For the first time, in a long time, the great bell of Shaolin was silent. The students were awakened instead by a rooster crowing in the distance. Chang slowly opened his eyes, and for a moment, he believed that he had overslept. Some of the young monks were up and dressed while others were still asleep, enjoying the extra time in bed; but the majority of them were somewhat in a daze, including Chang who really didn't know how to begin the new day. The events of the previous night had everybody a bit rattled and no one dared to venture out of the dormitory. Li, who was a few feet away from Chang, noticed the confusion on his face.
LI : You haven't lost your mind, Chang. The school bell hasn't rung this morning. We are all here, waiting for somebody to tell us what to do.
Chang didn't say a word to the boy; he pretended not to hear him. Instead, he was focusing all of his attention on Lao and Pu'an who were both at the main entrance of the dormitory, trying to take a peek at what was going on outside. The two boys quickly left their spot and acted like they were engaged in deep conversation when they noticed a senior monk headed in their direction. The old monk entered the dorm and addressed the students.
MONK : I guess you have all figured out that there will be no class today. The event of last night is an indicator of things to come and the elders were expecting it to happen. Maybe not during our lifetime, but they were expecting it nonetheless. Now, you are free to go about the monastery, but you are forbidden to go in the temple. The elders are inside and they wish not to be disturbed.
The old monk was about to walk out of the dormitory, when he stopped abruptly and attempted to lighten up the mood in the room.
MONK : Everything is going to be all right. There is nothing to fear.
The monk's kind words did little to reassure most of the students. As soon as the old man left the dorm, Lao was already making fun of the situation.
LAO : I swear these monks are so melodramatic. They get a little light show and already they think the world is going to come to an end. Don't they know that sailors have been seeing strange lights like that during expeditions for years? Come on, Pu'an! Let's go get something to eat.
The large boy followed his friend out the door without saying a word. Although he was loyal to him, he didn't find his sarcasm amusing. Some of the other students followed suite and Chang prepared himself to go outside as well. Little Li was just chatting away while our young hero got dressed.
LI : I can't believe this is really happening. For years the elders have been talking about Bodhidharma's prophecy. To be alive to actually see it come to pass is really exciting. What do you think is going to happen now, Chang?
The young monk's tone was somber as he answered.
CHANG : The elders are going to get together, nominate Lao as their savior and we all live happily ever after.
LI : I already know that, but what do you think the prophecy says? What kind of calamity is going to befall us?
CHANG : As far as I am concerned, I really don't give a damn.
Chang was on his way out the door when he uttered those words to Li. Even though the little boy was taken aback by his classmate's dark attitude, he followed him outside nonetheless and continued to talk to him.
LI : Chang, I know you are upset over Lei's expulsion, but you have to understand that he brought this on himself.
CHANG : You have no clue to what upsets me! I just don't understand why a good monk like Lei is let go while an asshole like Lao is put on a pedestal and treated like a hero. It's just not fair!
LI : I know what you mean and I know that Lao is not perfect. He is probably the last person I would like to see as the chosen one, but he is still the most talented warrior in Shaolin. He is supposed to save us all. Hopefully with some prayer, he will see the error of his ways and embrace his calling full heartedly.
Chang had heard enough and was getting angry.
CHANG : Just shut the hell up! And they say that I am the gullible one.
The young monk left Li completely speechless as he darted away from him and sat by himself in a secluded corner of the monastery. Chang was trying his hardest not to give in to his anger, but when he saw Lao and Pu'an laughing merrily from across the courtyard, he completely lost it. The rules, his teachings, self restraint, he was tired of all of it. He got up and went after the two bullies. This time he was going to get his revenge, no matter what. But before he could reach them, Master San suddenly appeared out of nowhere and grabbed him by the arm. The young monk was in complete shock.
MASTER SAN : Come with me and don't ask any questions!
Master San had to literally drag the boy off the courtyard, away from the two bullies and from any prying eyes. Chang resisted a little until he realized that the senior monk was taking him behind the monastery temple. Once they reached the back, the senior monk began to run his hands on the side of the building, under the watchful eye of his curious student.
MASTER FANG : I know it's right here. I just have to find the right spot.
The elder's hands stopped at a certain section of the temple, and he gently pushed against it. Right before Chang's eyes, a secret passage revealed itself. San hurried the young monk inside and shut the secret door behind them.
