Tension At The Cliffs

Siu Ping (Leon Lai) stoked the embers of the fire higher to dry himself. He had just finished laying down the granite foundation needed to secure the logs that Gayling was transporting. Using a sonic blaster, he had broke some boulders off the cliffs of both sides of the river and placed them carefully to form a rough wall at the river bottom. Everything is in place now for her arrival. Thinking of Gayling, his thoughts shifted to their confrontation earlier. In all his possible scenarios, he never thought that her rejection would hurt so much. The anger and distrust in her eyes had pierced his heart open. As always, all he wanted was to take her in his arms and whisper sweet words of comfort. **But that would never happen again.** The snorting sounds of Dragon's breathing distracted him. He asked, "What are you doing here? Aren't you suppose to be resting in the stalls at the hak jann?"

Dragon answered mentally, "Needed to get my daily exercise. Grass tastes so much sweeter after the rain." She took a big chomp and stared at Siu Ping. "Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. If I were you, I would have told her when I had the chance. That way she won't hate you as much."

"What are you talking about?" asked Siu Ping dumbfoundedly.

"You know exactly what I'm taking about. You stoic taciturn types are all the same. Love wallowing in pain. Does it really build character as they say?" Dragon taunted.

Not taking the bait, Siu Ping denied again. "I have no idea what you're alluding. For a horse, you sure are full of opinions."

"Yes, I may be," she said proudly, "but I'm not the one here with all these unspoken words and hidden regrets."

Before Siu Ping could answer, Gayling (Maggie Siu) came running up to them apologizing, "Sorry, I'm late Sihing. I got distracted by…." She felt the presence of Dragon and broke off into a wide smile. "Hi, Ching Ting. I'm so happy to see you." She walked up to the horse to give a brief hug and gently stroke her white mane. 

Witnessing the warm display of affection, Siu Ping interrupted, "No need to apologize, Ling Yee. You got back just in time. Here, why don't you give me the zapper so I can repair the dam while the two of you get reacquainted."

"But…"

"No 'buts' about it." He laid his palm out and Gayling gave him the zapper. "Strapping logs in place is a cinch with the proper equipment." He carried the coils of dunstandt rope with his other arm. "I will be back in five minutes." With that, he sprung into action flying down toward the remaining sections of the dam and began his work.

Gayling stared at the scene below in amazement. As he zapped each log into position, Sihing swung the rope in an intricate pattern to tie it securely in place just like weaving a giant basket. **He hasn't changed a bit. Always action before words.** 

"Uh-huh. And placing duty over matters of the heart," agreed Dragon.

Gayling turned her attention back to the dappled gray horse. "So. Looks like you found Sihing after I left you at Auk Yan Kook. Has he been taking good care of you? No wonder he was able to track us down so quickly." She continued to stroke Dragon's mane and asked in light and soothing voice, "So traitor, what secrets are he hiding from me now?"

Dragon whisked her tail. "Hmph. That I can't say. Not when you just labeled me a 'traitor'. Besides, these are things the two of you will have to work out together."

Gayling protested, changing to a dreadfully grim voice, "There can be no 'two of us'. I may be able to forgive him for his ignorance and innocence in the murder of my family, but by association he will always be my enemy."

"All right. Calm down and please don't get so worked up." Dragon walked a few steps toward the cliff overlooking the dam and tried again. "You do know he loves you deeply." It was not a question, but an affirmation. "He would do anything for you even if it means giving you his life. Deep down, you know that. What I can't determine is how much you love him. I guess not much if you're going to condemn him for things he never did nor had any control over."

"Don't even go there, Ching Ting," warned Gayling angrily. "I'm not going to fall for your bait. Nor am I going to justify my actions with you. You have no right." **My love for him has no bearing on the matter. Once I seek my retribution against his family, I will become his most hated enemy.**

"That's what I'm worried about. And I'm sure he feels the same." Ching Ting continued worriedly. "Neither of us want this to turn you into a spiteful, blood thirsty, hateful person. Revenge would only cause destruction to yourself. Siu Ping could care less about his family!"

"So, what are you suggesting? That I put the deaths of family aside?! Pretend nothing has happened?! And go back to Bik Yiew San Chong with him to live out the rest of our lives together?!" She broke off into a peel of hysterical laughter. Two trails of tears streamed down. After a while, she took a few gasps of air and whispered hoarsely, "That I can not do."

Out of the blue, a concerned voice interjected, "What's wrong Ling Yee? Who are you talking to?" Kong Ming (Andy Lau) was standing behind her. He looked around. Except for Gayling and a horse, there was no one by the campsite nor at the cliff.

