The Legend of the Kilin (cont)

[Goofy]

It would be nice if sc will update the archive.

it is not bad if you can read from there. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

[Kara]

writing in progress
I think i'll be writing about An Long and maybe i'll introduce a new character...
stay tuned...

[Kara]

A young boy was running towards his parents joyfully, his face lit up with unspeakable bliss. Both his parents were kneeling on the ground and opening their arms to welcome him. As he almost reached them, they faded away leaving him surrounded by burning bodies and rotting flesh…

An Long [I can’t remember- is his name is Ren An Long or Ren Long An?] woke up with a start, his forehead damp with sweat. Images of his parent’s deaths flashed rapidly through his head, pounding his skull relentlessly. He closed his eyes but the images only became clearer. His hands subconsciously clenched around his quilt tighter. An Long opened his eyes again and stared down at the quilt. Then he lifted his head and allowed his surroundings to be absorbed. He was in a simply decorated room where everything was made out of bamboo, including the bed and the very walls that held up the structure. The quilt did not seem to match the house as it was made from very expensive silk which was woven very thickly so that it was warm but still felt comfortable. Where was he? The last thing he remembered was the White Crane Mountains and the snow- so much snow. Why was he in a bamboo house? As if to answer his unspoken question the door opened and a woman walked in.

She had a unique face. Her features and skin indicated that she was around thirty or thirty-five but her eyes were so different- they conveyed age. Her movements also conveyed aged, as if she had been alive longer to perform them then just thirty odd years. She was dressed in many shades of blue and she carried a bowl of medicine. An Long looked at her as she sat down beside him and placed the bowl in his hands. Searing heat slapped his hands and An Long instinctively dropped the bowl. The movement was so quick that it was as if it didn’t happen. One second An Long had dropped the bowl, the next it was in the hands of the woman whom had brought the bowl. She took out a handkerchief and wrapped it around the bowl and gave it to him once again. An Long looked at the mixture. Unlike most medicines he was familiar with, this medicine was a clearish green colour instead of murky brown. It also had a delicious aroma.

“What is it?” He asked as he looked at her. The woman did not reply but instead pulled out the golden dragon bell that Xiao Long Er had given him. An Long reached around his neck and found that his necklace was indeed gone. He made a grab for the necklace but it seemed that he had aimed for the wrong place. The necklace was now a little to his right. Strangely, he had not seen it move.

“Give it back to me!” He demanded as he tried to reach for it several more times. Even after he had set down the bowl of medicine, he still could not take it.

“Where did you get this?” The woman asked. An Long looked at her. As was mentioned earlier, he was an extremely perceptive child. He had a gift for being able to ‘feel’ the atmosphere of a place or person to judge whether they were ‘safe’ or ‘dangerous’. The woman gave out a feeling of power. She radiated strength and power but there was no evil in her voice. She appeared cold but not cruel. An Long felt that he could answer her.

“A jiejie [big sister] whose name is Xiao Long Er gave it to me. She told me it would protect me wherever I go.” He replied. If the woman felt anything, she didn’t show it. The pupils of her eyes continued to swirl with wisdom and power. She looked at him again.

“When and where did she give it to you?” She asked. An Long thought.

“A month or so ago, after the kidnapping of Cheung Ping’s wife Li Yu Mei. She gave it to me at the Cheung Manor.” He replied. The woman stared down at the floor for a while, as if to process the thoughts and then nodded. She got up to leave.

“Drink the bowl- it contains a broth that will restore your strength and make you feel stronger. You’ve been unconscious for a while, it will help you and serve as energy until you eat something.” She said, in reply to his first question before she left the room. An Long looked at the bowl again and began to drink. A cool wave travelled slowly through his body from the top of his head to the bottom of his feet. He suddenly felt very fresh and energetic. He slid off the bed and reached for the bamboo doors. They were locked. It turned out that he was a prisoner.

Leung Mo Lin lounged on his throne, waiting for the arrival of Former Division Leader Yip, whom had promised to see him upon An Long’s immediate awakening. Although his pose was one of relaxation, his eyes fidgeted restlessly. Suddenly, a guard rushed in and knelt down. Before he could speak, Former Division Leader Yip had entered and waved him out. Leung Mo Lin stared down at her and waited. Commanding eyes met eyes of cool power.

“The boy got the necklace from Xiao Long Er about a month or two ago at the Cheung Manor. He told me he remembered that she had given it to him a month ago and naturally I added that to the two weeks he has been unconscious. This means that Xiao Long Er did not go into the Scorpion Cave. Li Yu Mei lied. It appears that Xiao Long Er is alive, however the Cheung Manor was burnt down a while back and so her whereabouts now is uncertain.” She reported. Leung Mo Lin clenched his fist slowly, his eyes flashing dangerously. He hated being the victim of a lie and to be lied to by a mere sprout of a follower was a complete embarrassment. Furthermore, he did not allow for anyone to harm his Xiao Long Er- she was now his only living blood relative.