MASTER SAN : The elders have been using this secret passage for years now. I guess they needed an escape route if they were ever attacked, and I just found out about it. Follow me quickly.
The two monks went down a narrow corridor which led them to two staircases. One allowed access to a second floor and the other disappeared in the lower levels of the temple.
MASTER SAN : Go up those stairs, stay low and be quiet. You're about to get a crash course on Bodhidharma's prophecy. I will see you after we're done.
Chang did as his master ordered. He followed the stairs until he reached an overhang. The young monk immediately crouched down as he found himself looking down at the heart of the temple where Woo Ping and all of the elders were gathered. The monks were discussing the events of the previous day and the necessary actions that needed to be taken.
WOO PING : Calm down! Calm down, my brothers. There is no need to fight amongst ourselves. The sign that Bodhidharma promised us has come to pass. Now, it is time to select our champion.
Suddenly an elder came forward, interjecting forcefully.
ELDER : I disagree, Woo Ping! The prophecy clearly states that the head of Shaolin must die first before we receive the sign. You are clearly alive and well. I don't think this is the right time.
Some of the other elders shouted in approval while others were defending the abbot's decision.
WOO PING : The prophecy does say that an abbot will fall. If my mind serves me right, I did fall on the temple steps. I know that the text can be interpreted as somebody dying, but we must not take it so literal. Is it not also possible that it could mean a fall from grace or even something as simple as an old man losing his balance and taking a little tumble? Is it not also true that after my fall, the monastery almost fell into chaos? My brothers, the signs are all here.
The elder monk was forced to concede.
WOO PING : Let us not forget about the lights we saw last night which only reinforces what we believed for a long time.
Another elder was quick to voice his opinion.
ELDER 2 : My concern is that the events are not coming true in the order Bodhidharma cited in the holy scroll. The so-called fall of the head of Shaolin happens later in the prophecy, after the lights in the sky. Not before.
A third monk vented his frustrations.
ELDER 3 : Brother Pon, you are just reading into this way too much. If you are expecting everything to happen like it was written, we will be arguing over these texts for years. You do realize that we don't have a lot of time.
ELDER 2 : I would rather approach this matter with caution. Lives are at stake. We must scrutinize everything thoroughly. Our future depends on it.
The elders went back to arguing again. The room was literally split in two camps. Those who wanted to nominate the chosen one at once and those who weren't at all convinced that the time was right. Woo Ping had to bring the two sides together.
WOO PING : I understand your concerns, my brothers. But it seems like a lot of you have forgotten that this prophecy was made over four hundred years ago and the Bodhi wrote it by combining old Indian script with our Chinese symbols. A decision he probably made to ensure that his predictions would be undecipherable if they fell in the wrong hands. The early monks had to guess some of the writings. Then they had to travel all the way back to India, the birth place of Bodhidharma, to have the rest translated. The end result is not perfect, but it gives us an idea of what's to come. This is a fact that cannot be dismissed.
Another elder had a very negative view of the abbot's explanation.
ELDER 4 : If what you say is true, because of this secret handwriting, we probably have translated the prophecy all wrong then. How do we know for sure that those lights in the sky aren't in fact instruments of this evil that threatens us? Maybe this wicked entity wants us to reveal who the chosen one is so it can crush him before he receives the Bodhi's gift of great power. Maybe Bodhidharma was warning us of its treachery.
WOO PING : Have you lost faith in your forefathers? I believe that their translations are correct. I am willing to bet my life on it. We don't have the luxury to doubt and review everything that we were taught because, a week from today, a monk will receive the mark of the Bodhi. It is our duty, our obligation, because the task has been handed down to us, to nominate our champion as soon as possible.
Suddenly the voice of reason came from the unlikeliest person.
MASTER FANG : I have to agree with our great abbot. The evidence is irrefutable. We all saw the lights in the night sky; there is no denying that. It was a sign and we need to be ready. I say we move along with the nomination process even if it's not the right time. I would rather be safe than sorry. Now, if this is a trick like my colleague believes, we need to be vigilant and protect the chosen one until he receives the mark of Bodhidharma. My brothers, we are Shaolin! We have spent years training our bodies and our minds. If we can't protect our chosen brother from whatever threat, we shame this monastery and our forefathers.
