3 The Story Of Ten Suns

The young farmer skilfully ploughed the lands with his tools. With every strike of his hoe, dust clouds raised up from the all too dry soil. Still, the farmer diligently turned the soil over, only taking a break to wipe away the sweat that run down his face. He looked at the sky above, wincing at the sight of the ten suns clustered amongst the blue. There was not a cloud in sight.

"We cannot live like this any longer!" The hot-blooded blacksmith cried out.

That night, the villagers all gathered at the village chief's house. The harvests were getting worst and worst as time went by and fear grew among the people.

"The village well dried up, if we continue like this, we'll all die!"

The village chief remained still in pensive silence.

"The food reserves are almost empty as well. We must leave the village for someplace else." The villages mourned.

Finally, the silent chief spoke. "And where would we go? The ten suns cast their wrath upon the mortal world. Every village suffers the same fate as we do. So, where do you suggest we go?"

"That-" The villages sobbed for they saw no hope.

"We don't have to go anywhere." At that moment, the young hunter entered the village chief's house.

"Huo Yi!" The villages gasped simultaneously. "Where have you been? We are thought you left the village."

"I went to the capital." The hunter answered. "Along the way, I have seen villages devastated and people starving. Bandits run amok and pillage what little people have left. There is no life here and no life anywhere."

Huo Yi's eyes glistened with sorrow as he reported the situation to the villagers. His tattered clothing, and worn out body were testament to his honesty. The villagers could not help but the cry at the news.

"Why have you returned?" The village chief inquired.

"I heard news that the Emperor will be bestowing the Taiyang bow to the most skilled archer in the kingdom and so I competed and returned." Now that Huo Yi had mentioned it, the villagers could indeed see the gold laced bow on the young man's shoulder. It looked as if it had been blessed by the gods themselves and could fell a even a divine dragon.

"With this bow, I will shoot down the suns." Huo Yi declared.

It was said with such determination and ferocity that none dared to suspect him of lying.

"Shoot down the suns?" A farmer scoffed. "How can a mere bow and arrow shoot a son of heaven?"

Huo Yi took no offense to the snark comment. "I will climb the highest mountain and come morning; the suns will be no more."

Sceptical whispers surrounded the hunter but his gaze never wavered.

"…Alright. I will give you some rations to take with you."

"Village Chief!"

"Quiet! It is only one meal. The only difference with it is that we die one day later. But, if Huo Yi really does as he says, we'll all be saved."

"…"

"Thank you, Village Chief." Huo Yi cusped his hands together and bowed at the elderly man.

"The Jinshan mountains are treacherous, be careful."

Huo Yi smiled with confidence. "I'm been hunting on it with my Father since I was a child. I will be fine."

"…Our lives are counting on you."

"I will not let you down."

"Huo Yi!" A voice came from behind.

"Chang'e." Huo Yi turned around and found Chang'e standing five steps behind him with tears in her eyes.

"You're leaving? Again?"

"I have to."

"But you just came home!"

"Wait for me, just a little longer." Huo Yi solemnly spoke. "When I come back, I will formally ask for your hand in marriage."

"…Huo Yi." Chang'e sobbed.

"I promise you."

The dainty young lady wiped away her tears. With a firm stance, she faced the hunter. "I will watch the sky to see your triumph."

Huo Yi chuckled and said no more. Then, with just a day's worth of rations, the young man, barely an adult, left the village and hiked the mountain for entire days and nights. On the third night, he finally made it to the peak of the Jinshan mountain.

Huo Yi docked his bow and arrow and took aim. In a few moments, the suns will rise. In a few moments, the whole world's fate will rest on his shoulders.

All ten suns rose in the sky. Huo Yi held his breath. The tense string loosened and the arrow flung forward. Huo Yi watched it fly forward towards the fiery sphere in the sky and witnessed it get swallowed by the red.

BOOM. The first sun fell from the sky and dissipated into nothingness.

"Huo Yi…" Chang'e muttered with contained excitement. Already, the sweltering air felt cooler.

