The order to go after Chang was taking longer than expected. Lei seemed to be conflicted about the appropriate time to confront the killer monk, and that indecisiveness was getting on his companion's nerves.
JEONG : So when are we going to take down that monster? We've been sitting on this hill for two days now, and I'm getting tired of this waiting game.
LEI : I told you, we won't do anything until I have a full proof plan. If you are in such a rush, why don't you go down there and face him?
JEONG : I'm not the Kung Fu expert, you are. I'm just here to serve as backup.
LEI : Well, you need to shut up and let me decide when the time is right. And right now, I say we wait!
The two men silently went back to their surveillance of Ziyi's house. The young woman was sitting outside, working diligently on a basket of peas when Chang returned from his daily hunt in the jungle. He unpacked the few things he was carrying and, without saying a word, he took a seat on the steps of the porch, a few feet away from the young woman. The former monk wanted to engage her, but he found himself at a loss for words. His sudden inability to express himself began ever since he had his vision of Ziyi. He simply sat next to her, wondering why he had such a revelation of the future when he knew he was destined for greater things and was certain that the young woman had no interest in him, or maybe she did. Slowly, he began to see her in a different light. As he admired her delicate hands and her supple little feet that she dug playfully in the dirt while she worked, an intense feeling of desire took over him. Chang would have probably blurted out something, and it would have probably been all wrong, if the young woman had not noticed his bizarre behavior.
ZIYI : I know what you are going to say, so just say it and get it over with.
The former monk's cheeks instantly turned red. It was an awkward feeling he was not accustomed to, and it upset him.
CHANG : I…This is insane! You have no idea what I'm thinking.
ZIYI : I know exactly what you're thinking. You want to apologize for the way you acted the other day, but you can't find the right words.
Chang was a bit disappointed that Ziyi did not guess correctly. If she had known for sure what he was thinking it would have spared him the hard task of expressing his feelings for her. The tongue tied man opted to go along with the young woman's assumption instead of telling her the truth.
CHANG : Yes, I am sorry for talking to you like that. Sometimes, I tend to get a big head.
ZIYI : Sometimes?
CHANG : Well, maybe most of the time.
ZIYI : That's much better. Your apology is accepted.
Ziyi went back to preparing her peas while Chang continued to stare at her in silence. It didn't take long for her to take notice of what he was doing.
ZIYI : Is there something else on your mind?
Chang, embarrassed for being put on the spot, abruptly stood up and uttered a response before running away from Ziyi.
CHANG : I just wanted to say that you look pretty today.
The young woman smiled as she watched him disappear behind her house.
Chang spent most of his day avoiding Ziyi, but stayed close enough to keep a close eye on her. Hidden behind a tree like a timid school boy, he would watch her every move, wondering how to tell her how he felt. As much as he wanted to express his feelings, he feared the young woman's reaction. The infatuated monk was without a doubt strong physically, but his heart would not withstand her rejection. Chang continued to stay hidden as he tried to muster up the courage to approach her.
An hour later, Chang was still trying to talk himself into revealing his crush when he noticed Ziyi leaving their home with a large clay pot.
CHANG : Hey, Ziyi, where are you going?
ZIYI : I am going to get me some water at the spring.
CHANG : Do you want some company? I will be glad to walk with you.
ZIYI : Don't worry about me, I'm a big girl. I can take care of it.
CHANG : Ok, then! I'll stay here and look after your father until your return.
Ziyi's father, who was sitting on the house porch, immediately got up and let out a slight grumble as he went into his room. Chang wasn't too worried about the old grump; it was Ziyi who suddenly clouded his thoughts when a strange feeling suddenly came over him.
When Ziyi reached the spring, less than half a mile out of the village, she had a feeling she was being followed. The young woman was not at all alarmed; she thought for certain that her stalker was Chang who, she noticed, had been acting strangely the last couple of days. As she began to fill her pot in the small stream of water, her pursuer revealed himself, and to her surprise it was not who she expected.
VILLAGE CHIEF'S SON : How are you doing today, Ziyi?
ZIYI : Can I help you with something, Pak?
VILLAGE CHIEF'S SON : I just wanted to know how it feels like to play house with a monk when there are more suitable companions, such as myself, to pick from.
ZIYI : I think Chang is suitable enough. He can hunt, fish, and he is good with children. Oh, did I forget to mention that he is one heck of a carpenter?
VILLAGE CHIEF'S SON : He may know how to do all those things, but he is after all a monk. He knows nothing about the female body or how to pleasure it.
ZIYI : And you do? Rumor has it, after bedding half the young women of the village, you still don't know what you're doing.
VILLAGE CHIEF'S SON : They only say that because neither one of them was worthy enough to stand by my side. But you're different, Ziyi, you are exactly what I've been searching for.
ZIYI : Am I?
VILLAGE CHIEF'S SON : If you agree to be my wife, you would gain wealth, respect and be the envy of every man, woman and child of this village. You and your father would be well taken care of.
ZIYI : You've been using that same old line for over ten years now. Maybe if you came up with something new, I might be inclined to take you up on your offer.
Once her pot was filled, the young woman set about returning home, but Pak grabbed her by the arm.
VILLAGE CHIEF'S SON : Why are you playing hard to get? You know how I feel about you. Why don't you just give me a chance?
ZIYI : Leave me alone, Pak. I have no interest in being one of your playthings.
VILLAGE CHIEF'S SON : Your lips say no, but I know you feel differently.
The forceful young man pulled Ziyi against him and planted a kiss on her. The young woman broke free from his grasp and immediately slapped him across the face. Both parties were stunned by the quick blow, but its recipient was boiling over with anger, insulted by the painful rejection. Without hesitating, Pak answered back by balling up his fist and throwing it at Ziyi. He would have punched her right on the nose if his hand had not been stopped miraculously in mid-flight, caught by Chang who had materialized in between the two of them.
Pak's fist was buried deep in Chang's palm, and the more he struggled to free himself, the more the former monk's grip got tighter around it.
CHANG : The lady asked to be left alone. It seems like I need to reiterate her request.
At that moment, Chang increased the pressure on Pak's hand, causing him to drop to his knees.
VILLAGE CHIEF'S SON : Alright! Alright! I got the message! Please, let me go!
CHANG : I will, but before I do, you need to apologize for your deplorable behavior.
Pak was squirming in pain, and he immediately blurted out an apology when he realized that his hand was about to get crushed.
VILLAGE CHIEF'S SON : I am sorry, Ziyi. Please, forgive me.
Ziyi didn't care about the man's less than heartfelt words, but she feared that Chang was going to injure him severely.
ZIYI : There is no need to cripple him, he is just an idiot.
Chang released his grip, and Pak yanked himself free, rubbing his throbbing hand.
CHANG : The next time you ever think about raising your hand on a woman, you won't be so lucky.
Before walking away from the couple, Pak also had a warning for Chang.
VILLAGE CHIEF'S SON : You're going to regret this, monk! Your time will come, I swear it!
CHANG : I can't wait.
Once Pak took off, Chang focused his attention on Ziyi.
CHANG : He's a cocky bastard that one.
ZIYI : Yes, he is, but I'm glad you showed up. I was about to teach him a lesson he would never forget.
CHANG : I am certain you would have.
ZIYI : What? You think I can't handle myself?
CHANG : I never said that.
ZIYI : You know, Chang, I am not a damsel in distress who needs saving all the time.
CHANG : The thought never crossed my mind.
ZIYI : It better never.
Sensing that Chang was just saying exactly what she wanted to hear, in order to avoid an argument, Ziyi quickly changed the topic to the pot of water she had dropped during her altercation with Pak.
ZIYI : Stop being funny and get the water. Arguing with that idiot has completely sapped me of all my energy.
Chang, with a smirk on his face, obeyed without protesting. He found it amusing that the damsel, who didn't need any help fending off an aggressive suitor, was in complete distress when confronted with a clay pot. Once the water was collected, the happy couple returned home, completely unaware it was being watched by Lei.
Later in the afternoon, as the sun began to set, Lei was joined by Jeong who had been scouting the village in disguise.
LEI : How did it go?
JEONG : I talked to him, and he agreed to help us.
LEI : Good! Tomorrow, we will strike, and if everything goes according to plan, this nightmare will come to an end.
JEONG : Finally! I've been waiting for so long to come face to face with that monster and give him a taste of his own medicine. When I rip his heart out of his chest, I will make sure he knows exactly why he is being put down like a dog.
