So, i took a dare and wrote a fanfiction in a genre I never dipped my foot in before. I did a lot of research but I hardly know anything about Chinese mythology or culture or asian mythology in general. But here I am, trying my best, hoping not to offend anyone. Some help would be great if anyone want to pitch in. I tried to give it a Chinese action flick vibe. What do you guys think?
Three children were playing games while running up the Forbidden Peak. It was so called because legend told of an evil Yao Guai who dwelled upon it, but to the children this was only a fairytale scaring them away from adventure. They didn't let a scary story get in the way of their fun.
The elder brother of the three ran ahead as he had narrowly escaped his younger brother, The middle child. Their little sister was just behind the elder brother. It was then that the second brother stopped and her frowned and crossed his arms.
"Xun! Mama said we weren't supposed to pass the rope! That's not fair!"
"Aw?" Xun hunched his back and mocked him, "Scared of the Yao Guai, Zhun? Quit being a baby, come on! It's just a story! Hey, tell him, Duan."
Duan, the little girl, giggled and echoed her elder brother. "It's just a story, Zhun. Quit being a baby."
Zhun deadpanned at them and sighed. He debated between listing to his mother or proving his siblings wrong.
"Baby," Xun teased then began to stick his rear our and wiggle it at him to tease him. "Baby! Baby!"
Duan began doing the same, giggling as she copied her older brother. "Baby. Hee hee. Baby!"
"That's enough already!" Zhun chased after them.
The two took off and they ran further and further up the peak until Duan was too tired to run. Xun was winded but he still had some energy left, but Zhun was a skilled runner, and he caught up in no time to catch Duan.
"There, I got you," Zhun smiled. He stopped to catch his breath.
"It's not fair," Duan said flinging her arms, "I'm small and younger. You boys are stronger than me!"
"Aw, now look who's the baby," Zhun pointed at her.
"Hey," Xun called, "Don't pick on Duan, Zhun. Let her win this time."
"What?" Zhun shouted. "You're always going easy on her! Why do I have to lose all the time. You always let her win!"
"Not always," Xun retorted halfheartedly. He looked around at the ancient stones and old spiritual statues.
"Yes, you always do!" Zhun argued again.
"Mama said you have to obey big brother. If you argue I'll tell!"
"Ay yah!" Zhun huffed and noticed Xun was distracted. He began looking around and examined the place carefully. It made him feel uneasy and a chill wind sent a shiver up his spine. "Let's go back, now, Mama will kill us if she finds out we're here."
"Wait," Xun froze and tilted his head. "Did you hear that?"
"What?" Duan asked, getting up on her feet. She quickly retreated to Xun's side and looked around for what he possibly could have heard.
Zhun remained frozen in place, trying to hear, but he wasn't able to pick up a single sound, unlike Xun. All he could see was the looming clouds, the dead roots sticking out of the stony grounds. The equally dead trees drooping with no leaves to give them life. There was no life here, and even with the evidence, it was difficult to believe anyone existed here.
"Xun, we should go," Zhun whispered.
Xun didn't say a word, but suddenly let out a scream. Duan and Zhun screamed with him, looking around for what he had seen, but as nothing was around them. Upon closer inspection of Xun, they saw him smiling as he was screaming, then started to laugh. Duan frowned then began to cry.
"Xun! That wasn't funny!" Zhun scolded as he hugged Duan.
"Oh, stop being serious, Zhun, have some fun! I told you this old place was harmless. If there was a Yao Guai here, we'd have found it by now! Look!" Xuna passed what was the entrance to an old temple and motioned to himself that he was fine. "See, Duan? Everything's fine!" He started doing a goofy dance and chanted. "Everything's alright! Everything's fine!"
Zhun rolled his eyes, but Duan managed to stop crying and clean her nose. Zhun saw a passageway leading further up the peak and thought he saw an old man looking down at him. The old man turned and began to climb the stairs further up the peak. Zhun, against his better judgment, followed.
