Shaolin Temple

When the old man noticed that he had fainted, he moved closer to where he laid and stared at him for a long time before lifting him up and placing him on his left shoulder as though he was lifting a piece of paper, then he walked deeper into the lonely streets.

When he got to a spot where no one could see him, not even crawling insects, he carefully dropped Zagan on the floor and then faced a wall and began to use his fingers to form a portal seal. After using his fingers in a fast mode making different signs, a large portal opened in front of him. He then turned and carried Zagan again and began to walk into the portal. Immediately after he walked into the portal, it closed.

He laid Zagan on a bed and covered him with a blanket. It was already sunset in this mysterious place. Judging from the way he looked, it was obvious that he wasn't going to wake up till the next morning so the old man left him to rest in that small room.

The old man sat with both of his legs crossed, his hand on both tights and his eyes closed. One of his disciples, Lu Feng stared at him unsure of why he had brought that boy to the temple.

Before the old man could start meditating, Lu Feng asked, "Master Shi. Why have you brought an outsider to the temple? This temple has been hidden from the rest of the world for three thousand years now. Don't you think this is going to disrupt the balance?"

Master Shi De remained silent and breathed in and out. He stayed with his legs crossed for hours and didn't open his eyes. Lu Feng knew better than to disturb his meditation so he kept quiet and meditated as well.

Master Shi De didn't leave that spot until after ten hours of meditation. When he finally stood up, he walked towards Zagan's room and his disciple followed behind him. The old monk peeped through the small opening and saw that Zagan was still asleep.

He sighed, "This little punk sure knows how to beat my expectations. He's still sleeping even after ten hours. Lu Feng, you should stay with him till he wakes up; I still have some things to attend to but make sure you notify me the very minute he wakes up."

Lu Feng nodded. Even though he didn't want to be with this stranger, he couldn't defile the master's order. Master Shi De left the room and went to the well side where his junior disciples were waiting for him while Lu Feng stayed with Zagan.

'Why me? Why do i have to be the one to babysit this strange outsider.' He pouted. 'And why does he sleep like a lifeless creature? Is he a ghost?'

Eventually, he found a book and began to read through it to himself from drowning in anger and boredom.

After two more hours of waiting, Zagan moved his fingers and furrowed his brow. Lu Feng who was busy with the book did not realize that Zagan was about to wake up.

When Zagan opened his eyes, he saw an unfamiliar ceiling and when he looked around, he saw an unfamiliar cold face staring at a book. He immediately stood up and turned his hands turned into a fist in front of him as if he was an experienced fighter.

This act of his drew the attention of the disciple and caused Lu Feng to raise his brow and blink a few times. 'What's he doing?' He wondered. He put the book aside and walked towards Zagan.

"What do you think you're doing huh? You just woke up, the master would not be pleased to see you behaving like a boneless creature. Come. I'll bring you to master Shi." Lu Feng spoke nonchalantly and began to walk towards the door.

Zagan dropped his hands and straightened his back. 'Why is this man dressed so strangely? I thought I was attacked by hoodlums.'

Lu Feng looked back and asked "Aren't you coming? I have other things to do you know?"

Zagan jolted back to his senses and followed behind Lu Feng. The walked for while and Zagan was beginning to wonder where he was and where he was being taken. Not long after, he saw a path leading out of the endless hall way and it was only then that Zagan realized that he was on a mountain. Before getting to their destination, Zagan was mesmerized by the scenery which was full of tall trees at the ground level which was about seven kilometers away from where he stood, a clear sky and clean water flowing from the very top of the mountain which looked like a transparent curtain blocking outsiders from seeing what was inside. Everything felt unreal to Zagan. 'Where was the water coming from.' He thought. They passed different other halls before getting to their destination.

Zagan saw an old man seated in front of a Budai (Buddha) statue with his legs crossed and his hands on his thighs. This man was putting on a yellow and red monks cloth and was meditating. Zagan stood there awkwardly but it didn't take long for the monk to stand and fold his mat. When the master Shi De noticed them, he blinked a few times and turned to Lu Feng.

"You little punk, didn't I ask you to call me? Why did you have to bring him all the way here."

Lu Feng scratched his head. He obviously forget that part. The master did not bother with him and turned to Zagan. "How are you feeling now." He asked. Zagan nodded.

Passing the mat to Lu Feng, he told him to go back to his room and send the other disciples to bed as well. Lu Feng bowed and left.

Master Shi De walked with Zagan round the temple. Zagan had his eyes glued to the water that was falling at every corner of the temple that looked like a curtain. After a long walk and a long sillence, the monk asked.

"You must be hungry right? Why don't we stop here and eat something."

Zagan nodded continuously like a woodpecker. The monk patted Zagan's head and smiled. At the table, multiple foods were served but all of them were vegetarian food. Zagan did not mind, all he care about was filling his stomach. He couldn't eat the food served by the guards back at the Lynx clan palace because he had received the beating of his life.

The monk watched Zagan as he gulp all the food down his stomach. 'This is a very unique boy.' He thought.

After Zagan was sufficiently feed, the monk asked,

"What were you doing at the market? And why did you go eastward? Don't you know that the east is a dead zone?"

Zagan looked up at the master confused. He didn't know how to reply to his question and didn't even know what he was talking about. He only saw a route and took it.

Noticing his puzzled expression, the monk asked another question.

"What is your name son?"

Zagan cleaned his lips which had soup on it and looked around. The monk was confused. What was he looking for? When Zagan's eye landed on a paper and ink with a brush pen, he took it and began to write. He then passed the paper to the monk which wrote, "ZAGAN".

The monk raised his brow and retorted,

" 'Zagan?' I've never heard this type of name in the Lynx clan. What does it mean?"

Zagan pursed his lips and sighed. He took the paper from the Monk's hand before writing,

"WHERE ARE WE? IS THIS THE LYNX CLAN?"

The monk replied with a simple "No" Then Zagan took the paper again and wrote. "I'M NOT FROM THE LYNX CLAN. I'M FROM THE LEO CLAN AND MY NAME MEANS 'DEMON KING'"

Reading this, the monk blinked twice. He wondered where he got such a name but decided not to press any further. "This as you can see, is a temple and from this day onwards, everyone will refer to you as Yang that's of course if you'd like to stay and learn how to use that amulet around your neck."