Once the Wu were aligned in four perfect rows, the drums were silenced, and the bamboo flutes and bells played, creating a sublime ambience. Very slowly, and in perfect unison, the Wu began to perform a dancing exercise. It became apparent to Dan that this was a demonstration of the Wu discipline of Dao Yin that Jiang Hudan had spoken of earlier. As he observed the movements, he could see the practitioners were focused on an invisible something that they consciously moved around their bodies — their dance was mesmerising to watch.
The beautiful flautist, who was seated to the left side of the pool playing the bamboo dizi, did manage to capture Dan’s attention; however, there was something about her that didn’t seem right.
Song noted his uncle’s interest and leaned behind his father to convey a thought. ‘I think that particular brother is truly a brother,’ Song whispered, raising a conspiratorial eyebrow.
This was a little hard for Dan to digest because she was a stunning beauty, despite the fact that she was clearly not as well-endowed as the other Wu her age, and that her hands, although soft and supple in their movements, did seem a little large.
‘How can you be sure?’ Dan asked, excited by the possibility that a male might have been accepted and trained by the Wu already!
‘The flutist is the only woman in the room I’m not attracted to,’ Song told him in a whisper, grinning broadly.
Dan studied the musician in question again and saw the brother with new eyes. He was definitely male, and that was inspiring … Dan had to speak with him.
In the hours that followed, their party feasted, and were treated to death-defying feats of gymnastics and fighting displays with staff, sword, dagger and fan. The women then turned their weapons on themselves! They slashed themselves with knives, drew blood and then instantly healed. They swallowed swords, then juggled fire, swallowed it and spat it out their mouths. Once the performance was over, Dan and his party applauded heartily, as they had many times while watching the many amazing feats.
A solo voice began a soulful chant, and from behind the rows of warriors, Jiang Hudan rose into the air. Her hair and flowing garments swirled around her as if she were submerged in water — it was like watching a spirit dance. Her voice was incredibly moving and expressive.
‘Goddess …’ uttered Song, enchanted.
‘My thoughts exactly.’ The Xibo glanced aside to see Dan’s jaw dropping, and so closed it for him.
‘Is this not the most splendid spectacle you have ever witnessed?’ Dan was too enthralled to be embarrassed.
‘It certainly is,’ Fa agreed in delight, his eyes again glued to Jiang Hudan’s flying form. ‘We can enchant the enemy into laying down their arms.’
Dan was stunned to hear this, as he felt that the last thing he could stomach in the presence of such a supernatural event would be fighting.
As Jiang Hudan’s chant drew to a close, she maintained her lofty position above the proceedings. The drums sounded, slow and ominous, like a predator stalking its prey, and the Wu warriors scattered evenly to each side of the pool and bowed down. This created a clear corridor across the pool between the throne of the Great Mother and the table at which the Ji warriors sat. The drums found a slow, primal rhythm, while the flautist’s melody and Jiang Hudan’s chant changed and became more seductive.
‘What could possibly top what we have already seen?’ the Xibo asked his brother.
Dan could only shake his head. ‘I cannot imagine.’
‘I can,’ Song grinned, as a beautiful woman, with long wavy hair the colour of honey, glided from behind the throne of the Great Mother.
She wore only a sheer, white silk robe, loosely tied at the waist, and they could see a clear impression of her naked form beneath.
‘Here we go.’ The young man rubbed his hands together as the seductive beauty reached down and undid the tie at her waist, her eyes fixed ahead as she walked toward them. ‘Yes,’ he uttered under his breath in hopeful anticipation.
The silk belt dropped away, and as she clasped her robe to pull it open, she ducked down and the silk garment gently folded over her form. All the music stopped, and beneath the silken fabric the woman’s form seemed to be expanding.
With bated breath the warriors watched a full-grown white tigress emerge from beneath the silk and she continued to walk across the water toward them.
‘Jiang Huxin.’ Song’s fantasy had shattered into fear.
‘Shh!’ Dan advised as the beast drew closer. Jiang Hudan’s vow that ‘they had nothing to fear’ was resounding in his brain and doing battle with his urge to reach for his weapon.