"Everything's alright. Everything's… Hey, where are you going?" Xun asked, noticing Zhun wandering off.
Zhun did not respond. Duan turned and followed Zhun until the first step of the stairs. "Zhun, why are going up further? Let's go home to mama!" Zhun still did not reply as he followed the old man up the steps.
"Zhun! Aren't you listening?" Xun shouted as he followed. Duan followed him close behind.
They reached the top quickly as there were not many stairs, and found a more whole, but still quite old temple. Inside, the old man rested and seemed to be kneeling in front of a large statue of a dragon inside.
"Who is that?" Xun asked as he finally caught up to Zhun.
"I just saw him up here. He looked at me and then stopped here," Said Zhun.
Xun scrunched his brows and stared at the man for a while. "The grownups said there was no one up here. Just the Yao Guai. And he's supposed to be big, ugly, and have a hunched back."
"But he doesn't have those things," Duan said as she looked at her brothers.
Zhun started to approach the man, but Xun held him back. "What are you doing?"
"I'm going to ask him why he's here," Zhun replied.
Xun shook his head as he looked up at the old man. He had a bad feeling about this man. "Why? It's not your business why he's praying on an old temple. Let's go, we'll be in trouble if we do not go home."
"Mama says we shouldn't speak to strangers," Duan added.
Zhun shrugged, "Well, you didn't listen to me when I said we shouldn't go in. So why should I listen to you?"
"Because I'm oldest," Xun retorted aggressively and grabbed Zhun by the pressure point. "Now come on!"
"It's rude to interrupt someone while they pray," The old man said. "It's bad luck even."
The children froze and in their place Xun bowed. "We're sorry. I know it is rude. I was telling my brother not to disturb you."
"Did you think I didn't hear you?" The old man asked as he stood to his feet slowly. "Come closer, children. Let me see you better. My eyes can't see that well when you're so far away."
Xun shook his head at his siblings, but Zhun disobeyed and was far from Xun's reach before he could drag them away."
The old man looked down at Zhun from the one-and-a-half-foot high platform of the temple. "Ah, you are quite young. And strong no doubt." The old man folded his hands behind his back and hunched over to see Zhun clearly.
"I'm not very strong, but I am a fast runner," said Zhun.
"Is that so?" The old man chuckled. "I am in need of a fast runner. Can you outrun your siblings?"
Zhun smiled, "Yes, I can. But Xun won't admit it."
"Because it's not true!" Xun shouted, "Zhun, let's go home now! It's late!"
"It's not that late," The old man assured, "Stay for some tea before you go. I will return with you and explain everything to your mother. You have no need to fear an old monk."
"There are no monks on this mountain," Xun said as he balled his fists. He remembered the stories of some Yao Guai. He heard some would lure their prey into their layer before devouring them. He was ready to run and snatch Zhun while telling Duan to run. He would prove he was faster than Zhun and defeat the Yao Guai at its game.
Zhun turned and faced Xun, "Xun, he seems nice. It's only for a little bit."
"Zhun, as your older brother, mama says you have to listen to me. Now come here. We can have tea at home!" Xun knew that was a lie, but he'd say anything to dissuade the old man from drawing them into his temple.
"We're too poor for tea," Zhun said, calling him out of his lie.
"Zhun, come here!" Xun yelled. Duan was becoming scared. As if she could sense what her older brother did.
"There's no need to be angry," The old man said as he leaned forward and stretched his hand out ot the Zhun, "They don't have to stay. I will see you safely returned after some tea. Come, child."
"Zhun, no!" Xun bounded forward but it was too late. Zhun took his hand. The old man helped him up then smiled down at him. "You say you are a fast runner? I hope you can prove it soon. These old bones will no longer listen to me…" The old man began to quiver and his warm aura disappeared as his skin seemed to melt off of him. The skin melted over Zhun's hand, trapping him into his grasp and a putridly colored ghost with big teeth, arched back, and large facial hair began to grow out of the old man's body. Zhun screamed along with his siblings as they witnessed the terrible sight. The evil spirit grabbed Zhun by the shoulders and began to enter through his eyes and mouth.