The elder monks agreed somewhat with Master Fang's assessment of the situation, but Abbot Woo Ping had the final say in the matter.
WOO PING : Thank you, Brother Fang for those powerful words. Now, my brothers, I am pretty sure that you are all in agreement on who is worthy of receiving our nomination.
Another elder monk took the stage, speaking for the majority.
ELDER : It is no surprise that Lao will be our champion, but is he ready to embrace our ways totally and to take on this responsibility.
MASTER FANG : Don't worry, he will be.
WOO PING : It's settled then. Lao is the ….
Before the old man could finish, he was abruptly interrupted by Master San.
MASTER SAN : Excuse me, dear abbot. I have a nominee that I want to bring to everyone's attention.
WOO PING : You do? Who is it?
MASTER SAN : I wish to nominate young Chang.
The young boy, who was watching the big debate, nearly let out a scream when he heard his name. While most of the monks in the room were surprised by the announcement,
Master Fang simply snickered.
MASTER FANG : Chang? You must be kidding.
MASTER SAN : I am dead serious, and I am not the only one who thinks that he is worthy.
Masters Han, Yeoh and Yen made their voices heard.
HAN : I want to nominate Chang.
YEOH : I also nominate Chang.
YEN : The boy gets my vote.
There were some laughs circulating in the temple, but the doubtful few quickly realized that the four senior monks were not trying to be funny.
MASTER FANG : I can't believe this. You four have completely lost your minds.
MASTER SAN : No, we have not. We just happened to notice young Chang's sudden potential, unlike you.
MASTER FANG : Sudden potential? Chang is a weakling. He can't do anything right. Are you really going to put all of our hopes in him? This is a joke!
MASTER SAN : That's where you're wrong, my brother. For a year now, I have been training the boy. I can assure you, a weakling he is not anymore.
MASTER FANG : Everything makes sense now! You're the reason why he has been skipping class and why his attitude has taken a turn for the worse. You two should be expelled from Shaolin!
Woo Ping felt it necessary to cut in and defend Master San.
WOO PING : Expulsion is a bit harsh, don't you think Master Fang? Master San wouldn't be the first senior monk to take a student under his wing. And Chang wouldn't be the first student to get on his master's last nerve. I think the young one is a very interesting choice. He may not be as talented as Lao, but he has a lot of heart. Master San's nomination should be considered.
MASTER FANG : Woo Ping, you can't be serious? The boy is not even eligible. He is not even of age. The prophecy says that the chosen will be 18 years of age.
Master San, with a big smile on his face, prepared himself to educate the long time scholar in matters of the prophecy.
MASTER SAN : You haven't read the writings correctly, my brother. It says that the chosen one would be no more than 18 years of age. The way I see it, the candidate shouldn't be over 18 and that makes Chang more than eligible.
MASTER FANG : You... You are wrong. I have read those texts over and over. I would have noticed that.
WOO PING : I am sorry Brother Fang, but San is right. The text doesn't specify the boy's age. It only says that he wouldn't be over 18.
Master Fang gave the abbot a dirty look.
WOO PING : That's what it says. I will be more than happy to bring out the sacred scroll, if you want to satisfy your curiosity.
The embattled Master Fang, sensing that the tide was turning against him, issued a drastic challenge.
MASTER FANG : If you are so confident in your student's abilities, San, let's have Lao and Chang face off in combat. The winner will be the Shaolin's champion.
MASTER SAN : I am more than confident that Chang can beat Lao's ass without breaking a sweat.
Master Fang immediately let out a deep belly laugh as he tried to anger Master San. Abbot Woo Ping was forced to end the debate before things took a turn for the worse.
WOO PING : Master Fang, please. There is no need for that. I agree that a competition between the two boys might resolve this matter quickly, but I disagree with having them duke it out in front of the entire school. We can't solve everything with our fists! I have a better idea.
Everybody was all ears as the abbot set about to propose his solution to the elders' dilemma.
WOO PING : As you all know, Bodhidharma loved physical contests. I suggest that we organize a good old fashion tournament with a series of physically challenging events. We will be able to see then, who is truly worthy of our nomination.
MASTER FANG : That's a brilliant idea, abbot. But in my opinion, you might as well declare Lao the winner. We all know he will destroy his competition.
MASTER SAN : We will see about that. Abbot Woo Ping, can I make a suggestion?
