The hunter finally released his pack on the unsuspecting prey. The wild boar, he had been tracking all day, was foraging in the snow when the frenzied dogs began to close in. At the very sight of them, the startled animal immediately ran back into the nearby forest, at the edge of the badlands. The boar was quick and agile, easily outrunning the four legged mongrels, but their goal was not to catch the beast but to lead him into a trap. The hunter had miraculously gotten ahead of the animals and was now waiting patiently on top of a tree, a few feet away from the wild pig's den. Just as the pursued animal was about to leap into his hole, the man dismounted the tree branch and landed on top of him. Seconds later, after a brief struggle, he stood triumphantly with his knife covered in blood, while the dogs celebrated his kill.
Chang, the fifteen year old boy from Shaolin had become a twenty nine year old man. With his days as a monk far behind him, he had transformed himself into a mighty hunter and kept his promise from years ago to stay in the badlands and look after old Foo. The ex-monk and the old man did manage to become a family, but it was no easy task with Chang's unpredictable fits of anger and Foo's incessant verbal diarrhea. In that regard, the old hermit reminded him of Abbot Woo Ping because he was always telling a story. His most famous tale was about his days as a hero for hire, traveling across China with his best friend by his side. Back then, the young men had invented a very innovative fighting style and used it to make money. They would go from village to village, ridding the peasants of bandits, romancing the pretty young women and swindling everybody blindly in the process. During one of their many travels, the two friends came across a corrupt government official who ruled an entire province with an iron fist. After receiving a healthy lump sum from the townspeople, Foo and Goh set about bringing down the evil governor. The battle was fierce, but the two fighters managed to defeat the tyrant and his henchmen, and strangely enough, found themselves in possession of all the man's wealth. The roomful of gold quickly created a wedge between the two friends. One wanted to redistribute the fortune, while the other wanted to keep it all. The friendship would then take an unpredictable and terrible turn. Goh poisoned Foo, stole all the money and even took his dying partner's girlfriend. Miraculously, Foo did not die. It just so happens that the old hermit had a certain resistance to the toxin used on him (a fact that Chang still finds hard to believe). Betrayed, the angry warrior tracked down the two backstabbers and caught them shacking up in some lavish house. Needless to say that all hell broke loose when the two men crossed paths. The fight was legendary as Foo recalled it, and like every good story, it ended with the demise of the treacherous friend. But the old man's tale had a twist. In the heat of battle, he had wounded his ex-flame, and as she lay dying in his arms, he discovered that she was with child. Unfortunately, she died before revealing who the father of the unborn baby was. The mighty Foo has been broken ever since, drowning his sorrows in wine for nearly fifty years. "Who would even create a fighting style based on being inebriated?" Chang asked himself as he prepped the boar for his trip home. The young man never put any stock in Foo's cautionary tales. He was more concerned with the here and now.
Hours later, Chang finally made it home, carrying the boar's carcass over his shoulders. Foo and Chang's campsite had grown considerably over the years; they had a few livestock and a pen for their dogs. The young man put the pig up in a small shed filled with the skins of all the animals he had ever caught. The biggest prize in his trophy room was a Siberian tiger, and his smallest was a hare. After locking up his kill, he then joined Foo in their tent which had doubled in size. Inside, the old hermit was trying to stay warm in front a small fire. He had aged considerably over the years. His gray hair and beard had now turned completely snow white. Even Dog had gotten older. The faithful companion was asleep next to his master, enjoying his golden years.
CHANG : Hey, old man! I'm back!
FOO : How was the hunt? And what did you bring us today?
CHANG : Wild boar! He tried to put up a fight, but he never stood a chance. I will go skin him right away.
FOO : No, no, no! Sit Chang! I have something for you. Today is a special day.
As Chang sat on the floor, Foo presented him with a gift wrapped in a blanket.
CHANG : What is this?
FOO : Happy 29th birthday, Chang!
The young man was totally caught by surprise. He even tried to hold back a smile while Foo handed him the present.
CHANG : What are you talking about, Foo? You don't know when I was born. Heck, I don't even have a clue myself!
FOO : I may not know when you came into this world, but I do know when you came into my life. Today marks the 14th anniversary of when we met. This is a celebration of that day.
Chang slowly unwrapped the present. The first thing that caught his attention was the black rosary conveniently placed on top of some sort of whitish garb. When he held the mysterious outfit up, he realized the religious nature of the gift, and he was not happy.
CHANG : Come on, old man! We've talked about this several times before. I told you, my days as a monk are over! There are plenty of Shaolin to go around; no one will miss me.
