------------------------Chapter 5 Council with the Elder-----------------------
Finally, they were in; currently the village elder was Ryo's main focus. But all
around them, the villagers were engaging in vivid activity. A little girl passed
by carrying a pot of water; an old man casually drink herbal tea from a clay cup; three
young men begin perfoming exercises over a perpendicular, wooden pole.
"Shenhua do you know where the elder is?" Ryo questioned her.
"Master Qin Tan, yes I know where he is. He resides at the shrine, at the
end of the village" Shenhua said in a soft tone.
After a brief walk, they found themselves in front of the shrine. Ryo find that
the shrine was shaped much like the one in Wan chai. Yet the gate was made
of wood, rather then steel. Like the front gate, there stood a guard.
"Shenhua, are you here to see Master Qin Tan" He asked
"Yes, that is exactly who I'm here to see." She answered
"And this strange man accompanying you, I take it he is here for that as well"
Shenhua nodded agreeingly.
The gate guard stared at Ryo briefly, before speaking again.
"You look like a Martial Artist, I gather you are here to recieve training from
Master Qin Tan in Tajiquan."
"Training, Tajiquan?" Ryo said confused.
"No, Li, he is here for another reason." Shenhua said commandingly
"Master Qin Tan is in his main study, reading a book on philosophy. Go as you
wish."
Ryo and Shenhua made their way to his main study. They immediately noticed
drafty as well as dusty room. In the shadows, the silent turning of pages could be heard.
"Master Qin Tan...." Shenhua said in a low tone.
There is a brief moment of silence, before a, brown eyed, grey haired figure appeared
before them. Upon his head was a small circular, green hat, which match the
button shirt, and baggy cotton pants he wore. He stroked his beard, and smiled
in a robust manner.
"Shenhua." He greeted her enthusiastically.
Shenhua returned the smile and bowed in respect.
"And you, you who are you? Hmm hmm?" He said examining Ryo's posture in the process
Ryo stared directly at him and said.
"My name is Hazuki Ryo"
The Master was appalled by the name, yet it sounded familiar somehow.
"That sounds like a name from a far Eastern land...hmm, I forget its name.."
Qin Tan begin to pace outside, Ryo and Shenhua followed. Unexpectingly, the Master
spun around.
"Ah yes! Your name origin is from... Japan."
"Wow, how did you know this?" Ryo said partially shocked.
"I have come across that name before. I just do not remember where. Enough
about that, you must have an important objective to have travel so far."
Ryo nodded and went into his back pocket; pulling out his only lead.
"This, the Phoenix mirror..." Ryo handed it to him.
The old Master's eyes widen at the sight of it.
"This mirror....." A long pause.
"It is indeed from this region. This mirror has more to it, than meets the eye."
"Yes, I've heard many things about it already" Ryo added.
"Tell me what you have learned, and what you know about the mirror."
The Master asked interested.
Finally, they were in; currently the village elder was Ryo's main focus. But all
around them, the villagers were engaging in vivid activity. A little girl passed
by carrying a pot of water; an old man casually drink herbal tea from a clay cup; three
young men begin perfoming exercises over a perpendicular, wooden pole.
"Shenhua do you know where the elder is?" Ryo questioned her.
"Master Qin Tan, yes I know where he is. He resides at the shrine, at the
end of the village" Shenhua said in a soft tone.
After a brief walk, they found themselves in front of the shrine. Ryo find that
the shrine was shaped much like the one in Wan chai. Yet the gate was made
of wood, rather then steel. Like the front gate, there stood a guard.
"Shenhua, are you here to see Master Qin Tan" He asked
"Yes, that is exactly who I'm here to see." She answered
"And this strange man accompanying you, I take it he is here for that as well"
Shenhua nodded agreeingly.
The gate guard stared at Ryo briefly, before speaking again.
"You look like a Martial Artist, I gather you are here to recieve training from
Master Qin Tan in Tajiquan."
"Training, Tajiquan?" Ryo said confused.
"No, Li, he is here for another reason." Shenhua said commandingly
"Master Qin Tan is in his main study, reading a book on philosophy. Go as you
wish."
Ryo and Shenhua made their way to his main study. They immediately noticed
drafty as well as dusty room. In the shadows, the silent turning of pages could be heard.
"Master Qin Tan...." Shenhua said in a low tone.
There is a brief moment of silence, before a, brown eyed, grey haired figure appeared
before them. Upon his head was a small circular, green hat, which match the
button shirt, and baggy cotton pants he wore. He stroked his beard, and smiled
in a robust manner.
"Shenhua." He greeted her enthusiastically.
Shenhua returned the smile and bowed in respect.
"And you, you who are you? Hmm hmm?" He said examining Ryo's posture in the process
Ryo stared directly at him and said.
"My name is Hazuki Ryo"
The Master was appalled by the name, yet it sounded familiar somehow.
"That sounds like a name from a far Eastern land...hmm, I forget its name.."
Qin Tan begin to pace outside, Ryo and Shenhua followed. Unexpectingly, the Master
spun around.
"Ah yes! Your name origin is from... Japan."
"Wow, how did you know this?" Ryo said partially shocked.
"I have come across that name before. I just do not remember where. Enough
about that, you must have an important objective to have travel so far."
Ryo nodded and went into his back pocket; pulling out his only lead.
"This, the Phoenix mirror..." Ryo handed it to him.
The old Master's eyes widen at the sight of it.
"This mirror....." A long pause.
"It is indeed from this region. This mirror has more to it, than meets the eye."
"Yes, I've heard many things about it already" Ryo added.
"Tell me what you have learned, and what you know about the mirror."
The Master asked interested.
