Overnight, Shaolin was undetectable. Covered by a thick blanket of darkness, the monastery blended seamlessly with the rocky environment of the mountainside, thus becoming nearly impossible to spot from any distance. On certain nights, the large structure crept out of the shadows when a single light source would emanate from its center. This time around it was the glow of a candle shinning through the window of Master Song's sleeping quarters where he fixed Chang some tea. The former monk sat quietly in the middle of the small room with a somber look on his face. He had not spoken a word ever since the memories of the temple massacre had resurfaced and left him questioning his very existence. Was he ever in control of his life? And why did the evil one spare it? So many questions filled his head, and yet he had no answers. Sensing the turmoil in the young man's soul, Master Song tried to cheer him up.
MASTER SONG (offering Chang a cup of tea) : Here you go, son, drink this. It should lift your spirit.
Chang held the hot cup with both hands and simply stared at it.
MASTER SONG : You need to stop blaming yourself, Chang. What happened here was not your fault.
CHANG : Yes, it is! It's all my fault! I am rotten to the core. I destroy everything I come in contact with.
MASTER SONG : You are so wrong. The Shaolin have to assume some responsibility for this mess as well. We all knew Lao's true nature, but we chose to ignore it because his father made donations to our monastery. You are not evil, Chang. You witnessed an injustice and you took it upon yourself to right it. You were the most obedient and the most courteous student to ever grace the halls of Shaolin. You always showed respect to your elders and your fellow classmates, unlike Lao who enjoyed manipulating others and forcing his will on them. Once he discovered my secret, I too became unable to control him.
CHANG : Secret? What secret?
MASTER SONG : Years ago, I probably would've been terrified to reveal this to you or to anyone else for that matter, but now that I am at the end of my life, I really don't give a damn what anybody thinks. I remember the very first time I met Woo Ping. He was a young, intelligent and quite charming monk when he joined Shaolin with his older brother. My soft and gentle demeanor had always put me on the receiving end of my fellow monks' taunts, but Woo Ping never had a problem with it. He accepted me for who I was and treated me like any other student. It was no coincidence that we became such good friends. His dedication to Shaolin and his gentle soul could win anyone over. And so he did, with me. Over the years, my feelings for him grew. I wanted to tell him many times how I felt, but I knew the consequences would be severe. Expulsion from the monastery would have probably been the least of my worries. Anyways, Woo Ping was just too committed to this institution to get involved in any kind of liaison. So I set aside my feelings and, without his knowledge, I dedicated my life to looking after him. Somehow, Lao uncovered my love for Woo Ping and threatened to expose it, many times, if he didn't get his way. Till this day, I don't know for sure how he figured it out, but I have my suspicions. Woo Ping died the very day you destroyed the temple. I will never have the chance again to tell him how I feel, but I believe he is somewhere in the afterlife and he knows. Because he loved this monastery so much, I have decided to remain here until Shaolin can be restored back to her full glory. I will most likely die here, and I accept that willingly. That's what Woo Ping would have done, so that's what I will do for him.
Master Song's revelation nearly floored Chang, but in retrospect, the old man's behavior throughout the years made a lot more sense. All of that didn't matter to him now, and it never did, he was just glad he found a kindred soul.
MASTER SONG : Chang, at you core, there is nothing but good. If only somebody had taken the time to talk to you, listen to your side and show you compassion, all of this could have been avoided. As holy monks, our purpose in life is to teach and protect; we failed on both counts. And for that, I want to apologize on behalf of the council of elders, and I beg for your forgiveness.
Chang broke down in tears. The old man's sincere apology was what he had been looking for all of his life. Now that he had found it, he was finally able to release the pain, the frustration and the resentment he had been carrying for most of his life. As he put his head down and wept, Master Song grabbed him by the shoulder.
MASTER SONG : This is not the time for tears, my son. We have bigger things to concern ourselves with. If you truly believe Bodhidharma led you here to find a way to defeat the evil one, you need to let go of the past and focus. The elders may not be around anymore, but I am here. I may be of use to you.
Chang wiped his eyes and composed himself.
CHANG : I was hoping they would reexamine the scroll of the prophecy. Maybe there is a hidden verse somewhere that could offer a solution.
Master Song's expression suddenly turned somber.
MASTER SONG : The prophecy scroll and the scrolls containing Bodhidharma's forbidden fighting styles have all vanished.
CHANG : What?
MASTER SONG : When you resurfaced, Abbot Lei-Fei ordered the immediate return of the four scrolls to the main monastery where they would be reunited with the scroll of the prophecy. At one point, all five were within these walls and guarded at all times, but nonetheless, we woke up one morning and discovered they had disappeared, and one monk unaccounted for
CHANG : They were stolen, you think?
MASTER SONG : They were, and I strongly believe your former classmate, brother Li, took them.
Chang cradled his head between his hands. The situation went from bad to worse, and he just couldn't handle it anymore.
CHANG : This is just hopeless! What are we going to do now? What are we going to do?
Before Chang could sink into complete despair, Master Song tried to infuse some optimism into the somber situation.
MASTER SONG : Calm down, son. It's getting late, and you've been traveling all day. Why don't you get some rest? I'm sure, after a good night's sleep, the answers will come to you. Do not worry, we will find a solution.
The old monk quickly lay down on his mat, and within seconds, he was snoring up a storm. Chang stayed up for a while, reflecting on Master Song's words. He knew deep in his soul how to kill the evil one. But would he be strong enough to do it?
A rooster crowing somewhere outside was the signal Evil Chang had been waiting for. After a night of debauchery, the evil one opened his eyes and quickly rose from the bed of pillows he was sleeping on. He had paid a visit to every single brothel in Zhengzhou before settling in Mrs. Wei's Massage Parlor. Like all the places he had been to, Chang's evil twin had left the working women of the establishment bruised and badly beaten. Extremely proud of what he had done, he took one last look at the masseuses lying unconsciously at his feet before putting on the armor he had taken from Commander Bin. After he finished dressing himself, just as he was about to walk out of the parlor, he noticed a young woman hiding in a corner. The frightened woman was bent down in the fetal position, trembling. She was probably the only person to have survived the demon's bloody orgy. The doppelganger went to her and slowly kneeled down, reducing himself to her level.