FOO : You are wrong, Chang! Our beloved China is suffering enormously right now because she has been overtaken by an egomaniacal emperor who is hell bent on death and destruction. He fancies himself after the First Emperor of China and uses the insignia of a fire breathing golden dragon to inspire fear in the people. And like the Dragon Emperor, he has vowed to reunify this country under his rule or to destroy it completely if he is unable to. Our land needs a special person, blessed with great gifts, to come forward, spread the gospel and give people hope during these hard times. China needs a hero!
CHANG : I am sorry Foo, but all those wars are happening miles away. They don't affect me. Like I've said before, my home is here now, with you. I will only get involved when I am threatened.
FOO : There is no future for you out here, Chang. Are you really going to spend your life in this frozen wasteland, hunting wild game and fighting off the next group of scavengers who will try to take your precious trophies? You should think about moving away from here. Go south where it's warmer and open your own monastery, or better yet, find yourself a bride. After I leave this earth, I fear you will stay in this tent and become a grumpy old hermit.
CHANG : Don't talk like that, old man. I'm pretty sure you won't have to worry about that for quite some time. You have a few good years ahead of you.
FOO : I have a feeling that you are bound to do something great for this country. But you will never live up to your true potential if you stay on this pile of ice. I wish you would stop running from your destiny and embrace it before I leave this earth. Promise me, after I die, you will at least try to seek your true calling and change your life for the better. Promise me, Chang!
The young man took one last look at his present and reluctantly gave the old man an answer.
CHANG : Yes, I promise.
Several hours later, after a good dinner, Chang and Foo were fast asleep in the comfort of the warm tent. Incredibly, the young man's sleep was not interrupted by the voices that haunted him over the years, but he was awakened instead by the sound of thunder. The ex-monk quickly got out of bed and went outside to check the weather. It was pitch-black; he was only able to see the cloudy sky when bolts of lightning would flash before his eyes. Sensing that the rain was coming, Chang set about securing his animals. But before he could reach their enclosure, a small drop splashed on his forehead and rolled down his face. The young man instantly knew that something was wrong because the droplet didn't feel cool and watery; it was warm and viscous. He touched the wet spot on his head and then looked at his fingertips. They were stained with blood. Chang was in complete shock, and before he could react to his bizarre discovery, a second drop fell from the sky and then a third. The blood drops quickly multiplied and soon afterwards the entire landscape was being washed by the reddish liquid. The sky bled for several minutes before it stopped abruptly, leaving a horrified Chang completely soaked and standing in a pool of red. What he had witnessed was just so impossible to comprehend that he fell to his knees, sobbing uncontrollably. Suddenly, a sinister voice reverberated across the land.
VOICE : Don't cry, monk! This is not the end… Not yet.
Chang looked around him, scared to death, but what he heard next was much more terrifying than the unknown voice. The gut ranching screams that followed, forced him to look up. What he saw was truly horrifying; several millions of lifeless bodies falling from the heavens. Before they crashed on top of him, a stupefied Chang suddenly found himself back in his tent, covered in sweat, and his heart pounding uncontrollably. Chang was relieved that his nightmare was over, but extremely horrified by what he had seen in the hellish vision. The young man rubbed his face and quickly scanned the room just to make sure he was truly awake. He was surprised to see old Foo wide awake, staring at him.
FOO : Another sleepless night?
CHANG : No, not this time! I had a terrible nightmare. It was so vivid. There was so much blood, countless bodies…and that voice. Before, it was only an annoying murmur, but now it has become much louder and more menacing. I fear that something terrible is about to happen.
FOO : Try to stay calm. I will fix you some tea to help you relax. Afterwards, you can tell me in detail what you saw. Maybe I will be able to interpret your dream.
CHANG : There is nothing to interpret. The message was clear. The end of the world is upon us.
Chang's declaration caught the old man completely by surprise.
Meanwhile, thousands of miles away, deep in the heart of China's capital, the imperial palace was slowly coming to life. The servants, the maids and the cooks were all waking up at the break of dawn to make the necessary preparations for their slumbering monarch. A creature of habit and exquisite taste, Emperor Shizong demanded that his mornings start with a warm bath, sprinkled with rose petals and scented with exotic incenses, his imperial garb should always be pristine and immaculate, and finally he required an extravagant breakfast capable of feeding his family and all of his dignitaries. Nowadays, because war was breaking out in the four corners of the kingdom, the emperor had to get a head start on the day, giving his poor servants a limited time to make sure everything was done to his liking. After taking care of his early morning ritual, Zhou Shizong joined his generals in the war room where he was being pressured to take evasive action in his campaign in the north. Because several months had passed, and there was no news from the battlefront, the military officials automatically assumed that the enemy had vanquished the imperial troops and was now advancing towards the capital. Shizong was about to take drastic measures when suddenly he received the good news he had been hoping for.
