I don't own Jackie Chan Adventures.
This chapter is a little... boring.
NI TANG
Chapter 17
Liao Su pressed a piece of cloth against his wound and stared in front to himself biting his lip. Their attack against Shendu had been a fiasco, they had lost half of their group and the rest were wounded. He himself had got away easily, Shendu had managed to slash at him afew times, but that was it. The same could not be said about some of his friends, few of them would die within the next days and it only made Liao Su hate the fire demon even more. Everything was Shendu's fault!
Master Qian had not been pleased with their attack and Liao Su was not surprised. He himself would not be in a good mood after losing many good warriors and their prey. Shendu had got away and they had no idea where he was and what he was doing.
But he would not let that depress himself, he would not rest before Shendu was laying deadat his feet. Liao Su had been raised to live for this onegoal and he had no room for anything else in his life. Everyone of his friends had believed the same, Shendu had to be destroyed. They had been ready to give their lives because of it and Liao Su was not going to be any worse. He would track Shendu no matter where he was and kill him, or die when trying to.
"You are angry," a voice said behind him and Liao Su stood quickly up.
"Master Qian!" he shouted in surprise, he had thought the master had retreated into his rooms for the rest of the day.
Master Qian was an old fragile man whose long grey hair had been tied up on a plait with a black ribbon. He had long moustaches which made him look like a Japanese carp and he was dressed up in a simple dark robe with Jio Te Fa's symbol on his chest.
The old man nodded and Liao Su had to wonder what had made him come here right now. Was he probably angry with him?
"We will have a guest soon," Qian said and Liao Su flinched failing in trying to hide his feelings. He had never liked guests and the arrival of Hak Foo had made him despise them.
"A guest?" he asked interested and reluctantly, another filthy traitor like Hak Foo and he would lose his nerves...
"Hewillarrivesoon. Make sure he meets me immediately when he is here. I have some talking to do with him," Qian said and turned leaving Liao Su alone with his bitter thoughts.
Jackie sat in the aeroplane and tapped his fingers against the chair. He remembered he had been doing the same thing in the taxi on his way to Uncle's small shop and if the situation had been different he might have smiled.
Jade's call had made him feel both relieved and even more nervous. Three demons were already free! Four if they counted their new guest and Jackie couldn't suppress the nervous tickling in his stomach. Winning one demon had been difficult enough, but four!
Hsi Wu, Bai Tsa and Shendu. Jackie didn't know anything about the first two, but the last one he was way too familiar with. He knew the fire demon was very cruel and violent and that made him fear for Jade. Shendu hated him and could think torturing Jade was a good start for the revenge. And the demon wasn't actually a very good friend of Jade either.
But what worried him the most was the sudden cut of the call. Jade would never have stopped in the middle of a sentence without a good reason and Jackie was pretty sure about what had forced her to do it. She had surely called without a permission and one of the demons had caught her. Jackie really hoped they hadn't hurt her, if that was the case he would punish all of them so that they would never forget it.
"We a preparing to land on the Hong Kong airport. Please make sure your seat belt is fastened and your seat is in the upright position," a voice said and Jackie sighed in relief. Never beforehad sitting felt this horrible and he had to be reminding himself about patience all the time.
Luckily he had no luggage so he didn't have to stay in the airport lazing around and waiting for them. If he needed something special he would buy it no matter what it cost.
Where would he go now? Jade had told him to go straight to Japan to the portal of Po Kong, the mountain demon, but Uncle had wanted him to find someone called Qian.
It had been difficult to decide what to do, visiting Hong Kong would help them, but in Japan he had the opportunity to save Jade. Both were very important, but he had chosen the last one.
If this Qian turned out to be as useful as Uncle said he could catch the demons on some other portal. Now when they had Shendu in their lines they didn't have to read the maps of the Pan Ku box and they could open the portal they wanted, which was bad for Jackie and his friends. They had no possibility to guess their enemy's next move.
"Jackie Chan?" an unfamiliar voice asked right next to him and Jackie turned to look at a man who sat on a bench just few meters away. Who was he?
"How do you know my name? Who are you?" Jackie asked trying to sound harsh, but not with success. The man shrugged and stood up walking to him.
He was clearly from Asia, he had black short hair and very dark eyes. He wasn't handsome at all and from the way he walked Jackie saw he was a fighter, but couldn't say how good. And he didn't want to see the man in action, he had no time for useless fights.
"My name in Liao Su, and you'd better come with me now," he said and Jackie was immediately on his defences. This might not be a trap, but how else would a total stranger know him or want to have something to do with him?
"I don't think so, I'm very busy," Jackie said pushing the man away and stepping past him to continue on his way. He expected the man to grab his shoulder and was not surprised when it actually happened.
"Wait. Doesn't the name Qian mean anything to you?" Liao Su asked and Jackie stopped immediately. He turned away looking suspicious.