EVIL CHANG : Don't be afraid, child, I won't hurt you. This is a momentous day. You are about to witness the birth of a new dynasty. When they ask you who did this, be sure to tell them it was Chang of Shaolin.
The young woman, still trembling, nodded while Evil Chang stroked her hair and brushed her cheek. And with a smile, he stood up and then headed for the nearest exit. Change was indeed in the air, and the doppelganger believed he was the one to usher in that change by putting an end to the Zhou dynasty. He stepped out of the brothel and walked right into a busy street. And for no apparent reason, he stopped moving. He remained there with his eyes shut, disappearing briefly in a sea of street vendors and pedestrians on the go. Nobody seemed to notice or even care why he was meditating in the middle of such a busy intersection, until his body began to rise. Within seconds, he was levitating high above the inhabitants of Zhengzhou. The supernatural feat astonished a few, but frightened most. With the cool wind against his back, Evil Chang glided slowly out of the city. His next stop: The emperor's palace.
While the evil one was well on his way to meet with Emperor Shizong, Chang was just waking up from a long night of restless sleep. His first action, upon getting up, was to check on Master Song. He immediately scanned the small room for the old monk who was nowhere to be found. The former monk was instantly gripped with fear. He worried that Master Song had suffered the same fate as old Foo, the hermit he had lived with those many years ago. Just as he was about to panic, he noticed a folded Shaolin uniform laying next to his sleeping mat. Song had discarded his old clothes and replaced them with a new set. Although the elder did not have the authority to reinstate him as a Shaolin monk, Chang appreciated the symbolic gesture greatly. With his mind at ease, Chang quickly got dressed and went looking for the master. He found him, minutes later, meditating in silence, in the courtyard. Cautiously, he approached Song, hoping not to disturb his early morning prayer, but it was the old monk who surprised him by speaking, without coming out of his lotus pose or opening his eyes; as if he knew instinctively that he had company.
MASTER SONG : Good morning, Chang. Did you sleep well last night?
Chang rolled his eyes, immediately picking up on Master Song's sarcastic tone.
CHANG : That was very amusing, Master Song.
His morning meditation over with, the old monk opened his eyes.
MASTER SONG : I figured if you were going to lie, I might as well do it first. The odds are stacked against us, unfortunately. A little bit of humor is probably what we need right now, wouldn't you agree?
CHANG : I spent most of the night trying to piece together the little bit of knowledge that I have regarding the prophecy. I was unable to come up with anything that can help us defeat the evil one. Without the holy scrolls and the wisdom of the elders to guide us, our fate is sealed, I'm afraid.
MASTER SONG : You may be right, young one. And then again, you might be wrong.
CHANG : What do you mean, master? Did you find a solution?
MASTER SONG : Well, last night, when I was sleeping peacefully, I had an idea. Maybe the solution to our problem is right here, right under our noses. If this evil being is truly part of you like you claim, you may hold the key to its defeat. I believe you have all of the answers, Chang. You simply have to look deep in your soul.
CHANG : I have done all of that, Master Song. Based on the circumstances, our only option is for me to go confront him. But with all the power he possesses, that would be suicide. There is no way the evil one can be defeated.
MASTER SONG : There is more than one way to defeat an opponent, Chang. You may not be able to fight the evil one, but you can prevent him from accomplishing his goal. That demon must have a dark agenda, an initial action he plans to undertake which will set in motion a series of terrible events and ultimately plunge this world into chaos. You must know what he plans on doing.
Master Song's brilliant deduction lit a fuse in Chang. Suddenly, everything became clear to him.
CHANG : He is going to kill the emperor!
MASTER SONG : What? Are you positive about that?
CHANG : I tell you, he is going to kill Zhou Shizong and declare himself ruler of this land. I know this because that's what I would have done. He is going to finish what I started. I have to go warn the emperor. Maybe I can give him a fighting chance and quite possibly put an end to this nightmare.
MASTER SONG : Are you sure about what you are about to do? You may not be able to meet or even convince the emperor. And what will you do if you cross paths with your evil self? Like you said, he is way too powerful for you to fight.
CHANG : That's a chance I am willing to take. I caused all of this, now it's up to me to fix it. When I meet with the emperor, the evil one won't have to face a single man but an entire army. But in order for me to accomplish this, I must leave at once.
MASTER SONG : If that's what you must do, I will not stop you. The imperial castle is miles away from here. Reaching it will take you at least two days. But don't worry; I have exactly what you need.
The former monk's curiosity was instantly piqued. He wanted to follow his master who began to stroll off the courtyard, but the old man ordered him to go take care of another pressing matter.
MASTER SONG : Don't worry about me, young one. Go into my room and get whatever you need for your trip. I will be right back.
The two monks broke away from each other. Chang went into Song's sleeping quarters while the old man disappeared behind the monastery. They reconvened, minutes later, back in the courtyard, one carrying a bag of provisions, while the other dragged an old horse behind him.
MASTER SONG : This is Hao Yun. He used to be the fastest horse in the monastery. He may be a little old now, but I am sure he will be able to cut your trip to the imperial castle in half.
Chang took the reins from the old monk and quickly mounted the animal.
CHANG : Thank you, Master Song. Our chances might be slim, but we have one.
MASTER SONG : Go in peace, my son. Know that my prayers are with you.
Just as Chang was about to ride out of the monastery, he had one very important question for Master Song.
CHANG : You talked about Abbot Woo Ping and how the other monks died, but you never mentioned Master Fang.
Unpleasant memories sprung up in the old monk's mind when he heard the name of his brethren.
MASTER SONG : Fang survived the temple massacre, somehow. It took a lot for us not to kill that snake in the grass for what he did. Even a despicable man like him deserved our forgiveness. He left Shaolin in disgrace, never to be seen again.
His query satisfied, Chang ordered Hao Yun to move onward, but Song had one last piece of information he needed to share with the former monk.
MASTER SONG : Chang, I almost forgot. I need to give you this.
The old monk pulled a small scroll out of his robe and handed it to Chang.
The piece of rolled up parchment looked familiar to the former monk. He wanted to say something, but he was too overwhelmed by the sight of it.
MASTER SONG : This belongs to you, I believe. I found it at the bottom of the cliff several days after you left the monastery.
Chang slowly opened the small scroll, and there it was, the letter left with him, when he was just an infant, at the doorsteps of Shaolin.
