The Mulan of Balhai Temple

[Taiylor Wallace]

"Is it Baiyu?" Miss Mei stepped out, and came to face the monk. "Finally decided to visit again, sweetheart?" She hugged him tightly.
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"I come every month, mother, you know that." He smiled, his previous intensity calmed. Fang Li knew how monks of all orders came to be, how parents would give up their children at a very young age to the temples to learn the ways of the monks. To give up one's child to such an order was a huge honor, but also a huge sacrifice. The parents would see their children only once every so often, until they were grown and allowed to walk amongst the common people. Baiyu was Mei's only child, and she'd given him up of her own accord after her husband died, because she just couldn't afford to take care of them both and she wanted him to have a bright future. Now, Ban Baiyu was a fine member of the Order of Fire in the Balhai temple.
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"Baiyu, this is Chan Fang Li, she's on a sort of probation to become my apprentice."
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"Good. You need someone to help you."
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"I'm not that old, boy," she pushed him playfully aside. "Fang Li, this is my only son. He's a pain, to be polite."
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"I also brought Khan with me."
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That was when Mei paused. "You brought him with you...? Baiyu, he's not even a real monk, I don't understand why he's allowed to parade around like one."
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"He's a monk, mother. He might not have become one the same way the rest of us did, but he's one of us."
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"I... alright. Invite him in... But I still don't like him."
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"Please, just be kind to him."
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"I'll be polite enough."
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With that, Baiyu opened up the door, and in stepped a man that was nothing short of a confusion to Fang Li. He was dressed as a Mulan monk, but the tattoo on the left side of his face was a tribal Mongolian design, not the Mulan Cat, and there was a scar across the bridge of his nose, extending under his eyes. On his chest was not a single elemental, but all four combined in a Yin-Yang design with sun rays around the edges. And unlike the monks who shaved their heads, he had long ebony hair in a ponytail, and instead of a clean-shaven face, he had a trimmed goatee. "Miss Mei," he bowed respectfully, his voice deep and calm. He had to be about twenty-seven or so, and he was lean and well-muscled. All around, he was an impressive, handsome sight.
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"Khan... Welcome." Mei couldn't keep the disdain out of her voice.

[kishiseta]

"Nice to meet you," Fang Li said politely. But as soon as they started talking about another monk, she knew this wasn't her place. When the second man came into sight, she had an inkling why. She knew the Mongolians were not exactly a welcome lot. But was there anything else to her teacher's disdain? She couldn't tell. As far as she knew, it was not her business. Probably too personal for her, so she got back to cleaning. Curious as she was, the problem with cleaning was that she couldn't stop herself from eavesdropping. And stealing glances at the Mongolian man. Such a curiosity he was. She couldn't tell which of the four elements he represented, or if he was accepted in all.

She went about her business dutifully, trying to keep out of their way as much as she could. Family matters were definitely out of her area. Soon, there was nothing left to clean and she tried not to move too much after that, hoping they wouldn't notice her despite her tall stature.

[Taiylor Wallace]

After several minutes of polite conversation, the Khan fellow noticed Fang Li, and smiled. "Hello, miss."
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"Khan, this is Chan Fang Li," Mei introduced her. "Fang Li, this is Kera Khan."
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"Pleasure," Khan's accent was foreign and added to his handsome looks with a beautiful sound.

[kishiseta]

Fang Li smiled up at him. "Hello, it's nice to meet you, Master Khan." She couldn't deny that the man was charismatic and his presence had an effect on her. If she were with her friends right now, they'd be a bunch of tittering gossips about him, married or not. He had hair that many of them would envy.

"If you don't mind me asking, Master Khan, are you a Mongolian Monk? It's the first time I've ever heard of one." She hoped she didn't sound intrusive with her question, but she was curious. "I hope you are liking China. I was always curious what Mongolia was right and if the tales about them are tr--" she stopped herself. Now that was bordering on rude. "I mean, your people are curious."

[Taiylor Wallace]

Khan chuckled as she spoke, "I'm Mongolian, yes. I came to China in search of peace almost a decade ago."
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"And he joined our order and learned in ten years what it takes most of us thirty years to learn," Baiyu patted his friend's shoulder. Miss Mei didn't seem quite so pleased with this Kera Khan, though.
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"If you're so curious about my homeland," Khan shifted his weight comfortably, "perhaps one day we could have tea and I could tell you about it."

[kishiseta]

Fang Li's eyes glittered at the prospect of actually meeting a Mongolian. But out of the corner of her eye, she notices Miss Mei's disapproving frown. She almost said yes before she caught herself. Instead, she said, "That is amazing of you, Master Khan. I would like to know more about your land, definitely! But, I'm not quite sure what Miss Mei would have me do or if I would have any free time at all. I guess I have to consult her in this..."

She stifled a sigh as she considered her teacher. She badly wanted to know more about Mongolia and its people. It wasn't her fault that she was a very curious person. She was just born to poke her nose into things and unearth what she could about them. Besides, what's wrong in knowing more about Mongolia? If they were really barbarians, what was wrong in being astounded that they could live such lives? She wanted to ask all that, but she kept her mouth shut. Miss Mei would not want to hear it from a whippersnapper like her. Besides, if the monks accepted him, he couldn't be that bad, could he?