“I’m going to tear that Li Yu Mei apart, she’ll wish that she had never been born.” He swore as he rose to his feet, his desire to kill radiating from his pose. Former Division Leader Yip stepped forward.

“Now is not the time. Li Yu Mei still has your kung fu manual remember? If she catches a wind of what you are thinking, she will definitely not return it. Also, maybe she may know where Xiao Long Er is. You must handle this with care. We cannot give her a chance to escape. With her current kungfu, you’ll have to send some of our older followers, perhaps even division leaders.” She reminded.

“Yes, that is true. I shouldn’t have given her than manual. That was rash thinking. With her nature, she would have memorised the manual before even starting to train. What should we do?” He asked. Former Division Leader Yip smiled.

“Li Yu Mei will be suspicious if I show up to visit her. But if you send someone else, on the excuse that they want to talk to her or something, you may be able to find out about Xiao Long Er.” She replied.

“And who….”

“Ru Yu Qing [Yuk Yu Teng/ Ngoc Du Tinh (Jade Rain Peace)] and Ru Ying Xi [Yuk Weng Ci (Jade Intelligent)]. Both are intelligent and very perceptive. Also they are young, children really. They will be perfect especially since they also love Xiao Long Er and treat her like a big sister.”

“But Yu Qing…” Leung Mo Lin’s voice showed immense doubt.

“That is reason why you should send her. Her eyes reveal no emotions. She is perfect.” Former Division Leader Yip injected crisply.

“Hmmm….yes, you are right. Send them here.” Leung Mo Lin agreed and waved his arm.

Former Division Leader Yip bowed and then walked away. Leung Mo Lin watched her go and turned his eyes to focus on the weapons that hung on the walls of his throne room. Li Yu Mei was going to face the wrath of the Dragon Clan Leader and it wasn’t going to be a walk through the forest.

A Few Days Later…

An Long was bored. He had been in the bamboo room for four days and there was nothing to do. The time gave him a chance to remember his parents and although the tears did not come as freely his eyes still stung with inner grief and his heart clenched as tightly as it did the first time. He had not seen the woman whom had given him the medicine. He only saw a man whom gave him food each day. The man was very nice and even gave An Long two pieces of wood so that he could make his parent’s tablets. Once they were made, he placed them on the altar and put half of his food there everyday.

The bamboo doors opened and An Long looked up surprised. It was far too early for lunch. However, his guest happened to be the woman he had first met. She walked into the room and looked at him.

“What is your name boy?” She asked.

“Ren An Long.” He answered politely. He looked into her eyes, but like the first time, they were just swirls of age and power.

“How old are you?”

“I’m 10 this year.” An Long replied after a short pause. It didn’t seem possible that he was only ten. He felt so much older. He felt as if he had aged so much since that night. The age that he gained weighed heavily upon him, as if to crush him.

“Where are your parents?” The woman asked, continuing her interrogation with the air of a law enforcer questioning a captive. At this, An Long’s eyes filled with tears and they inadvertently flitted towards the tablets on the altar. The woman’s eyes followed and she walked over and picked them up, holding them carefully in her hands. They were crudely made by a ten-year-old but each stroke was done with utmost care and they looked quite nice. She read the name quietly to herself.

“When did this happen?” She asked, her voice a little softer and kinder than it had been previously.

“When the Cheung Manor burnt down.” He answered, his voice hoarse from trying to hold back the tears. The woman swung her eyes to focus on him.

“Was Xiao Long Er there at the time?” She demanded. An Long shook his head.

“She left before it happened.” The woman almost smiled, An Long saw the corners of her mouth twist. She replaced the tablets and looked around the room and finally back at him.

“You must be bored.” It was a statement not a question but An Long found himself answering.

“There is nothing to do here.” He agreed, a hint of a whinge present in his voice. The woman stood still, as if trying to make a decision. Then she nodded.

“Follow me.” She ordered. Curiously, An Long ran after her- trying to keep in pace with her powerful strides.

The Dragon Clan was divided in five divisions with each division allocated a certain area to be allowed to live. The children of the members of each division played with each other in their allocated areas. Though they knew the children from each of the other divisions their closest friends were always of their own division. The children of the Water Dragon Division played near the streams and creeks that flowed through their own division. The fastest and most dangerous of these streams flowed behind the houses of some of the more important members of the Water Dragon Division including the leader of the division himself. The boys liked to play in the green area beside the stream and mostly practiced their martial arts. They also liked to pretend to push each other into the streams. The ages ranged from 7 year olds to 14 year olds. Any children younger than this age were forbidden from the area and any children older were trained separately by the division leader or the lieutenant to help the Dragon Clan.

