The Mulan of Balhai Temple

[Taiylor Wallace]

"Mongolia... the plains and the steppes, full of horses, all over, and we herded sheep and goats." He smiled. "We lived in Gers, huge hide tents that we could move at a moment's notice, and we would sometimes ride for weeks before settling in a place with grass for the sheep, only to move again once it was all eaten. We'd race our horses all the time, spar, and every so often, we'd take a sheep from the herd to eat, and have a huge feast around it." He couldn't stop smiling at the thoughts of home. But at her question, he shook his head, "Miss Mei wants you to take it easy tomorrow too, but after that, I'm sure she'll let you do a few things that aren't so strenuous."

[kishiseta]

Fang Li closed her eyes imagining all the things Master Khan was telling her. In her mind's eye, it was a fantastic place she would really love to visit someday. She thought about riding their horses and eating a feast with the families. Cheer for the men fighting...cheering for Master Khan. She opened her eyes and smiled. "It sounds like an amazing place!" she said trying to sound cheerful as he broke the news. "Can I at least get out of bed and walk around? Visit Bei falls? I promise. I would really be careful not to get hurt."

[Taiylor Wallace]

"I suppose we could go for a walk," Khan smiled, standing. He helped her to her feet. "But first, I'll find you some more appropriate clothing." He brought her into the hallway between the rooms of Miss Mei's home, and they came face-to-face with the woman herself. "Miss Mei," Khan smiled. "Could we borrow something for Miss Chan to wear?"
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"Of course. Where are you two off to?" Miss Mei went to her own room and found a light green, long tunic and a white robe to fit over top with a sash about the middle. "This ought to fit you."
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"We're going to Bei Falls," Khan told her.
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"Hm... well, I suppose I can let you go, but I don't want you doing any climbing, Fang Li."
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"I will carry her if there is any climbing involved," Khan promised with a nod.
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"Good. Change the bandages before she gets dressed, I'll pack a basket for the two of you to have lunch while you're out." Miss Mei handed the clothes over to Fang Li. "Be careful, I don't want my apprentice getting herself hurt again. And your father is out front, getting ready to leave, if you want to see him."

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"I suppose we could go for a walk," Khan smiled, standing. He helped her to her feet. "But first, I'll find you some more appropriate clothing." He brought her into the hallway between the rooms of Miss Mei's home, and they came face-to-face with the woman herself. "Miss Mei," Khan smiled. "Could we borrow something for Miss Chan to wear?"
.
"Of course. Where are you two off to?" Miss Mei went to her own room and found a light green, long tunic and a white robe to fit over top with a sash about the middle. "This ought to fit you."
.
"We're going to Bei Falls," Khan told her.
.
"Hm... well, I suppose I can let you go, but I don't want you doing any climbing, Fang Li."
.
"I will carry her if there is any climbing involved," Khan promised with a nod.
.
"Good. Change the bandages before she gets dressed, I'll pack a basket for the two of you to have lunch while you're out." Miss Mei handed the clothes over to Fang Li. "Be careful, I don't want my apprentice getting herself hurt again. And your father is out front, getting ready to leave, if you want to see him."

[kishiseta]

Fang Li accepted the clothes from Miss Mei gratefully promised to be careful. "I'll redress it myself. I don't want to impose on Master Khan. He's been taking care of me too much already." She headed back to her room and started to redress her own bandages. Of course, she didn't say that she was also feeling embarrassed that Master Khan would see her uncovered again, even if it was just at the waist. If she had a body as perfect as Shuang's, then she might not feel as insecure. After doing her own bandages, she dressed herself quickly hoping to see her father before she went out and assure him she was fine.

She stepped out and saw her father, walking as quickly as she could toward him without straining herself and hugging him from behind. "Father, I'm sorry for worrying you. Please tell mother and Xuzhu that I'm well."

[Taiylor Wallace]

Luangzu turned around immediately to hug her, though he was careful of hurting her. "Sweetheart, you scared me half to death..." He kissed her forehead, "I was afraid that you'd get hurt, but... I'm just glad you're well now." He looked up as Khan approached, who was fixing his sash at his waist. "Sir Monk," Luangzu bowed to him. "I owe you so much for saving my daughter. I'm afraid that if you hadn't seen her fall, she might not have made it..."
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"She's a friend, sir," Khan smiled, "I hold her safety high in my priorities."
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"Your name, Sir Monk?"
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"Kera Khan."
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"So you're the monk I hear of from Miss Mei."
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"Yes. I hope that you don't distrust me for my heiritage..."
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"No, quite the opposite. Where you come from and your past mean nothing to me after helping my little girl."
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"Thank you sir. We were actually about to visit the falls together."
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"Enjoy yourselves, and you must join us for tea some day." Luangzu bowed once more to him, then looked to Fang Li, "Well done, sweetheart. I'll see you soon, but for now, your mother's worried about us both and I need to get home and let her know we're just fine." He kissed her forehead before going to his horse.
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"Your father's a very kind man," Khan smiled as Luangzu rode off. "Many people could learn a thing or two from him."