SERVANT : Excuse me my lord, but Commander Kuangyin has just arrived.
The emperor's angry expression suddenly softened before addressing his generals.
EMPEROR SHIZONG : Gentlemen, I want to postpone this meeting so I can consult with Kuangyin. If his efforts in the north were unsuccessful, his insight will be helpful in devising a new plan to destroy the alliance between the Northern Han and the Liao army.
While Shizong was finishing up with his meeting, his beautiful wife, the empress, was outside in the imperial gardens, entertaining the women of the court and keeping a close eye on her son and his pet Pekinese. She was in good spirits as she lay nonchalantly on an oversized bed overlooking the greenery, but when one of her chamber maids informed her of Kuangyin's arrival, she immediately put an end to the outing and, followed by her entourage, went to meet the officer.
Commander Kuangyin and his small cavalry had just gone through the gates of the castle, and the news of his homecoming had spread throughout the kingdom like wildfire. For awhile now, a rumor had been swirling around the commander, and his return to the court only rekindled a series of speculations into why the emperor would send away his greatest warrior. After crossing the enormous courtyard of the fortified space; the traveling soldiers came to a stop at the feet of the concrete stairs that led to the actual palace. The head officer immediately dismounted his horse and was about to go into the building when the emperor suddenly showed up to greet him. Shizong was all smiles as he received his most decorated officer with arms open.
EMPEROR SHIZONG : Zhao Kuangyin, you told me that you would return victorious or you wouldn't return at all! I see you've kept your promise.
The High Commander immediately went down on one knee.
COMMANDER KUANGYIN : Emperor Shizong, I bring you good news. With the aid of the Palace troops, we were able to dismantle the Liao army and push back the Han.
EMPEROR SHIZONG : Rise, old friend! And there is no need for formalities; call me Rong like you used to.
Kuangyin slowly rose to his feet and nervously tried to continue his report.
COMMANDER KUANGYIN : I am sorry Guo Rong. I was just trying to show my respects. I don't want to set a bad example. You are after all the ruler of this kingdom.
EMPEROR SHIZONG : It is true I am the ruler, but you are like a brother to me. Have you forgotten that not too long ago, we fought side by side on the battlefield under the command of my father, the late Emperor Taizu?
COMMANDER KUANGYIN : I do remember. His sudden passing is a great loss for all of us. His reign was short, but rest assured, he is in the afterlife looking down on you with great pride because you have ascended to his throne with strength and great wisdom.
EMPEROR SHIZONG : Then you understand, unlike some of my subjects, why I do what I do. My father's dream was the reunification of this country. If he had known that his reign would have lasted three years, he would have done more. After his death, I promised myself that I would do everything in my power to fulfill his dream. Declaring war on the other kingdoms and eradicating the insurgency is the only way to bring about long lasting peace to this land.
COMMANDER KUANGYIN : I agree. There should be one kingdom under one ruler. Take comfort in knowing that we are a step closer in turning that vision into reality. All I need is a thousand more troops, and I will personally get rid of the Han.
EMPEROR SHIZONG : You can have your thousand soldiers, but I want you to remain here, by my side.
COMMANDER KUANGYIN : But my lord, we have the upper hand…
EMPEROR SHIZONG : I will assign somebody else to finish the job, but in the meantime I want the new Grand Commander of my Palace troops to help me build a better and stronger army.
The sudden promotion nearly floored the officer.
COMMANDER KUANGYIN : Rong, this is truly unexpected. I am deeply honored.
EMPEROR SHIZONG : Your promotion was bound to happen. You are the most well rounded soldier that I've ever seen, and you have been a great friend to me and my family. This is my way of rewarding you for all your years of service. That's what my father would have wanted. So, as your emperor I order you to stay, and tomorrow I will officially announce your new title to the entire kingdom.
COMMANDER KUANGYIN : Yes, my lord.
The emperor led Kuangyin into the imperial throne room to show him the newly renovated space. The first thing the officer noticed was the enormous golden plaque, with a dragon symbol at its center, which hung on the wall behind the monarch's chair. Before the soldier could comment on the center piece of the room, the empress walked in on them.
EMPRESS : Commander Kuangyin, welcome home. I am happy to see you in good health. What good news do you bring us today?
The soldier quickly bowed before the woman.
COMMANDER KUANGYIN : Good morning to you, my empress. I am glad to report another victory in the north.
EMPEROR SHIZONG : Because of this crucial victory, Kuangyin is no longer my cavalry commander. You are looking at our new Grand Commander of the palace troops. From now on, He will stay at the imperial palace and help me plan my future endeavors.
The empress' face suddenly came alive when she heard the announcement, but she quickly hid it from both men and went back to her reserved self.