Currently, the boys were practising martial arts. The oldest boy, twelve years old and very dashing was fighting with a younger boy with a scared face. The rest of the boys had stopped to watch. The older boy was fierce in his strokes, and his face was smug with confidence. His opponent was scared and his strokes were weak and basic. The older boy stuck out his sword confident of winning. Scared, the younger boy twisted slightly to the left and stuck out his sword in a weak position to his opponent’s right. The older boy, caught of guard tried to turn. He slipped and fell on his backside. The group of boys snickered softly while the victor stood terrified, his face deadly pale. A clear giggle rang across the almost silent ground and the older boy leapt up, his face furious. He glared around at the group of boys whom all suddenly turned as pale as the younger boy earlier. Hearing the giggle continue, the older boy turned to see another boy heading towards his direction with Former Division Leader Yip. The boy was younger than he was, his face pleasant and his eyes bright. The older boy glared, but he put on his most angelic face as he bowed to Former Division Leader Yip. She nodded and pushed An Long forward.

“Ka Lok this is Ren An Long. You are the oldest in this area and I want you to look after him. He will be part of the Water Dragon Division from now on- under my care.” She announced. Her piercing gaze flashed around the other boys and they all looked at the ground. Then she left, her footsteps soundless. An Long looked around nervously but managed a small and friendly smiled. The boy called Ka Lok watched to see Former Division Leader Yip’s whereabouts and was satisfied that she had disappeared. Then he turned his eyes towards An Long, a smirk on his face. His eyes glinted with unspoken malice and An Long involuntarily took a step backwards.

“So…your name is Ren An Long. How convenient that Mr Long would join our Dragon clan.” He drawled, laughing. Although the joke was not very funny all the other boys laughed as well, some more skilled at forced laughter than others. An Long smiled a little. He tried to start a new topic.

“What’s your name?” He asked. The older boy smirked.

“I’m the son of the Lieutenant of the Water Dragon Division Zhao Ka Lok.” He declared.

An Long smiled a little, not knowing what to say. He did not really like the boy in front of him. However, Zhao Ka Lok mistook the smile as a smirk and his eyes glinted as he took two steps forward.

“Earlier, I heard you laughing at my martial arts. I know that that must mean that yours is highly skilled.” He said softly. An Long realised his intention and took a few steps backward.

“I don’t know any martial arts. I really don’t want to compete with you.” He stated hurriedly. Ka Lok smiled.

“But I don’t want to test your martial arts. I want to test your swimming skills.” He explained. He moved forward as quick as a clap and grabbed An Long. It was no use struggling against Ka Lok for An Long had never learnt any martial arts and had always been interested in helping his parents with their book keeping rather than fighting. Ka Lok smiled and held An Long over the stream. An Long closed his eyes and prepared himself for the splash.

“You are a coward.” He said softly. Ka Lok laughed and swung his arm back and threw An Long into the stream. They say God always favour those of kind depositions. An Long did not even feel the coldness of the river. Not a drop of it touched his clothes. When An Long opened his eyes, he was standing on the ground. Standing next to him was a girl about his age. She was dressed in a light yellow and white outfit and wore white boots. She held a long stick in her right hand, made of pure gold. She was the prettiest girl that he had ever seen, her complexion perfect and her rosebud lips and cute nose attractive. Her eyes were large but strangely devoid of emotion and they did not flicker from place to place but remained still like two dark pools of peace and serenity. Her gaze was resting on Ka Lok, but it seemed as if it did not really focus on him.

“You truly are a coward Zhao Ka Lok.” She stated softly. Her voice was calm and serene. It was clear and melodious and very nice to listen to. Ka Lok grinned.

“So…blind witch, since when did you start interfering with us? Where is your cousin to beat us up and make us be quiet?” He taunted. An Long started and looked at her eyes again, realising why they were devoid of emotion. Unspoken sympathy welled inside of him, it seemed such a pity that such a pretty and young girl was blind. As if she could see, she nodded.

“Yes, I am blind.” She admitted softly. An Long immediately stepped forward in front of her. He did not want her to be hurt from trying to protect him. Despite the fact that she had saved him, he found it unlikely that she could win against Zhao Ka Lok. Although she could not see his movement, the corners of her lips turned into a small smile and she pushed him back. “There is no need. I am fully capable of taking care of them.” She reassured. Her voice was calm as her eyes but kindness laced through each sound. Zhao Ka Lok laughed scornfully.

“If you can beat me, I’ll call you grandmother.” He replied. She tilted her head slightly.

“Why would I want to lower my status in such a way?” She asked calmly, a hint of confusion in her melodious voice. Ka Lok growled.

