Lian's Peculiar Adventure
Chapter 23
Sha Lin and a Heritage for the Future
Zhin was stopped when someone had tugged on his robes. Though he seemed hesitant to pause his escape, he nonetheless knew who had asked for his attention.
"Yamina." He turned to face her.
But it wasn't Yamina.
It was Lian.
Yamina was standing behind her alongside Lex and Sarah.
"Listen here, loghead." Lian grabbed Zhin's collar, "You can't just run away from your problems and leave us to clean up your mess! If we could do that I wouldn't even run Aico, but no, welcome to reality! Now you tell Yamina what you actually think or by the gods…" she snarled, and Power Khan came out and clenched its fist alongside its user.
"Please don't." Yamina worriedly said when she saw Lian threaten Zhin.
"I may be a princess, but that doesn't mean I think like one." Lian responded, "Sometimes a woman has to stand up for herself, and that's something you gotta do."
Yamina shook her head and stepped in between Zhin and Lian.
"I won't allow this." She glared at Lian.
Sarah and Lex's eyes widened when they noticed Yamina's cheerful demeanor turn into a serious composure that defied Lian's apparent violence.
"At ease, Yamina." Zhin spoke as he freed himself from the woman's grasp and stepped back.
"My." Lian laughed, thinking Yamina was playing around.
"I do not tolerate violence." Yamina responded, still serious, "Especially not to those I care about. I do not want you to hurt him."
"Yamina, calm down." Lian joked.
"Lian…" Sarah spoke as she looked at Yamina's soul through the power of the Pyre and saw that it was red hot, a deep crimson red that saturated its nearby environment.
"I think you should cool it."
Lian turned to face her ally and saw her worried expression.
"Are you serious?"
Lex stepped in.
"Yamina, it is just a misunderstanding." He explained, trying to diffuse the situation, "While Lian and Zhin are very physical with each other, it is nothing but idle playfulness and banter. There is no ill intention between the two."
Yamina started to calm down and took a deep breath.
"I understand. My apologies, Lian." She bowed and turned back to Zhin, who was pretty much strolling away at this point.
"Zhin!"
"Uh oh." Sarah saw that Yamina's soul turned into a sickly yellow, showing worry and panic, "We need to follow her!" she pointed and the three ran behind them.
Nearby, a man shuffled behind a stand.
A very familiar young man.
Sha Lin. He was looking at the Paladins as they walked towards the town.
"Hey hey." He smiled and popped out from behind the pile of bananas he took as cover, "Well looks like the gang's all here. Sucks I won't be able to catch up to them without being seen. Let's see if this bad boy is going to do me good." He laughed and pulled out Seris' lamp from his sack.
The man shook the lamp, and its started to give out the familiar purple fog he was used to. The fog darkened into a thick smoke that molded itself into shapes.
It was five adult figures, what appeared to be two men and three women. They were running, however, and the figures died down and showed that one of the man was down on the ground and surrounded by the other figures. This figure on the ground had what appeared to be something sticking out of his chest.
"Looks like one of the guys was hit by my arrows." Sha Lin laughed and gained the courage to jump out and making his way towards them, using nearby citizens as cover.
The Paladins maintained a steady stroll ahead of him, though they were still a respectable distance away and that distance was increasing by the second.
"I can't go too fast or else one of them is going to notice me." Sha Lin told himself as he hid behind a cart of onions and then shifted over to hide behind the ox pulling the cart.
The Paladins had stopped, and Zhin had finally turned and appeared to be talking with Yamina.
"Hmm… I've never seen that girl before." Sha Lin pondered as he looked at Yamina, "Could that be a new stand user that joined them? Yikes, I don't want to find out." He murmured, but then took a closer look.
"Say, she's rather cute." He chuckled and rubbed his hands.
This action reminded him of what he had to do.
"Oh right, I have to take my shot!" he exclaimed and called out The Bow, "Lucky for me Zhin is standing very still. An easy pick." He saw that Zhin was the most exposed out of the Paladins, a clear avenue to his chest between Lex and Lian.
Sha Lin made a mystical arrow appear on his bow and he drew the string back.
However, before he could fire, a duck flew off from the nearby pond and struck Lex on the back, richocheting off and then striking Zhin in the face.
Zhin collapsed and caused all the Paladins to surround him.
"Agh!" Sha Lin grumbled and stepped away from his hiding position and used the distraction to near them.
"What the?" he was around 20 meters away from the group and kept hidden behind a stand stocked with bronze sculptures.
Zhin was on the ground with the duck on his chest.
The duck appeared to be alright and had its neck stretched out and its chest puffed out, threatening the people surrounding it in self-defense.
Sha Lin shook his head and took another glance.
The duck stood straight up, just like in the lantern's fog.
"Well, it wasn't my arrow but something good came about it." He sighed and noted he was close to his targets, but not close enough that his stand would lose most of its effectiveness.
