by Shinn A. H.
“Upward fist block!”
The monks blocked with their right arm over their heads and then with their left arm when ordered by their instructor.
“Five kick combo — GO!”
At the same time, they kicked forward, sideways, and back, starting with their right leg and ending with their left. Their kicks were powerful, but also aesthetic, going around their bodies in a full circle, like a choreographed dance.
Jory let out another “Wow,” which this time caught everyone’s attention. This ended their training and they all rushed over to see the guests.
The monks swarmed Kellie and greeted her in Mandarin with excitement.
“She is a young woman now!”
“She looks strong!”
“Her kung fu must be excellent.”
Kellie was overwhelmed with emotion seeing them again and had to force back her tears. Even though the monastery was in poor condition, she felt as if she’d come home; the monks were her family, the ones who took her in and raised her.
Master Zheng came out of the crowd of monks and said, “Master Chen called us when he…ahem…found your letter.”
“I came to help…” she said flatly, noting the discontent in his voice, though still his usual calm self. The others seemed pleased to see her, as it had been many years.
With a sigh, he asked, “Does Master Chen know you made it here? He was stressed with worry.”
“I called him when I was in Du Zhen and left him a message. He didn’t answer his phone.”
“We will contact him again,” he said, the only one not smiling. “And who are these people?” Master Zheng asked, after noticing Jake and Jory standing behind the crowd, next to Shifu Su.
“These are my friends…Jake and Jory. They surprised me at the airport — they didn’t want me to come alone.”
“Ahhh,” he said, nodding his head, “they are good friends.” He turned to a few monks and instructed them to get the dining hall ready for a dinner celebration. “Shifu Han!” he called. Out from the group of monks, marched up a tall and wide monk. “Shifu Han, please escort Jake and Jory to the guest room.”
The boys looked up at the large monk with apparent intimidation. Shifu Han gazed down at them and grunted, causing Jake and Jory to tremble in their shoes.
“Go on,” said Master Zheng. “Shifu Han will take you to your room — We will let you know when dinner is ready.”
Without saying a word, Jake and Jory flashed Kellie a look and then followed Shifu Han from a safe distance.
“Shifu Yee — please take Kellie to her old room,” said Master Zheng. “We will see you at dinner.”
Before she could say anything else to him, he turned around and left. The rest of the monks scattered like marbles, as there was still much work to do for the move. Shifu Yee collected her bag and guided her to her room. When he pushed open the familiar door, everything was the way she left it; nothing was moved.
“Fortunately, we have not packed your room yet,” said Shifu Yee, speaking in Mandarin. Smiling at her, he said, “How well you have grown….”
“Shifu Yee — when will you be leaving here?” she replied back in his native tongue.
“A few of us has already left — to prepare the new monastery. The rest of us will be gone in three days.”
“Have there been any more attacks?”
With his palms pressed together, in a thankful gesture, he said, “No. We take turns taking watch of the monastery. Some of us did not want to leave the place — but after the brutal assault on Shifu Tao, we could no longer take the risk. Bao Yu — it is not your fault,” he said, reading her facial expression. To lighten her mood, he said, “We will have a special dinner for you and your guests….It is truly joyful to see you again.”
He left Kellie alone in her old room, which seemed a lot smaller now. She spotted an old doll she used to play with and picked it up; one of its button eyes was missing. A wave of sadness fell upon her: Shifu Lau had made it for her. Since she was frantically swept away to America, most of her belongings were left at the monastery. She remembered crying to Master Chen for her rag doll on the ride to the airport, but they didn’t have time to retrieve it.
Kellie placed it next to her suitcase.
KNOCK! KNOCK!
She opened the door hoping it was her friends, but it was Master Zheng and he still had a stern imprint on his face.
“I will make this short — you and your friends had a long arduous trip. I just spoke to Dr. and Mrs. Lee and they have agreed to take the three of you in until your flight back to America. We will take you to their home tomorrow after breakfast.”