Startled, Gayling hastily dried her eyes with her sleeves. She swallowed and answered steadily, "Nothing. I was just talking to myself." 

Kong Ming was not going to be dismissed so easily this time. Although he did not catch the details of what she was shouted because he was using his hing-kung to climb up the hill, he could see that she was extremely overwrought. Something he never expected from the unflappable Gayling. "Come on," he cajoled gently gazing into her face tenderly, "we're friends, right? What is it that's bothering you? Kong Dai Koh is here to help." His carefree smile and charm helped to dissipate Gayling's anger and internal struggles. Noticing her relaxed posture, he went on pacing, "Besides, you do owe me one." He held up two fingers to her face in exaggeration. "No two now. Two times I have rescued you from harm. The first time when you got stabbed. The second time…."

Gayling interrupted, "What second time?"

"Well, today. When I pulled you out of the river."

In mocked disbelief she asked, "You're going to count that?"

Kong Ming smirked, "Sure, why not? So, as your 'bonafide knight in shining armor,' I demand that you tell me." He stopped pacing now but continued in a falsetto voice, "Not only that, you also sent me on a wild goose chase tonight. Villagers indeed. When I got there, all I found was hay. There's not a single person living within a two mile radius from here. You tricked me! And I want an explanation!" He crossed his arms in a very familiar feminine gesture pretending to be upset. 

Gayling knew that it was all an act to cheer her up and it was working. She burst out a brief chuckle. "You better not let Suet Ying see you doing that. She'll kill you."

He winked and said proudly joining in the laughter, "Sure. But you've got to admit I got her 'indignation' down pat. And I'm glad to see you in a better mood."

"So am I." Out of the corner of his eye, Kong Ming caught sight of a man dressed all in black heading toward them. The stranger was taller than him with a leaner build and lighter complexion. He walked with a spry gait, briefly but intently settling his eyes onto Gayling. Kong Ming saw the possessive expression. **Hmmm… so they know one other. But he doesn't seem to be much of a threat. Looks more like a poet than a fighter.**

**Looks are always deceiving.** Siu Ping finished off silently. Although he hated the sight of Kong Ming since he first laid eyes on him, Siu Ping was begrudging grateful for what he has done (for now). Gayling's eyes were less tormented now. After putting the last log in place, his empathic senses warned him that her reunion with Dragon had taken a wrong turn.

**How long have you been spying on me?** Gayling asked sharply.

**Long enough.** Siu Ping responded in turn. He had got back to the cliff in time to hear the last strains of her outburst and was ready to rush in and comfort her. However, when he saw Kong Ming's unexpected appearance, he decided to step back into the shadows. He broke the dead silence by asking coolly, "Aren't you going to introduce us, Ling Yee?"

Not wanting to arouse Kong Ming's suspicions, Gayling reluctantly did the formal introductions. "Sihing, this is the friend who rescued me from the 'sai kwok wusan' (four corner guardians), Kong Ming of Auk Yan Kook. Kong Dai Koh, meet my sihing, Siu Ping of Bik Yiew San Chong."

The two men exchanged perfunctory bows and began latently assessing each other's strengths and weaknesses. The tension in the air thickened. They heard Dragon's neighing in the background. Kong Ming spoke finally, "Siu Ping? Your name sounds so familiar. Where have I heard it before?"

"You must be mistaken. As Ling Yee could attest, I don't get around much, preferring the idyllic and simple life mastering the Tao. However, even in my limited travels, I have heard quite many fascinating and remarkable tales of Kong Dai Hup's heroic adventures, helping the poor and defending the weak."

Kong Ming ignored Siu Ping's deliberate mistake of assuming that he was his father, Kong Siu Yu. "Well, don't believe all that you hear." **But I'm sure I heard your name before…. Siu Ping sounds so much like 'burned flat to the ground' and…** He stepped in front of Gayling and took out his sword out ready to fight. "I remember now! You're one of the backups that those four creeps mentioned." Another realization dawned on him when he looked at Gayling, "You're also the intruder that Ling Yee was chasing after tonight!" Before anyone had time to respond, Kong Ming charged straight toward Siu Ping, his blade unsheathed. Luckily, the unarmed Siu Ping used a leftover strand of dunstandt rope to block the assault. However, Kong Ming was unrelenting and made another pass with his sword. Siu Ping warded it off again turning his makeshift rope into a whip to fend off Kong Ming's each attack.

Siu Ping said in between each stroke with a bemused expression, "Very good deduction, Kong Dai Hup. But definitely not very fair play, since I'm not even armed properly." With that, he coiled his rope around Kong Ming's sword and the two men were locked in a standstill tug of war.

Continued in Chapter 16