The Temple (1 - 9)

1. The Temple

In the very early hours of the morning, if you looked up at the beautiful slopes of the Shan, you would see the tips of a great grey stone wall and the graceful sweeping rooftops of a temple. In the very early hours before the cockerels crowed, when the icy mountain air enveloped the temple, you would see a forbidding structure floating on a sea of white mist. Shan Peak, home to the most revered order of men. And Shan Temple, a monstrous concrete erection, with its famous carved roofs, nestled amidst the untamed jungles of a centuries-old mountain.

There, within the walls of Shan Temple, lived a small community of elite warriors - Elders of the Temple, Master Warriors and their disciples. Men who spent the better part of their lives secluded within the safety of the temple walls, ready for the summons from the imperial palace should it come. And while waiting, they spend their days perfecting the rudiments of self-control, and the art of war, and the tenets of a specialized form of martial arts called ‘Tien Lung Qi (or Heavenly Dragon Chi). It had been handed down for generations, from master to disciple, from man to child, carefully nurtured in each generation, and meticulously instructed, so that all of the essence of this old art form would be sustained and transferred, unsullied, to the next generation.

At no time would the inhabitants in the Temple exceed the number two hundred and eighty six. That was one of the many rules which no one questioned, inherited from the Elders of the Temple from the very beginnings of time. Occasionally, some great family would send a son to the Temple as a token of loyalty to the Emperor, for the existence of the warriors was solely to serve the kingdom. But more often than not, the next generation of disciples made up of street children found in villages both near and far. Some sought out the Temple, eager to find sanctuary. Some came because they had nowhere else to go.

Life at the Temple was tough but not unkind. The routine consisted of rising before dawn and two hours of basic training before a simple breakfast of hot congee or freshly baked biscuits with tea. Then came a variety of chores, strictly supervised by the elders so that no part of the Temple was ever guilty of a layer of dust. Everyone, including the Masters, then assembled at the great hall for an hour or so of meditation - a time for self reflection and inner peace. The session was led by one of the five Elders of the Temple who would also determine whether a sermon on various topics would be necessary for the day. Important messages and key learnings were thus usually passed in this subtle, serene way.

In the afternoon, scrolls and books were carefully opened, and lessons were imposed on the younger disciples while the older ones were expected to spend an hour or two on their own, reading or writing. This was considered ‘private time’ because supervision here was lax. They could pretty much determine their own areas of interest, and if some of them indulged in a rather noisy group debate of an intellectual nature, the elders left them pretty much to themselves.

The second training session following the study time was quite different from the basic practice in the morning. This time, the pace was much more intense and extremely focused. The Masters kept eagle eyes on their students’ progress, and walked around with wicked looking bamboo canes, which were unceremoniously applied whenever necessary. Discipline was strictly maintained at the Temple at all times, but particularly so during martial arts training. That was after all the entire meaning of their existence.

That afternoon, Master Xin was having an unusually trying lesson and his cane had been freely yielded on more than one occasion. And yet his cane did not look like it was having its desired effect. His star student, I-Ken, was sadly distracted and totally lacked concentration.

Swoosh!

The cane came down sharply once again and I-Ken hopped on one foot, trying hard to stop his cry of pain from escaping. After all, he was one of the most promising students at the Temple and the younger ones looked up to him. He seldom needed to be corrected so harshly during training, and he was sure all the other eyes were on him.

‘Go over that stance once more and focus this time!’ Master Xin said sternly, his eyes hard and unyielding. The cane danced lightly in his hands, tapping ever so dangerously against his leg as he watched his young disciple.

‘Yes, Master,’ I-Ken said, flushing wildly. He took a deep breath, trying to ignore the burn on his backside where the cane had landed. Forcing his mind to concentrate, he began to go through the paces of the stance he had been taught the previous week, even as he knew he would fail to please his exacting Master.

Master Xin shook his head at I-Ken’s dismal attempts. ‘Are we teaching street acrobatics here? More practice! I am not happy with your efforts. Do it again, and again, till you get it right!’

‘Yes Master,’ I-ken said, flushing even more fiercely. He resumed his position as his Master turned his attention to his other students, and quietly repeated his steps.

I-Ken laboriously went through the training session, feeling exactly the same thing he had felt the entire week – confusion. Try as he would, he just could not get it together. He concentrated hard in order to execute this new and very difficult stance but for once in his life, it eluded him. The child protégée was at a loss to understand why he was finding it so hard to learn this lesson.

By the time the training was over, I-Ken was nowhere near the standard his Master expected. He stood aside as the other disciples filed out, waiting for his Master to approach. He knew the dismissal did not include him.

Master Xin sighed deeply as he turned to I-Ken. He eyed him for several moments in silence, while I-Ken shivered in the sudden cold. The training was always conducted in the open courtyard unless snowfall drove them indoors, and the air surrounding the Temple thinned and cooled very quickly in the evenings. But it was more than the cold mountain air that made I-Ken shiver; his master could be a very formidable disciplinarian.

‘I have noticed that your practice has been less than satisfactory in the past few days. Why?’ Master Xin asked, coming straight to the point.

‘I am sorry, Master.’

‘At this moment, I am less interested in how sorry you feel than in why you are not able to focus. Is there something troubling you?’ The voice was stern.

‘No Master.’ I-Ken said quickly, as he stole a look up at the face of his master, fearful of what he would see. The concern in his master’s eyes surprised him and emboldened him to add, ‘I do not understand why myself … I am trying but it doesn’t seem to come to me … I will try harder, Master.’

Master Xin’s voice softened slightly. ‘Yes, that you will. You will come to me tonight after your evening meal. You appear to be off-centered. An hour of meditation before bedtime will be beneficial.’

I-Ken sighed inwardly. One meditation session per day was more than enough in his opinion. He certainly did not welcome another one in the evening. But it was an order and he would obey.

‘Yes Master.’

‘All right then, go and wash up. Dinner will be over if you dally any longer.’

Master Xin saw a flash of gratitude in I-Ken’s eyes before the boy turned to disappear into the inner courtyards.

2. The Master and his Disciple

Master Xin sat at his desk in his private room, quietly reading, while his disciple sat cross-legged on a mat in one corner of the room. I-Ken’s eyes were closed and he sat very still with both hands resting lightly on his knees, as was proper when meditating.

When the hour was up, Master Xin spoke softly. ‘You may open your eyes now, I-Ken.’

I-Ken slowly let out a breath as his eyes adjusted to the light. He remained seated, looking up at his master and trying to gauge his mood. He swallowed nervously as he saw the expression in his master’s eyes.

‘How old will you be this year, my child?’ The question was unexpected and I-Ken looked startled.

‘Sixteen, Master,’ I-Ken replied obediently, wondering. His Master knew full well what his age was.

‘And of those sixteen years, how many have you spent with me?’

‘All my life!’ I-Ken said worshipfully.

