Legendary Book of Sun-Moon Swordplay

[cherrie]

yeah,that's a threat

[charbydis]

hmmm. Interesting chappie. Seems that Siu Han has several personalities within her, her past and present self. Oh well, I will support her even if she turns evil... i recommend her first victim to be Ching Bong! BTW, who is his wife?

[cherrie]

siu han gives me an impression of a 'yaw niu'

[TommyH]

i'm up to chapter 34 things are getting interesting

[Melanie]

Hi, everyone. This chapter is a bit short, but I hope you enjoy it, nonetheless. Thanks for reading!

By the way, there's a special guest appearance in this chapter for you, cherrie. I know you've asked many times, and here he finally is.

CHAPTER 57 --- THE ASSOCIATION

Characters appearing in this chapter:
Kevin Cheng Ka Wing---Cheng Sai Chung
Gigi Lai Chi---Lam Chi Chi

Guest appearance in this chapter:
Raymond Lam Fung---Purple Robe Assassin

From the corner of his eyes, Sai Chung notices the body fall down from the treetop. Swinging back around, he feels his throat constrict as he finds himself staring right into Chi Chi’s large, lifeless eyes, her long hair undone and hanging limply around her deathly pale, expressionless face, her body suspended from the tree branch by a thick rope, swaying…swaying…in the silent night.

Sai Chung moans incoherently, unable to form a clear thought. Several times, he tries to scream, to find some outlet for his agony and shock. His heart pumps madly, the blood thundering viciously through his head, so loudly that he could almost imagine his entire skull bursting open from the pressure.

A thousand voices seem to be screeching maniacally within his head. Some are wailing desolately, some are laughing tauntingly at him, and some are just randomly shrieking. All these emotions course through him, and yet, he could not mutter a single word, a single sound. He could only stare numbly at Chi Chi’s lifeless eyes as her body swings back and forth, back and forth, in the silent night.

Somewhere in the back recesses of his mind, a rational voice tells him to untangle Chi Chi’s body from the tree branch, to bury her, to allow her to rest in peace. But he couldn’t seem to move. His arms feel heavy, weighed down with a million tears, a million sorrows, because he will never again hear her laughter, never again see her eyes sparkle with excitement or flash with temper.

The silence surrounds him, wrapping its thick and suffocating fingers around his neck, wringing every once of breath from him. After what seems like an eternity, Sai Chung forces his arms to reach forward and wrap around Chi Chi’s waist. With a single forceful tug, the rope tied around her waist loosens, and her dead weight falls on top of him. Weak from the shock and grief, he nearly collapses to the forest ground.

Catching himself in time, Sai Chung staggers back a few steps, bracing himself while keeping his hold on Chi Chi’s body. Carefully, he lowers her to the ground. Using his hand, he gently brushes aside her bangs before trailing his shaky fingertips down her pale cheek.

"Little Brother," he whispers, his voice hoarse with pain. "Little Brother, I don’t even know your real name. Little Brother!"

Stricken with grief, he cradles her against his chest, clutching her body tightly. A single tear quietly rolls down his cheeks. Rocking slightly, he blinks rapidly, clearing his tear-filled eyes. Schooling his face into a stoic expression, he silently strokes Chi Chi’s hair.

Minutes pass. The forest remains still, except for the sound of Sai Chung’s breathing. Finally, he places Chi Chi’s body back on the damp earth. Carefully brushing the errant strands of hair from her face, he runs his palm over her eyes, closing them, allowing her to rest in peace. Taking off his outer garment, Sai Chung covers her body with it.

Giving Chi Chi one last glance, he rises, his face cold and stony, his expression a complete turnaround from the clueless, happy, easy-going young man who once followed Chi Chi around.

"You’ve enjoyed the show long enough." Sai Chung speaks into the night. With lightening speed, he grasps a handful of tree leaves and hurls them toward the darkness.

The leaves flash like darts, cutting through the night at rapid speed. From within the dense collection of trees, two men in black scream and flip out, dropping onto the ground like flies. Suddenly, four more assassins fly toward Sai Chung, attacking him from behind. With a cold nonchalance, Sai Chung flings several more leaves over his shoulder. With deadly accuracy, the weightless leaves shoot through the air, piercing the assassins at the center of their foreheads, killing them immediately.

As the four men collapse behind him, Sai Chung somersaults into the air and flies toward the opposite end of the forest. At that moment, a veiled man dressed in dark purple flies out from within the thick foliage to meet Sai Chung’s oncoming palms.

As their palms clash, a thick silence, instead of an explosion, descends upon the woodland. However, even though the exchange is soundless, the energy generated from the clash vibrates around the combatants, its force powerful and pulsating. As their palms separate, both men flip away from each other.

Sai Chung quickly reverses direction and heads toward his enemy again. Silent as a ghost, Sai Chung’s palm sweeps forward with lightening speed and brushes against his opponent’s shoulder. The light touch, although soundless and seemingly harmless, manages to send the purple clothed assassin hurtling backward.

Quickly catching himself, the assassin hooks his arm around a tree trunk. Unsheathing the sword strapped to his back, the purple robed man flies toward Chi Chi’s body, intending to damage her corpse.

"Don’t you dare touch her!" Sai Chung rages.

Reacting swiftly, Sai Chung swerves around and kicks at a pebble on the ground. The small stone swooshes past the assassin and clashes with the sword in his hand, knocking it away.

