------------------------------------------------------Chapter 15 Point of no Return--------------------------------------------------------
Yellow rays of sunlight peeked in through the cracks of the aging shelter. Ryo stretched out tiredly, having only slept for a mere four and a half hours. He looked at Shenhua who didn't seem to have problems resting, she was still in a deep trance.
"She's been like that for awhile, her last words were "Yangming Temple." Jasmine said, as she walked up beside Ryo.
"Yangming Temple.............? " Ryo said not understanding.
"Yes, I don't understand either...will have to wait to she wakes."
"Tch, she needs to hurry and wake up then!" Ren cried.
"Eh Ren" Ryo said in a challenging tone.
"Touchy....heh, we don't have all day, no?" Ren crossed his arms, with a serious expression.
Ryo shaked his head, comprehending fully on what Ren was getting at. He gently shooked Shenhua, and softly called her name out.
"Shenhua...."
Her eyes begin to show consciousness, Ryo was but a blur above her, she could hear her name as if it was being said in cadence.
"....What's going on?" She said half disoriented.
"Shenhua, what happen, what is Yangming temple?"
Shenhua put her hand over her forehead and begin to shake her head.
"I don't know, but I know we must go." Shenhua looked into Ryo eyes, hoping he would believe her.
Ryo looked back at Ren, he had an unconvinced expression, Jasmine shared the same belief it seem.
"Shenhua, I trust you, lets go." He extended his hand to her helping her off the bed she was resting on.
"Thank you, Ryo." She said softly.
"Eh, Ryo, I'll come with, you never know who might show up." Ren pointed out.
Ryo shook his head, but he knew Ren had some kind of ulterior motive, and wasn't really concern for Ryo's safety.
-----
It took them hour and a half to traverse to the temple still early in the day, the skies were partly cloudly, and the wind begin to pickup; indicating it was sure to rain in a few. Ryo could see the temple ahead, it was constructed similar to the traditional Chinese temples, as seen when Wang was in power. In fact the temple was once known as Wang'-s Temple during the Qing Dynasty. The outside of the temple looked as if it was cultivated by dedicated landscapers. Many beautiful trees, and bushes decorated the common areas around the temple, with the grass neatly trimmed. Statues depicting warriors and priest stood stationary in the center of it all. A small man made creek ran under a magnificent stone bridge which led up to the temple doors. Usually the temple had many visitors roaming about the outside areas. But today, it seem quiet, a small drizzle begin to trickle from the sky. Ryo, Ren, and Shenhua begin to make their way up to the door. It opened with a highly audible creaking noise, which recited its age in obvious infelicity.
The inside was dimly lit with a abundance of ceremonial candles. Ryo looked to Shenhua wondering what she was pondering, for he could see a rise of concern flicker in her eyes.
"Lets keep going forward Ryo...." She said with hidden motivation.
"Eh Ryo, something doesn't smell right. I'm going to take a look around." Ren said, focusing his eyes near the stairwell.
Ryo nodded.
Shenhua begin to push forward, Ryo following close behind. At the back of the temple incense burned fair smelling aroma. There stood an altar, to the left of the altar was a straw door. Ryo could hear voices coming from the door, indicating there was someone in the room behind the straw door.
Shenhua looked at Ryo; who was completely focused on the door. They both begin to walk closer to the door which abruptly open. A man dressed in an azure colored cloth stepped out, behind him a man dressed in ebony cloth followed.
Ryo made eye contact immediately with the older counterpart, who hair was streaked with gray, a salt and pepper appearance, along with the dark eyes of chinese ethnicity. One wouldn't say his face looked 'aged', no they would see experience. They younger one who hair was full of youth still possessed that boyish charm look.
"So the prophecy is set in motion...." He said not even observing Ryo.
"Hmm, Master, they did come." The younger one added.
"You say that if you had doubt....."
"No, its just..."
"Heh, have faith." He paused. "Ahem, my name is Master, address me as so.."
"Yes, and I am Apprentince, it would be nice if that is what you call me."
Ryo looked at both of them, confused, yet with no doubt that these two were serious.
"And you are? No, let me peer into your soul."
As quickly as he closed his eyes, they were open once again.
"Ah, you have traverse very far from your home. You are on a quest, which I understand, yet I don't. Yes, it puzzles me, perhaps because it is honorable, yet trivial...."
