Martial Art Fantasy Short Story
Author: Hani Law Copyright © 2006
Author: Hani Law Copyright © 2006
SWAN BEAUTY
CHAPTER 12
From my experiences in the two years since I left
home, I have learnt much about human beings. I
have also learnt a great deal about the real world
which had so much to offer. I am determined to take
a more positive view of life and assume charge of
my own destiny. My first resolve is to put aside my
despair at the Prince’s rejection of my love for him.
I will, I decide, continue my exploration of the
world. I will miss no opportunity to upgrade myself
in the martial arts. And one day, perhaps, I can be a
saviour for ordinary people. I might even consider
returning to my village to abolish the vile tradition
that had made me feel rejected by the entire world
and forced me to flee for my life.
When I was living on Swan Mountain, Master had
told us about a very famous martial arts expert on
Yau Dong Mountain. Apparently, the level of his
martial-arts skills was so high that few could get the
better of him in combat. I decide, therefore, to
travel to Yau Dong Mountain and find this great
martial-arts master. I am hoping that if I am
fortunate enough to be accepted as one of his pupils,
I will be able to improve on my martial-arts skills
and fight against injustice.
After asking around for directions to Yau Dong
Mountain, I travel east for about a month and reach
a small, but exciting town. Here, a great crowd of
people mill around. Some are selling all sorts of
colourful artefacts and handicrafts. Others vend
fruits and vegetables and clothes. When I walk past
the centre of town, I notice a group of people
gathered around a notice board. Strangely enough,
all of them are men. I am drawn irresistibly to the
notice board because I am keen to find out what they
are looking at. I read what is written there:
“Notice is hereby given that Yau Dong Mountain
Martial Arts School is now inviting applications for
admission. Only those who are keenly interested in
the martial arts and can pass an entrance test will
be admitted. The entrance test involves consecutive
combat with each of the seven wooden dummies in
the Combat Chamber. Only male candidates need
apply.”My heart sinks at that last sentence, as
though I have been doused with cold water. I cannot
figure out why admission is open exclusively to men.
It means that I am not eligible. In despair, I wander
around town, not knowing where I am headed.
I put up at an inn for the night, but once in bed, I
find it impossible to fall sleep. I just cannot bring
myself to believe that after undertaking such a long
journey to reach this place, I am denied admission
to the Yau Dong Mountain Martial Arts School
simply on the basis of gender. However, I am dog-
tired and, eventually, when I cease to think, I
manage to fall asleep.
When I wake up the following morning, the sun’s
rays are already penetrating deep into my room. I
go downstairs for my morning meal and notice a
waiter serving the guests in the dining room. The
waiter is so small and slim that for a moment I think
he is a woman. A thought suddenly flashes across my
mind. Why not disguise myself as a man —
something I had done before when leaving my
village under cover of darkness —and apply for
admission to the martial-arts school? After taking
my early morning meal, I leave the inn and go to the
town centre. I buy several outfits and hats, all meant
for men, and return to the inn. I cut my long hair
very short and don the new clothes. Then I make my
way to the school.
When I am halfway up the mountain, I see a large
sign that says, “Yau Dong Mountain Martial Arts
School”. About a hundred yards up the mountain, I
notice people already lining up for registration.
“What name should I use to register as a student?” I
ask myself. It is difficult to think of a man’s name.
My hands are sweating and when my turn comes for
the registration formalities, I am nervous.
“My name is Swan Dang,” I say.
I am then handed a paper explaining the screening
procedure. It says that each applicant has to fight
with three wooden puppets which are specially made
to fight with human beings. Every candidate has to
fight with each of the puppets in turn. Only after he
has defeated all three will he be admitted to the
school for training. It is a tough entrance test. With
my mediocre martial-arts skills, I can only try my
luck. I wait for two days before I am summoned. I
am asked to enter a cave which is located behind the
school’s signboard. I hide my fighting ribbon as it is
too feminine a weapon to be carried by a man.
CHAPTER 12
From my experiences in the two years since I left
home, I have learnt much about human beings. I
have also learnt a great deal about the real world
which had so much to offer. I am determined to take
a more positive view of life and assume charge of
my own destiny. My first resolve is to put aside my
despair at the Prince’s rejection of my love for him.
I will, I decide, continue my exploration of the
world. I will miss no opportunity to upgrade myself
in the martial arts. And one day, perhaps, I can be a
saviour for ordinary people. I might even consider
returning to my village to abolish the vile tradition
that had made me feel rejected by the entire world
and forced me to flee for my life.
When I was living on Swan Mountain, Master had
told us about a very famous martial arts expert on
Yau Dong Mountain. Apparently, the level of his
martial-arts skills was so high that few could get the
better of him in combat. I decide, therefore, to
travel to Yau Dong Mountain and find this great
martial-arts master. I am hoping that if I am
fortunate enough to be accepted as one of his pupils,
I will be able to improve on my martial-arts skills
and fight against injustice.
After asking around for directions to Yau Dong
Mountain, I travel east for about a month and reach
a small, but exciting town. Here, a great crowd of
people mill around. Some are selling all sorts of
colourful artefacts and handicrafts. Others vend
fruits and vegetables and clothes. When I walk past
the centre of town, I notice a group of people
gathered around a notice board. Strangely enough,
all of them are men. I am drawn irresistibly to the
notice board because I am keen to find out what they
are looking at. I read what is written there:
“Notice is hereby given that Yau Dong Mountain
Martial Arts School is now inviting applications for
admission. Only those who are keenly interested in
the martial arts and can pass an entrance test will
be admitted. The entrance test involves consecutive
combat with each of the seven wooden dummies in
the Combat Chamber. Only male candidates need
apply.”My heart sinks at that last sentence, as
though I have been doused with cold water. I cannot
figure out why admission is open exclusively to men.
It means that I am not eligible. In despair, I wander
around town, not knowing where I am headed.
I put up at an inn for the night, but once in bed, I
find it impossible to fall sleep. I just cannot bring
myself to believe that after undertaking such a long
journey to reach this place, I am denied admission
to the Yau Dong Mountain Martial Arts School
simply on the basis of gender. However, I am dog-
tired and, eventually, when I cease to think, I
manage to fall asleep.
When I wake up the following morning, the sun’s
rays are already penetrating deep into my room. I
go downstairs for my morning meal and notice a
waiter serving the guests in the dining room. The
waiter is so small and slim that for a moment I think
he is a woman. A thought suddenly flashes across my
mind. Why not disguise myself as a man —
something I had done before when leaving my
village under cover of darkness —and apply for
admission to the martial-arts school? After taking
my early morning meal, I leave the inn and go to the
town centre. I buy several outfits and hats, all meant
for men, and return to the inn. I cut my long hair
very short and don the new clothes. Then I make my
way to the school.
When I am halfway up the mountain, I see a large
sign that says, “Yau Dong Mountain Martial Arts
School”. About a hundred yards up the mountain, I
notice people already lining up for registration.
“What name should I use to register as a student?” I
ask myself. It is difficult to think of a man’s name.
My hands are sweating and when my turn comes for
the registration formalities, I am nervous.
“My name is Swan Dang,” I say.
I am then handed a paper explaining the screening
procedure. It says that each applicant has to fight
with three wooden puppets which are specially made
to fight with human beings. Every candidate has to
fight with each of the puppets in turn. Only after he
has defeated all three will he be admitted to the
school for training. It is a tough entrance test. With
my mediocre martial-arts skills, I can only try my
luck. I wait for two days before I am summoned. I
am asked to enter a cave which is located behind the
school’s signboard. I hide my fighting ribbon as it is
too feminine a weapon to be carried by a man.
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