"It might. How do you know these things even though we've never met?" he wanted to know. Liao Su let the go of the archaeologist's shoulder and kept his face expressionless.
"Master Qian is the right person to answer all of your questions, Jackie Chan," he said. Then he stepped past him and started to walk away. "My advice is: follow me," he said and all Jackie could do was to do as was told. This was not the wisest thing to do, he really didn't like the man who was way too smug for his own good, but he was curious and this way he could find out something new and useful.
Liao Su walked next to him and lead him some time in the huge city of Hong Kong until they stopped in a small and dark restaurant. Liao Su nodded to some customers like he knew them well and continued there were the bathrooms were supposed to be.
Instead of them there was just a small room with Chinese characters painted on the walls and Jackie looked around trying to decide what he should think. This was it? If yes, what good had it been to him or Liao Su?
Liao Su drew a small bag from his pocket and took some white powder from it. He muttered few words andthrew the powder in the air so that it hit few of the painted characters. Jackie followed this only half interested, it was clear the man was casting a spell, but at least Uncle's ones were much more impressing.
Everything was dark for few fast seconds and then it was suddenly over. Jackie looked around him again in the new room, which was way different from the one where they had been just a moment ago.
"Where are we?" he asked from Liao Su who was a bit disappointed when Jackie was not more impressed because of his quick way of travelling. He put the bag back and stepped to the door.
"That too is something Master Qian can tell," he said.
Therewere no lamps or candles in the room but still anyone could see clearly. The walls and the ceiling were light stone which had been chopped smooth by hands. There were some papers on the walls and everyone of them had some characters or symbols on them.
On the other side of the room was a simple blue carpet which didn't really make sitting on the floor more comfortable, but made the place look like it had a some sort of value.
The room was not a ruin, it was clean and nice in some way, it just couldn't afford any new luxuries, even those which were considered important.
Master Qian sat on the carpet trying to look impressive and that he was actually living in a palace. He might be old and wise, but he still wanted to make others think he was special somehow, like the old masters in the ancient legends.
Next to him stood a man, whose stone-like face had no signs of what he felt or thought. His cold black eyes sparkled from his bleak face and his whole appearance was very unfriendly.
When he had come to meet Jio Te Fa it had felt like a good idea. The guild was dedicatedto destroying Shendu and that was what he too had to do, defend his honour. He had been unable to protect his master from Shendu and he could never have his honour back if he didn't avenge Valmont's death.
If that wasn't necessary he would have nevergot involved in this demon slaughtering, he considered himself too valuable for that. Hak Foo was not a coward, but not stupid either. He didn't see any sense in that a small army of men dedicated their lifeto something as stupid as demon hunting.
Long time ago he might have found the idea noble and fascinating, but he had grownsince those times and learned to understand the world better. Heroic deaths aroused respect only in stories, in real life it was the last one standing who celebrated.
And yet he had come here to tell Master Qian what he knew. He hadn't thought he could get any use from it, but he had wanted to do something. Now when he had let his master die in the hands of a demon he could not serve anyone before his name was clear and he had had his revenge.
It was surprising how easily everything had went, Master Qian had listened his words like he had expected him. On top of that the old man had let him stay even though some of his men protested loudly, especially Liao Su.
Hak Foo wanted to frown when he let the man slip into his thoughts.They didn't like each other and never would, it had beenmade clear when they met. They shared the desire to destroy Shendu, but they wanted to do it because of different reasons.
Liao Su was raised into hating the fire demon and believing his life had no other meaning than to destroy him. He trusted blindly his master and would throw his own life away if he could that way make sure Shendu died, but that didn't make the man noble or one to respect.
He was violent and cold, his heart didn't have room for anything else than his flaming hatefor Shendu and he would never learn to understand such things as friendship, love or compassion. Not that Hak Foo was any more experienced in those things, but he still considered himself better than Liao Su.
Besides, there had to be a reason for him being here. If he was useless he would have been ordered to leave or they would have got rid of him, but he was still here. He didn't know what Master Qian had planned for him, but he believed the old man would get what he wanted, whatever it was.
Therewere no doors in the room and that's why Hak Foo heard the two steps before the men stepped in. He knew Master Qian expected visitors but he had no idea who they were. He also didn't know why he was here right now.
He felt even more confused and angry when he saw the two men. The first one was the dark Liao Su, which was not a surprise. Hak Foo thought he couldn't go anywhere without the man being there, but Jackie Chan who followed him made the man flinch.
It was all Chan's and his family's fault that he had been forced to come here. They were responsiblefor Valmont's death and that's why Hak Foo hated them more than he had ever hated anyone. Valmont himself didn't really mean anything to him, but when the man had died his honour as a warrior had been stained. And that was something he could not forgive easily.
Jackie too was surprised when facing his old enemy and showed it more clearly. The archaeologist stopped where he was when noticing Hak Foo and glanced at the three men. He looked so confused and bit shocked too that Hak Foo felt his lips curve into a small smile.