The hunter did not react and simply docked another arrow. He aimed and shot. Aimed and shot. Aimed and shot. Finally, when he was aiming at the last sun, Huo Yi put down his bow. He had shot down nine suns, leaving just one in the sky.

"Hero! He's a hero!" The villagers cheered. The whole world applauded Huo Yi as a hero. He had saved them all.

"Prepare a feast for the hero!" The village chief jovially ordered. "Prepare the wedding decorations! We will celebrate as they wed!"

[Hero. To award you for your bravery, we shall bestow you this Elixir of Immortality.] The voice of the Queen Mother of the West resounded throughout the mortal world. [It will grant you eternal life and turn you into a god.]

A jade bottle fell from the skies and into Huo Yi's hands. The archer clasped his hands togethers and bowed towards the heavens. "Thank you."

When Huo Yi returned to the village, he found the villages celebrating his wedding. They all ushered him to the feast and teased him and congratulated him whilst expressing their gratitude towards the hero.

"…Chang'e." Huo Yi whispered when he entered the bridal chamber. The bride to be was sitting quietly on the bed, adorn in red wedding clothes. Though her face was covered by a thick cloth, Huo Yi found her to be more beautiful than the figure of the Queen Mother of the West.

"Huo Yi." Chang'e called back.

"Wife."

"Husband."

After their wedding night, Chang'e finally asked her newly wed husband what had been plaguing her mind.

"What are you going to do with elixir?" Chang'e asked nervously.

"There is only one." Hou Yi told her. "I will not eat it. I cannot bear to part with you."

"But you can become a god-"

"A world without you is not worth living."

"Huo Yi…" Chang'e was touched and truly felt that she was the luckiest woman alive.

"Please hide the elixir for me." Huo Yi implored.

Chang'e hesitated but agreed.

Soon after, life resumed as per normal. Though Hou Yi's status has been alleviated to hero, he was just as busy as ever. He took in many disciples and led them to help restore the world. One day, while Hou Yi had gone hunting as usual. However, his disciple, Feng Meng had fallen sick and so Chang'e helped to nurse him back to help.

"How are you feeling?" Chang'e asked. "Kyahhhhh." Feng Meng had grabbed onto Chang'e's neck and pushed her against the wall.

"Where is the elixir." He growled greedily.

Chang'e shook and cried. "I-, Huo Yi ate it on the day he got it."

"Lies! No god can remain in the mortal world." Feng Meng snarled. "Tell me where it is or I will kill you."

"I…Release me and I will get it for you." Chang'e muttered weakly and looked away from the man.

Feng Meng narrowed his eyes and slowly loosened his grip on Chang'e's neck. On the pale skin, striking red marks could be seen.

Trembling, the dainty woman led Feng Meng to Huo Yi and her bedroom. Under his watchful gaze, she opened the secret compartment in the bedside drawer and retrieved a jade bottle.

"Now give it to me." Feng Meng bubbly demanded. He was already envisioning a glorious life of godhood.

"You will never get want you want!" Chang'e scoffed and poured the contents of the bottle straight down her throat. "I'm sorry, Huo Yi…"

Now a goddess, Chang'e floated out into the sky. Her immortal body could no longer remain in the mortal world. And so, she flew higher and higher until she had reached the moon. It was the closest place to Earth that she could stay so though it was desolate, Chang'e chose to remain in the moon palace. Thankfully though, a jade rabbit that was maintaining the palace was able to keep her company.

When Huo Yi heard what happened, he flew into a rage. Feng Meng had run away but everyone had gathered to avenge Chang'e. He was hunted and executed.

"Chang'e! Chang'e!" The hero sobbed. The full moon glistened in the night sky. "My wife, I will never forget you."

Huo Yi put out some offerings in grief and worshipped the moon, where his wife had flown. And every year, on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, Huo Yi would worship the moon and pray to his Chang'e.

Long after the hero's death, the people kept up the custom, so that the hero and his wife would never be forgotten.