“Blind witch!” He swore and charged towards her. She stepped forward and lifted her golden stick, lightly blocking his fierce sword. He used his strength to pushed his sword and her stick towards her but he could not. She continued to hold the stick lightly. Nimbly, she moved to one side and twirled her stick, hitting the shin of his right leg. He groaned in pain and charged again, twice as angry and ten times as fierce. The girl lightly somersaulted over his head and hit the back of his head lightly. Zhao Ka Lok went flying onto the ground. A mouthful of pebbles scattered and the rest of the boys looked at her in awe. An Long stared at her in surprise. How could a blind person be so good at martial arts? Zhao Ka Lok spat out the pebbles in his mouth and leapt up. The girl remained standing quietly, gazing in no particular direction. Zhao Ka Lok was about to charge again when he felt a pebble in his mouth. Spitefully, he spat it out a metre away from his position. The girl immediately looked in the pebble’s direction. Zhao Ka Lok grinned as it dawned upon him. Sweeping up a handful of pebbles, he proceeded to attack- throwing them in random directions to confuse the girl. His attacks were fierce but he always threw a stone in the direction opposite his attack. To the girl, it would appear as if he was attacking from both sides. Unluckily for him, she had experience in this kind of attack as she was an intelligent girl whom liked to conquer her weaknesses instead of cover them up. She stood still and waited for the attacks to come closer. Once Zhao Ka Lok moved closer, she could distinguish between the real and fake attack. In that one split second, instead of avoiding his straight sword strike, she sent out her stick at lightning quick speed. The golden stick reached his acupuncture point half a second before his sword reach her. Zhao Ka Lok froze. He glared at her.

“Unfreeze me.” He screamed. The girl ignored him completely and turned to the other boys whom were watching.

“You shouldn’t be scared of him. What he does is wrong. You are proud members of the Dragon Clan, why obey a coward and a bully such as Zhao Ka Lok.” She asked in a serene voice. The other boys looked at each other and then again at Zhao Ka Lok.

“Attack her and unfreeze me you idiots!” He commanded. They looked at the girl uneasily and then again at Ka Lok. He sighed angrily.

“If you all attack her at once, you’ll win!” He screamed. The girl’s face remained calm. The boys looked at each other.

“Now!!!!” Commanded Ka Lok. They sprung into action, surrounding the girl, their faces a mixture of sorrow and uneasiness. The girl waited until they attacked and suddenly twisted into the air. Flicking her stick, she pressed the acupuncture points of all the boys before they could do anything to her. An Long stared in amazement.

“Wow, you are so highly skilled.” He praised, genuine admiration and gratefulness in his voice. The girl smiled serenely at him.

“You seem like an intelligent person. Don’t come back here until Zhao Ka Lok disappears or until you learn some martial arts.” She warned. He smiled warmly, but she did not see it.

“Thank you for your help. My name is Ren An Long, what is your name?” He asked. The girl smiled.

“My name is Ru Yu…”

“Xiao Qing! Xiao Qing! Where are you? Oh! There you are! Hello.” The word was directed at An Long whom smiled at the newcomer. She was a girl about the same age as Ru Yu Qing and himself. She was every bit as pretty as Ru Yu Qing but in a completely different way. While Ru Yu Qing’s features where delicate and small except for her eyes, this girl had more defined features with a wider, cheekier smile and dancing eyes. Her voice was sweet and clear. She was dressed similarly to Ru Yu Qing but her dress was pink where Ru Yu Qing’s was pale yellow. Ru Yu Qing broke into a delighted smile, her face lighting up and becoming even more beautiful.

“Xiao Xi. Where have you been?” She asked. Xiao Xi smiled.

“It doesn’t matter, introduce me to this new friend of yours. Then tell me why you’ve been playing statues without me.” She laughed, glancing at the frozen boys. Ru Yu Qing smiled again. She gestured in An Long’s direction.

“This is Ren An Long. I was just telling him my name. My name is Ru Yu Qing and this is my younger cousin Ru Ying Xi.” She said by way of introduction. Ru Ying Xi smiled at An Long.

“Are you new?” She asked. An Long nodded. Suddenly, Ying Xi’s pretty features broke into a frown and she grabbed Yu Qing’s arm.

“Sorry An Long, I just remembered I have to do something. We’ll see you when we see you!” The two girls disappeared with a somersault, leaving An Long with the frozen boys. An Long stared in their direction, trying to absorb everything he had seen just then. Zhao Ka Lok rudely broke his concentration.

“What are you waiting for? Unfreeze me!” He commanded. An Long looked at him and remembered Ru Yu Qing’s calm voice. He gave Zhao Ka Lok a friendly smile and then walked in the direction of the bamboo hut.

“You’ll regret this Ren An Long!” Zhao Ka Lok screamed after him. But An Long was not listening. He was thinking of Ru Yu Qing’s eyes. She was blind. How terrible for it to happen to such a nice person. He had met blind people before. Strangely, she did not resemble them. Most blind people resented their disability and rarely spoke about it. It seemed as if Ru Yu Qing did not mind her disability but accepted it as it was. She admitted that she was blind so naturally. An Long could not help but admire such open-mindedness and such acceptance.