Just in time, to their rescue, two farm hands, both no older than sixteen, had reached the top of the stairs, armed with a rake and a hoe, and witnessed the terrible sight. They screamed in horror as they saw the spirit enter Zhun.
"Quickly, we have to grab them!" One shouted.
"I got them, go!" The other said as he picked up the children in each of his hands and abandoned his rake.
Both of them ran as fast as they could. Zhun, as far as they could tell, was doomed. It would be a hard conversation to his mother. But neither thought about how they would tell her what had happened to her youngest son. They could only save the two children they had now.
X
The village was filled with crying and weeping as a funeral was held for the lost boy at the Forbidden Peak. There was a dirge was played and mourners, gathered at the center of the village. All come together to give their condolences for the poor widowed woman. She had lost her husband to sickness season ago, and now a son to the Yao Guai of the Forbidden Peak. She held both her crying children close. Her youngest in her left arm, and her oldest begging for her forgiveness in her right. She kissed his head to comfort him and sobbed as the village comforted her in turn.
"Miss Li, I am so sorry for your loss. Zhun was such a kind and honest boy," The village mayor bowed his head before her. She nodded in agreement and took his hand and squeezed it, "Please accept my condolences."
"Thank you," the woman sobbed, "You are too kind."
Two others had come, a man and a woman from different families. Behind them were the farmhands who rescued her children. Their hands together in a respectful manner, and heads bowed.
"Miss Li, our deepest and most heartfelt condolences." In both their hands were baskets with gifts inside. "Please take this as payment for our debt to you. If only our sons could have reached your children faster, perhaps poor Zhun would still be with us."
Miss Li, set her hand on the baskets and pushed them away gently. "No, it is I who owes you a great debt. Your sons saved my children's life. If what they say is true, then my Zhun was dead already. Bless you both for your courage."
"Miss Li,' Both boys bowed their heads to the ground. "We are not worthy!"
"Please, raise your heads!" Miss Li fell to her knees to raise their heads and hug them both.
In all the commotion, a rag-clad traveler with a walking stick in one hand and a large, wrapped item in the other. On his back was a framed backpack with a few items hanging off of it and on his head, a straw hat that threatened to come loose because of so much rugged use. He had traveled a long way to see this village, and when he finally made it, he at first thought a festival was going on. However upon closer inspection, he saw that it was actually a dirge that was played and though there were dancers preforming a ceremonial dance, there were also mourners praying loudly. The dance finished shortly as he arrived, and he heard the words of the village mayor draw the attention of the whole village.
"It is a sad day for us all. Li Zhun was taken from us at such a young age. He was such an energetic and free-spirited boy. So kind and honest. Sometimes if he found a plant that interested him, he'd come to me to understand it. I always had an answer for him, and I always looked forward to his visits." The traveler took off his straw hat and held it to his chest to honor the passing child. "I pray that his soul finds peace, and may the heavens strike down and bring justice upon the Yao Guai who did this!"
"A Yao Guai killing a child? It's a tale as old as I can remember." The traveler looked behind him and there a three-foot tall, cloaked dog stood, leaning against a house and crossing his arms. The little cloaked dog wore robes with a sash belt and sandals on his paw-feet. On his two twin swords rested and on his back, something stuck out beneath the cloak. It was a shape that may have been a star, but no one could truly tell if they could see him. This dog was a spirit and could not be seen by untrained mortal eyes nor could his voice be heard by mortal ears. But occasionally, his presence could be felt.
The traveler looked back, his hair was long and in a mess, so he barely saw past it at the spirit. "Have a heart, Chase, a child was killed."
"I mean no offense of course." The dog spirit pushed himself off the house and walked up beside the traveler. "So, what do you want to do?" The traveler did not answer. He listened intently to the speech about the boy and looked into the crowd for the family who had lost the boy. Having not answered for so long, the spirit looked up at him. "Master?"