As Jeong rambled on about what he was going to do to Chang, Lei was busy preparing some sort of mixture in a little bowl. Once his concoction was ready, he took three silver rods out of a bag and began dipping them in the liquid. The soldier turned storyteller was intrigue by what his companion was fixing.
JEONG : What are you doing?
LEI : Working on a backup plan! This is an extremely deadly poison that I put together. One drop of it can paralyze a man, render him blind and kill him within minutes. It is an excruciating death. If everything else fails, I plan on using these special rods. The poison on their tips may not be powerful enough to kill Chang, considering how strong he is now, but it will slow him down just enough to give a shot at finishing him off.
JEONG : Chang's demise is close at hand, I can feel it. I can't wait to get my hands on him and make him pay for what he did, that bastard!
LEI : That's enough of that. There is no need to get yourself all worked up right now. You need to get those thoughts out of your head. Anticipating the upcoming fight will only cause you to be impatient and careless. In order for us to succeed, you need to have a clear head. And try to get some sleep.
Nested in their hiding spot on top of the hill, the two men turned in for the night, but they kept their eyes on Ziyi's house until they fell asleep.
Ziyi woke up the following morning to a familiar but unexpected smell. The young woman quickly got out of bed and ran to the dining area of her house where she found Chang standing over a boiling pot of food.
ZIYI : Why are you up so early? And what's that smell?
CHANG : I decided to fix you and your father breakfast today. It's just a quick stew I put together.
ZIYI : I had no idea you cooked as well.
CHANG : Back at the monastery, years ago, we had a senior monk who used to prepare all kinds of delectable meals. He loved to cook, and I spent a lot of time watching him. I must have acquired some of his culinary expertise.
Chang invited the perplexed woman to have a seat at the dining room table.
CHANG : Don't just stand there, sit.
While Ziyi sat at the small table, Chang fixed her a bowl and set it in front of her. She stared at the dish for a second, hesitating to taste it, but when she finally mustered the courage to try it, she was pleasantly surprised.
ZIYI : I can't believe it, this is actually good. You are probably the most versatile man that I've ever met. I swear, if you weren't a monk, the women of this village would be fighting over you.
Chang simply smiled at the comment and fixed himself a bowl. The former monk had planned to explain his behavior to the young woman that very moment, but when her father joined them for breakfast, he decided to do it at a later time.
Meanwhile, on the outskirts of the village, Jeong and Lei were already awake and ready to set their plan in motion. They surveyed Ziyi's house, one last time, to make sure everyone in the large cabin was accounted for. As the monk grabbed his staff, he wanted to make sure that his companion was ready for the battle that lay ahead.
LEI : If you're having second thoughts, this is probably the right time to back out.
Jeong was both nervous and impatient, but he drew out his sword, nonetheless, and held it bravely before him.
JEONG : Are you kidding me? I've traveled this far and waited long enough, there is no turning back now. Like you said, the nightmare comes to an end, and I will get to see it.
LEI : Alright then, let's go!
The two men left their hiding spot, but went in opposite directions as they descended on the unsuspecting village which was already teeming with life. There were men heading off to the rice fields, children playing in the roads and women tending to their household chores. The scene was perfect for an attack that would catch everyone, especially Chang, off guard.
While Lei and Jeong slowly approached their target, Ziyi was finishing up her breakfast to go tackle her daily chores.
ZIYI : Thank you for the excellent meal, Chang. Once again, you've left me speechless.
CHANG : You are welcome. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
The young woman took her bowl with her as she was about to excuse herself, but the monk stopped her.
CHANG : You can leave that there. I will take care of the dishes when everybody is done.
ZIYI : You are going to wash our bowls?
CHANG : Yes, that's what I said.
ZIYI : What has gotten into you all of a sudden? Are you feeling ok? Usually, you shy away from doing any housework.
CHANG : There is nothing wrong with me. I'm fine. Am I not allowed to be more helpful around the house?
ZIYI : I suppose. Well, if you are willing to take care of that, I will go clean the front porch.
CHANG : Don't worry about doing that. I already took care of it.
The former monk stood proudly in front of the dining room table, expecting to receive more compliments, but what he got instead was an earful from an exasperated Ziyi.
ZIYI : Enough is enough! What's wrong with you? Why are you being so nice? I know something is up because you've been acting strange since yesterday! You're leaving, aren't you? That's why you are acting like this. If that's the case, go ahead and leave. I don't need to be babied. My father and I survived before you came into our lives; we will make it way after you're gone.
CHANG : No, I am not leaving.
ZIYI : So what is it then? I know there's something. You either tell me what it is or you can grab your stuff and go!
Ziyi's father sat silently at the table, completely annoyed by the unfolding melodrama. Unlike his daughter, he knew the reason why Chang was acting differently, and he didn't like it. The old man was about to blow his top when, suddenly, gut ranching screams could be heard from beyond the house walls, interrupting the young woman's ultimatum.
The bloodcurdling racket came just as Chang was about to give Ziyi an answer. He instantly bit his tongue and ran outside, followed by the young woman, to see what was happening. And what they saw was Ziyi's friend, Chi, surrounded by a distraught crowd, running down the main village road with a child in her arms. She was covered in blood and yelling hysterically.
CHI : Help! Chang, please help me!
Chang leapt off the porch and ran towards her.
CHANG : What happened?
CHI : A tiger came out of nowhere and tried to take my boy while he was playing. He's hurt badly, please save him.
The blood that covered the woman was not hers, but that of her young son, and he was bleeding profusely. Chang had to act quickly.
CHANG : Give him here!
While Chang took the boy in his arms and carried him away, the men of the village were already arming themselves, ready to hunt down the savage tiger. And the person at the head of the rag tag team of hunters was none other than the village chief's son, Pak.
VILLAGE CHIEF'S SON : You heard what the woman said, a tiger did this. Now that it tasted human flesh, we have to find it and kill it. If not, it will return and grab another child, or quite possibly, one of us.
As the angry mob, led by Pak, ventured into the jungle, Chang carried the injured boy into Chi's house where the woman, her distraught husband and all of their children were weeping. Their cries only exacerbated an already stressful situation. The former monk had to regain control of the household.
CHANG : Somebody get those kids out of here! They don't need to see this.
Chi's husband ushered the children out of the house, immediately calming down the chaotic atmosphere. Once the place seemed settled, Chang was able to lay the lad down on a mat and take off his bloody shirt. The large gaping wounds he uncovered on the boy's chest and shoulder blade made him realize that time was running out.
CHANG : Chi, I need some fresh water and all the rags you can spare.
The water and the rags were some of the things he needed to take care of the little one. But what he needed the most was back at Ziyi's, in his bedroom.
CHANG : Ziyi, go get my medicine pouch. Hurry!
The two women obeyed the monk without question. The latter ran home to get Chang's first aid kit while the former searched her house frantically for water and pieces of fabric. Once she gathered what was needed, she quickly rushed them to Chang.
CHI : That's all I could find. Is that going to be enough?
CHANG : Yes, that will work. Don't worry Chi; your son is going to be fine. I have seen tiger bites before, and I must say that he is extremely lucky that he still has an arm.
CHI : I tried to save him, but the tiger had dragged him so quickly into the jungle. If that man had not showed up just in time, I swear my little Wai would surely have been eaten.
CHANG : What man?
CHI : I'm not sure who he was. Dear Buddha, everything happened so fast, I only caught a glimpse of him. He wore a strange outfit, almost similar to yours. And he had a staff.
CHANG : A staff, you say?
CHI : Yes, that's what he used to hit the tiger with. The animal looked stunned when it got struck and immediately released my son, then it ran back into jungle.
CHANG : Did he say anything after he rescued Wai, and did you happen to see where he went?
CHI : He took off without saying a word. He moved so fast, I almost thought he was some sort of apparition.
Chang had his suspicions on who Chi's unknown hero might have been, but he kept it to himself and focused on cleaning the young boy's wound.
Lei was completely out of breath when he found shelter behind one of the many huts of the village. After fighting off a two hundred pound tiger and saving little Wai, he needed to recuperate. As he reared his head from behind the small house to observe the terrified villagers, his partner in crime suddenly appeared next to him. Jeong was confused and angry over the monk's decision to go rescue Chi's son from being mauled to death. His heroic act had alerted the entire village and deprived them of the element of surprise.
JEONG : What in the hell just happened!?
