Post by tln on Apr 27, 2007 12:02:06 GMT -5
CHAPTER 8
Kong Fung witnessed the royal wedding and coronation. He was one of the honored guests, along with the Li family, and Yat Tang Dai Si who came to share in the happiness of the lovely couple. Kong Fung was truly happy for Sik Sik. He still loved her deeply, but accepted that his love for her must transfer instead to accepting her happiness with Li Tai Gor. And Sik Sik was very much in love and happy. When Kong Fung saluted Li Tai Gor to a drink at the wedding reception, Li Tai Gor, in confidence, made a promise to Kong Fung that he will love, cherish and protect Sik Sik forever. Kong Fung was pleased to hear Li Tai Gor say that, yet still a little uneasy about being the third wheel. Kong Fung did not stay long at the wedding ceremony, but out of love for Sik Sik and respect for Li Tai Gor, he stayed long enough to pay his respects properly.
All through the joyous occasions, the reoccurring and nagging concern for Kong Fung was to find out who implicated Wu Tien Mun for treason. He vowed to avenge Wu Tien Mun’s unjust destruction and honor the lives of his school-mates and all the Wu Tien Mun disciples. Kong Fung could not shake off Li Wai Gut’s comments before he passed away which implicated Li Tai Gor. Kong Fung did not want to believe it and had been trying to find evidence of who was the real mastermind. He was on the right tracks and found out the Minister who carried out the Emperor’s order to attack and destroy Wu Tien Mun.
One night, Kong Fung unexpectedly burst through the Minister’s mansion and fought his way through to finally confront the Minister while he and his family were having dinner. Kong Fung grabbed the Minister by the scruff, whipped the blade of his sword up against the Minister’s neck and demanded to know who ordered the attack on Wu Tien Mun. The Minister was defiant and refused to answer. Kong Fung knew the Minister would remain quiet unless he took greater measures. He released the Minister and pushed him away as he rebounded to quickly grab the Minister’s wife who was cowering and trying to protect their two young children. Kong Fung calmly repeated the question again, only this time, the blade of the sword was up against the Minister’s wife’s neck. The Minister, in great trepidation, pleaded with Kong Fung to release his wife. Kong Fung remained adamant and threatened to kill the wife and each children one by one until the Minister will talk. The Minister, already on his knees begging for his family’s life, finally whispered shakily, “Li Sai Man, the Emperor.”
“Say that name louder! Who was it?” ordered Kong Fung. He thought he heard the name, but it was impossible. It cannot be.
“Li Sai Man, the Emperor,” the shaken Ministered repeated in a louder voice. “Please spare my family’s life. I beg of you.”
“It is him!” Kong Fung declared as he released the Minister’s wife who immediately ran over to her husband’s side, pulling her two crying children along. It was not shocking to him as much as it was in fact his brother and closest friend, Li Tai Gor.
“Why did Li Sai Mun do that? Wu Tien Mun did not have a conflict with him,” queried Kong Fung.
“I do not know. I do not know. Please spare mine and my family’s life. I was merely following orders. I am but a lowly useless servant.”
With disdain for what he heard, Kong Fung walked away and left the Minister’s mansion.
That night, he surreptitiously threw a small knife with a note attached into Li Sai Man’s study, hitting and sticking onto the table where the latter was sitting and reviewing the day’s imperial reports. Sai Man quickly grabbed the knife and pulled the note out and read:
“Meet me at the Huyet Chin Mu Mun Gate at 7 AM tomorrow. Just you and me. Kong Fung.”
Sai Man blanched. “Kong Fung knows,” Sai Man thought. “He finally found out.”
Sai Man consulted with Li Jing, now Li Cheung Qwan, his top advisor. Li Jing advised they had to prepare an army of guards and generals to protect the Emperor.
Sai Man refused, “No, we cannot. He is my brother and closest friend. I cannot hurt him again. I owe him so much already.”
“Your Royal Highness, if I may, you are the Emperor now. Please, you must continue to think of your people. What will they do without you? We must protect you and prepare for the worse.”
CHAPTER 9
The next morning Kong Fung entered the Huyet Chin Mu Mun Gate at 7 AM sharp. It was quiet and desolate. The only person Kong Fung saw was Li Sai Man, standing with a sword in his hands. As Kong Fung advanced, guards appeared from everywhere, through doors of the buildings, alleys, on rooftops, streaming through with swords, bows and arrows.
“May we talk about this Kong Fung? I do not want to kill you. You are my brother and my best friend,” said Sai Man.
