Jackie Chan Adventures does not belong to me and no money is being made with this.
NI TANG
Chapter 7
Chinatown. The name sounded oddly familiar, but Ni Tang just couldn't put his finger on it. Maybe Shendu or some of his other siblings had mentioned it once? Well, it didn't really matter, the important thing was to find the place.
He had stopped a new human and asked forthe right direction. This time it had been a fairly sober middle-aged man who had not taken him seriously at first. Only whenthe demonhad givenhim his most horrible threat the man had given up and told him where he had to go if he wanted to find Chinatown. After that he had left muttering something about immature youngsters. Ni Tang didn't care about him even though the man had been unpleasant. He could only thank his luck for people being so slow and stupid nowadays, in the old times he would already have got at least three chi wizards after him.
But now he didn't have those problems, it seemed like no one could even consider that the grey masked and red eyed man was actually a demon and not just someone who had a really bad taste of fashion. But he still wasn't going to stay there thankinghis luck forthesefortune happenings. Now he knew where Chinatown was and, encouraged by the fact no one paid him any attention, he decided he could walk at least part of the trip.
The street lights lit his way and he tried to avoid them. Ni Tang didn't want to take any foolish risks with humans, not all of them were necessarily as stupid as others. He kept an eye on his surroundings and turned to look away when he met humans to hide his red eyes from them.
The man had said he was not so far away from his destination. All he had to do was to walk for a while in the direction he had been going and he could not miss it. The man had clearly thought he was nuts, who couldn't know where something like Chinatown was?
He raised his eyesto the sky. So, now he was here but what now? Considering what he saw the Chinatown had to be big and full of people. Should he stop someone again? He really didn't want to do that, it felt ridiculous that a demon like him couldn't do this without the help of humans.
And then he sensed it. Ni Tang stopped on the pavement when he felt a weird tug in his self. Like someone had hung his soul with a wire and was trying to rip it away from him. What was this?
He slit his eyes and turned around when he felt it again. On the other side of the street, he was sure of it now. In the opposite building someone was trying to chant a chi-spell.
"Uncle's Rare Finds," he muttered to himself and suddenly he understood.
That was it! Shendu had mentioned Chan's uncle, the chi wizard. Itcould be that the Pan Ku box was even closer than he had thought.
After taking a glance around Ni Tang ran across the street and leaped on the roof of the small shop. He had some research to do.
Jade suppressed a yawnas she watchedhow Uncle gave up and sat on his chair. It had been three weeks since they had banished Shendu and the old man was in shreds. He blamed himself for Valmont being gone with the demon and couldn't just accept the fact none of his spells would bring the man back.
"You should go to sleep Uncle, it's really late," the girl said while pouring him some more tea. Uncle shook his head and frowned.
"Not yet, Uncle sure the right spell will be found soon," he muttered and read his book with concentration. Jade let out a sigh.
None of them had said it was Uncle's fault but he still thought he was responsible. He felt really guilty for banishing Valmont and even though he would never say it aloud every passing moment was torture for him. Jackie, Jade and Tohru were sorry for what had happened too, but they didn't take it that seriously.
Valmont had been an enemy and even though Jade would not wish that fate to anyone she didn't understand why Uncle was willing to waste his own life in searchfor some useless spell. Time had flown and it was unlikely that Valmont was still alive on the other side of the portal, even if Uncle managed to open it again. And there was always the danger of thata demon would escape. Valmont wasn't worth the risk.
The Dark Hand had been destroyed with Valmont. Hak Foo had said he was free from his task and had returned to China before anyone managed to do anything. The three others, Finn, Chow and Ratso were still somewhere in San Francisco, but no one had seen them since the accident with Valmont. They knew where to hide and it would not be easy to dig them out.
"Well, I'm going to sleep anyway," Jade said and waved Uncle goodnights before leaving the kitchen and climbing up to her room. The girl was really worried about Uncle; if he kept driving himself like this he would have a burnout sooner or later. He could have used his time better, like doing some researchon the Pan Ku box.
Officially the box was property of Section 13, but Captain Black had given Uncle a special permission to investigate it. Unfortunately the old man was so addictedto his need to free Valmont that he had not given the box a thought and Black didn't have the heart to take it back when Uncle was in this condition.
