Chapter One

In the palace Na Lam competed against his imperial guards.

‘How can you men call yourself skilful fighters?’ Na Lam asked. ‘In less than three moves I’ve defeated all of you. Useless!’

‘Your majesty, your fighting skills are extraordinary,’ Cao Qian praised. ‘We’re not worthy to be your opponents. Jing Lu what do you think?’

‘Yes, Yes,’ Jing Lu diplomatically agreed. ‘Cao Qian is right. Your majesty’s Kung Fu is almost at a deity level. Even the world’s number one swordsman isn’t worthy to be called your majesty’s opponent. Your majesty, I’m truly in awe of you.’

‘Everyone here only has fast tongues,’ Na Lam criticized but he was secretly happy to hear everyone’s praises. ‘Jing Lu it’s your turn.’

‘Your majesty, last night I had diarrhea,’ Jing Lu said. ‘I fear I have no energy to fight. Your majesty, can I forfeit?’

Jing Lu was unhappy to fight the emperor because he couldn’t attack the emperor. He rather admit defeat than his body being bruised.

‘Is that true?’ Na Lam asked.

‘Yes, yes!’ Jing Lu lied. ‘If your majesty doesn’t believe me then you can ask Cao Qian who shares the same chamber as me.’

Jing Lu thought it was Cao Qian’s fault for asking his advice.

Cao Qian glared at Jing Lu who added to his sufferings. But he wasn’t going spare Jing Lu.

‘Your majesty, Jing Lu had a stomach ache,’ Cao Qian said. ‘But he’s a master glutton. Your majesty fighting with him will help him lose weight.’

‘Cao Qian, we’re not enemies but why do you want to drown me?’ Jing Lu asked.

‘It’s called sharing blessings and sufferings,’ Cao Qian said.

‘Jing Lu, come here and fight,’ Na Lam said.

‘Yes, your majesty,’ Jing Lu said.

Jing Lu reluctantly stood in a fighting stance. He waved his fists in the air but he didn’t use his full strength.

Na Lam used full force to hit Jing Lu’s chest.

Jing Lu secretly let the emperor hit his chest.

‘Ah!’ Jing Lu cried out and purposely fell on the ground.

‘Your majesty, today I lost to your majesty,’ Jing Lu said. ‘Indeed no one is worthy to be your majesty’s opponent.’

Jing Lu didn’t care about over praising the emperor because praises coming out his mouth didn’t cost him money.

‘Your majesty, your fighting skills are improving each day,’ a chorus of eunuchs praised and applauded.

‘Everyone here is a disappointment!’ Na Lam said. ‘If none of you can defeat me then how can you keep the palace safe?’

‘Your majesty is right,’ Xiao Shun Tu said. ‘The imperial guards are useless. It’s better for them to go home and eat.’

Xiao Shun Tu was the emperor’s trusted personal eunuch. He knew praising the emperor would make the emperor happy.

Cao Qian and Jing Lu exchanged a secret glance. They worked together for many years and they could communicate with each other without exchanging words.

‘Your majesty, we’re not worthy to be your opponents but perhaps there is someone who is,’ Cao Qian said.

Na Lam’s eyes lit up. ‘Who?’

‘Your majesty, below the sky and in front of you,’ Cao Qian said and looked unsympathetically at Xiao Shun Tu.

Xiao Shun Tu’s body from head to feet turned cold.

‘Nonsense… your majesty don’t listen to them…’ Xiao Shun Tu pleaded.

Xiao Shun Tu was responsible for protecting the emperor. Of course he knew Kung Fu. But he wouldn’t dare to fight with the emperor.

‘What is it?’ Na Lam asked. ‘Do you think I can’t defeat you?’

Xiao Shun Tu served a scary tiger and he knew he had to sacrifice his body to appease the emperor.

‘Your majesty, I’m not worthy to be your majesty’s opponent,’ Xiao Shun Tu said.

‘Come here and fight!’ Na Lam said impatiently.

‘Yes, your majesty,’ Xiao Shun Tu said pitifully.

Xiao Shun Tu glared at Cao Qian and Jing Lu for making him sacrifice his body. His heart vowed to take revenge on Cao Qian and Jing Lu.

Na Lam rotated his wrists and he punched Xiao Shun Tu.

‘Ah… I’m dead… it hurts…’ Xiao Shun Tu said pitifully and rubbed his stomach.

‘What pain?’ Na Lam asked. ‘My fist barely touched you.’

Xiao Shun Tu pitied himself. He realised he cried out in pain too soon. His legs wobbled in anticipation of pain.

Cao Qian and Jing Lu laughed softly. They thought Xiao Shun Tu needed them to teach Xiao Shun Tu how to act without getting caught.

Xiao Shun Tu knelt in front of the emperor and he held onto the emperor’s leg like a worm begging a dragon not to step on it.

‘Your majesty, I’m your useless servant,’ Xiao Shun Tu said. ‘I’m not worthy to be your majesty’s opponent. But my heart will always look up to your majesty.’

‘Whoa!’ Jing Lu cried out. ‘He confessed everything in his heart.’

Cao Qian laughed. ‘Jing Lu, it appears we need to learn from Xiao Shun Tu too.’

‘Yes, yes,’ Jing Lu happily agreed. ‘This AH eunuch’s tongue knows what sweet words to say.’

‘Everyone leave!’ Na Lam ordered.

Everyone feared the emperor’s temper and they immediately left the emperor’s courtyard. Except Xiao Shun Tu was forced to stay and his body would be sacrificed pitifully under the emperor’s temper.

‘Your majesty, who dared to anger you?’ Xiao Shun Tu asked. ‘Your servant will deal with that daring person in your majesty’s stead.’

‘Do you dare?’ the emperor asked. ‘It’s those old court officials who only knows how to criticize me. I want to demote them all and send them to remote farms.’

End of Chapter One