The Tiger Warrior

The sword flew past his head and embedded itself in the wall next to Win-chow-lin. Not even a fraction of fear flickered across his face. He tugged at the sword and studied it carefully. It was one of the first swords invented in Korea, a Ken blade. He raised an eyebrow in surprise.1

"You impress me Lau Ching," Win-chow-lin said, "but do tell me, how many people did you have to kill to get hold of it?" Hearing this, Lau Ching snarled. The many scars on his thin, tanned face twisted and contorted to show his anger.2

"Win-chow-lin! Not even a Tiger Warrior is a match for me!" he screamed. Win-chow-lin was one out of the twelve existing Tiger Warriors in the world. They were as agile as cats and as ferocious as tigers. A crackling electric-blue orb appeared and danced between Lau Ching's hands. With all his might, he threw it at Win-chow-lin. But, Win=chow-lin saw it coming. A blinding light lit the alleyway. The orb bounced back and smacked Lau Ching in the stomach. The impact was incredible. Lau CHing was flung into some discarded cardboard boxes. Stunned, he didn't move.3

" You don't think that I haven't learnt some magic over the years, do you? I will spare you, Lau CHing, for I do not kill for fun!" exclaimed Win-chow-lin. With that, he melted in to the shadows.4

Miyamoto sat in the Kiyamizu temple, legs crossed. Outside, she could hear the trickling of the streams as they tumbled over the rocks in the garden. Each river represented love, wisdom and long-life. Later, she would drink from them to let the elements enter her body. It was a quiet place to be, just right for a tea ceremony. Her guests would soon arrive.5

She was wearing a beautiful kimono called a Houmon-Gi. The shoulders and skirt were embroidered with lilies. When laid out, it made a beautiful picture of a garden of lilies with a river running through it.6

Miyamoto laid out the tea, fresh water and bamboo whisk on the mat in front of her. Noticing something out of the corner of her eye, she turned. Nothing...No-one...Just her imagination. A hand covered her mouth. A blade was pressed to her throat. She was dragged out of the temple and carried away on a horse.7

"Miyamoto? Miyamoto? Where are you?!" called Win-chow-lin. Something wasn't right. His wife never left guests waiting. It was then that he saw the carelessly drawn symbol on the wall. Speechless, he mouthed two words, forming them with as much hatred as he possibly could. 'Lau Ching'.8

" I swear by Aizen-Myoo, the god of love, that I will seek revenge on Lau Ching and find my wife Miyamoto!" he cried. With that, he slung his rucksack over his shoulder and sped out of the temple.9

He was in a small, pleasant cave hidden behind a gentle waterfall. The damp walls were covered in a dark-green spongy moss and the flickering light created a dreamy atmosphere. Win-chow-lin sat on his rucksack and buried his head in his hands. Things weren't looking good. Everywhere he'd been, no one had heard anything of Lau Ching's whereabouts.10

Suddenly, a man dressed in black, with a curved sword, stepped out of the shadows. A samurai! Never did they travel alone, especially against an opponent like Win-chow-lin. Warily, he glanced around the cave. He was surrounded!11

One, with a red band round the top of his arm, probably the leader, pounced at him. Win-chow-lin dodged him smartly. The attacker collided with another samurai and his sword blade buried itself in his stomach, like an ostrich burying it's head in the sand. 12

Another lunged at him with a double blade, with a handle in the middle, spinning above his head. Win-chow-lin grabbed his arm and flipped him over his own head. The blade stabbed the back of the samurai who was still recovering from his collision. The attacker fell upon the blade that was protruding from his companion's back. Turning around triumphantly, Win-chow-lin's nose met a cloth soaked in chloroform. The cave disappeared into a black cloud of unconsciousness.13

" Win-chow-lin! Win-chow-lin!" His eyes fluttered open. A fire tickled his feet as he struggled against the bonds that held him to a pole. He was in a vast room with a glass ceiling, white walls and red wall hangings. The more he struggled, the tighter his bonds grew.14

" Win-chow-lin! Are you all right?"15

" Miyamoto! Thank Aizen-Myoo you're alive!!" cried Win-chow-lin. All the grief from the last few days lifted from his mind. 16

" Not for long, if we don't act soon. How do we break these bonds?" she asked worriedly. Win-chow-lin thought as hard as could. An idea entered his mind.17

" Close your eyes. Don't worry or panic, whatever happens!" he instructed. He shut off everything around him and concentrated hard on the elements of fire and air. Their powers entered his body. A round sphere of fire lifted from the licking flames below him. It went to each bond in turn, setting them alight. Just as the bonds were about to break and just as Miyamoto and Win-chow-lin were about to fall to their deaths, a huge gust of wind blew them away from the fire. They landed in a sprawled heap on the floor.18

"So, you escaped the death I had in store for you both," said a cold voice from behind. Win-chow-lin stood up too quickly and wobbled. He speedily regained his balance.19

" Yes, well it wasn't particularly effective seeing as I am still alive!" exclaimed Win-chow-lin, his confidence growing. A scowl appeared on Lau Ching's face. His black eyes gleamed.20

"You may have escaped me then, but now you shall die!" shouted Lau Ching. Suddenly, twenty samurai emerged out of nowhere.21

"Let's see what match one Tiger Warrior is against twenty of my men!" sneered Lau Ching. The men closed in on on Win-chow-lin. This was certainly the end for him and Miyamoto.22

Crash!! A loud noise sounded from above. Looking up, Win-chow-lin saw eleven men jump through the ceiling.23

"Tiger Warriors!" screamed Lau Ching, his body trembling with fear. The warriors landed with perfect balance and bowed towards Win-chow-lin. They turned towards the samurai warriors.24

Win-chow-lin peered over his shoulder and saw Lau Ching scurrying away on his hands and knees. Win-chow-lin leaped high into the air and landed right in front of him. Lau Ching tried to punch him, but he blocked it. Every attack that Lau Ching tried was blocked. Finally, Win-chow-lin drew his sword and placed it at Lau Ching's throat.25

"I only kill if I have to, and I don't need to kill you... yet. Run, run like the wind and never return!" Lau Ching stumbled and ran away. He didn't stop for a moment.26