In retaliation, the assassin extends his hand to the right, using his internal energy to levitate a large boulder. As the boulder catapults toward Sai Chung, he catches the large wedge of granite between his hands. A thin trail of smoke emerges from the stony surface. As Sai Chung tosses the boulder away, it crashes to the earth, rolling several feet before stopping, revealing the deep palm prints embedded on the granite surface.

The veiled figure in dark purple executes a double backward somersault and lands several paces away from Sai Chung. "Hahaha!" He chuckles. "It’s been a long time, Shadowless Assassin. Your Silent Palm is as powerful as I remember it to be."

Pointing an accusing finger at the veiled stranger, Sai Chung screams, "You killed my Little Brother, Purple Robe Assassin!"

Crossing his arms across his chest, the stranger replies insolently. "Yes, I did. You left The Association without permission. Do you remember the rules of The Association when you first joined?" Jabbing his finger at Chi Chi’s body, Purple Robe Assassin laughs. "Let’s just say her death is a tiny warning from The Association."

"A tiny warning? A TINY warning?" Sai Chung asks with disbelief. "Who gave The Association the right to take the life of an innocent girl?!" Sai Chung clenches his fists, his jaw muscle ticking uncontrollably.

Unconcerned with Sai Chung’s anger, Purple Robe Assassin reaches inside his gown pocket and takes out a folded piece of parchment. With a swift flick of his hand, he sends the letter flying toward Sai Chung. "Your next assignment."

Leaping up into the air, Sai Chung snatches the letter and crumples it in his fist in a fit of anger. "The Association still expects me to follow its orders after killing MY LITTLE BROTHER?"

"Tsk, tsk, Shadowless Assassin." The purple clothed man mocks. "I’ve never seen you show so much emotion in all the years I’ve known you. What happened to your cool head?" Tilting his head toward Chi Chi’s body, he adds, "Besides, she would only distract you from serving The Association."

Enraged, Sai Chung somersaults into the air. In the blink of an eye, he appears in front of Purple Robe Assassin and grabs the front of the other man’s gown. Leaning close in toward the assassin, he breathes threateningly down his face. "I should kill you here and now to avenge Little Brother’s death. But I won’t, because I want you to bring back a message." Baring his teeth, he spats out, "You go back and tell The Association that it better watch its back. I intend to kill everyone who is responsible for Little Brother’s death!"

Unimpressed with Sai Chung’s words, Purple Robe Assassin calmly flicks his thumb and index finger at the hand clutching his gown, forcing Sai Chung to release his hold on the front of the robe.

Nonchalantly brushing at the front of his gown, Purple Robe Assassin advises, "If I were you, Shadowless Assassin, I would get a head start on that assignment I gave you. Your next target is not an easy kill."

Ripping the piece of parchment to shreds, Sai Chung tosses the remains of the letter onto the forest ground. "My next target will be The Association!"

Looking Sai Chung coldly in the eye, Purple Robe Assassin smirks. "You honestly think you have the ability to destroy The Association?" Whispering threateningly, he laughs tauntingly at Sai Chung. "Let me tell you something, Shadowless Assassin. Your life belongs to The Association the minute you join, and the only way you can leave is if you die. You are only a pawn." Extending his arm toward a large tree trunk, he sends off a burst of internal energy. A large explosion follows, and the trunk breaks in half. "The Association can easily tear you in half, just like that tree trunk."

Chuckling coldly, Sai Chung glares at Purple Robe Assassin. "Do you really think I am that easily defeated?"

Matching stare for stare, Purple Robe Assassin responds icily. "Yes, I do think you can easily be taken down." Pausing, his lips stretch into a feral smile. "In fact, I could kill you tonight."

"Is that true?" Sai Chung challenges.

"Yes, it’s true." A familiar female voice answers from behind Sai Chung.

Immediately recognizing the voice, Sai Chung gasps and swings quickly around to find himself face to face with Chi Chi. However, before he is able to utter a single word, he feels a sharp pain in his abdomen. Staring down at his midsection, he chokes with disbelief as he watches the slow trail of blood trickle from the knife wound.

"Little Brother… Little Brother… Why?" Sai Chung asks in bewilderment and agony.

In response, Chi Chi smiles slightly, coldly. In a shocked haze, Sai Chung stands motionless as Chi Chi drives the knife further into his abdomen, her emotionless eyes all the while trained on his.

"Hahaha! Hahaha!" Chi Chi chortles with glee. She palms Sai Chung in the shoulder, sending him flying backward.

As he crashes into the bushes, Sai Chung spits out a mouthful of blood. Clutching at his wound, he shakes his head, still in disbelief.

"Now do you believe that I am capable of killing you tonight, Shadowless Assassin?" Purple Robe Assassin asks calmly, as he crouches down to look Sai Chung in the eye.

In the background, Chi Chi walks forward into Sai Chung’s line of vision. Slowly, she lifts her hand toward her jaw line and peels off the facemask.

"You… You…" Sai Chung shakes his head. "You’re not Little Brother!"

"Tsk tsk. Such a pity. Such a pity." Purple Robe Assassin laments in a mocking tone. "You must be getting rusty and slow, Shadowless Assassin. Following that Little Brother around is making you loose your sharp killer instinct. You see?" He waves his hand at Sai Chung’s abdominal injury, which continues to profusely bleed. "This is what happens when you start falling in love."