“But —”
“I understand why you came — It was the wrong decision. You are still a child and should not take matters into your own hands.” Kellie couldn’t bare his disappointment, never experiencing this side of him. “We spoke with Master Chen —”
“And?”
“He went to the airport, but all the flights were booked. I promised him we would guard you and send you back safely. The monks will be watching you and your room until your departure.” He walked over to the door and when he put his hand on the knob, Kellie desperately asked, “What about the Legend of Anguo?”
Opening the door and looking out at the darkening sky, he said, “I haven’t seen any birds for a long while. Without birds, the insects have been overpopulating and we had been fighting infestations….Now, the bugs are dying. Unexplainable illnesses have plagued some people — the earth is dry — the sun still concealed….Nothing has changed. We were mistaken.” He left her feeling dejected.
Kellie’s stomach growled ferociously as she sat stiffly on her bed, sensing that the trip was a huge mistake. Master Chen will probably never trust her again and she had never seen Master Zheng so displeased. Well, how could she blame them? She ran off alone to another country and brought two of her friends along. Jake and Jory lied to their parents, and what would happen if they found out? Their parents will most likely think she is a bad influence and forbid them from seeing her anymore.
Well, on the bright, but selfish side, she got to see the monks and Taiping Monastery one last time. At least she will have one more moment with them before leaving there forever.
Hungrier than ever, she freshened up and decided to head to the dining hall. When she exited her room, she saw two monks standing guard, and one of them accompanied her to dinner. Walking down the dirt pathway, she again noticed how the landscape wasn’t like it used to be. Where green grass once thrived, weeds and soil occupied its area. Crispy leaves barely hung on the branches of the dreary trees, and it saddened her to see them trying to survive.
When she reached the dining hall, she didn’t expect to see what was prepared that evening in the short amount of time. The monks lived a humble and simple life and every aspect of it represented modesty, including their meals, which customarily consisted of the essential nutritional basics. Tonight was an obvious exception: they had prepared a feast for her and her friends.
Ogling the array of food, Kellie hoped no one saw the drool in the corner of her mouth. There was an abundance of fish, lobster, shrimp, and even a roasted turkey and whole pig. Displayed was every fruit she knew existed, as well as a never-ending tray of Chinese pastries.
The room was decorated with red paper lamps and origami, and a group of monks played musical instruments; a festive celebration was underway.
“Bao Yu!” Shifu Su was the first to receive her.
“Shifu Su! The food — it all looks and smells delicious! How did you prepare all this? The vegetation —”
“Other monasteries sending much of staple. We having difficulty growing foods….”
“This celebration,” he said, “is not — er — only welcome for you, but goodbye for us. Oy — it is hard to leave. Grand Master Jing being much dissatisfied if alive.”
“The founder of the monastery?” Kellie admired the paintings of him in and around the buildings when she was a lit
tle girl, but knew very little about him.
“Yes — now who watch over Shenmi Forest?”
“What do you mean?” Kellie thought his statement was odd. Why would anyone need to watch over the forest?
“Grand Master Jing open monastery to protect forest. Our main job, it is. Many explored tip of forest, like Shifu Lau, but only Grand Master Jing go in — very far. He live deep inside and survived dangers — Only one…we think. Others not so lucky….”
This was the first time Kellie heard of this. She never knew there was a reason Taiping Monastery was built here. She had so many questions forming in her head. She was discovered in Shenmi Forest; maybe there was something Grand Master Jing passed on that could help her learn more about the place.
“What did he say about the forest?”
“Nothing,” Shifu Su simply answered. “It was secret. He keep to himself. He leave warnings, but said it was — um — ‘special place…must be protected.’”
“And the others?”
“Kellie!” Jake and Jory yelled, waving at her. They were on the other side of the hall the whole time. They were sitting at one of the long tables that extended from one end of the room to the other, ready to eat.