CHANG (as tears began to flood his eyes) : My mother's letter…
MASTER SONG : Everything happens for a reason, my son. I believe you were meant to find this letter to remind you of how much your mother loved you, and that she wanted you to become a good man.
The former monk, still sobbing, rolled the scroll and delicately put it away in his shirt.
MASTER SONG : Forget the mistakes of the past. Forgive yourself and remember there is good in everything, no matter what.
CHANG : Thank you for everything, Master Song. I will never forget you.
MASTER SONG : Go in peace, my son. And may the Great Buddha guide and protect you on your final quest.
With Master Song's blessing, an optimistic Chang finally rode out of the monastery. Now, he was ready to do whatever necessary to stop the evil one, including sacrificing his life.
Life in the Imperial palace usually began at the crack of dawn, as servants, cooks and chamber maids made breakfast, sorted out clothes and ran bathes for the slumbering imperial family. While all of these preparations were taking place within the walls of the castle, the imperial guards and infantry soldiers were forced to wait patiently outside. For them, the day could not officially start without the emperor's divine blessing, and that usually happened late in the afternoon when Shizong finally managed to crawl out of bed, after a night of debauchery. Lately, their wait had become dramatically shorter, ever since the new ruler kicked his drinking habit and philandering ways. He had made it a priority to wake up early every day and immerse himself fully in his imperial duties. There was an overwhelming sense of relief among the soldiers when Emperor Shizong, with his family and his prime minister following closely behind him, appeared on the palace terrace overlooking the courtyard. With his unspoken permission, Minister Fang Zhi went forward and announced his arrival to the waiting army.
MINISTER FANG ZHI : Bow your heads in the presence of our lord, the representation of god on earth, the leader of the Later Zhou Dynasty and the uncontested ruler of this land, Emperor Zhou Shizong!
Simultaneously, the soldiers dropped to their knees and began to recite, with one voice, the ode to the emperor.
SOLDIERS : The emperor is our god. He rules everything under the heavens. When the sun rises, he rises. Our lives and our loyalty belong to him.
With a look of content, Shizong gave an approving nod, and immediately, the Grand Commander ordered the soldiers to disband. Under the officer's watchful eye, different sections of the army abandoned the open space and retreated to their respective baroques.
Shizong did not wait for the military exercise to come to an end; he quickly rushed back into his palace, followed by his entourage. The emperor had other matters to worry about, such as the rebels in the south who were threatening to take down his defenses and move closer to the capital. While he preoccupied his thoughts with the upcoming battle, Fang Zhi was showering him with praise.
MINISTER FANG ZHI : Very well done, my lord! You were filled with so much poise and grace while addressing your men. I can already tell that this day is going to be a glorious one. The enemies of the empire will know your divine wrath.
EMPEROR SHIZONG : That's enough with the flattery, Fang Zhi. Just make sure my affairs are in order before I go meet up with Zhao Kuangyin at the southern border. I plan on leaving the palace as soon as I've had my breakfast. I just pray he is able to hold the line until I can bring him some more reinforcements. If Kuangyin falls to the rebels, this could be the beginning of the end for all of us.
MINISTER FANG ZHI : Do not worry, my lord. Go enjoy your breakfast, and by the time you're done, everything will be taken care of.
The prime minister waited patiently for the emperor to disappear into his dining room, before rushing down the palace hallways while ordering his pages to assist him in locating the head officers of the imperial army.
Grand Commander Xiao Yu was in his sixties. A soldier since the age of sixteen, he served under Emperor Taizu as one of his generals, and now he was enjoying his golden years in service of his son, Emperor Shizong. Being in charge of the imperial guards, after the unexpected departure of Zhao Kuangyin, was his dream job. He didn't have to worry about being sent to war, leaving a grieving wife behind and ultimately dying on some god-awful battlefield. His many years of loyal service were finally being rewarded. His responsibilities, nowadays, were strictly limited to palace security. It was an simple task and not too demanding. The imperial palace was so well fortified and nestled in the heart of the capital that an invading army would have to fight the barrage of soldiers stationed around the city before even reaching its walls.
After making sure that every single soldier had abandoned the courtyard and assigned to their designated posts, Xiao Yu retreated to his quarters where he could relax his old bones. He took a seat behind the wooden table which served as his desk and took a deep, well deserved breath. On uneventful mornings such as this, he enjoyed catching up on some reading. He made sure there was nobody near or around his office before leaning over a small chest hidden behind his desk and extracting a scroll out of it. The rolled up document did not contain some piece of military information or literary masterpiece, it depicted instead images of seminude girls smiling at him. There was no way he could possibly enjoy such a piece of erotic art at home, not with his nagging wife constantly looming over him. His office, inside the imperial palace, was the only place he could fantasize about his young beauties without being interrupted. Well, that's what he was hoping for until one of his lieutenants barged into the room, unannounced.
LIEUTENANT : Commander Xiao Yu, I am sorry to disturb you but your presence is needed immediately.
Xiao Yu, caught by surprise, threw the scroll back into the chest and tried to hide his embarrassment by responding angrily at the soldier.
COMMANDER XIAO YU : This had better be good, lieutenant!
LIEUTENANT : There is a Commander Bin, from Zhengzhou City, who needs to speak with you. He is not making a lot of sense. He is rambling about demons and the emperor's demise.
COMMANDER XIAO YU (not amused) : What? Bring him in so I can hear what he has to say.
LIEUTENANT : Well, sir, he is not dressed appropriately.
COMMANDER XIAO YU : What do you mean he is not dressed appropriately?
LIEUTENANT : Sir, he is practically naked. He said a demon stole his clothes and ordered him to go to the imperial palace and warn Emperor Shizong of his arrival.
COMMANDER XIAO YU : Is that so?
LIEUTENANT : He wanted to speak directly with the emperor, but he is in such a state that I thought it would be wise to let you look at him first.
The grand commander, forced to abandon his dirty scroll, doubled in anger.
COMMANDER XIAO YU : Must I do everything myself?
The old soldier reluctantly got up from his chair and followed the lieutenant outside where several soldiers had restrained a completely naked Commander Bin. As soon as the head officer of Zhengzhou saw the grand commander coming in his direction, he became agitated. He was ranting and raving like a lunatic as he tried to break free from his captors.
