Malaysia,- Selangor - What am I doing here? Hai Ming thought as he trekked through the humid jungle in the sweltering heat. The sun was unforgiving, There was not of a cloud in the sky, and there was not a hint of wind in the air. Crickets chirped, producing a deafening sound in his ears and making him all the more frustrated. His sweat poured out and covered every inch of his skin, making him look as if he had just taken a bath without towelling dry. How he wished he could take a real bath right now. Not that he was unable to, with his Sea God prowess, he can summon water any time he wanted. It was just that Mikamiko is around, and if she saw his special powers, she might just run away ike she always did.
Hai Ming felt a wave of annoyance inside him and quickened his pace so as to brush it away. Mikamiko, who had already lagged very far behind, shouted desperately,
"Ming, wait for me! I do not have as long legs as you, or as fit as a body as you do! Why are you walking so fast all of a sudden? Are you angry at me because I coudn't keep up with your pace?"
The more she said, the more self-pity she felt. Finally, she let a tear drop down from her eyes (it seems that in every chapter, she will cry for some reason or other! What a weak girl! Or at least weak tear glands.) Why oh why did she insist on coming with him on this trip?
Hai Ming, on hearing her words, turned back in anger. You! You are the reason for my quickening pace, and you dare to ask me why! How can there be people as dumb as her? But when he saw her tear, all he could do was sigh wearily and wait for her. She always did knew how to make him yield to her requests. Maybe she wasn't so dumb after all.
After what seemed like an eternity, Mikamiko finally reached the spot where Hai Ming was standing and panted to him,
"Where are we going, Hai Ming? I never really knew that before I insisted to come on this trip with you."
Hai Ming thought for a moment. Should I tell her the truth? He decided that he should, part of it anyway.
" I'm looking for my mother."
" In this kind of place?" she asked doubtfully. There was no sign of civilisation here, how could he find his mother here?
" Yes, don't worry, we're reaching soon. Are you regretting that you came along with me?" he asked with laughing eyes.
" Of course not! Every where you go, I go too......I mean, I'm not comfortable with you running about by yourself. Who knows what might happen? You act like a big loony sometimes!"
He raised an eyebrow at her. "You're worried about me??? That's a start." He said, teasing her.
"No, no!! I'm just afraid that you would someday be dead somewhere and I have to go collect your corpse!" Mikamiko exclaimed, blushing furiously.
" Oh man, what a vicious woman, to curse me like that! But still shows that you care for me......" he said indulgently. Then suddenly fixed his gaze upon her.
Mikamiko, still not accustomed to being stared at like that, ran quickly deeper into the jungle.
Hai Ming ran after her and shouted,
"Stop, you'll get lost!"
Suddenly, Hai Ming stopped dead in his tracks, for he sensed a disturbing presence One that he knew so well and hated for so many years. He turned around and saw his brother among the treetops. He ducked just in time as Arian directed a flash of lightning at him, missing him by inches and strucking the tree next to him. The tree fell to the floor with a thunderous sound, scattering all the birds in the forrest. It went up in flames, and was gone in a second.
Seeing that Mikamiko was not around, Hai Ming immediately counter-attacked. He summoned water from a nearby stream and forming it into a whip, lashed it at Arian's body. The whip, though made of water, was a formidable weapon. Arian coughed out red blood, for his stomach had been injured and he was bleeding internally. Spitting out the blood and cursing vehemently, he turned around and floated away from the jungle, but not without promising that he would be back again.
All this happened in the space of five minutes. Hai Ming knew that Mikamiko had not wandered far away and set off to look for her.
Meanwhile, in the heart of the Jungle, the feuding brothers' mother, the Great Goddess Ulaine, had seen everything from her trusty crystal ball (so tacky). Hmmmmm, she thought, stroking her chin, that Mariteus has improved a lot in his skills. He did not even have to use his flute......
After a night in the jungle, Hai Ming and Mikamiko finally reached the heart. But not before they were attacked by tigers, crocodiles (when wading in the swamp) and some guy called ChiChi. But Hai Ming had handled all of them as if swatting a fly. His hero image in Mikamiko's heart was cemented more than ever.
Back to the heart of the jungle. They had stopped at the foot of a small rocky hill. Mikamiko thought it weird that this kind of hill could be found in tropical forests such as this. (But she knew nothing about forests anyway) . Hai Ming searched around for a stone figurine of the Great Goddess Ulaine, while Mikamiko looked on puzzeledly. How can there be a stone figurine in a forest such as this?
However, ever since she had met Hai Ming, many of Mikamiko's beliefs had been broken. And this time was no exception.