The traveler fitted his hat on his head and sighed. "We should find out more about this Yao Guai. Help me search for information or anyone who looks like a witness."
"By the way they weep, they all could be witnesses," said Chase, the spirit.
"Do your best," the traveler replied. He then entered the crowd as sensitively as he could, and Chase followed behind him.
The speech had ended shortly, giving the traveler some security that he wouldn't be rude if he asked the family. "Excuse me," he said, stopping the first person he saw. "I am a traveler from the western country. Who is the family who lost their child, so I can give them my condolences?"
"Bless you, traveler," the villager bowed, "It is that family there. Li Qiao is her name. And she is left with her children Li Xun and Li Duan."
"Thank you," the traveler nodded. He approached the family as another couple gave their condolences. The traveler bowed and removed his straw hat. "My condolences to you and your children. I am a traveler who has come a long way. I do not wish to burden you, so please say so if I am being rude."
"Not at all," Li Qiao said, "Thank you for your kindness. What brings a traveler here?"
The traveler came close. "Rumors mostly. Rumors it seems that were true. I hunt for the Yao Guai said to be at the peak of this mountain."
The family all perked up. "Your holiness!" Li Qiao bowed. "Bless you for coming. Bless you!"
"Please, do not kneel," The traveler picked her up and assured the children to stand as well. "I am a simple monk from the western countries, sent on a mission to purify the lands of unholiness such as these Yao Guai. Tell me, what do you know. Does anyone know anything of this Yao Guai?"
"Know anything?" Li Qiao began to weep again, "It was my son and daughter who saw it all! They were cursed to watch my poor Zhun die by the Yao Guai's hand."
"He turned all gooey and scary then sucked Zhun's soul out of him!" Li Duan cried.
"No, I saw him going into him," Li Xun sobbed. "The Yao Guai was very large. It looked like an old man but when he took Zhun's hand he showed his true self."
"I see," The traveler rubbed his chin.
"It was so scary." Li Duan sobbed "It had long claws and big teeth. It was so ugly!"
"Hush, Duan. Shh," Li Qiao comforted her children and brushed their heads as they sobbed. They were clearly traumatized. He wasn't surprised.
"I understand. Yao Guai are very scary creatures, twisted by their hatred. It makes them very ugly indeed. I have all that I need. Where is this Yao Guai?"
"You will find him past the passage to the forbidden peak," pointed Li Qiao. "Jian Bao! Liu Ken!"
Two teenagers looked away from each other and to her then ran to her. "Yes, Miss Li?"
Li Qiao pointed at the traveler. "This man is a demon hunter. Lead him to the passage of the Forbidden Peak."
"Yes, Miss Li," Bowed both boys. "Your holiness, please, follow us."
"Lead the way," the traveler motioned.
"Go with the blessings of the gods. Bring vengeance upon the Yao Guai and cleanse our mountain!"
"Cleanse our mountain!" shouted a villager. And many echoed in agreement.
"Give us vengeance!" shouted another. Again, the village up roared and raised their arms.
"No pressure." The traveler looked down at his feet and Chase was there by his side again. "These boys were witnesses. Ask them what you want."
The traveler nodded at him. "Were you boys the ones who saw the death as well?"
"Yes, your holiness," said the one named Liu Ken. He was skinny but also tall. His head was shaved, and his skin was light. "Miss Li saw that her children were missing and asked us to find them."
"We heard them scream in the Forbidden Peak and ran to help." Said Jian Bao. He was a burlier teen and darker skinned. To Ryder's estimation he must have worked the farms longer than Liu Ken. "When we found them, at the tallest point, we were too late to save Zhun. He was already being eaten by the Yao Guai."
"Eaten? possessed? His soul sucked out. No one can give us a straight answer," Sighed Chase. Three different stories. But which was true? They all had very different meanings to a demon hunter.
"What exactly did you see?" asked the traveler, "I heard something had gone into the boy, then something was sucked out. But you say he was being eaten?"