COMMANDER BIN : I said, let go of me! We need to evacuate the palace immediately. We are all in danger.
COMMANDER XIAO YU : At ease, Commander Bin! What in the hell are you talking about?
COMMANDER BIN : We don't have a lot of time. He will be here soon. Please, you need to alert the emperor. Get him as far away from here as possible.
COMMANDER XIAO YU : And why would I do a crazy thing like that?
COMMANDER BIN : The demon is coming! The demon is coming, I tell you, and he is going to kill every single person in here.
A baffled Commander Xiao Yu gave his lieutenant a confused look.
COMMANDER XIAO YU : He's completely lost it!
Then he tried to drill some sense into Bin.
COMMANDER XIAO YU : Get a hold of yourself, Bin, you are an imperial soldier! There are no such things as demons running around.
COMMANDER BIN : You are wrong! You didn't see what I saw. His eyes were red like the sun, and he shot flames from his fingertips. He is the Devil, I tell you, and if you don't get the emperor out of here, he will kill him today.
COMMANDER XIAO YU : That's enough, Bin! A threat against the life of the emperor is considered treasonous. I would advise you to choose your words wisely.
COMMANDER BIN : Damn It! Do I look like I give a damn about treason right now? Zhou Shizong's blood will be on your hands if you don't listen to me!
COMMANDER XIAO YU : That's it! Guards, throw this lunatic in a cell, until I figure out what to do with him. I am not going to let anything interrupt the emperor's trip to the south.
COMMANDER BIN : No!
Just as the soldiers tightened their grips on Bin and proceeded to drag him away, the brightly illuminated courtyard abruptly turned dark, as if the sun had set in a blink of an eye. The clear blue sky had been replaced by the rumblings of gray storm clouds.
COMMANDER XIAO YU : What in the hell is going on now?
The Grand commander stared at the dark sky for a second, and then he turned his gaze to Commander Bin who had a mortified look on his face.
COMMANDER BIN : It's too late… He's here.
The powerful blast came without warning. It shook the earth and knocked Commander Xiao Yu and his men on their backs with a cloud of dirt and debris. While most of the soldiers were instantly KO'd by the unexpected attack, the grand commander had somehow managed to stay conscious, even though his head had been slammed violently against the ground. It took several seconds for the ringing in his ears to subside and his vision to come back into focus. A cold shiver ran down his spine when he saw the foot deep crater that had disfigured the surface of the courtyard like an ugly bruise. He knew then that the palace was under attack, but by whom? Did the Liao, the empire's sworn enemy, come up with a deadly new weapon capable of reducing the imperial palace to rubble? Whatever that weapon was, it definitely fell from the sky and pulverized a section of the concrete courtyard. It was the only possible way it could have reached the palace, unnoticed, till the very last second. Frightful speculations were quickly replaced with sudden astonishment when the silhouette of an unknown individual rose out of the crater. His features became more visible as the thick cloud of dust slowly began to settle. When Xiao Yu noticed his military armor, he thought for a split second that the man was a fellow soldier. But as soon as he gazed upon the evil look on his face and the flowing, black hair, which went against the army's grooming protocol, he knew that something inexplicably sinister was afoot. At that moment, Commander Bin's warnings came back to him in chilling detail.
Evil Chang stepped out of shallow hole and stood triumphantly on top of the large pieces of broken concrete. He was extremely proud of the small raucous he had caused. The power of the fifth chosen had made his body stronger than steel and protected it from the thousand feet swan dive he had performed in the courtyard of the imperial palace. His gloating smile suddenly turned into a frown when he noticed the baffled look on Commander Xiao Yu's face. The grand commander was not the only one staring him down in complete disbelief. Many of the soldiers were now peeking out of the barracks as they tried to locate the source of the miniature earthquake that had rattled the entire palace. Evil Chang, a bit disappointed by the confused stares he was getting, felt it necessary to introduce himself to his audience.
EVIL CHANG : My name is Chang of Shaolin. Weren't you informed of my arrival?
The evil one didn't get an answer, only blank stares. He turned his gaze towards the ground and noticed Commander Bin's lifeless body lying in the rubble.
EVIL CHANG : I guess you didn't get my message.
While Chang was explaining his presence to the Imperial soldiers, Emperor Shizong wanted to know why his breakfast had been so rudely interrupted. He too had heard the loud noise that came from outside and the subsequent tremor that shook his palace. He instinctively turned to his prime minister for answers.
EMPEROR SHIZONG : Fang Zhi, what is going on outside? Are the generals having some sort of military exercise? Shouldn't they get ready for our trip to the South?
MINISTER FANG ZHI : I'm not aware of any exercise, my Lord. When I last spoke to General Kim, he assured me that the army is prepared to move out as soon as you give order.
One of the eunuchs, who stood quietly in a corner of the imperial dining room, gave the Emperor a completely different answer.
EUNUCH : My Lord, I believe it was the sound of thunder you just heard. There is a bit of overcast outside.
The prime minister was astounded by how the servant expressed himself so openly, and by what he said.
MINISTER FANG ZHI : That's impossible! There is no way that could be the sound of thunder. It was bright and sunny minutes ago. And how dare you speak without the Emperor's permission? You will lose your tongue next for your insolence.
Shizong quickly reined in his overzealous prime minister by reiterating his previous question.
EMPEROR SHIZONG : Do you know for certain what made that noise and why it shook my palace?
MINISTER FANG ZHI : I do not, my lord.
EMPEROR SHIZONG : Well, why don't you go outside and find out what's going on? And report to me as soon as you get some concrete answers.
Fang Zhi wanted to discipline the young servant so badly, but he had to obey his Emperor first. He bowed his head, grinding his teeth in anger.
MINISTER FANG ZHI : Yes, my Lord, I will check once more with your generals.
The Prime Minister walked out of the dining room while the Emperor and his family resumed their breakfast.
Meanwhile, back outside, more soldiers continued to spill out into the courtyard. Within seconds, they surrounded Chang, but kept a safe distance from him, about thirty feet or so. The killer monk had just finished wrapping up his introduction and was now revealing the reason behind his visit to the imperial palace.
EVIL CHANG : Now that we all know each other, let's just cut to the chase. I have come for the emperor's head.