EMPRESS : That's very good news. Kuangyin, your talents will be more than useful to this court.
As the woman spoke, she kept her eyes glued to the commander. Kuangyin avoided her gaze and quickly changed the subject of conversation when the young prince crept from behind his mother and stared at him.
COMMANDER KUANGYIN : Who is this? This cannot be young Zhong Xu. The last time I saw you, you were barely crawling. You've become a strapping young lad. How old is the prince now?
EMPRESS : He is five years old now.
The emperor, with a big smile on his face, quickly bent down and took his son in his arms.
EMPEROR SHIZONG : He is my pride and joy. Now that you will be in a stable environment, maybe you should think about finding a good wife and start your own family. You are not getting any younger, my friend.
COMMANDER KUANGYIN : This a time of war, I don't really have the time to think about that right now. Only when China is at peace, I might consider settling down.
EMPEROR SHIZONG : Come on, Kuangyin! When was the last time you've been with a woman? This is probably the best time for you to plant your seed. There are plenty of young women in the kingdom who would be more than willing to bare the children of a high ranking officer. How many wives do you want, one, two or maybe three? Just tell me what you want and it will be done.
The commander was a bit embarrassed to have such conversations in the presence of the empress. He remained silent, trying to come up with an answer, but before he could say anything the monarch's wife came to his rescue.
EMPRESS : Oh, Shizong! Stop giving Kuangyin such a hard time. He has been on the battlefield for almost five years now. Maybe, after he gets a good meal and some rest, he will be in the mood to find himself a woman.
EMPEROR SHIZONG : You are right, my wise empress. Kuangyin needs to rest and eat. Have the cooks prepare a feast for my new Grand Commander. Tonight, we celebrate his victory and his promotion.
COMMANDER KUANGYIN : Thank you, my lord.
Commander Kuangyin took leave of the imperial family and was immediately led to his sleeping quarters by a servant. He was more than happy to be out of the throne room and away from the emperor, and his coveting wife.
Back in the frozen wasteland of the north, Chang stood outside in the wilderness with a blank look on his face. Usually, the ex-monk would undertake a chore around the campsite or do some hunting; he was lost instead in his thoughts. The nightmare of the previous night had rattled him so much that he spent most of the morning staring at the distance. Foo got out of bed and found him posted in front of the tent like a soldier waiting for an unknown enemy to show.
FOO : Have you been standing here all day? I thought you went hunting.
CHANG : I didn't go this morning. I have too much on my mind.
FOO : You shouldn't pay too much attention to that dream, Chang. It doesn't necessarily mean that the end of the world is coming.
CHANG : You don't understand. Years ago, when I was a Shaolin monk, I was taught that an evil force would rise up someday and destroy this country. For awhile now, I really believed that the Shaolin's doom prophecy wouldn't happen. But I was wrong. Trust me when I say this, a great calamity is about to befall us.
FOO : If what you say is true, we need to gather as much food as possible and fortify our campsite. We need to be ready.
CHANG : You're wasting your time, old man. If I were you, I would start praying.
FOO : What about you? What do you plan on doing?
CHANG : I think I will go fishing; it relaxes me.
The young man simply walked away without saying another word.
Minutes later, Chang was sitting at the edge of the frozen lake. He stared at the hole in the ice, waiting patiently for a fish to trap itself in his net. The ex- monk really didn't need to catch more because he had plenty in storage. He just wanted some time to think about what he should do next. He did carry after all the mark of Bodhidharma; maybe he should seek out the other chosen and stop the eminent destruction headed their way. But would the Shaolin take him back and forgive him? The more he tried to come up with an answer, the angrier he got. Chang still harbored some resentment for the monks who turned against him.
CHANG : Screw them all! They can die first for all I care.
After his little outburst, Chang went back to fishing, but for some unknown reason, he wasn't catching anything. As he waited for several hours for an unsuspecting fish to come along, he slowly began to doze off. Suddenly, he came to when he felt a sudden tug on his net. Chang immediately got up and pulled the trap to the surface, expecting to find an aquatic animal struggling to free itself. Instead, he found himself staring at a severed head bobbing out of the water. Petrified, Chang stumbled backwards and fell to the ground. Suddenly, day turned into night, and the sky was filled large storm clouds. He quickly looked around him and realized that he was surrounded by a multitude of dead bodies. As Chang struggled to rise to his feet, he heard the terrifying voice again.
VOICE : This is it, Chang! This is your destiny; a world filled with death and destruction. Now, stop being a coward and embrace it.
CHANG : You're the coward! You've been hiding in the shadows, tormenting me for the past fourteen years! Now, you need to show yourself!
