Life of Bāo - Chapter 21
June 23, 2023 (Journey)
In the last chapter, Master Zhao determines that Bāo is the treasure referred to in the Haiku. A journey is planned to evade the Red Dragons and find a curiously described Buddha statue, behind which lies a second ‘text stone.’ Join Bāo, Yan, and Master Zhao in their journey to Luoyang - Chapter 21. Enjoy
Chapter 21
June 23, 2023 (Journey)
Bāo entered the kitchen with his backpack slung over his shoulder. Master Zhao was seated at the table wearing loose brown pants, a light green shirt, a brown hooded sweatshirt, and leather boots, like those used for hiking. A backpack was slung over the back of the chair, and a staff was in his hand, which Bāo recognized as one of the many staff weapons from the training hall. Most people on the street would see him as a traveler with a walking stick seeking adventure, but Bāo knew that the staff was meant more for danger than adventure. He tossed a pair of boots at Bāo feet and said, “See if these fit. You will need them where we are going.”
Bāo removed his sneakers and slid his foot into the leather boot. “Perfect. Where are we going?”
“Luoyang and from there to the Longmen Grottoes.”
Bāo questioned, “What is at the Longmen Grottoes?”
“Answers.”
Bāo was often frustrated by Master Zhao’s cryptic replies. However, any frustration was overshadowed by gratitude because only Master Zhao was keeping him safe. It was as if he hit a hornet’s nest with a stick, causing a chain reaction of violence. Bāo understood that his irresponsible actions put him and Yan in mortal danger. So, any request from Master Zhao is trusted and welcomed.
Master Zhao asked, “Are you ready to go, Bāo?”
“Yes, Master Zhao.” He didn’t call me a student, but I still am. I know that. I feel different. Revealing my secret changed me. I am not weighed down by it.
“Excellent. We must find your friend Yan. We will start at Wu’s Tea House.”
The building was locked and secure. Perishable food was left with the two homeless men. As they left, Master Zhao told them they would be on a journey. The men prostrated at his feet, putting their heads to the ground. The outward display of honor surprised Bāo. When they stood, Master Zhao set his backpack down and touched each of their foreheads with his. One of the men said, “May Buddha walk alongside you and keep you safe on your journey.”
Bāo and Master Zhao walked and remained silent. Bāo asked, “Who are those men outside of your residence?”
“They are war veterans from the 1979 Sino-Vietnamese war. Vietnam invaded Cambodia and ended the rule of the Chinese-backed Khmer Rouge. They witnessed many atrocities. Like the Red Dragons’ criminal endeavors, the evil of war leaves many victims. Both of those men confided in me and shared the tragedy they witnessed. Alcohol released the story from their minds. They discovered a remote village at the edge of a dense forest. Smoke from smoldering huts hung in the air. The resulting haze and partial sunrise produced a dream-like atmosphere in the humid morning. They said the silence was only interrupted by a snapped twig or pop from a smoldering log. In the center of the village, they recalled standing on the edge of a crudely dug pit lined with women and children. The weight of what they witnessed never leaves them. Now, they live on the edge of civilization, marginalized, unable to move forward, forever reliving the past.” They continued walking in silence. Bāo’s initial judgment of those men transformed from disdain into sympathy, then compassion.
They reached Wu’s Tea House at 7 a.m. as the city was teaming with activity. Master Zhao instructed Bāo to keep out of sight. “If the Red Dragons are looking for me, they will look for a monk, not a poorly dressed middle-aged man.” Master Zhao entered through the kitchen door. Juān noticed him immediately since the visit of the two Red Dragons had heightened her senses. She immediately knew this man was not one of them. He was dressed poorly. Thinking he was looking for a job, someone from the kitchen staff directed him to the manager's office. Juān moved closer to the office so she could hear.
The manager, a well-dressed woman, said, “She is not here. She left us shorthanded, so I'm not happy about that. I don't know where she is, and I don't care. Sorry I could not be of more help.” Master Zhao thanked her with a nod and a sigh. He opened the back door to exit.
“Wait!
Master Zhao turned to see a tall young woman.
“Are you looking for Yan?”
“Yes, do you know where she is?”
“Who are you, and why are you looking for her?”