WOO PING : Of course you can, Brother San.
MASTER SAN : I think we should allow any student, under the age of 18 of course, who wishes to be part of the tournament, the opportunity to compete. There are other worthy students who deserve a chance to prove themselves to us. We should expand our search for the chosen and not exclude anybody. We shouldn't have to put all of our trust in an outsider because we are afraid or desperate. All of our students should be considered.
MASTER FANG : Who are you calling an outsider? Lao has been in this monastery for almost ten years now. He is one of us, as much as you are. I think you are the one who is unworthy of our trust. You have ulterior motives and you are taking us down a dangerous path. Your suggestion will only complicate an already tough decision and it will cost us valuable time.
WOO PING : The name calling is totally unnecessary, my brothers. I agree with San and will allow all of our younger students to participate in the tournament. Now, if there are no objections, besides those of Master Fang, I vote that we move forward and make the necessary arrangements.
Master Fang wanted to interject, but his words of protest were drowned by the elders clamoring for the tournament to take place.
ELDERS : Yes, a tournament should be held!
Let's move forward with the tournament!
We support and respect your decision, High Abbot!
The tournament will give us our uncontested champion!
WOO PING : It's settled then! Ring the bell of Shaolin and gather all of our students! We have to make the big announcement.
Chang knew it was time for him to abandon his hiding place when the elders began to leave the temple. He ran down the stairs and followed the corridor to the secret exit. When he finally made it outside, the school bell was already ringing gloriously, and his fellow students were slowly gathering in front of the temple where Abbot Woo Ping and the elders stood.
WOO PING : My students, today is a glorious day for Shaolin. The event of last night was an indicator for us to begin our nomination of the chosen one. After careful deliberation, we have finally come to a decision.
While all of the students were waiting impatiently for Woo Ping's announcement, the mighty Lao began to make his way up to the abbot.
LAO : Out of the way, boys! It's time for me to claim my prize.
Lao cleared a path through the group of monks by shoving anyone who stood in his way, and he made no apologies for his rudeness. But before he could reach Woo Ping, the old monk revealed his plans to the crowd.
WOO PING : We have decided to put together a tournament, in order to select our champion, the first chosen of Bodhidharma's prophecy.
Lao's jaw dropped.
WOO PING : All students, no older than 18, will be permitted to participate in this tournament which will consist of several challenges aimed at testing your physical abilities. Be warned, this tournament shouldn't be taken lightly! If you have any doubts, reservations or fears, I beg of you not to be part of this because we will push you to your limits. The winner of the competition will be crowned champion and will have to bear all of the responsibilities that such a title brings. I would advise our younger students not to participate; these events might go beyond your capabilities. The selection of the first chosen is very important as it ushers in the selection of the four other chosen. Right now, as I speak, four of your older brothers will be dispatched to our sister schools and inform them to begin, in any way they see fit, the selection of their champions. Now, my fellow elders and I will put together the final touches to our plan, and in two days, the tournament of the chosen will begin.
Once the abbot was done with the announcement, he made his way back to the temple, followed by the elders. The young monks of Shaolin were both ecstatic and in shock at the news. Everyone knew that a once in a lifetime opportunity was being offered to them. Chang, who was all smiles, watched a visibly upset Lao gesticulate and talk angrily to Pu'an. The young monk was way too far to make any sense of what he was saying. But he could clearly make out the expletives that were being used. Chang stopped paying attention to the angry boy when he noticed Master San making his way back into the temple among the elders. He quickly ran up to him and expressed his gratitude.
CHANG : Thank you, Master San. Thank you for sticking up for me. I am at a lost for words. Thank you.
MASTER SAN : There is no need to thank me. I enjoyed pissing off Master Fang. And in the process, I was able to help out our dear old abbot.
CHANG : What are you talking about, Master San?
MASTER SAN : Early this morning, Abbot Woo Ping confided in me that he was having doubts with nominating Lao. I guess this whole situation with Lei getting expelled, which he had nothing to do with, rattled him a bit. You know, your friend was kind of in the running to be one of the chosen. You always claim that the elders don't pay any attention to what is going on. I hope this fortunate turn of events changed your opinion of them. Now, run along. We will talk more afterwards, when those wise old men are done putting this tournament together.
