The Story of Iron Armor

Chapter 2

The Story of Iron Armor

 

 

"I have traveled great distances and I have seen much in my lifetime,”

    Tai spoke.

He sat up on a stump in a clearing among dense trees, with an audience surrounding him.  In the crowd sat a host of others.  Most  were travelers, Lei Wong, and The innkeeper was also present.

“The outside world from which you know little about except for the many travelers that choose to share what they have seen. So much darkness and gloom surrounds us.  It will pass just as the seasons do.  Times are changing and so we will we. Tonight I'm going to tell you the story of a dreadful man, full of evil and destruction."

   

Words had spread all that day of a great storyteller, who ventured distant lands.  The illumination from campfire turns the atmosphere mystic. The fire danced and is the focal point of everyone's attention while the old man is  perched in complete stillness.

He was known to tell stories that most have not lived to confirm or deny. Whether his stories are legend or myth no one knows, but they were entertaining and he is considered one of, if not, the best.

The fire rose and died synchronized with the old man's voice as if his voice commanded the blaze. He draws air from the fire and releases it., giving a feel that he is in total control.  The old man began to tell his tale.

Tai was very careful with his words, for there were things that you do not speak about. To speak against the establishment was not very wise.

Someone in the crowd blurted out.

“Tell us about Cold Heart!”

“Nonsense I want to sleep easy tonight!” Another replies, breaking an unwritten rule to never interrupt a storyteller.

     Tai becomes silent  as he stared in the direction of the interruption. His expression was stern like a school teacher before  disciplining a delinquent.  The man then dropped his head and slowly sink down out of sight  as the entire audience focused on him. It became clear there would be no more of these outbursts.

    "There was a young man obsessed with power,” he begins again. “He wanted to be the greatest Martial artist of them all. Naively, he set out to challenge the great monks of Shaolin. He went to their temple in Henan Province and called out to them. He waited and waited. When he began to think his challenge was about to go unanswered, The great masters sent a novice.  The young fighter lost miserably.  

Full of pride he  vowed never again to let a foe humiliate him.  From that day on he plotted his revenge on the monks. He went into seclusion, as he became obsessed with perfecting his fighting skills. While he mastered his technique. Training night and day till his body became as tough as iron. When he was ready, he went back to the Shaolin Temple and called out for a  challenger again.

And once again, they sent out a novice. This time the novice was no match for him.  The monks responded by sending a more experienced student and he was defeated as well.  Then the monks sent a grand master to answer the challenge. Chang’s Iron Armor Style,  was too great for even a grand master of the Shaolin Temple.

He defeated the most formidable fighters, a most worthy accomplishment, but even that was not enough for him. He wanted them to feel what he felt that day when he was humiliated outside of their temple.

It was not hard for him to find followers. Word had already begun to spread of this fighter that defeated the monks.

Many flocked to him wanting to be part of his Clan.  A plan was put in motion   the temple at Henan burnt to the ground and most of the monks were killed.    Then he took over providence after providence and laid waste to most of the countryside. He would no longer allow himself to be a subject under or serve the emperor. He had the power and wanted to rule for himself.

Masters who had reputations and were known as outstanding fighters became marked men.  He disposed of them one by one till no one could ever pose a challenge to him ever again.  His threat grew so great that he forced emperor of the Min Dynasty, Fung Fu Chen into exile and started a new rule.  That is where we are today Chang Hung, The Indestructible Armor. He rules over this land far and wide and he could care less of others unless they serve his purpose.  The pain and suffering that you see all around you, is his legacy.”

"Have you ever seen him?" a sudden outburst came from the crowd.

"What does he look like?" Came from another.

Tai fell silent as his expression changed once more.

“Didn't you hear his story?” someone else replied.

“Chang does not let his victims live. He could not possibly have seen him.  A good story you tell Tai Shin but it has no merit.”

Tai then stood to his feet. He spoke in a deep voice that sent a chill through the entire crowd.

“Do you believe?”

     Stunning his audience.  

“He has our nation gripped tightly in fear. No one here has ever seen Chang Hung, but yet you know he exists.  He exists through your suffering and your misery.  Far away in his impenetrable fortress he is protected. As long as you bow down to him and go along with his plan.   It has been a long time since Chang came to power. Most have just accepted this fact, thinking it would take a lot more than any of them would possess to make a difference.”  Tai sat down,  folding his legs once more.  He became lost in deep thought. Instinctively he reached down and gripped the injured leg.  

    

    The crowd began to disburse. Two men passed Tai as they departed,  one spoke to the other.

“If he ever had seen Chang Hung I doubt he would have lived to tell.”