Fourth Entry Since Leaving Yindu Kingdoms
To our pleasant surprise the cave has finally released us from its clutches. Never before have I felt so relieved and delighted during a journey, even in my younger days when I first began to travel. We are continuing the voyage as planned and the men are now breathing with more ease since they have been released by the overwhelming tunnel. A very large and imposing tower or structure of some sort guards the exit of the foreboding tunnel though it seems it has long been abandoned and left to ruin with its mighty black gates left wide open. The river of the tunnel has now expanded into another sea and on its edges are grasslands, hills, and snowy mountains. We are still sailing in loyalty to our general direction but our South-Pointer Needle no longer pointed in any specific direction but instead spun and twitched every which way. It is eerily mysterious. The sun does not shine here and the clouds thick and gray hang low over the horizon. We thought it best to sail close to the nearest shore so that we may observe the land beyond. I cannot even recognize any of the trees in the distance and the plants that grew in the grass are so foreign. Some even sparkled or shone orange and yellow like fireflies at night. Beasts I have never seen in any of the barbarian kingdoms we have visited roam this land in thunderous herds whilst wearing upon their heads swirling horns of ones or threes. I stood at their sight in absolute awe of their spectacle until a flying black creature akin to a phoenix swooped in and snatched away one of them and therefore disappeared into the clouds. The men were shocked and did not know what to make of it and stood there bows and guns pointed at the sky and their eyes wide open. The temperature here has become much more tolerable but the weather is not at all unlike the winters of the Northern Steppe where the horsemen live. I have just come to realize that this place has an eerie silence, one that has allowed me to listen to the creeks and groans of our ship. I have never heard them before.
Fifth Entry Since Leaving Yindu Kingdoms
Our fleet has been sailing up against this river for some time. How we are able to proceed against the current is beyond my ability to comprehend. We had finally come upon a narrow bay where our ships managed to anchor not far from shore. Upon stepping foot onto the shore we were soon greeted by an entourage of soldiers clad in costumes and armor I have never before seen. A light company of soldiers amongst our crew immediately drew their weapons ready to protect the Admiral from these very strange looking men. The foreigners however, sat on their steeds calmly staring at us as if they already knew what we were. When the atmosphere had calmed, the Admiral and the officers respectfully introduced themselves though I could not tell if these natives understood. What was most astonishing however, were the features of their faces. Their cheek bones are high and strongly defined and their skin were as if it had been bleached with snow itself. They’ve ears pointing sharply away from their eyes, eyes which were red as molten steel. I have seen the eyes of men and they have always been black, brown, and even blue or green… but never red. I am beginning to question the humanity of these people. They ride upon large beasts as foreign as those we witnessed running in herds, and were heavier and more muscular than our horses, but just as imposing as the natives of this strange land. Even now as the men are setting up camp along the shore, the pale natives are watching us waiting to present us to their king, chief, or to whomever they have placed their loyalties. I am not comfortable in the presence of the natives. Zheng He however, wishes to proceed with his diplomatic mission. We make preparations to depart as I write. I fear this will not end well. I depart with the admiral and a company of soldiers. My heart is trembling. This place is under the dominion of something dark and I feel oppressed here.
The rest of the men sense it too.
Sixth Entry Since Leaving Yindu Kingdoms
Half a day on horseback has allowed us some time to continue to survey the vast landscape in this kingdom. I suspect that it is but one of many on the fringes of a vast continent. The terrain has changed very little and the plains and cold grasslands have sparse tree lines with wooded areas covering the slopes of the distant mountains. Our communication with the welcoming party has been limited to hand gestures and bodily motions. I have yet to see them smile nor have I noticed any hint of pleasure in their demeanors which causes me to wonder if our arrival has left them somewhat displeased. Being around them has been quite unnerving to say the least. Telling time has also proven to be a challenge as there is no sun to gauge the hour nor is there any real sense of night and day. Here the pale sky does nothing more than change its contrast in the slightest. The only real wonder I can experience in this place comes from observing the strange new wildlife that roam the wilderness and the vast variety of enchanted plants spread all throughout the ground.
Seventh Entry Since Leaving Yindu Kingdoms
At long last we have made our way into what appears to be a castle or fortress of sorts. It is nestled in the heart of a deep frozen valley surrounded by steep towering mountains of rock and ice. It was a majestic sight our eyes could barely behold. We are now seated in one of their halls waiting to make contact with one who holds authority over the natives. Our journey to this castle has allowed us to bear witness to their dwellings –which feels much more like a garrison than anything else. They are a martial people. Their warriors patrol the streets around the fortress in small groups and all have given us cold hard glances as we passed them by –emotionless and stiff. There appears to be no room for festivities in their culture. Surely it is a military outpost. For this settlement harbors no restaurants, homes, and places of learning; we find instead storehouses, training grounds for troops, and living quarters for both martial and civilian people. Their structures are quite magnificent to say the least for they are quite fond of towers and spires made of very large and monumental stones upon which they engrave their art. Indeed this is some form of government outpost, not a town. As we wait to meet their commanding officer, I have had much time to admire their halls of dark stones and metals of black purple outlined with linear designs of gold. Zheng He and the soldiers in our company are exceedingly anxious and unsure of what to expect. A conflict of any sort is the last thing they wish on foreign soil.