Jade yawned and pushed the door to her room open. She was now alone with Uncle and Tohru, Jackie had left to South-America to explore a templethat some of his colleagues had found, and even though she had wanted to go with him Jade had stayed to keep an eye on Uncle. Someone had to make sure the old man remembered to eat and sleep between his reading.
The girl took a one more look behind her.
Ni Tang slipped his fingers in the small holes of the wall and dropped down to peer inside. Balancing like this was easy for him, he could get a good grip from the slightest inequality and he felt like he had been climbing his whole life. And maybe it was true, he just couldn't remember it.
The window led in a small messy room where he could see a bed, table, closet and all kinds of stuff. There were a collection of clothes on the floor and an open school bag was leaning on the bed. Ni Tang frowned. It was very unlikely for the Pan Ku box to be in this room. So it was better to look from somewhere else. He climbed back on the roof and considered his options. The humans were asleep at night, he could try to break in and take the box with him.
There was of course the danger that not all were asleep. It might be safer to wait until he was sure no one was awake, it would be stupid to lose his cover this soon just because he was being careless. The night would not end yet, he had time.
What was the Pan Ku box like? Shendu had not told it him very well, but Ni Tangt hought he would recognise it if he saw it. Besides, how many boxes could this place probably hide? Even if there were many finding the right one could not be too difficult.
But if the box was not with the Chans, that would cause trouble. Then he would be in the square one again and he might be forced to depend on desperate ways to find out where it was. Shendu and the others had warned him about useless violence, but if the only way to succeed was to slit afew throats, what else could he do?
When some time hadpassed Ni Tang decided it was time for him to make his move, whether someonewas awake or not. When needed he would get away beforeanyone noticed anything and he trusted his ability to be quiet. He could not use the front door, it was possible that the chi wizard had set a trap there to protect his family.
So the best and only way would be through the window. Ni Tang went down again and took a new look at the window. He flinched suddenly when he noticed the room wasn't empty anymore, a young girl had sat on a chair and was writing something on a notebook. He backed away quickly so that the girl would not notice him and considered what to do.
The girl was part of the Chan family, so she had to know where the box was. And little girls were easy to scare, just appearing in front of her would make her give him some useful information. Nimbly Ni Tang leaped on the windowsill and pushed the window wide open.
Jade turned to look when she heard someone open her window. She let out a surprised yelp, she was being stared atby two glowing red eyes! Faster than she had expected someone moved behind her and pressed his hand on her mouth.
"One wrong more and I'll wring your neck," Ni Tang said quietly and tightened his hold of the girl. Jade nodded quickly. What was going on?
"Where is the Pan Ku box?"the demon asked and removed his hand carefully so that Jade could speak. He was still ready to strike if the girl didn't understand what was healthy for her.
"What box?" Jade asked pretending to be confused and rubbing her neck. Ni Tang slit his eyes.
"That's not an answer. You are not irreplaceable, girl. I can take care of you now and try my luck with the inhabitant of the next room," he threatened softly and Jade frowned starting to get a bit worried. Who was this guy? His voice reminded her of someone, but she could not say who...
"Oh! That box! I know it, funny I didn't remember it a moment ago. It's downstairs, but Uncle's probably sleeping already. No need to go down and wake him," Jade said smiling and Ni Tang grabbed her again.
"I don't have to wake your uncle, and neither do you." Jade closed her eyes believing the weird stranger was going to kill her now, but he was pleased when he could close her mouth again.
"Now you will listen to me. I could kill you here, but I still need you. When we go downstairs you show me where the box is. If you let out a sound or cause any kind of problems I won't be as gentle as now. Understood?" Ni Tang asked and Jade nodded. Whoever this guy was he was clearly serious and the girl didn't want to trust blindly her luck. Maybe Lady Luck needed a holiday too...
The mysterious stranger pressed the girl against himself and they started to go down the stairs. The creeper had no shoes so he was able to move with no sound and neither Jade caused any noise.
"Where?" Ni Tang whispered almost soundlessly and Jade pointed at the kitchen. Oh, please let Uncle be still awake, she thought desperately and flinched when the stranger started to move again. It was lighter downstairs and she saw the hand on her mouth was dully grey. And whenone counted this with the red eyes you found out this wasn't a human she was dealing with.