Zhin finally stood up with the help of Yamina, who had shooed away the duck nonviolently.
The Paladins reconvened, and after chiding from Lian and a wellness check from Lex, they started to talk again.
"Good grief…." Sha Lin groaned and took a look at a nearby alley, "Well since this prophecy is done it's best to consult the lamp again." He said and walked towards the alley, which was a small road that led into the town.
Zhin's ears perked up when he heard clattering of bronze.
"Hmmm…" he murmured but was interrupted by Yamina.
"I hope you are ok." She said.
"I'm fine." Zhin sighed, "I just need to walk off this cramp." He rubbed his right leg and made his way into the town.
"I can just heal it, Zh-" Sarah stopped when Zhin was already walking off.
"I won't be far." Zhin responded and continued on his way, avoiding civilians as he made his way unto the cobblestone road that formed.
"It doesn't look like he'll abandon us." Lex commented, "And even then, it doesn't look like he can put up much of a chase. However, just so he doesn't get any bright ideas."
The Law came out from behind him and aimed its arm gun.
"Gonna shoot him?" Lian asked.
"Just retrieve him." Lex responded.
Nearby, Sha Lin turned the corner from the street where he was originally travelling until he knelt next to a large bust of a woman.
"Let's see what this is trying to tell me." He noticed the purple smoke was coming out his sack and thus pulled out the lamp.
It was already glowing as was forming the dark smoke figures within the purple mist.
"Oh snap, I almost missed the first prophecy." Sha Lin gasped and looked intently at the prediction.
The smoke formed one figure that was of a man kneeling by a statue looking at a ball before quickly disappearing and showing a scene of four figures walking towards a fifth figure. The next prediction came through and was of a man with another figure holding a sword that was held at the through of another man who was pinned and helpless.
Sha Lin's eyes widened in horror.
Another prophecy came through, it was two men again, but this one had one of the men poking the other's butt.
"What?!"
However, there was a last prediction.
The smoke cleared to once again form four figures on the ground, sprawled as if dead.
"What… What was that last one!?" Sha Lin cried out as the lamp died and went dull, "No you stupid lamp, show me again!" he growled and shook his head before throwing the lamp back into his sack.
In his frustration, Sha Lin chucked his sack into a nearby wagon filled with potatoes.
"This sucks, I'm going to be poked in the butt and stabbed to death by Zhin!" Sha Lin groaned, but then remembered the last prediction, "But could that last one be him and all his friends? But I wasn't in it! I could already be dead! I don't want to die!"
He paced back and forth until turning the corner from whence he came.
"Then again, that stupid lamp has always been vague…" he pondered and put his hand to his chin, "Maybe I do live… Where did I leave it?" he asked and saw that his sack was at the wagon.
He walked towards the wagon, passing the corner until he was suddenly grabbed by his red scarf and violently tugged.
"Well well well."
It was Zhin, who snarled at the very sight of the young man, "I thought someone was following us!"
"Yahhhh!" Sha Lin gasped and tried to escape his grasp but found out that Thousand Hands had already appeared behind him and had its sword pointed at his back.
"ZHIN!" he yelled.
"What are you doing around here, welp?" Zhin grumbled and moved Thousand Hands to his left, "I bet you came back to get that money from Seris." He put him in a choke hold.
"Z-Z-Zhin old pal!" Sha Lin stammered as he felt the man's arm crush his throat, "I- Hwak! I was only here to buy stuff! I'm all clean!"
"Don't think I've forgotten about what you did!" Zhin yelled, "All I have to do is cut your throat wide open and it will all be over! My mother will be avenged!"
"Zhin! I told you it was all an accident!" Sha Lin pleaded as he tried to remove the arm from his neck. He failed at doing so, but called out the bow.
I at least should try to use it before I die! I don't want to die a coward!
Zhin noticed this action and pinned Sha Lin to the wall and twisted the arm that held The Bow.
"OUCH!" Sha Lin screamed as his stand was recalled.
"I finally have you now! No running away!" Zhin laughed and commanded Thousand Hands to raise its blade, "Mother, you will be avenged!"
Suddenly a hum.
Zhin turned to the source of the noise and saw Sha Lin's sack puffing out purple mist.
"What the hell?" he asked.
Oh crap! Sha Lin panicked, If he finds that lamp, I'm a goner! My advantage will be gone!
"What is that in that bag?!" Zhin turned back to Sha Lin and strengthened his twist, "Is that bomb? Are you trying to take us all down?! Hmph." He grunted, "Nice try."
Thousand Hands turned its attention to the sack and stabbed through it. However, this strike against a spherical object caused the blade to deflect and cause the lamp to ricochet out of the sack and hit Zhin on the left shin.
"AGH!" Zhin yelled in pain.
