from the first floor distracts Sai Chung’s concentration, as he recognizes Chi Chi’s voice. Taking advantage of his opponent’s slight break in momentum, Chuet Ching delivers a kick to Sai Chung’s abdomen, sending him catapulting over the balcony railing onto the ground floor. As Sai Chung hits the ground, he scrambles to his feet and swivels urgently toward the direction of the scream. There, by the window, Chi Chi stands stiffly with a bright green whip looped around her neck. Behind her, Sum Guk Yiu tightens the whip, causing Chi Chi to squeak in distress.
"Little Brother!" Sai Chung calls out with worry.
"Big Brother Sai Chung!" Chi Chi screams nervously. "Who are these people?! Are they not your friends?!"
Still sitting at the table leisurely helping himself to some peanuts, Fong Sing Duk acts undisturbed by the chaos playing out in front of him.
Shooting Fong Sing Duk a venomous look, Sai Chung demands, "Let her go! Our dispute does not involve her!"
Chuckling slightly, the Association Leader continues sipping his tea, as if enjoying a show. "Oh, I know it does not concern your young lady friend, Shadowless Assassin. However, I am tired of your resistance. Do you remember the rules of the Association when you joined? Once you decide to join, you remain a member for life!"
"Enough!" Sai Chung hollers uncharacteristically, as he is usually reserved. "I don’t care about your rules. I refuse to return to the Association. What I owe you, I have repaid in my years of service to you!"
With those words, Sai Chung suddenly somersaults toward the green gowned Sum Guk Yiu. Seeing his approach, Guk Yiu flies backward, taking Chi Chi along with her. As Sai Chung nears the green robed young woman, she raises her green whip. Snaking through the air at rapid speed, the whip flashes like a green apparition, disappearing briefly before reappearing near Sai Chung, wrapping tightly around his wrist.
In counterattack, Sai Chung grabs onto one end of the whip and gives it one hard yank, bringing Guk Yiu and Chi Chi flying through the air toward him. Leaping upward to meet the two women midair, he uses his free hand to palm Guk Yiu on the shoulder. Forced to evade his blow, Guk Yiu twists to one side, her hold on Chi Chi loosening. Using this opportunity, Sai Chung reaches forward and wraps his arm around Chi Chi’s waist, bringing her safely to his side. Landing on the ground, he sets her down.
Losing her hostage, Guk Yiu unfurls her whip from around Sai Chung’s wrist and sends it slashing through the air. Somersaulting left and then right, Sai Chung easily escapes the sting of the whip. Raising her hand again, Guk Yiu this time feigns an attack on Sai Chung. At the last second, however, she moves her hand slightly off to the side and hurls her whip toward Chi Chi instead.
Noticing Guk Yiu’s attack, Chi Chi rolls to the side, evading the first blow. Without a weapon on hand, she improvises and yanks at a stack of dishes nearby. Flinging the plates at Guk Yiu, she aims for the head even as the green whip lashes out, shattering the ceramic. Not before long, she runs out of dishes. Quickly vaulting over the shopkeeper’s desk, Chi Chi ducks, barely escaping the deadly flick of the whip.
At that moment, Sai Chung jumps in and slams his palm down on the end of the whip, nailing it down onto the surface of the shopkeeper’s desk, trapping the weapon. Struggling to free her whip, Guk Yiu pulls and yanks fiercely. However, she is unsuccessful at recovering her weapon, for she is no match for Sai Chung’s superior strength. Knowing Fong Sing Duk would not easily spare her if she does not put in a good effort to recapture Chi Chi, Guk Yiu abandons her whip and flies toward the desk, intending to grab the hidden Chi Chi.
To thwart her, Sai Chung somersaults forward and unleashes his Silent Palm. Using only a small percentage of his internal energy so that he does not seriously injure Guk Yiu, his palm glides forward, bringing with it an invisible field of energy.
Up on the second story, Chu Kot Chuet Ching yells out a warning. "Guk Yiu, be careful!"
Unfortunately, it is too late, as Sai Chung’s palm already connects with her shoulder. Knocked away, Guk Yiu catapults backward. Before she hits the opposite wall, Chu Kot Chuet Ching flips down from the upstairs balcony and catches her. Settling her safely on the ground, Chuet Ching swivels toward Sai Chung, murder evident in his eyes.
"You dare to use your lethal Silent Palm on Guk Yiu?" Chuet Ching rages at Sai Chung. "Do you even know what she has done for you?" He refers to the night when Guk Yiu has given her precious last antidote pill to Sai Chung.