Master Xin smiled even as he shook his head reprovingly at his disciple. ‘You know you were brought to the Temple when you were about two years old. You were given into my charge when you were six, and called me Master. I’ve known you for fourteen years in all, and ten of those as my disciple. So would you say I know you pretty well, hmm?’

‘Yes, Master,’ I-Ken said warily.

‘Do you then suppose I won’t know whether you are truly meditating, or simply sitting there with eyes closed?’ The question was asked mildly.

I-Ken bit his lip. It was true – he had not been able to get into the mental state required to clear his mind totally. Instead his mind had been busy, filled with vague, turbulent thoughts. I-Ken decided he should remain silent.

‘Sixteen is a difficult age, hmm?’

‘Yes, Master,’ I-Ken said soulfully.

‘Tell me then what was occupying your thoughts just now.’

I-Ken hesitated. This was leading into dangerous ground. He replied hesitantly. ‘I have been thinking about … where I come from. Who my parents were?’ That at least was true.

Master Xin maintained the same facial expression though his heart ached for the boy seated before him. Like all the other Masters in the Temple, Xin had dedicated himself to serving the emperor and giving up everything in his previous life. He had not been home for the past thirty years, nor would he ever go there again, for this was now the only home he knew. Yet that decision had been one that he had made willingly, consciously. It was a path he had chosen because of the fires of patriotism which burnt inside him.

I-Ken, on the other hand, had been found on the streets, and had been brought here as a child - to be reared in the ways of the Temple. He had never been given any choice of an alternative life. All that he knew was only of the Temple. All that he had was what his Master and the Temple elders bestowed upon him.

Master Xin took a deep breath before responding. ‘It is important that we give our parents their due respect. We should all hold filial piety in high regard. That is true for all good men. But sometimes there are other callings within us, which require us to leave our past behind. What is the purpose of this Temple, I-Ken?’ Master Xin asked gently.

‘To serve the Emperor,’ I-Ken responded mechanically.

‘And what is the purpose of the warriors in the Temple?’

‘To be ready to face our enemies and to defend our kingdom when the time comes.’

‘Very good! Keep that thought in your heart for always. Your past is what brought you here. It must be in your fates that you come to us. What you do not know, you do not need to know. Take comfort in that thought.’

‘Yes, Master,’ I-Ken whispered, while his heart felt cold and his heartbeat sounded hollow to his own ears.

3. Some Temple gossip

Life at the Temple was very structured. Each Master lived in his own courtyard which comprised of several rooms. All his disciples lived with him in these rooms, forming a mini community within the larger Temple commune.

Younger Masters may have only three or four disciples, while Masters of Xin’s caliber had up to perhaps a dozen. It was by design of the Temple rules that senior Masters had disciples of varying ages, so that different levels of martial arts instruction took place at the same time. One reason was so that the Masters were refreshed while teaching their young students the basics of elementary training – which could take years to complete. Another deeper reason was for succession planning. A cascading age group ensured that when a senior Master died or became unable to actively participate, he would have a ready successor who could take over from him.

Such was the structure of the Temple.

In Master’s Xin’s courtyard, the clear successor was one fiery young warrior called Yu-Li. Yu was close to thirty years old and he had been Master’s Xin’s disciple for over twenty years. Like I-Ken, Yu had been taken from the streets as an orphan and brought to the Temple to be raised. Like I-Ken, he had shown uncommon promise and was quickly recognized to be a true proponent of Tien Lung Qi.

Yu was an intelligent child, extremely strong and agile, and he had mastered the fundamental steps by the time he was fourteen. He was due to take his first level tests when I-Ken first entered the Temple. By the time I-Ken was old enough to be sent to Master Xin’s court, Yu had already passed both the second and third level tests – the youngest in the history of the Temple to have ever done so. He was only twenty years old then.

All the disciples in the Temple knew of Yu’s prowess and for many years, much was whispered about him in all the courtyards. In his heart, Yu secretly enjoyed the adulation and admiration although he was always humble and courteous on the exterior. No one knew how closely he was monitoring the progress of I-Ken, and how much it pained him to see I-Ken effortlessly move from one level to the next. I-Ken had already passed the fundamental level one test at the tender age of fourteen – another breathtaking record. At the rate he was going, Yu was certain Master Xin would allow I-Ken to take the level two tests before long. And once he passed that, he would be a serious threat to topple Yu’s own record at the Temple. That thought alone made Yu burn with jealousy.

Next in line to Yu was another disciple called Wen-Er. Wen-Er was a good-natured and pleasant fellow, and everyone liked him. He had applied himself whole-heartedly in his training and worked hard under Master Xin’s eagle eye. He was in fact a sturdy and competent warrior. But everyone knew he would never rival Yu’s brilliance, and Wen-Er himself accepted that fact tranquilly. Wen-Er was content to follow in Yu’s shadow, and thus, without the barrier of competition, they were able to be good friends throughout the years. Although Yu never shared his true feelings with anyone, Wen-Er had suspected for some time now that Yu was jealous of I-Ken’s talent and skills. But being of a reticent nature, Wen-Er remained silent and kept these ungenerous thoughts to himself.

Master Xin did not normally join his disciples at the morning meal, preferring to eat his simple meal in solitude in his private room. That was the way Master Xin prepared himself for the day ahead, unless Temple matters required him to do otherwise. Therefore, it was with surprise that his disciples looked up when he walked into the breakfast room that morning.

‘Remain seated,’ Master Xin said, holding up his hands. The young men sank back into their wooden seats but respectfully laid down their chopsticks immediately.

Master Xin took his place at the head of the table, which was always kept vacant for him. Yu got up immediately and poured him a cup of tea.

‘Thank you, Yu-Li,’ Master Xin said, nodding his head approvingly at his disciple. He looked around at the attentive faces and announced. ‘I will be going with 3^rd Elder San on a trip tomorrow and I want to leave some instructions for all of you in my absence.’

‘Yes, Master,’ they chorused. It was nothing new to have their Master go away on a trip, but they were still curious for the details. Because of his seniority, Master Xin got called away more often than many of the other Masters, and they always looked forward to his return when he would sometimes regale them with stories of his journeys.

‘While I am gone, Yu-Li will be in charge.’

The heads nodded in unison. That was expected.

‘This time I will be gone for only one week, and I expect things to go on as usual for that one week. There will be no slacking in your training – you will keep strictly to your schedules. Yu-Li will give me a full report when I return, and if I find out that any of you have been lazy or inattentive in training, I will be very angry.’

The younger disciples swallowed nervously while the older ones stared at their Master silently, hoping to portray the picture of confidence.

Master Xin went on to give more instructions, and finally turned to I-Ken. ‘I-Ken, you will continue with your evening meditation. One hour each night for the next five days. Is that understood?’

I-Ken’s heart sank. He had hoped that he could escape from that boring exercise with his Master out of the way. Not that it was doing him any good, he thought to himself ruefully.

As if reading his thoughts, his Master continued right on cue. ‘And I mean real meditation. I expect full focus. Your thoughts are dispersed now and it’s affecting your training. I’d better see a much improved effort by the time I come back.’