Tenth Entry Since Leaving Yindu Kingdoms
This will be my final entry until we return to Nanjing. Admiral Zheng He lays in his quarters severely injured from our failed diplomatic mission to the unknown civilization at the bottom of the world. These ‘Terukk’ are absolutely not to be trusted. They have charmed us with the fruits of their civilization, their wealth, and knowledge as if in an attempt to make us tributaries of them. Such a proposition is unthinkable and therefore we refused. I am fortunate to have been among those who survived. It was through sheer luck that we managed to escape their outpost. The soldiers in our company took great risks and paid a high price for our escape when the day grew eerily dark. Even the admiral was not unscathed. His condition worsens by the hour.
We pushed the horses for as far and long as possible barely able to reach camp by the bay. We scrambled to break camp and lost many precious hours trying to make it aboard our vessels. We have lost many ships and many brave warriors not to mention the loss of the eighth and ninth entry of this expedition. I am not even certain if the Admiral will survive our trip back to the Middle Kingdom. In short, our refusal to accept the Terukk lord’s offer was taken as an insult in the same manner a slave would refuse his master’s goodwill. We were ordered to leave the land at once to tell the emperor of what has transpired here but as we prepared to depart, their forces attacked us with bombards raining down upon the fleet. We returned fire with all that we had as we rowed and sailed directly to the dark cave while the enemy ships pursued us. Our cannons and rockets kept them at bay while the mysterious and unlikely wind like the one we had felt upon leaving Yindu once again carried our ships through the darkness. This to me is unexplainable but I am forever thankful for the favor. We slowed them as best we could, spilling barrel upon barrel of oil from the stern and set it alight.
Some of their ships were consumed by the fires. Others still pursued us. Cannons were aimed at the cave’s ceiling, raining mountains of rock and ice in the path of our pursuers. This strategy costed us an escort ship. We could not rescue those who fell overboard.
As soon as we exited the long cave we exhausted all our bombs and rockets into its mouth and sealed it shut with so much stone and ice that only a dragon could roll them away. I doubt that it will hold them permanently but we will be able to land in Yindu in peace. I will never forget the face of the one who commanded that outpost. Exceedingly beautiful was she, but full of ill-will and malice. She desired for us to become the servants of her empire, telling us that her people heralded the creation of a new world. Should she and her forces arrive onto the shores of the Middle Kingdom, she shall experience the full wrath of our forces. Something must be done to prepare the people for this impending doom. Never before in the history of the known world have a people such as the Terukk possess such a capacity for arrogance and insolence. Of this I can be certain.
7 HOMECOMING
THE PROVINCE OF HUGUANG IS home to much history.It is a land of farms, tall vertical green mountains, the majestic river Yangtze— the life blood of the Middle Kingdom, and where Sun Xin’s master had trained him in the combative arts, mainly the sword. It was also here where Sun Xin built his foundations and where he ultimately decided to find his own truth, just as he had told his master several years ago. He was headed for a wealthy village not far from the ancient city of Jingzhou. It was in this village where his master had carved for himself a life of simplicity crafting furniture and wooden goods. Xin was hesitant to meet him. He ran from his teachings in arrogance and disrespect so he had many doubts he would be overjoyed to see his prodigal “son” returning home, much less allow him to complete his training.
He sighed at the poor state in which he had left and regretted the utter disrespect he had displayed that day. He was naïve and immature. Nevertheless, he proceeded into the village on horseback and made his way slowly through the main road. The place was more beautiful than he remembered. The surroundings were lush and so peaceful, and the homes were constructed with ornate beauty and classical architecture. Some of the townspeople turned to look at the handsome, dark, and mysterious visitor sitting erect on his steed as he headed towards the woodshop sitting on a hill above the village. He kept a straight face although he could not help but wince upon hearing them whispering as he passed by. They remembered him and what happened that day so he did not expect to be thought of highly in these parts.
His master was highly respected and esteemed here, and Xin already felt as if he was unwelcome. At the base of the hill, he parked the horse in a small stable and continued on foot up the slope where he could already hear the sawing, carving, and the hammering from the woodshop. The smell of fresh cut wood and processed lacquer revived many memories of life here, in this humble estate built in such a beautiful place. He took a deep breath and entered the woodshop where a few workers, some of whom he still recognized, stopped to look to see what looked like a potential customer entering their shop. One of them, an elderly woman named Mang stopped what she was doing immediately and walked directly to Xin to examine his face. Her eyes began to water and she embraced Xin.
“You have returned!” she cried. “Our little Xin has come back home.”
The rest of the workers crowded around him, patting him on the shoulder with smiles and claps as he craned his neck in search for his master.