Unaware of what Guk Yiu has done for him, Sai Chung gives Chuet Ching a confused look. However, before he is able to further question the purple robed man, Chuet Ching releases a rain of purple darts toward Sai Chung. Grabbing onto an overturned table, Sai Chung uses the tabletop as a shied. As the darts embed into the wooden table, he flings the table away. Reaching behind the shopkeeper’s desk, Sai Chung clutches onto Chi Chi’s hand and pulls her up.
"Let’s go, Little Brother!" Sai Chung shouts, dragging Chi Chi along.
As he makes a beeline for the door with Chi Chi in tow, Sai Chung suddenly feels the slightest shift of the air. With a feeling of doom, he knows that Fong Sing Duk has finally decided to intervene. Before Sai Chung is even able to react, a shadow flashes before his eyes. With lightening speed, a palm streaks forward and slaps him hard on the shoulder, ripping him away from Chi Chi and sending him flying through the air like a discarded rag doll.
At that moment, two figures, one tall and one petite, leap through the window of the noodle shop. The smaller of the two newcomers flings a smoke bomb into the center of the room. As the bomb explodes, smoke fills the restaurant, occluding everyone’s vision, sending the occupants into coughing spasms. The taller figure flips an injured Sai Chung over his shoulder, while the more petite person grabs onto Chi Chi’s hand. Without wasting time, the two newcomers vault over the window once more with Sai Chung and Chi Chi in tow.
As the thick, suffocating layer of smoke settles, an incensed Fong Sing Duk bellows with fury. "Chuet Ching, Guk Yiu! Go after Cheng Sai Chung and the girl! Bring them back alive! That turncoat Cheng Sai Chung needs to be taught a lesson!"
As Chu Kot Chuet Ching and Sum Guk Yiu rush after the four people who have escaped, Fong Sing Duk slams his fist down on a nearby table, smashing the piece of furniture to pieces.
THAT EVENING
OUTSKIRTS OF JADE ORCHID TOWN
SEASIDE
A white robed man sits alone on the sand, staring blankly into the dark expanse of sea, oblivious to the chilly night air. Foamy waves rush at the shoreline, like slippery fingers grasping onto wet sand. Every so often, a seagull cries in the distance, the soft whoosh of its flapping wings blending in with the crashing waves. Despite the cold night, the evening sky remains clear with no signs of stormy clouds. The waning moon, just a tiny crescent shaped beacon in the heavens, barely provides any light, allowing the wondrous display of twinkling stars to shine against the deep blanket of darkness thrown across the sky.
As Lun gazes out at the ocean, he thinks back to a conversation he had with a little boy earlier today in the morning. Since separating from Sui Han the night before, Lun has wandered aimlessly around, like a lost soul, homeless, without purpose, without the zest for life he experiences when Sui Han is by his side. Earlier this morning, he found himself somehow ending up in Jade Orchid Town, where he rescued Sui Han from Blue Executioner several weeks ago. He loitered about a small farmer’s market at the town square. After staring blankly at the various vendor stands set up alongside the worn dirt path, he sat down on the steps of a temple. Ignoring the curious glances of the townspeople as they passed by, he looked down glumly at the sword lying across his lap, unsure what to do.
He should get going and find the Sun Moon Sect headquarters and steal the antidote for his younger brother, Lun thought to himself. Then, he had to rush back to the city of Lam On in time for the Heroes’ Gathering. But he couldn’t bring himself to drag his body up. His couldn’t concentrate. He couldn’t think. He couldn’t breathe without Sui Han.
"Big Brother, are you all right?" A childish voice asked.
Looking up, Lun found himself facing a boy of about eight years of age, his young eyes solemn and filled with innocence. "Of course, I’m all right." Lun forced himself to smile at the boy, even though he felt like crying, like screaming at the fates.
"Are you sure?" The boy frowned, amazingly perceptive at his age. "You look like you lost something, Big Brother."
"How do you know I lost something, little friend?" Lun inquired, amused despite his gloomy mood.
"Because I look exactly like you do whenever I lose the bronze coins Mother gives me to buy candy with." The boy explained. Then, he broke out in a toothy grin. "But this morning, I was very careful and did not drop my coins at all! Look! I bought two pieces of sweets with my money!" Stretching his hand forward, he showed Lun two pieces of melted candy in the palm of his hand. "I’ll give you one piece of candy, Big Brother. That way, you won’t have to be so sad anymore."