‘Yes Master,’ I-Ken muttered, a flush creeping up into his face. No one else had been singled out in this way. He kept his eyes on the table, feeling miserable.

‘Yu-Li, you will sit with I-Ken every evening, and monitor his meditation. Make sure it is done and done properly. I do not want the momentum broken. We don’t have much time if he is to participate in the second level tests this autumn.’

There was a gasp around the table, and both I-Ken’s and Yu’s heads shot up in surprise.

‘Master?’ I-Ken said uncertainly. It was unheard of for anyone below eighteen to take part in the second level exams.

Master Xin smiled at him. ‘Yes I-Ken, that is why I have been pushing you so hard lately. You should be ready by the time the leaves fall, if you apply yourself. That is why it is important you do not break the rhythm of your training.’

Yu’s face remained expressionless as Master Xin turned to him. ‘Yu-Li, I leave the group in your care. See to it I do not have any cause for complaint when I return. And if you need any urgent guidance or assistance, you can approach Master Chao or any of the Temple Elders. ‘

‘Yes, Master,’ Yu said, lowering his head quickly to hide the gleam in his eyes.

4. A Test of Fortitude and Patience

I-Ken tossed and turned on his hard pallet. He slept in a room with five others and he tried to make as little noise as possible so as not to disturb any of them. He listened to their steady breathing and wished he too could escape into the peacefulness of slumber. Instead, his mind was busily dwelling on the horrible day he had had with Yu-Li in place of his Master.

Once Master Xin had left the Temple gates, Yu had set about the usual routine. After all the chores were completed, the younger disciples were put through their paces while I-Ken and the middle group engaged in more difficult stances. Wen-Er and Yu-Li took turns to supervise the groups and gave instructions where needed.

When Yu came to observe I-Ken’s group, he stood for a long time observing I-Ken’s movements. Suddenly he moved in on I-Ken, like an adversary in a fighting match. This was a common tactic adopted by the Masters, to train the students’ senses and to prepare them to be alert and wary at all times.

I-Ken looked up in surprise but quickly picked up the pace and matched Yu’s blow for blow. Their movements were fluid and synchronized, and they became faster and faster, with Yu taking more of the offensive and I-Ken the defensive. It soon became apparent that Yu was the superior of the two fighters, and with a satisfied smile, he executed some fancy footwork while his powerful arm swung at I-Ken’s face. The younger boy gasped, desperately trying to evade the punch aimed at his nose. Just as he thought his face would get battered by Yu’s mighty fist, the fist opened and grabbed his shoulder blades instead.

I-Ken felt his feet being swept off the ground and he lost his balance, giving out a cry as he fell backwards. He realized with a start that he was suspended about two feet above the ground, propped up only by Yu’s arm. For a moment, their eyes met. Yu smirked, then he loosened his grip and I-Ken fell like a sack of potatoes onto the hard ground.

‘Umph,’ I-Ken groaned, as the other disciples giggled at his undignified fall. Everyone had stopped to watch the spar.

‘Pick yourself up!’ Yu ordered, folding his arms across his chest.

I-Ken stood up slowly, glowering at his elder opponent as he brushed the dust off.

‘Where was your concentration? How can you be so unaware of your surroundings? What if someone attacked you? Do you leave yourself so unguarded?’

I-Ken ground his teeth as he stood there listening to the stern reproof. Yu began to show him some steps, ordering him to practice them over and over again.

Grudgingly, he replied ‘Yes, brother Yu.’

‘Back to your practice, all of you!’ Yu yelled out to the group and everyone dutifully resumed their positions.

The rest of the training did not go too well for I-Ken either. Yu was full of criticisms every time he came back to check on him. It was true – Yu gave everyone a hard time, but he was especially hard on I-Ken. By the time the training session was over, I-Ken was heartily sick of Yu’s black looks and sharp tongue. And that was only the first day his Master had been gone!

‘Don’t be late for your meditation, I-Ken,’ Yu reminded I-Ken, as they filed out of the courtyard.

I-Ken shot back a sharp retort. ‘I can’t wait!’

‘What?’

I-Ken stopped in his tracks as Yu put out his hand to stop him. ‘What did you say?’ Yu repeated, his voice dangerous.

I-Ken chewed on his lower lip, knowing he had broken a Temple rule. It was strictly forbidden to be rude to an Elder or Master, or anyone acting in that capacity. It was just that Yu had been so infuriating that day, with his nit-picking and fussy ways.

I-Ken suddenly swallowed hard. He had no excuse whatsoever. Temple rules on correct behavior was totally rigid. He hated having to apologize to Yu but it looked like he had no choice. ‘I am sorry, brother Yu.’

‘Any more insolence from you, and I will punish you,’ Yu growled, his tone making I-Ken quake. Yu had every right to punish him or anyone in the group when he was in charge and I-Ken had no wish to undergo any more humiliation from him. ‘Am I making myself clear?’ Yu asked harshly.

‘Yes, brother Yu,’ I-Ken whispered, eyes lowered.

‘And don’t think Master won’t get to hear about this. We’ll wait and see how he deals with his behavior of yours!’ Yu promised savagely.

I-Ken looked up at Yu from under his lashes, his eyes bright. More than anything else, I-Ken wanted his Master to be proud of him. Master would not only be disappointed if he found out, he would be very annoyed as well.

I-Ken swallowed again and forced himself to say, ‘Please don’t add this to your report.’

‘Go for your evening meal!’ Yu said, ignoring the plea. He knew only too well how severe their Master could be when it came to instilling proper behavior in his disciples. Any hint of this, and Master would come down on I-Ken like a ton of bricks. Yu suddenly remembered how he himself had benefited from such lessons in the past. Well, the boy deserved to be dealt with severely, that was for sure. But he would think about it before he included this into his report.

Needless to say, I-Ken did nothing more than merely close his eyes for the one hour he sat on his meditation mat that evening. Yu was not quite his Master’s level and although he watched I-Ken closely, he had not been able to discern whether the boy was in meditation or not.

After several more minutes of contemplation in the dark, I-Ken finally managed to drift off to sleep out of sheer exhaustion, his mind still vaguely grappling with the problem of dealing with Yu for the next four days. He dragged himself out of bed when the gong sounded and faced his breakfast without his usual appetite.

I-Ken decided while eating his porridge that the only way he could get through the next four days would be to obey Yu swiftly in order to avoid any more trouble, and hopefully to earn some credit points that would stand him in good stead when his Master returned. With that resolution in mind, he jumped to all Yu’s orders, listened attentively when he spoke, and really did put in effort that day. If Yu noticed his improved demeanor, he made no sign of it.

At study time that day, I-Ken quietly slipped away from the rest of the group. Clutching a scroll in his hands, he pretended that he was going to find a secluded corner to read, but instead he headed for the little wrought iron gate at the back of the Temple. Looking around to make sure he was not observed, he pulled a key out of his pocket and let himself out and headed towards the woods beyond the Temple.