The purple robed man laughs suddenly, as if finding his own words extremely amusing. Then, almost as quickly, he clamps his mouth shut. His eyes turn steely. "Take this as a warning, Shadowless Assassin." Standing up, he looks down at Sai Chung one final time. "If you dare to escape The Association again, we will find you." Walking a few steps away, he halts and glances back. "And the next time, The Association will finish off your Little Brother for real."

[WhiteHairedMaiden]

Thanks Melanie, another cool chapter! I'm glad Chi Chi's not really dead.

[tweety365]

You are getting way too good, Mel . You got me fooled . Really thought Chi Chi was a goner. Anyway, I left a message on the winglin site, but I'm not sure if you were able to read it as the site is down again. Just expressing my happiness that Chi Chi is still alive. I'm rooting for her and Ka Wing .

[Melanie]

WhiteHairedMaiden: Hi! I haven't heard from you for a while. I'm glad you're still reading.

tweety: Hey, thanks for leaving messages on winglin and here. Winglin's a bit tempermental these days. You sure seem happy that Chi Chi is still alive... Want to know a secret? I'm kind of fond of Chi Chi...more so than Sui Han, sometimes. It's because I am rather similar in temperment to Chi Chi. Does this mean I won't kill her? Nah!

[tweety365]

Oh, don't be getting any evil ideas now, Mel. Of course, I'm happy Chi Chi is alive. Characterwise, she's my fav. Ka Wing is growing on me too. Right now, they are my favorite couple . What a surprise. I'd thought I would be rooting more for Siu Han.

[WhiteHairedMaiden]

WhiteHairedMaiden: Hi! I haven't heard from you for a while. I'm glad you're still reading.

tweety: Hey, thanks for leaving messages on winglin and here. Winglin's a bit tempermental these days. You sure seem happy that Chi Chi is still alive... Want to know a secret? I'm kind of fond of Chi Chi...more so than Sui Han, sometimes. It's because I am rather similar in temperment to Chi Chi. Does this mean I won't kill her? Nah!

Hey Melanie!

And I'm glad you're still writing. Which I hope you're doin at the moment coz I really wanna read the next chapter. My favourite is Gong Yu.

[the heroine of the yangs]

Hi everybody!!!!

My name is vicki.... i like to ask you about that story... Gilbert Lam Wai Sun and Annie Man Chung Han is in that story.

When i'm asking this question please don't say or think that i'm stupid. Because the story is kind of too long and confusing me a little bit.

I just want to ask you a short question.... are those two in love in that story?(sorry). And this is just a fiction story or a movie?

Please answere this question for me please, thank you.

[Suet Seung]

Hi everybody!!!!

My name is vicki.... i like to ask you about that story... Gilbert Lam Wai Sun and Annie Man Chung Han is in that story.

When i'm asking this question please don't say or think that i'm stupid. Because the story is kind of too long and confusing me a little bit.

I just want to ask you a short question.... are those two in love in that story?(sorry). And this is just a fiction story or a movie?

Please answere this question for me please, thank you.

This is a fan-fiction forum, so yes, its a fictional story. Its a story written by a fan and she just included names and pictures of the celebrities to allow the readers a better imagination for the fun of it.

As you see theres so many stars in her story, I doubt TVB would be able to afford that many stars to be in their series if it was a movie/series.

[Melanie]

Hi heroine of the yangs. Thanks for reading Legendary Book of Sun-Moon Swordplay. Which chapter are you on? It's a fiction story that I made up and is not a movie or series. I started it almost 3 years ago, and sadly, I have not managed to finish writing it. There are a lot of characters and due to its broad cast and length, the story can get very confusing if you don't follow it closely. Sometimes, it's still confusing, even if you do follow it closely. Sorry about that.

I can't really directly answer your question regarding whether or not Sui Han and Wai Sun are in love, because that would spoil the plot. However, I can tell you that, in a previous life, Ching Ching (Sui Han) was very much devoted to and in love with Sit Tin Pang (Wai Sun). In their present life, Wai Sun is obviously very infatuated with Sui Han, but Sui Han's feelings for Wai Sun are a bit unclear and ambiguous. She certainly has some sort of feeling for him. Whether these feelings are romantic love, platonic friendship, sisterly feelings, or just a sense of loyalty to someone who is constantly looking out for her well-being and so sweet to her, we don't know yet. You see, Sui Han is a bit of a complex character. Not the usual cheerful, straightforward girl that Chi Chi is. She has many hidden secrets which she keeps to herself. She's quiet, introspective, and isn't very open when it comes to sharing her thoughts with others. You will later find out that she is not even very open with Tin Lok, who she supposedly loves. She may appear sweet and innocent on the outside, but we know that she is not exactly so. Is she evil, good, or a bit of both? Well, you'll have to find out.

Anyway, I hope this message helps with some of your confusion. Let me know if you have other questions and I will try my best to explain them to you without spoiling the story.

Thanks for reading and I hope you comment some more!



To WhiteHairedMaiden and tweety: Thanks for reading! I'll be posting the next chapter (hopefully) soon.

[the heroine of the yangs]

Hi heroine of the yangs. Thanks for reading Legendary Book of Sun-Moon Swordplay. Which chapter are you on? It's a fiction story that I made up and is not a movie or series. I started it almost 3 years ago, and sadly, I have not managed to finish writing it. There are a lot of characters and due to its broad cast and length, the story can get very confusing if you don't follow it closely. Sometimes, it's still confusing, even if you do follow it closely. Sorry about that.

