Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 3 2018 | Page 327

He failed to complete his sentence before a dragon descended from the sky— why does the sky look like it’s been stampeded by unicorns!? This all is ridiculous!— and started swirling about him. He gulped, mulling over plausible ways of it devouring him and his mind going into flight mode, apprehensive of what was to come. Perhaps another challenge for me to act like Wukong? He contemplated, ignoring the dragon, after deducting that it wouldn't harm him for a while. To focus on the present instead of overthinking? To improvise without doubting? “I would appreciate it if you gave me valuable advice now, voice.” He sighed, staring at the dragon without apparent fear any longer, rather than just idling there with an annoyed guise. When no response was given, he decided to take matters into his own hands, kicking the dragon without hesitating. Present, no doubt. He was gobsmacked when it once again morphed into nothingness about him, but the surprise quickly turned into a smug feeling as he gave a little beam at his success. Sadly (comically), the next challenge was anything but he expected. His eyes locked onto a pair of sea blue orbs that he did not like. Their owner was a schoolmate who loved to mock him, and he was standing in front of him with a smirk on his countenance, which he frankly wanted to murder him for. Nodding to himself with the corners of his lips twitching up as well, his eyes gleamed as his clenched fists collided with the other’s face, knocking him to the sand with his form curled up in agony. He presumed the body to turn into nothing as well, but to his shock, it did not. “Loyalty is indispensable for a holder of a holy sutra. You are not loyal.” “Why does that count!? He's not my friend! I don't need to be loyal to him!” He argued, not noting how a blinding light was enveloping him. “Is he not?” The voice seemed to tease and fade away, before getting replaced by another much more exasperating voice booming in his right ear as he slowly drifted back to reality. A voice that loved to patronise him. “Oh, my friend, you’re finally up! I thought you were dead!” His schoolmate feigned fright, pulling a dramatic expression. “What— I thought you were dead!” He gasped, pointing at him accusingly. “You were asleep for the whole meeting. You dreamt of me dying? Whatever, I'm too beautiful to die. I'm going to tell you the most important part, president , because you’re too foolish to comprehend anything.” His neighbour said lightly, a playful sparkle in his sea blue eyes. “I was right to punch you in my sleep.” “We’re going to India, my dear. To China first, then we journey to the west from there. I don't know about the budget, but it's up to you to veto—” Needless to say, the rest of the committee was petrified when he let out a scream in a falsetto voice.