I-Ken knew exactly where to go – a huge overhanging rock perched on the side of the mountain. From there, he could look out and see the land that lay to the West. I-Ken crouched down on the rock, and gazed into the horizon. This was a rare treat for him. He had longed to come out here for weeks but with Master around, he had not dared. Master had eyes at the back of his head and could smell out mischief even before the thought entered one’s brain.

I-Ken sighed deeply as his eyes swept over the rich, fertile land below. Of course, he could not see much, only patches of green and orange and brown demarking farm lands and cultivated fields. Here and there were thicker clumps of trees and woodlands and the vague shapes of village dwellings. Then further to the horizon, lay the hills and clouds and rivers. And beyond that was the great and powerful Province of De-Jin, and home of his special friend, Yee-Ching.

A sudden pang shot through him, strong and exciting. I-Ken sat up straighter, straining his eyes as if he could spy Ching in the vastness below. Ching had been gone for almost three weeks now, and I-Ken had missed him more than he knew how to describe. In another week, Ching would be making his way up the slopes of Shan Peak to once again take up residence for another year. I-Ken felt his heart beat faster at the thought of seeing Ching again.

A bird fluttered in the nearby branches, and flew off with a loud call to its mate, shaking I-Ken out of his reverie. Startled, he quickly got to his feet and began to retrace his steps to the back gate. He couldn’t be late going back or he would land in serious trouble.

[5] Grey eyes

‘Visitors approaching!’

The alert was raised long before anyone reached the Temple portals.

No one had ever succeeded in climbing the slopes of Shan Peak without detection. There were traps and hidden mechanisms laid in secret places along the path to warn those in the Temple of any intruder or visitor. Specially trained sentries would not only alert the Temple inhabitants of imminent visitors, but also of the numbers and the manner of the approach.

I-Ken quickly finished sweeping the corridor he had been assigned, and ran to the Receiving Hall. The Temple was made up of a series of courtyards and halls, with endless corridors connecting them to the rooms which housed the Temple inhabitants. New recruits sometimes took months to learn their way about the Temple. But for I-Ken, who had grown up in that labyrinth, he could maneuver his way around without giving any conscious thought for he knew every nook and cranny of the Temple.

The Receiving Hall was where all visitors were escorted, once they had gained admittance. It was by no means assumed that every visitor would be allowed to step over the threshold of the main gate. Only those with legitimate business were given entry.

Plainly carved solid wood chairs with high arm-rests were placed along the two sides of the Receiving Hall facing one another, thus creating a passageway in the centre. At the end of the hall was a raised platform and above the platform, hung huge tablets detailing the founding principles of the Temple and its allegiance to their Emperor and their Kingdom - a declaration, to all that came, of the purpose of the Temple’s existence. A massive oak tall armchair sat in the centre of the platform. For very official functions, Elder Ta [first elder] would sit here to receive the guests.

Both sides of the Receiving Hall had exits which led to the inner courtyards through separate corridors. From one of these exits, I-Ken peeped. Two sentries were making their way to the main gate and I-Ken crept forward stealthily. He had no business to be here, and he knew if he was caught, he would be punished. He had already received a stern lecture and a painful session with the cane when his Master had returned from his trip. Obviously Yu’s report on him had not been favorable. With his backside still smarting, he had no wish to endure another session with his Master, but the urge was too great.

After making sure there was no one else around, he cut across the Receiving Hall, feeling a sense of thrill as he did so. This was absolutely out of bounds for disciples, unless they were accompanied by their Masters. I-Ken hardly gave it a second thought.

Keeping himself hidden, he waited with bated breath to see who the visitors were. The enormous front gate was slowly pulled open by the two sentries. A moment later, a slim youth stepped onto the rough stone pathway, followed by an older man clad in somber dark clothes that proclaimed the position of family retainer.

‘Welcome, and come in,’ one of the sentries said.

‘Thank you, thank you,’ the man said, bowing to the two sentries. ‘I’ve brought back our young master. I will stay overnight before I return to my old master’s home.’ They continued to exchange pleasantries.

The main gate closed once they were inside, and was bolted securely. The sentries escorted both boy and man into the Receiving Hall.

I-Ken smiled to himself.

Once it was safe, he rushed back to finish his chores. He spent the rest of the day in happy anticipation. Luckily for him, his Master was preoccupied with talks with the Elders and was missing for most of the day. He already had a plan in mind and he headed to the kitchen to put it into swift execution.

When the dinner gong sounded, people started to move towards the dining hall. Here everyone assembled for the evening meal. Seating was unassigned, and it gave the disciples a chance to mingle. Usually, the older disciples gathered in one corner and the younger ones in another. Masters sat at separate tables, exchanging news with one another, enjoying their respite from their students.

I-Ken lingered at the corridor as the disciples filed into the dining hall. He nodded to a few of them and smiled, but remained outside, waiting and praying that he would not run into a Master or Elder. His eyes anxiously searched, and then his heart fluttered as he saw the figure he was watching out for.

‘Pst,’ he hissed, as the boy approached. ‘Ching!’

The head turned and a pair of fine grey eyes looked up at him. The face broke into a smile. Before he could speak, I-Ken motioned with his hand and began to walk away. Yee-Ching hesitated a moment, then casually turned and followed I-Ken’s path. For a moment he thought he had lost I-Ken, but he caught a glimpse of the straight back as it rounded a corner. He followed unquestioningly, past a couple of courtyards and moon-gates, up some stone steps and came into a garden.

‘Here!’ I-Ken’s hand grabbed Yee-Ching’s wrist, making him jump and squeal. ‘Shh!’ I-Ken admonished.

Ching giggled. ‘Sorry – you startled me!’

‘C’mon, over here.’ I-Ken led the way over to a low stone wall and jumped over it. They found themselves in a little enclosure - stone wall to their backs and thick bushes on either side, helming them in. In front of them was a grassy mound, and beyond that a sheer drop of a hundred feet to the rocks below. This was the only part of the Temple which was built high enough for them to look out over the top of the outer Temple wall.

‘Are we allowed here?’ Ching asked in awe.

‘Of course not!’ I-Ken answered matter-of-factly, as he retrieved something from under one of the bushes. ‘Here - eat!’

Ching’s eyes widened. There were two bowls heaped with white rice and topped with vegetables and some meat. I-Ken passed one bowl to him, while he himself sat down and eagerly began to eat from the other.

‘Eat!’ I-Ken urged again, with his mouth full, looking up at his friend.

Their days were extremely physical and I-Ken was a growing sixteen year old. He was usually ravenous by mealtimes. Sometimes he felt he could go on eating and still never be full. While he had never been deprived of food at the Temple, there was also never abundance waste either. Like everything else at the Temple, food was strictly regulated.

Ching silently dropped down to the grassy patch next to I-Ken, and began to eat as hurriedly as his friend. There was silence as both boys filled their stomachs. When their bowls were empty, I-Ken produced a bottle of water from his pocket. After drinking, he passed it to Ching. He watched as the younger boy drained the bottle.