“My name is Zhao Sun Feng, a Shaolin monk, even though I do not appear to be so. If you are a friend, you know that Yan is in danger. I must find her.” Master Zhao gestured for Bāo to approach and said, “Do not be afraid. I would like you to meet –.”
Juān interrupted and completed his sentence, “Bāo. I know.”
Bāo asked, “How do you know?”
“She spoke about you all the time. Yan had to leave Wu’s. The Red Dragons are searching for her.”
Master Zhao inquired, “How do you know that?”
“I waited on two of them.”
“Here?”
“They were here a few days ago and asked for her by name. I told Yan, and she quit that day. She has been staying at my apartment. Once she finishes taking the Gaokao tomorrow, she will be leaving Chengdu.”
Master Zhao urged, “We need to see her?”
“I’ll tell the manager I have a family emergency and must leave now. Wait outside. I'll take you to her. Will she ever be surprised!”
Minutes later, they drove to Juān’s apartment. Bāo complimented her, “Yan is lucky to have a friend like you.”
“I must admit, I didn't know her well, but from what I know now, I respect her. She is kind and smart. Even with all that has happened, she is still determined to complete the Gaokao.”
They entered the apartment, and Yan sat at the kitchen table, eating an apple and reading a history book. Juān entered the apartment, saying, “Yan, I have a surprise for you.”
Yan jumped to her feet and ran to Bāo. “Bāo, you're here. I can't believe it.”
“Little sister, I have missed you so much. I have been so worried about you. I know the Red Dragons are looking for both of us now. I am sorry that I put you in this situation. Are you okay?”
“Yes, I am safe, thanks to Juān.”
Master Zhao and Juān watched the reunion and sat at the table as Yan and Bāo continued to hug. As they sat at the kitchen table, Yan recounted everything that happened since Bāo left the orphanage. Bāo told her about the museum and meeting Master Zhao.
Master Zhao filled in the details of the death of the Children's Welfare Institute Director and his friend Ping Lu. Master Zhao looked at Juān, saying, “Doing the right thing can put us in danger. I cannot say this more emphatically. You must never discuss your acquaintance of myself, Yan, or Bāo. The Red Dragons will stop at nothing to find Bāo and Yan.”
“I understand. I will keep your secret.” She hugged Yan and whispered, “You are my friend.”
For the next hour, Master Zhao, Bāo, and Yan planned for their departure. Master Zhao instructed Yan, “Take what you need in your backpack to the Gaokao. We will get you proper boots for the journey. After the test, we will meet you in front of the examination hall and leave for Luoyang by train. We will be safe there.”
Yan assured them, “I will be ready to go as soon as the exam is finished, which should be about noon.”
“That will allow us to get to the train station by 1 p.m. We will buy the tickets this morning, so we must board the train on time. We should be in Luoyang by 6 p.m. tonight,” said Master Zhao.
Yan thanked Juān for all she had done for her and promised, “I will see you again.”
***
Two Red Dragon soldiers approached the door of Master Zhao's residence. One had a bandaged hand and his arm in a sling. They argued about whether to break in. The man with a bandaged hand wanted to avoid another public disturbance like the one at the Children's Welfare Institute. The other said, “What is wrong with you? There is no one around here but those two homeless men.”
“Remember the last time? Let's talk to them to see if we can get any information.”
“They are not here,” one of the homeless men said as he picked up two thick pieces of wood and threw one on the fire.
“How many people live here?”
The second man said, “There are only two, a monk and a boy who looks to be in his teens.”
“What are their names?”
Neither of the homeless men spoke. They continued to stare at the fire.
“The Red Dragon soldier grabbed one of the homeless men by the arm and said, “I'm talking to you, old man.”
Only a moment lapsed before a large piece of wood hit the Red Dragon Soldier on the side of the head. He landed on the ground, and the other homeless man stabbed him in the chest with a knife. Then they turned to his impaired partner, who immediately ran to the end of the alley, dove into his car, and sped off.
Later that morning, Sheng Yao listened to the surviving soldier. He told a story of being attacked by many men and overpowered. Yao, with the survivor, drove to the location. He saw the other soldier dead on the ground. The steel barrel was now fuming. A makeshift tent was empty. There was no one else around. The street was deserted without any sign of “many men,” as described by the soldier. Yao picked up a stick and moved an old blanket, saying, “So this is where the men overpowered you.”
