Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 3 2018 | Page 105

The Heart's Voyager
Harrow International School Hong Kong, Ho, Sophie -14
R
eader, I’d like you to put this piece of writing down, close your eyes, and just think: if the world
decided to take away the source of your happiness and your greatest love, would you choose to
forgive it? Or, would you live your life in despair and choose to take revenge?
People say that they would choose forgiveness no matter what happens. But, when given the
situation, why do they always choose the route of revenge, despite what they have said before?
A couple centuries ago, along the Silk Road, there lived a demon. A rather barbaric demon, she
seemed. Her appearance, though somewhat polished, still bestowed an eerie air to her character. Along with
her heartless nature and her selfish want for a certain man’s flesh, it was no surprise that people hid away
from her. Yet, on a blustery winter’s day, with the whispery moans of the wind whisking past her ears,
carrying away the dead leaves of autumn, Baigujing’s reverie was far from thoughts of the barbaric kind.
This barbaric demon once had a husband, one of pure heart and goodness, who passed away over
four hundred years ago. She was so sure that she could change his death and tried to bargain with the spirits
for his revival. Nonetheless, it led to her banishment to Hell, and as a result, her becoming of a demon. It
was then where her thirst for feasting upon Xuanzang’s flesh to gain invincibility began. And, if she did, she
could finally conquer nirvana, break the chain of reincarnation, and bring her love back to life. Since then,
she had spiraled into depression and was struck down with hallucinations, pushing her to the brink of
insanity.
Baigujing broke out of her trance and scolded herself for the distraction, whilst, though not
purposefully, also reminded herself of the guilt she had stored up, rocking to and fro like a ship in a raging
ocean. She willed her shape-shifting powers to transform her into an old man. Her back arched and her
wrinkles ever so prominent, she hobbled out of her lair and headed towards the hazy shadows of Xuanzang
and his crew.
“Hello there, good sirs!” She called out, dropping her voice to a low croak. Her first two disguises
had failed, but she was determined for her third to work. “Have you seen my daughter? A young village
girl, about fifteen, selling fresh fruits from our garden? Or my beautiful wife, who went off searching for my
daughter?”
Xuanzang, perched on his white dragon horse, lowered his eyes. A deep flush overcame his cheeks,
and he inclined his chin towards Sun Wukong, looking at him warily. The others, whom lacked the
sophistication of their leader, glared overtly at the monkey as they recalled how he had brutally slain the two
women.
“If you would excuse us for a moment, we would be glad to recall those we met on our journey.”
Xuanzang said as he turned to the group and began murmuring indecipherable phrases.
Meanwhile, things were going splendidly for the demon. It was too good to be true! They all fell
for her disguise, with the exception of the cunning monkey and his supernatural powers. Using her inner
voice, she decided to taunt the monkey, knowing just the slightest mention of harming his master would
stimulate violence. And if the monkey proceeded, Xuanzang would tighten the magical gold ring around his
head, trapping him in a world where there were no boundaries but himself.
“They will not believe you. Shall you manage to persuade them - you will be dead already,” she
thought as she mind linked to the monkey, pleased by the fact that only he could hear her.
As expected, Sun Wukong spun around, his beady stare striking directly into her eyes. With a
shrewd smile on her face, she traced her path back into the cave. The monkey followed her, hot on her
trail, leaving the rest of his friends behind, whom were still in deep conversation.
At the heart of the cave, Baigujing changed back into herself, resisting the urge to gasp for relief.
She hurled her powerful wand in the air and began to chant.
“O Powerful Spirits, pleasing than ever, hide from the truth and also the clever! Banish the ones
who hunt and prey, destroy them to death at their very last day!” She cried out, creating a violent gust of
wind and smoke, circling around her before a blinding light shot out.