[kishiseta]

Fang Li looked at her father with pride as he left. There was a reason why he was a well-respected leader even if they lived humbly in the far flung reaches of the village. "He is. And I'm sure Xuzhu will be like him one day. Oh, you must come to meet the rest of the family. I'm certain Xuzhu will have so many questions for you. And I'd like for my friends to meet you for who you are. Not what you look like."

As soon as they received the lunch Miss Mei had prepared for them, they went off to Bei Falls. They had to stop every once in a while when Fang Li felt a little exhaustion coming over her, as she promised Miss Mei and Master Khan. She sat on rocks and huge roots and told him of the many plants and the uses she discovered for them when she was running off as a child--until she grew older. She took deep breaths, loving the outdoors as they walked as steady pace, thankful that Master Khan was keeping up with her.

"So, what was it that you wanted to show me at Bei Falls? And how much further is it?"

[Taiylor Wallace]

"It's a special place that I come to meditate, it's the place that I first found real peace." As they approached the falls, which stood at the end of a mountain range, Khan paused at the edge of a huge cerulean pool with three small waterfalls cascading down into it. "This is where the climbing comes in." He brought her to a ledge, having her loop her arms about his shoulder and neck in such a way that she wouldn't stretch the arrow wound. "Hang on tight." He wrapped an arm around her waist, climbing with only the strength of one arm and his legs. As he made it up the first ledge, she could see the three pools that poured into the lower lake, but as he climbed the second, much more sheer cliff, she saw another single pool, poured into by an overhead mountain spring that came down from the peak. Khan set Fang Li down carefully once they were safely on solid ground.
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At the back of the pool, behind its waterfall, she could see an old, rusted sword thrust into a sheet of the black stone that made up the mountain, and Khan showed her a dry path around the pool to reach it. "This was my blade... It belonged to my father and his father before him. But now, it'll stay here and never hurt anyone again." He looked to the pool, and came to the cascading waterfall. He reached out, cupping his hands so that he could drink, before coming back to Fang Li.
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The black mountain was covered in the most beautiful vegitation, and all sorts of birds and small creatures wandered about, unafraid of the humans. Vines grew all over the rocks near the pools, and moss covered all else. Khan settled in a dry spot in the shade of a large tree, smiling to himself. "I always feel better, coming here."

[kishiseta]

"And I can see why..." Fang Li trailed off looking at her surroundings. She had never been in a more peaceful place in her life. The only sounds she could hear were the birds and the rustling of leaves as the wind swayed the branches above. The pool was so clear, she could see the bottom even though it was deep. She walked on the dry path to go to the sword and touched it. Behind it was years and generations of history and legacy, and Master Khan left it all behind for a new life. At the back of her mind, she marveled at Master Khan's strength in carrying her, but more than that she marveled at his strength in forgetting his past and his heritage to change. That was a strength so rare, her family treasured it as her father taught. He had said that many men display feats of strength in their bodies, but rarely in their hearts and minds.

Finished with her admiration, she removed her slippers and lifted her skirt wading into the pool, stopping at the point where the water reached her knees. Any further and the water would reach her waist and drench her. The waters were cold and she knew Miss Mei would take it against Master Khan if she got drenched and got a cold from it. She turned back to Master Khan, her dress hiked above her knees still disbelieving of such a wonderful sight hidden from the world.

"Master Khan, thank you for bringing me here. This must be very personal to you. I'll make sure to guard it and treasure it as my own."

[Taiylor Wallace]

"Please," he smiled gently, "it's just Khan. You're my friend, there's no need for titles Miss Chan." And yet he still used one. "I'm glad you enjoy this place. No one else knows of it, and I'd enjoy coming here with you more often."

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"Please," he smiled gently, "it's just Khan. You're my friend, there's no need for titles Miss Chan." And yet he still used one. "I'm glad you enjoy this place. No one else knows of it, and I'd enjoy coming here with you more often."

[kishiseta]

Fang Li laughed at the irony of his statement. She wasn't allowed to call him Master but he was calling her Miss. She shook her head. "No, Master Khan. Everyone needs to be reminded of what you are and how far you have gone. It wouldn't do for me to call other monks, master and you just by your name. It won't help your reputation. You are the one who are not supposed to call me miss. You may do so when I'm a full healer," she stuck her tongue out and started to ward him.

The pool was filled with rocks, stones and pebbles and when she stepped on one, it was so slippery that she lost her footing. She yelped and fell on her bottom, drenching herself completely. Fang Li tried to straighten herself as quickly as she could to minimize the damage, but her injury wouldn't let her. She stood up shivering and groaned. "Miss Mei would not like this. Not at all," she said reserving the curses for herself in her head as she walked toward the bank, making her steps more sure.