“Yes, right here.”
Yao Took out his gun from his shoulder holster and shot him once in the head. It was an accurate shot right in the middle of his forehead. Yao stood over the body, reholstered his gun, and coldly, without emotion, said, “You are no longer useful.”
Yao only needed one strong kick to break the door frame. He entered cautiously and scanned admiringly at all the weapons on the wall in the training room. He listened intently for any noise. No one was there. He stepped into the kitchen. Everything was clean and in its place. He stepped into a bedroom. Martial Arts and archaeology books filled the shelves. In a rage, Yao smashed a lamp and other displayed objects on the shelves. He opened several books and leafed through them. A photo between the pages caught his eye. The photo was of an elderly man dressed in monk robes. Yao noticed a picture of an archaeologist and tortoise shell artifacts. The caption identified the monk as Zhao Sun Feng, the name the museum janitor divulged. Angerly, he threw the book across the room. He returned to the kitchen to spot a piece of paper on the floor with times written vertically and the word Luoyang. Yao put the paper in his pocket and continued to search.
***
Yan waived her hands over her head as she and other students flew from the testing center. She reached Master Zhao and Bāo on the street, and with excitement and relief, she said, “I did it!” “I finished!”
Bāo, as he hugged her, said, “I am proud of you, Yan.”
Master Zhao complimented, “You have demonstrated focus, resilience, and persistence. Often, these skills are not possessed by someone so young. You will do well in university. You have chosen a good friend, Bāo.”
“Thank you.” She looked back at the testing center and said, “University is in my future if I do well. There are many qualified students.”
Master Zhao replied, “If you don't enter the tiger den, you won't get its cubs.”
Yan, perplexed, questioned, “What?”
Bāo laughed, “Now you see what I have been dealing with. I think it means nothing ventured, nothing gained.”
“You are correct, young Bāo. You are learning. Now, let's go before we miss our train.”
Master Zhao hailed a cab. He opened the door for Yan and Bāo and said, “I have something important to tell both of you, but to be safe, I will wait until we are on the train. We have a six-hour ride. That will be plenty of time to share details”. Master Zhao sat in the front seat and placed his staff by his side, which extended into the backseat between Bāo and Yan. He turned his head and looked into the backseat, smiled, and said, “I hope this will not be uncomfortable for both of you.” He watched as Bāo and Yan held hands and placed them on the staff.
Yan laughed, “No, not uncomfortable at all.”
***
They boarded the train and sat in the last car for privacy. Four seats were in the back of the train car, two on either side facing each other. Master Zhao sat facing the front of the train. His martial arts training formed habits. Always face the front door. You can see an attacker coming. Bāo and Yan didn't even know that Master Zhao was employing martial arts skills while talking to them. Earlier, they had not noticed that he was evaluating the cab driver to see if anything seemed out of place. They did not notice his use of mirrors and reflections to see behind them. They also did not notice that he observed other passengers for possible danger as they boarded. Even now, he was aware of the exit locations and observed passengers entering the train car: two businessmen, a mother with a child, a family of five who looked to be on vacation, and a large man with a three-piece luggage set. They also didn't know that the cushion they were sitting on could be used as a defense or that Master Zhao positioned the staff under his seat, within easy reach.
A woman pushing a cart walked down the aisle and stopped beside them. “Would you like some tea?”
Bāo questioned, “What kind do you have?”
“Oolong and Jasmine.”
They finished their tea, and Master Zhao said, “At this moment, I am very happy.”
Bāo asked, “Why are you happy? You were forced to leave your home, your best friend was murdered, and we are fleeing from the Red Dragons.”
“You are correct, Bāo, but I now have two students, which makes me happy. You asked earlier why we are going to Luoyang. Before I answer, we must have our first lesson: Awareness.”
Yan questioned, “Awareness?”
Master Zhao questioned, “How many people are on this train car?
Yan said, “Five.”
Bāo said, “Seven.”
Master Zhao politely corrected, “Not including us, there are thirteen.” He continued, “Who looks to be the most threatening?”
Bāo looked at Yan and agreed, “The man with the three-piece luggage.”