VOICE : You think you are ready to face me? Well, let's see what you are made of.
Suddenly, Chang felt a cold grip around his ankle. He couldn't believe his eyes when he saw the decrepit body of a Shaolin monk slowly come to life, and then lunging at him. He quickly shook the cadaver off, but several more bodies, mostly Shaolin monks and imperial soldiers, awkwardly began to rise from the ground. The deceased men wailed horribly as they came towards him with their arms extended. Chang was so shocked by their presence that a zombified monk was able to creep up behind him and bite his neck viciously. The pain was terrible, but our hero was able to break free from the re-animated corpse. With an entire army of the undead coming towards him, fighting back was the only option he had left. Chang went on the offensive, punching and kicking his assailants, but every time he would take one down, two more would rise up. It didn't take long for the solitary warrior to tire and be overtaken by the horde of zombies.
VOICE : Look at you, you're pathetic! You can't even defeat a bunch of mindless drones and you think you can go up against me? You deserve to die.
Before the undead crushed the life out of him, Chang was able to catch a glimpse of a dark figure standing on top of a hill, quietly observing him. The embattled man tried his hardest to make out a face, but the entity didn't have one. Any facial features were shrouded in some sort of black haze. Although the shadowy creature was faceless, it had no problem laughing while Chang struggled to free himself from the re-animated mob. From its perspective, the young man's fate was sealed. But our hero had no intention of being beaten so easily. He was simply catching his breath and gathering his strength as the zombies piled on top of him. In a sudden burst of strength, he used his legs to push upward and shake loose some of the undead, but to his big surprise, there were no bodies being ejected off him. The wailing had abruptly stopped, and the storm clouds had vanished. Everything was back to normal, except for the stars shinning in the night sky. Chang was all alone, next to the lake, when he realized that he had been trapped all day in another terrible nightmare. Sensing that something was wrong with Foo, the young man quickly ran back to the campsite, and what he saw when he got there was much more disturbing. The old man was singing and dancing as he threw their things in an enormous bonfire.
CHANG : Foo, what are you doing? Have you completely lost your mind?
Chang watched helplessly as Foo tossed their fur, their firewood and anything else he could find in the flames.
FOO (slurring his words) : What do you mean chosen one? This is a time of celebration.
When the young man got close enough to the old hermit, he smelled the alcohol on his breath.
CHANG : Have you been drinking? Why would you do that when you've been sober for years now?
FOO : I told you chosen one, it's a celebration!
Chang immediately pretended like he had no idea what the old man was referring to.
CHANG : The chosen one? What are you talking about?
Foo danced around his companion before answering.
FOO : You told me everything while I was resting this afternoon. I know now how you became the first chosen, and believe me when I tell you that what you did to Lao was right; he deserved it.
Chang was so shocked by the revelation that he grabbed the old man by his coat.
CHANG : What did you just say?
FOO : Don't worry chosen one, your secret is safe with me. You have decided to assume your responsibility of chosen and save us all from this impending doom, that's what matters now.
Chang was confused. He knew that he couldn't have spoken to the old man because he spent all day at the lake in a nightmarish daze.
CHANG : You're insane! Whoever spoke to you was not me.
Instead of answering Chang, Foo suddenly grabbed him and began to sing.
FOO : Chang, the Shaolin monk, is going to save us. Fear his wrath, stupid demon!
The young man got annoyed with Foo's silliness.
CHANG : Get off me, you drunken fool!
Chang pushed the old man back, but instead of going away, Foo ran back and grabbed the young man again.
FOO (still singing) : The killer monk of Shaolin will not betray us. He is going to slay the evil dragon!
CHANG : That's enough!
This time around, Chang shoved the inebriated old man with the intent of knocking him to the ground, but Foo did not fall, he simply bent backwards, spinning his torso awkwardly, regained his balance and answered the mean spirited push with a powerful two fisted punch to Chang's chest. The young man had just witnessed Foo's legendary Drunken Boxing technique. The powerful blow had put Chang down on his rear end, and that's where he stayed, in shock, as he watched the old man stumble back into their tent, singing out of tune.
The festivities in honor of the returning commander had been going on for quite some time. Like the emperor had promised, it was an extravagant gathering with plenty of food and entertainment from the four corners of the empire. Commander Kuangyin sat next to Shizong, and they reminisced about their younger years, the number of women they slept with and the many battles they survived. While the two men talked, some dignitaries and other high ranking officers were still trying to figure out what prompted the emperor to send his most valuable officer on a suicide run against the Han. The young women of the court were not gossiping like the men, they were trying their hardest to catch Kuangyin's attention. The commander saw them staring and smiling at him, but he seemed to be totally uninterested in their silent advances. Emperor Shizong enjoyed having his old friend by his side and he took the opportunity to tell him about all of his future plans of attack. Kuangyin tried to pay attention to the ruler, but he could not help glancing over at the empress who sat a few feet away from him. Shizong's wife never looked back at the commander; she was more preoccupied with a group of performers who were jumping and tumbling to her delight. A few hours later, as the party began to wind down, Kuangyin asked the emperor to be excused.
