Chapter 3: Departure.
Yuan Da Apartments, Xiuying's room.
Xiuying rubbed her eyes. She had no idea how long she had been standing in the courtyard, staring at the sky. Eventually she had returned to her room, but had only gotten a few hours sleep. She stood at her window, staring at the wintery streets of the Wise Men's Quarter. On her bed lay a large squashy bag, filled with all the essentials needed for a long trip. For once the young martial-artist wasn't wearing either her red top and brown skirt or her blue cheongsam, instead she wore dark trousers, and a light blue, long sleeved, loose fitting top. Turning around Xiuying stared at her room, taking in every detail. She knew that it would probably be the last time she ever saw it.
The door to the apartment opened, and a fourteen year old girl, dressed in a purple dress under a blue waistcoat rushed in.
"Master Tao! Please! You don't have to go!" Fang-mei Xun cried. Normally cheerful, Fang-mei looked like she hadn't slept for a week, and seemed dangerously close to crying.
"I cannot allow my brother to continue walking down the path of evil." Xiuying replied.
"You could die!" Fang-mei said
"Yes..." Xiuying said lowering her head.
"What will happen to me...if I lose you too! Please don't go Master Tao!" Fang-mei cried. Xiuying closed her eyes so Fang-mei couldn't see the tears in them. She knew how Fang-mei felt, the same way Xiuying had when she had lost Ziming. She blinked repeatedly to clear away the tears.
"Hanhui will take care of you" Xiuying said emotionlessly, picking up the bag and walking to the door.
"Please...you have to come back...please!" cried Fang-mei. Xiuying turned her head slightly.
"I can't make any promises...take care of yourself." Xiuying said and left.
The streets of the Wise Men's Quarter were as cold as they had looked from Xiuying's window. Shivering slightly Xiuying headed for the Yin Tan Apartments in the South Carmain Quarter. Entering the apartments Xiuying walked up a flight of stairs to a door. Before Xiuying had had a chance to knock on the door it opened, revealing an elderly woman dressed in a dark orange robe over dark trousers and a red sleeveless top.
"I was expecting you," Guixiang said. Xiuying nodded.
"I have to do this..." Xiuying said. "I will return....someday,"
"Hm.." Guixiang grunted. "Master Mo will take care of the Temple?" she asked. Xiuying nodded in mute affirmation. Guixiang patted Xiuying's hand.
"It's hard for me to see you go....but I know why you are doing this. Good luck, Xiuying....and you had better come back." Guixiang abruptly slammed the door shut. With a sigh Xuiying prepared herself to say goodbye to the most important place in her life.
As Xiuying approached the Man Mo temple she could see the man in white, Hanhui standing in the courtyard, waiting for her.
"You are leaving, Master Tao?" Hanhui asked, raising an eyebrow at Xiuying's clothes.
"Yes" Xiuying replied.
"Where are you going?" asked Hanhui.
"Guilin." Xiuying said, turning her head slightly and closing her eyes.
"Guilin...." Hanhui trailed off. "I see..."
"I gave away my bead....I wanted to escape...even though I know that I can't. I must do this, I must stop my brother." Xiuying whispered, keeping her head turned to one side.
"I understand." Hanhui said.
"Please take care of Fang-mei" Xiuying said. She bowed slightly to Hanhui, who bowed back.
"Make sure you come home safe..." Hanhui said. He turned around and walked swiftly into the temple. Xiuying stared after him for a second, before she bowed to the temple and walked through the gate.
Fortunes Pier, Aberdeen
Xiuying stared off into the distance, watching the sun sink into the sea. A cold breeze pushed her brown hair into her face, she pushed it back, thinking of how painful all the goodbyes had been. How this may be the last time she would ever see Wan Chai again.
Hanhui. At first Xiuying had been slightly intimidated by his stern countenance, when she had first met him, all those years ago. She had always respected him, for his kindness and loyalty, just as he respected her for her skills in the martial-arts. He'd been like a father to her, despite an age difference of only sixteen years, trying to help with her dark moods, and constantly supporting her.
Fang-mei. They had raised in the orphanage together, before Xiuying had been adopted, then when Xiuying had gone to the Man Mo Temple she had taken Fang-mei in. Fang-mei had always been grateful, to the extent that she become practically a servant to the temple. Always cheerful....Xiuying knew that Fang-mei idolized her, knew that by leaving her it was almost the same as being orphaned twice.
Guixiang. Xiuying's foster mother*. Guixiang had come to Kowloon, and taken Xiuying, had introduced her to the Temple, and also helped her study the Baji Quan style, to prepare for when she would meet Ziming again. Xiuying recalled how sad Guixiang had been when Xiuying left the Yan Tin Apartments, she had said that it felt like they were drifting away from each other and now Guixiang could lose her foster-daughter forever, yet despite this she had still tried to understand.
The sound of a engine snapped Xiuying out of her reverie. In the distance she could just make out a ship. The ship that would take her to Guilin, would take her to Ziming. Xiuying sighed deeply.
"Everybody get aboard!" The rude shout came from one of the harbour workers. Xiuying looked up, startled. She had sunk so deep into her thoughts, into her sorrow that she had completely forgotten about everything. Quickly Xiuying boarded the ship.
Later Xiuying stood on the deck of the ship. The night was pitch-black and the air was freezing. Against the black sky, the stars glittered like diamonds.
Ziming...Xiuying thought. How many years has it been since I saw you...?
Xiuying glanced at the sky, looking at the stars. Her gaze fell on the Big Dipper, where the morning star flickered.
Now I have to fulfill my part in the legends...
Guilin, outside of a cave.
Ziming stood, at the mouth of a cave embedded in the mountain side. He carried a long, sharp rapier in his right hand. His eyes were filled with the fire of hate, his expression filled with murderous anger. Slowly he looked at the sky, his eyes drawn to the morning star. He frowned.
She's coming.
* According the official website Xiuying had a foster-mother. In the game Xiuying sounds slightly regretful that she had to leave the Yan Tin Apartments, even though the Yuan Da Apartments are much nicer. There is no evidence in the game to suggest that Guixiang is Xiuying's foster-mother, but I thought it would make this story slightly more interesting.