Smiling, Lun gently patted the boy on his shoulder. "Thank you for your generosity, little friend, but Big Brother has lost something that candy can’t fix. You keep the sweet for yourself, little buddy."
"Oh…" The youngster hesitated, obviously preferring to eat both pieces of candy, but at the same time, he did not want Lun to be sad either. "If you’re sure…" In the background, a woman’s voice called for her son. Turning swiftly toward his mother’s voice, the boy looked back at Lun, grinning. "That’s my mother! I have to go!" He started to take off but paused a few paces away. Running back to Lun, he gave him a hug. Patting Lun on the back, he spoke with worldly wisdom. "Don’t be sad, Big Brother. Stop sitting around and go find whatever you lost. You’ll be much happier!" Tilting his head, he mused. "That thing you lost must be sweeter than my candy to make you this sad!" With those parting words, he raced off, screaming joyfully for his mother.
Now sitting alone on the sandy beach, Lun recalls his encounter with the little boy earlier this morning. He chuckles to himself mockingly, realizing how enlightening the boy’s parting words are. He stares up at the night sky, his mind in turmoil. Where is Sui Han right now, he wonders. Is she safe? She still needs to ingest the innards of the green python in order to completely cure her injury from the Blood Shadow Palm, he thinks in a panic. And what about that poison that her godfather feeds her? What will happen to her once her temporary antidotes are used up? Sui Han needs someone to take care of her! What was he thinking of last night, leaving her like that? Urgently, Lun leaps up from the sandy beach, ready to rush off and find her.
But then, he stops and sits back down. Covering his face with his hands, he mutters deprecatingly to himself. "What are you doing, Lam Yik Lun?" He scolds himself. "She’s with the enemy!"
In response, a tiny voice inside his head yells back at him. No, she’s not your enemy, you idiot! Don’t let your stubborn male pride stand in your way. Listen to your heart. She’s your fiancée, the woman you love, the one you choose to spend the rest of your life with! Go after her before it’s too late!
Closing his eyes, he grits his teeth, frustrated. Extending his palm toward the sea, he releases a burst of internal energy, causing an explosion as water forcefully shoots upward. As the sea finally calms down again, Lun breathes heavily.
Trying to quiet his mind, he assumes a meditating position, closing his eyes. After many minutes, his breathing begins to even out as he falls into a semi-drowsy state. And in this dreamy state, visions of Sui Han dance across his mind, teasing him. He sees her long tresses fluttering in the wind as she turns to look at him playfully, her large eyes sparkling mischievously, her laughter tinkling.
"First Young Master," she calls out softly to him. The vision smiles beguilingly, before turning around and walking away.
"Sui Han!" Lun calls out to her in his mind. "Sui Han! Wait! Don’t leave me!" He reaches for her, but she eludes him, skipping out of his grasp.
"First Young Master!" She giggles, glancing back at him to see if he is giving chase. "First Young Master, hurry up!" She teases, disappearing behind a billowy curtain.
Rushing after her, he bursts through the sheer covering, catching hold of her from behind. Wrapping his arms tightly around her slim waist, he kisses her temple, breathing in the light scent of lavender that clings to her skin. But then, suddenly another tall man materializes out of nowhere, his handsome tanned face blurry. The man reaches a hand out and pulls Sui Han away.
"No!" Lun screams, trying to grab Sui Han’s other arm. However, his hand seems to slip through thin air, as she disappears with the darkly handsome stranger in a puff of smoke. "Sui Han!" Lun repeatedly calls out, his tone desperate. Fighting through the thick mist, he can only hear her soft voice calling to him…
"First Young Master… First Young Master…" A voice whispers, its sweet tones undulating like gentle waves, washing over him, toying with him.
Jerking awake from his dream, Lun opens his eyes and leaps up into the air. Executing several somersaults, he tears around the beach, calling out, "Sui Han! Sui Han!"
When only silence greets him, he blinks, still shaky from his dream. Behind him, the ocean has calmed down, its waves rolling gently against the shoreline. The distant cry of a seagull complements the light splashing of water against the cluster of rocks lining one end of the shore. Swallowing to wet his parched throat, Lun glances up at the stars, his gaze landing on a cluster of reds, blues, and golds.
"Dancing fairies," he murmurs, remembering the story she told him about her dancing fairies in the heavens above. Staring intently at the stars, he stretches his hand up, as if trying to touch that cluster of brilliant color. "You’re my dancing fairy, Sui Han."
At that moment, the wind carries a distant call toward him. The voice is gentle, definitely belonging to a female.