I can't really directly answer your question regarding whether or not Sui Han and Wai Sun are in love, because that would spoil the plot. However, I can tell you that, in a previous life, Ching Ching (Sui Han) was very much devoted to and in love with Sit Tin Pang (Wai Sun). In their present life, Wai Sun is obviously very infatuated with Sui Han, but Sui Han's feelings for Wai Sun are a bit unclear and ambiguous. She certainly has some sort of feeling for him. Whether these feelings are romantic love, platonic friendship, sisterly feelings, or just a sense of loyalty to someone who is constantly looking out for her well-being and so sweet to her, we don't know yet. You see, Sui Han is a bit of a complex character. Not the usual cheerful, straightforward girl that Chi Chi is. She has many hidden secrets which she keeps to herself. She's quiet, introspective, and isn't very open when it comes to sharing her thoughts with others. You will later find out that she is not even very open with Tin Lok, who she supposedly loves. She may appear sweet and innocent on the outside, but we know that she is not exactly so. Is she evil, good, or a bit of both? Well, you'll have to find out.

Anyway, I hope this message helps with some of your confusion. Let me know if you have other questions and I will try my best to explain them to you without spoiling the story.

Thanks for reading and I hope you comment some more!



To WhiteHairedMaiden and tweety: Thanks for reading! I'll be posting the next chapter (hopefully) soon.

I'm on the part that they both under the cave. By the way you have a brilliant mind, you can made up a long story like this for fan to read. I was asking you about were they in love? Because Gilbert Lam wai sun is my favorite actor "i hope you understand what i mean" hehehehe.

[cherrie]

melanie!!!!!!!!!! make my raymond lam a good guy! pls...i don't want him to die in your story!!!! and and.....don't forget steven ma
hehe great chapter! im waiting for more!!

[tweety365]

hey mel, while you're at it trying to make raymond a good guy (i too don't want him to die ), could you perhaps write more on ekin and kristy? i quite miss them. gosh, your cast is still so large. i can just envision you sharpening you pencil (or perhaps wiping your keyboard) to kill off more characters.

[Melanie]

Bleeeh, you guys don't want anyone to die in the story. How else is the story suppose to end if everyone lives? You don't want the story to have 200 chapters, do you? Of course, I'm sharpening my knives! I need to kill off major characters in order to make the story memorable! Sorry, Raymond will most likely remain evil to the core and will probably end up dead, unless I have a change of heart, for some miraculous reason.

Anyway, on a more depressing note, I have not finished the next chapter yet. I've been really busy lately. I've taken on a new job and barely have time to write. I actually briefly entertained the thought of hanging up my pen, so to speak, since the updates are coming along so slowly. Plus, I've been losing readers because the updates are so few and far apart. But I think I have a few die-hard readers that I don't want to leave hanging.

[tweety365]

Tis ok, Mel. I'm sure we'll be fine if you do decide to hang up your pen for the moment. Writing is a hobby and should not be placed ahead of other important aspects of your life. I'm in the same situation as well

Yeah, you do have a couple die hard fans. I am included in the list, right?
Can't believe it's been years... If you do need to... ahem... murder more characters, please please spare Ka Wing and Chi Chi. They are my favorite .

Btw, good luck with the new job. Your employer is very lucky

[cherrie]

oh mel!!! pls nooooo!!!!! spare raymond and steven....kill the others....you've got many casts to kill so spare these two! kill wai sun if you must

[Melanie]

CHAPTER 58 – CONFESSIONS

Characters appearing in this chapter:
Bae Yong Joon---Yip Fung
Song Yun Ah---Tong Mei Si
Koo Tin Lok---Koo Yat Fei
Chan Ho Man---Koo Yat Keung
Chan Yuk Lin---Chan Yin Yuk

Guest appearances in this chapter:
Lau Dan---Old Man
Lee Heung Kum---Old Woman

OUTSKIRTS OF JADE ORCHID TOWN
IN A SMALL SECLUDED COTTAGE

The small, crude cottage stands alone in the dark outskirts of Jade Orchid Town. Despite its simplicity, the wooden dwelling exudes a homey atmosphere with its comfortable threadbare, but clean, furniture. A few pots of bright-colored flowers sit on top of a low cabinet, giving the family room a cheery feeling.

A narrow hallway leads from the main room to a smaller chamber. A single square table occupies the center of the tiny room. A thin trail of fragrant smoke snakes its way from a spherical incense burner, which sits atop the table. A fat, red candle sits beside the incense burner, its bright orange flame flickers merrily, casting the sparse room in a warm, welcoming glow.

At the far side of the chamber, a young woman lies deep in slumber on the narrow bed. Her dark tresses spread across the pillow, a beautiful, yet stark, contrast to the smooth paleness of her complexion. A touch of color accents her soft lips. As she slowly awakens, a soft sigh escapes her lips. Her delicate eyelashes flicker before her eyes open completely to stare in alarm at her strange surroundings.

Gingerly turning onto her side, Mei Si struggles to sit up. "Fung? Fung?"

When silence greets her, she starts to panic. "Fung! Fung, where are you?"

As Mei Si frantically darts her eyes around the unfamiliar room, the thin brown sheet covering the doorway to the inner chamber flips open and a rotund, middle-aged woman rushes forward.