Before the animal got uncomfortably close, it stopped and took a seat on their side of the pool and the men could only stare, breathless at its close proximity and the transformation they’d just witnessed.
Jiang Hudan’s chant had stopped and she spoke. ‘The Ji family rule the West and, according to the sacred geomancy of Wu Xing, the heavenly guardian of the West is Baihu, the White Tiger. Baihu’s colour is white, her element is wind, her stone is white jade, and her virtue is righteousness.’ Jiang Hudan returned to the ground and came to stand beside the tiger, which she stroked without fear. ‘Her associated material is metal, as opposed to the associated material of Qinglong, the Green Dragon of the East, which is wood.’
‘Metal chops wood,’ Ji Dan deduced, for he had studied the mnemonic charts of Wu Xing, otherwise known as the Five Movements, Phases or Elements.
‘Yes,’ Jiang Hudan confirmed. ‘In such a conflict, the White Tiger will prevail.’
‘That is what you saw?’ Ji Fa queried. After what he’d witnessed this night, he would not doubt her word.
‘Whoever has the favour of the White Tiger and flies her colours on their banner will be emperor.’
‘And how do I secure the favour of Baihu?’ Fa asked.
‘Tigers are an amazing judge of character, Ji Fa, and if you are truly a man worthy of heaven’s mandate, Baihu will know it and Jiang Huxin will know it too.’ Jiang Hudan crouched down beside the animal, and hugged it around the neck tightly with great affection. ‘So if you seek Tian’s mandate, come forward now and be judged worthy.’
Dan’s heart stopped upon the request, and Ji Fa turned to him for an opinion. Dan looked to Jiang Hudan for reassurance.
‘If you know your leader is a good-hearted man, he has nothing to fear,’ Jiang Hudan insisted, whereupon Dan looked back to his older brother and gave him a nod.
‘I believe you are the best of us, dear brother,’ Dan advised, ‘but only you truly know if your intentions are pure.’
Fa rose, decidedly undaunted. He removed his weapons and put them aside ahead of walking around to the front of the feasting table, where he crouched down on one knee. The candidate held forth both hands, palms up, and bowed his head in reverence to the powerful animal before him. ‘I humbly await Baihu’s judgement.’
Song shot Dan a worried glance as the tiger rose and moved toward Ji Fa. When she reached the Xibo, she sniffed his outstretched hands and then his bowed head. She hesitated a moment and then pulled back to release an almighty roar, which drove Dan and Song to their feet in horror, but Ji Fa did not flinch. After a moment, the Xibo dared to raise his eyes, only to find the tigress in very close quarters and, although he held her gaze, he maintained a bowed submissive stance. When the tigress leaned in close and opened her jaws, Dan’s heart stopped, then the animal began licking his brother’s face, and nudging him playfully with her head.
‘Not so terrible.’ Ji Fa gave a nervous laugh as the tiger placed her head under his hand to encourage him to stroke her, which he did happily. As the Xibo’s fear fled altogether, he was utterly delighted to unexpectedly find himself a playmate of the beast.
‘Baihu has spoken,’ Yi Wu stated. Her initiates bowed their heads as the Great Mother vanished from the temple, leaving her veil fluttering down to settle upon her vacated throne.
‘I think we have established Baihu’s will now, brother Huxin.’ Jia
ng Hudan looked to the tigress, who had the Xibo pinned to the ground as she licked his face.
Before their eyes, and in an instant, Jiang Huxin transformed back into a woman, her naked form pinning Ji Fa to the ground. ‘I shall protect you, Ji Fa,’ she told him. ‘You shall please the goddess.’ The next moment, the tigress returned and with a friendly growl, she romped back across the pool, and out a side door.
‘Dismissed,’ Jiang Hudan gave the Wu warriors permission to leave and the choir and musicians followed them out. ‘Ji Fa.’ She reached down and offered the Xibo a hand to help him to his feet, as he was a little intoxicated.
‘Your sister is quite something, Jiang Hudan,’ the Xibo granted as he found his feet. ‘If only my people could have seen that spectacle.’
‘Oh, they will know of Baihu’s decision,’ Hudan assured Fa.