Lei didn't answer. He kept a close eye on Chi's house and wondered if Chang was still inside, tending to the injured boy.
JEONG : Didn't you hear me? What in the hell happened?
LEI : I saved a boy's life, that's what happened.
JEONG : Why would you do that? Why would you sabotage our plan and put our lives in danger over an insignificant child? Chang is probably on to us now!
LEI : I am a monk. My duty is to preserve life, no matter what. Revenge can wait!
Lei's answer instantly ignited anger in Jeong. He snatched the monk's arm with such force, almost yanking it out of its socket.
JEONG : Have you lost your mind? You know damn well what the stakes are, and yet, you would put the life of a common boy before the fate of an entire nation!
LEI : Let go of me! Unlike you, I am not willing to sacrifice an innocent life for fame and fortune. The only reason you're here is to make sure you have a proper ending for that story you're writing about. Now, you need to calm down and stop pretending like you care about the fate of anything.
JEONG : Forget you! How dare you accuse me of anything, when it is clearly apparent that you've become fearful of confronting Chang? Run away if you want, but I always finish what I've started.
Jeong drew his sword and immediately eyed Chi's house. The storyteller was about to go on the attack, but Lei would not allow it.
LEI : Are you really so desperate to die today, Jeong? Before you can get your hands on Chang, you'll have to go through me first. I will not allow you to attack him when he is trying to save that boy's life. And if by some miracle, you are able to defeat me and make it to that house, I swear to you, I will make sure that you are in such a state, you won't even be able to hold your sword up to the rogue of Shaolin.
Lei's threat was clear, and Jeong knew right away that his chances of defeating one monk were slim, let alone two. He put away his sword, but he was not willing to give up completely on his objective.
JEONG : What do you plan on doing then?
LEI : We need to leave the village at once. If Chang even suspects that we are here, we will surely die. Let's regroup and come back at a later time.
Jeong had no choice but to go along with his partner's new plan. Both men waited patiently for the majority of the inhabitants to disperse before fleeing the village.
When Ziyi returned to the hut, Chang was done prepping up the injured boy, and like a seasoned surgeon, he was more than ready to operate.
ZIYI : I got your bag.
CHANG : Your timing is perfect, Ziyi.
The two women watched intently as Chang claimed his bag and took out two sleeves which he quickly unfolded. The first was filled with incense sticks, and the second contained several short needles. Once the former monk had everything laid out next to the young victim, he asked Ziyi and Chi to vacate the building.
CHANG : I need you two to step outside for a while. I don't want any distractions while I operate on the boy. I assure you, everything will be fine.
Chang's request was a bit unexpected because Chi was hoping she would be able to stay by her son's side during the painful operation.
CHI : I just can't leave my son. I want to stay and help.
Ziyi immediately stepped in by reassuring the grieving mother.
ZIYI : Don't worry, Wai is in good hands. Let's go outside so we can give Chang the space that he needs to help your son.
Chi was reluctantly led out of the hut by Ziyi, and as soon as they were out of the way, Chang lit up the scented candles and prepared his acupuncture needles.
Chi and her family waited patiently outside the hut; giving Chang ample time to perform, they hoped, what would be a miracle. But a few hours later, as the day slowly came to an end, the grieving mother could not tolerate the wait which seemed to go on forever.
CHI : Why is this taking so long? It's almost sundown.
ZIYI : Don't worry, Chi, I'm sure Chang has it under control.
CHI : That's what you claim! Maybe something went terribly wrong, and Chang's magic cannot revive my son. If my poor little Wai is barely clinging to life, I won't have a chance to tell him goodbye. I will just die if I lose my baby!
ZIYI : Stop worrying, Chi. If Chang says he can save your son, he will do it. I have complete faith in him; you should try to do the same.
CHI : I can't take it anymore! I need to see for myself how my little boy is doing.
Unable to keep her composure, Chi opted to rush into the hut, despite Chang's request for privacy, but stopped herself when the men of the village suddenly emerged out of the jungle. The small mob, with Pak at its head, had captured a tiger and displayed it proudly on a pole for everyone to see. The village chief's son led the men to Chi's house, more than ready to boast his leadership skills and receive praise for the capture of the big cat. Unfortunately, that's not what he got when he met with the worried mother.
CHI : What did you fools do?
PAK : We captured that dirty tiger, like I promised we would.
Chi observed the poor animal strung upside down on a long piece of bamboo before informing the men that they had not captured the right one.
CHI : That's not the right tiger! The tiger responsible for the attack on my little Wai was probably twice the size of the one you idiots just slaughtered.
PAK : Are you sure? There were no other tigers in the area. It has to be the right one.
CHI : I'm telling you, it's not!
PAK : Chi, I know you're probably still in shock from what just happened, but rest assured, this is the tiger that almost killed your son.
CHI : I can't believe this! You are actually going to sit here and argue with me when you weren't even there when my son was attacked. Stop being an idiot and go find the right tiger.
Pak, insulted by the woman's sharp criticism, fired back angrily.
PAK : You truly are an ungrateful woman, Chi! I can't believe you would speak to us in that manner after we risked our lives to capture that beast.
CHI : I would be grateful if you fools actually caught the right one!
With his ego bruised, the village chief's son turned his growing frustration with Chi towards her husband.
PAK : You need to control your wife. There's no reason for her to be so ugly when we're just trying to help.
The poor man would have taken matters into his own hands if his wife wasn't so quick to fire back at Pak.
CHI : He's not going to say anything because he knows I'm right. You idiots messed up! Again!
The argument between Chi and Pak would have lasted a bit longer if Chang had not stepped out of the woman's hut. Ziyi saw him first and alerted the small crowd gathered outside.
ZIYI : Chang!
The former monk didn't say a word as he whipped some blood off his hands. He was more concerned with the heated conversation between Chi and Pak which he only caught the tail end of. His silence only reinforced the grieving mother's fears.
CHI : Sweet heavens! How is Wai? Please tell me, Chang!
CHANG : Do not worry; your son will be just fine. Right now, he is resting.
CHI : Bless you, Chang. Thank you. How can I ever repay you?
CHANG : There will be no need for that. Your little one is well, that's all that matters.
Chi ran into the hut, followed by her husband and her other children, while Chang and Ziyi stayed outside with the would-be hunters who were still fuming over the woman's insults. Ziyi, who greatly enjoyed watching her friend belittle Pak, set about humiliating him some more.
ZIYI : I guess you brave, strapping men are heading back into the jungle, right?
With the sun slowly setting in the sky, none of the men wanted nightfall to catch them on the tiger's turf.
PAK (pointing at the dead cat on the pole) : You can't be serious! We spent all day searching for this tiger, we're all tired. If we have to go after another one, it will have to wait until morning.
ZIYI : In the morning it is then. I can't wait to see you redeem yourself by ridding our village of that menace.
As the crowd slowly dispersed, some of the men shared their concerns with Pak.
MAN 1 : Pak, you're not really going to resume the hunt, right? Did you not hear how big she said the tiger was?
MAN 2 : He is right! If that tiger is twice the size of the one we captured, it would be suicide to go after it.
MAN 3 : I have a family. I'm not about to risk my life for that ungrateful bitch.
PAK : Do you think I'm insane? I said we would catch a tiger, and we got one. As far as I'm concerned, the matter is closed.
While the men went back into their respective huts, the young woman was all smiles because she had succeeded at embarrassing Pak for the second time.
ZIYI : Did you see the look on his face when I asked him about the tiger? I bet he was shaking in his pants. Did you see that?
Without saying a word, Chang took off.
ZIYI : Where are you going?
CHANG : I need my sword. If that tiger is still on the loose, somebody has to stop it immediately.
The young woman raced after the former monk, completely floored by what he said.
ZIYI : Have you lost your mind? Chi said the tiger was enormous. You actually think you have a better chance of catching it in the jungle, in the middle of the night?
CHANG : I have hunted several big cats when I lived in the North. I haven't seen one I couldn't take down yet.
Chang reached Ziyi's house, grabbed his sword in the dining room and immediately tried to rush out of the place, but the young woman stood imposingly at the front door, preventing him from leaving.
ZIYI : What is wrong with you? Do you have a death wish? Why don't you just wait for daylight to go after the tiger? If you go now, while it's dark, you are only securing your own demise.
CHANG : The tiger is probably sleeping right now. I can use the darkness to my advantage.