A collective gasp immediately rose from the courtyard. Most of the soldiers were stunned by the killer monk's admission. They remained transfixed as they tried to figure out if he was serious or if he had lost his mind. While the imperial officers questioned his sanity, the evil one went on to make them a reasonable offer.
EVIL CHANG : I know the majority of you are loyal to Zhou Shizong, but I am willing to make you a deal. If you join me now and help me put an end to his rule, I swear that your heads will not end up on a mantle next to his.
Commander Xiao Yu could not believe what he was witnessing. Was this man insane or was he a demon like Bin said? As he struggled to get back on his feet to confront the unknown individual, his lieutenant rose up right beside him and took charge of the unfolding situation.
LIEUTENANT (yelling at the intruder) : Sir, get on your knees and surrender at once. Do it now or face the emperor's wrath!
Evil Chang grinned ear to ear and extended both his arm at the officer.
EVIL CHANG : Why don't you come and arrest me then?
The lieutenant grabbed the nearest sword and went towards him, reiterating the order he had just given.
LIEUTENANT : I said get on your knees right now!
Before the officer could reach Chang's twin and bark out another order, he was struck violently by a ball of flame shot from the demon's fingertips. The officer's burning body flew across the courtyard and landed several feet from a group of terrified soldiers. At that moment, Commander Xiao Yu drew his sword, and called his soldiers to arms.
COMMANDER XIAO YU : Grab your weapons! We are under attack!
The grand commander staggered at first, hesitating to follow the very order he had given his men, and he was glad he did as he watched Evil Chang hurl more fireballs at the stupefied soldiers who tried to run away. Several were caught in the path of the stream of flames, screaming in anguish as they were instantly incinerated. The evil one laughed as he watched the men burn. He was so engrossed in their agony that he left his flank unprotected. He knew there were more soldiers behind him, closing in as they tried to come to the aid of their fallen comrades, but instead of blasting them, he took a more direct approach. In a single bound, he leapt into the air and landed on top of the charging soldiers, crushing them under his massive weight. He was now in the thick of things, trading blows with any soldier who dared to come at him. Commander Xiao Yu had not moved from the spot he was in. He was completely astounded by the killer monk's brute strength and incredible speed. The punches and kicks Evil Chang delivered shattered swords and reduced his opponents into mush. As the battle raged on, the imperial courtyard was turned into a tangled mess of bodies with twisted limbs and smashed skulls.
EVIL CHANG : This is the mighty imperial army? Don't make me laugh. I was expecting more of a fight.
The evil one's taunt in the heat of bloody battle sent a shiver down Xiao Yu's back. He was beginning to believe that the man who was systematically taking down his fellow officers was not a man at all. Like Bin had warned, he was a demon. He knew then that hand to hand combat was not going to stop it. With his sword in hand, the grand commander doubled back and disappeared into the barracks.
Emperor Shizong, done with his breakfast, watched in amusement as his wife tried to persuade their son to stop playing with his food and clean his plate. He was about to give his, out of her wits, wife a hand when the dining room's doors suddenly flew open and Fang Zhi came running in. The prime minister was out of breath, covered in sweat and the terrified look he had on his face caused everyone in the room to take notice.
MINISTER FANG ZHI : My lord! My lord! We are under attack!
EMPEROR SHIZONG (immediately rising to his feet) : Who is it? Is it the Liao?
MINISTER FANG ZHI : No, my lord! The killer monk of Shaolin is here!
EMPEROR SHIZONG : My palace is under siege by a single monk? Have you lost your mind, Fang Zhi?
MINISTER FANG ZHI : No I have not, my lord! He is outside, and he is decimating the army by himself.
EMPEROR SHIZONG : Impossible! He must have some reinforcements. Maybe he allied himself with the Liao or the rebels.
MINISTER FANG ZHI : He is alone, and he said he came for you.
EMPEROR SHIZONG : Shut your mouth, Fang Zhi! That's not possible, I tell you. He better be dead before I walk out of this room or I'll have somebody's head for this.
MINISTER FANG ZHI : I swear on the lives of my children and grandchildren that I speak the truth. The killer monk of Shaolin is here!
EMPEROR SHIZONG : It will be a cold day in hell before I let some rogue monk cause chaos in my palace and challenge my godhood.
The emperor wanted to head out the door, but when he saw the worried look his wife gave him, he paused. The empress had also heard about the rumors surrounding the mad monk of Shaolin who traveled across the land and killed indiscriminately. She knew that nothing good could come from his presence in the imperial palace.
EMPEROR SHIZONG : Remain here with our son. I will return as soon as I've dealt with that insolent bastard.
After giving his wife the specific instruction, which sounded more like an order, Emperor Shizong exited the dining room while ordering his prime minister to tag along.
EMPEROR SHIZONG : With me, Fang Zhi! Take me to this killer monk you speak of.
Fang Zhi was terrified. He didn't want to go back outside because he had already seen the carnage that was taking place. But what could he do? He had to obey his emperor or face an even more excruciating death at his hands.
The mayhem in the courtyard had now spilled into the palace where members of the imperial court, who had witnessed the battle outside, were scrambling down the halls, looking for somewhere to hide. Shizong saw fear in their eyes as they hid, but he, on the other hand, was not scared. Accompanied by Fang Zhi and a group of his deadliest bodyguards, he made his way to the terrace to see for himself what was happening outside. And what he saw caused his jaw to drop. There he was, the killer monk of Shaolin, standing steadfast against a swarm of imperial soldiers. The officers seem to be powerless against him because he was knocking them down and tossing them around at his leisure.
EMPEROR SHIZONG : This is not possible.
Shizong was so shocked by the furious battle that his prime minister had to literally drag him by the arm to get him off the terrace.
MINISTER FANG ZHI : We must retreat, my lord! We have to come up with a plan before it's too late. My lord, please!
It only took a fraction of a second for Evil Chang to snap out of his frenzy when he caught a glimpse of the Emperor being escorted away by Fang Zhi and his guards. Immediately, his carefree approach to the fight turned serious. His punches and kicks became more precise and more focused as he made a path through the crowd obstructing his way. The killer monk was able to move halfway down the courtyard, almost reaching the steps leading up to the palace, before the commanding voice of Xiao Yu could be heard.