“Oy — your friends waiting for you,” said Shifu Su and disappeared into the kitchen. Kellie’s curiosity about the others who entered the woods had to wait.
Shifu Han, still accompanying Jory and Jake, looked to have frightened them more than ever.
“Eat!” the huge monk commanded.
Kellie watched as they stared apprehensively at their soup, trying to figure out what the unidentifiable ingredients were floating in it.
Picking up the utensil, they slowly took a taste. After the first spoonful, a smile spread across their faces.
“This is delicious,” remarked Jake. “What kind of soup is this?”
“Eat, eat,” is all that Shifu Han said and left with a smirk.
“The architecture is fascinating,” said Jory, as he slurped on his meal. “How old is the place?”
“About three hundred years old…I think,” said Kellie. “It’s too bad they’ll be leaving….”
“So, what are our plans?” asked Jake, also enjoying his dish.
“We don’t have any,” Kellie said. “They’re sending us back tomorrow. The town doctor, Dr. Lee, and his wife agreed to take us in until the next flight back.”
“Maybe that’s best…” said Jory. “My parents probably miss me.” Kellie suspected he was already homesick and began to feel terrible she let him come.
“We just got here!” said Jake.
“I know. I’m sorry we have to leave so fast….It’s probably better this way….I don’t want my best friends to be in danger.”
Jory beamed at her last words.
Nibbling on a cream-filled pastry, Kellie said, “Shifu Su just told me that Grand Master Jing established this place to protect the forest.”
“Protect it from what?” asked Jake, with his mouth full.
“He didn’t know. Shifu Su said he was the only one they know of to have survived the forest and that he kept his experiences to himself — I want to find out more about Grand Master Jing. There’s a room dedicated to him in the back of the House of Meditation —”
“Did you like?” asked Shifu Han, interrupting them. He stood behind Jake and Jory, his weighty body lingering over them.
“Yes, sir,” they answered, showing him their empty bowls.
“I don’t know what I ate, but it was delicious,” Jake chattered nervously.
“Yeah,” Jory agreed with a shake in his voice. “Tasty.”
“That was intestine soup!” said Shifu Han as he laughed, almost maniacally.
Jake and Jory joined in with a forced laughter.
“I just ate intestine soup?” Jory whispered to Jake.
“You liked it,” Jake whispered back.
Kellie chuckled at her friends. Jake and Jory went for seconds on the intestine soup, while Kellie had her fill on fruit and sweet breads. Precious time was spent that evening with her family, since Kellie wasn’t sure when she would see them again. She took pleasure in seeing the camaraderie between the monks and watching them “let their hair down.” She giggled at the thought since they were all bald. Her adoptive fathers enjoyed listening to her talk about her life in Milldale with Master Chen, and she insisted they come and visit soon.
Jake and Jory began to feel more comfortable with Shifu Han until he said, “All young men who stay at Taiping Monastery must shave heads.” Their faces were angst-ridden until he started laughing boisterously.
At the conclusion of the memorable festivity, Kellie expressed to the monk assigned to safeguard her, Shifu Tan, her interest in visiting Grand Master Jing’s shrine before she retired to her room. He didn’t see any harm in that, so he led her, Jake, and Jory to the House of Meditation.
No matter how many times Kellie had been in the house of peace, she was always pleasured by its beauty. She took off her shoes and entered respectfully. Jake and Jory emulated her action and untied their shoelaces.
The smell of the remnants of burnt-out incense lingered in the air, providing a calm feeling. The ambiance inside remained peaceful, considering the state the monastery was in on the outside.
Kellie knelt down and Jake and Jory followed her lead. She closed her eyes and breathed slowly in and out; she heard them doing the same, mimicking her. After a few minutes, she got up and walked toward the front of the room where there were several doors leading to other rooms. The three of them went through one of the doors, while Shifu Tan stayed back to meditate.
The room was filled with Grand Master Jing’s memorabilia: some of it were his personal possessions; some of it were placed there for his remembrance, like a large portrait of him in a martial art pose with various animals in the background.
