Martial Art Fantasy Short Story
Author: Hani Law Copyright © 2006
Author: Hani Law Copyright © 2006
SWAN BEAUTY
CHAPTER 14
The next morning, I decide to find a peaceful place
for practising the martial-arts skills I have picked
up from studying the engravings down in the well. I
am hoping that once I am proficient in this new
form of combat, I will be able to participate in the
national martial-arts championship. With my new
skills, I expect to be able to defeat a large number
of contestants. There might even be a possibility of
my eventually becoming a leader among the martial-
arts experts. With the title of martial-arts leader, I
would be able to earn the respect of the people
living in my village. And I have every intention of
going back there to eradicate the cruel tradition
that had driven me away from home.
However, my first priority now is to practise the
new form of martial arts every minute of the day so
as to enhance my skills and attain a level of
excellence. Having made some enquiries, I learn
that a little house by the stream at the foot of the
Yau Dong Mountain is available for rent. I rent it
immediately and prepare myself for a sustained
period of hard, martial-arts practice.
I go out the following morning for a short stroll.
The sky is blue and the water in the stream flowing
by is sparkling clean. I take off my shoes and paddle
about in the stream to see whether I can catch some
fish. I pick up a tiny pebble and aim it at a bird
flying in the sky. The pebble shoots up like lightning
and, to my surprise, hits the bird with such force
that the creature is driven another twenty feet in the
air before it plummets down. I am pleased indeed
with the effect of the new form of martial arts on my
inner energy that is now enabling me to throw
objects with such force and accuracy.
It has been two weeks now since I settled down in
this place. I have been practising hard with the pair
of daggers I brought up from the well and can feel
the surge in my inner energy. I can now direct the
power of my strikes at will, without having to move
my arms or legs. As soon as I contemplate moving
my dagger to strike an imaginary opponent, the
hand holding the dagger flies up with such speed
and force that the rush of wind created by the
movement of the weapon causes the leaves on the
trees around me to fall off. Although I try to
concentrate on practising the new form of martial
arts, I still spend some time on the art of using the
fighting ribbon which I had learned from Master
Swan. However, I find that I have not made much
progress in fine-tuning my techniques in this
domain. I suspect that when Master Swan taught us
how to fight with a ribbon, she did not reveal all the
secrets underlying this form of martial arts. I would
not be at all surprised if she did so, because she is a
woman with a jealous and selfish heart. From then
onwards, I concentrate on the zodiac martial-arts
form and work hard at it until I attain perfection in
acquiring insights into each movement.
Autumn arrives and my backyard is a carpet of
yellow leaves. Winter comes and the backyard lies
under a thick blanket of snow, presenting a scenic
vista outside my window. Then comes Spring,
followed by Summer. Three years have passed. I am
no longer the young girl who left home ages back to
escape being a prey to superstition and barbaric
rituals. I am happy living in this little village.
People here are kind to me. I also have the
opportunity of meeting many pupils from the Yau
Dong Mountain Martial Arts School who come down
to the village to buy groceries and other essentials.
Having practised the martial arts for three years
continuously, I know that I have reached a very high
level of competence. But I have not been able to put
my skills to the test so far. I have no way of knowing
how they compare to those of other martial-arts
experts. If I am to evaluate the standard I have
reached, I must engage someone in combat and put
my skills to the test. Why, I wonder, do I not hold a
friendly competition in this small village? It would
surely arouse the interest of the boys from the
prestigious Yau Dong Mountain Martial Arts School
and encourage them to participate.
With the assistance of the Village Chief, we put up
notices in the village market place, announcing the
competition. That draws quite a few martial-arts
experts to the contest, but to my surprise, or should
I say delight, I remain unbeaten for three months. I
decide to keep the competition going until I meet my
match, so that I can discuss martial-arts theories
and skills with that person. Word spreads that a
young woman with a prominent scar who is second
to none in her martial-arts skills has yet to be
beaten in this competition. Out of sheer curiosity,
people from other cities and villages start signing
up in large numbers.