Master Zhao informed, “The man with the three-piece luggage is the largest. I do not know who is the most threatening. You never know what skills someone may possess. It may be the mother with a child who may have the skills of a martial arts Master. You don't know. The point is that you are empowered by your awareness, which brings focus to your actions.”
Master Zhao reached into his backpack, removed a wooden box, and placed it on his lap. Before opening the box, he said, “My beloved teacher, a Taoist Priest, Luo Song Jian’ Guo, gave me a papyrus with five haiku. It is very interesting and appears to foretell future events. These events are unfolding now and involve Bāo.”
Bāo was shocked and questioned, “Me! Why me? I am just an ordinary person.”
Calmly, Master Zhao said, “You are correct to say you are ordinary, but the haiku point to you specifically, to Luoyang, to the moon pendant, to the very papyrus the words are written on, and another papyrus yet to be discovered.”
Yan said, “The moon pendant sounds curious.”
Bāo revealed, “I found.” He stopped and corrected himself. “I stole the moon pendant from the museum. It's a long story, but know I will never steal anything again.”
Master Zhao handed the moon pendant to Yan, looked at Bāo, and said, “I believe you.”
Yan looked at it closely. She held it to the light and said, “Are those clouds? It appears to have movement, but it's solid. It's beautiful.”
Master Zhao said, “The moon pendant was referred to with the word clavis, which means key, but to what I do not know. The moon pendant is very important. The other papyrus written about is behind a ‘text stone.’ I assume that is where we will find the second haiku.”
Bāo asked, “What is a ‘text stone’?”
Master Zhao explained, “A text stone is an inscribed brick used to identify the builder. Think of it like this. Apple makes an Apple Watch. The company is the maker, and they mark their product. A ‘text stone’ informs future generations about the builders of this wall, temple, brick, or even a statue. Text stones were used frequently by dynasties.” Master Zhao continued, “At the university library in Chengdu, I found a journal article with a photograph and caption that confirmed the location of a text stone behind a life-size Buddha statue. The caption read, “The Buddha statue, in front of the text stone, appeared to have been ornamented with jewelry resembling the dimensions of a modern-day wristwatch. I thought this was a very curious description until I saw this.” Master Zhao held the gold bracelet with a hole in the center. “I initially thought this was the jewel referred to in the haiku, but I was mistaken. Bao’s name means precious treasure. There is no question about it. The jewel referred to in the haiku is Bāo.”
Yan said, “In a way, it does look like a watch.”
“Yes, as described, it resembles this gold bracelet.”
Bāo came to a not-well-thought-out conclusion. “So all we have to do is find the Buddha, who appears to have had a watch on his wrist, and then look behind it for the text stone.”
Master Zhao informed them, “I have been to Longmen Grottoes, and there are 2,345 caves and tens of thousands of Buddha statues honoring Shakyamuni Buddha.”
Bāo exclaimed loudly, “Tens of thousands!” The mother turned around to show Master Zhao her displeasure.
“My apologies.”
Bāo nodded to the woman, lowered his voice, and said, “I’m sorry, it's just that if there are tens of thousands, how will we ever find the specific statue?”
“That is something still to be determined.”
Bāo asked, “What is important about this gold bracelet besides its monetary value?”
Master Zhao explained, “Its monetary value in Yuan is great, but its archaeological value is priceless. The journal article’s author revealed that the Buddha statue in front of the text stone was in an unusual position. It is very different from any other found in the caves. The Buddha’s left hand pointed at the right wrist.” He turned the gold bracelet over and said, “On the inside of the circular circumference are three distinct forms of writing. Pictograms resemble physical objects, ideograms represent ideas or concepts, and Oracle-Bone script. The oracle-Bone script, called Jiaguwen, is the earliest known form of Chinese writing and was later replaced by another divination form called I-Ching, which some refer to as ancient wisdom.” Then he handed the gold bracelet to Bāo and said, “Something else is very unusual with the bottom row. Those appear to be symbols of animals and shapes of patterned dots, triangles, and spirals, similar to prehistoric drawings found in European caves.”
Master Zhao took the gold bracelet and slipped it on his wrist. Then he asked, “From a distance and in the light of today’s fashion, what does this look like?”
Yan and Bāo said simultaneously, “A watch.” Bāo added, “A modern wide band watch missing the watch face.”