Jia Ren Qu

Chapter 2

Chen Hao Mei

"What is this sudden feeling that I'm feeling…oh how familiar… Oh my dear, Chen Chen Xiu Zhen…is it about time that we meet again?"

- - - - - - -

"Did you feel that?"

"Yes…" A line of old men sat in a circle, meditating. They all stared at a flower pot at the side. "It seems the chrysanthemums are in bloom early…"

"It would only mean one thing…"

"Chen Chen Xiu Zhen will soon return…"

- - - - - - -

"…Mei…Hao Mei…CHEN! HAO! MEI!"

I quickly stood up in surprise and shock at my teacher who had been calling my name for the past who ever knows how long. "Shi! Laoshi!" ("Yes! Teacher!") My classmates laughed at me but my teacher didn't find my inattentiveness amusing.

The teacher straightened her glasses as she stared at me long and hard, "Chen Hao Mei, recite and explain the poem 'Jia Ren Qu'." I frowned as she turned around to return to the front of the classroom as my classmates giggled. The teacher turned towards me again and stared at me expectantly.

I sighed and picked up the book plopped on my desk. "'Jia Ren Qu'. 'Bei fang you jin ren, jue shi er du li. Yi gu qing ren cheng, zai gu ching ren guo. Ning bu zhi qing chen yu qing guo, jia ren nan zai de'." I gave another sigh. "'In the North, there is a lady, stunning and singular. One look confounds a city, a second look dooms and empire. Rather not wishing to know the ruination that may follow, rare beauty is here and now'." What a stupid poem…

"Good, Chen xiao jie (literally "Young Miss Chen"), now please explain the poem."

My eyes adverted with disinterest and unmotivated. "Basically, there's a beautiful girl from the North who everyone loved and fought for or over." I grumbled a little and sat back down, letting my bangs cover my face again as the teacher began to babble off about the poem and it's history.

My name is Chen Hao Mei; when I was born, my mother hoped that I would grow up to be very beautiful so she named me 'Hao Mei' which means 'very beautiful'. People often tease me about it but I don't care. My parents are no longer living though, so I'm currently living in a group home, which isn't that great but not that bad either…I suppose. I'm seventeen years old right now, not counting the year that I had spent in my mother's womb, and I'll be eighteen years old in the next month. It seems as though I don't have any known family or anything, but that's alright, that means I don't have a lot of worries I guess. Hmm…why is this world such a drag…? Can my life ever get more interesting?

- - - - - - -

"So what Sheng Gong Wu are we looking for today?" A southern American boy sat on the back of a large blue-green dragon along with an American cowboy and a Japanese girl with a very courageous sense of fashion.

It seems that even the dragon knew how to talk, "I don't know, it won't show itself on the map, but…ooh…it itches so bad!" The dragon began to wave about, giving his passengers a very bumpy ride.

"D-dojo!" The girl called out, holding on tightly before scratching his scales, relaxing him and making him straighten, giving her thanks. "But anyways, you're right. The map gets all static-y when revealing the Wu but it clearly tells us that it's in Taipei of Taiwan."

"Ooh! Taiwan and Taipei? They must have many masters of Tai Chi there!" A yellow bald held gleamed in the sunlight, holding the face of a very childlike monk, staring at the map in interest as it flashed from static to a destination in the world. "That must be where Master Monk Guan originated from!"

"Nah, partner, I don't think that's right." The cowboy stared at the map from behind the two and shook his head as he spoke with his thick southern accent.

The girl laughed at the younger monk, "You have absolutely no idea about Taipei."

- - - - - - -

"Chen Chen!" As I walked out of the school gates, I turned to see two girls approaching me excitedly. "Let's hand out today, come on!"

'Chen Chen' was what my friends called me, sometimes, rarely though, other people call me 'Mei Mei', or at the least…I guess they're my friends? I don't know, maybe I'm just not motivated to be friends with them…or people. I don't know, I just feel different from everyone all around me… It's as though I don't understand anyone…or…it's as though no one understands me…

We were just hanging out around Taipei, the usual, going to the mall, eating at a café, taking photo booth pictures…

"Waah! How cute! Here, Chen Chen, here's your share!"

"Yuan Ji! What about me?"

"Hey! Chen Chen paid the majority of it, Ying Guo, have a heart! We're lucky that Chen Chen has a day off today. Here, I'll split mines with you."

We were all sitting in a café, taking a break. Gong Ying Guo, on my right, her hair style was inspired by some Japanese singer called Piko? And Wang Yuan Ji, on my left, with her curly bob in black, red, and brown. They're very pretty, even I can't compare. It didn't matter if they said I was beautiful or anything, I'm seriously not fishing for compliments. And it didn't even make a difference when they said all I needed to do was put a little effort in my appearance if I wanted to look better… It's a little hard to even try to put some effort into something so trivial when I'm still a high school student. I have to pay for tuition as well as my college funds to go to Taida and even rent. Even if I'm in the top five of my school…and I'm even planning to go to Taida…I honestly really have to say that I still don't know what I'm going to do with my life.