A young instructor from the Yau Dong Mountain
Martial Arts School had once participated in the
same competition. Although I had defeated him, he
comes down to the village to see me whenever he
has the time. His name is Stepso and he appears to
be a very kind, gentle young man. I have found out
that he is three years older than me. An orphan, he
has been brought up by a master of the same School.
Judging by what I have heard from some of the
pupils of the School, Stepso is a very popular
instructor. Apart from being quite knowledgeable
about the different martial-arts schools and styles,
he is friendly with his pupils and a marked
departure from his colleagues who prefer to wear a
stern expression all the time. I invite him over
sometimes to my place for tea, and we derive a
great deal of pleasure from our discussions about
the martial arts.
By this time, I have reverted to the use of my name,
Swan Beauty, because I no longer accept that
beauty lies only in one’s physical attributes. Mei
Mei, the name I was given after I was born, so
vividly recalls the cruel tradition of my village that
I vow never to use it again. The friendship I share
with Stepso blossoms day by day, but I have yet to
tell him about my background. I am still not sure
whether it is the right time to do so.When I pass the
village’s ancestral hall one day, I see a notice
announcing a martial-arts championship to be held
in Suchau two months later. When I meet Stepso a
few days later, he informs me that the Headmaster
of his School is the present champion and I will
have to defeat him in the competition. That, of
course, is not going to be easy.
I had been waiting for this opportunity for sometime
and decide to participate. However, the thought of
not seeing Stepso for a few months saddens me.
Having pondered over our relationship for a few
days, I decide to confide in him about my reasons
for leaving my village and the adventures I have
had since. I also tell him how I discovered the
zodiac martial-arts form and the twin daggers.
“I am very impressed with the way you have dealt
with your ordeals,” he says. “You really are an
amazing girl and I admire your courage and your
independent character. The journey to Suchau will
take about a month. You must take all the things you
need for the journey. Although I will accompany the
Headmaster to the competition, it is unlikely that we
will travel together. However, I am sure I will see
you in the competition.”
Just before Stepso leaves the house, he declares his
love for me. I am ecstatic about finally having found
a man who loves me despite the scar on my face. We
bid each other farewell. It is a sad occasion for both
of us.
CHAPTER 14
The next morning, I decide to find a peaceful place
for practising the martial-arts skills I have picked
up from studying the engravings down in the well. I
am hoping that once I am proficient in this new
form of combat, I will be able to participate in the
national martial-arts championship. With my new
skills, I expect to be able to defeat a large number
of contestants. There might even be a possibility of
my eventually becoming a leader among the martial-
arts experts. With the title of martial-arts leader, I
would be able to earn the respect of the people
living in my village. And I have every intention of
going back there to eradicate the cruel tradition
that had driven me away from home.
However, my first priority now is to practise the
new form of martial arts every minute of the day so
as to enhance my skills and attain a level of
excellence. Having made some enquiries, I learn
that a little house by the stream at the foot of the
Yau Dong Mountain is available for rent. I rent it
immediately and prepare myself for a sustained
period of hard, martial-arts practice.
I go out the following morning for a short stroll.
The sky is blue and the water in the stream flowing
by is sparkling clean. I take off my shoes and paddle
about in the stream to see whether I can catch some
fish. I pick up a tiny pebble and aim it at a bird
flying in the sky. The pebble shoots up like lightning
and, to my surprise, hits the bird with such force
that the creature is driven another twenty feet in the
air before it plummets down. I am pleased indeed
with the effect of the new form of martial arts on my
inner energy that is now enabling me to throw
objects with such force and accuracy.
It has been two weeks now since I settled down in
this place. I have been practising hard with the pair
of daggers I brought up from the well and can feel
the surge in my inner energy. I can now direct the
power of my strikes at will, without having to move
my arms or legs. As soon as I contemplate moving
my dagger to strike an imaginary opponent, the
hand holding the dagger flies up with such speed
and force that the rush of wind created by the
movement of the weapon causes the leaves on the
trees around me to fall off. Although I try to
concentrate on practising the new form of martial
arts, I still spend some time on the art of using the
fighting ribbon which I had learned from Master
Swan. However, I find that I have not made much
progress in fine-tuning my techniques in this
domain. I suspect that when Master Swan taught us
how to fight with a ribbon, she did not reveal all the
secrets underlying this form of martial arts. I would
not be at all surprised if she did so, because she is a
woman with a jealous and selfish heart. From then
onwards, I concentrate on the zodiac martial-arts
form and work hard at it until I attain perfection in
acquiring insights into each movement.