The senior monk followed his brothers into the temple, leaving behind a very ecstatic Chang who was jumping for joy. His sudden outburst managed to attract the puzzled looks of some of his classmates. The young monk was especially glad to learn that the abbot had nothing to do with Lei's expulsion. He was now more motivated to bring up the subject with Woo Ping and would try to get his friend reinstated back in the monastery. In the meantime, he was going to savor this glorious moment and hopefully find something to eat in the cafeteria.
Later that afternoon, after a long day of selecting the different challenges for the tournament, the elders were turning in for the night. Because they weren't able to come to an agreement on all of the events, they vowed to return to the temple in the morning with fresh ideas and finalize the competition. Master Fang was still angry at the fact that Master San had meddled in his plans by stalling Lao's nomination. Now, he was forced to use a different strategy. During the brainstorming process with his fellow monks, he made sure that any challenge selected would be hard for the other students to complete, but easy enough for his pupil to overcome. Because of his frequent objections, the process became long and tedious. A bit exhausted by the long hours of debate, the senior monk entered his room and was not at all surprised to see Lao waiting for him inside. He was expecting it. The boy let him know exactly how he felt.
LAO : What in the hell happened?
MASTER FANG : Just a minor setback!
LAO : You call that minor? You told me you had the full support of the elders and that my nomination was guaranteed. All I hear now is tournament talk. What is going on?
MASTER FANG : Master San interfered with my plan. He found a discrepancy in the prophecy and was able to block your nomination. He offered Chang as an alternative.
LAO : That little shit, Chang? I knew he was up to something. I just can't believe San would stoop so low to get back at me for disrespecting him.
MASTER FANG : I have clearly underestimated him for way too long. I will have to be extra vigilant when dealing with him in the future.
LAO : In the future? You really plan on playing your mind games with Master San now? Well, good luck with your endeavors, and I hope you can find another idiot to help you seize control of the leadership of Shaolin because I am sick and tired of getting the runaround. I wish my father would send for me. I am ready to join him in the army where my talents can be appreciated.
MASTER FANG : Stop being childish! You are the strongest student in your age group. You should be able to breeze through any challenge set before you. You have a golden opportunity to kill two birds with one stone, don't you see? Now, you can take the title of chosen without any objections and settle your score with Chang. It doesn't get any better than this.
Lao reflected silently on the senior monk's logic and reconsidered his position. He was tired of the excuses and visibly frustrated with the old man. Unwilling to continue his argument with Fang, the boy issued one final ultimatum as he made his way out of the room.
LAO : You better make sure that there are no more bumps in the road. You promised me I would be all powerful; you better deliver! If that doesn't happen, I will walk out of Shaolin, no matter if my father comes for me or not. Then you can wait another lifetime before you become the next abbot of this stupid monastery.
Early the next morning, Chang had woken up ahead of his classmates and quickly got dressed. He figured that with the tournament close at hand, he would start his day with a good workout. The young monk was strolling down the main courtyard when the school bell began to ring. Although it was giving the signal for everyone to wake up, all of the classes and morning meditation were still suspended. With the monastery at a standstill, until the elders could hash out the specifics of the upcoming contest, Chang planned on running a couple of miles before tackling his Kung Fu training. He was headed towards the main gates when the lookouts saw him approaching.
LOOKOUT 1 : Where are you going this morning, Chang? I hope you don't plan on going to town again.
CHANG : I am just going to do some laps around the monastery.
LOOKOUT 1 : Go ahead! Please don't go too far. If you disappear again, we are going to get an earful from Master Fang.
LOOKOUT 2 : I hope you win the tournament, Chang. I would rather see you as the chosen one, instead of that stuck-up Lao.
Chang waved at the two monks as he rushed out of the monastery. The early morning run proved to be both relaxing and invigorating for our young hero. He was able to slowly bring his heart rate up and ready himself for the more extensive exercises; while he enjoyed the panoramic scenery that the many mountains of Shaolin offered him. After running ten laps around the holy compound, Chang re-entered the grounds to begin the second part of his training. In a secluded section of the school, he had set up a little training area made up with things he had picked up here and there in the kitchen and the storage room. He had a makeshift punching bag filled with sand, a few clay pots suspended by ropes on a tree and a long piece of plywood sticking out of the ground with another rope wrapped around its extremity. Everything was placed strategically to test the speed and accuracy of his fighting abilities. The young monk trained for the most part of the morning, ignoring his stomach's cries for food. But he focused his thoughts on obliterating Lao during the tournament. By mid afternoon, when the elders took a short break from their exhaustive debates, Master San and Abbot Woo Ping made their way to where Chang was practicing.