"Chen Chen," I looked at Yuan Ji in question when she called my name, or at least an alias, "Back in Mythology class, I thought it was interesting that the Northern Beauty has the same name as what we call you!"

Ying Guo brightened with realization before pointed at me excitedly, "Dui! Dui! 'Chen Chen Xiu Zhen'! Hao piaoliang!"

They're talking about that poem again…I only smiled and nodded as we all got ready to leave. That poem, it's not that I wasn't paying attention in class, but even so, it wasn't like I really did pay attention too. That poem…I read it over and over again, and every time I read it, it feels as though I knew what happened or how it happened. I feel connected with it, but in a very bad way… Cherishing a beautiful girl over one's land and home seemed outrageous to me…and why? Why? A poem like that I just couldn't accept it. Why cherish just one girl when you have a city to worry about, a nation, and empire? People must have been stupid back then… What could one beautiful girl give that an entire homeland can't? Why give so much attention to one girl…?

The three of us walked out of the café and just around the mall, trying on new clothes and smelling new perfumes or soaps… Yuan Ji and Ying Guo would talk and ask me questions and I would just give them simple answers. … Okay, so yeah, I guess I don't put much of an effort in socializing but…what should I even talk about…

I sighed as I sat on a bench, brushing my bangs out of my face, aren't they tired yet? "Chen Chen!" What now? I looked up as Ying Guo and Yuan Ji appeared, seeming to hide something behind them. "We got you a present!"

Ying Guo pulled my hands and placed a box in them. "We hope you like it!"

I stared up at them in shock and surprise. "We both noticed that Chen Chen doesn't talk to us much but it might be because of our insincerity to your feelings," I opened the little jewelry box, revealing a very cute charm bracelet with dangling charms of adorable animals as well as the characters for our names, "It's not much but we hope that Chen Chen will step closer to coming out of her shell and really actually talk with us."

"Yeah!" Ying Guo agreed, nodding, "Don't be afraid to call us or even talk to us. We're friends right?"

I stared at them sadly before bowing to them, but as I bowed, the pulled me up into a group hug. Perhaps they were sincerely my friends from the start after all. Was it I who was insincere of their kindness?

"Whooie! Let's get some grub while we're here, all these mighty fine scents makin' me hungry!"

"Nah! Look at these ladies, man! How can you think about food right now."

"Really, guys," the girl scoffed and rolled her eyes. "We're supposed to be here for the Sheng Gong Wu," she emphasized on 'Wu' as their group walked about the mall.

"Don't worry guys, wooh!" A smaller form of the dragon could be seen slithering around in the robe of the small yellow boy, "I feel it! I feel it!" They all just happened to pass right by Yuan Ji, Ying Guo, and you, causing the lizard thing to spazz out even more. "Oh god! Geez, it's as though a bolt of electricity went through my spine…"

You looked behind you, wondering who it was that kept shouting uncomfortably but shrugged it off when Ying Guo called you over.

"Oh my! This place has lots of bees buzzing!"

"Uh, 'this place is buzzing like bees'…"

"Boys, this is weird, it looks like the Shen Gong Wu just walked past us…" The girl pulled out the map and looked at the flashing dot, walking right past their group. "…hmm..looking around, doesn't look like anyone's carrying it or anything…"

"Well, I don't see anything that even looks like a Wu so…hmm…that's weird."

"Perhaps, Kimiko, if we just follow the dot and find whoever might have it."

"It's going to be hard snooping around people, hopefully they don't report us to the police for anything then."

"Police?"

"Authorities really."

"Well, fellas, looks like we better turn around and head that direction, see if we follow a certain someone."

"Yeah, come on guys, let's go."

"Chen Chen, don't forget to call us, alright."

I nodded to Yuan Ji and Ying Guo as the walked down into the subway station since they lived on the opposite direction of where I lived. Hmm…it's already this light, if I hurry, I might now miss my curfew…

I took a step forward until my bag was snatched from me, "Hey!" People began staring as the guy who took my bag ran off and I took off after him. It seemed like no use but…it was worth a try. "Stop! Someone help!"

"Ah! Looks like the Wu's getting away!"

"Stop!" I'm not very fast, but let's just say the thief was dumb enough not to know his own slow speed either. I grabbed onto my bag and pulled on it, "Let go!" This guy just wouldn't give it up. I didn't mean any trouble, but my schoolwork was in my bag and I was definitely not going to lose any of it… If I don't get those papers turned in, I might just lose my chance at Taida.