Meanwhile…

“Xiao Xi, what is it?” Yu Qing asked, calmly withdrawing her hand. Ying Xi clicked her tongue.

“We have to see Li Yu Mei- remember Leader Leung’s request?” Yu Qing smiled indulgently.

“Why the rush?” She asked. Her eyes moved slowly to face Ying Xi’s and she tilted her head to the side.

“I felt like it.” Came the laughing reply. Ying Xi’s eyes shined and she also tilted her head and scrunched her nose playfully. Yu Qing laughed softly and followed Ying Xi, her hand resting lightly on the other’s arm.

Li Yu Mei’s room was empty. However, that did not stop Ying Xi from entering. She began to search the room, careful to put everything in its rightful place. Yu Qing looked confused.

“Xiao Xi, what are you doing?” She asked. Her cousin grinned.

“Keep an ear out will you? I’m searching her room for clues. If we find the manual, then we can hand her over to Leader Leung and make her pay for trying to hurt Xiao Long Er Jie Jie.” She replied. Yu Qing shook her head slowly.

“We can’t hand her over until we’ve discovered what she did to Xiao Long Er Jie Jie. We better not make her suspicious of us.” She warned seriously. Ying Xi shrugged.

“I want to search her room anyway.” She replied. She searched in all the obvious places before using her brain. Soon, she discovered many hidden compartments, but none of them held anything of interest to her. Yu Qing had been listening to her search when she suddenly told Ying Xi to stop walking.

“What is it Xiao Qing?”

“Describe the floor to me.” She requested. Xiao Qing obliged. She was very good at describing, giving Yu Qing an exact picture.

“It is made of straw mats and there are five straw mats in total. The bed is on the fifth straw mat. The mats are a yellowy colour that has been faded. They are very clean and it seems as if they have been cleaned recently. I am standing near the end of the bed, on the fourth mat from the opposite wall.”

“Walk along the bed that you are standing next to.” Yu Qing commanded. Ying Xi obeyed. She walked back and forth until Yu Qing told her to stop again. Walking over, she bent down and felt along the mat. Upon the mat was a slight impression of a flower. Ying Xi’s sharp eyes also noticed it and she, like Yu Qing averted her eyes to the flower shaped decoration that hung on the wall. Ying Xi darted to the wall and felt around. Her hands felt a tiny notch and she pressed it. A whole section of the wall fell down, the flower piece falling exactly on the impression in the mat. Inside was a trunk of money and some kung fu manuals. There was also a scroll inside. Ying Xi picked up the scroll as she described the insides to Yu Qing. She unrolled the scroll and found to her amazement a picture of the White Crane Mountains with a small Kilin on it. She described the painting to Yu Qing.

“It looks exactly like the one in Leader Leung’s study.” She replied. Yu Qing immediately remembered. She had ran her hands over that painting, a painting which Leader Leung had said to be of very good quality. However, her sensitive fingers had felt nothing. With most good quality paintings, the paint was thick enough for her to just make an impression of what the painting was. Immediately, Yu Qing ran her fingers over the painting. A picture of a mountain and a Kilin appeared in her mind’s eye. She turned her eyes towards Ying Xi.

“This is the real one.” She stated. Ying Xi nodded, in thought. Her quick mind searched through all the reasons as to why the painting was here and she looked over at her cousin. Yu Qing was also deep in thought.

“What should we do with it?” Ying Xi asked. Yu Qing ran her hands over the painting and then rolled it up.

“Take it with us. I will hide it. There is something about this painting that makes me feel queer. I want to keep it for a while and then present it to Leader Leung.” She decided in her soft voice. Ying Xi nodded and smiled. She reached over and took Yu Qing’s hand lightly. Then they headed back to their room.

The two girls shared a room ever since Ying Xi had come to live with them at the age of five. Ying Xi’s parents had died for the Dragon Clan and so their names were very much honoured. Ying Xi offcourse was ensured a good lifestyle with her uncle, aunt and cousin. Yu Qing had accepted her cousin with open arms, comforting her and becoming her playmate, making both of them inseparable. Two years later, Yu Qing was poisoned by the Five Step Poison. This poison slowly took away a person’s senses in five steps before rotting their flesh, allowing them to die a painful death. Yu Qing had become blinded first, but luckily she was prevented from any further pain when the leader of the Plant Dragon Division with Xiao Long Er’s help had developed an antidote. Unfortunately, they were unable to restore her sight and since she was seven, she had become blinded. From then on Ying Xi had remained with Yu Qing in the same room, both of them thinking up ways to help Yu Qing overcome her disability. This year, they were both eleven years old. ************************************************** ***************
Sorry this is so long, i couldn't stop writing! [grin] Anyways, Whitekrane i have finally started on the story of Xiao Long Er's parents and will be adding that when i finish it. It seems as if that story will be even longer than this addition!