COMMANDER XIAO YU : Soldiers, stand down!
The imperial soldiers immediately halted their attacks and quickly backed away from their single adversary. For a brief second, the evil one taught the grand commander had ordered a hasty retreat. He soon realized that was not the case when Xiao Yu, perched on top of the eastern perimeter wall of the Palace, gave another command.
COMMANDER XIAO YU : Archers, ready!
A group of over fifty soldiers, armed with bows and arrows, reared their heads from behind the wall.
COMMANDER XIAO YU : Fire!
The soldiers released their arrows as soon as they heard the command. Evil Chang saw the flurry headed in his direction and seem to welcome the projectiles as they descended on him. He stood motionless, waiting for them to hit him. But at the last minute, just as he was about to get struck, he ordered the winds to rise with a gesture and sent the arrows flying back at the archers. Many of them were so shocked by what they saw that they forgot to duck for cover. The grand commander, who quickly avoided the spray of arrows altogether, watched in horror as his men fell beside him or tumbled over the wall with arrows perturbing from their necks and their skulls. While Xiao Yu stayed crouched, asking himself what to do next, two of his archers, who had survived the counterattack, were just as baffled.
SOLDIER 1 : Who is that man? I've never seen anything like that in my life.
SOLDIER 2 : He said he was from Shaolin!
SOLDIER 1 : I've heard stories about the Shaolin, but I never imagined they could do such things. We are going to get killed if we don't do something.
SOLDIER 2 : Speak for yourself; I am not going to die up here. Screw the emperor!
The grand commander heard their conversation and was not pleased.
COMMANDER XIAO YU : You two! Stay at your posts or I will kill you myself!
Xiao Yu kept his head down while he ordered the surviving archers to resume their attack on the evil one.
COMMANDER XIAO YU : Archers, keep firing! That's an order!
Arrows continued to rain down on Evil Chang. But this time he danced around them, swatting away at them, like gnats, with small gusts of wind.
EVIL CHANG : You are supposed to be the best archers in the empire. You can do better than that. Come on and hit me!
The archers did their best to hit their mark, but one by one, they only ended up falling victim to their own arrows. Evil Chang found the exercise to be quite amusing, but he quickly grew tired of it. He slammed his foot against the ground, causing a shockwave that split the courtyard and brought the wall Xiao Yu was on to come crumbling down. The grand commander fell at least fifty feet but managed to survive, while the few remaining archers were not quite so lucky.
The officer's fall from the tall barrier left him reeling in pain. He slowly got back on his feet, holding tightly his bruised ribs as he watched powerlessly the imperial guards re-engage the demon in combat. All bets were off now, the grand commander said to himself as he wobbled back into the barracks. This time, to stop the killer monk, he would have to take matters into his own hands. While Xiao Yu went on to devise his final plan of attack, Evil Chang took on the never ending wave of soldiers spilling out of the barracks. He never grew tired of it. In fact, he seemed re-energized as he battled the emperor's forces, egging them to do better and giving them false hope that they could overpower him if they tried a bit harder.
The killer monk's two fisted assault continued for more than a minute. He pounded mercilessly his attackers, leaving them on the brink of death. Chang's evil twin probably would have finished off every single soul in the imperial compound, if the battle had not received an unexpected guest. A lone stallion suddenly emerged out of the recesses of the courtyard, causing him to take pause. The powerful animal, mounted by Xiao Yu, was galloping furiously in his direction and it caused the soldiers, still in combat, to quickly scatter for fear of being trampled or impaled by the blade wielding spear that the grand commander held firmly ahead of him. Xiao Yu was hurt, but he had to ignore the pain if he was going to fulfill his duty of protecting the emperor. As the snow white steed parted the sea of charging warriors, Evil Chang saw Xiao Yu's last ditch attack as another opportunity to show off his abilities.
The grand commander lunged forward on top of his horse, thrusting his spear in the killer monk's direction. Do or die, there was no way he was going to miss his mark. But somehow he did. Evil Chang, who was inches away from being gorged by the weapon, managed to dodge the attack at the very last second, while delivering a well calculated blow to the hind legs of Xiao Yu's steed. The speed at which the animal was going sent it tumbling violently forward. Its massive body crashed on top of the grand commander, killing him instantly.
The unexpected demise of Grand Commander Xiao Yu was a devastating blow for the remaining soldiers. They slowly began to lower their weapons as they were awestruck by the Dark Shaolin's sheer strength and speed. At that point, Evil Chang was expecting a quick and complete surrender on their part, now that they were somewhat leaderless. In fact, the commander's death had the opposite effect. Another one of Xiao Yu's lieutenants quickly took charge of the stunned army. With his sword drawn, he rallied the battered men.
LIEUTENANT : For the Emperor!
The Dark Shaolin was suddenly hit by a fresh wave of attack brought forth by reenergized soldiers, determined to avenge their fallen commander and hell bent on putting an end to the threat to their emperor. He had no other choice but to fight back the endless onslaught of soldiers that came out of the wood work. Flesh and steel clashed for several more minutes until Evil Chang grew tired of the endless battle.
EVIL CHANG : Apparently, you have no idea who you are fighting. I think it's time I show you the full extent of my power.
To everyone's surprise, the killer monk took a step back and stood in an awkwardly pose. He displayed an incredible level of concentration, never seen before, as he flexed every muscle in his body. The imperial soldiers saw this unexpected action as a sign of retreat, and immediately closed in for the kill. Unfortunately for them, the evil monk had no intention of giving up. He was in fact calling for reinforcements. The weather in the courtyard suddenly turned violent. Powerful gusts of wind rose and pushed the guards back. Bolts of lightning fell from the heavens, striking the stunned soldiers. A new wave of panic swept the imperial grounds as everybody tried to run for cover. Now that Evil Chang had curtailed their unified front, he planned on crushing the imperial soldiers permanently. With a simple thought, he ordered the black clouds above him to release the deadly load they had been carrying for most of the morning. The first soldier to fall victim to the insidious attack seemed to have been clobbered by a white colored stone. Before anyone could realize what had claimed one of their own, a shower of hail, the size of concrete slabs, came crashing on top them. The large pieces of ice were impossible to avoid, and in less than a minute, the imperial guards were reduced to nothing.