‘Unbelievable … what a demonstration!’ Song was deliriously satisfied. ‘That was the most fun I ever had when I wasn’t —’
Before Song could offend their hostess, Dan redirected her attention. ‘Ah, the flautist?’ he asked, indicating the departing musician.
‘Brother Fen,’ she advised.
‘I would very much like to speak with her … ah, him?’ The smile on his hostess’ face told Dan she already knew what his interest in Brother Fen was.
‘He is the only male ever to be trained here on Li Shan.’ She was clearly not comfortable with the subject, but Dan persisted anyway. If she got mad at him, he could blame his persistence on the wine.
‘But may I speak with brother Fen?’ Dan repeated.
‘I’m afraid that is impossible.’ She was embarrassed to have to explain. ‘He is currently in disgrace.’
‘What did he do?’ Song had been following the conversation, and Dan was glad, because he would have felt rude asking. The boy could get away with it.
‘To live among the Wu you must vow to live by our creed,’ Jiang Hudan began.
‘What is your creed?’ the Xibo wanted to know as did Dan.
‘We agree to abstain from causing harm and taking life, both human and non-human, without ritual or purpose. We do not take what is not given; we abstain from hurtful speech and lies; we do not take intoxicating drinks or drugs outside of ritual purpose. We abstain from eating at the wrongful time, and from singing, dancing, playing music or decorating ourselves for any other reason than to celebrate the glory of Tian. And we abstain from overindulging in sleep or engaging in improper sexual conduct,’ she said.
‘For reasons other than ritual purpose,’ Song added for good measure and to confirm whether what he’d foreseen in his visions regarding the Wu’s ritual relations with the emperor was true.
Jiang Hudan seemed perturbed by the correction, but replied, ‘That is correct.’
Song didn’t say anything, but Dan could hear the lad cheering on the inside.
‘So which vow in your creed did brother Fen break?’ Dan got back to his original query.
‘I bet you it was the last vow,’ Song posed with half a grin.
Jiang Hudan was pained to say it. ‘Yes, he allowed himself to be seduced by one of the less devoted women here,’ Hudan informed Song, who could not wipe the smile from his face, until she added, ‘So now Fen is bound for the Great Mother’s spring fire as a sacrifice.’
‘What?’ Dan was mortified that the only male Wu in existence was going to be burnt in less than a month.
‘But he ought to be given a medal for making it this far!’ Song said.
‘Clearly brother Fen is most talented —’ Dan argued.
‘Far more than you know,’ Jiang Hudan was forcibly restraining her emotion now. ‘But as the Great Mother pointed out to me, if what you are giving up to Tian is not truly precious then where is the sacrifice? Now if you gentlemen will excuse me, our underlings will see you to your rooms.’ She bowed her head slightly in leaving, and then vanished from their midst.
All three men were left flabbergasted, until an array of delightful little warriors huddled around to aid their tipsy guests to their accommodation for the night.
Sleep was impossible for Dan at the best of times; he had trouble shutting his mind off and tonight it was doubly difficult. Thanks to his intoxication and the sensory overload from this evening’s performance, he was buzzing. Usually he would wander the house or the campsite until he was ready to drop. However, being caught wandering around this sacred house at night, would hardly make the right impression, so Dan lay there listening to his brother snore in the next room.
The most disturbing thought for Dan was that he might have caused their hostess offence with his questions about brother Fen. She was obviously emotionally attached to the lad — surely she had not been the one who had seduced him? No, he decided, Jiang Hudan seemed far too honourable for that. Maybe he could ask his brother to barter for the life of the flautist when he spoke to Yi Wu on the morrow? Perhaps then brother Fen could train him in the art of Dao Yin?
A memory of Jiang Hudan’s performance made Dan’s heart swell to bursting for a moment, and then the memory of her sister transforming into a tiger sent shivers of wonder shooting through his being. How can they be sisters? How can they be human at all? These Wu seemed more spirit than mortal, and the vow that he and his male counterparts would feel as if they had been delivered into heaven had certainly been kept. But without all the pomp and pageantry, what were the Wu really like?
Curiosity finally drove Dan from his bed.