"Having trouble are we?" The thief and I stopped our struggling as we looked over to a woman with red hair and dark make up…she stood in a kimono sort and didn't have shoes on? "I'm sorry, Little Chen Chen, let me get rid of this pest for you first." She approached and roughly pulled the man away with some sort of supernatural strength or something and pushed him away, tossing my bag at me. "Better run, Big Boy."

"T-thank you…" I hesitantly bowed my head to her as I backed away slowly, unsure what to really do since this was my first time in this kind of situation, but every time I really took a glance at her, something flashed in my mind and it feels as if I know her or something.

"Aww, now Little Chen Chen, you don't remember me?"

I stared at her, a little unsure, shaking my head 'no'. "I'm sorry…I don't think I know who you are, but I better get going…" I turned away only to be pulled back.

"You are going to pay for what your brother has done to me 1500 years ago, Chen Chen." Her claw-like fingers were digging into my shoulder as I winced from the pain.

"Wuya! What are you doing here!" What? A little bald monk of some sort should up, pointing his finger and staring at surprise. He quickly got out of his shock and got into a fighting stance with his companions. "We will not let you take the Wu from beneath our nostrils!"

"Under our noses…" The brown haired boy grumbled beneath his breath, but who couldn't hear it? I quickly pulled away and moved as they all began to fight before me. Scared, I hid behind the group but accidentally tripped over a random piece of stone, getting caught by the smaller foreign looking boy. "Are you alright?"

I stared up at him frightened before pulling away, falling as I did before, to see a little lizard thing stare at me. "Chen Chen?" Uwaah! It spoke! I yelped and got up, running off as quickly as possible.

What's going on? What's happening? I'm dreaming! I'm dreaming! I'm dreaming! How does that lady and that thing know my name? Who are they? 1500 years ago? What? It can't be! I'm going home, I'm going home! I'm just hallucinating, that's all! Right? Wang Yuan Ji and Gong Ying Guo didn't really get me anything, right? It's still there on my wrist, I'm hallucinating, I'm only imagining things. I know I am! I know I am!

- - - - - - -

"My fight is not with you, imbeciles!"

"Looks like the girl took off with the Sheng Gong Wu, but no matter, we have to get rid of you fist…" The girl glared before jumping up, summoning her element. "Fire!"

Either way, it didn't even seem to work on Wuya. "Urgh, get out of my way!"

"Tsunami Strike! Water!" The littlest one among them spun like a top as water suddenly began to appear, waving over the single, dark lady.

"I'm going after the Wu!" The Brazilian boy ran off.

The small lizard gasped in shock before following after him as quickly as he possibly could. "H-hey! W-wait!"

"Urgh, you always know how to get in the way of things…!" Wuya grumbled and jumped away, soaking wet, before disappearing with a trace.

"Seems like she gave up."

"Perhaps she didn't want Chase Young to find out she left without him?"

"Um, fellas, I think we better follow after Raimundo and retrieve that Sheng Gong Wu before it disappears."

"Ah! Clay is right!"

- - - - - - -

SPLASH!

"You're late! You think you can just walk in here in the middle of the night and wake up the whole house just so that you can sleep inside tonight?" A yelp was heard as a tall, fat lady whipped me with a belt as I sat there on my knees with my arms raised in the air. I yelped again as I received another lash on my back and whimpered, my arms were getting tired of being held up. "And you haven't even paid rent for over four months! The only reason why I let your dues pile up is because you're in the top ten scholars of Taiwan, but if you're always late, what will you do when Taida doesn't accept you?" I cried as she whipped me numerous times again, other tenants stared from their window, watching, chattering among themselves as they stared. "You will sit there like that for thirty minutes and contemplate on what you've done before I let you in." I bit my lip, trying not to cry out anymore as my landlady went back inside, everyone shut their windows and went back inside, turning out their lights, shutting the door.

I couldn't really say anything but that a thief attacked me; even so, she didn't believe me… And I couldn't tell her that strange people were also after me and that I saw a talking gecko as well, who would believe me?

I sat there on my knees, my arms hanging in the air as punishment, my head held low. I should have took off my bag because it was weighing down on my shoulder already…

"H-hey, you alright?" I looked up and stared at a foreigner who was quickly approaching. I looked around frantically, wondering if I should call for help or not, but as soon as I opened my mouth, the stranger covered my lips. "Don't worry, I'm just looking for something that you might have but you seem to be in a little trouble yourself."

I calmed down, trying to calm my racing heart and breathing, but as soon as he let go of my mouth, I called out for help. "Jiu jiu wo! Jiu ming la! Jiu ming!" My voice began to muffle as he covered my mouth again.