The teens shook their heads after trying to deliberate with each other, but it seemed they couldn't remember. "I don't really know. We reached the top of the peak and then we saw the Yao Guai attached to him." Jian Bao sighed. "He didn't even have time to scream."
"So, something was bridging their existences together," Chase concluded, "It sounds like possession to me."
The traveler's straightened his back excitedly. There was a chance then. He began to whisper to Chase so the boys wouldn't hear him. "If that's true then there's a chance to save the boy."
Chase looked up at Ryder and hummed. "I certainly hope."
Ryder froze in place as Chase traveled ahead. He knew Chase meant well, but his bluntness often made him say things he may not mean. Ryder was no longer so confident. But he shook his head and cleared himself of his doubts. They had no room for the trial ahead.
"This is the entrance," said Liu Ken.
The entrance in question was made of two red, skinny pillars and ropes tied between them with several wooden talismans hung off them all of them sought to keep the evil at bay.
"Alright, we'll take it from here," The traveler pat their shoulders then prayed quietly and passed the barrier.
"Your holiness!" Called Liu Ken.
"Hmm?" The Traveler looked back.
"What is your name, so we may tell the village."
The traveler smiled, "My name is Ryder."
The boys bowed. "Thank you, your holiness."
Ryder looked down at Chase. "Let's see what's at the top of this peak. Keep your eyes open, Chase. The Yao Guai could be anywhere."
"Don't worry, Master," said Chase as he shook his hands to loosen them up, "I can already smell it from here."
The two climbed several steep sets of stairs but it did not take very long to reach the top. It was a slight surprise that children even found it amusing enough to climb rather than give up and turn around. But at the top Ryder and Chase saw the dead ruins and trees. The dry bushes and dead grass and bare stone.
Ryder closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them, for one small brief moment he could see the ruins complete and whole, like the old days. But in an instant, they were gone, back to their dead and decrepit appearance. This was an evil place back in the days of the great war. It was no wonder that a Yao Guai would seek refuge here.
"I can smell it strongly here," Chase said. He readied himself throwing his cloak around his throat revealing his five extra swords on his back. Two crossed like an "X" while a third which was larger than the rest rested in the middle of them. The last two swords rested side by side at the small of his back their handles facing out at either side. "It's close."
"Right." Ryder quickly unwrapped the cloth around the object that he'd been carrying around. It was a clay tablet with several scriptures written on it. He looked it over quickly then flipped it around until he found the one he was looking for. "Ah, here it is. Uh…Here we go… I call upon the evil spirit who dwells here! You live in rebellion to the decree our lord and master the Holy of Holies. Come out and face me!"
"Holy of Holies?" A boy's voice echoed. Ryder looked to his right and saw a passage of stairs. In it, a boy stood who looked completely normal. "Holy of Holies!" The boy in a flash reached part way down the steps. A second flash and he was a third of the way down, but the third flash he was only a foot away from Ryder. Ryder jumped back with a yelp. "I know of whom you speak of but I don't know you!" The boys chuckled darkly. "You are as foolish as the children who came here before you. It only been six hours, and I will enjoy my first meal…" The boy's eyes changed, like a tiger's and his teeth grew sharp. His tongue was long and serpentine. "You should have met the boy… so kind… so gentle…such a rubble and so tasty… I wonder now, how you will taste."
Ryder sneered and gripped his tablet. "You won't even get the chance to learn. Chase, by the authority of the gods above, I command you stand and fight!"
The sound of swords being drawn drew the Yao Guai's attention and it turned to see the little dog before him throwing his cloak to the side. "You won't escape me this time…"
The Yao Guai shrieked and faced Ryder who wore a smug grin now. "You don't smell like a Demon Hunter!"
"Because, to you, I'm worse," Ryder said as he raised his tablet, "I'm an Exorcist."