MASTER SAN : Look, Woo Ping! I told you Chang was going to be here. Do you see the level of commitment that he has? While some of his classmates are afraid and wondering if they should participate in the tournament, he is hard at work. Chang is more than ready! I think you should skip all that competition nonsense and make him Shaolin's champion.
Woo Ping had an amused look on his face when he heard San's argument.
WOO PING : For someone with such a serious demeanor, you sure have a bizarre sense of humor. You already know that the decision for the tournament has already been made. There is no turning back.
MASTER FANG : I am sorry Woo Ping, but I had to try. Why didn't Bodhidharma just pick the bearer of his mark and save us from all this drama?
WOO PING : The great Bodhi always believed that one should take charge of his own destiny. He never waited for fate to decide his path in life. Because he was such a proactive person, I can only guess that he wants us to play an integral part in the salvation of our souls.
Master San took in all of the information and with a grin on his face; he fired back at the old man.
MASTER SAN : Do you always have an answer for everything?
The abbot didn't say a word. He simply smiled and continued to observe Chang.
Hidden behind some trees, the two elders watched the young monk practice diligently. Chang had no idea that he had an audience. He kept on with his solo performance until he did a spectacular flip that almost caused the old abbot to let out a cheer and reveal his hiding place.
WOO PING : Remarkable! This is truly remarkable! Not even in my wildest dreams could I have imagined seeing Chang perform at this level. Master San your teaching skills are truly impressive.
MASTER SAN : I wish I could take full credit for Chang's transformation. He just needed the right motivation.
WOO PING : And does Lao have anything to do with that?
MASTER SAN : Lao probably did play a part in it, but I think young Chang had an untapped potential that was bound to come out sooner or later. You have to understand that in the beginning, his fighting abilities were less than impressive, but he compensated that flaw with his extensive knowledge of Shaolin Kung Fu. The amount of information that the boy has in his head could rival yours easily. When he began to conquer his fears and apply that knowledge to his training, I could see a change happening in him. He was becoming more aware of things and would problem solve difficult situations that hindered his progress. I have never seen anybody capable of assimilating as fast as Chang. A few weeks ago, while we were sparring, he made up a counter for my Tiger Claw. He just pulled it out of nowhere and didn't even realize what he had done. If I was fighting a grown man, he would have broken my hand. You may not find this at all strange, but when the most uncoordinated, accident prone and insecure student of all Shaolin is able to perform at the level of a senior monk, I tend to get a bit suspicious. I may be a good teacher, but I am not that good. Chang is a rare student, a prodigy in my opinion, with a talent that only comes once in a lifetime. He could possibly be the reincarnation of the great Bodhidharma.
The old abbot reflected for a moment before answering San. He knew exactly what the senior monk was talking about. Unfortunately, he had seen those signs many times before.
WOO PING : Throughout my lifetime, I have seen several students exhibit those same qualities, but they never managed to make an impact on our monastery. Lei-Fei was such a student, until his accident. Lei was also a remarkable prospect, but he chose to leave. I truly believe that there are no coincidences. Fate has played a major part in weeding out the potential candidates over the years, just to prepare us for this occasion. Right now, everything seems to be falling into place. The first two warnings of the prophecy have come to pass and for some unexplained reason we were blessed with more than one remarkable standout. Your assumptions of Chang are probably true, but I feel like you have reinforced in him the notion that he has to prove himself as a great warrior to be taken seriously as a Shaolin monk. A Shaolin does not seek war or conflict to validate his existence. He must rise over the impulse to use his martial arts training for personal gain and become an instrument of peace.
MASTER SAN : Come on, Woo Ping! The boy is finally standing up for himself and he wants to be an important figure in Shaolin history. Is that so wrong?
WOO PING : There is nothing wrong with that, my dear friend. I just hope you didn't inadvertently wake a slumbering dragon.
Abbot Woo Ping had seen and said enough. He began to make his way back to the temple while Master San tried to come up with a strong enough argument to counter his.
WOO PING : Let's go to the temple, my brother. We need to finish the preparations. We can continue this debate at a later time.