Autumn arrives and my backyard is a carpet of
yellow leaves. Winter comes and the backyard lies
under a thick blanket of snow, presenting a scenic
vista outside my window. Then comes Spring,
followed by Summer. Three years have passed. I am
no longer the young girl who left home ages back to
escape being a prey to superstition and barbaric
rituals. I am happy living in this little village.
People here are kind to me. I also have the
opportunity of meeting many pupils from the Yau
Dong Mountain Martial Arts School who come down
to the village to buy groceries and other essentials.
Having practised the martial arts for three years
continuously, I know that I have reached a very high
level of competence. But I have not been able to put
my skills to the test so far. I have no way of knowing
how they compare to those of other martial-arts
experts. If I am to evaluate the standard I have
reached, I must engage someone in combat and put
my skills to the test. Why, I wonder, do I not hold a
friendly competition in this small village? It would
surely arouse the interest of the boys from the
prestigious Yau Dong Mountain Martial Arts School
and encourage them to participate.
With the assistance of the Village Chief, we put up
notices in the village market place, announcing the
competition. That draws quite a few martial-arts
experts to the contest, but to my surprise, or should
I say delight, I remain unbeaten for three months. I
decide to keep the competition going until I meet my
match, so that I can discuss martial-arts theories
and skills with that person. Word spreads that a
young woman with a prominent scar who is second
to none in her martial-arts skills has yet to be
beaten in this competition. Out of sheer curiosity,
people from other cities and villages start signing
up in large numbers.
A young instructor from the Yau Dong Mountain
Martial Arts School had once participated in the
same competition. Although I had defeated him, he
comes down to the village to see me whenever he
has the time. His name is Stepso and he appears to
be a very kind, gentle young man. I have found out
that he is three years older than me. An orphan, he
has been brought up by a master of the same School.
Judging by what I have heard from some of the
pupils of the School, Stepso is a very popular
instructor. Apart from being quite knowledgeable
about the different martial-arts schools and styles,
he is friendly with his pupils and a marked
departure from his colleagues who prefer to wear a
stern expression all the time. I invite him over
sometimes to my place for tea, and we derive a
great deal of pleasure from our discussions about
the martial arts.
By this time, I have reverted to the use of my name,
Swan Beauty, because I no longer accept that
beauty lies only in one’s physical attributes. Mei
Mei, the name I was given after I was born, so
vividly recalls the cruel tradition of my village that
I vow never to use it again. The friendship I share
with Stepso blossoms day by day, but I have yet to
tell him about my background. I am still not sure
whether it is the right time to do so.When I pass the
village’s ancestral hall one day, I see a notice
announcing a martial-arts championship to be held
in Suchau two months later. When I meet Stepso a
few days later, he informs me that the Headmaster
of his School is the present champion and I will
have to defeat him in the competition. That, of
course, is not going to be easy.
I had been waiting for this opportunity for sometime
and decide to participate. However, the thought of
not seeing Stepso for a few months saddens me.
Having pondered over our relationship for a few
days, I decide to confide in him about my reasons
for leaving my village and the adventures I have
had since. I also tell him how I discovered the
zodiac martial-arts form and the twin daggers.
“I am very impressed with the way you have dealt
with your ordeals,” he says. “You really are an
amazing girl and I admire your courage and your
independent character. The journey to Suchau will
take about a month. You must take all the things you
need for the journey. Although I will accompany the
Headmaster to the competition, it is unlikely that we
will travel together. However, I am sure I will see
you in the competition.”
Just before Stepso leaves the house, he declares his
love for me. I am ecstatic about finally having found
a man who loves me despite the scar on my face. We
bid each other farewell. It is a sad occasion for both
of us.
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