Jerking his head suddenly toward the direction of the muffled voice, Lun searches the dark, empty beach frantically. "Sui Han? Sui Han, is that you?" His heart beating with hope, he runs toward the voice.
As he approaches, a shadowy female figure materializes from the darkness. Taking a few tentative steps toward him, she then breaks into a run. Her long black hair streams behind her, whipping wildly in the wind, as she tears across the sandy beach and races into his arms.
"Big Brother Yik Lun!" Lok Bing Yee cries happily. "You have finally come back!"
Disappointed that she is not Sui Han, Lun puts his hands on Bing Yee’s shoulders and gently, but firmly, sets her away from him. Clearing his throat awkwardly, he asks, "What are you doing here, Bing Yee?"
"We have been waiting here in Jade Orchid Town for you for the past several weeks." A male voice answers him. Glancing in the direction of the voice, Lun sees Lee Wai Kit, Bing Yee’s male servant, approach them from the other end of the beach. "First Young Master Lam," Wai Kit nods a greeting to him once he reaches Lun. "Since that day a few weeks ago when you saved us from bandits, we have stayed with a local family here at the outskirts of Jade Orchid Town, waiting for your return."
"Yes," Bing Yee confirms, looking up at Lun. "Remember you spotted a small hut that day, while we were traveling through a snowstorm that hit Jade Orchid Town? You told us you would travel ahead with your lightness kung fu to ask for permission to stay with the local family living there, while Wai Kit and I walked behind you at a slower pace. However, by the time we reached the hut, you were nowhere to be found. I was so worried that those bandits had returned and ambushed you. I wanted to go out and look for you, but Wai Kit mentioned that staying in one place to wait for you would yield better results than wandering about." Smiling happily at Lun, Bing Yee snuggles against his chest. "I knew you would come back for me, Big Brother Yik Lun!"
"Umm…" Feeling awkward, Lun shuffles his feet, unsure how to politely tell Bing Yee to please stop hugging him. "Umm, Bing Yee, it’s getting late and the night will become colder soon. We should look for shelter." Once again setting her away from him, Lun takes a huge step backward, in case Bing Yee decides to lunge back into his arms. "Tomorrow morning, you and Wai Kit should return to the city of Lam On. You’ll be safer back home with your parents."
Shaking her head vigorously, Bing Yee refuses to leave Lun. "No, I want to stay with you!"
Hearing his young mistress’ words, Wai Kit lowers his head, hiding his hurt. Sighing inwardly, he silently reprimands himself for even daring to dream the impossible, for wishing for his young mistress to love him back.
"I still need to obtain the antidote from the Sun Moon Sect for my younger brother, Yik Wah." Lun explains. "It is a dangerous mission. Plus, there is another errand I need to do before going to the Sun Moon Sect…" He murmurs, thinking of first stopping by Green Python Valley to search for the nearly extinct green python for Sui Han. Turning his attention back to Bing Yee, he reasons, "How will I ever be able to explain to your parents if anything were to happen to you, Bing Yee?"
"I’m not afraid of danger, Big Brother Yik Lun!" Bing Yee insists. "Are you afraid that I will burden you? I promise to stay out of trouble! I won’t slow you down you at all!"
Sighing, Lun frowns. "It is not that I consider you a burden, Bing Yee. I just wish for you to be safe." He looks helplessly toward Wai Kit for help convincing Bing Yee to return home.
"But…" Bing Yee starts to object again. However, she is cut off by Wai Kit’s intentional sneeze.
"Aaa-choooo!" Wai Kit sneezes deliberately after he notes Lun’s silent request for help. "Umm, Young Mistress, it’s getting really chilly all of a sudden. Why don’t we find shelter for the night and discuss our plans tomorrow?" He adds a convincing sniffle at the end.
Reluctantly, Bing Yee nods. "All right. I guess we’re all tired."
Sighing with relief that he doesn’t have to continue the argument with Bing Yee, Lun bends down and picks up his sword and travel bundle. "Then it’s settled. It’s pretty isolated here in the outskirts of Jade Orchid Town. It is unlikely that there will be an inn nearby, since it’s at least another twenty to thirty miles before we reach the town center. Hopefully, there will be a cave or abandoned hut close by."
As Bing Yee and Wai Kit start walking, Lun trails behind them at a slower pace. Giving the distant cluster of red, blue, and gold stars one last look, he prays to Sui Han’s fairies that he would locate her soon. "Please keep her safe. And tell her, wherever she is, that I love her and I am sorry for being such a foolish idiot for driving her away." He whispers to the twinkling points of light in the sky.