The two monks left their hiding spot while Chang, still unaware of their presence, continued with his training..
Meanwhile on the other side of the monastery, Lao and Pu'an were lounging around, waiting impatiently, like everybody else, for the elders to be done preparing the tournament.
LAO : How much longer are we going to have to wait on those old fools to make up their minds? I am so ready to win this tournament. When I have Bodhidharma's power, there are going to be some changes around here.
Pu'an was resting under a tree while his friend was leaning up against it.
PU'AN : Don't worry Lao, your time to shine will come. But don't forget that everybody has a shot at the title now. You will have to go up against me, and I may end up being the chosen one.
LAO : Don't make me laugh. Do you actually see yourself as being the chosen one? I guess that would be possible in another lifetime, after you lose at least fifty pounds.
PU'AN : Screw you, Lao! There are plenty of overweight senior monks.
LAO : You are absolutely right. But none of them hold positions of authority. Maybe if they stopped focusing on their bellies, people would take them seriously. Well, at least you have great aspirations. Maybe one day, your dreams will come true.
Pu'an watched his friend make fun of him. He was about to curse him out some more when suddenly a senior monk walked up to them.
MONK : Hey, Lao! I have a letter her for you. A soldier from the imperial army just dropped it off. I think it could be from your father.
Lao immediately sprung forward and grabbed the small scroll from the messenger without even acknowledging him. The old monk just gave the boy a dirty look, before he went back to his duties. The rolled up piece of paper bared the seal of his father, but when Lao unfolded it, he received some very sad news from his mother.
LETTER
My dear son,
I write you this letter with great sadness in my heart. Your father, who always lived an exemplary life, has succumbed on the battlefield. The wounds he received while defending honorably our borders, had weakened him so much that a mere fever was able to take him down. He had devoted himself to serving the emperor and wouldn't want it any other way. He will receive full imperial honors and I wish you could join us at the palace when that happens. Whatever promise you made to your father, you are relieved of. You are now your own man and the head of this family. It is up to you to decide if you want to stay at Shaolin or not. But before you make your decision, I want to pass on to you your father's last words as he lay dying. He prayed that you would stay away from a military life filled with pain and suffering, and embrace the teachings of the Shaolin. He wants you to become a good man and not repeat the same mistakes he made. Whatever decision you make for yourself, I will respect it. Take as much time as you need to grieve and don't worry about me or your sisters. We are doing well and we plan on moving to a peaceful cottage in the Fujian province, away from the turmoil of big city life. We will be waiting for you whenever you decide to join us. Now, please take care of yourself and I hope to see you soon.
Pu'an immediately noticed the stunned look on Lao's face.
PU'AN : What's wrong with you? What does the letter say?
LAO : My father is dead. It's over.
PU'AN : What re you talking about? Let me see that.
Lao handed over the scroll and stumbled away from his friend. Pu'an quickly read through the letter and was suddenly overtaken with grief.
PU'AN : I can't believe this. What are you going to do?
LAO : I am out of here. I need to be with my family.
Lao took back his scroll and was about to go to the dormitory to get his things when the great bell of Shaolin began to resonate.
PU'AN : Do you hear that? The elders must have come to an agreement concerning the tournament.
LAO : And? That stuff doesn't concern me anymore. Go take part in their games. The title of chosen is yours for the taking.
Lao continued with his plans to leave the monastery while Pu'an ran to the temple to hear the big announcement. The large boy quickly joined his classmates, and all of the other monks of Shaolin, as they gathered in front of Abbot Woo Ping and the elders.
WOO PING : My students! My students, the tournament of the chosen is ready. The elders have finally put together a series of challenges that would make the great Bodhidharma proud. We will begin first thing tomorrow morning, and like I said before all of the young ones are welcome to participate. But I want to reiterate my warning; this contest will be extremely challenging. You enter at your own risk. At sunup, I want all of the potential candidates to meet me here in front of the temple. Now, enjoy your day and rest easy, our salvation is close at hand.
