Chapter 17 - The Midnight Visitor
The night was silent, too quiet tonight.
The lights were off at the St George Home for Elders as eighty-one patients tucked in and rested. Outside the guardroom, there was a security personnel with eyes glued to his handphone playing the entertainment of his choice - a ' live' football match. As he gestured and moved in sync with the football action on the field, another activity was taking place on the perimeter walls of the facility.
A man was balancing himself on the brick wall with cautious and light steps. After finding a comfortable spot, he leaped onto the open plains, inside the premises, with feline agility. This was the garden that sits between the two main blocks of the nursing home.
He walked across the open space and soon found himself walking to the hall of the nursing home.
It was all quiet and dark except for the corridors outside, which were dimly lit. He barely broke a sweat in his penetration of the facility. He peeped again at the guardroom and caught a glimpse of the distracted guard whose eyes were still glued to his handphone.
He paused and clenched his fists. Should he?
What if the guard calls the police? Only a corpse will not pose a threat has always been his motto.
After some thought, he decided to move on.
He does not need to eliminate everyone. He will need his energy for the key task ahead, which will be a lot more important.
He reached the main lobby and found himself looking at the signboard. He looked for the Zen Block which is one of the two main blocks at the eldercare home. He turned left and walked down a long corridor with the rows of wall lamps.
He checked and rechecked his position. He noticed the CCTV cameras at the end of the corridor, and immediately he reached for his pocket and extracted a pair of silvery darts. With a suave flick, he brought down the cameras with them.
He checked his handphone where he had the map. His target is stationed at a unit at one of the nursing blocks. There are two of them - Bliss and Zen Block, and his target was situated at the latter. After minutes of walking down the corridor, he found himself at a door secured by a facial recognition lock.
Bageta.
He raised his index hand and scribbled the word Hodoku - 解. Immediately, the system shut down with a long beep, and the door came ajar. Technology is so impotent in front of his craft and power.
With confidence, he stepped in and strutted down the corridor. He soon found himself at a well-furnished waiting area with a door in front of him.
This must be it!
Ken Ito walked up to the nearest mirror and checked his appearance. He was always vain and proud of his looks. If he had chosen a career in showbiz, he was confident he would be a success.
Ken swept up the lock of hair that had fallen over his forehead. He looked behind him and realized it had not been as difficult as he thought. He checked his suit. He had a change of clothing with a new red and black jacket. The collar was lined with red with a black line in the middle.
Ken managed to get a fresh pair of boots. The night with Kelly and Adam had been a war of attrition that costs him his best working boots.
Behind the door will be his target.
He checked the corners of the area, and it seemed all clear. He dug into his pocket and pulled out an object, something that was wriggling. It was a dark beetle, and in a way, it acted as a feeler object for a member of the Kuroi Robu.
Ken released it into the air. It darted about the room with ease.
Once he is confident the room is clear, he will proceed.
However, Ken smelled danger the moment he released his beetle. There was a hissing sound before he heard a popping sound. He turned to find his beetle falling to the ground. The next moment, it went up in flames and when he knelt to check, he realized it had turned to ashes.
Ken quickly stood up to leave, but the door in front of him remained shut. He felt a sense of foreboding as a warm and burning sensation travelled up his limbs. In shock, he checked around him and then floor illuminated with a rotating Yin Yang Trigram!
The Ba Gua Formation!
Why has he not detected it?
Instantly, he felt a current pass through him, weakening his limbs.
It cannot be. He muttered.
Who could be behind this?
The next thing he sensed was an approaching object. Ken turned to find a sword heading towards him.
It was the Taoist Wooden Sword.
He leapt away and it was too late as it sliced his shoulder.
It is a trap!
He jumped backwards with his back to the sofa to prevent the energy drain from the Ba Gua Formation
“Who is this?” He bellowed
The door opened slowly, and the answer walked in.
In front of him stood a lithe figure with a lady. She had long black hair which was held up by a unique headband that carried a Yin-Yang Logo. She looked serene and carried a confident smile. Her black jacket was made of a fabric that shimmered under the lighting. There was also double white lining on both sides of the front of the jacket.
“Who are you?” Ken demanded.
“Thieves had no right to ask that question,” she spoke in a crisp feminine voice.
"This is none of your business.” Ken snorted.
"I hate thieves."
"I am not interested in your opinion."
"Why are you here? You are not a centre staff.”
“I do not have to account for my presence.”
The lady sniffled and then smiled.
"You have to account for your presence."
"I answer to nobody."
“You have trespassed. Do you know that in Singapore, trespassing on private property is a jailable offence?”
Ken stared in disquiet
“You are not familiar with local laws.”
