Ten Thousand Thorns_A Fairy Tale Retold by Suzannah Rowntree

Author:Suzannah Rowntree [Rowntree, Suzannah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bocfodder Press
Published: 2017-11-30T05:00:00+00:00

3.

“The Mandate of Heaven?” Clouded Sky looked at his shifu in horror.

“It is our duty to obey the emperor’s commands since he is placed over us by Heaven. Iron Maiden has defied Heaven and broken the emperor’s law.”

“So did I! Are you going to hand me over to them?”

“No, no—”

“Why not? There’s a price on my head too! Does Heaven want you to turn me in? What about the Mount Jing troops? Where does this end?”

“As long as the emperor does not require us to commit personal unrighteousness—”

Distantly, a shriek of pain rose into the sky. Iron Maiden.

Clouded Sky groaned and grabbed at his sword.

“Please, shifu, there’s no time…” He tried to break through the encircling elders, but Harmonious Virtue repelled him with a palm strike to his chest.

“My disciple, Miss Iron has raised tigers and made trouble for herself.”

“But they’ll kill her. Please, shifu!” He was begging now, tears in his eyes, willing them to listen. To spare him the burden of this choice.

“They have promised not to harm her,” Harmonious Virtue said quickly.

“They promised? I promised she would be safe here!”

“It was not a decision we made lightly,” put in Taoist Priest Leaping Intellect.

“She will indeed be safe. That was part of the agreement,” Harmonious Virtue added.

“You ought to be more grateful!” said Taoist Priest Filial Thoughts. “They wanted you as well! It was only by promising them that you would neither intervene, nor leave this temple for the next year, that they agreed to let you live.”

Clouded Sky’s voice cracked.

“You would keep me a prisoner?”

“Disciple! No!” Harmonious Virtue held up his hands appealingly. “We will not keep you anywhere against your wishes, but we beg you to remain. If you leave you will die. If you stay you will live, and I can die with confidence that Wudang Sect will continue under your leadership.”

Clouded Sky felt that he was being torn inexorably in two pieces.

“Continue? What for? Why should we continue, when we have failed to do justice, to help the needy, and to rely humbly on Heaven?”

“Clouded Sky! You speak disrespectfully!” Leaping Intellect scolded him.

“Hush, martial brother,” said Harmonious Virtue. “Clouded Sky is concerned for his friend. But hear me, young disciple. How have we lost our purpose? No matter who holds the Mandate of Heaven, Wudang Sect must continue guiding disciples toward heavenly enlightenment. Only then will All-Under-Heaven experience a small amount of peace, prosperity, and harmony!”

“Shifu, you were the one who taught us to rely on Heaven in all things.” It was as though everything he had ever believed had turned to sand and was flowing away from his grasp. “Are you saying now that we can’t win?”

“Disciple, Old Tze has truly said, ‘Give evil nothing to oppose, and it will disappear by itself.’”

“If that were true, then how can it be the duty of every righteous hero to punish injustice?”

Harmonious Virtue bent his head. Sadly, he said: “Although one can understand the truth, sometimes one just can’t bear it.”

Clouded Sky closed his eyes in utter bewilderment.

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