In the kitchen all Jade's hopes were crushed, Uncle was leaning against the table and snored, his glasses almost falling over his nose. Jade let out a sigh. Uncle was so close, it would be easy to wake him up... Did she dare to take the risk and play with her life? Maybe the stranger didn't really mean what he was saying, maybe he was just trying to scare her?
Despite all the books and other items on the table Ni Tang knew immediately what was what he was looking for. It was dark blue and he could see the eight symbols, four on each side of the box.
"So that's the Pan Ku-box," he muttered to himself and stretched his hand to grab it...
At the moment his long fingers touched it a blue spark flashed andhe drew his hand back.
"Ah!" he shouted before he managed to suppress it and cursed himself. Shendu had told him he could not touch it! Why hadn't he remembered that?
"Take the box!" he said to Jade, who grabbed it before she had any time to think was she was doing.
"What is going on? Jade, why are you holding the Pan K - And who is that?" Uncle asked still half-asleep when Ni Tang'svoice had woken him.
"Blast!" NiTang snapped and made sure the girl still had the box. Before Uncle managed to do anything he ran out of the kitchen and back to upstairs in Jade's room.
"You can not escape! This is a dead end!" Jade announced in victory but Ni Tang just snorted.
"Shut up and take care of the box, if you drop it I'll drop you," he said back and leaped nimbly out of the window. They landed on the street in front of Uncle's antique shop just when Uncle himself ran out of the door.
"Let Jade go now!" the old man told and raised a handful of chi powder to make his demand more threatening. Ni Tang hissed angrily and leaped quickly on the roof of the building. Then he continued on the next one until they were far away from Uncle's shop.
"Remember what I told about the box," Ni reminded when he disappeared in the night Jade in his arms.
Despite her fear Jade had to enjoy the ride Ni Tang was giving her. The cold night air made her short black hair flow and the nightly city was beautiful to look at. She held the Pan Ku box in her hand, not daring to loosen her grip. Despite the lovely landscape she didn't want to be too familiar with it.
What kind of creature was she dealing with? The stranger was built like a human, but his grey skin and red eyes madeit obvious thathe wasn't one. And Jade was pretty sure not many people could jump and leap like this. The only one she knew was Jackie.
The other question was, where was the creature taking her? Now when she was over the shock of being kidnapped she wasn't as afraid as in the beginning, but she would have felt better if she knew were they were going.
"So, where are you taking me?" she asked deciding she had nothing to lose. Jade wasn't a person who liked to worry about things too much, no matter what the problem was.
Ni Tang didn't answer her and the girl sighed. Great, now this guy didn't speak at all.
He landed softly on the roof of his hideout and jumped down next to the right window. He pushed it open and after taking a glance around gestured Jade to climb in.
"Now," he added when it seemed like the girl was not going to do what was expected. After the girl had reluctantly done what was told Ni Tang followed her and closed the window after them.
It was dark in the ware house and with her human eyes all Jade could see were Ni Tang's glowing eyes. But the demon saw everything clearly and he eyed the girl deep in thought. She was young and there was nothing special in her. The polar demon frowned. And yet it seemed like she was something unique... something he couldn't really understand. Like he had met her before.
"Still alive?" Jade's clear and curious voice was heard and woke him from his thoughts and Ni Tang tried to concentrate on what was important. So, now he had the box and someone to carry it for him. All he needed was the next demon portal and finding it could not be too difficult. Shendu had said the box would show him a map and if he knew how to read it he would find the portals easily.
It would be too late to look for the first one tonight, but they would have enough time later.
"Put the box down next to you and walk few meters away from it," he said to Jade. It was possible that the girl might try to escape and take the box with her and he could not allow himself to lose it now.
"What are you going to do with the box?" Jade asked curiously and sat on the floor after making sure she would not sit on something nasty. Ni Tang turned his red eyes on her and considered how much he could tell her. The girl was a Chan and an enemy, but if he was really going to keep her around carrying the box she would find out everything sooner or later.
"I'm going to free my siblings with it,"he answered and sat down too. He did it soundlessly and Jade noticed it when the red eyes were lowered. She flinched in surprise.
"You are a demon!" she exclaimed and understood something. "But shouldn't you be imprisoned in the Netherworld too?" she asked, not quite believing this.