“Bageta!” Ken shouted and then raised his hands, and instantly, five Duta power spears headed towards the lady with sure hits.
However, the lady raised her left hand and executed the fingers into a complicated fold that has the pointer finger facing skywards, the thumb facing westwards and the index finger facing south.
“玄天指!” she shouted, and instantly there was a glow from the Ba Gua Formation and streaks of light shot up and easily sliced the Duta spears into bits.
Ken was not giving up. He rested his right hand on his left arm and raised it
"Execute!" Instantly more than a dozen Duta spears flew out at Shangguan. She leaped backwards and then extended both her hands and clapped hard
"玄天功!" A shield in the form of a Ba Gua materialized and then spun towards Ken. The menacing powers of the Duta was shredded into pieces.
Ken was dumbfounded by the sterling display of prowess. He had not expected to meet someone who was his equal. For a moment, a brief one, he was at a loss
“Trespaser, any more tricks?”
“You know 玄天指? That’s one of the highest Taoist mantras. Who are you?"
“It is a piece of cake,” the lady replied and rubbed her nose
"That man inside. He is a Buddhist monk. What is a Taoist priestess in his company?"
She smiled
“You are Ken Ito, member of the Japanese supernatural Sect the Black Robes.”
Ken found sweat breaking out on his forehead
“You know me?”
“I know my opponents.”
“Who are you?” Ken demanded
The lady shook her head
"Fine. Looking at the sweat on your forehead. You are getting anxious."
She took a step forward..
“My surname is Shangguan (上官）”
“Shangguan?” Ken paused and tried to recall “You are the Shangguan family of the Taoist Shrine of Mount Magu?”
The lady clapped.
"Not bad eh. You know some history about China’s Taoist families.”
She giggled and then continued
“I am Shangguan Ling (上官灵), the eighteenth generation descendant of the Tao Shrine of Mount. Exorcist and Spirit Master of the Realms.”
"The Shangguans always operates in mainland China. Why are you here?"
"You are truly ignorant. In this modern word where we are all connected by technology and modern aviation, we operate everywhere, anywhere."
"
"I came here for you."
“You can call me Ling. I would also like to inform you that you have broken the laws of this country and I have the right to capture you and then hand you over to the law.”
“Police? An established sect has become the servant of the state?”
Why is being law-abiding deemed servitude? I am a servant to nobody. Only the Tao(道)is supreme."
“Bah! Rubbish!" Saying, Ken raised his left palm and commanded
“Heshi!”
Saying, Ken raised his right palm, and a long and slithering darkness shot toward Ling. It was a serpent and Ling confidently caught hold of it and waved it in the air
“玄天通!” she cried out confidently
Instantly, the serpent disappeared and vaporized into white cotton
Ling stood and giggled
“I am good, am I not?”
Watching in disbelief, Ken jumped from the sofa and delivered a flying kick at Ling. She stood to a side and avoided Ken. He was unable to stop in time and found himself crashing against the wall.
Ling turned around and hit him on the shoulder, and then threw string around his limbs.
“String ?”
This was one of the key tools to tie down a spirit master.”
Ken kicked against the wall and, with all his strength, broke himself free.
He delivered a chopping strike and hit Ling on the shoulder, throwing her off balance.
Shangguang steadied herself quickly and formed both of her hands into the Xuan Tian 玄天指
“起！Rise！”
The Ba Gua Formation was ignited immediately and responded to the command by turning clockwise. As it did, columns of light emanated and formed bars that trapped Ken. However, the Rubo was not to be outdone
“Bushi Mantra!”
He circled his fist over his left palm and instantly joined them at his forehead.
The next moment, a pair of blue power swords formed and flew at Ling.
Ling cartwheeled to safety but the impact of Ken’s powers left its mark on the walls.
“Not bad. You are well trained. I wonder why you want to be a thief.”
“I am not a thief.” Ken retorted
“ Then why do you need to sneak in the middle of the night? What are you looking for?”
Ken turned to the door. He knew that what he was looking for lay behind that door
“If you are not a thief, you can always come in the morning. Perhaps doing things in broad daylight may be alien for you people from Kuroi Robu.”
"You do not have to insult me.”
“I am stating the truth. Haven't your sect created enough trouble in mainland China?”
“Dont lecture me!"
Ken struggled
"I need to go through that door, Shangguan.”
“You have to beat me first”
Saying, Ken picked up the coffee table and threw it at Ling and dashed towards the door.
However, the Chinese Taoist was fast and flew directly at Ken. Together they crashed through a side door, tearing it into pieces with their impact, and rolled out into the lawn next to the medical centre.
Ling landed smartly and stood upright.