[Suet Seung]

Kara: You've started where I stopped right? Anyways, I guess it is better for you to finish it off since it's your character's parents..none of the other writers want to take on the part of writing what I started...

[Kara]

Yup! I started right where you left off and have continued it for a few pages. The reason why i did not continue it for a while is because i could not decide what sort of people they were and what sort of relationship they had and also what sort of connection they had with the legend of kilin. I'm about halfway there so...i don't know. All i know is that i have to think of a way to connect Xiao Long Er's parents to the third kilin painting of the waterfall and also to the reason why the White Snake Clan hates the Dragon CLan. I also have to think about how Tian Bo's father dies and how Xiao Long Er is brought up by her uncle...whew....lots of hard work. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

P.S. I think i got the names of Xiao Long Er's aunt and Xiao Long Er wrong- it's supposed to be Bai XUE Ying and Bai XUE Xiang [btw Xiang as in Guo Xiang- my favourite character!]

[danielle]

Sorry I just had to complim you guys on the great teamwork and story! <IMG SRC="smilies/thumbsup.gif" border="0">Keep it up!! It was soo good I spent halfthe night reading it <IMG SRC="smilies/coffee.gif" border="0">-later days-

[danielle]

ooh i meant compliment <IMG SRC="smilies/blush.gif" border="0"> I'm a lousy typer:cringe <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">arn I forgot test tommorow...-later days-

[C Monster]

Just a little something that I came up with while reading the inspiration of others. There's something I want to do with the wall Tian Bo's sketching -- based on the two paintings that are a part of his family's heirloom -- but I don't know what just yet. Please be patient. I hope to connect the dots soon on this or someone could step in and give me a hand.

______

"As you wish, Ah Lan," replied Tian Bo pointedly with a teasing sparkle in his eyes and smirk on his face.

Ducking passed the scarred-face man's scrutiny, Zhi Lan walked over to inspect the chiseled wall that he had been working on before her interruption. Gently, she traced the lighter, grayer engravings that stood out from the dark obsidian stone. The drawings reminded her of ink paintings with its strong fluid brushstrokes being absorbed by the delicateness of fine rice paper. She murmured wonderously, "So beautiful and life-like. You have captured the power and majesty of Dragon Tiger Mountain as well as the isolation and bleakness of White Krane Mountain. The work of a true master."

Caught by surprise, Tian Bo uttered nervously, "How did you know... I didn't think they were that easy to... They're supposed to be abstractions of the originals..."

"Yes," she agreed. "But by stripping away the details," she paused to trace the outlines once more before continuing, "you've only made it that much easier. There's a reason why they got those names. And your sketchings only enhance that fact. It also helps when you've seen both these wonders up close and personally."

"You've been to Lung Fu San? When?" It had been so long since he last stepped into his southern homeland that he couldn't stop himself from asking.

Zhi Lan turned away from the wall to face him again. "You sound surprised. Don't think a siu ah-wan (young handmaid) like me could have travelled so far and wide?!"

"No, Ah Lan. You are far from the siu ah-wan you make yourself out to be. You and your friend, Ah Yee (if I remember correctly) could not have been in service to the Cheungs for that long or they would have long stripped those guises of yours as well."

"What are you saying? That I'm not obedient, demur, and docile enough for your taste?"

"My tastes are not at issue. I'm just pointing out a simple observation that you are far too smart, quick-witted, and sharped-tongued to have come out of that household. Not only that, your martial arts background is contrary to the style of Sword Lake Clan. Besides I think you two were having too much challenging major players in wulin like Sky Slicing Sword Mok Ying to ever stick to gardening or needlepoint."

"How did you..."

Tian Bo pointed to his cheek. "Your mask." Along with your scent, he added silently.

"Humph." She grunted out at a loss for words. She turned back to his stone carvings with feigned interest.

"So. Exactly what game are you playing?"

"I didn't tell you when we were at Weird Dr. Ma's house. Why makes you think I'll tell you now?" She countered back still avoiding his gaze.

"Good point. Keep your secrets then." He shrugged before picking up his stone tools to get back to chiseling his wall. She in turn began preparing their next meal with the supplies she brought back. A natural tranquil rhythm fell between the two as they set forth in their separate tasks.

[danielle]

Greattory you guys are writing! <IMG SRC="smilies/clap.gif" border="0">But I get confused on the characters names sometimes <IMG SRC="smilies/confused.gif" border="0"> Could you guys like give a brief explanation about the characters, not all of them but just the ones apeering in the chapter... sorry I've have a lousy memory <IMG SRC="smilies/blush.gif" border="0">
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- later days-

[ccsakura]

Could you guys tell me what the story about Xiao Long Er's parents is called.

