The Legend of the Kilin (cont)

[C Monster]

A little bit more action on the Zhi Lan and Tian Bo front. Thanks TKL for the great addition to their story. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">
____

Zhi Lan watched in horror and fascination at this mercurial man's maniacal onslaught. His kicks were swift and deadly lashing against the open air with the force of a sweeping tornado. Swirls of snow, dirt and pebbles whipped from the frozen ground spinning faster, stronger and higher. Momento and vibrations began to build with every kick as he kept spinning over the precipice of the mountain at the foot of their cave.

She looked up at the looming rocks above, White Krane Mountain's highest peak. If she don't find a way to calm him down, he'll not only overexert himself, but bring an avalanche of snow down burying them. She knew not the exact cause of his sudden outburst, but she had an inkling of "who" was behind it. The bitterness and betrayal written across his face said it all. Li Yu Mei.

Zhi Lan snickered to herself. It rankled her still that such a sinister and false woman could have such overreaching talons to ensnare the heart of such a trusting and noble gentleman. He may not look it with his unruly locks, shabby clothing and menacing scar, but his conduct, demeanor and erudite speech spoke volumes. This man may have the face of a warrior, but his heart and mind are that of an artist and scholar. "Too idealistic and gullible for his own good," she grumbled. "But what to do... what to do?"

She went inside to find her carrying sack. Quickly rummaging through, she pulled out a short slender reed-like flute and began playing. Low and soft, the sweet tune twittered gently like clumps of snowflakes in slow descent. The music carried through the cave and out encasing the place around with an aura of silence and serenity. The simple melody was a lullaby her grandmother sung to her when she was a babe and feeling restless. If it could sooth her high-flying spirits, its magic could work on anyone. Soon enough the howling outside stopped.

She walked outside quietly without breaking her play and saw that Lung Juan Fung (Tian Bo's alias) was sitting docilely and cross-legged by the mouth of cave deep in meditation. As his brows began to smooth over lulled by the enchanting music, she eased toward its finale. Holding out the last sweet note for a few moments longer, she let the tune die away as softly as it began.

A few moments elapsed before Juan Fung spoke out shattering the peace. "That was very beautiful. Thank you. You just might have saved my life." Gone was the rage and anguish locked within, his voice was soft and even-tempered.

"It seems I've been doing that a lot lately." She quipped back, eyes wide and blazing.

Juan Fung worked hard to bite back a throaty chuckle. "How right you are! Though I have pledged my life to you, it seems I can't keep it from harms way."

"No, you don't," she agreed sadly adding to herself, 'you suicidal nincompoop.' She then hesitantly but daringly asked, "And why is that? Is SHE truly worth it?"

He was not taken aback by her probing question. Instead, he met her gaze squarely and whispered sincerely, "No, she isn't. She probably never was." He looked down at his palm that had been cut by the jade flower. It was now lightly caked with dried blood. He reflected, "But I gave my heart away too young and too long ago. Now that I want it back, I have no idea where to find it. I had thought by going to the wedding, I would be truly free of her once and for all. But now...." He looked up again and stared at Zhi Lan's half-concealed face once more. His original plan had been to capture Yu Mei and extract the truth of her betrayal directly. However, the heavens were working against him from the beginning. Instead of Yu Mei, he abducted this mysterious woman sitting beside him now. 'Ah, life with its strange unexpected twists and turns,' he mused to himself.

Misinterpreting the wisp of a smile, Zhi Lan conjectured angrily, "But now that the wedding's been cancelled indefinately, you're never going to get your resolution?!"

"No. I don't think..."

"Humph! Great! That's just great! Wonderful!" She bit back sarcastically. In a fit of agitated frustration, she threw her hands up in the air and began pacing. She couldn't believe it. How could anyone be so naive and asinine! That woman has been like the scourge tearing two legendary wuxia clans apart with just one blow. The famous Sword Lake Clan is now but a charred dream while Dragon Mountain Clan is branded the chief culprit. And they're up in arms searching far and wide for their beloved missing disciple and leader! Missing! How could she be missing or captured when this is the same woman who was diabolical enough to drug her so bad that she's scarred for life? Ah Yee and master are the ones who are missing! And Zhi Lan was sure that it was this woman behind all of it. Yet this man, even with his third brother murdered indirectly by her hands, still carries a flaming torch for his true love!