Jackie was now sure that this was a trap. He had been stupid to follow the stranger and get himself who knew where! He would probably not get out of this without a fight, but let it be. He was ready and nothing would stop him from going to Japan to save Jade.
"What's going on? What do you want from me?" he asked locking eyes with Qian. The old man kept his face expressionless and answered the stare.
"I want to speak with you, Jackie Chan," he said and gestured at Liao Su, who looked at his master.
"You can leave Liao Su, I want to be alone with these two men," Qian said. Liao Su opened his mouth to protest, why was such a big idiot and a dirty traitor like Hak Foo allowed to stay when he had to leave? The hard look in Qian's eyes made him swallow all of his words and he bowed before leaving angrily.
Jackie crossed his arms in front of himself and glared daggers at the two men. What was going on again? He had thought he would never have to see Hak Foo again or fight with him, but here he was.
"I've expected you, Jackie Chan," Qian said and Jackie suppressed his desire to roll his eyes. He was already so used in these full of themselves and supposedly mystical old men who thought they knew and could do anything. This one probably considered himself somehow special too.
"Really? Well, I'm very touched but I don't have time for this, whatever it is," he said not even trying to sound friendly and Qian lifted an eyebrow.
"You are hurrying after the demons," he stated simply and Jackie had to snort. Well of course he - wait a minute! How did the old man know what he was going to do? The archaeologist frowned in thought.
"Well, what do you want?" he asked surrendering to hear all the madness what would come next. He was usedto this kind if situations, it would not be anything new. He kept a close eyes on Hak Foo expecting the man to attack, but he just stood there even though it seemed to be pretty difficult.
"To warn you, Jackie Chan. You are rushing into something you don't understand and what can kill you if you are not careful. You are worried and your compassion towards others is your blessing, but also your curse. I don't know who you want to save so badly, but you have to remember who you are facing," Qian said.
"Why does my doings concern you?" Jackie asked not bothering to think how this guy had found out all this. The answer would probably be that he had just known or that he had seen a vision. It was starting to be kind of ordinary in his life.
Qian frowned, why did young people always have to be such idiots like this? He was just trying to help and he didn't have to do it.
"Shendu is free and that concerns me more than anything else. I've vowed that I won't rest until he lays dead in either mine or someone else's feet. You've chosen a part in this war and it was you who defeated him last time. I want you to kill Shendu for us," he said and sighed sadly.
"We already lost many good warriors in a fight which did us no good. Almost everyone is wounded and we can do nothing now, but I want your help. If you don't kill Shendu at least keep an eye on him until we are ready to strike with out full power," the old man continued and Jackie stared at him in disbelief.
"Kill Shendu? Do you think I'm nuts? I'm not a murderer!" he snapped inshock. Shendu was not a human and he would be very happy to see the demon fall down, but he didn't want to stain his own hands with anyone's blood, whether it wasinnocent blood or not. He didn't think he'd ever be able to forgive himself if he killed someone, no matter who the victim was.
Besides, who did this old man think he was? Usually Jackie was helpful and kind, but he had been under heavy pressure lately and was not his own self anymore.
"Why should I help you? I'm all alone against the demons, I already have too much trouble in saving my niece and getting both of us into safety," he remarked and Qian shook his head.
"You are not alone Jackie Chan, I will give one warrior with you. He will help you to destroy Shendu and get his lost honour back," he said and Hak Foo didn't really like where this conversation was going.
Jackie frowned. A warrior? He was not very eager to take strangers with him, but if it made saving Jade easier he would be ready.
"If you mean Liao Su, I don't think we'd get along very well," he said.
"No, I'm not talking about him. I want that Hak Foo comes with you," Qian said and Jackie stared at him not believing his ears. Did they expect him to fight side by side with an enemy?
"You are not serious! He has worked for Shendu before and would betray me with the first opportunity," he protested. This was unbelievable, why did this always happen to him? Qian shook his head.
"He never did anything for Shendu, he served loyally his master Valmont until failed to protect him from Shendu. That's why he can't have his previous position as a warrior before he has avenged his master's death. Only then he is free," the old man said.
"I don't need him, I can handle Shendu without his help. And I'm not a member of Jio Te Fan, you can not tell me what to do," Hak Foo said suddenly opening his mouth for the first time during this conversation.
"You will never find Shendu without this friend of ours and he can't free his niece without your help. And he is not ready to kill Shendu, that is your responsibility. You need each other, like it or not. You can of course do as you please, but remember that I warned you," Qian said and Jackie and Hak could hear he was losing his nerves. Then he nodded at them.
"You can both leave. I have nothing else to say," he said and just then Jackie remembered what Uncle had asked him to do.
"Wait! I have to know one thing," he hurried but didn't get the answer he wanted.
"I thought you didn't need my advice. So please, go," Qian said and Jackie couldn't do anything else than to follow Liao Su, who had arrived soundlessly and was starting to get on his nerves.
To be continued...