ZIYI : This is insane! How are you going to be able to see anything when it's pitch black?
CHANG (with a smirk) : Like I told you before, I have my ways.
He pushed his way pass the young woman and headed towards the jungle.
ZIYI : I don't care how strong you think you are, but you're going to get yourself killed.
CHANG : Don't wait up, this might take a while.
From her front porch, Ziyi nervously watched Chang disappear into the thick brush. This time around, she feared that the brave monk was about to get in way over his head.
Several hours later, deep in the jungle, Chang was beginning to wonder if he had embarked on a wild goose chase. The former monk, who was an expert hunter and had successfully tracked Siberian tigers in the North of China, realized that the same rules did not apply for a Bengal tiger hiding in a thick tropical forest. The tracks and smells of all the different creatures that inhabited the brush only confused his superhuman senses. Armed with a torch in one hand and a sword in the other, Chang examined every out of place leaf and every broken branch, hoping to find his prey. Suddenly, he picked up the scent of human blood mixed with a large feline. Chang followed it for a minute, going deeper and deeper in the jungle. He was sure the big cat was close, but as quickly as the familiar smell came, it had inexplicably vanished, leaving him completely baffled. The former monk continued his search for a few more hours before finally deciding to abandon his efforts. He had to face the fact that he had been outsmarted by a dumb animal. Angry and a bit disappointed, Chang was about to head home when he suddenly heard the rustling of leaves above his head. He instantly turned his sights upwards, towards the tall trees towering over him, just in time to see the large tiger pounce in his direction.
Back in the village, Ziyi had been trying her best not to wait up on Chang and to go to sleep, but she was so worried about the monk that all she could do was pace back and forth inside her bedroom. Every time she would hear a strange noise outside, she would run to her porch, hoping to find him standing there with a smile on his face. Unfortunately, she was only met by the thick darkness that covered her village. Disappointed, Ziyi went back to her room and lied back down on the sleeping mat she had been tossing and turning on for the most part of the night. As it got later, and the need for sleep was getting harder to put off, she decided to end her vigil. As the worried young woman slowly closed her eyes, she prayed to Buddha to keep Chang safe. The young woman had barely begun to implore her lord for help when she heard footsteps at her front door. Ziyi immediately ran out to the dining area where Chang stood triumphantly with his clothes completely shredded and covered in blood.
ZIYI : Chang!
CHANG : Why are you still awake? Did I not tell you not to stay up?
The young woman ran up to Chang and gave him a hug.
ZIYI : Oh, Chang! I can't believe you made it! I thought for sure you were lost to me.
Her embrace was so strong that it caused Chang a little bit of discomfort.
CHANG : Easy now! If you squeeze me any harder, there won't be anything left of me.
Ziyi quickly let go of him when she realized what she was doing and went about examining the cuts and bruises that covered his body.
ZIYI : Look at you, you're a complete mess!
CHANG : Well, that's what usually happens when you go hand to claw with a savage beast.
ZIYI : Did you get him at least?
CHANG : Yes, he's outside.
Ziyi glanced over Chang's shoulder and noticed the tiger's carcass lying in the road, in front of her house. The young woman could only shake her head in disbelief.
ZIYI : Dear lord, I can't believe you actually caught it.
CHANG : I sure did, and proud of it.
ZIYI : I bet you are. And now, I have to take care of your wounds.
Ziyi grabbed Chang by the hand and dragged him into his bedroom, despite his request for her not to.
CHANG : There is no need for you to do that, Ziyi. I tend to heal pretty quickly.
ZIYI : Oh, stop whining and let me take care of you. It wouldn't be the first time, you know.
Once in the bedroom, she made him take a seat on his sleeping mat while she got a piece of cloth and a bowl of water to clean him off with.
ZIYI : Look at all these marks on you. How can you be so reckless?
Ziyi had delicately taken off his torn shirt and began to wipe down his chest.
ZIYI : You could've gotten yourself killed, do you realize that? And for what? To prove to everyone that you are the strongest? Why would you cause me to worry so much?
Chang found it amusing and quite reassuring that the young woman felt that way.
CHANG : Please forgive me, Ziyi. I didn't think you cared.
ZIYI : Why do you say such stupid things? Why do you think I give you such a hard time when you decide to do something reckless? It's because I care about you, you fool.
Ziyi surprised herself when she revealed her true feelings for Chang. She had been denying them for weeks now, unsure how he would react to the news, but nothing could prepare her for what the former monk said next.
CHANG : For years, I have dedicated my life to the great Buddha and to the martial arts, and I always assumed that I would spend the rest of my days at the service of the Shaolin, but everything changed when our paths crossed on the river, weeks ago. I know now that one cannot escape fate because it is fate that has brought us together. I refuse to let my Shaolin upbringing dictate my actions, and I will no longer fight what has been blossoming in my heart. I have grown fond of you, your father and this village. For weeks now, I was too afraid to tell you how I felt, but I am not anymore. Ziyi, I have fallen deeply, madly, in love with you.
Ziyi never said a word. She simply stared at Chang with a perplexed look on her face.
CHANG : Ziyi, what's wrong? Please say something.
The former monk leaned forward and tried to hold her hand, but the young woman sprung backwards as if she was revolted by the sight of him.
ZIYI : I can't believe you! What would you say something like that to me? You're a monk, and my father is in the other room.
CHANG : I'm sorry, Ziyi. Offending you was not my intention.
Chang tried to move closer to her, but she immediately got off his mat and darted for the bedroom door.
ZIYI : That's quite enough, Mr. Chang. I bid you good night.
The young woman quickly exited the room, leaving Chang completely devastated.
After his unsuccessful courtship of Ziyi, Chang spent most of the night, tossing and turning on his mat as he tried to manage the feelings of embarrassment, anger and even sadness within his soul. He was only able to close his eyes and get some rest when the first raindrops of an oncoming seasonal downpour hit the roof of Ziyi's house. Those late-night showers were not uncommon in that region, but one would not be wrong to guess that Chang's emotions had triggered the storm. The former monk was on the verge of falling into a deep sleep when he suddenly felt a presence in his room. He quickly sat up on his mat and noticed Ziyi standing in his doorway.
The light of the small lantern she held in her hand illuminated Chang's small room and allowed him to notice the pretty nightgown she had on and the new hairdo she was sporting. Usually, Ziyi would let her long black locks hang freely, but that night, she had them put up in a bun, accentuating her already stunning beauty.
CHANG : Ziyi, what are you doing in here at this ungodly hour?
Ziyi shut the bedroom door behind her before setting down her lantern and, suddenly, disrobing in front of Chang. The stunned ex-monk was unable to say anything as he watched the naked young woman kneel down before him on his mat. She stayed there, inches away from her suitor, waiting for him to make the next move. After thirty seconds had passed, and Chang failed to act on her open invitation, Ziyi began to feel a bit self-conscious of her nudity.
ZIYI : Why are you staring at me like that? I'm totally embarrassed now.
CHANG : I'm sorry. I didn't mean to embarrass you, Ziyi. I have never seen a woman… I mean, I have, but never like this. I don't know what I should do.
The young woman put her soft hand on his bare chest and slowly pushed him back on the sleeping mat before resting her naked body on top of his.
ZIYI : Don't worry; just do exactly as I say.
Under the cover of the late night shower, they made love.
Hours later, the rain slowly came to an end just as Chang and Ziyi were done expressing their love for each other. The former monk, who knew nothing about the opposite sex, proved to be a quick study and had left his partner happy and satisfied. Nonetheless, as they lay in each others arms, he had to ask her about his performance.
CHANG : Did I do well?
ZIYI (with a smile) : You were perfect. I find it hard to believe this is your first time.
CHANG : It was. Was it your first as well?
Ziyi's answer was slow to come.
ZIYI : Yes, it was.
The response was good enough for Chang as he held her tightly in his arms. The two remained silent for a minute before Ziyi brought up a new conversation.
ZIYI : Can I ask you something?
CHANG : Of course, anything!
ZIYI : You know so much about me, and yet, I know so little about you. I have no idea where you are from.
CHANG : I am from Shaolin.
ZIYI : I know that, you fool. I meant where were you born? Where is your family from? Why do you rarely speak of the Shaolin? And how did you get your tattoos? I have never seen anything like them before.
CHANG : I am an orphan. My parents abandoned me when I was a baby at the Shaolin monastery. The monks took me in, fed me, clothed me and filled my head with their beliefs.