Ryo expression changed to a upset one. "My name is Ryo Hazuki, my quest is not trivial....Master."
The Master smirked and looked to his apprentince.
"He doesn't understand, but I will not lecture you young master."
"My name is Shenhua....I"
The Master cut her off, but not to be impolite.
"A vision, a dream? I know who you are, I know why you are here. But something troubles me." He stopped at this.
"What is that Master?" Ryo ask impatiently.
"He vision is clouded, he doesn't know what happens afterwards, but he knows its dark." The apprentince responded for his master.
"Dark?" Ryo questioned.
"A dark cloud....I don't know......" He stopped dead in his words, a statue in place. His eyes frozen on a figure behind them.
"What is it Master?" His apprentince immediately noticed the change, but just like his master he was frozen in space.
Ryo turned around knowing fully that there was someone unwanted there, a dark aura. He slowly turned, his heart racing with a pursuit speed of everlast. In his peripheral he could make out the figure who now stepped into the glimmer of one of the candles. Shocked exploded across every portion of the Japanese warriors genome. The man before him possessed a distinguishable scar on his face, there was no mistake....it was him.
"LAN DI~!" Ryo shouted out across the temple.
"......Fool." Lan Di retorted, staring into the young warrior's eyes with no remorse.
The fire in Ryo eyes would never be quenched until he destroyed the man before him. Shenhua did not recognize Ryo, know one would. She backed away from him, knowing he would give the command to eventually.
"You can't beat him, you are not ready." Master Huang preached.
"You said you wouldn't lecture me, I must do this." Ryo responded, immediately returning his attention to Lan Di. "I'll will get my revenge Lan Di. Your crime will not go unpunished."
Ryo assumed the basic Hazuki stance, his focus unwavering. The tension running through him could not be cut with any conventional blade. He was driven, and could not be stopped.
"If you wish to throw away your life, attack me.." Lan Di begin to walk forward slowly, his hands, and forearms interlocked in the small of his back.
"I'll defeat you!"
Ryo charged at Lan Di throwing a serious of jabs aiming upper region of his opponent's body. Lan Di nimbly evaded each and every strike like it was childs play. Finally, he grew bored of Ryo's unpolished skill, and quickly stepped to the side, following the movement with swift low kick to the back of Ryo's knee, causing the Jujitsu fighter to fall over.
He quickly rolled into a ball in sprung to his feet, facing Lan Di once again. Again he stepped in to attack, Ryo fowarded all his weight to his foward leg shooting towards Lan Di abdomen; Lan Di countered this movement with a slicing down stroke chop, followed by an agressive open palm strike to Ryo's abdomen causing him to fly back into the dusty floor. Ryo let out a highly audible cry as he hit the ground with a large rumble.
"Weakling....." Lan Di said to himself.
He quickly turned his back to Ryo, sliding his hands and forearms back to thier preset position. Shenhua wanted to check on Ryo's condintion, but she dared not try and pass the warrior that just fell him.
"You, you will come with me." He said looking at Shenhua
"No...not yet...I'm not finished yet."
Ryo urged himself to his feet holding his mid section in obvious discomfort. One his eyes were wincing because of the pain.
"You won't take her..."
"Ryo......!!!" Shenhua cried out, as two of Lan Di thugs dressed in black tailor suits grabbed her from both sides.
"Shenhua....I will not lose."
Ryo charged at Lan Di, squared up, then quickly rushed in leading with his elbow. Lan Di stepped back to avoid this blow. Ryo tried again pushing forward with a double punch aimed at the mid section, in which Lan Di deflected with ease, with the same hand. Enough was enough, Lan Di stopped Ryo movement with a well aimed kick to his thigh, with the same leg, and motion he diverted the force and direction of his leg to Ryo's chin in a circular motion; the impact sent Ryo flying across the room like a cyclone in a almost picture perfect dead silence, before the thunderous roar of him smashing into the ground.
Shenhua dropped to her knees at the sight of Ryo's defeat.
"Take her away, we have much to socialize about at the hotel. Tell Niao I'll be there and to reserve that room for me." Lan Di said in a even tone.
Ryo watched as she begin to be dragged off against her will, he slowly started to lose consciouness.
"As for him, you know where to bring him. I'll get what I want out of him as well......"
