Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 3 2018 | Page 402

Conquering the Void of Fear
West Island School, Huang, Vincent - 1 1
I
never expected my life to turn out like this.
I have always felt a significant connection to the temple- as if there were something more to
these regular visits that I frequently paid to show my respect. Throughout my childhood, my parents have
often read to me these bedtime stories of the high and mighty Buddha, the Monkey King and all those
myths and legends. Reminiscing these ancient tales, which I admired as a child, I held my hands together
and prayed, “nanmoamituofu...nanmoamituofu...”
Just as I finished praying, something seemed awfully peculiar. The birds surrounding the temple
suddenly hushed in unison and the gentle breeze slowed to a stop. Uneasily, I held my breath. Squeezing my
eyes shut, images of the Yao Guai monster started to flash in my head. This horrific creature began circling
around me, trapping me and terrorizing me.
“It’s just my imagination,” I quivered under my breath, drawing myself back to reality and
reassuring myself, forcing my eyelids to open. Suddenly, a ball of bright yellow light emitted rays filling the
whole temple; this was when I knew exactly who had arrived.
***
My journey had begun to travel west towards the mountains in search of answers. As I struggled up
the steep rocky-ravine, Why me? Why did Buddha choose me? What if I fail... Whizzing through my head,
these doubts made me nauseous. Next thing I knew, I’d walked straight into someone, or rather, something.
Panic-stricken, I slowly looked up. I saw someone who looked like a person and walked like a
person, but at the same time possessed the features of a completely different species. His whole body was
coated with a thick layer of auburn fur with his chest encased in iron armor. He was dressed both elegantly
and traditionally, yet retaining a stern face ready for battle with one hand firmly gripping onto his long
baton. Immediately, I knew who I had bumped into- the Monkey King.
“Greetings mortal,” the Monkey King growled deeply, breaking the awkward silence. “Why do
you happen to be here?”
“I was sent here by the Buddha,” I bowed, “Your majesty, what are you doing on this mountain?”
“I’m here because I’m looking for my monkeys,” the Monkey King grumbled. “They’ve
disappeared.”
As the Monkey King journeyed on, I followed him. He occasionally glanced back now and then,
eyeing me suspiciously.
“Well,” I questioned him, “who took your monkeys?”
“I need to travel west from here,” the Monkey King ignored my question. “I need to go now- it
is going to be night time soon.”
Starting to sink behind the mountains, the sun sucked in all the warmth left in the atmosphere
along with it. I shivered. The Monkey King, noticing me, declared, “I’ll build us a fire, come near the fire
and keep warm.” The Monkey King snapped his fingers, and a fire appeared. “You go to sleep first, I’ll keep
the fire going.”