[TKL]

It has been a while since my last contribution to this story and you guys are doing great with the flow. Here is my little contribution to the story that I have typed up in haste. I’ve been reading the last few posts but if this is not consistent with the flow of the story, just ignore it then.
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After their dinner, Tian Bo went out to practice his nor-kung. He was regaining his strength quicker than he thought. The metallic lustre of his sabre was glaring under the moonlight. Tian Bo picked up the sabre and launched himself into the familiar steps of the Dragon Defying Moon Sabre. The man and the sabre were moving faster and faster together, their shadows blended into one, their movements in the moonlight were indistinguishable. As Tian Bo was spinning his sabre around forming a protective whirlwind, a very vague image appeared in his mind, originating from the depth of his memory, the figures of his parents. They died when he was very little and since then he had been brought up by his uncle, Leung Mo Lin. Their images appeared in his dreams and every time he was concentrating like now. Each time, as he tried to reach deeper into his memory in order to picture his parents, his heart would ache. He could never make out the beloved faces of his parents. Tian Bo brought the sabre lower to the ground as he swung up in the air. The dry leaves on the ground were lifted up by the force from the movement of the saber and formed a vortex, swirling around Tian Bo. His mind was numb, his heart was aching. He could feel the weakness inside him spreading to his arms. Tian Bo slowed down and stopped.

He sat down on a rock and started cleaning his sabre. An age-old pain and rage overwhelmed him as his hand touched the beautifully woven thread on the sabre’s handle. Attached to the thread was a small flower-shaped jade. His hand gripped on the jade as it cut deep into his skin yet that pain was incomparable to the pain deep inside his heart. His mind traced back the path of the past, to the very first time when he met Li Yu Mei. She was 10 then, a little orphan girl whose parents died in the flood that year. Her only way of surviving was to steal food and money from unaware people in the market. Tian Bo was visiting the village down the mountain of the Dragon Mountain Clan with his uncle to check on the condition of the damp. He still remembered it very clearly, how he had been captivated by a pair of innocent eyes before he discovered that his small money-bag had mysteriously disappeared from his waist band.

Li Yu Mei was then taken into the Dragon Mountain Clan. She became his si mui. They grew up together and his affection for her slowly blossomed into a deep love. He proclaimed his love for her when she turned 16 and she entrusted him with a flower-shaped jade which she claimed to be given to her by her parents. I know that you and your saber never part. I attach this jade here so it would remind you of your love for me every time you see it. He could still hear it now, her soft, alluring voice as she gently tied the thread around the saber’s handle. He could still see her smile, a sweet smile that could light up her whole lovely face, her black eyes luminous, framed in the thickest eyelashes. She was a creature of vibrant, intelligent and sensual yet at the same time fragile and weak as a kitten. He had always felt protective toward her. Protective! Tian Bo laughed wryly. Not that Li Yu Mei needed any protection from him.

There was no secret that he would keep from her. He shared with her his little memory of his parents. He had told her of the only thing his father had left for him, the painting that Tian Bo suspected was to contain some secret. It did not seem unusual for him how she had been so interested in the painting and had asked him to show her the painting many time. During the summer that year when Yu Mei turned 18, Cheung Ping paid a visit to the Dragon Mt. Clan. He did not suspect anything out of ordinary in Yu Mei until the night she asked him to meet her in the small hut in the forest, where they would often meet. He had come unaware of the danger that awaited him. He told her that he would talk about their wedding plan to his uncle the following day and she had smiled sweetly at him. They drank to celebrate their happiness but after two drinks, he felt dizzy and unstable. Only then, Cheung Ping burst into view. Tian Bo grabbed Yu Mei’s arm and shoved her behind him while facing two more men in dark clothes who had suddenly sprung into the hut from outside with Cheung Ping. They balefully circled Tian Bo and Yu Mei as he tried desperately to protect Yu Mei rather than himself in his dazed state.

Cheung Ping shrieked, “Get him, you fools.”

As Tian Bo realized that the two black shadows were heading straight for him, it had been too late. He squinted through double vision and sustained a cut on his right arm. Yet he remained on his feet thanks to two decades of training days and nights. The sabre swung viciously in front of him, keeping Cheung Ping and his assistants at bay, while he commanded to Yu Mei in a concussed slur, “Go, Yu Mei. Go now!” Even concussed, Tian Bo was battling with awesome instinct, feinting and dodging, using his sabre, feet and hands with natural skill. However, his mind was slowly slipping into the unconscious state, his aims off-target and his strength leaving his body. Cheung Ping surged his sword forward aiming at Tian Bo's heart. Tian Bo dodged down but his leg wobbled. He could feel the pain and the deafening sound of the sword's edge slashing through his left cheek. Tian Bo sank down on the ground and the only thing he was aware of before he passed out was Yu Mei’s teary face whispering “sorry” to him as she searched and found the painting inside his cloak. He did not wake up until few days later and dragged himself back to the Dragon Mt. Clan only to discover that Cheung Ping had asked for Yu Mei’s hand in marriage.