Ryo eyes faded to black.
Yellow rays of sunlight peeked in through the cracks of the aging shelter. Ryo stretched out tiredly, having only slept for a mere four and a half hours. He looked at Shenhua who didn't seem to have problems resting, she was still in a deep trance.
"She's been like that for awhile, her last words were "Yangming Temple." Jasmine said, as she walked up beside Ryo.
"Yangming Temple.............? " Ryo said not understanding.
"Yes, I don't understand either...will have to wait to she wakes."
"Tch, she needs to hurry and wake up then!" Ren cried.
"Eh Ren" Ryo said in a challenging tone.
"Touchy....heh, we don't have all day, no?" Ren crossed his arms, with a serious expression.
Ryo shaked his head, comprehending fully on what Ren was getting at. He gently shooked Shenhua, and softly called her name out.
"Shenhua...."
Her eyes begin to show consciousness, Ryo was but a blur above her, she could hear her name as if it was being said in cadence.
"....What's going on?" She said half disoriented.
"Shenhua, what happen, what is Yangming temple?"
Shenhua put her hand over her forehead and begin to shake her head.
"I don't know, but I know we must go." Shenhua looked into Ryo eyes, hoping he would believe her.
Ryo looked back at Ren, he had an unconvinced expression, Jasmine shared the same belief it seem.
"Shenhua, I trust you, lets go." He extended his hand to her helping her off the bed she was resting on.
"Thank you, Ryo." She said softly.
"Eh, Ryo, I'll come with, you never know who might show up." Ren pointed out.
Ryo shook his head, but he knew Ren had some kind of ulterior motive, and wasn't really concern for Ryo's safety.
-----
It took them hour and a half to traverse to the temple still early in the day, the skies were partly cloudly, and the wind begin to pickup; indicating it was sure to rain in a few. Ryo could see the temple ahead, it was constructed similar to the traditional Chinese temples, as seen when Wang was in power. In fact the temple was once known as Wang'-s Temple during the Qing Dynasty. The outside of the temple looked as if it was cultivated by dedicated landscapers. Many beautiful trees, and bushes decorated the common areas around the temple, with the grass neatly trimmed. Statues depicting warriors and priest stood stationary in the center of it all. A small man made creek ran under a magnificent stone bridge which led up to the temple doors. Usually the temple had many visitors roaming about the outside areas. But today, it seem quiet, a small drizzle begin to trickle from the sky. Ryo, Ren, and Shenhua begin to make their way up to the door. It opened with a highly audible creaking noise, which recited its age in obvious infelicity.
The inside was dimly lit with a abundance of ceremonial candles. Ryo looked to Shenhua wondering what she was pondering, for he could see a rise of concern flicker in her eyes.
"Lets keep going forward Ryo...." She said with hidden motivation.
"Eh Ryo, something doesn't smell right. I'm going to take a look around." Ren said, focusing his eyes near the stairwell.
Ryo nodded.
Shenhua begin to push forward, Ryo following close behind. At the back of the temple incense burned fair smelling aroma. There stood an altar, to the left of the altar was a straw door. Ryo could hear voices coming from the door, indicating there was someone in the room behind the straw door.
Shenhua looked at Ryo; who was completely focused on the door. They both begin to walk closer to the door which abruptly open. A man dressed in an azure colored cloth stepped out, behind him a man dressed in ebony cloth followed.
Ryo made eye contact immediately with the older counterpart, who hair was streaked with gray, a salt and pepper appearance, along with the dark eyes of chinese ethnicity. One wouldn't say his face looked 'aged', no they would see experience. They younger one who hair was full of youth still possessed that boyish charm look.
"So the prophecy is set in motion...." He said not even observing Ryo.
"Hmm, Master, they did come." The younger one added.
"You say that if you had doubt....."
"No, its just..."
"Heh, have faith." He paused. "Ahem, my name is Master, address me as so.."
"Yes, and I am Apprentince, it would be nice if that is what you call me."
Ryo looked at both of them, confused, yet with no doubt that these two were serious.
"And you are? No, let me peer into your soul."
As quickly as he closed his eyes, they were open once again.
"Ah, you have traverse very far from your home. You are on a quest, which I understand, yet I don't. Yes, it puzzles me, perhaps because it is honorable, yet trivial...."