"Haha!! I've found it! Come here, Mikamiko, we can go in now!" Hai Ming exclaimed, pulling Mikamiko towards the figurine.
Hai Ming turned the figurine in a clockwise direction and and an opening appeared suddenly in the hill. Hai Ming went in first, followed by an apprehensive Mikamiko. Hai Ming pushed a knob and the opening closed again.
The opening actually led to some steps, into an underground cave. And though it was a cave in the forest, it was exquisitively furnished, much like a palace with white marble floors and ceilings and great Roman pillars. Just the kind of decor I like, she thought happily. She sneaked a sideway glance at Hai Ming. This guy must be ridiculously rich, or have a rich mother. Imagine, how can one build a palace in an underground cave if not so? she thought.
Hai Ming knew that she was glancing at him and was very pleased, though he did not show it. Lately, she had been showing signs of interest and affection at him. Maybe this trek to Mother's lair was unnecessary. I can do it myself. he thought arrogantly.
"HAHA! YOU WISH! YOU CAN NEVER MAKE HER REMEMBER WITHOUT MY HELP! GET IN HERE THIS INSTANT! I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU!" A thunderous female voice boomed over their heads.
"Huh? What happened just now, Hai Ming?" A confused Mikamiko asked.
" Nothing, just wait here for me, okay? I won't be long." Hai Ming pulled her to a chair and sat her down on it.. Mikamiko nodded obediently, even if she was burning with curiousity as to what Hai Ming's mother looked like. Must be really gorgeous, to be able to produce such a son. she thought, her mind wandering again, as her eyes were.
Hai Ming ventured into his mother's room. He was a tad nervous, for he hadn't seen his mother for many, many centuries, since that fateful night when he destroyed Yisheigai. In fact, he was always nervous in front of his mother, even when he had fully grown into a very capable God, capable enough to inherit her position as Head of all Gods if she died. Maybe it was that penetrating stare. Or maybe it was because he was not borne by her......
"Thinking of the past again? You always bite your lip whenever you think about your parentage." his mother's voice penetrated his thoughts, and he looked up to see her walking towards him, crystal ball in hand.
"Never mind about my lip. I'm sure you know my purpose here." Hai Ming said, staring at her crystal ball.
"I do, but tell me why I should help you? The girl was the cause of the ruination of the Yisheigai world. You know that with her around, we Yisheigai Gods cannot carry on our line anymore. You shall be the last one to have the Sea God powers. And that, to us, is an unacceptable loss."
" I do not care what happens to the Yisheigai line! So what if you lose the Sea God powers? As it is, there is aleady a Sea God in this world called Poseidon. Haven't you heard of the Chinese proverb 'A mountain cannot hold two tigers' ? Do you think they will let us use our powers and continue producing Yisheigai Gods here? No! Use your common sense, Mother, if you have any!" Hai Ming ranted and raved.
" Well, it's been long since I've heard you say so many words." she smiled.
"I do not care what the Earth Gods think. And I do not need to." she smiled again, more mysteriously this time, and looked meaningfully at Hai Ming.
Hai Ming caught the unsaid meaning immediately (being the sensitive intellectual that he is). " You mean......"
" Exactly. I have already started Operation World Domination. Whether you want to join in or not is your freedom. Arian and Fabian have already agreed."
" Even Fabian......" he said, surprised. Fabian was one of the most amiable beings he thought ever existed.
" Mother, I do not care what happens to the Earth Gods. I will not join your Operation Whats-its-name either. Just tell me the way to make Claudine remember me again!"
" Alright then, since you're so obstinate, I shall not force you. To awaken your beloved Claudine's memory, there are two things to do......" Ulaine said slowly, baiting Hai Ming's reaction.
" What? What? Tell me quickly!" As expected, Hai Ming became very impatient.
" Well, the first, I'm sure you know, is to touch her with your love and sincerity until she is willing to be one with you....." she said,pausing for dramatic effect.
"Of course I do! What about the second part?" Hai Ming had became so anxious that veins were popping on his forehead.
" The second is......xxxxxxxxx" she whispered the second method into his ear.
Hai Ming was so shocked that he fell into the floor with a bump. Then, he stumbled his way out of his mother's room , and out of the underground cave, with Mikamiko trailing anxiously in his wake......
Author's note: So, what was the second method? Why was Hai Ming so shocked? Will Arian come up with newer methods to deal with Mariteus? And who was Chichi? Look out for the next chapter of ANCIENT TALES - THE YISHEIGAI GODS!!!
Back to intro
Chapter 1 - The Beginning
Chapter 2 - The Awakening
Chapter 3 - Mikamiko = Claudine?!!
Chapter 5 - The Second Condition is......
The Yisheigai Gallery