ZIYI : I'm sorry that you never got to know your parents, but at least, the Shaolin monks took care of you.
CHANG : They took care of me all right. Growing up in the monastery, I was a nobody. I was pushed aside by my masters because I wasn't as strong or as fast as my other classmates. They focused all of their attention on the boys who, they believed, would make more promising warriors. I became an easy target for the other students, and they enjoyed humiliating and tormenting me on a regular basis. Those monks, who took me in and promised to protect me, never stopped the bullying. In fact, they were praising and rewarding the ones who were hurting me. One day, I got so tired of being pushed around that I stood up for myself. I fought back and defeated their so-called champion, their little golden boy, the one who harassed me the most, humiliating him and exposing him for the fraud he really was, a coward unfit to bare these sacred marks.
Chang pointed to the tattoos on his arms and leg before he continued on.
CHANG : The Shaolin elders, displeased with my actions, expelled me that very day. For the second time in my life, at the age of fifteen, I was abandoned by my family and was forced to fend for myself in this cold world.
ZIYI : I understand now why you hardly mention them.
CHANG : I despise them! The Shaolin monks are a bunch of hypocrites. They go around preaching about peace, love and understanding, but in reality, they are as bloodthirsty as any power-hungry warlord. Like despots, they demand blind obedience. Anyone who questions their authority is either shunned or marginalized.
Chang's rant about his old teachers seemed to fill him with anger, but he quickly calmed himself down.
CHANG : But I don't worry about them anymore. I obey a higher power now, and no matter what they say or do, I will fulfill my destiny and make them see the light.
ZIYI : When this higher power calls on you, will you leave us?
CHANG : Don't worry about that, my sweet Ziyi. Bodhidharma spoke to me through a vision and he told me that my place was here with you. You belong to me now, nothing will keep us apart.
Chang held Ziyi tightly and began to kiss her passionately, hoping to make love some more, but the young woman slowly pulled away from him.
CHANG : What are you doing? Where are you going?
ZIYI : It's going to be sunup in a little while; I have to go back to my room. I don't want father to catch us.
CHANG : We are both adults, and we are in love. I refuse to hide my feelings for you.
ZIYI : I understand, but my father can't catch us like this. When the time is right, I will tell him about us. But as of right now, we have to keep this a secret.
CHANG : Come on, Ziyi. Don't leave yet. Give me another kiss.
ZIYI : You have to behave now. And like you said, you're not leaving any time soon. You will have plenty of opportunities to get another taste.
Ziyi got out of bed and put on her nightgown. As she fixed her hair, Chang noticed a tattoo on the back of her neck. It was the Chinese symbols for the word peace.
CHANG : That's a nice design you have there. How long have you had it?
ZIYI : I had it done years ago, in honor of my brother.
CHANG : You have a brother?
ZIYI : Yes. He was a tortured soul who loved hitting the bottle, chasing women and getting into fights. He wanted to change his ways, but he just couldn't. He continued on with his reckless behavior, for several years, making a lot of enemies everywhere he went. One day, we found him dead with a knife buried deep in his heart. We have yet to figure out who killed him and for what reason.
CHANG : I'm so sorry.
ZIYI : It's fine. I was just a child when it happened. He is at peace now, that's all that matters. I bare this tattoo to remind me of him, and hopefully, it will bring peace into my life.
Once the young woman was done fixing herself up, she gave Chang a loving look.
ZIYI : Get some sleep now, my love. Tomorrow you have a long day ahead of you.
Then she left the bedroom.
As Chang lay on his mat and reminisced about his passionate night with Ziyi, he came to realize why the Shaolin elders were so against their followers having relationships with the opposite sex. If his fellow monks had the opportunity to experience the love of a woman, the monastery would probably cease to exist. Celibacy was used as a means of keeping the monks in line by eliminating the temptations of the flesh and making sure that there would be no desertions in the name of love. Chang had found a new reason to hate his old masters, and he vowed, if he ever became an abbot of Shaolin, to do away with the practice and allow his brethren to choose mates and to marry, if they ever so desired.
The former Shaolin quickly closed his eyes, and like an impatient child eager to open gifts on a birthday, he couldn't wait to see Ziyi in the morning.
Chang woke up the following morning with a lot of joy in his heart. Although he was a bit tired from staying up late, he felt like a new man. He also looked different as he walked out of his bedroom, dressed in a set of old clothes that Ziyi had laid out for him. The hand-me-downs which belonged to her father would serve as substitutes while the young woman worked on repairing his ripped up uniform. She was so proud to see him with his new outfit, and they exchanged a complicit glance, without Ze noticing, before he walked out of the house to go do his chores.
That's how the two lovers continued their romance, in complete secrecy. They hid it from the old man, as much as they possibly could, but shared tender moments of passion whenever the opportunity struck. While Old Ze was probably unaware of his daughter's liaison with Chang, most of the people in the village, who had noticed the bond between the two, seemed to accept it. Only Pak and a few of his friends disliked the relationship and wished to see it end.
Over the course of the next few weeks, Chang had become a fully integrated member of the little village. He worked side-by-side with the other men on the rice fields and went hunting with them in the jungle. He also used his powers, mostly in secret, to alter the weather in the village's favor. If a terrible storm was headed towards his new home, he would chase it away by calling upon the power of wind. If the crops needed water, he would bring down the rain. Chang accomplished a lot of good deeds, but the exploit he considered to be the most significant was the rescue of an ox out of the nearby river.
The former monk was meditating by the water, one day, when the large animal came running by him, disturbing his concentration. Somehow, the ox had escaped its owners and was running freely by the river. As it pranced proudly on the water's edge, it accidentally stepped in the muddy outer bank of the river and instantly sunk in the muck. The powerful beast was rendered helpless and began to bellow for help like a wounded calf, as it tried to free itself. Several local men scrambled to save the slowly sinking animal by using a rope to pull it out of the mud, but their combined strength just wasn't enough to get the job done. They were only able to free the bull when Chang joined the rescue effort. His help was all they needed to save the ox from possibly drowning. As the men celebrated around him, Chang suddenly had a flash of genius. He had accidentally stumbled on the solution to the problem that had been plaguing him for several months now. He had found a way to defeat Pun, the mighty boy giant.
Overjoyed, Chang rushed home to tell Ziyi about his unexpected discovery. But once he got there, he was met at the door by the young woman who gave him a hug and a kiss. The former monk realized at that moment he was experiencing the vision he had of himself and Ziyi kissing. The unexpected but welcomed feeling of déjà vu only confirmed that his decision to stay in the village with Ze's daughter was the right thing to do. From that moment forward, he opted to never tell her about his newfound idea, and he made sure to never bring up anything related to the prophecy.
Chang had finally found true happiness, and any grudge he held against his former masters, he was more than willing to put it behind him. He was ready to start a new life, filled with love and acceptance, with the one his heart belonged to.
Another week had passed since Chang made the decision to remain permanently in the small village and to enjoy his blissful new life with Ziyi and her father. The former monk, who was always ridiculed and ostracized at the Shaolin monastery, finally had a family to call his own and a village that depended on him. He finally had everything he ever wished for: Power, respect and love. The days of being forced to train and to meditate when ordered by his masters were now long gone and had become distant memories. Things were indeed looking up for Chang, until late one afternoon…
The former monk had been working all day in the rice fields and was now enjoying a well deserved late night supper with his surrogate family before turning in for the night.
CHANG (finishing up his creamed rice and handing the empty bowl to Ziyi) : That was excellent, Ziyi. I have traveled all over this country, and I have yet to find a better cook.
ZIYI : You've seen the entire country?
CHANG : Yes, I have. I have been to the north, the south, the east and the west of China. You name it, I've seen it. And I have to say that southern cuisine is probably the best I've ever had.
ZIYI : How about the food in the north? Is it true that they use animal droppings to cook and to stay warm with?
CHANG : It depends on how far north you go. If you lived in the frozen wasteland like I did for almost fifteen years, then it's probably true. Up there, eating is not about taste, it all about survival.
ZIYI (grimacing) : That's really disgusting! I don't think I could live in such a place.
CHANG : Well, when you have no other options, you have to do what needs to be done to stay alive.
ZIYI : Father used to travel a lot in his youth. He has seen most of this country as well.
Then she addressed the old man who was finishing up his supper.
ZIYI : Father, why don't you tell us about the Great Wall?
The old man quickly answered his daughter, but with a lot of anger in his voice.