COMMANDER KUANGYIN : I am going to turn in for the night, old friend. It's really getting late.
EMPEROR SHIZONG : Already!? The festivities have just begun!
COMMANDER KUANGYIN : I would stay up longer, but my old body just won't allow it. I need rest.
EMPEROR SHIZONG : I understand my friend, but you may find it a bit difficult to get some sleep tonight because I've arranged for one of the young maids to come take care of you. That's the least I can do for my old friend and greatest officer.
COMMANDER KUANGYIN : Well, I better hurry up and get to my chambers then.
The commander left the emperor's side with half a smile on his face. He was not looking forward to his friend's late night gift. Once Kuangyin entered his room, he took off his clothes, jumped in bed and tried to fall asleep. Minutes later, an already restless Kuangyin heard knocking on his door.
COMMANDER KUANGYIN : Go away, child! I am way too old and way too tired for a playmate tonight.
Before Kuangyin could close his eyes, he heard the chamber door open and quickly shut. The commander was no longer alone. He immediately jumped out of bed, ready to reprimand the disobedient maid.
COMMANDER KUANGYIN : Didn't I tell you…?
The soldier's jaw fell to the floor when he saw a dressed down empress standing before him.
EMPRESS : I am very flattered that I am still young in your eyes, but I haven't been a child for quite some time now.
COMMANDER KUANGYIN : Are you insane, Tai Hou? What would possess you to come here at a time like this? We could be executed if we are seen together.
EMPRESS : If you're worried about my husband walking in on us, don't! Right now, that young maid who was supposed to be with you is keeping him company. I picked her out myself.
COMMANDER KUANGYIN (sarcastically) : That's a terrific plan! Let's just hope that he doesn't take a good look at her face during their lovemaking.
EMPRESS : Shizong drank so much during the festivities; I doubt he'll be able to tell the difference.
COMMANDER KUANGYIN : You've managed to ditch your husband, great! Now, tell me what you want.
EMPRESS : Don't you think we need to talk about what happened between us? I do.
COMMANDER KUANGYIN : There is nothing to talk about. Whatever happened took place a long time ago. It was a moment of weakness that I truly regret.
EMPRESS : You regret being with me then?
COMMANDER KUANGYIN : It's not like that, Tai Hou. I just find myself in an extremely difficult situation.
EMPRESS : How do you think I feel? I am stuck in a loveless marriage while the one my heart belongs to is trying to get himself killed.
COMMANDER KUANGYIN : What do you want me to do? Are you expecting me to stay in the imperial palace and continue this illicit affair behind Shizong's back. I would rather die a thousand deaths than betray a friend and disgrace the memory of the late emperor who was like a father to me.
EMPRESS : You are not betraying anybody! Have you forgotten that you were my first? Years ago, before we all got entangled in this imperial mess, Shizong had the opportunity to claim my heart, but he was too worried about chasing skirts and winning wars for his father. He broke my heart, and I stopped believing in love. One day, fortunately, all of that changed when you came into my life. You were a lonely young soldier seeking companionship because your heart had been broken as well. You never cared about my social status or which family I belonged to; you just wanted a friend, and that's why I fell in love with you. I would have been your wife if I wasn't forced into this marriage with Shizong. My father told me our union was going to bring peace to this kingdom and make it stronger. With the future of these lands resting on my shoulders, I had no choice but to obey his wishes.
COMMANDER KUANGYIN : You should understand then how frail this empire is. Any inner turmoil would destroy everything Shizong's father, your father and the countless men, who died in battle, help create.
Kuangyin immediately grabbed his sword and held it to the empress' throat.
COMMANDER KUANGYIN : I would take my own life…or yours, before letting this empire crumble to pieces.
The empress saw the determination in Kuangyin's eyes. He was after all a soldier, loyal to his emperor, and he would do anything to preserve the crown. She knew if she pushed the subject, one of them would surely die in the chamber. Nonetheless, the empress gently pushed the sword away and leaned forward to kiss the commander, but he stepped back.
EMPRESS : I see. I wish you the best of luck Kuangyin, but remember that dynasties come and go. Let's just hope that in the end you made the right choice, and that your loyalty is rewarded.