Underneath the painting was an old, exotic Asian chest with countless drawers. On top of it, sat more pictures of the first master, as well as an empty incense holder.
“Look at this!” said Jake. “I bet he wore this!” He rubbed the sleeve of what looked like to be a warrior’s robe, hanging on a mannequin.
On the other side of the room, Jory examined trinkets sitting on a table, picking them up carefully, letting out “oohs” and “ahs.”
Kellie was deciding if she should look through the old chest. When she was a little girl, she didn’t dare touch the gold handles hanging from it. Today, she couldn’t fight the urge to explore the antique.
Gently opening and closing each drawer, she found nothing more than dust balls and loose buttons. After going through almost half of them, she was about to give up on the endeavor when she found something.
She pulled out an old, brown leather-bound book, carefully wiped off the dust, and gently stroked the cover, which was badly worn and riddled with cracks and creases. Turning the cover, she saw that the fragile, yellow pages were filled with hand-sketched drawings. The fine illustrated pictures were of different animals and natural scenery.
“Whatcha got there?” asked Jake, peering over her shoulder.
“An art book…I wonder if it was Grand Master Jing’s?”
Flipping through some of the pages, they saw drawings of a crane, tiger, praying mantis, snake, mongoose, and a dragon, as well as a natural water fountain, a bamboo forest, and bizarre flowers.
“Maybe this is like a journal…things he had seen…” said Kellie.
“These animals are similar to the ones hanging on the wall of the studio,” said Jake, rubbing his chin. “…but I don’t get the bug.”
“Ah yes, the praying mantis — You would be astounded by the power in their attacks,” Kellie said.
“Ooh!” Jory let out. He was still playing with the ornamental objects on display and seemed to have discovered something of interest.
“Jory!” Kellie called, as she stuck out her hand holding the art book.
Putting down a shiny metal item, he collected the book fr
om her. “What do you want me to do with this?”
“Put it in your jacket — you’re the only one wearing one.”
“You want me to steal it?” he asked, aghast.
“No, not steal…borrow. I want to look at it some more, tonight. I’ll bring it back before we leave. No one will ever know it was gone.”
Jory hesitantly obliged and stuffed it under his coat.
“Are you three done in here?” Shifu Tan asked, entering the room.
Startled, Jory flinched and crossed his arms tightly in front of him.
“Yes, we’re done,” answered Kellie.
They exited the House of Meditation and entered the dark night, lit by torches lining the pathways. It couldn’t have been more of a perfect evening with the starry sky and crisp cool air. The grimness of the monastery was invisible in the twilight. The flickering light from the flames framed the structural design of the historical buildings, highlighting its beauty that was forgotten during the day.
With his neck cranked back, Shifu Tan said in praise, “My goodness, how lovely the heavens are. I have not seen the stars in ages. It is like they are saying goodbye to us.”
Kellie, Jake, and Jory all admired the exhibit above as they walked to their quarters; though to Kellie, which she kept to herself, the stars appeared to be moving. She squinted at them. They didn’t look blurry, but more as if they were shaking. She rubbed her eyes and just focused on the path ahead. She never did go to the eye doctor.
As the four of them hiked up the secluded part of the monastery, they heard a disturbance in the trees. Whatever was invading the branches was getting louder and closer.
On alert, Shifu Tan got in front of the kids and expanded out his arms like a shield. He scanned the area, his head rotating in every direction. The racket over them now seemed to be just inches away. Kellie knew everyone was thinking the same thing: the intruder. But how could he be in the trees?
A shadow passed over them, and Kellie felt her heart stop at the same time the color drained from Jory and Jake’s faces. Shifu Tan remained calm until a figure flew down at him, swiped him across the head, and disappeared.
“Argh!” cried Shifu Tan, unprepared for the assault. He fell on one knee as Kellie, Jake, and Jory backed away in trepidation.