ZE : I refuse to take part in your disgraceful farce…
ZIYI : Farce? Father, what are you talking about?
ZE : Stop treating me like a stupid old man, you disrespectful girl. Did you think I would never find out? I have heard the rumors, and I have seen how you two interact. I forbade you to get involved with him, and you disobeyed me. How could you, Ziyi?
ZIYI : I am sorry, father, but I am in love with Chang.
ZE : I don't give a damn what you feel. You need my blessing and have to be married before getting involved with any man. You have tarnished yourself and disgraced this family.
ZIYI : I didn't do anything wrong. I am twenty four years old. I am not a little girl anymore. I can be with whoever I want.
ZE : How dare you raise your voice at me? I am your father! If I had full use of my arms and legs, I would….
The old man was still sitting on the floor of the dining area when he tried to lunge for his daughter, but only ended up rolling on his side. Both Chang and Ziyi rushed to help him up.
ZE : Let go of me! I don't need your help! Dear Buddha, give me strength to survive this insult.
ZIYI : Let us help you, father.
CHANG : Please, Mr. Ze. I meant no disrespect.
Once they stood the old man up and gave him his walking stick, he broke free from them.
ZE : I don't want your help, I said! Leave me alone!
The old man slowly retreated into his bedroom, leaving behind the young couple completely conflicted.
CHANG : Your father is right, Ziyi. We shouldn't have done this behind his back.
ZIYI : What's done is done. My father will just have to learn to accept our relationship. We didn't do anything wrong.
CHANG : I will talk to him man to man tomorrow and make him understand that I really do love you. I will throw myself at his mercy and do whatever it takes to win his approval.
ZIYI : No, he is my father. I am the one who must reason with him.
CHANG : I am the man here. I must be the one…
Chang's sentence was suddenly interrupted when he heard somebody call out Ziyi's name. The young woman, followed by Chang, stepped out on the porch to see who was outside. To their surprise, it was Pak.
ZIYI : What do you want at this time of night, Pak?
PAK : I just wanted to talk, that's all.
ZIYI : Well, go ahead then.
PAK : Can we do it without him around?
ZIYI : Whatever you need to say to me, you can say it to him as well.
PAK : Come on, Ziyi. How long have we known each other? If it wasn't truly important, I wouldn't be here. Just give me a couple of minutes. That's all I'm asking for.
Ziyi glanced over at Chang, expecting him to be totally against Pak's request, but the former monk, already feeling guilty about the rift he had caused between the young woman and her father, allowed her to go.
CHANG : I don't mind if you go talk to him. Just stay close by, if he tries to do something stupid again.
Ziyi reluctantly met with the village chief's son while Chang went back into the house to go keep an eye on Ze. After he made sure the old man was tucked away peacefully in bed, he decided to turn in for the night as well. The former monk walked in on a pleasant surprise when he entered his room. There, hanging on one of the walls, was his uniform. Ziyi had patched up the garment and left it there to surprise him. With a smile on his face, Chang went towards the outfit and began inspecting it thoroughly. As he marveled at his love's sewing skills, he suddenly had a strange premonition: Sinister forces were closing in on him. Chang did not panic or go arm himself. He simply sat on the floor in his meditative pose and closed his eyes. If something was about to happen, he wanted to be mentally prepared to deal with it.
Meanwhile, back outside, Ziyi also had a feeling something was wrong. She had been waiting patiently for Pak to tell her what his issue was, but he never did. He was leading her away from her house instead. The young woman quickly got tired of the charade and immediately demanded an explanation.
ZIYI : I didn't come out here to go on a stroll, Pak. Where are you taking me?
PAK : I'm not taking you anywhere. I just have something important to tell you.
ZIYI : Go ahead and tell me what it is. I won't take another step until you do.
Ziyi knew something was afoot when Pak suddenly flashed a devilish grin at her.
PAK : You'll thank me in the morning for what I'm about to do.
ZIYI : What in the heck are you talking about?
Instead of getting an answer, Ziyi was grabbed from behind by an unknown person who was hiding behind a nearby bush. She tried to break free and call out for help, but the individual had wrapped his right arm across her mid section, holding her tightly, and used his left hand to cover her mouth. The young woman had no idea who was holding her, but Pak knew exactly who it was.
PAK : Watch yourself, Jeong. She's a fighter.
JEONG : Why don't you stop jabbering and give me a hand? She is squirming way too much for me.
Pak tried to temper the young woman down by explaining the reason for her abduction.
PAK : Calm down, Ziyi! We are doing this for your own good. This Chang you brought into your home is wanted for killing several people. He is not a monk, he is a maniac!
Ziyi continued to struggle.
JEONG : She is not going to listen to you. Just grab her legs and let's go!
Pak quickly did as he was told, and the two men carried the combative young woman away.
Back at Ziyi's, Chang was meditating quietly. He already knew the young woman had been apprehended, but was in no hurry to go to her rescue. He had to deal first with the unknown individual who had just entered his bedroom.
It had only taken Lei but a minute to sneak into the house, through a back window, when Ziyi and Chang stepped outside to deal with Pak. Hidden inside Ze's room, he waited patiently for the young woman to leave with his decoy and for the former monk to retire for the night, before going after him. When he entered Chang's bedroom, he found him meditating on the floor. Lei stood there, behind his old classmate, as he wrestled with the idea of killing him. Chang was after all his friend; he just couldn't end his life without attempting to save it one last time. But when he remembered the atrocities that the killer monk had perpetuated, he quickly shook off his indecision and resolved to do what was required to ensure the future of every living being in China, and quite possibly the world. He slowly took the wooden plaque, engraved with the Shaolin symbols, off the top of his trusty staff, revealing a two feet long blade. The disguised weapon he was carrying around, that countless of people, including Jeong, mistook for a signboard promoting the Shaolin, was called a Kwan Dao sword. The combination of the heavy blade and the long pole it was attached to made it a deadly but unique weapon that Lei knew how to use skillfully.
The noble monk slowly raised the weapon over his head, and then, with one swift movement, he swung it towards Chang, hoping to decapitate him with one well-placed blow. Unfortunately, instead of watching a severed head roll across the bedroom floor, Lei was sent flying through the air when Chang caught the oncoming sword and tossed it, including its wielder, over his shoulder. The former monk's reaction to the attack and his strength were incredible. They left Lei bewildered after he slammed violently against the wooden floor. Chang, still sitting with his legs crossed, slowly opened his eyes.
CHANG : I knew it was just a matter of time before you showed yourself. Why did it take you so long to come find me?
LEI (slowly getting back on his feet) : I had to make sure that the girl wouldn't get in the way.
CHANG : I have to thank you then for having the decency of sparring her the pain of witnessing what is about to happen. You do realize that you're going to die, if you try to fight me, right?
LEI : You may be powerful, but you're not invulnerable. All I need is one good blow to take you down.
CHANG : Suit yourself then! I try my hardest not to spill any Shaolin blood, but I see now that violence is the only language that your kind seem to understand. Before I destroy you, tell me at least who you are. I want to know which idiot willingly volunteered to go on a suicide mission. Are you one of Lao's friends still angry over the fact that I killed him? Or did the elders tell you that I was the evil one of the prophecy?
LEI : Don't you recognize me, old friend?
Chang couldn't quite place the voice, but when Lei took off the straw hat that hid his face, the former monk immediately realized who was standing before him.
CHANG : Lei, is that you? This cannot be! After all these years...Why?
Chang quickly stood up and was about to run towards his old friend, but something stopped him. It was a strange feeling, an ominous premonition telling him to be weary of the man who used to be a friend.
LEI : Tracking you down wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be. You have left a blood trail from here to Shaolin; all I had to do was follow it. You have so many people who want your head for what you've done. It's only a matter of time before your bloody exploits reach the emperor, and when that happens, he will be gunning for you too.
CHANG : Let him come after me! It would spare me the trip to his castle. He is the real evil that the Shaolin fear. I have seen him in my visions. I know the unspeakable acts that he will commit.
LEI : How can you be so sure of that, Chang? The Emperor may not be a great ruler, and he may have plunged this country into war, but he is after all trying to restore order. I wouldn't expect him to act any differently. But you, on the other hand, you're a monk. You are supposed to be saving and protecting the innocent, not taking their lives. Why did you have to kill our brothers at the monastery and Abbot Woo Ping? Tell me why!
