Tao mulled over his conversation with Baji until sunrise lit the apartment. The problems of the Prophus weighed down on him. It bothered him that he was on the sidelines during such a critical time. If a Decennial was scheduled, he needed to be there. With Roen’s current progression, his attendance was in doubt. While Tao did not value those old fools meeting under a banner of truce, it was still an important event.
At this rate though, his host was ill-prepared for such an intense encounter with so many Quasing in one place. The man might crack under the pressure and get himself killed. But Tao could not even consider putting Roen into a combat situation until Roen could handle himself in a fight. There had to be something he could do to accelerate Roen’s training. Training with Sonya had taken him far, but Tao needed to change his approach somehow.
The magpie and the snake. Tao searched his memories of that one vivid moment in history. While events of that fight were not in any history books, it launched a thousand schools of study.
San-Feng had stumbled upon the two animals fighting. The magpie was trying to eat the snake. However, each time the magpie attacked, the snake would evade the magpie with its loose and supple body, always staying out of range of the magpie’s sharp beak. And then just as the magpie missed, the snake would strike, springing like a tightly wound coil releasing itself. The magpie then used its wings to evade the snake’s attack by striking at odd angles to trap and peck it. The snake would always recoil from harm’s way and strike back with lightning speed. Again and again, the two fought their dance of death.
Finally, after a fierce fight, the magpie took off into the sky, seeking easier prey. Tao, having inhabited birds and snakes before, knew exactly how they fought. He had envisioned the instincts he had when he occupied those animals. It was that moment of revelation that led him to teach San-Feng the Grand Supreme Fist.
Damn it. If I can create the all-powerful Grand Supreme Fist, I can teach this lug how to fight. Roen, wake up!
CHAPTER FIFTEEN: LIN
It was there that I met Chang San-Feng and created the Grand Supreme Fist. It was also there that I joined with a man with great potential, much like Temujin, but tempered with humility and wisdom. His name was Zhu Yuanzhang. Born in poverty, Zhu had lived as a monk, a beggar, a rebel – and later as a leader of the Red Turban sect during a tumultuous time. Zhu Yuanzhang was quick to accept me, believing that the Ho Lung had come to him in his people’s time of need.
I said, wake up, Roen!
“Whuu… What?” Roen woke with a start. “What’s going on? Why am I on the couch? Oh yeah.” He sat up and yawned. “What time is it?”
Get your workout in and then take the rest of the day off. We have much to do.
Roen blinked several times and buried his head in the pillow again. “Why am I so tired? I feel like I didn’t sleep a wink last night.”
Wake Sonya and start your morning jog.
“I feel exhausted. You know the body’s defense system is weak when it’s tired. I might catch a cold. Maybe I should take the day off.” Roen pulled his blanket over his head.
No excuses today.
“Why are you so crabby?”
Go. Now!
Roen knew better than to argue when Tao was in such a mood. Complaining every step of the way, he rolled off the couch and knocked on Sonya’s door. Coincidently, she was just as tired as he was. Their workout was very half-hearted as they both struggled to get through all the exercises. They cut the session short, and Sonya left to take care of her tan. Tao made Roen clear his schedule and had him drive away from the city to the suburb of Skokie to a plain unadorned building off the side of an alley.
“What is this? Another Prophus safe house?” Roen mused.
You will see.
“Not used very often, huh?” Roen kicked aside some garbage that littered the ground as he approached a rusty metal door. It squeaked as it opened as if it hadn’t been used in ages, revealing another vault-like door similar to the safe house that Sonya and he trained in. Roen punched in his code and watched a layer of dust fall from the ceiling as the vault door rumbled open.
Like the safe house at Lake Street, the interior looked nothing like it did on the outside. However, instead of training equipment, this building looked like someone’s home – with the exception of a large circular mat in the center of the room. Against one wall were dozens of assorted potted plants; on the opposite wall were a row of pinball machines and electronic equipment. An antique table, rocking chair, and couch were the only other furniture in sight. An old pudgy Chinese man with short black hair was sitting in the rocking chair reading a book. He did not seem to notice Roen walk in.
“This is something you don’t see every day. What is this place?”
Go greet Sifu Wei Cheng Lin. Sifu means master in Mandarin. With respect, mind you, and take your shoes off, for God’s sake.
“What’s he a master of? Is that an Atari next to the television?”
Pay attention. Bow when you first speak to him and tell him Ho Lung greets him.
“What? What’s a Ho Lung?”
Just say it.
Grumbling about bacteria and dirt, Roen took off his shoes and placed them next to the door. He strolled up to the man. “Um… Hi, Master Wei Cheng Lin. I was, uh… sent here by Ho Lung.”
That is not what I told you to say.
The wizened old man, eyes still fixed on the book, spoke in a soft voice. “You are trespassing. Leave now.” He pointed to the door, not bothering to even glance Roen’s way. Roen shrugged, turned, and began to walk away.
Stop.
“What? What do I do now? I don’t get it.”
You really should follow directions better.
“You didn’t say anything about verbatim.”
Roen turned around again. Lin leaped from the chair at a blinding speed. His hands flashed forward and struck the air where Roen’s head had been moments before. The punch was so fast Roen thought he heard the air pop. Stumbling backward, he covered up and retreated.
“What the hell? I don’t want to beat on an old guy.”
You have a bad track record with old men. You should worry more about your own safety right now.
Roen raised his guard just as Lin closed in waving his hands all crazy-like. Those strange gestures befuddled Roen. The old guy’s palms were open and his arms outstretched as if he was trying to slap Roen. Both arms were waving in small circular patterns, moving back and forth like pieces of string blowing in the wind. However, when Roen blocked the slaps, it sent a shock through his body, unlike anything he had ever felt before.
“Ow! That hurt. That really, really hurt.”
Punches are supposed to hurt.
“He hits like a Mack truck!”
Immediately, Lin moved to Roen’s side and struck again. Roen barely blocked the attack as it came dangerously close to his face. The force of the blow pushed him backward. Roen retreated, shaking his hands in pain – as Lin continued stalking him, and whose hands still waved in the air as if they were live snakes.
Roen knew he had to keep his guard up, but the nerves in his arms refused to comply, and he found himself suddenly defenseless. He looked at the supposedly old and wizened man – who no longer seemed that old or wizened. Roen tried to move to the side, but was cut off as Lin pressed the attack.
After another punch that nearly took his head off, Roen decided that he had had enough. If the old fogey felt he had the right to knock Roen silly, then well, Roen was going to hit him right back! Roen stepped in and threw a hard right cross at Lin’s chubby cheeks, just like during his fighting sessions with Sonya. The punch flew well short of its target.