[Taiylor Wallace]

"You'll have a free day each week if you pass this week well. What you do with it is your choice."
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"Then I suppose we'll wait and see." Khan offered a warm smile. "However, Miss Mei, there is going to be a demonstration tomorrow by us monks, to entertain and raise the spirits of the people. I hope both of you ladies will consider attending. Baiyu and myself and several others with Masters Gan Zu and Re Liu will be there."
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"We may well be there."
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"I hope so, Ma'am." Khan bowed before also bowing to Fang Li. "Tomorrow at noon." Both men stepped out, and Miss Mei sighed.
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"What do you think of him?" She asked, looking to Fang Li. "He's well-mannered now... but I just can't get over the idea that the Mulan would take in a barbarian, especially a killer like him..."

- - - Updated - - -

"You'll have a free day each week if you pass this week well. What you do with it is your choice."
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"Then I suppose we'll wait and see." Khan offered a warm smile. "However, Miss Mei, there is going to be a demonstration tomorrow by us monks, to entertain and raise the spirits of the people. I hope both of you ladies will consider attending. Baiyu and myself and several others with Masters Gan Zu and Re Liu will be there."
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"We may well be there."
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"I hope so, Ma'am." Khan bowed before also bowing to Fang Li. "Tomorrow at noon." Both men stepped out, and Miss Mei sighed.
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"What do you think of him?" She asked, looking to Fang Li. "He's well-mannered now... but I just can't get over the idea that the Mulan would take in a barbarian, especially a killer like him..."

[kishiseta]

Fang Li was happy about her tutor's lenience. The woman might be strict, but she was definitely not mean. Of course she would accept the Mongolian's offer. He surely meant no harm. He was a monk. That should be enough to trust him. Plus her own son put his trust in him. Those were enough for her to trust him. She could also spend that time with her family, and see Gan Zu. She hoped she could fit them all in one day.

When Mei said that they "might" be there, Fang Li almost died in delight. She had never once seen a monk's demonstration before. She was excited to see one...and to see all the monks in action. She hoped she could see all the monks perform, but she was worried about him. Would he heal well? Would he be the same as he was once before? She hoped he could recover a hundred percent. She'd feel guilty otherwise.

"A barbarian killer?" Fang Li asked. "Surely he has changed if the monks have accepted him. And he most likely have gotten their ways. Do you know of his past? Or is that only because of their reputation? He seems really harmless and nice. Seems like a gentleman. Or maybe I'm just naive?"

[Taiylor Wallace]

"Not so much naive as hopeful. No, Kera Khan got his name for a special reason. You know the stories of the Khans of Mongolian, don't you? Genghis, Kublai, the Golden Hordes... Kera Khan was once one of them, trained to be a killer from the day he was born. According to Baiyu, he began fighting when he was eight years old, and he was one of the best up until he was seventeen. In a raid, he struck down a woman and two children... He felt so guilty and ashamed that he nearly killed himself for the dishonor. He fled from his allies and went out to the southern steppes, and he nearly did kill himself, but the Grand Master of the Temple, Mulan Zhou Fu, was out on a pilgrimage and found him. Master Fu took him in, and from what I understand, Master Fu helped him find peace and forgive himself. Within five years, Khan mastered all four elements, and now, he's one of the five Senior Masters, when there used to be only four. He is only the thirteenth monk in the history of the Mulan to master all the elements, and he's done in ten years what it took Master Fu and his predecessors to do in their entire lives..." Mei seemed quite bitter. "I don't trust him, repentant or not. His kind are monsters, and no amount of meditation or inner peace will satisfy a Mongolian bloodlust. He's even admitted before that he sometimes misses battling with his brothers."
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Mei sighed, going to the counter, "I'd be careful of him. If he doesn't strike out, he'll attract other Mongolians, looking for him, who will. I don't mind if you spend time near him, just don't get too close. Master Fu and the monks might call him a Mulan, but I call him a momentarily tamed savage."

[kishiseta]

Fang Li smiled grateful of the woman's openness and care for her well-being. "I will be. Maybe it will be easier on you mind if I meet him with another monk? I'm certain Master Khan would understand. Shall I help prepare lunch?" She asked noticing the sun at its peak. "I'll eat quick so I can return here faster after I visit my family and tell them the news. I promise, I won't tarry until late in the evening. I'll be back as soon as I can."

Outside, the weather agreed with her mood. The sun was up but it wasn't too hot. Cloud covers were plenteous and the streets bustled with activity and delight, thankful for the monks and their protection of the village. She hoped that the weather would be the same tomorrow so that everyone could enjoy the demonstration. All in all it was a perfect day. Master Gan Zu was feeling better, she got apprenticed, she met a real Mongolian who didn't seem as barbaric as the tales, and she could go back home to her family and tell the news! For the first time in her life, she didn't worry about what the food not cooked by her own mother would taste like!