"So you’re finally awake!" The stranger exclaims. "Oh, thank goodness!" Rushing over to the bed, she plops her ample bottom down beside Mei Si. "Your husband will be so relieved and happy to hear that you are awake and well."

"My husband?" Mei Si asks in confusion. Absolutely confounded about the woman’s statement about her husband, Mei Si scrunches her brow together as a headache begins to build behind her eyes. "You know my husband?"

"Of course, I do!" The middle-aged woman beams at Mei Si. "Why, he’s the most handsome young man I’ve ever met! Such a gentleman and sweetheart, your husband is!"

"Huh?" Mei Si wonders. "A handsome young man?" More confused than ever now, she shakes her head slowly, picturing her deceased husband in her mind. A distinguished older man, Yip Sing was certainly still attractive despite his age, but he was definitely no longer a ‘young’ man. After all, the man she married was thirty years her senior. "Madame, I don’t quite understand…" Mei Si begins.

However, the middle-aged woman interrupts Mei Si enthusiastically. "Oh, call me Auntie Hei, dear! There’s no need for such formality. After all, I’ve taken care of you while you were unconscious. You’re like the daughter I never had!" Leaning closer toward the befuddled younger woman, Auntie Hei whispers, "Of course, your husband stayed by your side the entire time. I’ve only helped bathe you. Your husband seems really shy and always excuses himself whenever it’s time to sponge wash you. Are you two newlyweds? Maybe that is why he is still shy."

"Umm, Madame…Auntie Hei, I’m very confused." Mei Si mumbles, trying to tell the woman that her husband is deceased and couldn’t have been by her side while she was unconscious.

However, before Mei Si is able to explain, Auntie Hei claps her hands happily. "Oh, silly me! Here I am, babbling on and on! How inconsiderate of me! I should go and let your husband know that you’re awake and well!" Clutching her hands to her generous bosom, she breathes dreamily. "You’re so lucky to have such a fine young man by your side! I tell you, dear, that man is crazy in love with you! Why, he refused to leave your side the whole night. He wouldn’t even leave to eat! But finally, he collapsed from exhaustion on your bed, and my old man and I helped to move him to the other spare room so he could rest for a few hours."

"But this is all impossible!" Mei Si tries to interrupt her gregarious host. "My husband is deceased, and where in the world is my son, Fung?" She exclaims in frustration. However, her weak voice is barely above a whisper and could not be heard above Auntie Hei’s endless chatter.

Oblivious of Mei Si’s confused state, Auntie Hei suddenly leaps up from the bed and toddles happily toward the doorway, amazingly agile for a woman of her size. "You just lie back down and rest, dear, while I go and fetch your husband!"

Before Mei Si is able to protest, her hostess disappears through the doorway, her excited chatter echoing down the hallway. Within minutes, Mei Si hears firm footsteps hurrying toward her room, right before Yip Fung bursts into the chamber.

Rushing to her side, Fung engulfs Mei Si in bear hug, clutching her tightly in his arms. "You’re finally awake! I was so worried when you wouldn’t respond and wake up!"

Surprised by his display of emotions, Mei Si pats his back awkwardly, unsure of how to respond. Behind them, Auntie Hei beams at them proudly, like a mother hen looking on her children with fondness.

"I’ll leave you two lovebirds alone now. Just call out if you need me." Their hostess backs out of the room, mumbling happily to herself, "Oh, what a joy to see two people in love reunite!"

Hearing Auntie Hei’s words, Fung lets go of Mei Si abruptly, his face turning a bright shade of red. Clearing his throat, he asks awkwardly, "How do you feel, Second Mother?"

Staring at his tired features and bloodshot eyes, Mei Si replies, her voice tinged with concern. "I’m fine." Surveying the small chamber, she wonders out loud. "How did we end up here?"

"You passed out almost immediately once we escaped the Master’s underground palace. I wandered around with you in my arms for hours, unsure of where we were. As the night grew colder, you started shivering uncontrollably." Fung explains. "I become more and more worried about you, but I didn’t know where to get help. I was lost and had no idea where we were in the dark. Finally, I came upon this cottage in the outskirts of a town. The middle-aged couple here seems very hospitable and welcoming."

"How long have we been here?" Mei Si asks.

"You’ve been unconscious for almost six hours." Unable to resist, he reaches out and brushes at a loose strand of her hair, the gesture full of tenderness and love. "You must be hungry and thirsty. Auntie Hei made some pork buns. I’ll go heat them up for you." He makes a move to leave the room, but Mei Si places a hand on his arm, stopping him.

"Fung, I’m fine. Please don’t worry and fret about me." Mei Si smiles slightly, tired but otherwise feeling quite energized after resting. "I’m more worried about you. You look tired enough to sleep for days."

Rubbing his hand over his face, Fung breathes in deeply. "I’m doing just fine. I’m just glad you are now awake. When you remained unconscious for so long, I was worried I didn’t completely suck out the poison from those silver needles I pulled from your shoulder."

At the mention of her shoulder, Mei Si’s hand reflexively reached over to touch her injury. "My wound…" Lowering her eyes, she hesitates briefly before lifting her gaze back toward Fung. "You…you…sucked out the poison from my shoulder?"

"Err," Fung mumbles uncomfortably. "I apologize, Second Mother. You were unconscious at the time, and the poison from the injury was rapidly spreading to the rest of the body. If I did not act quickly, your might have lost your entire arm. So…so…I had to make a quick decision." Looking at her earnestly, he raises his right hand into the air. "I swear, Second Mother! I did not deliberately intend to violate your privacy! If I am lying today, then may I die a horrible death!"