‘I saw you come back this morning.’ I-Ken said.

‘You did?’

‘Yes, of course! I thought you were never coming back.’

‘Why? You know I have to. It’s my duty, and it has been pre-arranged. Where else would I go if I didn’t come back?’

There was a companionable silence as both of them leaned back against the wall and looked into the dense darkness. Except for a few stars which lighted up the skies, there was nothing else in the night. It made conversation easy.

‘Are you sad again, for having to leave your family?’ I-Ken asked softly.

Ching was silent for a moment, before he shrugged. ‘Nothing that I did not expect.’

‘What did you do all this time at your home?’ I-Ken asked, full of curiosity. For someone who had never left the Temple, he was starved for knowledge. He had no memories of his childhood before the Temple. I-Ken knew nothing of the world outside. He had never seen a city or even a village street. ‘Tell me about your house – what has changed?!’ he commanded.

Ching smiled in the darkness. He had been surprised at first at how ignorant I-Ken was, but he had got used to I-Ken’s unquenchable thirst in the year he had spent in the Temple. Now, he felt only sympathy.

Ching had been born into a great and wealthy family. A few months after he was born, the household made a shocking discovery. The newborn had strange eyes; they were undoubtedly beautifully shaped but alas instead of the expected brown, they were silvery grey! Fortune tellers were immediately brought in and it was pronounced that an evil curse had struck the child while still in his mother’s womb. Thus, the fates of both mother and child had been sealed. His mother cried as she held her baby for she knew her life was over. The master of the house would never again seek her company for she had been sullied by the unfortunate birth.

Ching’s father, Chen Lao Tar, was a successful businessman in the city of De-Jin, and he owned many wives. His success and his status were due to the many favors he had received from the Province officials, and not wanting to appear ungrateful or unpatriotic, he decided to offer one son as homage to the Emperor. It had not been a difficult decision which son from amongst his many offspring to select.

And so a year ago, at age fourteen, Yee-Ching came to the Temple.

Sighing a little, Ching began to describe his home. He told I-Ken about the lotus ponds where hundreds of carps swam, and the pavilions lit by lanterns and gardens with beautiful blossoms. He spoke of the banquets held in their grand hall and the guests that were invited and the many servants and henchmen that served their great family. He described how gaily the streets were decorated with flags, and what kinds of wares were sold along the busy streets.

He carefully avoided telling how his brothers and sisters were instructed not to go near him, for fear the evil still resided in him. He did not tell I-Ken about the loneliness in his mother’s rooms as mother and son waited, ostracized from the rest of the family. He did not mention his mother’s despair as he prepared to leave.

They were well clothed and well fed, as befitting their stations in life, but there was nothing to warm their souls.

[6] Trials and Tribulations

I-Ken panted desperately as the sweat poured down his face and back. The pace of his training had picked up tremendously and the fervor in his Master surprised him. Master Xin had been like a hawk, supervising even his breathing techniques, which were taught to first year students when they first embarked on the Wushu exercises.

‘Control your breathing!’ Master Xin commanded. ‘Calm your thoughts! Let your mind and body relax. Let them be coordinated!’

He made I-Ken get into the basic pose, feet planted apart at shoulder width, knees bent, fists balled and facing up at his sides. A joss-stick was lighted and stuck into the ground in front of I-Ken.

‘Keep that position till the joss-stick is done!’ Master Xin ordered sternly.

I-Ken groaned. His thigh muscles began to ache as the joss-stick slowly burned to the end. He had been through these exercises many times before. But when a second joss-stick was replaced with the first, I-Ken began to rebel.

‘Why Master?’ he demanded petulantly.

A loud smack sounded and I-Ken gasped. His Master’s arm held tremendous power and I-Ken knew that what his backside had just received was considered a pretty mild blow.

‘Did I give you permission to speak? Is it your place to question me?’

‘No Master,’ I-Ken mumbled.

‘Get back into position then - before I bring out my cane!’

‘Yes Master.’

After a full hour of basic pose, Master Xin made I-Ken go through the twenty four essential techniques of Qi Gong, or the control of inner strength.

‘Mastery of Qi Gong will enable a warrior to repulse an opponent much bigger and stronger than himself.’ Master Xin delivered the same lecture I-Ken had heard hundreds of times before. ‘Qi Gong, when engaged, will help to prevent internal injury should an opponent find a target on your body. And when you have acquired Qi Gong in its completeness, no other weapon is needed. Your palm alone can be a deadly weapon.’

I-Ken listened dully. He had learnt this in basic level!

Without warning, Master Xin launched into an attack. I-Ken sensed, rather than saw, the movement and his reflexes took over. With a swift thrust of his arm, he parried the attack and threw off his Master’s blow. Together they circled one another, one foot placed slowly in front of the other, in a slow hypnotizing circle.

I-Ken smiled secretly as they engaged in a controlled and familiar spar. This was what he loved most, being able to engage with his powerful Master. His sharp eyes took in every detail of his Master’s movements - observing, gauging, and learning. And when he succeeded in defending one of his master’s attacks, his spirits soared.

Hour after hour they sparred in this way. Day after day they practised. Master Xin spread his time between I-Ken and the rest of his students, mostly leaving Yu to supervise the younger students. He did not miss the dark looks Yu cast at them, but he pushed them aside. He would have to deal with that at a later date. Right now, he had a more urgent task at hand.

As the summer drew to an end, I-Ken felt a change come over him. Whereas before he rebelled against rules and struggled to obey, he now found a new eagerness to learn. Martial arts had always come easily to him from a young age but he now yearned for more. He already knew all the steps required to pass the level two tests, but he felt it was inadequate. True, he could go though the routine steps with his eyes closed, and he had held his own in all the sparring contests his Master had put him through, but he wished for something beyond what he knew.

‘Master, I am ready for the trials,’ he announced one evening, as he sat on his mat in his Master’s room.

‘Yes, indeed you are. I have been pleased with your progress. You have done well, my child.’ Master Xin smiled at him.

I-Ken’s face lighted up. ‘Thank you, Master.’

‘I have noticed also that your mind is focused and your concentration much improved. You have shown maturity lately. I think very soon, you will be able to start preparing for the third and final level test.’

I-Ken gulped. ‘Really, Master?’

‘Yes.’

‘And what if … if I fail?’

‘It’s not the end of the world. Others have failed before.’

I-Ken groaned. ‘Oh no! But I can’t fail…’

Master Xin frowned. ‘Explain please.’

‘I … I don’t know …. I wouldn’t be able to face you if I failed.’

‘Have I ever expected you to be perfect?’

I-Ken wanted to say yes, but shook his head instead.

Master Xin hid a smile. ‘I know I drive you hard and you may think I expect perfection from you. But what I expect from you is your best efforts. Not perfection.’

I-Ken sighed. ‘Yes Master, I do know that.’

