The Way of The Wuxia

Angus carried the supplies while his wizard guide Zhao Chen led him through the country side and into the deep forest. They had traveled for two days now into the deep forest region of southern china. Angus had a smile on his face the entire trip as Chen talked on and on in broken English and a Chinese language he had trouble several times understanding even with his basic level skill in Mandarin.

Chen however had a friendly disposition and easy going presence about him that reminded Angus about his grandfather at times. Angus was also just enjoying himself taking in the forest and ancient magical energies around him along with the friendly conversation he could manage with Chen.

Angus couldn't stop grinning and feeling like he had finally come to the place he had wanted to be. Angus didn't know how long they had been walking late into the third day when suddenly Chen stopped talking. 

Angus frowned stopping in place as Chen turned to look at him. "What's wrong, Mr. Chen. Are we taking a break for the day?" Angus asked in broken Mandarin.

"No. We are here. I have a question to ask you." Chen said.

Angus frowned. "Okay go ahead. You can ask me anything you like though I came here to learn from you."

Chen shook his head. "We are always learning. Always improving. Always growing. Are you searching for power?"

"No." 

"Are you searching for your purpose?"

Angus snorted and he shook his head. "No. I know my purpose and I know my duty. I came here to learn." 

Chen stared at him. "What are you searching for so faraway from the western place of your birth here in the ancient land of the Wuxia." He asked.

Angus smiled. "I've always wanted to come here Master Chen. Just being here is like a dream come true." He said and looked around. Every where around the bright colors of the forest leaves on the trees and the rich scents of the earth around him. "Master. Is this the lost temple?"

"Yes. What do you feel?"

Angus shook his head. "I don't know how to describe it. I feel strange."

"Try." Chen encouraged Angus.

"Magic. I smell it in the air. I can almost taste it on my tongue. It's like everywhere around I feel like I've stepped into another realm. A place outside even the western wizardry world I grew up in. This is wild bro." Angus said with a grin.

Chen silently helped Angus take off his pack and motioned him to sit down. Angus followed his order obediently.

They sat down crossed legged on the ground. Chen clasped his hands in a jester that Angus copied. He smiled at Angus. "The forest has welcomed you. We shall begin. You are not Wuxia. You are magi. Do you accept this?" He said.

Angus frowned as a blue mist started to raise up around them. He stared at him. "Master. Do you mean my mother's people?"

"Yes. They are your people. You belong to them and they will need you when you return to them. Do you accept this?" 

Angus nodded. "I do. Will teach me."

Chen smiled. "Of course. We've waited a long time for your arrival. We will teach you the way of the Wuxia instill in you our secrets."

"I don't want that. You are entitled to your secrets and knowledge. I just want to learn how to become stronger and like you said. I ain't a Wuxia."

Chen laughed. "You are Magi. But, we saw you coming a long time ago before the Riddle set his sight on ruling this world. We saw you and your son coming to learn from us."

Angus flinched back. "I don't have a son."

Chen stared at him. "Not yet.. We are to teach you the way of the Wuxia for the next hundred years. I will be your first teacher. I will teach you patience and deep listening."

"Patience and deep listening. What am I listening-" Angus paused as he began to hear a rushing sound of something coming toward them. It sound like a strong wind or a rain storm racing toward them.

Chen sat quietly putting a finger to his lips and closed his eyes. Angus stared at his peaceful face even as the strong wind kept getting closer and closer toward them. The strange mist shifted around them turning and spinning around in a circle around them.

"Patience my young friend. Patience. Sit and wait for the storm to past." Chen said in echoing voice that seemed to still be heard even through the storm around them now.

Sweat droplets came down down Angus' head as the violent storm seemed to getting closer toward them and raging By the circle of mist around them kept them in a protected circle.

Angus forced himself to close his eyes even though he couldn't stop his heart from beating against his chest.

 "Breath in through your mouth from your center and out from your nose. Feel the forest and the life force around you. Take into you. It is everywhere. Draw into you. Connect to it and let it flow into you and become apart of you. Let it instruct you to the nature of things. This is the true source of the magi kind and the way of the Wuxia" Chen said calmly.

Angus did as Chen commanded. His heart still beat against his chest he grimaced as the violent storm finally was upon them now. Heavy rain the strong gusts of the storm raged loudly around them almost shaking the ground they sat on but Angus could still hear Chen's steady breathing through it all. He could feel the magic of the forest around.

Time passed by strangely as Angus came out of the trance he had gone into and realized there were people around him and children laughing and moving. He wondered about that.

"Open your eyes." Chen said.

Angus opened his eyes to find himself in the center of temple area. He stood to his feet slowly as Chen did to stare at the men and children training with strange magical glowing weapons and using magical shields that seemed to be channeled the use gold and silver rings on combatants fingers.

All Angus could do was stare and observe his surrounding in awe. His mouth fell open as a male teacher aimed his sword toward the sky and flew up to avoid a magical blast of energy directed at him from a young girl and then she aimed her staff upward to join him in the sky in pursuit. Angus laughed.

Chen smiled at him folding his arms across his chest. "What is so amusing my young friend."

Angus looked at Chen. "I feel like a first year at Hogwarts again. I feel like I know nothing and there is still so much to learn that it will take me more then a hundred years."

Chen clapped his hands. "Yes. Yes. This is good. This very a good feeling. To live is keep on learning to keep on improving and enjoying every breath and time with friends and family. What more is there. Trust me, my young friend. You will have a hundred years and I promise to make every bit of time we have together enjoyable. You agree with me of course."

Angus nodded. "Of course. Your right master. What more is there. We're do we begin?"

Chen took a few steps away from Angus to face him in a fighting stance. His body took on a glow of golden hue as he faced off against him. "Take your stance."

Angus sighed shaking head but he moved his right leg forward and brought up his arms up. "I'm afraid I only know a bit of boxing that I've picked up on the way and I won't be able to produce your pretty golden glow master."

Chen smiled. "Remember my young friend. Breath in and breath out." He said before moving fast and palm striking Angus in the stomach and sending him flying backward crashing into on the ground.

Angus heard the sounds of children' laughter around. He sighed before taking in a breath and out and bound to his feet with a somersault. The laughter stopped as Angus smiled and started bouncing on the balls of his feet and took off gliding across the sandy ground toward Chen who raced toward him laughing.