The Yao Guai screeched and attacked Chase, but Chase was already moving out of the way and cutting its leg. It grew long claws then blocked Chase's second blow. Chase and the Yao Guai struck and blocked back and forth until the Yao Guai pulled away and jumped to get some distance. Chase, however, was unwilling to give it any and quickly jumped after it. He sheathed the sword on his upper back and drew the ones located at the small of his back, wielding them in a reverse blade technique. They were lighter and let him glide in the air. Once close enough he summersaulted and attempted to stab the Yao Guai with both his blades, but it blocked and managed to redirect the blades over its head.
Chase kicked away and threw both swords at him. They flew towards The Yao Guai but it parried the blades, knocking them away. Chase landed on the ground and drew the swords at his side and pointed them at the blades he had before. The swords straightened out then began to return to him being sheathed almost as soon as they recovered. By then the Yao Guai landed and both it and Chase charged forth to engage once more. Chase blocked right and parried Yao Guai hissed and stopped a fatal blow. Chase stabbed and cut and spun, matching its every strike and swipe. But one small moment, he let his guard down, having been slightly overconfident and was kicked in the back as he spun around to strike again. Chase rolled to recover, and sheathed his swords on his side then tried to draw the lighter blades that were located at the small of his back again, but he didn't have time.
The demon tried to seize the advantage and swipe downward to shed him to pieces, but Chase jumped and kicked the striking hand before it could make its blow. He engaged the Yao Guai in hand-to-hand combat, blocking blow after blow then managing to grip its right hand and flip it over his back and on the ground. Chase drew the light blade with his right hand and tried to stab it, but it rolled and attempted to cut his legs. The other blade was drawn just in time to stop it, and they were engaged in a competition who could stab or swipe the other first. Chase made a stab but the Yao Guai kicked and stopped his hand. It tried to swipe, but Chase blocked it. It used its other hand to try and swipe again, but Chase managed to kick the other hand and stop it. In reaction the Yao Guai used the previous hand that was blocked to try and swipe Chase from below, but he backflipped and gained some distance. Chase sheathed the light blades and switched to the heavy blades located on his upper back. He flourished them skillfully and took another fighting stance.
"Be bound!" by the completion of the words, the Yao Guai felt a heavy weight on its arms and legs and fell to its knees. It hissed at Ryder knowing full well that he was responsible.
"You accursed Western Monk! My teeth to your neck! I will chew on your bones when I finish with your welp!"
Chase jumped in front of Ryder and glared at it. "You have to actually beat me first."
The Yao Guai crossed its arm in a "X" over its chest then threw them out and puffed its chest. The motion made some of the mortal flesh rip and tear as it grew in size. "It'll take a lot more than an incantation of bondage to weigh me down, monk!"
"I'm just getting started," Ryder smirked and began to read again. It charged after him, but Chase jumped up and kicked it in the face. It flew back and into the stair passageway, creating an impact into the stone. Chase jumped after it and tried another downward strike, but the Yao Guai was larger, and it had more claw length to work with. It had shown thus far it knew well how to use it.
Chase backed up again and went for several strikes. He had to jump up to make up for his lack of size. The Yao Gui was on the defensive for now, but it ran up the stairs and tore at itself to try and rid itself of the mortal flesh and bones thus grow more in size. The bondage incantation was beginning to look more and more obsolete. Its voice became noticeably deeper.
"You came here thinking you could return me to the nether, but you know not what you came to face!"
"That's what they all say," Chase said switching his two swords for the largest one on his back. He gripped it with both his hands and closed the distance in an instant. It was clear Ryder hand completed another inscription.
The Yau Guai was becoming noticeably more nervous. Ryder raced up the stairway so he could continue to watch the battle then be ready to exercise the demon… If it could be done…
The Yao Guai dueled with the small dog that was ten times shorter than it by now, but still a great handful to deal with. Now that it was larger, Chase could slip through its claws and zip around its heels. He managed to cut the tendons at the back of its feet forcing it to kneel then backed away. He jumped up then came down with a mighty blow, his now large sword gleaming with a crack of sunlight through the dark clouds above. When he came down, the Yao Guai tried to block as well as the sun blinding it but this time the sword cut right threw every one of its claws. It screamed in pain as his blade cut through its fat nose and it fell back in pain, unable to stand and unable to bear the pain of a holy blade stinging burning and cutting its flesh and claws.