Quickly grabbing his raised arm, Mei Si hushes him, "What a terrible thing to say! Of course, I believe you! I don’t want anything to happen to you."

Looking down at the dainty hand lying against his arm, Fung stares intently into her eyes, and feels his breath catch in his throat. As the seconds tick by, his heart pounds loudly against his rib cage. With a swift twist of his arm, he grasps onto her hand, clutching it tightly. "Second Mother, I…I…" Suddenly short of breath from anxiety, he could not seem to form coherent words.

Too surprised and caught unprepared, Mei Si remains still. Gazing back at her stepson, she feels a strange emotion stir within her. Her heart, dormant for so long since her late husband’s death, begins to quiver, begins to come to life. "Auntie Hei misunderstands and thinks we are husband and wife."

Shifting closer toward Mei Si, Fung leans in toward her. "Yes," he murmurs, hearing nothing but the thunderous sound of blood rushing to his head. Angling his mouth, he gently presses his lips against hers, applying delicate pressure.

Closing her eyes, she leans in ever so slightly, allowing her lips to sink more firmly against Fung’s. Her world starts to spin with confusion and excitement.

With his lips barely touching hers, Fung whispers, "Mei Si."

At the sound of her name, Mei Si’s eyes pop open as she snaps out of her reverie. Rearing away from Fung, she scrambles over to the far side of the bed, clutching the blanket protectively over her chest. "No, no, you’re my son."

Alarmed at her haunted expression, Fung rushes toward her. "Mei Si, what’s wrong?"

Shaking her head violently, she starts shaking. "Don’t call me that! I’m your Second Mother!"

"But you’re not my Second Mother. You and my father never consummated the marriage. You’re not my Second Mother." Fung denies. He attempts to envelop her in his arms, but she struggles against him.

"No, I’m your Second Mother, and you shouldn’t be touching me like this! It’s not proper!" She exclaims, distressed at his persistence and at her own secret wish that they are just man and woman, rather than stepmother and stepson.

Banging his fist hard against the bedpost, Fung bursts out in frustration. "I don’t care if it’s proper or not! You know how I feel about you, Mei Si." When she starts to shake her head in denial, he continues on determinedly. "Yes, you KNOW how much I adore you, and don’t pretend you don’t know! From the first day my father introduced you to me as his bride-to-be, I couldn’t get you out of my mind. I could hear your laughter, see your image, smell your fragrance everywhere I go."

Agitated, he paces the tiny chamber. "I tried to stay away from you, hoping my feelings for you were just infatuation. I hid at Six Swords Manor and tried to devote my full concentration on improving my sword skills, but even my teacher noticed my heart was no longer one with the swordplay I was practicing."

He stops by the bedside and stares intently at a wide-eyed Mei Si. "Do you think I don’t know that it is wrong and improper to covet another’s wife, especially my father’s wife?" Sinking down onto the bed, Fung leans forward and grasps Mei Si’s arms. "Do you really think I don’t understand the rules of society? I know I can never love you or even THINK of loving you because you are my second mother."

He jabs a finger at his temple, his voice pained, his eyes grieving. "My mind tells me to find someone else to love, but my heart…" He thumps his fist hard against his chest, wishing he could reach inside himself and punch his errant heart, wishing he could stop the vicious pain tearing him to shreds. Shakily, he continues, "But my heart refuses to listen, refuses to stop loving you."

"Fung…" Mei Si begins in a quiet voice.

"No!" He raises his hand, stopping her. "Let me finish. I’ve kept all these emotions bottled up inside me for so long I need to tell you everything tonight or I might burst from the pressure." Gazing into her eyes for a long moment, he finally releases a bitter laugh. "Do you know why I didn’t show up at Yip Mansion on your wedding day?" He asks rhetorically.

Staring off into the distance, his eyes darken as he remembers the past. "As your wedding day drew near, I grew more and more depressed. But worse, I was disgusted with myself for lusting after my soon-to-be mother. What kind of person was I, I asked myself multiple times, to be thinking forbidden thoughts about my mother, for goodness sakes?! So I immersed myself in martial arts. I practiced day and night without resting, without eating. I drank lots of wine, hoping to drown out my misery, until one day, my teacher took my sword away and threw me in the lake behind Six Swords Manor. He no longer recognized the drunken fool I had become and told me to take my leave if I didn’t sober up."

Shaking his head in shame, Fung continues. "So I left. I didn’t care that my teacher was disappointed with me. I just wanted to be left alone. I wandered aimlessly around for weeks, just drinking and kicking at trees." Laughingly, he turns toward Mei Si and sends her an amused grin. "I kicked at quite a few trees back then."

Mei Si tentatively smiles back at Fung, and for a moment, both seem at ease with each other.

Then, Fung’s smile fades. "One day, while I was sitting at a tavern, half drunk, I overheard that my father had died of a heart attack. He passed away three days before the wedding, and you became a widow before you even became a bride." Suddenly jerking his head toward Mei Si, he asks in a hoarse voice, his eyes piercing. "Do you know what my first reaction is when I heard of his death?"

Mei Si swallows, trying to clear away the painful lump in her throat. Somehow already knowing what the answer is, she begs, "Fung, don’t do this to yourself. You’re tired. You need to rest. Don’t talk about the past anymore."