"Now's my chance!" Sha Lin used this opportunity of weakness to free himself, "Now you'll get it, Zhin!" he laughed and turned to attack.
Before he could ball his fist, Zhin's body shifted backwards and caused Sha Lin's pointer and middle fingers from his left hand to jab right up his butt.
Zhin's eyes widened.
Sha Lin gasped in shock.
"AHHHHHHHHHH!" the two men yelled for two entirely different reasons.
The rest of the Paladins had heard this commotion and made their way towards Zhin's voice.
"Zhin!" Lian called out.
"Are you ok?" Sarah added.
"Yikes!" Sha Lin gulped, "If those guys find me, I'm a goner!" he said and pulled away from his assailant.
Zhin groaned and fell to his knees, his stand retreating into his being.
"At least I'm not dead." Sha Lin panted as he grabbed the lamp that had rolled in nearby, "But that last prediction. That mean's they're all going to die! Haha!"
"What… What are you talking about…" Zhin growled as he slowly stood up.
"Nothing!" Sha Lin responded and called out The Bow, "Wow you recovered fast."
"I am fueled by hatred for you!" Zhin said and called his stand back out.
Sha Lin fired an arrow and made it curve.
"I won't fall for the same mistake twice!" Zhin predicted the arrow avoiding his sword strike so he moved to his left.
The arrow flew past its target but curved upwards as Sha Lin controlled it.
"Now you're wide open!" Zhin laughed and made Thousand Hands charge.
"No u!" Sha Lin laughed and called the arrow back down, striking Thousand hands in the shoulder and penetrating clean through its armor and being.
"AGH!" Zhin groaned as blood flew out from his left shoulder.
"Zhin!" his allies responded to the scene and Lex stepped forward, "It's you!" he yelled and pointed at Sha Lin.
Sha Lin laughed and used the opportunity that Zhin knelt on the ground to raise The Bow again, "Ready?!" he loaded five arrows on the string.
"Watch out!" Sarah said and called out Furious Flame, "Lian, Lex, cover me!" she said.
"Yes!" Lian responded.
"On duty!" Lex added.
Yamina stepped back as she just saw all these people pointing and yelling at each other, but then saw the most curious sight.
A nearby ox strapped to a wagon filled with potatoes suddenly had blood flying out of its flank.
"What?!" she gasped.
"RAH RAH RAH RAH RAH!" Power Khan deflected three of the arrows as The Law shot down the last ones and returned fire at Sha Lin.
Sarah used this cover to use Furious Flame to heal Zhin's wound with the Pyre.
Sha Lin hid behind the corner and looked at the lamp, which started to glow and release mist.
"Come on you stupid lamp, when are they all supposed to be dea-" he stopped when he heard a cry.
An animalistic cry.
The ox was riled up by the arrow he shot at Zhin and charged.
Straight at his enemies.
"ROOOOH!" the ox bellowed as it plowed first through Zhin, who was still downed, then through Lian, who tried to stop it with Power Khan, then Lex, who tried to save Lian, and then through Furia, who was caught completely unawares while she was looking for Yamina.
"ARGHHH!"
"AYYYY!"
"HROOOF!"
"OH MY PYRE!"
The four Paladins rocketed up into the air before crashing into a sandstone wall. Large pieces of said sandstone fell on them, further adding to their injuries.
Sha Lin popped his head out from behind the corner after all the commotion was over and the dust was cleared.
"Well well well… Looks like you were right!" he rubbed the lamp, then saw another prophecy unfold.
The smoke formed one figure, a man with a bow, fire four arrows.
This caused a noticeable smile on Sha Lin's face.
The next prediction came in, showing three people struck by arrows with one person standing defiantly. A man with long hair.
"Zhin…" Sha Lin murmured.
Finally, the last prophecy rolled in.
It was the same figure collapsing after an arrow had struck his chest. A long-haired male defeated.
"Finally, they won't be bothering me anymore!" Sha Lin laughed, "And I will finally get my due reward! Yes! Destiny has made me the winner!" he jumped up and called out the bow, then aimed it at the downed Paladins.
"Sorry everyone, it's just business." Sha Lin loaded four arrows on the bow.
He took a look at the people he was about to shoot.
Lian, her face was bloody and covered with sand and rubble. She was beautiful to say the least, but he knew that he could get women much more attractive with the money he would be receiving.
Sarah, she was in the same position as Lian, but one of her arms was caught underneath a particularly larger piece of sandstone. He felt some pity for her, as he didn't know why Seris had a particular hatred for her when she described his mission objective. He also thought she was cute, but in a sisterly way.
Lex was starting to wake up and was giving out groans as he held his head in pain. He didn't particularly care for him, but he respected the fact he was dedicated to his friends. Almost made him feel a little bad he was dragged into this. Sure, he never had good friends, but perhaps Lex could make a friend that would get him back on track.