He’d watched the comings and goings of the young Wu serving their table at the celebration, so Dan was very sure he knew where the kitchen might be located. Beyond that would be a garden and he felt he could not get into trouble for being there.
It was a great relief to make it out to the herb and vegetable garden without encountering any weapon-wielding women, a phantom or a wild beast. In retrospect it was rather brave to have ventured out weapon-less and alone, but the ambience of the house was so tranquil, it seemed sacrilege to be armed.
Brushing his hand over the plants in the herb garden produced an array of amazing aromas — it was difficult to tell one plant from another with only the moonlight to see by.
At the end of the path Dan was pleased to find a gate that led into open gardens with paths running in several directions. As he stood there in the moonlight contemplating which path to follow, he heard his name called.
‘Ji Dan.’
When it was repeated in the same mocking tone, his attention was drawn to the path that led downhill to the left.
‘Ji Dan!’
‘Be quiet!’
He heard splashing, then laughter, and could not resist investigating.
Nestled within the garden was a thermal pool and stone stairs leading down to it. There were three people swimming naked; the full moon illuminated their heads and shoulders above the waterline but he could not see who they were. One woman was trying to drown another whilst the third just chuckled at their antics.
When the submerged woman broke away and surfaced, she was not perturbed. ‘The only mystery Jiang Hudan has yet to fathom … men.’ Huxin laughed at her sister’s discomfort. ‘Did you see the way Ji Dan was admiring our brother, Fen?’ She swam over to the onlooker.
‘Don’t tease her, Huxin, you know how she hates it,’ a male voice replied, and Dan’s heart suddenly jumped into his throat when he realised it was brothers Fen, Hudan and Huxin in the pool.
‘Ji Dan is interested in our little brother Fen, not in me,’ Hudan insisted.
‘Why me?’ Fen was stunned. ‘Does he like boys, do you think?’
‘Heavens, no!’
Dan was relieved to hear Hudan say so.
‘I believe it is because you are the only male Wu in existence.’
‘Not for long,’ Fen said solemnly.
‘Shifu Yi is not going to kill you, Fen,’ Huxin said in an attempt to lift his spirits. ‘What you did was only human.’
‘We are not “only human”!’ Hudan protested. ‘Stop defe
nding his offence against Tian, this house and me! I didn’t raise him for near on fifteen years, just so he can throw it all away on a —’
‘I raised him too!’ Huxin declared. ‘And I think you have the same desires.’
‘I do not!’ Hudan defended adamantly.
‘Tell me honestly that you don’t think Ji Dan is the handsomest man you’ve ever seen.’
Hudan opened her mouth to flatly deny it and then thought longer on it. ‘I think he would be handsomer without that little beard.’
Dan absently began stroking the short growth on his chin, which he was rather attached to, wondering what was wrong with it.
‘It makes him appear much older than he is,’ Hudan explained, ‘but otherwise I concede you are probably right; he is a handsome specimen. Still, I find the fact that he is a thinking man far more attractive than his appearance.’
‘You should tell him about the beard.’
‘Huxin, why on earth would I do that?’ Hudan said, smiling. ‘It is none of my business how he grooms himself.’
‘You are so clueless!’ Huxin laughed, and Fen with her.
‘What is so funny?’ Hudan appealed to Fen.
‘You would tell Ji Dan because it is a way to find out if he admires you in return,’ Fen explained. ‘If he does favour you, he will shave the beard off to please you.’
‘I am not so vain as to care if he likes me or not,’ Hudan stated emphatically. ‘Love is the addiction of unfulfilled people seeking to suck the vital energy out of someone else, because they fail in their ability to generate that vital energy for themselves.’
‘I rather thought that love was two people in a perfect exchange of energy,’ Fen said humbly.
‘How right you are, brother! I am so glad I have entirely different instincts and reasoning faculties to you, Hudan,’ Huxin stated deadpan to her sister, ‘because yours are completed whacked!’
‘I made an oath —’
‘Yes, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have, or be, any fun! Our Shifu has said beauty is a weapon as great as any sword, and I’m telling you, brother, your sword is dull, dull, dull.’