Tian Bo sat still, his eyes on the sabre. He felt enwrapped in tendrils of malice but until now, he still could not understand why Yu Mei had betrayed him. The old rage that had barely diminished over the years rose inside him. Tian Bo plucked off the thread and threw it against the rock as the force of his inner power emanating from his palm smashed the jade into dust.Almost unconsciously, he touched the scar on his cheek. The only person whom he ever loved and trusted had only used him as a means in her plan As he tasted the bitterness of betrayal, waves of agonizing rage and pain exploded through his entire being. Tian Bo screamed as he launched himself insanely into the steps of Leung Family Kick.

Cheuk Zhi Lan had witnessed the whole scene. She could sense the pain and the rage in him but there was nothing she could do.

<IMG SRC="smilies/tongue.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/wink.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/tired.gif" border="0">

[ October 23, 2002: Message edited by: TKL ]

[Suet Seung]

Okay here for the new and old readers...there is still this list here...it's just because this thread is inactive that is why it seem to keep going down from the forum. So here's just a push up the list so the new readers know that there is a character list for our round robin fanfic here...

[Goofy]

glad that this story is alive again. <IMG SRC="smilies/clap.gif" border="0">

Maybe I might get inspired after reading the updates. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

[Suet Seung]

Kara:

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><table border="0" width="80%" bgcolor="#dcdcdc" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1"><tr><td width="100%"><table border="0" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="10" bgcolor="#DCDCDC"><tr><td width="100%" bgcolor="#eeeeee"><font size="1"> She realized that sooner or later Yuen Jin was going to be her niece-in-law. </font></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></BLOCKQUOTE>

Did you mean nephew-in-law and not niece-in-law?

Its in your Great escape plan chapter. Btw, just click on edit and you can edit the chapter. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/wink.gif" border="0">

Also, I recall it is Ren Long an. <IMG SRC="smilies/smile.gif" border="0">

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><table border="0" width="80%" bgcolor="#dcdcdc" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1"><tr><td width="100%"><table border="0" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="10" bgcolor="#DCDCDC"><tr><td width="100%" bgcolor="#eeeeee"><font size="1">Two years later, Yu Qing was poisoned by the Five Step Poison. </font></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></BLOCKQUOTE>

I don't want to sound nitpicking or anything in that nature but I'm not quite sure about the "Two years later" thing...would it be Two years earlier or two years prior to the present?

[ October 24, 2002: Message edited by: WhiteKrane ]

[Kara]

White Krane: As for Ren's name, i know that the last time i added a chapter, it was Ren Long An but i have this vague memory of it being An Long the first time i added him in...

As for the two years later thingy- i'm not sure. Oh Well, at least the message got across <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

C Monster: A very poignant chapter- i like the developing relationship between Tian Bo and Zhi Lan. I also like the way you portray Tian Bo's inner turmoils- excellent


TKL: Didn't Tian Bo fall off a cliff and then disappeared or something? I remember reading somewhere that he fell off the cliff because of Li Yu Mei but i can't remember if he came back or disappeared. Right now Leung Mo Lin thinks that Xiao Long Er is his only living relative- he has no idea Tian Bo is still alive right? I think....i'm not sure. I would check but i can't seem to find all of Legend of Kilin so i think i'll have to appeal to everybody else's memories. But either way, a great chapter- nicely done

[Goofy]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><table border="0" width="80%" bgcolor="#dcdcdc" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1"><tr><td width="100%"><table border="0" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="10" bgcolor="#DCDCDC"><tr><td width="100%" bgcolor="#eeeeee"><font size="1"> TKL: Didn't Tian Bo fall off a cliff and then disappeared or something? I remember reading somewhere that he fell off the cliff because of Li Yu Mei but i can't remember if he came back or disappeared. Right now Leung Mo Lin thinks that Xiao Long Er is his only living relative- he has no idea Tian Bo is still alive right? </font></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></BLOCKQUOTE>I can answer some questions here.

Tian Bo did fall off the cliff but was rescued by Ah Lan. He has been with her since.

Ah Lan was turning ugly b/c of the makeup she used to disguise herself and something else.

I don't thing Leung knew that his nephew was still alive.

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don't blame me. It is SC's fault for not updating my editing. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

[Kara]

No, by Tian Bo falling off a cliff- i meant before the Legend of kilin actually started- he was scared by Li Yu Mei and pushed off the cliff- then he came back to try to steal her from her wedding with Cheung Ping [which by the way has not appeared for a long time]

[Kara]

oops! Sorry i meant scarred by Li Yu Mei- our Tian Bo is not easily scared!

[TKL]

From the various plot I read, the incident between Tian Bo and Li Yu Mei was never properly explained. So I thought I just clarify the situation a little bit more. <IMG SRC="smilies/tongue.gif" border="0">

[Kara]

Oooooooooo! Whoops! Sorry then, continue on...