Finally, Zhin. He was already wide awake but gathering his bearings.
As much as he hated to admit it, Sha Lin did not want to kill Zhin. Sure the price was tempting, but deep down he knew he messed up when he killed his mother. He had always wished Zhin would forgive him, but after both of them turned to adventuring lives and their past encounters that led to violence… Perhaps it was better to end it all now. Unfortunately, their feud, he thought, could only be resolved with death.
"Perhaps you will find peace with your mother, Zhin." Sha Lin murmured and released his arrows.
The projectiles careened and struck their targets.
All except one.
Thousand hands had appeared and cut the arrow aimed at its master in two.
"Trying to take us down while we are weak?" Zhin growled as he stood up from the rubble, "You've hit a new low, even for you, worm."
"I didn't want this, Zhin." Sha Lin said and loaded another arrow, "But I know you and I are never going to reconcile. Sorry, but if this is the way it has to be… Well…" he drew the string.
"You never wanted to reconcile. You never felt remorse." Zhin spat on the ground.
"I was your friend, Zhin. Both Ying and I." Sha Lin responded, "Since children. My father gave your mother money to raise you, he believed me-"
"Of course he would believe you!" Zhin yelled and made slowly made his way towards Sha Lin, revealing he had a noticeable wound on his right shin.
"I was your friend, Zhin. I wanted nothing more that we grow up and have adventures alongside Ying." Sha Lin continued, "But you never could forgive my error. I will tell you this, the greatest mistake I've ever done was play foolishly with my fighting spirit."
Zhin had enough and used his strengths to call out Thousand Hands once again.
"Shut up!"
"I'm sorry." Sha Lin closed his eyes and fired the arrow.
Zhin saw the act but in his weakness could not react fast enough to make Thousand Hands Counter.
"Zhin!"
The swordsman turned to see Yamina running towards him.
Everything went into slow motion. The arrow was heading straight towards his head and he knew that it would be over, no healing from Sarah, no surviving the wound, no chance to cut it out.
He had failed everyone.
Lian, Lex, Sarah.
Yamina.
His mother.
Zhin held back pain and faced his death head on, glaring at Sha Lin while he kept his stride.
It was at that moment he could see, just for a moment, years' worth of regret appear on Sha Lin's face.
Then he collapsed. His face hit the dirt.
"What?" he grumbled and saw that he was still alive.
Sha Lin called away The Bow.
"You missed!" Zhin yelled and used this opportunity to strike.
"No! Stop!" Yamina appeared and pulled Sha Lin away from Zhin's attack.
"What!?" both Sha Lin and Zhin yelled.
The archer fell atop Yamina and pulled away her head covering during the scuffle, but the swordsman came soon after and caused him to tumble away.
"Oof!" Zhin fell atop Yamina, supplanting Sha Lin.
"Oww…." Sha Lin grumbled as he stood up, then was blinded by Yamina's head covering drooping over his head.
"I can't see-"
THWAK!
His own arrow struck him in the chest.
"Is… this…" Sha Lin looked at his projectile, "I… Must have… lost control of it…." He fell to his knees, the head covering over his head maintain its grip.
Zhin saw the sight and at first thought an innocent woman had been struck, but his vision cleared and he saw it was Sha Lin.
"Finally, you get what you deserve…" he stood up and called out Thousand Hands.
"Zhin, no!" Yamina, covering her hair, called out and grabbed the covering from Sha Lin's head before putting it on her.
"You can't!"
"You don't understand!" Zhin pushed her aside and made Thousand Hands raised its sword.
"I…. I made the arrow miss you." Sha Lin murmured.
"Lies!" Zhin yelled and raised his fist, "You will pay for everything you have done!"
BANG!
BANG!
BANG!
BANG!
Zhin's eyes widened.
"Yamina!" Lex yelled as he removed a stone from his chest that took the arrow meant to kill him.
Sha Lin gasped.
Zhin exhaled and fell to his knees in front of Sha Lin.
Yamina was holding a smoking revolver.
"I'm sorry."
Lex ran to her and took the revolver from her hands.
"Zhin." He turned to his friend, "Zhin listen to me."
"Ha… Ha… Ha…." Zhin panted as blood dripped from his mouth.
"He was telling the truth." Lex told Zhin as he attended his wounds, "I saw him. Sha Lin made the arrow miss on purpose."
Sha Lin looked at Zhin.
"Impossible…" Zhin snarled, "If he killed my mother…"
"He made it miss, Zhin." Lex told him, "I don't know why."
"I never wanted this to happen." Sha Lin spoke up and looked at Yamina bawling her eyes out.
"Is everyone ok!?" some local Enforcers came to the scene and looked at everyone.
Zhin and Sha Lin finally collapsed from their injuries.
"I need help! Pronto!" Lex commanded the enforcers, "Sarah! Lian! We need you!"