‘So if you had put in your best efforts and still failed the tests, there is nothing to be ashamed of.’

I-Ken shook his head stubbornly. ‘I will not accept failure, Master.’

Master Xin looked at his protégé for a long while before he spoke. ‘You have been remarkable from the day you came to me. I saw in you depths which till now I am still not able to fully determine. You will become a great warrior, I-Ken. Even a legend perhaps, if you succeed in developing your full potential.’

I-Ken’s eyes gleamed even as he trembled at his Master’s words.

His Master’s next words shocked him. ‘Or you will become nothing!’

‘Master?’

‘In all great warriors, there is always something which sets them apart. Without this something, it will bring about their downfall. Throughout history, we have seen many heroes destroyed by that one weakness. If you do not learn what that weakness is, and are not able to master it, you will never be the great warrior I see in you.’

I-Ken stared open-mouthed at his Master, his eyes round like saucers.

‘Master, what is it?’

‘You tell me.’

I-Ken thought for a moment, then replied. ‘It is drive. A warrior must need to have the drive to excel.’

Master Xin shook his head slowly. ‘To excel, the drive already exists. It is inherent, just as commitment and determination and courage must already exist in a great warrior. But what sets them apart from the rest and make them legendary heroes?’

I-Ken screwed up his forehead, thinking hard. ‘What, Master?’

‘Compassion,’ said Master Xin simply.

‘Oh.’

Master Xin smiled secretly at I-Ken’s expression. His heart squeezed as he thought about this boy, who was more of a son to him than any other.

‘Remember, I-Ken, the greatest people are often those who are able to walk away from a fight when they know they are going to win it.’

‘Compassion?’

‘Yes, it is one of the hardest lessons to learn when one has attained great heights. It is also the easiest to forget.’

Slowly, I-Ken nodded his head.

[7] The Mid Autumn Tournament

There was an air of excitement buzzing around the Temple. All the Temple disciples had been gathered together and were seated around the main courtyard, which was a huge square area situated in the middle of the Temple grounds. White and grey stone slabs covered the ground, smoothened by thousands of footsteps over the years. This was where all sparring matches and competitions and trials took place.

At one end of the square, a raised platform had been set up with chairs for the Elders and Senior Masters. Junior Masters mingled with their disciples around the courtyard, together with the auxiliary staff comprising of those who tended the kitchen and vast grounds. Those at the back rows sat on raised benches while those in front sat cross-legged on the cold stone floor. Despite their Masters’ stern looks and admonishments, hushed whispers and excited laughter echoed around the square.

It was the 1^st day of the 8^th month of the Chinese Lunar Calendar. A special month to commemorate the Mid Autumn Festival, sometimes called the Moon Cake Festival. Legend had it that the leaders of the Sung dynasty, unhappy at submitting to foreign Mongol rule, had set about a plan on how to overthrow the Mongols without their plot being discovered. The leaders of the rebellion, knowing that the Moon Festival was drawing near, ordered the making of special cakes. Backed into each moon cake was a message with the outline of the attack. Thus it was that on the night of the Moon Festival, which is the 15^th day of the 8^th month, the rebels successfully attacked and overthrew the government. And China was once again restored to the rule of the Chinese people.

The Temple paid homage to this legend every year by organizing a special display of martial arts on the 1^st day of the 8^th month. Here, promising young students were given the chance to show off their skills and prowess. It was also here that one Master would pitch his star students against another’s in carefully drawn up matches, aimed at providing the young men exposure and the opportunity to study one another’s techniques and styles. For even though everyone was taught the rudiments of the Tien Lung Qi, each one had his own individuality and unique way of executing the steps.

This year, in addition to the usual competition matches, a sixteen year old boy would take his second level test before the crowd. And if he passed, he would go down in Temple history as the youngest warrior to have achieved level two of the Tien Lung Qi.

‘Calm yourself,’ Master Xin ordered as I-Ken fidgeted. ‘Coordinate your breathing.’

‘I’m trying, Master,’ said I-Ken.

‘You’ll do fine.’ Master Xin said with confidence.

I-Ken rolled his eyes wildly. Easy to say, he muttered to himself.

‘Breathe!’ Master Xin said, and I-Ken dutifully drew in deep breaths.

Out of the corner of his eye, he scanned the faces gathered.

Now was no time to be distracted, he knew, but he wanted to know where Ching was. Suddenly their eyes locked. Ching looked as nervous as he felt. Great, I-Ken thought, as he swallowed nervously. That helped!

Unfortunately for I-Ken, protocol had it that all the day’s exhibitions and martial arts display would take place before the more serious event of the qualifying tests. That meant I-Ken had to sit through a few hours of nervous anticipation while all about him were cheers and claps amidst excited faces. He hardly paid any attention to the displays, and once the festivities were underway, he sat very still and slowed his breathing. Mentally he went through his steps, recalled his master’s calming voice and closed his eyes.

He opened them in surprise when he felt a firm hand on his shoulder.

‘Master?’

‘Come! It’s almost time. Get ready for your trials.’ Master Xin smiled down at his protégé.

Calmly I-Ken stood up. The announcement was made; I-Ken found himself standing alone in the centre of the courtyard. The sounds of applause and laughter receded in the background. He felt strangely free, focusing only on his Master’s serene face and his own inner heart beat. Everyone waited expectantly for the tests to begin.

Each level of the Tien Lung Qi is made up of a series of tests. Level 2 trials contained 3 parts. The first part was the fundamental steps.

I-Ken took up position, drew a deep breath and fluidly launched into the poses and movements he had practised a thousand times over. I-Ken moved without conscious thinking; the steps were imprinted in his brain and the movements second nature to him. The students watched, mesmerized with I-Ken’s prowess. Some admired, some were filled with envy and others with jealousy. Masters held their breaths in wonder, that one so young could execute the 2^nd level fundamentals so well. The Temple Elders conferred amongst themselves, taking careful note of all I-Ken’s movements.

On of the Temple Elders rose from his seat as I-Ken ended with a Qi pose, drawing both feet together and pressing down with both palms, one stacked on top the other, in front of him. His breath was slowly expelled and then his hands dropped to his side, and he waited.

5^th Elder spoke in a clear voice. ‘I-Ken, disciple of Master Xin, has completed the first stage of the 2^nd level trials. It is the decree of the Temple that he has passed part 1 with satisfaction, and may proceed to part 2. Begin!’

I-Ken’s eyes beamed as he sought out his master. They exchanged a quick nod and I-Ken turned to face the contraption that consisted of part 2. The man-made obstacle-course consisted of wheels and swinging blades and darting spears, all moving in carefully synchronized precision. This was a test of concentration, courage, confidence and control.

The gong sounded and I-Ken moved forward cautiously. He studied the contraption carefully, knowing he would have only twenty minutes to pass through the entire course. He would require quick wits and perfect timing in order to avoid being slashed by the spears and blades. While no one had actually died attempting this test, some had been hurt in the past; I-Ken had no intention of allowing that to happen.

