Yu meets the wandering brigand
For all the trouble the world has, most of it passed by the village. Life was simple; farming and families took most of the time. Like most such villages, a band of "uncles" were present to protect and advise when the village needed them. They were the first gong fu instructors Pleasant Rain met and he was thrilled to be with the other boys and girls learning from them.
To show his appreciation, Rain would show up early and make sure the uncle's tea was just right. When harvesting, with his parents permission, he would set aside the best of the family's produce for the uncles. It was always cleaned and prepared the way they liked it. When storms would come or snow would fall, Rain was still in the practice yard going over his forms and thinking of how to make the moves quicker, faster, and stronger. As he grew, the uncles treated him differently. They would look at each other sometimes and their sparring was a little harder on him than on the others. While the other boys and girls giggled at Rain since he was the student most likely to be beaten by the uncles, Rain took it as a personal challenge. He knew the uncles did not hate him, but he wasn't sure why they always defeated him but the other students didn't seem to wind up on the ground as often.
So Rain watched, and studied. When the uncles pressed on him hard and fast he knew their styles and had watched how they trained against each other. Every one of the uncles were bigger, stronger, and faster than Rain, but none of them burned to win as much as he did. He would sneak around and watch their private training session, perched from a limb other's couldn't get to. Straining his ears and senses Rain would get the training the uncles gave themselves. At least in knowledge, even if he had to practice it himself.
One day a travelling wushu bravado came through the village. At first he was courteous to the girls but once he saw no warriors about he started harrassing the villagers and striking the boys and girls that came to stop him. Like the others, Rain tried to defend his friends and village using the gong fu the uncles taught all the boys and girls. Like the others, Rain was knocked into the dirt while the bravado laughed.
The summer dust rose again as Yu landed on his back, about six feet from the brigand. Or where the brigand had been a moment ago. The flying leap Yu tried had not worked for him or any of the other boys as they tried to stop the brigand from taking Aunt Chan's only cow.
A couple of the boys had bruises and Fong would be walking funny for a while. Yu, senior student and a little older, was both ashamed of his own lack of success and what the uncles had taught them. Slowly the wind came back into his chest and Yu fought his own frustration down, along with the fear of not breathing. He had often landed on the ground when learning from the uncles, and even from some of the older students. His rough woven clothing protected his skin a bit but did nothing for his pride.
Unlike the others, Rain got up and faced the brigand again. His anger was not directed at the man, but at himself. How could he have let the uncle's down like this? How could he have misunderstood all their training? In an instant Rain saw the problem. He was copying the uncles and not learning from them. Here was an opponent with new techniques and body language Rain had never trained with before. He could not hope to win using the same strikes he used with the other boys and girls!
Pride raced through Yu's mind as he debated on getting up again. Pride of the senior student. Pride of what the uncles taught, a southern style so far north that no one knew how it got here. Pride in himself, for which Yu felt least but could not ignore. A full breathe returned and Yu relaxed. Pride was not his ally, he realized. He had thought his strength and that of the others could stop the bandit. Pride had blinded him. Pride could be his ally if he could find it in the bandit. Yu stood up once more.
Rain faced the bravado and smiled. Breathing deeply, settling himself, Rain watched his opponent for rhythm and weakness. He would break the first and exploit the last. Gone was his anger at himself, powerful was his joy at finding an opponent to help him really learn gong fu. Rain quietly said. "A thousand thanks for what you have done here, great sir? Would you have a moment to spare for someone so undeserving? A second lesson would be a heavenly gift, should you choose to bestow it."
"I have knocked you down six times already, boy. Why are you still trying to stand?" The brigand grinned at Yu as a cat might view a canary. "All your friends have the sense to stay on the ground. Why not do the same? Nothing to be ashamed of; I am Golden Falcon! Master of the Red Mountain style of Gong Fu. What do you think a few rag tag boys can do to stop me from enjoying a little luck on my travels?"
"A master would pay for a cow, Golden Falcon. You seek to steal one. That tells me no one thinks enough of you to pay student fees or to support their mentor. Perhaps you are not a master at all?" Yu relaxed himself and extended his hands as the uncles had taught. "Or perhaps the Red Mountain style is far inferior to that taught in the village of Fo Shan."
"I have dusted you again and again, boy! Do not challenge the gong fu of Golden Falcon! I have taken it easy on you in this fight!" The man stamped his foot for emphasis and more dust rose.
"You have left your sword sheathed. Is it broken?" Yu asked. He knew it was a dangerous game he was playing, but the threat of a blade would either prove him wrong or provide the focus he so desperately needed.
"My blade has drawn much blood in its time, boy. Do not tempt me or it will draw yours!"
"Perhaps you are unable to unfurl your weapon with anyone watching?" Yu said with a dead pan face. "We do have girls present. Is that a problem for you?"
"Arrgghh!!" Golden Falcon turned as Red as the mountain he claimed to be a master of. Venting his anger he drew his sword and swung at Yu's chest, almost throwing himself off balance.
Yu simply leaned back just out of reach. "Morning stretch towards the sun." He said, before moving his right hand forward and rubbing the knuckles up against the brigand's nose. "Unlatch the window."
Golden Falcon huffed as he swung down cross-angle to split Yu from one shoulder to the hip.
Stepping slightly to the side and forward, Yu back-fisted Falcon's bicep into semi-numbness. "Knock on the door." He said. Part of him hoped a certain student was watching but he didn't dare think about her right now. "Open the door." Yu added as his palm struck the jaw of the brigand and knocked two teeth loose.
Golden Falcon tried a low swing that Yu jumped over easily. Bringing his elbow down with him Yu connected solidly on Golden Falcon's head. "I have no idea what that is called but it seems to work." He added, stepping back.
Golden Falcon paused for a moment and collected he dazed head. Trying several sweeping blows mixed with rapid thrusts he was unable to connect with the boy. Too late he realized that his balance was completely gone. At that moment Yu stepped forward and delivered several rapid fire strong punches to Golden Falcon's face.
"Another one that needs a name." Yu said as Golden Falcon slowly fell, unconscious at his feet.
Later, when Uncle Dheng returned from the field, he found a wandering bandit without armor or weapons, tied to the date tree by his house. Yu was tending the wounded bandits bleeding nose, as well as a few other more serious injuries the other students had received.
"Uncle Dheng, I have found a volunteer to help us practice against the 18 weapons! What a wonderful day this is!"
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