Evil Chang was the only one left standing in the courtyard; the lone survivor of a catastrophe of his making. He took great pleasure in the moans of the wounded warriors, but he was not done with them yet.
EVIL CHANG : You all fought valiantly, but some of you look downright exhausted. I believe some vacation time is in order. I will be more than happy to send you all on a trip so you can recuperate in peace.
The evil one raised his hands to the sky, calling the air element to assist him one last time. Within seconds, the winds doubled in intensity and storm clouds funneled down to the courtyard. The killer monk had created a powerful tornado which sucked, like a vacuum, the defeated soldiers off the palace grounds. The column of air proceeded to lift them up to the heavens and then carry their screaming bodies due north where they would be welcomed by the Liao.
With his enemies defeated, Evil Chang made his way to the imperial palace.
The sheer size of the palace made looking for the emperor quite an endeavor. As the evil one pranced down the halls calling out for the ruler, members of the imperial court ran for their lives. It was a truly chaotic scene with people yelling, screaming and trampling over each other. Evil Chang's anger quickly got the best of him when he realized finding Shizong was probably going to take all day. During the tedious process, the emperor could easily slip through his fingers. Annoyed at this possible outcome, the demon took out his frustration on the occupants of the palace. With flames shooting from his fingertips, he went about incinerating anyone who crossed his path. He then went from room to room, searching, only to find men, women and children hurdled in corners, lamenting. To reward their cowardice, he burned them alive. He then resumed his search through the crowded palace, only to be interrupted, time and time again, by remnants of the imperial guard. The few soldiers, who had shied away from the battle in the courtyard, had become the last line of defense for the emperor. Unfortunately, they too were no match for the doppelganger.
After ransacking the place for almost half an hour, Evil Chang realized that he was getting no closer to his goal of finding the emperor. He had to employ a different tactic. He grabbed, by the nap of the neck, a poor palace servant who was trying to flee.
EVIL CHANG : Where is your emperor? Where is Zhou Shizong?
SERVANT : I do not know! I do not know!
Displeased with the man's answer, Evil Chang simply tossed him out the closest window.
Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a group of heavily armored guards running down a hallway. He quickly followed. When the evil one noticed the group had split in two, he knew he had made the right decision. One half went through a set of large double doors, covered in gold, while the other stayed behind to guard the entrance. The Iron Dragons, as they were called, were Emperor Shizong's personal bodyguards. Evil Chang knew instinctively that wherever they were, the emperor wouldn't be too far behind. With a wave of the hand, he went on the offensive by dispensing with the first group. And with another wave, the golden entry they protected came crumbling down, revealing the imperial throne room.
Inside the majestic chamber, Chang's twin stood, dumbfounded, before two emperors. There were two men, dressed exactly alike, staring down at him from atop the podium where stood the emperor's throne. The remaining Iron Dragons immediately launched a counteroffensive; and like their fallen comrades, they were no match for the killer monk who turned them into petrified statues of ice with a blow of his frigid breath.
Finally, Zhou Shizong was in Evil Chang's grasp. But which one was the true ruler? There was only one way for him to find out.
EVIL CHANG : Emperor Zhou Shizong, I have come for your head!
Angrily, one of the emperors went to meet the Dark Shaolin. He had no fear of the man who had just exterminated half of his army.
EMPEROR SHIZONG : How dare you violate the sanctity of my palace! Don't you know who I am? I am Zhou Shizong! Ruler of the Zhou dynasty! The incarnation of God on earth! Bow down before me at once or…
EVIL CHANG : Out of my way impostor!
The evil one put an end to the false ruler's monologue by driving a punch to his chest. The true emperor was so awestruck by the sight of his decoy flying clear across the throne room that he could not mutter a word or run for his life. The killer monk wasted no time to go up the podium so he could meet face to face with the true ruler of China.
EVIL CHANG : Emperor Zhou Shizong, born Chai Rong, adopted under the name Guo Rong by the late Emperor Taizu, I know exactly who you are! I am Chang of Shaolin, and I have come here to tell you that your reign ends today.
Once Evil Chang got nose to nose with the emperor, he grabbed him by the throat and began to squeeze. With his voice box slowly being crushed, Shizong could only ask one thing of the monk.
EMPEROR SHIZONG : How?…How did you know?
EVIL CHANG (smiling) : I know everything.
Evil Chang continued to squeeze. Now, it was his time to speak. He would not be interrupted by anymore irrelevant questions.
EVIL CHANG : Look at you! You have no true power. You only have the ability to send thousands to their deaths. Your dynasty has seen its last sunrise.
Shizong tried to free himself, but he found the killer monk's iron grip impossible to break.
EVIL CHANG : My power exceeds yours, pretentious emperor. With a single touch, I can set your entire body ablaze. But I won't do that. I am going to cook you from the inside out. I want you to be recognizable when I drag your dead carcass in every street of every town. I want everybody to know that I, Chang of Shaolin, killed the mighty Zhou Shizong. I will have them all kneel before me, the new emperor of China, now and forever!
Shizong continued to struggle, to the delight of his assailant who only needed one hand to immobilize him. Evil Chang placed his other over the emperor's chest and smirked.
EVIL CHANG : Consider yourself lucky, Shizong. You are about to experience a method of cooking that will take place thousands of years from now, in many households across the world.
Shizong had no idea what the demon was talking about until he felt a large amount of heat rush into his upper body. The emperor struggled to get away, but Evil Chang still had one hand wrapped tightly around his throat while quickly raising the temperature of his internal organs. Within minutes, the emperor's body went limp. His eyes rolled in the back of his head, and large plums of steam escaped his mouth and nostrils. Evil Chang loosened his grip then, allowing Shizong to crumble to his knees before sliding off the podium. The killer monk had finally accomplished his goal. The mighty emperor of the Zhou Dynasty was dead.
With Shizong dead at his feet, Evil Chang was left alone, admiring the empty throne which stood before him. He planned on savoring every minute of his victory over the emperor by making the massive seat his own. Just as he was about to lower his body into the chair, he was suddenly interrupted by the screeching of a woman. Empress Tai Hu, Shizong's wife, had entered the throne room only to discover the killer monk peering over her husband's inert body. She knew instantly that the worst had transpired by the way he was sprawled across the floor. Tai Hu was not the only person to bear witness to the killer monk's final act. She had a couple of bodyguards at her sides and her son, Prince Chai Zhong Xu, was clinging to her dress. Evil Chang was a bit startled by the woman's grand entrance, but that did not stop him from giving her a proper welcome.