Chase seized the opportunity, and Ryder began to shout the final inscription. "Oh, you evil and terrible spirit. Listen and obey. You are no longer welcome here and we revoke your evil contracts and null your evil rights. You are banished from this body! I command you, out of him! Come out!" Ryder began to speak in a gibberish language, but the Yao Guai wanted to close its ears.
"No! I won't! I won't!" It tried to strike once again.
Chase drew one of the swords from his back and quickly stabbed it into one of its hands. The blade grew until it was deeply rooted into the earth. Chase saw the other hand try to grab him and cut it then drew the second sword and jumped up coming down once again to stab its other hand. The blade also grew and pinned the hands down. Chase then sheathed his large blade and drew one of the swords on his sides and stabbed it into a foot. He took the other one and stabbed that one into the other foot. The Yao Guai was effectively pinned. Ryder continued the inscription, and Chase drew his large sword again, in case… he had no choice.
"Cease your rebellion and be compelled by the Holy of Holies. In the name of the God of the three realms and the master of the earth and waters and sky, I command you out! Out of him now! I compel you by the Holy Word and the Yah and by the authority granted unto me! Out of the boy!"
"I do not recognize you, you weak worded worm! We do not speak of you like we speak of your master!" Ryder frowned and stepped back. Chase noticed how shaken he was and readied his blade. Time was running out.
"I do not care if you have heard of me or not, you will obey me as a disciple of Yesh!"
"He said he would send those with authority, but I see no authority with you! Save your breath and throw away your tablets. Your incantation has no power over me!" The Yao Guai began to fight the swords in his limbs and stand up.
"Ryder!" Chase gripped his sword.
"No! I can still do this. "Be still, demon! Tell me your name. What right to you have to deny me?"
"I won't answer! I won't!" The Yao Guai screamed as it pulled it hands nearly free. Chase didn't wait any longer he jumped up and his sword landed into the heart of the Yao Guai. "Gaaaaah!"
It looked down at its chest and Saw Chase there, glaring into its eyes. "Return to the pits of hell, nether-spawn and never return! This, you are commanded, by will of the Holy of Holies." Chase twisted the blade then pulled it free."
The Yao Guai rattled and laid hits head back then slowly turned to ash. Chase's swords clattered on the ground, and he landed softly on it. With his work down he sheathed his sword and snapped his finger. The other swords returned to their scabbards and his cloak flying to him, he recomposed and faced Ryder.
"It had to be done. I'm sorry. Better the Yao Guai be killed then to let it loose upon the world for a second attempt."
"I know…," Ryder said looking at the tablet in his hand. "I was so sure this time… so sure, yet… It always ends the same. They look at me, laugh, and… they tell me I don't have any authority. I don't understand what I'm doing wrong. I'm practicing, I'm praying, I'm completing every task set before me, but… It brings me no closer to the answer…"
Chase froze for a moment then shook the ash out of his fur. "Am I free to rest?"
"Yes," Ryder replied. "You have done your duty. Rest now."
Chase put on his hood and nodded then disappeared in an instant. For a time, Ryder was alone. But soon, Chase came to his side again. "For what it's worth… you didn't come here with a promise to free the boy. You came here with the promise to avenge his family. You did that. They will have some measure of peace because of you."
Ryder frowned. "But no joy to share… Is that nor more desirable?"
Chase sighed and disappeared. Ryder was now alone with his thoughts. He turned around and saw the dragon alter and took a deep breath. There was only one thing left to do now. He stood up and approached the statue then gripped it as best he could and began to tip it forward. The statue shattered and let out a scream that went as soon as it came. His work was done.
"Your contract in this mountain is herby terminated. You have no legal right to enter here now. Vile demons." Ryder left the temple and began to walk down the stairs. It was time to deliver the only good news he had. He was saddened he could not deliver better.