"Unbelievable! Just unbelievable!" cried Zhi Lan. She whipped her face around to face Juan Fung evenly. "I never got a chance to tell you! I went back to Sword Lake... and..."

"And what, ah Lan?" He asked worriedly. Tears were streaming down her eyes. He had never seen her so worked up before. He repeated again softly, "What is it? Ah Lan."

With vehemence, she tore her porcelain mask away forcefully. "Just like how my face is destroyed, so has what's befallen the once illustrious Sword Lake Clan! The entire Cheung household lies in ashes. And you're precious love, Li Yu Mei, has gone missing. Rumors has it that Dragon Mountain Clan used the wedding as a ruse and cover to infiltrate and destroy their main competitor, Sword Lake. Now all of wulin is in turmoil! So much blood shed and lost! And for what!? For a brief glimpse of this famed beauty said to be the most beguiling across this land!" She chortled out.

---

Hope you like!

[ccsakura]

This is really good, I reading about Tin Bo and Ah Lan. I look forward to reading the next part!!!

[CrazyT]

I'm looking at some free time (only 4 days? I hate school) so I will definitely start reading this fan-fic again. Now the hard part is trying to find the part I left off and remembering what happen before it.

[C Monster]

Some more on my favorite couple...

Tian Bo stared riveted at Zhi Lan's tortured face. He was the first (besides herself) to see the myriad of violet veins scrawled across her forehead and cheeks. Remarkably, these random and jagged scars crept just below the surface of her skin.

Mesmerized, Tian Bo couldn't help but reach out and glide a fingertip tracing one of the lines. "It's still so smooth. How?"

Zhi Lan so wanted to shirk away from his violating touch, but couldn't. She accepted his arresting perusal of her face because she was amazed at the lack of condemnation, fright or disgust in his eyes. "The combination of Yu Mei's poison and my master's disguising pill work with and against each other. Maybe during my next attack, they'll erupt with all the poisonous blood spewing out." She added sharply.

"You mean your poison has not been eradicated yet?!" He cried out in shock before grabbing her wrist to read her pulse. Yes, there were streams of foreign powers running rampant through her system. How could he not have picked it up earlier when he was channelling energy to her? While nothing as of yet has gather enough power to percolate through to do some serious harm, he knew that her next outbreak could be her last (and not in a good sense either).

Noticing the mixture of trouble and worry on his face, she stated a matter-of-factly, "I'm a goner then."

He tried to sound optimistic. "I'm not a reknowned phyiscian like the Ma couple, so I can't say anything for sure. What I do know is that the poisons have mutated to something entirely different to what they were set out to do. As for now, other than the scars, there have been no other side effects, right? (to which Zhi Lan shook her head) Good. I think if you keep that fiery temper of yours in check, you'll more than likely to out live even me."

"Very encouraging," replied she sarcastically, "especially from a man with suicidal tendencies." She was about to put her mask back on when he stopped her with a halting hand.

He said decidely, "Leave it. If you want to know, I think you wear them quite well. Such captivating eyes against an even more provocative face. There's no need to hide from me."

The last sentence was whispered with such fervor and sincerity that Zhi Lan knew not how to respond. What is it with this man that can make her so tongue-tied?! She scolded herself in her head.

He went on switching to a lighter tone. "Besides, you're much easier to read that way. I now can see what's going on in that calculating head of yours."

"What?! I never scheme..."

"No, you don't. But you have this tendency to jump to the wildest conclusions and misinterpret almost everything I say. Now that I can SEE you, I can make adjustments before you get yourself into one of those moody tirades."

"Moody tirades! You're the one who just came out of an..." She paused abruptly noticing that he was stepping into her space and taking into his arms. "What are you doing?"