Later that night, two of Shaolin's most notorious students were absent from the dormitory. The room was a little more quiet than usual and nobody seemed to mind Lao and Pu'an's absence. Chang had no idea of the event that had transpired that afternoon concerning Lao. He probably would have rejoiced if he knew that his nemesis had packed his things and was ready to leave Shaolin. But in the meantime, he was just enjoying the tranquility of the night and was eagerly anticipating sunrise. Unbeknownst to him, Lao was in the cafeteria kitchen, loading up on supplies for his journey to attend his father's funeral. The boy was stuffing any piece of food he could find in his bag. His mind was made up. He wanted out of the monastery and nobody was going to stop him, not until Master Fang suddenly walked into the building with Pu'an by his side.
PU'AN : There he is, Master Fang.
MASTER FANG : Thank you, Pu'an for alerting me of this unpleasant situation. Now leave us.
Pu'an immediately left Master Fang so he could deal privately with his angry friend.
LAO : I kind of figured Pu'an was going to tell you what happened. Some friend he turned out to be.
MASTER FANG : Pu'an is just standing up for what he believes in, unlike you who wants to run away from your destiny.
LAO : Destiny? What destiny? Am I supposed to live my life according a four hundred year old prophecy that may or may not happen? It's ridiculous! My father is dead. I have to worry about things in the real world, not some trumped up fantasy. Anyway, that's what my father would have wanted.
Master Fang shook his head as he watched the boy continue to fill up a bag with provisions. His student's willingness to throw away all of his years of training would definitely thwart the plan he had meticulously crafted over the years.
MASTER FANG : How can you let yourself be duped so easily by a simple letter, that your mother supposedly wrote? Think about it. Your father has been a warrior all of his life. Does it make sense that, suddenly, he doesn't want you to follow in his footsteps? Those are the words of a grieving wife who, after loosing her husband, is fearful of loosing her only son. You are about to walk away from an opportunity of a lifetime. The title of the chosen one is yours for the taking, but you would rather leave and let a wannabe like Chang have it. You know like I know that he is unworthy of Bodhidharma's power.
LAO : I am so tired of hearing about Bodhidharma. The whole point of me getting his power was to stop these senseless wars and to save my father's life. Now that he is dead, it's completely useless to me.
MASTER FANG : What about the other fathers stuck on the frontlines? They were forced to go to war and leave behind their wives and their sons. Don't they deserve to be saved as well? Your father has fought all his life, hoping that it would eventually bring peace. Do not disgrace him by walking away like this. I know for certain that he would want you to embrace your true calling and become a savior to all.
Lao was tired of the senior monk's argument for him to stay. Once his bag was full, he threw it over his shoulder and began to make his way out of the cafeteria.
LAO : You know nothing of my father, so spare me the scripted bull. And good luck with your prophecy.
The young monk passed by Fang and was almost at the door when he heard the desperate last ditch attempt to get him to change his mind.
MASTER FANG : You are a coward, Lao! You probably couldn't win the tournament even if you tried. Chang was right; you are nothing but a waste of time. You are probably running away from your destiny because you are afraid to die like your unskilled father.
Lao stopped dead in his tracks. He dropped his bag and ran right up to Master Fang.
LAO : Did he really say that?
MASTER FANG : You know he did! And every single person at the monastery will see you as such if you leave. The label of coward will follow wherever you go, and that's a sad way to begin a career in the army, especially when you are the son of a general.
LAO : I will be damned if anybody talks ill of me or my father. I will finish what I started at Shaolin and win your foolish tournament, after I humiliate Chang in front of the entire school. You better hope and pray that the prophecy is just a bunch of nonsense because if I get this power, you will be the first person groveling and begging for mercy at my feet.
Lao stormed out of the cafeteria, leaving behind a very content Master Fang who had successfully manipulated him. The senior monk took seriously the boy's threat, but was willing to deal with it after the tournament. Maybe by then, he would have enough time to make up another elaborate lie.
Minutes later, Lao burst into the dormitory while his classmates were getting ready for bed. He didn't say a word to anybody, and nobody seemed to care about his tardiness. He took a seat next to Pu'an on the floor and began to unpack his things.
PU'AN : You've decided to come back. I knew you would do the right thing. Your father would be proud of you.
LAO : My father has nothing to do with this. When I am done with this tournament, everybody will remember my name. Mark my words.
Lao had his eyes locked on Chang who was resting a few feet away from him. He wanted to just go over to the sleeping boy and whale on him for what he had said, but he was willing to wait. The very thought of destroying Chang during the tournament was incentive enough for him to keep his emotions in check. He would have his revenge; this he swore to his father before falling asleep.