There were gasps and murmurs as I-Ken began the tortuous path. A few close calls had the crowd on the edge of their seats. But I-Ken moved with incredible speed and precision, never once wavering or unsure. Ching closed his eyes at one particularly close shave and sighed with relief as I-Ken cleared the last obstacle. A spontaneous burst of applause greeted the boy as he grinned at his master. Master Xin gave his disciple a nod of approval, unsuccessfully hiding the pride he felt.

5^th Elder once again rose to speak. ‘I-Ken, disciple of Master Xin, has passed the second part well within the stipulated time. He now moves on to the third and final stage of the trials.’ He turned to the group seated on the platform. ‘Lao Er (2^nd Elder), Master Chao, please take your places.’

I-Ken swallowed nervously as the two men took up their positions, facing him. This was the hardest part of the trials – going up against the Temple’s most senior warriors. In level 1, he had met with only one senior master. Level 2 required him to meet not only a senior master but a Temple Elder as well.

While the first two parts of the trials were hard, they could be learned and memorized. Coming up against opponents in a live spar lent a totally different perspective. The masters before I-Ken were hardened warriors, experienced with years of fighting behind them. They would fight fair, but they would also use every trick and ruse they had learned over the years to test their opponent.

The gong sounded, this time in a slow continuous rhythm, as exciting as it was hypnotizing. It built up the suspense as the three figures circled around the courtyard. I-Ken found himself hemmed in on both sides by the two masters. The attack came unexpectedly from the front. Even as I-Ken fended off the attack, he felt another presence behind him. Knowing he had no time to turn around to face his other attacker, he used his leg to deflect the second attack. The backward kick, powered by muscles which had been strengthened with hundreds of hours of qi gong pose in front of the burning joss-sticks, stayed his opponent and bought him enough time to get back into position.

I-Ken had no clear recollections of that sparring session. It seemed to go on forever, and yet it seemed like a passing moment. His body moved of its own volition, his eyes automatically assessing all the signals to warn him of the nature of the attacks and his brain remained acutely alert. He was panting hard and his adrenalin flowing high by the time he heard the loud crash of the gong, and he knew the spar was over. He had sustained two punches in the ribs, one of which would have killed him if the master had used the full extent of his power. Beyond that, I-Ken was unscathed. Still, those punches may cost him dearly.

The two masters returned to the dais and conferred with the other Elders. The crowd was already in high anticipation. The whispers died down immediately as 5^th Elder addressed the crowd.

‘Masters and Disciples, we have now concluded the 2^nd level trials for I-Ken, Disciple of Master Xin. Despite his tender age, I-Ken has shown remarkable skills and capability, and we are happy to announce that he has passed - with flying colors – all the three parts of the test. History has once again been made. I-Ken is hereby the youngest member of our Temple to attain this achievement. We congratulate Master Xin on his excellent tutelage and mentorship.’

The news was greeted with much cheer as everyone stood up to clap. Ching wormed his way to his friend, and grabbed him happily. I-Ken smiled back, suddenly weak with relief. ‘I can’t belief its over,’ he whispered to Ching, in an undertone.

‘You were magnificent!’ Ching said, his heart swelling with pride for his friend.

I-Ken humbly accepted the good wishes of those of his friends, ignored the unhappy looks of those who were jealous and went to seek out his master.

‘Well,’ Master Xin said, looking at his disciple with serenity. ‘You have set yourself a high standard. The road ahead only gets harder.’

‘Yes, Master. And thank you Master.’ The look I-Ken gave his Master said everything the older man needed to know.

[8] Royal Summons

A few weeks after the mid-Autumn festival, a host of royal ambassadors arrived at the Temple gates. The summons were given, and the Elders hurried to the Receiving Hall to receive the visitors. As was the custom, the five Elders quickly dropped to their knees as the royal scroll was unrolled. With bent heads, they heard the royal proclamation in silence.

‘Long live the King!’ the head messenger read out. ‘By royal decree, the Emperor has commanded the presence of the Temple Warriors to the Palace with all speed. Warring factions from the West are once again threatening the safety of the realm. The Great Wall along the cities of D’ung and Honshu has been breached. It is now your duty to make haste to protect the Son of Heaven and all that he holds in the great land of China.’

‘Long live the King!’ 1^st Elder said, as he held out both hands to receive the royal scroll. ‘The Emperor shall have our immediate obedience.’

Thus, the Temple was once again in preparation to defend their King and country.

The royal ambassadors were made welcome and quarters were readied for them. Emergency meetings were immediately convened and all senior masters were commanded to attend. Much speculation flew around the Temple, many whispered theories were shared.

Finally, at the end of the second day, Master Xin called for a meeting with his disciples. Similar meetings were being held in all the other courtyards, between Masters and Disciples.

‘You all know we have been honored once again with a call to the Emperor in his time of need,’ Master Xin began. ‘This time, however, the news is grave, as the warring lords have combined forces and their numbers are great. Time is of the essence. We have decided – after much consultation between the Elders and ambassadors – that we will have need to send two contingents of warriors to aid our sovereign. One will go straight to the Palace for further consultation with the ministers and generals, and another larger group will be dispatched immediately to the warring areas to lend much needed support. What this means is there will be some major changes and re-organization within the Temple walls.’

The disciples waited with baited breath, their eyes round with excitement and suspense.

Master Xin continued. ‘I will form part of the 1^st group, and will therefore leave at first light tomorrow morning to head towards the capital. The ambassadors will journey with us.’

A sigh went through the group of listening students.

‘The 2^nd group will be led by 3^rd Elder. They will head for the borders of D’ung and Honshu, where the fighting is heaviest.’

‘Who goes with them, Master?’ Yu-Li asked, his heart hammering within his chest.

Master Xin smiled down at him. ‘Ah, I see you are impatient, Yu. Do you think you are ready for this expedition?’

‘Yes, indeed I am, Master!’ Yu said, straightening himself to his full height.

‘Make no mistake, my disciples, this is not a game!’ Master was suddenly harsh and stern. ‘All the training you have undergone will not prepare you for a fight such as this. The rebels from the West are seasoned with years of hard fighting, and they are hungry and desperate. They will show no mercy!’

‘I have no fear, Master!’ Yu exclaimed, more afraid of being left behind than of meeting the enemy. ‘I have had experience in previous battles, Master! I am ready!’

Master Xin nodded his head slowly. ‘Yu, you have taken part in past expeditions, that I am aware. And you have proven yourself worthy. And because of that, it is the council’s decision that you will join 3^rd Elder in the expedition to the West.’

Yu gave a whoop of delight, then quickly subsided as his Master frowned. ‘Who else, Master?’

‘From our court, only two.’ Master Xin said quietly.

Yu-Li clenched his fists. Looks were exchanged. Some were anxious, some afraid. A few wondering glances were cast at I-Ken, but the boy had eyes only for his Master.

‘Master,’ I-Ken spoke up. ‘How long will you be gone this time?’