The teary eyed woman quietly walked out of the bedroom, leaving Kuangyin by himself. The commander dropped his sword and stared up at a banner that carried Emperor Shizong's symbol, the golden dragon. He too was hoping that he made the right choice.
Early the next morning, Foo was slowly waking up. He was groggy and felt extremely nauseous. This time around, it was the old man who had a terrible night's sleep, and Chang was looking vigilantly over him.
FOO : What time of day is it? And why do I feel so terrible?
CHANG : Don't you remember what happened last night? You've been drinking!
FOO : Why would I do something like that? I have been sober for nearly twenty years now, that's insane!
CHANG : Last night I had the privilege of seeing you intoxicated and witnessing first hand your Drunken Fighting technique.
When Foo tried to stand up, he heard a pop in his back. He immediately sat back down.
FOO : I must have done something really bad because my back is killing me right now.
Chang snickered a little while he prepared some tea. Although the old man was in pain, he was more concerned for his companion who looked like he hadn't slept for several days.
FOO : You look extremely tired; did you get any sleep at all?
CHANG : I had another nightmare, but this time the person behind that tormenting voice was there. Although I couldn't see his face, he looked familiar to me. I think he purposely tried to hide his appearance. If only I had stayed in that dream state for a little bit longer, I would have uncovered his identity.
FOO : Instead of letting those visions come to you, maybe you should seek them out.
CHANG : What are you talking about?
FOO : I thought the Shaolin monks were good at meditating. I am pretty sure if you try to meditate, the answer you seek will come
CHANG : You are absolutely right, old man. I will do that.
Chang grabbed a blanket and headed out of the tent.
FOO : Take your time, my young friend. I will be here taking a nap when you get back.
Chang walked about half a mile until he found a spot in the middle of a frozen field. He took off his shirt and sat on the blanket he had placed on the ground. It took several minutes before the ex-monk slowly fell into a deep trance. His thoughts traveled through the vastness of the universe and then back to the inner depths of his soul before he heard a pop. When Chang opened his eyes, he was wearing his old Shaolin outfit and was no longer sitting in the field. In complete shock, he quickly rose to his feet and marveled at the remains of a devastated city. The many buildings that stood before him were as big as the imperial palace, but they went all the way up to the sky. The monk was able to notice several bodies trapped inside the partially destroyed and scorched edifices. As Chang followed the enormous fissure that split the paved road he was on, the abandoned iron chariots, some burning and others flipped upside down, captured his attention. He knew they were some kind of transportation devices, but their metallic structure and their rubbery wheels had him totally baffled. The lost traveler, in his confusion, finally saw something familiar. There were a few stores still standing, and on their banners, even though some of the spelling was completely off, he recognized the words fish, beef and poultry. Before the curious monk could inspect the enormous food shops, a piece of paper, carried by the wind, tumbled down the street and got caught on his leg. When he saw the writings on the foreign material, he immediately picked it up. The only thing he understood was the word "China" in bold letters, everything else made no sense to him. Chang tossed the paper aside, and before he could resume his search, he heard a terrible rumble in the sky. He ducked for cover and saw two enormous objects, with blinking lights, fly through the air. They reminded him of giant mosquitoes as they went towards an enormous structure with a dark light emanating at its highest point. The monk knew then where he had to go.
Chang made his way to the horrific looking building, passing several more dead bodies and a few looters who had just ransacked some unfortunate business. They seemed to ignore his presence as they ran past him with their stolen goods. Several explosions went off in the distance while he journeyed deeper into the city. The loud noises did not frighten him because they reminded him of thunder rumbling in the sky before a storm. Every time he deduced that the metropolis had been ravaged by war, he would notice strange things like buildings covered in ice, entire city blocks completely under water or streets flooded with molten lava, gushing out of the earth. With Mother Nature running amuck throughout city, Chang was forced, on several occasions, to find alternate paths in order to reach his destination. The closer he got to the dark tower; the scene around him slowly turned macabre. There were human sculptures all over the streets, frozen in time, with terror on their faces. They were all standing in a defensive manner and looking up at the tower as if they saw something falling from the tall structure. After crossing the sea of petrified bodies, the Shaolin monk reached the entrance of the sinister building. The front doors slowly opened, inviting him to enter. Chang cautiously stepped inside, and the first thing he noticed was a spiraling staircase which defied gravity as it looped incredibly inside the tower. The monk's ascension to the top floor of the building went on forever. He would stop a few times to catch his breath and look down to see how far up he had gone, only to discover a deep dark void. Chang climbed for several more minutes until he reached an exit. Beyond it, he saw the dark entity sitting on a throne, placed outside on a terrace, and at its feet, laid the bodies of more victims.
ENTITY : We've been expecting you, Chang of Shaolin. Come and face your destiny!