But he ignores her. A bitter chuckle escapes his lips. "My first reaction when I learned of my father’s death was not of devastation. I wasn’t even remotely sad." His lips twist ironically as he looks at her. "I was ecstatic, Second Mother. I was thrilled and relieved that my father had died before he was able to consummate the marriage."

Fung bends over and covers his face with his hands. "I am such an unfilial son. Even though my father and I were never on good terms nor close, I should have at least shed a few tears for the man who gave me life. But I didn’t. I didn’t care that my father was dead. I didn’t care that I was not by his side when he took his last breath on this earth. All I could think about was that I finally had a chance with you. I rushed back to Yip Mansion, hoping to see you, to comfort you, to be with you. But when I arrived, you, garbed in mourning clothes, greeted me with such sorrow in your eyes that I knew you loved my father deeply and that I was never anything more to you than the son of the man you loved."

Lifting his eyes to her, Fung completes his tale sadly. "So I left again, unable to face you, to be so close to you and yet not be able to hold you in my arms and claim you as mine. I went back to Six Swords Manor and immersed myself in martial arts, this time, without touching the wine. And I lied to myself, pretending that I had moved on. I hardened my heart and refused to visit you for three years, even after I learned that you had moved back to your old home at Tong Village."

A deafening silence ensues as Fung finishes his story. Turning his face away from Mei Si, Fung stares off into the darkness, lost in thought. Touched and yet unsure how to respond, Mei Si sits beside him quietly, staring at his profile in the dim candlelight. He remains as still as a statue, his breathing almost inaudible. As the seconds turn into minutes, a single tear rolls down his cheek, softening his strong features, making him less stern and more human.

Her heart aching for this silent, proud man, Mei Si inches forward and gently places a kiss on his cheek. As she sits back, he remains unmoving, but she could hear him softly sigh.

From the table at the center of the chamber, the candle flame flickers, casting odd shadows onto the silent couple sitting on the bed. Outside, crickets chirp, filling the silence with sounds of the night…

GREEN PYTHON VALLEY

Meanwhile, as one couple sits in thoughtful silence, another group of people thrashes through the forest, creating an uproar. Dashing left and right, Fei and Keung try to elude their pursuer, but their efforts are fruitless, as Yin Yuk’s lightness kung fu is too fast.

"Elder Brother," Keung yells breathlessly while flipping through the air. "What should we do? She is rapidly approaching and our martial arts are no match for hers!"

Casting a nervous glance behind him, Fei shakes his head before he launches himself up into the air. "I see a cave up ahead. If we hide inside and seal off the entrance of the cave with large boulders, we might be able to keep her outside and buy ourselves some time to come up with a plan."

"But we will also be trapping ourselves inside that cave!" Keung frowns.

"Well, can you think of a better plan?" Fei shouts back with irritation. "She looks angry enough to tear us apart when she catches up with us!" Without another word, he somersaults forward, speeding toward the cave.

Reluctantly, Keung follows, wondering how he and Fei have become so unlucky as to run into Madame Lam while searching for Sui Han.

MINUTES LATER…
IN THE CAVE

Finally arriving at their destination, Fei and Keung burst into the cave, only to find that they are not alone.

An elderly couple sits meditating on a straw bed at the far side of the cave. The back of the cave leads to a smaller chamber. The bright orange-red glow from the Sword of Sun flickers brilliantly from within the inner room, as if sensing Fei and Keung’s approach.

Seeing the intruders, the old man leaps up, amazingly agile for his age. "Hey! Who are you two?" He demands in a loud, booming voice. "Don’t you young people have any manners these days? What ever happened to knocking before you enter?"

Darting his eyes around the cave, Fei surveys the elderly couple quickly.

Behind him, Keung sidles up to Fei and murmurs softly to his elder brother. "Elder Brother, it looks like the cave is occupied. This old couple may complicate the situation. Maybe we should leave before Madame Lam comes."

Shaking his head slightly, Fei whispers back to his younger brother. "No, I have a better plan." Sizing up the white-haired old man and his equally elderly wife, he snorts, "They look like a homeless pair using the cave for shelter. We can hold them as hostages when Madame Lam comes. Given how righteous she is, she would never allow an innocent, elderly couple to come to harm."

"You’re right!" Keung agrees, grinning.

"Hey!" The old man demands impatiently. "What are you two muttering about over there? Who are you and what is your business here?" He crosses his arms over his chest and sticks out his round belly belligerently.

Clearing his throat, Fei places his hands together in a show of respect and replies, "Oh, umm, please forgive us for our bad manners, Elder. My brother and I are surnamed Koo. We are lost in this part of the woods and have been wandering around in the dark for hours, looking for shelter. Seeing this cave, we eagerly entered without knowing that Elder has already claimed this cave."

"Yes, we apologize for disturbing Elder’s rest." Keung adds politely. "My elder brother and I will take our leave immediately."

As Fei and Keung turn around and pretend to leave, the old woman rushes up to her husband and pokes him in the back. "Old Man! You’re letting a good opportunity like this slip by?" She asks incredulously.

Wrinkling his brow, the old man glares at his wife. "What good opportunity?"

"They look like two strapping, well-bodied young men. It must be fate for them to wander into this cave. Why not have them try pulling out the Sword of Sun?" The old woman points out.