Master Xin’s eyes softened. ‘It is not possible to say at this stage, I-Ken. From the capital, it is likely the 1^st group will journey West to join the 2^nd, depending on the progress of the fighting. If all goes well, we should be able to suppress the rebels within six months. If not, well … that is why we will need to consult with the ministers and generals in the capital.’

‘But Master, who else is going?’ Yu demanded impatiently.

Master Xin let his eyes wander over his group. They were all relatively young and inexperienced, and apart from Yu-Li, none of his students were really up to the task at hand. He had lost two very seasoned warriors over the past year and he still mourned for them. He felt sad that he would have to break up the group further, but such decisions were not up to him. The Emperor’s call was urgent. The duty of the Temple was clear.

Finally his eyes rested on Wen-Er. The young man blushed as he felt his Master’s eyes on him.

‘Wen-Er!’

Yes, Master,’ Wen-Er replied at once, his throat tightening.

‘Are you ready to take part in this expedition?’

Wen-Er replied without hesitation. ‘Yes Master, I am!’

Yu-Li broke into smiles as his friend was named. ‘Good, good!’ he murmured under his breath.

The disciples began to whisper amongst themselves, and Master Xin let them indulge for a few minutes. Then clearing his throat, he brought everyone’s attention back to him.

‘As I said at the beginning, there will need to be some major changes at the Temple. Many of the Masters will be forming part of the 2^nd group, some together with their senior disciples. This means some courtyards will be without a Master or a senior student to take charge. Therefore, some groups will be combined under one master. ‘

‘Like ours …,’ one young student whispered.

‘Yes, that is right,’ Master Xin said, with a smile. ‘Master Chao remains to oversee his students and mine. You will all mind him as you would me. Because the period I will be away this time is significant, there will also be changes in your living arrangements. You will all move into his courtyard to facilitate his supervision.’

He saw a few dismayed expressions. ‘Change is inevitable in our lives. It is your duty to face such changes without complaint and to help your new Master as much as possible by cooperating. Master Chao knows each and every one of you. He is a fair Master, and as long as you obey him and continue to be diligent and hardworking in your training, he will treat you well. But,’ he paused for emphasis, ‘slack or play the fool, and Master Chao will come down on you exactly like I would. My advice to you all, therefore, is to behave well, be respectful at all times, be honest, and always give your best efforts.’

He saw a few eyes brightened with unshed tears.

‘Are there any other questions?’ he asked in a much colder tone than what he was feeling.

‘When do we leave, Master?’ Yu could focus on only one thing.

Master Xin shook his head at him. ‘The day after tomorrow, my impatient warrior, if all goes according to plan. Because this is a larger group, you will need more time to get prepared. Plus you will be going immediately into battle, and so your preparations will be much different.’

‘Yes Master,’ Yu and Wen-Er replied, suddenly more glad of each other’s presence than they cared to say.

‘And now, I would like to have a few words in private with Yu and Wen-Er . The rest of you may start to prepare to move into Master Chao’s court.’

[9] The Parting

I-Ken crept to his Master’s room and hesitated outside his door. He had been unable to sleep, and he longed for his Master’s presence.

‘Enter!’

The voice made I-Ken jump. Hesitatingly, he pushed open the carved door and stepped over the threshold. His cloth shoes made no sound as he approached the bed where his master was meditating.

‘Master?’ I-Ken whispered.

‘Why are you up so late, I-Ken? And is it permitted to wander around the corridors in the middle of the night?’

I-Ken peered at his Master. He was sitting cross-legged on his bed with his hands resting lightly on his knees. His eyes were closed and his face calm. Yet his voice, though quiet so as not to disturb the night, was strong and alert.

‘H..how did you know I was outside?’

‘When in meditation, one should clear one’s mind of every conscious thought. And yet, if you can reach beyond that stage, you can achieve a higher plane where you can see and hear what you in your conscious state cannot.’

I-Ken bit his lips. ‘Master?’

‘What is it, I-Ken?’

‘I could not sleep.’

Since Master Xin did not respond, I-Ken swallowed and whispered. ‘I was … troubled.’

‘About what?’

‘Everything has changed, and so suddenly.’

‘And what did I say about change?’

‘I know what you said, Master. But I still find it troubling …’

‘Can you stop this change from happening?’

‘No, I guess not.’

‘Then what is the use of letting it trouble you?’

‘Well … but it DOES!’

Master Xin sighed and opened his eyes. I-Ken was standing before him, chewing on his bottom lip, a strand of hair dropping into his eye.

‘So what do you want me to do about it, I-Ken? I cannot control your mind, only you can. I can only teach you the principles of rational thought, but you are the one who has to think it!’

His Master’s voice sounded harsh but I-Ken was unafraid. In fact, he was seldom afraid of his Master. When he had misbehaved or disobeyed, he was afraid of the penance he would receive from him, but he suddenly realized he was never afraid of his Master.

‘Master!’ he suddenly cried out, and dropped to his knees.

A look for surprise crossed Master Xin’s expression. ‘Explain yourself.’

‘I don’t know how to explain.’

The expected rebuke did not come. I-Ken looked up through his lashes and studied his Master’s face. It was unreadable. A long silence fell, but I-Ken did not move. He was content in his Master’s presence, feeling safe just by being in the same room as he.

Finally Master Xin spoke. ‘Tell me what ails you, my little one?’

The endearment warmed I-Ken’s heart and emboldened him to speak. ‘I am not afraid to go into battle. I am not afraid to die for a good cause like ours!’

‘Well said.’

‘But I am afraid .. that you would ..’

For a moment, Master Xin thought he would not be ale to keep the mask in place. He swallowed once, cleared his throat, and said, ‘That I would not come back? That we would not see one another again?’

‘Yes!’ I-Ken’s voice was very low and subdued.

‘Is death not a part of life?’

‘Yes.’

‘To die with honor is every warrior’s wish. And should you be afraid for me when you are not afraid for yourself? How is that honoring your master, or your king and country?’

‘I don’t want you to die! Not for anyone! Not even for king or country!’

‘Hush!’

‘You always said to be truthful!’

Master allowed a smile to appear. ‘Well, I don’t intend to die, I-Ken. What is this foolish thought? Do you think your Master so inept? So incapable of defending himself in a battle?’

A tear rolled down I-Ken’s cheek.

‘Remember,’ Master Xin said sternly, ‘this is our role in life. Yours and mine. We are here to serve our king. Accept it.’

‘Yes, Master.’

‘We both aspire for the same things. Mastery of our martial arts. Respect from our peers. Honor to serve our great country. Accept it!’

‘Yes, Master.’

‘So – how then can there be any room for this fear in your heart? Do we both not want the same thing?’

‘Yes, Master.’

‘I am your Master, you are my Disciple. This will never change! Accept that also. ’

‘I do!’

‘Good! One last thing.’ I-Ken looked up expectantly. ‘You need a haircut. See to it before you move into Master Chao’s courtyard.’

‘Yes, Master.’

....... tbc