Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 3 2018 | Page 200

New Journeys to the West
Po Leung Kuk Choi Kai Yau, Cho, Jessie – 14
H
e walked along the marble corridor, heading towards the hefty-looking doors at the end. They
swung open at a small flick of his double-bladed spear. He then stepped inside and glanced
around one of the Jade Emperor’s many rooms of antiques; pots, vases, jewellery sat dull and
lifeless in the darkness of the marble chamber, silently waiting for him to complete his duty. He strolled to
the centre of the room and thrust his staff up towards the ceiling. At once, the marble dome above his head
dissipated into fractals. The constantly-shining moonbeams stretched through the chamber's roof, painting
the treasures inside the room with a kiss of silver light. Job completed, he lowered his spear and started to
stroll back out of the chamber. However, he didn't make it so far.
Crash.
~~~
I remember the agony afterwards. Apparently, as I was retreating from the room, I accidentally knocked
over one of the Emperor’s precious vases. This awakened the guardian spirit of that chamber, who knocked
the lights out of me.
The next memory I had was being chained in the dungeons. The punishment spirits took out a smouldering
piece of rod and walloped me all over. I could vaguely remember the smell of burnt flesh before pain
exploded in my head, and I was rendered unconscious once more.
A torrent of ice-cold water crashed down onto my head. I woke up with a yelp.
“General of Curtains,” a booming voice thundered at me. “You have sinned.” The Jade Emperor. I tried to
sit up, but my marred body screamed in agonising protest. “As your punishment, you shall be condemned to
the earthly world. You shall be transformed into a hirsute man-eating sand demon.” I lifted my head with
excruciating difficulty. The face of the Jade Emperor towered above me.
It was a face of justice and cruelty.
~~~
I watched the sand-scattered river move sluggishly down its path. This was my new home. I glimpsed my
reflection in a stretch of semi-clear water. It was just as the Jade Emperor said-I have sprouted the tangled
mass of a beard, which conjoined with my hair, also a knotted discord. My face was distorted into beastly
features. I frowned, but quickly loosened my expression. Contorting my already distorted face led to
abhorrent results.
“Greetings.”
A mellifluous voice sang behind me. It was soothing, sweet. It washed over me like the cool trickle of a
fresh stream. There was only one person with such a sound.
“Salutations, Guanyin.” The bodhisattva of compassion.
“Look at me, child.”
“But I mustn't,” I muttered, a wave of emotion suddenly threatening to overtake my voice. “I am a figure
of shame to the galaxy. I sinned against the Jade Emperor.”
“Perhaps.” I felt the warm breeze that always surround her gently caress my face. “Young one, I have come
with a mission for you.”
“A… mission?” Surprised, I felt my bushy eyebrows furrow as I turned towards her. Guanyin smiled at me.
Her timelessly angelic face glowed with warmth and kindness. Is this a chance for me to repent of my
wrongdoing?