Chang stepped forward onto the terrace and immediately noticed, among the slain bodies, Abbot Woo Ping, Master San, Master Han, the majority of the elders of Shaolin and even his good friend Lei, like he remembered him from years ago. The monk was rendered speechless and unable to move by the overwhelming scene.
ENTITY : This is your future, monk. A world filled with death and destruction awaits you! Everyone you ever cared about will die! Including him!
The shadow like being pointed to the far side of the balcony where old Foo was held captive, tied to a cross. When Chang saw the old man who had been beaten and crucified to die, he exploded in anger.
CHANG : You bastard!
Chang's yell was as loud as the thunder rumbling in the sky. He grabbed a rusty sword lying next to his slain friend and, with a leap that can only be called superhuman, he flew across the balcony and landed on top of the entity, ramming it savagely with the dull blade. Instead of falling to the ground or screaming in pain, the creature simply swatted Chang off like a fly and pulled the metal object out of its chest.
ENTITY : Are you serious? You have to do better if you want to defeat me.
CHANG : You want more? I will give you more!
Before the entity could strike back with the sword, Chang caught him with a kick to the gut, and with a second, he disarmed it. The shadowy creature was no match for the furious monk who unleashed every single fighting technique he had learned over the years at Shaolin. The rage that took over him was reminiscent of when he fought Lao. Chang beat his opponent senselessly until he had him pinned to the ground. The demon laughed as the monk began to tire.
ENTITY : You can't beat me! You'll never win!
Chang grabbed the shadow by the throat and began to squeeze.
CHANG : Show me your true face, before I kill you!
ENTITY : You want to see who I am? I shall grant your wish.
Suddenly the being began to glow and in a blinding flash of light, an enormous golden dragon materialized. The fantastic beast slowly rose before a terrified Chang who tried to run away, but before he could escape, the flying reptile's fiery breath consumed his flesh.
The vision of being burned alive caused the meditating monk to wake up abruptly from his trance. After checking himself thoroughly to make sure he was still intact, Chang realized he was back in the tent next to Foo.
CHANG : How in the hell did I get back in here?
Chang quickly put his question aside to inform his sleeping companion what he had learned in his nightmare.
CHANG : Foo, wake up! I know who is behind the sinister voice. He is the evil being mentioned in the Shaolin prophecy. Emperor Shizong, he is the one who will destroy us all! He showed me his true self when he morphed into a fire breathing golden dragon. It was the same kind of dragon you said the emperor uses as his symbol. Shizong is the beast, I know it! I can feel it in every fiber of my being.
Foo did not respond to the young man's declaration. He simply remained under his bed covers with his back facing Chang.
CHANG : Foo, didn't you hear what I said!? The emperor is going to wash this entire nation in blood. I have seen the aftermath of what he will do. You need to get up right now!
Chang tried shaking the old man to wake him up, but there was still no response.
CHANG : Foo?
The young man gently rolled Foo over and discovered, in horror, a lifeless corpse. The old man lay dead in bed with his eyes wide open, giving him a terrifying look. It took Chang several minutes before he could compose himself. He had to muster all of his strength to go examine his friend's body, and what he uncovered was much more troubling. There was a large bruise around the hermit's neck. Foo had been strangled to death.
Three days later…
CHANG :
"The evil one told me that everyone I cared about was going to die; Foo was the first casualty. The death of the innocent old man was just a demonstration of his terrible power and a precursor to what he will do next. Right now, danger looms over every single monk of Shaolin, and the future of this very land is in peril. After burying my old friend, I spent the last few days asking myself what to do next. Should I stay in this tent, completely terrified of what is coming or do I go out into this war thorn country and prevent doomsday? The answer I so desperately searched for came to me when I found, still folded in a blanket, the priest's uniform Foo gave me. The old man's last wish was for me to live up to my true calling and fulfill my destiny. I gave him my word that I would, and now I must honor my promise. Foo's death was senseless, and I refuse to let anyone else die because of my own insecurities. After I give away all of the old hermit's possessions, I will travel south and locate the four other chosen. I will try to convince them; anyway I can, to join me in defeating the emperor. I don't know the full extent of Shizong's abilities, but Bodhidharma's prophecy foretold of his coming and gave the Shaolin the tools to defeat him. I am that tool. With my brethren by my side, I will be victorious. I just pray that the beast did not get to them first".
Chang left the frozen badlands and headed south. After traveling for several months, he finally reached the northern Shaolin monastery, in the city of You Zhou, where he came face to face with Li Yen, the chosen one of the wind school. The first chosen was expecting some resistance from his fellow monks, but not an ambush and a fight to the finish with the person he came to recruit. Chang was about to learn that the road to save China was not paved with good intentions.