Narrowing his eyes, the elderly man strokes his long white beard thoughtfully. "You’re right, Old Woman!" Examining the two young men carefully, he suddenly shakes his head again. "But wait! There is something about these two that raises my suspicion. They just seem deceptive and untrustworthy."

Sighing, the old woman argues, "Who cares whether or not they are suspicious! Even if they mean us harm, do you really think these two kids can win in a quarrel with us?"

Nodding slowly, he reluctantly agrees with his wife. "True, very true. If these kids try anything suspicious, I’ll just have to teach them a lesson." Thus making his decision, he calls out, "Hey, you two boys! Hold on!"

Near the entrance of the cave, Fei and Keung slyly smile, knowing that the elderly couple has fallen for their plan.

Turning around, Fei inquires politely, "Yes, Elder? May my brother and I be of any assistance to you and your wife?"

Beckoning them forward with his hand, the old man purses his lips. "Come here, young man. Come here, both of you." Gesturing toward the inner chamber of the cave where the Sword of Sun rests, he says, "You two may stay here for the night, but I want you to do something for me first."

Smiling amicably, Fei takes a few steps forward. However, despite his seemingly relaxed appearance, his heart races as he hears the slightest swish of fabric in the distance, indicating Yin Yuk’s imminent arrival.

Fei answers agreeably, "Of course, Elder! What would you like me to do for you?"

Just as the words leave his mouth, a white shadow glides through the entrance of the cave. "Do you two really think you can escape me?" Yin Yuk asks coldly. "Tonight, I shall take your life to avenge my second son’s suffering!"

Immediately, chaos ensues. Yin Yuk advances swiftly, intending to capture Fei and Keung. At the same time, Fei lunges toward the old man, wanting to hold him as hostage. As Yin Yuk’s white sash flies forward at lightening speed, Fei somersaults into air and lands behind the old man. Reaching forward to wrap his arm around the elderly man’s neck, he lets out a surprised grunt as his target rapidly disappears from sight and reappears in the flash of an eye behind him.

Before Fei could even react, he feels his arms twisted behind him, rendering him defenseless. "What do you think you are doing, boy?" The old man cackles. "Do you really think you can ambush me that easily?"

Too shocked to answer, Fei remains speechless. Staring ahead, his eyes widen as Yin Yuk’s white sash advances forward, swift and deadly enough to slice off his head.

In the background, Keung is engaged in a battle with the old woman, who darts around Keung, as swift as the wind. Confused, Keung sends his small daggers flying in random directions, hoping to somehow nail his target. But instead of injuring his opponent, he blinks in shock as the old woman uses her internal energy to deflect the blades back toward him. Leaping and executing several twists in the air, he dodges the knives.

Meanwhile, Fei prepares for death as Yin Yuk’s sash rapidly approaches his neck. However, just in the nick of time, the old man’s hand flashes forward and catches the swatch of fabric in his fist. A contest of internal energy follows, as Yin Yuk and the old man both send forth a wave of force, intending to knock the other out. The sash held between them in a tug of war bursts into flames.

At that moment, another length of fabric shoots forward, this time aiming for the elderly man. As the old man somersaults into the air to dodge the sash, he palms Fei on the back, sending the younger man catapulting toward the inner chamber of the cave. With Fei out of the way, the old man leaps forward and meets Yin Yuk mid-air in a clash of palms.

Knowing her opponent is a formidable one and not wishing to engage in a quarrel with the old man, Yin Yuk somersaults away. Landing a few paces away, she places her palms together and creates a field of internal energy. The thick layer of force shimmers in the dark confines of the cave, blinding the old man temporarily. With her opponent momentarily distracted, Yin Yuk flies toward the inner chamber, chasing after Fei.

Seeing Yin Yuk’s approach, Fei clasps his palms together. Within seconds, a single flame rises from his palms. As the flame enlarges into a ball of heat, he hurls the flame at Yin Yuk. Swerving to the side, she easily avoids the attack. Within a heartbeat, she suddenly appears in front of Fei and palms him on the shoulders, sending him crashing into the stone wedge at the center of the inner chamber.

Scrambling up quickly, Fei frantically looks around for a weapon. Above him, embedded in the large stone wedge, the Sword of Sun vibrates almost violently, its orange-red light casting the dark room in a brilliant glow. As the sword shudders against the stone it rests on, a deafening noise generated by the vibrations from the sword surrounds the room.

Suddenly, a blast of energy surges forward from the Sword of Sun, forcing Yin Yuk into retreat. Ironically, despite his inferior internal energy compared to Yin Yuk’s, Fei remains unharmed by the sword’s force field. As Yin Yuk backs away involuntarily from the sword, Fei seizes this opportunity to defeat Yin Yuk. He runs forward and pulls the Sword of Sun easily from the stone wedge. As the sword leaves its resting place, the wedge explodes, scattering a million pieces of granite through the air.

The weapon shudders and beams brightly in Fei’s hands. As he twirls the sword in the air, the blade winks and flashes with life and energy, an impenetrable, orange-red field of force enveloping the weapon.

Hearing the explosion, the old woman abandons her fight with Keung and meets up with her husband. The elderly couple rushes toward the inner chamber and stops at the entrance in shock as they stare at the Sword of Sun flashing in Fei’s hands.

"Good heavens…" The old man mutters in disbelief, his eyes trained on Fei. "You are right, Old Woman. After all these years, we have finally found the reincarnation of the Guardian…"