Chapter 22: Li Long
Edge Master fell to the ground. He had just been beaten by Kilik.
Kilik had managed to do it after around a hundred battles between the two, most of them during the last month, since the day the Evil Seed arrived.
Edge Master had never been so glad to lose a fight. He stood up laughing and hugged his pupil, full of proud.
Kilik had only managed to beat the master using the staff, while the master was an expert in all disciplines, but Kilik at least was the best at one.
...
The master allowed Kilik to rest what was left of the day, as a reward, and he offered himself to go hunting and prepare dinner that night.
Kilik accepted gladly, so he stayed alone at the temple. Despite Edge Master having granted him the day off, Kilik loved training himself, so he did so for about two more hours.
When he finished, he layed on the grass while waiting for the master.
It got dark and the master hadn't come back yet.
Kilik supposed the master had moved away chasing an animal, so he remained on the floor staring at the stars.
Suddenly, he heard a noise near the temple. Someone was approaching the temple.
- Master?
Kilik stood up and looked for the source of the noise, which was among some bushes.
He seemed to have seen something moving in there, so he moved closer.
He was about to move one of the bushes to see what was among them when somebody took him from behind and covered his mouth.
- Take it easy, boy. I don't want to hurt you. I just want to know where your master is.
The man uncovered Kilik's mouth.
- Who are you? – asked Kilik. – Why are you doing this?
- Please, answer my question.
- I'm not going to say anything.
The man sighed.
- You give me no other chance.
The man pushed Kilik against a tree and he took out a nunchaku with a sharp blade in each tip, and put one of them on Kilik's neck, holding him against the log of the tree.
- Where is he? – yelled the man.
- Li Long? – said someone behind them.
The man turned around and saw Edge Master, who was carrying a dead boar on his shoulders.
The man let Kilik go and addressed the master.
- Hello, master.
- What's going on here? – asked an angry Edge Master, dropping the boar.
- I come from Ming Empire, in Chai Zhang's name. Vengo del imperio Ming, en nombre de Chai Zhang.
- Chai Zhang! You two were fellows when you were here, right?
Li Long nodded.
- How is he?
- He is dead. – said Li Long madly. – Ming officers killed him.
- What?
- He had written a letter to you. The officers found it and, of course, they didn't like what they read on it.
- What did it say?
Li Long looked at Kilik suspiciously.
- Is he reliable?
- Of course. Anything you have to say, he can hear it.
- It's okay.
Li Long told Edge Master and Kilik all about the letter.
- That's horrible. – said Edge Master.
- Yeah. – agreed Kilik. – But now there's one more reason to destroy Soul Edge.
- I must go. – said Li Long. – I asked for some days off for personal matters, but I have to be back at the empire in fifteen days, and it's a long way.
- It's ok. Take care. – bid farewell Edge Master.
- I'm afraid I…I will have to follow Emperor Ming's orders and go after Soul Edge for him, or I'll end up as Zhang. I really wish you will be luckier than me.
He shook hands with Edge Master.
Before going, he addressed Kilik.
- Sorry for the way I came in. We can't trust anybody.
- Don't worry, I understand.
- See you.
Once Li Long was gone, Kilik and Edge Master looked at each other, with fear in their eyes.
- Have a nice sleep tonight. – said the master. – We're leaving tomorrow.