Minutes after he leaves, a petite figure emerges from behind a large boulder situated some distance away. Her white gown flutters around her slender form. Against the dark night, her flawless ivory skin appears even more pale, even more ethereal and otherworldly. Staring after Lun with dark, unreadable eyes, Sui Han remains still as a statue, watching him until he disappears from sight.
Slowly, she lifts her face up, breathing in the fresh sea air as a crisp breeze washes over her skin. Gazing up at the stars, she, too, calls upon her dancing fairies to grant her a wish. Finished with her wish, she smiles slightly to herself and turns, intending to walk away.
But suddenly, she halts in mid-stride, sensing the presence of another person. Gulping nervously, she immediately drops down onto her knees, just as a dark shadow races toward her so quickly that it seems to have appeared out of nowhere.
"Godfather," Sui Han greets Fong Sing Duk respectfully.
"Sui Han, have you accomplished your task yet?" Fong Sing Duk asks, referring to Sui Han’s order to poison Lun with the Thousand Year Spider Poison.
"Godfather, Lam Yik Lun has discovered my identity. I’m afraid I cannot complete my mission, as he no longer wishes to keep me by his side." She keeps her head lowered, waiting with abated breath for her godfather’s outburst.
Seconds tick by, but the expected outburst never comes. Hesitantly glancing upward, she stares at Fong Sing Duk’s tall, dark figure looming over her. Finally, after a long ominous silence, he speaks. "He has discovered your identity?" Sing Duk whispers, his breathy voice somehow more lethal and frightening than angry screaming. Turning to stare straight into Sui Han’s eyes, he smiles coldly. "Well, then! That means you are no longer useful to me. Is that what you are telling me, Sui Han?"
"I…" Sui Han begins, a feeling of doom engulfing her. Quickly crawling on her hands and knees over to him, she clutches desperately at his hand. "Godfather, I can still aid you in other matters, even if I can never return to Lam Yik Lun’s side!" However, her pleas fall on merciless ears.
"I have no desire to keep useless people around." He informs her coldly, his expression stormy as he shakes off her hand. But then, a thought suddenly flits through his mind, and his countenance lightens up again. "Ah, but on second thought, I believe I still have use for you, Sui Han." Turning to face Sui Han again, he flashes a lethal grin at her, his teeth gleaming white in the darkness like fangs of a wild animal, his eyes dark and terrifying.
Fearful, Sui Han starts to back away from Sing Duk. But for every inch she retreats, her godfather advances forward two inches. Reaching down, Sui Han clutches onto a handful of sand. Without warning, she flings the handful of grainy material into Fong Sing Duk’s eyes, distracting him momentarily. Leaping to her feet, she tears across the beach, running for her life. Unfortunately, her lightness kung fu is far too inferior to her godfather’s, and within the blink of an eye, he reaches her.
Grabbing forcefully onto her shoulders from behind, he swings her around to face him. "What is the matter, Sui Han?" He taunts at her. "I’m your godfather. You can’t possibly be afraid of me!" Laughing maliciously, he lifts her chin up with his thumb and index finger. "You’re worried that I am going to kill you, aren’t you?" When she remains silent, he answers his own question. "Don’t worry, I still have one more use for you. But…I don’t need you to be healthy… I need you to be severely injured to be useful…" With lightening speed, he raises his palm and slams his hand against her back, completely destroying her martial arts with one forceful blow.
"Ahhhhh!" Sui Han screams, her cry of agony resonating loudly across the quiet seaside.
Raising his palm once again, Fong Sing Duk prepares to deliver another violent blow to Sui Han. As his palm approaches Sui Han’s forehead, a figure flies out, approaching them rapidly. The person lunges forward, and using his palm, blocks the blow from Fong Sing Duk. As their palms meet, the waves churn and crash in the background, disturbed by the heavy blanket of energy wave vibrating through the air.
Smiling confidently, Fong Sing Duk pushes forward with his palm, his sudden burst of internal energy forcing the newcomer to withdraw his palm and retreat. As the person back flips and lands a few paces away, Fong Sing Duk tightens his strangle hold around Sui Han’s neck, holding her in front of him, as if dangling her like a carrot in front of the other man’s nose.
Stretching his lips apart into a predatory grin, Fong Sing Duk speaks with false friendliness. "Ah, you have finally arrived, as I expected! I have been waiting for you…"
**********
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/
6/1/08