Man from the Wild South

Chapter 10

apter 10 (Part 1)

It has been a week since Du Qing Qing was rescued from the cave but Shang Guan Jing and Su Xue Ying have yet to find a way to seal the cave. Today, Su Xue Ying was wondering out loud if they should approach Feng Jin for help when Qing Qing pips in helpfully. “We do not need Feng Jin, I can roll back the rock entrance and seal the cave.”

Qing Qing was very frail when she was found and has been bedridden until 3 days ago. Even then, she could only walk around her room until today when she is finally much better. When both her shi jie look at her in surprise, Qing Qing continues. “I do not know how I became this way but I have always feel this special … something, inside me. It can get pretty uncomfortable, even painful, at times and it has gotten pretty bad in the last 2 years.”

“When I told Shi Fu about this, she taught me to meditate and also set of breathing tactic which is different from the breathing tactic we used for fighting. Her method works and the qi in my body no longer makes me uncomfortable. Shi Fu said that my make-up is slightly different from normal people and although it is unusual for the qi to surface only when I turn fourteen, it is not totally unheard of and told me that I can slowly learn to control that part of me.”

Su Xue Ying is amazed but Shang Guan Jing merely nods, as if this something she comes across everyday. “So you mean to say that Teacher has discovered your special ability around 2 years ago and has taught you the way to control it?”

“Yes.” Qing Qing nods solemnly. “Shi Fu said that since this qi only surfaced when I’m such a big girl, she cannot predict how much how much I can do with it nor how far I can go.  At that time, San Shi Jie was roaming around the pugilist world while Si Shi Jie has gotten married and moved to Western Desert, so there isn’t much to do here expect to meditate and practice my swordplay. All was normal until one day, Er Shi Ge and Da Shi Jie seems to have gotten very close all of a sudden and… ouch”

Qing Qing looks woefully at Su Xue Ying who has pinched her waist. Hard. Qing Qing’s woe-puppy look and Xue Ying’s consternation makes Shang Guan Jing smile and she tells them fondly. “I am alright, it doesn’t matter and I have put the past behind. Do continue with your story.”

Yes she has been miserable over her failed relation with Er Shi Ge once upon a time but it is now another man who weighs on her mind. More so than “Bo Lan Zhou”, it is the mention of ‘Feng Jin’ that will make her heart ache. Sometimes when Xue Ying mentions his name, her heart would ache so much that even her body would shake with the intensity of it.

Qing Qing rubs her abused waist meekly and continues. “One day, everything just fell apart. At first, I did not know what was happening and was meditating in my room when suddenly, I thought I heard Shi Fu telling me to go to the sacred cave and to do it quickly. When I got there, the rock entrance was already opened, revealing the cave behind. So I walk in.” She pauses as her eyes dim with the memory. “I thought Shi Fu was inside, but in actual fact, she was ….. she was already gone at that time. I heard her voice again, saying that her body has perished and she is unsure how long her spirit can linger…”

The 3 disciples start crying at this and it takes a while until any of them can speak again. Shang Guan Jing is the first to recover and tries to ask more. “Did you manage to speak with Teacher after that?”

Qing Qing rubs her tears away and sniffles. “The cave entrance has sealed by itself not long after I stepped in but I can still hear Shi Fu’s voice. She told me that I need to calm myself and meditate. At first, I wasn’t able to do that but slowly, my mind settled down and it is as if my spirit has travelled to another plane. In that place I saw Shi Fu…”

damoBoth Shang Guan Jing and Su Xue Ying reach out to hold her hands tightly and she squeezes their hands back. “Shi Fu said that I need to stay there temporarily and regulate my breathing like a good girl.” She crinkles her nose as she recalls the torturous process. “I told her that it is too difficult. I’m sure Shi Jie has heard about the story of Venerable Da Mo and how Venerable Da Mo is able to live and meditate in a small cave for 9 years. 9 years! But that is because he is the great Venerable Da Mo! I am only Du Qing Qing and I have no aspiration to be like old master Da Mo. Besides, I doubt I can be like him even if I wanted to.”