Lights began turning on and we can hear the landlady shouting for me to 'shut up'. Windows began opening again and the landlady's office door could be heard slamming open only to show the landlady that I had disappeared from my previous spot. "Hao Mei! Chen Hao Mei!" I could hear her huff in annoyance and irritation as my kidnapper held himself against a wall with me in front of him. "Chen Hao Mei, if you're hiding out there, don't you dare think of coming back to live here!" She seemed to be waiting for me to answer or come out as she paced about, mumbling, trying to find me. "Chen Hao Mei! You better pack your things otherwise you'll have to find them in the dumpster tomorrow, you hear!" I've been kicked out…my heart hurted…what am I going to do? My head lowered in sadness as tears began to well my eyelids…and I thought life was going to be all right too… Now I don't have a place to live or even study…

I ignored the sound of pitter-patter, quickly approaching. I pulled myself away from the stranger and held onto my face, falling to my knees.

I ignored a gasp. "Raimundo! To have thought that even you would make a woman cry! I have never expected this of you…! This is most dishonorable!"

"Rai! What did you do?"

I got up and stared at the strange foreigner in anger before turning to who seemed to be his companions before yelling at all of them in Taiwanese as they all stared at me in surprise and shock. "Ni ming bai ma!" I stared at them, angry and sad, three of them just stared at me, unsure of what to say, perhaps because they couldn't understand me.

"Xiao jie…" The youngest and littlest looking one approached me with big watery eyes. He was about to speak until the little lizard showed up on his head, causing me to scream.

"Chen Chen!" It jumped at me with what seemed like it's arms as I fell back, trying to avoid it. It held onto to me and hugged me as I freaked out. "I've missed you so much! It's been so long, you're as youthful as you've always been! Just wait until Master Fung finds out—" The gekkou gasped in realization, "But what if he finds out! Oh no, this is bad, this is really bad! We have to get you to Master Fung!" The thing spazzed out on you as you just stared at it in shock.

"Hmm…there's nothing in the bag…"

The girl looked at the map she held, "It seems like…the girl is our Shen Gong Wu?"

"What? Women are Shen Gong Wu?"

As the little snake thing paced around on top of me, somehow…everything went black…and that's all I could remember…

- - - - - - -

"Hmm…she has very nice skin, I wonder what products she uses."

"Can she speak English? Hmm…"

"This little lady sure can sleep."

"Hmm…it seems that women are most vulnerable. Perhaps they cannot handle shock very well…"

"Omi…just…stop…"

My eyes began to flutter lightly, even if I was waking up, I still felt very tired for some reason.

"Hey, look! She's waking up! Miss, are you alright?"

My eyes squinted to four figures above me, blinking to clear my vision until I noticed those strange faces. What…? And as soon as that lizard/gecko thing showed up above me, I screamed in shock and fear, remembering that it could talk as I sat up and backed away from them all, cornering myself in a wall. "Ni shi shui ma?" I asked them who they were, trying to stay as far from them as I could in this tiny…cubicle….? "Ni shiang yao shenme?" What did they want? My eyes widened in shock as they began to approach me. I held onto the wall beside me and started screaming.

"Young monks, move aside." I stared up as an elderly man who seemed like an elder monk shown up and had the four move aside. The little lizard slithered up on the old man. "Xiao jie, ni hai hao ba?" He asked gently, staring into my eyes. Even though he seemed like a monk…I was still afraid… "Ni de ming zi shenme?"

I stared at him before staring at the others with slight hesitation… "Wo jiao Chen Hao Mei…"

"Chen Hao Mei…doume youqu…" What was so interesting about my name…? "Chen xiao jie, can you speak English?"

"Uh, Master Fung, I don't think she c—" The old man held his arm up to silence the Southern American boy.

I stared at each and everyone one of them, afraid before answering slowly, "…shi….I can speak English…" I admitted it slowly with my fobby accent as each and everyone of them raised their eyebrows at each other.

"It is nice to meet you young one, I am Master Fung, and these young monks are…"

"Tohomiko Kimiko." The girl smiled at me.

"Raimundo Pedrosa." The Southern American boy winked at me.

"Clay Bailey, missy, it's nice to meet you." The American tipped his hat at me as I bowed my head to each and every one of them.

"And I am Omi, Chen xiao jie." The little bald monk bowed to me.

I noticed singing birds and stared out a window. "Oh no! I'm late for school!" I searched about for my bag.

"Calm down, calm down." The master held his arm out, signaling for me to stop, slowly I did…but…I had to turn in my application for Taida…and today was the entrance exam too… "It seems that we have business with Miss Chen, and it would be much safer to keep Miss Chen here than to go back to Taiwan."

"…Where am I…?" I stood against the wall behind me and stared at them, waiting for an answer.

"You are at our temple…and I hope that you don't mind if we trouble you to stay with us, we have business to discuss with you as well as your past and future."

"My past…?" I didn't want to show disrespect for a master monk but… "…but…I need to take a college entrance exam today…"

"It is that we must speak to you of…Chen Chen Xiu Zhen…"