p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222;"Night was slowly losing its inky black hues to the deep blue of dawn. One by one the stars grew fainter until they disappeared completely but still the moon shone, bathing the village in its silvery light. In the stillness of early morning the village was silent, its inhabitants asleep, as two figures performed their martial dance in the courtyard./p
p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222;"Mingyu's gait was light and agile as she transitioned from one stance to another with the fluidity of flowing water. Her palms and fists cut through the air with quick but powerful strikes, years of harsh training on Songshan giving each blow a beautiful but deadly kind of grace. She leaped into the air, extending one leg upwards and outwards in a powerful flying kick. For a moment she hung in midair as though about to obtain flight, before gravity pulled her down and she folded both legs beneath her body to fall into a half-seated stance./p
p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222;"She looked up, sweat beading her forehead like drops of crystal dew on grass. On the other side of the courtyard Eliot stepped with powerful, calculated steps as he moved through the forms his Master had taught him, letting the cool em style="box-sizing: border-box;"yin/em energy of morning nourish his spirit and focus his mind on the invisible opponent in his mind's eye./p
p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222;"He heard her soft footfalls a second before he sensed her strike. Turning his left foot outwards, Eliot shifted his body away from the direction of Mingyu's attack, leaving her to strike only empty air./p
p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222;"The sun broke through the horizon, bathing the village in its warm glow. Two figures stood facing each other across the courtyard, presenting the salute of the sun and moon as true warriors do. From the dense branches of a tree a lark burst into song and a fierce battle began./p
p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222;"Mingyu ducked to avoid Eliot's powerful fists, twisting her body and kicking up her legs in a single movement. Eliot stepped back in time to avoid the blow of her butterfly kick. Mingyu's fist was already flying towards him even before her feet touched the ground. But Eliot was fast and countered her attack by pushing her wrist back. In turn, Mingyu shifted her weight to her right foot, leaning back and extending her left leg outwards to balance herself. She caught Eliot's eye, brown eyes locking onto blue. In that single breath of time both fighters extended a silent acknowledgement of the other's skill./p
p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222;""Excellent work, young Eliot." Eliot nearly dropped Mingyu in surprise at his Master's voice. Pulling her to her feet, he turned to see Gen Fu entering the courtyard with a straw hat on his head./p
p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222;""Master! Where have you been?"/p
p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222;"Gen Fu made no reply as he shuffled towards the kitchen. A piece of paper fell out of the folds of his robe as he went, falling to the ground as noiselessly as a leaf in autumn. Across the top in bold letters was printed the words 'Dead or Alive World Combat Championships'. "What is this, Master?" Eliot asked, picking up the parchment./p
p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222;"The outlines of two figures locked in mortal combat was painted across the page. "'Calling all fighters'," Eliot read. "Pit your skills against the world's greatest fighters and prove that you are the best martial artist of all. Attractive cash prizes to be won.' Master, are you—are you thinking of entering?"/p
p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222;"Gen Fu kept his back towards them as he hung up his hat on a hook on the wall. "It is the only way."/p
p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222;""The only way...to what?"/p
p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222;""The prize money will be enough to pay for Meilin's treatment in the hospital."/p
p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222;"Though Eliot's face remained calm Mingyu sensed that he was trying not to cry, or shout, or otherwise let his emotions break through his tranquil facade. "The monks told me of such competitions," she said, her voice sounding too loud in the echoing confines of the dusty kitchen. "They are brutal. Few that enter leave without injury. The penalty for losers is death…The truly unlucky ones have their skills completely destroyed."/p
p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222;"Gen Fu turned around, his face as impassable and unreadable as ever. "Nothing matters to me more than my granddaughter's life."/p
p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222;"Eliot opened his mouth to protest, but Gen Fu held up his hand. "You will continue your training without me, Eliot. Prepare the morning meal; I am going to the pharmacist to get more herbs for Meilin."/p
p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222;""Yes, Master." Eliot's stomach twisted as he watched Gen Fu walk away. He looked so old, so broken, leaving no trace of the strong and wise man who had taken Eliot in and taught him the noble art of Xingyi Quan. Eliot's hands curled into fists at his side, crushing the poster. He had a sudden urge to throw it into the fire as though that could burn away the spirits of disease that plagued Meilin or the sadness that resided within his Master's heart./p
p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222;"Needing to be alone to steady his thoughts, he told Mingyu to take her bath while he prepared the morning meal. For Mingyu this meant entering a little wooden shack at the far end of the courthouse and scooping cold water from a large wooden tub over her body using a wooden pannikin. By the time she headed back towards the house, cool and fresh, Eliot was already bent over the stove from which drifted the delicious smells of soymilk and burning firewood./p
p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222;"Eliot ladled out bowls of piping hot congee, setting them on the table along with dishes of pickled vegetables, century eggs and warm soymilk to drink. "I hope you like peasant fare. If we were rich I would prepare an Imperial Banquet for you."/p
p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222;"Mingyu laughed as she scooped up a spoonful of silky smooth congee. "Compared to what we eat in the temple, this is a banquet." She cast a glance across the courtyard to Meilin's room. "What about Meilin?" she asked./p
p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222;""I will bring the food to her later. Let her sleep. It is rare that she is able to sleep through the night. Most nights she cannot sleep for the pain."/p
p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222;"Mingyu looked at him with sympathy. "Is it that bad?"/p
p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222;""It is much worse. The em style="box-sizing: border-box;"yueziran/em herbs are a good painkiller, but they are not a permanent solution." What was it about Mingyu that made Eliot feel as though he could trust her? "She grows weaker each day. I worry that she does not have much time left, and Master…" Eliot's words trailed off and he became very pale, staring past Mingyu into the empty courtyard beyond./p
p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222;"In his silence Mingyu understood his fear and grief. She had never met Meilin before; she had come to live with Gen Fu sometime in the years after he'd stopped visiting the temple. But Mingyu had seen the worry lines that had aged the old Master much faster than was normal, had heard the despair and heartbreak in Eliot's voice when he talked about the girl's illness. Even though her own heart ached to see a child so young suffer so greatly, a part of Mingyu was ashamed that deep in the shadowy recesses of her heart where no light ever shone, she couldn't help feeling just the faintest twinge of jealousy of the concern the girl received from Eliot and Gen Fu./p
p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222;"Gen Fu returned just as Mingyu and Eliot were finishing their breakfast. "I will bring Meilin her breakfast," he told Eliot, scraping the remains of the congee into a bowl. Mingyu placed her veiled wicker hat onto her head and bowed to take leave of the old Master and thank him for his hospitality./p
p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222;""Thank you for having me, Sir. No palace could have compared with the richness of your abode nor the warmth of your hospitality."/p
p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222;"Gen Fu placed a hand on Mingyu's head as he had a hundred times when she was but a child. The weight was comforting and familiar to her as the taste of the candied haw the old Master would often press into her hands whenever he came to visit the temple. "Goodbye," he said. "And good luck. My door will always be open to you...Come and visit again soon."/p
p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222;""I would like that," Mingyu said, but her eyes were not on the old Master but on the young apprentice standing behind him. "I would really like that."/p