His attention directed at a point up ahead, he yelled, "Get inside quickly, Zhi Lan! It's an...." Before he had time to complete the words, a loud onrush of crumbling ice-cap of snow came running down the mountain . Luckily, they made it back inside the cave in time, totally cloaked in silence and darkness.

[ccsakura]

Oh this is getting good, I'm glad atleast that somebody is still writing this story, it's really good!!

[TKL]

C Monster, how cheeky and naughty you are! <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/bowl.gif" border="0">you 'put' my favourite couple in cave with no way out. Imagine what would happen to them? <IMG SRC="smilies/blob.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/clap.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/dizzy.gif" border="0">

[shootingst8r]

hi, is anyone going to update this story..... i have been keeping up with this story and i am really interested in what's gonna happen to the characters and how they will find the paintings of the kilin.... i hope that you guys won't give up on the story, because it's really good!

[Zhen Yu Cao]

Bump <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

[C Monster]

This first round robin fanfic at the forum has always held an inexplicable and intangible grasp on me. I'm fascinated by the intriguing plot, streams of side stories, romantic intermingling, and especially the complex and intriguing characters. I think this story has more potential and charisma than many of the TVB yarns that are churned out annually. It is the reason why I became a member of this forum in the first place because I wanted so much to add my take to this fascinating tale.

Having said this, I feel committed to getting this "Kilin" moving along again. Goofy has sent me the edited versions of this collaborative masterpiece to me and I'm going to use that as a platform to weave the interspersing strands together. This does not mean in anyway that I want to "hog" up this story and become its main voice. It's always been my sincere belief that the strength of LOK lies in the varied and rich ideas of the many contributors who has written so far, and therefore, will always remain a Round Robin Fanfic.

Like the avalanche that came tumbling down on Tian Bo and Zhi Lan and trapping them in that cave, it is time to dig them out so their powers can be unleashed. And I guess I'm the first one to pick up the shovel. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

And I hope **cross my fingers** others -- old and new writers -- will soon join in to give me a hand....

Please stay tuned. <IMG SRC="smilies/bow.gif" border="0">

[ccsakura]

Oh my gosh I've been waiting a while for someone to continue this story, it really is a very, very, very good story. I'll stay tuned... <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

[GoldenArm]

I really like this story too. Anybody gonna pick it back up?

[Tu Vi]

Tu Vi applauds as C Monster picks up the shovel. I am so looking forward to your update. Have been following this story avidly and i was so disappointed to see it just hanging there. Thank you so much, C Monster, and I hope that you will be inspired soon to write a fabulous chapter for this wonderful story. My fingers are crossed,
Tu Vi

[CrazyT]

Hmm..what happen to this story. Did it die on us..nooo!

[TKL]

I think C Monster is going to write the next part. Hopefully, the story will pick up again. It's the only fan fiction that I have ever contributed, I don't want it to disappear. Let's write a story that will put scriptwriters at TVB to shame <IMG SRC="smilies/wink.gif" border="0">

[CrazyT]

I really want to contribute again too but then I'll have to re-read the whole story again. That's something I don't have time to do.

[Zhen Yu Cao]

Bump! <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

[Suet Seung]

I don't know why some readers wait for an update of this fan-fic. All is very welcomed to contribute to the story, all ideas are welcomed...so if you can't wait for an update for this story, write a short or long piece! <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> Take a chance...a risk..whatever.

We'd like to see your ideas!

[Suet Seung]

Where is Kara? Haven't seen her around here for the longest of time! Kara, if you're reading this make yourself known!

[Goofy]

I think she mentioned 6 month sabatical. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

[Suet Seung]

I've merged the Character List and this thread together so now the character list is now located on the first page of this thread.

No one wants to contribute to the story anymore? This is a round robin, so please someone get some inspiration from reading the previous posts!

Also, the First half of the story is located in the Story Vault of Spcnet's Main site for new readers and writers who are considering to contribute to the story.