“Did you order the destruction of Wu Tien Mun?” demanded Kong Fung.
“Kong Fung, it was not desired . . .,” began Sai Man, who was cut off firmly by Kong Fung.
“Just answer me. Did you order the destruction of Wu Tien Mun?”
“Yes.”
At that Kong Fung unsheathed his sword and the fighting commenced.
Kong Fung killed every guard who came to attack him. Arrows were fired in all directions, and with Kong Fung’s superior martial arts’ skills, he was able to dodge or intercept them all. After fighting for more than an hour, Kong Fung began to feel the affects and started to tire out. He was so close to Li Sai Man. Each time he got close, another ten guards came to attack him. He was able to finally push through and Li Sai Man retreated back against a castle wall, guards intercepting Kong Fung’s sword each time as Li Sai Man finally ran up the castle steps to walkway on the wall. Kong Fung got hurt in the skirmish when a sword from one of the soldiers in the constant onslaught went through and punctured his left shoulder. Kong Fung was weakened from the long fights and wound, but he persevered. He killed pushed forward in his offensive, fought with another general, and managed to kill the general.
At this time, Sik Sik came out from behind the thick wooden doors of the castle walkway, with a litany of guards protecting her. A general, who had tried to dissuade the Empress from leaving the safety of the Imperial Court, followed seconds behind. He was still trying to convince her to go back inside for her safety. The Emperor had ordered him last night to protect the Empress at all costs. In the chaos, Sik Sik managed to run to Sai Man’s side.
“Sai Man, please, do not hurt Kong Fung. Spare his life please.”
“Sik Sik, go back! I will not kill Kong Fung. Please go back inside where it is safe,” Sai Man managed to quickly say to Sik Sik before he turned his direction to the General protecting Sik Sik, “Tseng Cheung Qwan! Protect the Empress! Bring her away from this area now!” barked Sai Man before advancing away from Sik Sik. He did not want her near the fighting. If anything happened to her, he would not be able to forgive himself. As he said that, he saw a guard slip his sword past Kong Fung’s defense, as Kong Fung was fighting off so many other guards simultaneously, to strike Kong Fung from the back. Li Sai Man yelled out, “STOP!” in which the guard stopped in mid-air and in that split second, Kong Fung turned around and struck the guard in the chest with his palm.
Seconds only and Kong Fung was advancing still. He saw Sik Sik. “What is she doing here? Why did she come out?” he thought. He was terribly concerned for her safety during the fighting. He was so glad one of the generals seemed to be able to quickly whisk Sik Sik away. He heard Li Sai Man yell “STOP” and had turned around when he saw the guard about to stab through the back. Li Sai Man had saved his life.
Li Sai Man was unprotected temporarily and Kong Fung took advantage of the timing. Within a couple of stances, he had Li Sai Man under the blade of his sword. He pushed Li Sai Man ahead, with the blade still at Li Sai Man’s neck and told Li Sai Man to tell his guards to be at bay and not to follow them. Li Sai Man ordered his guards to let Kong Fung through and hold ground. And the two were able to push their way through the throngs of guards, Kong Fung’s sword still at Li Sai Man’s neck.
They walked outside the gates to an isolated forestry area. The generals, guards and soldiers did not follow as ordered. Kong Fung dropped the sword from Li Sai Man’s neck and backed up against a tree to lean back and rest from the fighting. He was holding onto this left shoulder in pain as he lost quite a bit of blood from the wound.
“Kong Fung . . .,” began Sai Man.
“No, I just want to ask you why. Why did you have to destroy Wu Tien Mun? They were innocent,” confronted Kong Fung.
“Kong Fung, I needed your help. I asked you to help me so many times, in so many ways. You always refused. You said it was Wu Tien Mun’s policy to not get involved in imperial and government affairs. I could not succeed without you. I am here only with your help.”
“So, you thought it was all right to kill so many innocent lives?”
“It was not right Kong Fung. It is never right to kill innocent lives. But when I am faced with whether to make a sacrifice or face the impoverishment of our country in Li Wai Gut and Li King Sing’s hands, I had to make a choice. I am so sorry. I owe you a lot.”
“Well, one phrase “I am sorry” does not bring back the people and disciples of Wu Tien Mun. There is only one way to solve this debt between us. Stand up and fight.”
“Kong Fung. I do not want to fight you. I owe you a lot already.”
“I said fight!” demanded Kong Fung.