Ryo expression changed to a upset one. "My name is Ryo Hazuki, my quest is not trivial....Master."
The Master smirked and looked to his apprentince.
"He doesn't understand, but I will not lecture you young master."
"My name is Shenhua....I"
The Master cut her off, but not to be impolite.
"A vision, a dream? I know who you are, I know why you are here. But something troubles me." He stopped at this.
"What is that Master?" Ryo ask impatiently.
"He vision is clouded, he doesn't know what happens afterwards, but he knows its dark." The apprentince responded for his master.
"Dark?" Ryo questioned.
"A dark cloud....I don't know......" He stopped dead in his words, a statue in place. His eyes frozen on a figure behind them.
"What is it Master?" His apprentince immediately noticed the change, but just like his master he was frozen in space.
Ryo turned around knowing fully that there was someone unwanted there, a dark aura. He slowly turned, his heart racing with a pursuit speed of everlast. In his peripheral he could make out the figure who now stepped into the glimmer of one of the candles. Shocked exploded across every portion of the Japanese warriors genome. The man before him possessed a distinguishable scar on his face, there was no mistake....it was him.
"LAN DI~!" Ryo shouted out across the temple.
"......Fool." Lan Di retorted, staring into the young warrior's eyes with no remorse.
The fire in Ryo eyes would never be quenched until he destroyed the man before him. Shenhua did not recognize Ryo, know one would. She backed away from him, knowing he would give the command to eventually.
"You can't beat him, you are not ready." Master Huang preached.
"You said you wouldn't lecture me, I must do this." Ryo responded, immediately returning his attention to Lan Di. "I'll will get my revenge Lan Di. Your crime will not go unpunished."
Ryo assumed the basic Hazuki stance, his focus unwavering. The tension running through him could not be cut with any conventional blade. He was driven, and could not be stopped.
"If you wish to throw away your life, attack me.." Lan Di begin to walk forward slowly, his hands, and forearms interlocked in the small of his back.
"I'll defeat you!"
Ryo charged at Lan Di throwing a serious of jabs aiming upper region of his opponent's body. Lan Di nimbly evaded each and every strike like it was childs play. Finally, he grew bored of Ryo's unpolished skill, and quickly stepped to the side, following the movement with swift low kick to the back of Ryo's knee, causing the Jujitsu fighter to fall over.
He quickly rolled into a ball in sprung to his feet, facing Lan Di once again. Again he stepped in to attack, Ryo fowarded all his weight to his foward leg shooting towards Lan Di abdomen; Lan Di countered this movement with a slicing down stroke chop, followed by an agressive open palm strike to Ryo's abdomen causing him to fly back into the dusty floor. Ryo let out a highly audible cry as he hit the ground with a large rumble.
"Weakling....." Lan Di said to himself.
He quickly turned his back to Ryo, sliding his hands and forearms back to thier preset position. Shenhua wanted to check on Ryo's condintion, but she dared not try and pass the warrior that just fell him.
"You, you will come with me." He said looking at Shenhua
"No...not yet...I'm not finished yet."
Ryo urged himself to his feet holding his mid section in obvious discomfort. One his eyes were wincing because of the pain.
"You won't take her..."
"Ryo......!!!" Shenhua cried out, as two of Lan Di thugs dressed in black tailor suits grabbed her from both sides.
"Shenhua....I will not lose."
Ryo charged at Lan Di, squared up, then quickly rushed in leading with his elbow. Lan Di stepped back to avoid this blow. Ryo tried again pushing forward with a double punch aimed at the mid section, in which Lan Di deflected with ease, with the same hand. Enough was enough, Lan Di stopped Ryo movement with a well aimed kick to his thigh, with the same leg, and motion he diverted the force and direction of his leg to Ryo's chin in a circular motion; the impact sent Ryo flying across the room like a cyclone in a almost picture perfect dead silence, before the thunderous roar of him smashing into the ground.
Shenhua dropped to her knees at the sight of Ryo's defeat.
"Take her away, we have much to socialize about at the hotel. Tell Niao I'll be there and to reserve that room for me." Lan Di said in a even tone.
Ryo watched as she begin to be dragged off against her will, he slowly started to lose consciouness.
"As for him, you know where to bring him. I'll get what I want out of him as well......"
Ryo eyes faded to black.
