“Do you think you've got it?” Fu asked.
Ma nodded his head.
“Good,” Fu said. “As you can see, it is a simple front kick. But if you do it fast enough and hard enough, it is nearly impossible to stop. If you find you have to use it anytime soon, I suggest you aim for one of your opponent's knees. If you keep the kick low, you will maintain your balance easier. Also, most people won't expect it low, which makes it very effective. Just don't forget that it is important to stay rooted when you do this or any other kick or punch because you are transmitting energy. If you were to use only the strength of your muscles against an opponent, it would certainly have an effect. But if you stay rooted and pull energy from the whole earth, it will have a much greater effect. Does that make sense?”
“Yes,” Ma replied.
Fu nodded his head. “Now, there are two more things you must always remember. First, you should only fight as a last resort, and only when necessary. All right?”
Ma looked sideways. “Sure.”
“Promise me,” said Fu.
Ma looked back at Fu. “Okay. I promise.”
Fu took a deep breath. “The other thing is perhaps even more important. For every action, there is an equal, opposing reaction. This applies to life, as well as the fighting arts. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” Ma said.
“Are you sure?” asked Fu.
“Of course I'm sure,” Ma replied, swinging his arms. “Now, is this lesson over? I'm getting hungry.”
“The lesson is over whenever you say it is over,” Fu said. “I am the one stuck in the cage. You can walk away at any time. However, it was my own teachers' custom to conclude all training sessions with a question from each student. Do you have a question for me?”
Ma scratched his head, then smiled. “Do you like pork inside your steamed breakfast buns, Teacher? Or do you prefer chicken?”
“Major Ying!” Commander Woo shouted. “We have visitors this morning! They bring news of a captured monk!”
Ying stopped sharpening his toenails and looked over at the Cangzhen main gate. Commander Woo and Captain Yue stood just beyond it, side by side. Not to be outdone, Captain Yue added, “The visitors are from the same village I went to, sir! I recognize one of them!”
Ying sighed and stood up from the low bench next to the fire pit. He saw two men in gray peasant's robes come into view. Commader Woo grabbed the arm of the first man and yanked him toward the gate. Captain Yue latched onto the second man, but the man shrugged him off. Captain Yue coughed and adjusted his hat. He remained behind as Commander Woo led the two villagers through the gate.
“What news do you bring?” Ying asked as the men approached. His tongue wriggled inside his mouth and the villagers jumped but did not answer. They both stared at Ying, wide-eyed.
Commander Woo squeezed the first man's arm. The man yelped.
“Answer the question,” Commander Woo said.
“We… aaah …bring news of a captured young monk, Major Ying,” the man said, cowering. “And news of your scrolls.”
Ying leaned his head to the side. “You have the boy and the scrolls?”
“Yes, sir,” the man replied, looking down at Ying's feet. He shuddered.
Ying's eyes narrowed. “How many scrolls are there?”
“Four, sir,” the villager said.
“And what do they look like?”
The man looked up at Ying, surprised. “No one dared open them, sir. We thought it best to stay out of your business.”
Ying grinned. “All right, then, describe the boy.”
“He is, well, rather large for his age. He appears to be about twelve years old. He is bald and wears an orange monk's robe. He has a deep, gravelly voice. He—”
“Is there anything wrong with his face?” Ying asked.
The villager paused. “What… aaah … exactly do you mean by wrong, sir?”
“Does he have any distinguishing marks on his face!”
“He has a … aaah … long, handsome scar forming across one cheek. Much like you have, sir.”
Ying's carved face grew dark. “Enough! This man appears to be telling the truth.” Ying looked over at the gate. Captain Yue was standing there, staring at his reflection in the rain barrel.
“Captain Yue,” Ying shouted. “Get over here! Now!”
Captain Yue sprinted over.
Ying rubbed his forehead. “Commander Woo, you still have work to do here, and Tonglong is out on a special mission. I guess I will have to leave this in your hands, Captain Yue. You failed miserably the first time you went to that village. This will be your chance to redeem yourself. Take fifty men and return to the village to collect the young monk and the scrolls. Bring them back here. If you fail again, you will answer to me—and not even your horse will stand between us. Understood?”