Li Sai Man unsheathed his sword and the two swords clashed in lightening speeds as the two fought. Within a few minutes, Li Sai Man’s sword was whacked out of his hands from Kong Fung’s move, and Kong Fung’s blade landed at Sai Man’s neck again. Li Sai Man dropped to the ground on this back and said, “Kong Fung, to die at your hands will be an honor for me. I am so sorry for what I have done.” With that, Sai Man closed his eyes and prepared to die.
Kong Fung looked down at Sai Man. Thoughts flashed through his mind of Sik Sik and Wu Tien Mun. He knew he could not and would not kill Li Sai Man. Though Li Sai Man treated him callously, what would Sik Sik do without Li Sai Man? He could not allow Sik Sik to end up a widow and the entire country without an Emperor. Wu Tien Mun was gone. He could not bring the people back. He had to move forward. Kong Fung dropped his sword away from Sai Man’s neck.
“I regret two things in my life. One, when I turned Sik Sik away and told her to leave. Two, when I met you,’” said Kong Fung as he backed away from Li Sai Man, staggering.
“Take care of Sik Sik and love her with all your heart. Be kind and gentle to Sik Sik always,” continued Kong Fung, holding his heart area as the pain throbbed.
“Yes, of course, Kong Fung. I love Sik Sik dearly.”
“I hope wherever I am, I will hear people say you a caring leader. An excellent Emperor,” said Kong Fung.
“I will Kong Fung. I give you my word,” said Sai Man.
“Maybe one day I will be able to forget; to forgive what you have done.”
With that said, Kong Fung lifted his sword, grabbed it with both hands, broke the sword into two pieces and threw the pieces away to the side. He staggered away, one hand still pressing onto the wound in his left shoulder, into the horizon.
Li Sai Man stood up gingerly. He too was injured. He staggered as he walked, devastated and more affected by what Kong Fung said to him than the injuries caused during the sword fight. Sai Man was not proud of what he had done to Kong Fung and Wu Tien Mun. He was remorseful; pained for lying and hurting his only best friend and closet brother.
Li Sai Man paused in his tracks and looked up into the heavens. He vowed to fulfill his promise to Kong Fung at all cost. He would make it up to Kong Fung and honor his commitments. He did not regret his actions, but he would be a loving husband and a great leader of his people.
Kong Fung witnessed the royal wedding and coronation. He was one of the honored guests, along with the Li family, and Yat Tang Dai Si who came to share in the happiness of the lovely couple. Kong Fung was truly happy for Sik Sik. He still loved her deeply, but accepted that his love for her must transfer instead to accepting her happiness with Li Tai Gor. And Sik Sik was very much in love and happy. When Kong Fung saluted Li Tai Gor to a drink at the wedding reception, Li Tai Gor, in confidence, made a promise to Kong Fung that he will love, cherish and protect Sik Sik forever. Kong Fung was pleased to hear Li Tai Gor say that, yet still a little uneasy about being the third wheel. Kong Fung did not stay long at the wedding ceremony, but out of love for Sik Sik and respect for Li Tai Gor, he stayed long enough to pay his respects properly.
All through the joyous occasions, the reoccurring and nagging concern for Kong Fung was to find out who implicated Wu Tien Mun for treason. He vowed to avenge Wu Tien Mun’s unjust destruction and honor the lives of his school-mates and all the Wu Tien Mun disciples. Kong Fung could not shake off Li Wai Gut’s comments before he passed away which implicated Li Tai Gor. Kong Fung did not want to believe it and had been trying to find evidence of who was the real mastermind. He was on the right tracks and found out the Minister who carried out the Emperor’s order to attack and destroy Wu Tien Mun.
One night, Kong Fung unexpectedly burst through the Minister’s mansion and fought his way through to finally confront the Minister while he and his family were having dinner. Kong Fung grabbed the Minister by the scruff, whipped the blade of his sword up against the Minister’s neck and demanded to know who ordered the attack on Wu Tien Mun. The Minister was defiant and refused to answer. Kong Fung knew the Minister would remain quiet unless he took greater measures. He released the Minister and pushed him away as he rebounded to quickly grab the Minister’s wife who was cowering and trying to protect their two young children. Kong Fung calmly repeated the question again, only this time, the blade of the sword was up against the Minister’s wife’s neck. The Minister, in great trepidation, pleaded with Kong Fung to release his wife. Kong Fung remained adamant and threatened to kill the wife and each children one by one until the Minister will talk. The Minister, already on his knees begging for his family’s life, finally whispered shakily, “Li Sai Man, the Emperor.”