EVIL CHANG : Empress Tai Hou, I presume? As you may have noticed, your husband has willfully abdicated his throne. Everything, that was once his, is rightfully mine. Come forward now, so you may embrace your new emperor.
Distraught, the empress wanted to run to her slain husband, but her bodyguards immediately put themselves in front of her.
GUARDS : Stand back, empress! We will protect you, even if it cost us our lives!
Evil Chang may not have been too pleased with the soldiers as they prevented Tai Hu to come to him, but the fact that the empress did not order them to stand down infuriated him even more.
EVIL CHANG : I said come here, bitch!
Evil Chang immediately pounced, defying gravity for a split second and then plummeting rapidly in the direction of his petrified audience.
GUARDS : Get out of here, empress! We will hold him back!
Tai Hou quickly grabbed her son and made a mad dash out of the throne room. She never looked back, even when she heard the blood curdling screams of her bodyguards as they were being dismembered by the killer monk.
The imperial palace was eerily silent. The crowd of people, who was obstructing her halls, had since dispersed, allowing the empress and her son to get as far away as possible from the killer monk. Tai Hou did not abandon the building immediately. She ran back to her sleeping quarters instead, in order to grab some of her valuables. She had no intention of abandoning her home without ensuring that she and her son had the means to survive in the outside world. With the doors of the chamber shut tightly behind her, Tai Hou began to ransack her own bedroom. She grabbed wildly at articles of clothing and gathered a few pieces of gold, before stuffing them down into a bronze chest. While his mother prepared for their unwilling trip, the young prince wept. He had seen his father slain and was forced to make a trek in a palace full of charred bodies. It was just too much for the young prince to bear. Tai Hou immediately stopped her packing. She had to console her distraught child.
EMPRESS : Listen to me carefully, son. Your father has been murdered. We need to stay alive, no matter what, to avenge his death. Do you understand? You are your father's legacy and his dynasty rests on our shoulders now. The time has come for you to be strong and fight for your throne. Now, wipe your tears and help me pack up our belongings.
As Tai Hou spoke to her son, she noticed a shadow creeping from the crack at the bottom of her bedroom door. The person behind it seemed to pass by the locked chamber, only to double back suddenly, as if he had gotten a whiff of the empress's scent. Tai Hou had to act quickly. Protecting her son, the future of the Zhou Empire, had become her only concern. She grabbed Zhong Xu and stuck him inside a closet full of clothes.
EMPRESS : Stay her, my son. Do not come out, no matter what!
PRINCE : But mother, I'm scared. Please, don't!
EMPRESS : Everything will be fine, I promise. Just stay in here and don't say a word.
The empress had barely shut her son inside the closet when Evil Chang entered the room by obliterating the chamber's steel doors.
EVIL CHANG : Empress, trying to run away from me is not very becoming of you. You do realize that you belong to me now?
Tai Hou stood in front of the closet as if to shield it from the evil one's view.
EMPRESS : I would rather die before I give myself to you, monster.
Before the woman could add anything else, Evil Chang was instantly on top of her, grabbing her tightly by the arms.
EVIL CHANG : You are my prize, and I will claim you!
Evil Chang planted his lips on hers, and she responded to his aggressive advance by pulling a dagger from underneath her dress and forcing it into his neck. The killer monk did not cry out in pain when the knife entered the side of his throat. In fact, he seemed more annoyed by the blunt object which was left perturbing out of him. Tai Hou was rendered speechless when the monk simply pulled the weapon out of him and tossed it across the room. And without missing a beat, he slapped the empress, causing her to stumble backwards into a nearby bed. The blow could have cracked her jaw, but it only left her dazed. She was lucid enough to catch a glimpse of her attacker climb in her bed and then rest his body on top of hers.
EVIL CHANG : You are all mine now.
The evil one began to rip the empress's clothes off. He surely would have had his way with her if the young prince had not suddenly jumped out of his hiding place, demanding that his mother be left alone.
PRINCE ZHONG XU : Get off my mother! Leave her alone!
The young boy's cries not only interrupted the Dark Shaolin but they also caused the empress to regain her senses. She began to resist him by clawing at his face while screaming for her son to flee.
EMPRESS : Run, Zhong Xu! Get out of here!
Chai Zhong Xu wanted to stay and defend his mother, but he quickly changed his mind when Evil Chang shot an almost demonic look in his direction. The killer monk's eyes were glowing red and black smoke seeped through his lips. The young Zhou prince raced for the exit, but he never made it out of the chamber on his own. In a violent explosion, he was ejected out of it by a column of fire that the demon had regurgitated in his direction. Tai Hou immediately screamed in horror at her son's unexpected demise, and she began to weep uncontrollably. Now that her son was dead, she had no reason to continue to fight. The evil one, on the other hand, found the entire situation amusing. He continued to do away with the woman's clothes, forcefully spreading her thighs and then forcing himself on her.
Miles away from the chaos of the Imperial palace, the real Chang of Shaolin was still on his quest to save China from his evil self. Because the old horse, Master Song had lent him, didn't move as fast as promised, he had no choice but to push the poor animal to its limits in order to cover more ground. After traveling for several days without rest, a quick stop at a nearby stream would allow them both to quench their thirst and regain their strength. Time seemed still as Chang refreshed himself in the flowing water. The past few days have been a whirlwind for him. Discovering the true identity of the evil one and figuring out his plan to murder the emperor preoccupied his every thought. But at the water's edge, his soul was at peace. While he enjoyed the tranquility of the beautiful countryside, he was suddenly overcome with a strange, almost dreadful feeling. Terrible thoughts of his evil twin bringing forth chaos to the world overtook him once more and filled him with despair. Although he had a sense that all might be lost, he refused to give up. Chang quickly got back on his horse and continued his journey to the emperor's palace. Hopefully, in a day or two, he would be able to meet with Shizong and his premonition would prove to be false. As he rode furiously, he quickly approached a small village where he could replenish his dwindling food supply. The monk planned on getting exactly what he needed and hitting the road immediately afterwards. Little did he know that his short stay in the village would turn out to be an extended one.