CHANG : That's a lie! When I left Shaolin, he was alive. Why would I kill Woo Ping? He was like a father to me. The elders have filled your head with lies. They have sent you here to kill me because they know I would never harm you, the only person who ever stood up for me. Did you forget how the other students used to torment me, especially Lao? And the elders never did anything to stop it. All they cared about was their precious Lao.
LEI : I was there when all that stuff happened. I understand how you feel, but Bodhidharma's power is twisting your mind. It has filled your heart with anger and pushed you to declare war on the Shaolin. We are not your enemy. Don't judge us based on the actions of a group of stupid kids and their masters. At fifteen, when you received the Bodhi's gift, you were not ready; you were insecure, powerless and resentful. But today we can fix this. Just come with me, and together we will find a way to reverse what has happened and make everything right.
The serious tone of the conversation between the two men suddenly took an unexpected turn when Chang began to laugh out loud, leaving Lei perplexed.
CHANG : This is truly hysterical. That's the exact line I used on one of the chosen before I stabbed him in the back. There is no magic potion, no secret sacrament and no special chant that can take away my powers. You know this! It is only through death that Bodhidharma's gift can be transferred from one chosen to another. I see now, after all these years, you still obey the Shaolin blindly, and you are willing to say or do anything to further their misguided agenda. Only the great Bodhi can't take my powers, and I'll be damned if I let an unworthy candidate slay me so he can become a chosen.
LEI : Chang, listen to me. I am your friend. I want to save your soul before it's too late.
CHANG : It's already too late. You threw away our friendship, the day you left the monastery to go be with that girl. And any hope of salvaging our relationship was lost when you just tried to cut my head off. A true friend would have tried to talk to me first before resorting to violence. Now, take your staff and leave! I have nothing else to say to you.
LEI : I cannot do that.
CHANG : I'm warning you, Lei. Leave now or I will not be held responsible for my actions
LEI : Do what you must, old friend, but I'm not going anywhere. Dead or alive, you're coming with me.
CHANG : I told you to get out!
Pushed to the brink of anger, Chang lunged towards his friend. His attack was so fast and so powerful that it pinned the noble monk against a wall, struggling to fend off the barrage of devastating punches. Lei tried his best to deflect the onslaught, but Chang managed to land several good body shots that knocked him to the ground.
CHANG : You see what you made me do? Why don't you just leave? Nobody has to know that you simply walked away.
The noble monk managed to stand up for the second time. He wanted to go for his weapon, but the object was laying several feet away from him. He feared that if he tried to go for it, Chang would get it first. And if that happened, he wouldn't stand a chance against him. He needed to stay alive long enough to formulate a plan, and hopefully by then, Jeong would have joined the fight.
LEI : You believe, deep in your heart, that you are the true chosen one?
CHANG : I know that I am. Do you need proof of that?
LEI : No, I do not. No matter what miracles you can perform, I know for fact that you are not the chosen one. I am afraid to say this, but there is only one way we can settle our differences.
CHANG : Don't make me do this, Lei.
Lei sprung forward, attacking Chang head on, hoping to get the upper hand quickly in their second bout, but after exchanging several blows, it was the killer monk who came out victorious. Chang stood over his old friend, gloating.
CHANG : Do you really expect to beat me with those old fighting techniques? Those archaic animal styles are no match for a person who can control the elements. A tiger won't come out in the rain, the crane cannot fly if the wind is too heavy and the mantis will burn if it gets too close to a flame. Give up now, Lei. I am willing to let you live.
An overconfident Chang was beginning to talk way too much, thus allowing Lei to inch closer to the long sword.
LEI : The rumors of your strength were not exaggerated. Unfortunately, you have a single flaw, old friend.
CHANG : What's my flaw?
LEI : You have a big mouth.
Enraged by the insult, Chang attacked blindly, giving Lei the opportunity to dodge the kick that was thrown at him and leap for his weapon. The noble monk had successfully armed himself and was ready to show his opponent what he was made of.
LEI : Let's see how you fair against this.
Their third bout began differently compared to the last two. Chang seemed to have a hard time overpowering his armed friend because he was unfamiliar with the weapon brought against him, and that only reinforced Lei's confidence. The killer monk dodged the majority of the attacks as much as he possibly could, but ended up getting his shirt slashed on two occasions.
CHANG : I'm glad to see that you've continued your training, although you were kicked out of Shaolin. You wield your weapon like a master, Lei. But like I said before, I am the chosen one, and it is going to take more than a fancy sword to take me down.
Chang was keeping his distance from Lei so he could figure out his movements. Once he got the pattern down, he struck back by dodging a potentially deadly attack and getting a tight hold on his attacker's staff. The two men struggled briefly for control of the weapon, but Chang, thanks to his increased strength, managed to separate Lei from the Kwan Dao sword by throwing him against another wall. The noble monk's body went crashing through the wooden structure and landed out in the dining area, the very center of Ziyi's house. Chang came walking out of the hole in the wall, with the staff in hand, and joined a disoriented Lei.
CHANG : This is truly an exceptional weapon. It's a shame that I had to take it away from you so easily. Why don't I give you another opportunity to show me how well you can use it?
Chang willfully tossed the staff back at Lei who was just getting back on his feet. The noble monk caught it in mid air and immediately began to put together another plan of attack. Chang was truly powerful; he didn't know how much longer he could continue fighting. Knowing that Jeong would eventually show up to help him, Lei went on the offensive one last time.
Jeong and Pak had been carrying Ziyi for several minutes, and they were almost out of the village when Pak asked his cohort a simple question.
PAK : Aren't you supposed to go help your friend now?
JEONG : Nah! I'm pretty sure Lei has it all under control. I don't want to rush in there too early. It might distract him.
PAK : How much further do you want to take Ziyi? I'm getting tired here!
JEONG : Just a little more… I have some rope over here, somewhere. We can use it to tie her up with.
Pak had a feeling his companion was a coward, but he followed him nonetheless because he didn't want to mess up their plan.
The constant pounding finally got to Ze. The strange noise had woken him up from his sleep, and he was not happy about it. The old man grabbed his walking stick and got off his mat. He couldn't believe that Ziyi and Chang were playing like a couple of kids, so late in the evening, when they know they have an elderly person living with them. He walked out of his bedroom, ready to spill out profanities, but got instantly tongue tied when he saw two men engaged in combat in his home.
ZE : What is the meaning of this?
Chang and Lei stopped fighting for a second. They were both surprised to see the old man staring at them.
CHANG : Go back to bed, old man! This does not concern you.
ZE : Don't you dare tell me what I can and cannot do in my house!
The argument that suddenly erupted between Chang and the old man was a godsend for Lei. It was a welcomed distraction that he did not hesitate to use to his benefit. The noble monk lunged at Chang with his staff, missing him by inches at first, but unleashing a series of devastating attacks. The killer monk was more worried about Ze's safety. If anything ever happened to the old man, Ziyi would never forgive him. He tried to get the father out of the room while trying to dodge Lei's weapon.
CHANG : Stay behind me, old man!
ZE : I knew it! I knew you were trouble the first day you set foot in this house. What did you do, Chang?
CHANG : This is not the time, Ze!
Lei had both men pinned against a wall, and the way things were going, he was on the brink of wounding the distracted killer monk.
ZE : You brought this mess into my house. I want you out of here right now. Do you hear me?
CHANG : Shut it, old man!
ZE : You insolent bastard!
Ze had enough of Chang. He raised his cane and struck him behind the head. The old man's action really upset the killer monk who was trying so hard to keep him safe, and in that moment of frustration, he lost control of his powers.
CHANG : I said back off!
There was a sudden explosion that rocked the entire house. A powerful gust of wind that shot out of Chang, knocking Lei down and ejecting poor Ze out of the building, through a wall, and dumping his frail body outside on the dirt road.
The loud noise shook both Jeong and Pak, who were still carrying Ziyi, to the core. The village chief's son was smart enough not to be distracted by it, but the storyteller let go of the young woman's legs.
JEONG : What was that?
PAK : I have no idea. Would you please grab her?
Ziyi's golden opportunity to free herself had presented itself. With the skill of an expert fighter, she kicked Jeong in the lower waist and drilled the back of her head into Pak's face. The two men went crumbling to the ground. One was holding his crotch and the other, cradling his nose. Ziyi was free, and she knew that Chang was in danger. She immediately ran home, right after kicking Pak, one more time, in the ribs.