“Say that name louder! Who was it?” ordered Kong Fung. He thought he heard the name, but it was impossible. It cannot be.
“Li Sai Man, the Emperor,” the shaken Ministered repeated in a louder voice. “Please spare my family’s life. I beg of you.”
“It is him!” Kong Fung declared as he released the Minister’s wife who immediately ran over to her husband’s side, pulling her two crying children along. It was not shocking to him as much as it was in fact his brother and closest friend, Li Tai Gor.
“Why did Li Sai Mun do that? Wu Tien Mun did not have a conflict with him,” queried Kong Fung.
“I do not know. I do not know. Please spare mine and my family’s life. I was merely following orders. I am but a lowly useless servant.”
With disdain for what he heard, Kong Fung walked away and left the Minister’s mansion.
That night, he surreptitiously threw a small knife with a note attached into Li Sai Man’s study, hitting and sticking onto the table where the latter was sitting and reviewing the day’s imperial reports. Sai Man quickly grabbed the knife and pulled the note out and read:
“Meet me at the Huyet Chin Mu Mun Gate at 7 AM tomorrow. Just you and me. Kong Fung.”
Sai Man blanched. “Kong Fung knows,” Sai Man thought. “He finally found out.”
Sai Man consulted with Li Jing, now Li Cheung Qwan, his top advisor. Li Jing advised they had to prepare an army of guards and generals to protect the Emperor.
Sai Man refused, “No, we cannot. He is my brother and closest friend. I cannot hurt him again. I owe him so much already.”
“Your Royal Highness, if I may, you are the Emperor now. Please, you must continue to think of your people. What will they do without you? We must protect you and prepare for the worse.”
CHAPTER 9
The next morning Kong Fung entered the Huyet Chin Mu Mun Gate at 7 AM sharp. It was quiet and desolate. The only person Kong Fung saw was Li Sai Man, standing with a sword in his hands. As Kong Fung advanced, guards appeared from everywhere, through doors of the buildings, alleys, on rooftops, streaming through with swords, bows and arrows.
“May we talk about this Kong Fung? I do not want to kill you. You are my brother and my best friend,” said Sai Man.
“Did you order the destruction of Wu Tien Mun?” demanded Kong Fung.
“Kong Fung, it was not desired . . .,” began Sai Man, who was cut off firmly by Kong Fung.
“Just answer me. Did you order the destruction of Wu Tien Mun?”
“Yes.”
At that Kong Fung unsheathed his sword and the fighting commenced.
Kong Fung killed every guard who came to attack him. Arrows were fired in all directions, and with Kong Fung’s superior martial arts’ skills, he was able to dodge or intercept them all. After fighting for more than an hour, Kong Fung began to feel the affects and started to tire out. He was so close to Li Sai Man. Each time he got close, another ten guards came to attack him. He was able to finally push through and Li Sai Man retreated back against a castle wall, guards intercepting Kong Fung’s sword each time as Li Sai Man finally ran up the castle steps to walkway on the wall. Kong Fung got hurt in the skirmish when a sword from one of the soldiers in the constant onslaught went through and punctured his left shoulder. Kong Fung was weakened from the long fights and wound, but he persevered. He killed pushed forward in his offensive, fought with another general, and managed to kill the general.
At this time, Sik Sik came out from behind the thick wooden doors of the castle walkway, with a litany of guards protecting her. A general, who had tried to dissuade the Empress from leaving the safety of the Imperial Court, followed seconds behind. He was still trying to convince her to go back inside for her safety. The Emperor had ordered him last night to protect the Empress at all costs. In the chaos, Sik Sik managed to run to Sai Man’s side.
“Sai Man, please, do not hurt Kong Fung. Spare his life please.”
“Sik Sik, go back! I will not kill Kong Fung. Please go back inside where it is safe,” Sai Man managed to quickly say to Sik Sik before he turned his direction to the General protecting Sik Sik, “Tseng Cheung Qwan! Protect the Empress! Bring her away from this area now!” barked Sai Man before advancing away from Sik Sik. He did not want her near the fighting. If anything happened to her, he would not be able to forgive himself. As he said that, he saw a guard slip his sword past Kong Fung’s defense, as Kong Fung was fighting off so many other guards simultaneously, to strike Kong Fung from the back. Li Sai Man yelled out, “STOP!” in which the guard stopped in mid-air and in that split second, Kong Fung turned around and struck the guard in the chest with his palm.