"We were not all banished there, only the eight oldest ones," Ni Tang answered and Jade found herself with new interesting information.
"So thereare actually nine demons! Why didn't Uncle know anything about you? And what kind of demon are you?" she asked. This was interesting! When she was able to escape she could tell this all to Uncle and he would be pleased with her information.
"I'm Ni Tang, demon of the polar night," he answered and turned to look at the Pan Ku box.
"After Shendu failed his mission was given to me. As you know, I can not touch the box myself and that's why you are going to help me. You will carry the box where I tell and do that with no complaining," he added. Jade snorted.
"No offence Ni, but I don't think you are any better than Shendu," she said and drew a deep breath when she thought of something.
"Valmont! What did you do to him?" the girl asked agitated. This was the answer to the question that had been torturing them all, what had happened to the crime lord? Was he even alive anymore and did they have a chance to bring him back from the Netherworld?
Ni Tang flinched when Jade asked this. Valmont...? The name made cold shivers go down his spine and for a moment all he could see was darkness. It seemed like he had lost his sight and sank down on the same level with the human. A shudder went through his body and then he suddenly could see again. He felt weird, like his soul had just been stretched to the point where it would rip and then everything was normal again.
He blinked and tried to clear his head. What was going on?
"Who is Valmont?" he asked carefully and Jade frowned angrily.
"You should know. The man who Shendu possessed," she said and Ni Tang understood.
This was about the pathetic human Tso Lan had mentioned.
"This... Valmont... is dead," he answered and his voice broke when he said the name aloud.
"You killed him?" Jade asked in shock. Of course she and others had known this was the most likely truth, but hearing it like this was just too much.
Valmont had never been her friend and Jade hadn't liked him. But still, no one was bad enough to deserve a death in the hands of bloodthirsty demons, not even he. And what was even worse was that his fate had not been his own fault. Shendu had possessed him and Uncle had been the one who had cast the spell.
"How could you?" she continued in despise. Ni Tang shrugged not actually caring about this.
"I never saw him and didn't even know his name before this. Brother Tso Lan mentioned him once, but so what? He was just as pathetic and useless as other mortals," he said even though sayingit aloud felt somehow wrong.
Jade frowned and didn't say anything. The demons had killed Valmont! She had known they were evil, but had never actually thought they would kill anyone. Now she understood how ridiculously naive she had been, of course she should have understood how things were.
"Sleep. It's not good for humans to stay up at night. And you will need your strength tomorrow," Ni Tang said. Jade sighed and glared at the demon in the darkness. She already knew she hated him, he was one of the most disgusting creatures she had seen. She tried to make herself comfortable on the hard floor, but it was impossible just because of the simple truth that it was a floor. And a demon keeping an eye on her was not anything soothing either.
Ni Tang watched as the girl laid down and frowned. He touched his grey mask with his fingertips deep in thought. He felt like something was very wrong, but couldn't say what. It was just a feeling. Maybe his siblings would know what was going on and could give him some advice.
This girl was different than he had expected. Somehow Ni Tang had thought a weak human child would cry and complain in the hands of a demon, but this girl, the chi wizard had called her Jade, was far from weak. She even dared to disobeyhim and seemed to be much older than she actually was. He had to be very careful, one slip and the girl might get away with the Pan Ku box. Ni Tang didn't dare to trust that his presence would enough to keep this girl in line and now when he still didn't have the control of his powers he wasn't something the girl would fear.
The girl needed food.He didn't actually know what he would do with these kind of things. He could not show up on the street, at least not before he knew how to transform himself into a human and he could not let the girl out by herself. They had to be together, he could not lose a sight of the girl even for a moment.
And there were other problems too, but he didn't have to take care of them yet. And soon some of his siblings would be free, they would know what to do.
But did he really want his family here? Now when he had been let out of the Netherworld and he didn't have to watch his behaviour and sayings he felt much more self-confident. Maybe it was because of this city too, it felt so much more familiar than the Netherworld ever.
Ni Tang shook his head angrily. He couldn't think like that, it was almost a treachery against his older siblings. He had been given freedom just to help them and it would be low behaviour to betray them.
Besides, his only reason to live was to serve his older brothers and sisters.
To be continued...