“Master Lo and the young lady went into Jingzhou with the wagon two days ago to sell our latest output this year. His business has blossomed over the years, dear Xin. We expect their return before nightfall,” she said.
“I see. That is very good, granny Mang,” he replied in kind.
“We are very glad to see you and I am happy you are safe in your adventures out there,” she continued. “Oh, you’ve grown even more handsome. Have you had supper?”
“I am quite alright, granny Mang. Thank you. It is very good to see you too.” Xin smiled slightly but it was apparent to Mang that he was apprehensive for his master’s return.
“He was very devastated, you know. When you left that day it was as if his hopes and dreams had fallen apart. He stayed in his room completely quiet for three days with no food or drink,” she commented. “We were quite worried about him.”
“Do you think he will accept me again?”
“Oh, I’m sure he will be quite happy that you have returned although knowing him he will not show it. He is a good man and you were like the son he never had,” she assured him. “He saved me too, you know, just like he saved you.”
With one leg resting across the other, Sun Xin sat at the front porch of his master’s home to await his return. He recalled the days he spent growing up here training, learning, and working at the shop and many times being the only playmate to his master’s then very young daughter.
Huguang was quite a scenic province especially here, where he grew up. He wondered how did not appreciate such a thing when he was younger. Perhaps his experiences in the world beyond this village had opened his eyes to see more of the subtle pleasures in life. He sat there until the sun had begun to set behind the hills and the distant mountains of dense green. As the sunlight bathed the hillside with gold and yellow, the sounds of horse hooves and the rumbling of wagon wheels made its way up the hill. A covered wagon pulled by two horses stopped in front of the ancestral shrine. As the driver prepared to disembark, Xin approached him with his shoulders hunched, head lowered, and hat held loosely in his hands.
“It has been a long while, Master,” said Xin meekly. Master Lo, as he was known, continued with his business as if hearing nothing, not even bothering to lay eyes on Xin.
“If you have come to purchase my wood work, you are too late. I have sold every piece at the city, but you already knew that so I am assuming you are here on other business,” he said with a timbre of indifference.
Master Lo had grown advanced in his years but he conducted himself with the same strength and discipline Xin had always known.
“Master, I have returned to humbly request that I finish the training I started in my youth… and to beg for your forgiveness,” Xin said.
“Why do you call me ‘Master’? I have not had a student in many years. I do not teach anyone any skills but that of the proper crafting of wood,” he replied coldly.
Xin frowned though remained undeterred by his master’s cold attitude. He fell on his knees and wrapped his fist tightly into his hand and pleaded.
“Master, if there be any ounce of regard in your heart for your lost student may it be that you find a place to forgive the insolence I have displayed before you many years ago,” he beseeched.
Master Lo paused for a brief moment, looked up, and sighed. He then continued into his home without speaking another word. The wagon creaked and the sound of light footsteps emerged from it.
“Could it be? Is that you, Xin?” a soft and sweet feminine voice asked from behind.
Xin stood and turned to face her. A young and fair maiden emerged from the carriage, her eyes gleaming in the late afternoon sunlight and her soft flowing hair adorned a delicate and exquisite face whose radiance was only amplified by the golden sun. Xin was immediately taken by her. She emerged from the wagon, hair flowing down to her small waist. She grinned from ear to ear when her eyes met with Xin’s.
“I cannot believe that it is really you! You have grown taller… but your face has not changed a bit,” she remarked. She giggled cheerfully as she wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. She embraced him. An embrace. Xin could not remember the last time he had received one. It was very warm and comforting but it gave him goosebumps.
“You… er… have grown much as well, Meiling. Where the years have made me courser and darker you have blossomed like a chrysanthemum in the valley fields,” Xin said bowing his head slightly.
He found it awkwardly difficult to lay eyes upon her without be
coming… overwhelmed by her loveliness. He was not accustomed this feeling and it made him lightheaded. She blushed and laughed gently. Even the sound of her laughter was enough to lift the gloomiest of spirits.
“I’m overjoyed to see you again, Xin. Never mind my father, he does miss you, he just refuses to admit it.”
“I know. I regret hurting him and I regret hurting you. I was so possessed by my self-centered ambitions that I did not take into account others I cared about,” Xin confessed, still mesmerized by her.
“’Ling! Come inside. Now!” shouted Lo from the distance.
“Don’t fret, dear Xin. I will speak to my father. Your return has made my week. I know that father is happy as well. He’ll realize it soon enough.”
That night, Xin stayed inside his master’s old tool shed where he sat lost in thought. His vambraces, sword, and crossbow were neatly placed alongside his hat and boots. He could not help but ponder upon the past and remember the good life he enjoyed in this very place. He threw it all away. Was he a fool or was he right to have followed his heart?
A knock on the shed’s door shook him from his thoughts as Meiling walked in with a tray of dinner along with some mats and a blanket. She smelled of plums and peaches –a sweet, rare fragrance to Xin who, on the other hand smelled of dust and mud. He felt rather embarrassed about it now that he was around Meiling.
The Sage, the Swordsman and the Scholars Page 10
