Chapter 2 A hidden temple

50 minutes earlier in the sea, Josh is still wandering in his thoughts, looking at the skies .

'Life is really good to enjoy. Having times like this is not bad. Giving yourself a free time thinking of yourself only is good for mental health. And It isssss…..'

He stopped his little mind monologue and woke up from his thoughts.

He felt weird. He felt that his ski is moving away in a rapid speed farther into the sea like there's something pulling it.

Josh never felt the shaking of the Earth since he was in the waters but the sudden move of his jet ski alerted him, birthing some dangerous ideas on what is happening. No matter how he wants to shake it off from his thoughts , he can't because this possibility is so alarming.

He felt anxious by every second that passed.

He started the ski planning to get to the shore but eventually stopped it again later.

He can't get away from it if it is the prelude of the tsunami. He simply had no time and if there is where can he go? The size of Palawan Island is too small to possibly have an area that would not be reach by the tsunami. In any case there is no escape so he stilled himself and face the tsunami head on. He even have a bold idea to contend with it and try to ride its waves with the jet ski.

After ten minutes of pulling, water suddenly come to life rising up for several meters, and before he even have time to squeeze the gas handle , he was slapped by the gigantic wave of water and fell unconscious.

Josh passed out and carried away by the waves . The waves rushed to the shores of Palawan bringing down trees and buildings on it's wake. Coconuts, Acacias, and even groves fell down one by one. Buildings that stood still from the Earthquake finally give in and crumbled, swept by the waves.

Destruction awaits on the places wave would pass. It wash the whole Palawan clean. Josh unconscious body on the other hand went along with the waves to the shores of the island but thanks to the first surge of water , when he passed by ,the island is already cleared out of trees and high buildings making his body pass smoothly. But even though , he still has bruises and cuts because of some small debris hitting him making him bloody.

He is lucky to just have small injuries but also not so lucky because.....

After washing the island thoroughly , the water went back to the seas along with Josh unconscious body bringing it farther to the seas. The force of the returning water coupled with the aftershocks made the returning waves increased in velocity bringing the unconscious body farther and farther away to the West Philippine Sea.

_____________

In an isolated island fifty kilometers away east from the shores of Thailand, there's a temple hidden in a cave with narrow opening. What seems a little off about these temple is that it was adorned with dragon-carve gate. It's like a temple of the ancient Chinese culture from its architecture to it's designs with lanterns illuminating the whole place, it's all Chinese-like. At the main door with dragon biting a ring doorknob, a figure walked out. A seemingly ordinary bald old man wearing orange robes like that of the monks came out of the door.

'Taoist Chen, Taoist Chen, hope you have a good day. Another day for this old man to walk with the society and found someone worthy of thy teachings. Hah' chuckling a little the old man named Taoist Chen is in a good mood. He felt that today he would get a worthy personal disciple . It's already been 50 years since he took over the headmaster's position in the temple and he's already bored , he wanted to roam the world like his superiors back then and seek enlightenment. He wanted to get away from the island but he can't just leave the temple without a headmaster to protect it. He can't just leave the temple to his two disciples that though strong but lack the mind of a leader. They are some battle freaks that just wants fighting and frequently travel outside to do battles with some outside martial arts prodigies. Well it's not like , he's not like that when he was young. It's just they're too simple minded.

They a complete simpletons with no visions in life other than fighting, another fighting, the finally fighting.

'sigh'

There's a time when he talk about leaving the temple to the brats that they thought of various alibis and excuses to get away. At that time Taoist Chen got infuriated and frustrated at the same time.

'sigh, I really hope I'll get a worthy disciple today.'

Walking out of the narrow path which the opening is situated below a cliff near the sea, he spotted an unconscious man floating in the shore.

Taoist Chen immediately rush to the body.

The man has cuts and bruises all over his body, wearing only tattered summer shorts and nothing more.

Taoist Chen checked the man's pulse which is still calmly beating, though slow but still beating anyway.

Chen take the man and rush back to the temple.

A moment later,

In one of the rooms of the temple light flickers illuminating the room. Chen place the unconscious Josh to the bed then he tended his injuries. Yes, the unconscious man is none other than Josh who miraculously survived the raging tsunami in the West Philippine Seas.

A survivor of a catastrophe that no one knew at that very moment, took away a forth of the whole world's civilization.