Seconds only and Kong Fung was advancing still. He saw Sik Sik. “What is she doing here? Why did she come out?” he thought. He was terribly concerned for her safety during the fighting. He was so glad one of the generals seemed to be able to quickly whisk Sik Sik away. He heard Li Sai Man yell “STOP” and had turned around when he saw the guard about to stab through the back. Li Sai Man had saved his life.
Li Sai Man was unprotected temporarily and Kong Fung took advantage of the timing. Within a couple of stances, he had Li Sai Man under the blade of his sword. He pushed Li Sai Man ahead, with the blade still at Li Sai Man’s neck and told Li Sai Man to tell his guards to be at bay and not to follow them. Li Sai Man ordered his guards to let Kong Fung through and hold ground. And the two were able to push their way through the throngs of guards, Kong Fung’s sword still at Li Sai Man’s neck.
They walked outside the gates to an isolated forestry area. The generals, guards and soldiers did not follow as ordered. Kong Fung dropped the sword from Li Sai Man’s neck and backed up against a tree to lean back and rest from the fighting. He was holding onto this left shoulder in pain as he lost quite a bit of blood from the wound.
“Kong Fung . . .,” began Sai Man.
“No, I just want to ask you why. Why did you have to destroy Wu Tien Mun? They were innocent,” confronted Kong Fung.
“Kong Fung, I needed your help. I asked you to help me so many times, in so many ways. You always refused. You said it was Wu Tien Mun’s policy to not get involved in imperial and government affairs. I could not succeed without you. I am here only with your help.”
“So, you thought it was all right to kill so many innocent lives?”
“It was not right Kong Fung. It is never right to kill innocent lives. But when I am faced with whether to make a sacrifice or face the impoverishment of our country in Li Wai Gut and Li King Sing’s hands, I had to make a choice. I am so sorry. I owe you a lot.”
“Well, one phrase “I am sorry” does not bring back the people and disciples of Wu Tien Mun. There is only one way to solve this debt between us. Stand up and fight.”
“Kong Fung. I do not want to fight you. I owe you a lot already.”
“I said fight!” demanded Kong Fung.
Li Sai Man unsheathed his sword and the two swords clashed in lightening speeds as the two fought. Within a few minutes, Li Sai Man’s sword was whacked out of his hands from Kong Fung’s move, and Kong Fung’s blade landed at Sai Man’s neck again. Li Sai Man dropped to the ground on this back and said, “Kong Fung, to die at your hands will be an honor for me. I am so sorry for what I have done.” With that, Sai Man closed his eyes and prepared to die.
Kong Fung looked down at Sai Man. Thoughts flashed through his mind of Sik Sik and Wu Tien Mun. He knew he could not and would not kill Li Sai Man. Though Li Sai Man treated him callously, what would Sik Sik do without Li Sai Man? He could not allow Sik Sik to end up a widow and the entire country without an Emperor. Wu Tien Mun was gone. He could not bring the people back. He had to move forward. Kong Fung dropped his sword away from Sai Man’s neck.
“I regret two things in my life. One, when I turned Sik Sik away and told her to leave. Two, when I met you,’” said Kong Fung as he backed away from Li Sai Man, staggering.
“Take care of Sik Sik and love her with all your heart. Be kind and gentle to Sik Sik always,” continued Kong Fung, holding his heart area as the pain throbbed.
“Yes, of course, Kong Fung. I love Sik Sik dearly.”
“I hope wherever I am, I will hear people say you a caring leader. An excellent Emperor,” said Kong Fung.
“I will Kong Fung. I give you my word,” said Sai Man.
“Maybe one day I will be able to forget; to forgive what you have done.”
With that said, Kong Fung lifted his sword, grabbed it with both hands, broke the sword into two pieces and threw the pieces away to the side. He staggered away, one hand still pressing onto the wound in his left shoulder, into the horizon.
Li Sai Man stood up gingerly. He too was injured. He staggered as he walked, devastated and more affected by what Kong Fung said to him than the injuries caused during the sword fight. Sai Man was not proud of what he had done to Kong Fung and Wu Tien Mun. He was remorseful; pained for lying and hurting his only best friend and closet brother.
Li Sai Man paused in his tracks and looked up into the heavens. He vowed to fulfill his promise to Kong Fung at all cost. He would make it up to Kong Fung and honor his commitments. He did not regret his actions, but he would be a loving husband and a great leader of his people.