Inside what was left of Ziyi's house, Chang was the only one standing. Lei, who had the wind knocked out of him for the third time, was struggling to regain his senses and trying to re-arm himself.
CHANG : Do you understand now how powerful I am? I could kill you with a single thought, if I wanted to. Now, do you want to continue? Do you want me to kill you?
LEI : I will fight you with my last breath.
Lei was on his hands and knees when he defied Chang one last time while trying to grab his staff, but the killer monk reached for the weapon before he did.
CHANG : You talk a lot when you have your pig stick. Let's see how you do without it.
Chang took the weapon and slammed it across his knee, breaking it in half. Then, he tossed the two halves aside.
CHANG : Get up and fight me now!
The noble monk had regained his senses, but was not quite ready to get back up to continue fighting. The time had come for him to use his back up plan; he just needed to distract Chang for a brief second.
LEI : You are right, Chang. You are the chosen one. I will leave you alone.
CHANG : Now, you believe me? You truly have changed, Lei. You are only saying this because your death is close at hand. I know it's a cowardly act, but it is one that will let you live another day. After I let you walk out of here, you are just going to lick your wounds, get stronger and return to challenge me. I am willing to let you do that because we were once friends. I owe you that much.
As Chang did much of the talking, Lei slipped his hand behind his back and grabbed one of his silver rods, tucked underneath his shirt. He had his head down while he got the small weapon, never making eye contact with Chang.
LEI : Thank you, Chang.
CHANG : Now, go!
Chang briefly shifted his eyes away from his adversary, and at that precise moment, as if Lei knew the time was right, he let the rod fly. The killer monk was just too quick, he saw the metal object coming towards him and had plenty of time to move his body slightly, allowing it to zip by him. He could have caught it if he wanted to, but he chose to let it go by as he mocked his old friend's last ditch attempt.
CHANG : Very disappointing! I was expecting…
Chang heard his name first, which made him stop mid sentence, and then a whimper quickly followed. He turned around and saw Ziyi standing behind him. The young woman had a blank look on her face as she held her throat with the rod sticking out of it.
CHANG : Ziyi! No!
Ziyi instantly lost control of her legs and fell into Chang's arms. Even Lei was horrified by what he was witnessing.
LEI : Oh, no!
Chang was in a state of panic. For the first time in his life, he wasn't quite sure what to do as he saw blood fill the young woman's mouth and run down her neck.
CHANG : Hang on, Ziyi! I can save you. I can save you. Everything is going to be alright.
The light in the young woman's eyes was quickly fading. She wanted to say something to Chang, but she just couldn't.
CHANG : Please Ziyi, hang on… I love you. Hang on!
Ziyi's eyes rolled in the back of her head. Her chest went up once, and it never rose again. Ziyi was gone.
CHANG : No!
Chang was beside himself. He just couldn't understand how the young woman could pass away so quickly. He never had a chance of saving her. Lei managed to join his weeping friend and tried his best to apologize.
LEI : This wasn't supposed to happen... I tried to get her away from here…. I…
Lei put his hand on Chang's shoulder, only to feel incredible heat rising from his body. But when he noticed the former monk's eyes had turned fiery red, he knew instantly that something really bad was about to happen. Lei quickly ducked for cover.
CHANG : Get your hand off me!
There was a second explosion. This time, the entire house went up in a ball of flame. Lei's body was tossed up in the air and landed several yards from the burning house. Minutes later, Chang emerged from the building. He was alone. Unable to revive his beloved, he gave her an impromptu funeral by abandoning her to the flames which quickly consumed what was left of the house. Lei, with his clothes still singed, slowly rose to his feet when he saw Chang coming towards him. He tried one last time to apologize.
LEI : Chang, I didn't want this to happen like this.
Chang answer was a hard punch to Lei's jaw which took out some of his teeth. The noble monk stumbled backwards as Chang continued to punch him repeatedly in the face. After several more blows to the body, Chang had turned his old friend into a bloody pulp and sent him to the ground. But he wasn't done with him yet. As Lei struggled to crawl away, Chang flipped him over and dropped his foot on his chest, crushing the poor man's sternum. Lei was beaten. He was now spitting out blood and could barely breathe. Chang picked him up by the throat, more than ready to finish him off, but Lei tried one last time to beg for his forgiveness.
LEI : I…I understand…..I understand how angry you are. If my death can ease your pain, I am willing to die. But before you kill me, tell my wife and my children that I love them. Please forgive me for what I have done. Please forgive me.
Chang hesitated for a moment and thought about his friend's request. Then he made a surprising decision.
CHANG : I won't kill you. That would be way too easy and would free you of the pain that you are in. I am going to make sure that your eyes never see your family just like mines will never gaze upon the smile of my beautiful Ziyi.
A flame suddenly materialized in Chang's palm and he shoved it into Lei's face, burning his eyes. The scream that came out of the man was blood curdling. When the killer monk got tired of listening to it, he simply tossed his squirming adversary into a nearby trench.
After viciously beating the tar out of Lei and leaving him for dead, Chang walked aimlessly in front of the burning house for several minutes. He felt neither joy nor comfort for what he had done, only pain and sadness. At that moment, he realized that unleashing his anger on his old friend would not bring Ziyi back. He continued to pace back and forth, wondering what to do next, before noticing Ze laying a several feet from him. Chang immediately ran over to the old man and tried to get him up. Unfortunately, what he found was a lifeless corpse. Ze was dead, quite possibly from being thrown out of the house during the fight. His old heart was just too weak to survive the impact. Chang couldn't help but to feel responsible for the deaths of two innocent people. If only he had left the village months ago, maybe Ziyi and her father would still be alive. Riddled with guilt, the former monk could only think of one thing: Being with the woman that he loves. And there was only one way he could accomplish that wish. Resolute, Chang began his slow procession towards the burning house with the intention of throwing himself into the raging fire. The former monk went up on the porch and just as he was about to jump into the building, he was suddenly yanked backwards. He had lost total control over his limbs which seemed to have become self- aware and were now fighting for their survival. Like a puppet on a string, Chang was flipped, tossed and pushed away from the fire. The invisible force, which had taken control of his body, continued to batter him to the point of exhaustion. Out of breath and angry, the killer monk was on his hands and knees when he screamed out of frustration.
CHANG (sobbing) : Just let me die, Bodhidharma! I don't want to do this anymore! I don't want this power! Please…Just let me die.
While Chang continued to plead with the powers that be, Jeong and Pak finally arrived on the scene, ready to help Lei. But what they discovered terrified the both of them.
PAK : What in the hell happened here?
Jeong quickly scanned the area and noticed Chang crying in front of the house, next to him was Ze, and not too far away, Lei was resting in a trench.
JEONG : I'll tell you what happened. Chang went ballistic. He set that house on fire and then he killed everybody.
PAK : Where's Ziyi? I don't see her anywhere. We have to find her.
The chief's son was about to go search for the young woman, but Jeong stopped him.
JEONG : What do you think you're doing? Forget about her! If Chang sees us, especially you, he'll kill the both of us.
Pak didn't want to die, but he wanted to help the injured, including Lei who was slowly showing some signs of life.
PAK : What about your friend? He looks hurt. We just can't leave him like that.
JEONG : You can go save him if you want to, but I'm not staying here. If you were smart, you would wait for Chang to leave before trying to save anybody.
Pak froze; he didn't know what to do. Jeong was forced to drag him away by the arm.
JEONG : Come on, Pak! Let's get out of here before it's too late. We'll return in the morning and check on everybody.
The two men made sure that Chang was not looking in their direction when they made their way out of the village. If they had known how distraught the killer monk was, they probably would have been able to overpower him and actually accomplish what they had set out to do.
Several hours had passed, and Chang still couldn't console himself. He had been lamenting the loss of his beloved and was on the verge of complete despair when suddenly, in his moment of sadness, he noticed something in the corner of his eye. The former monk moved slowly towards the object, and to his surprise, he stumbled on something truly unexpected. Right in front of him, lying in the rubble, was his uniform. The white garment had somehow survived the explosion and was spread on the ground in immaculate condition. Chang couldn't help but wonder if it was fate or just pure coincidence that had led him to it. Either way, he considered the discovery to be a clear message. The time had come for him to get back on his feet and to pull himself together. He picked up the article of clothing, after wiping his tears, and followed the main road out of the village. The killer monk of Shaolin was heading back to the city of Kwangchow where he had some unfinished business to take care of.