Fantasy, YA, Historical
Date Published: August 15, 2021
Publisher: NewLink Publishing (an imprint of Mystic Publishers)
The year is 1799, and a woodblock engraved with a mysterious message is unearthed near a Korean temple. A novice monk, Kyetsu, is sent north by the abbot on a mission to deliver it to the king. On the journey he meets a great warrior, the leader of a secret society called White Lotus. Kyetsu will need all the help he can get, as there are powerful forces working against him. He must learn the deadly martial arts style practiced by the White Lotus and must look for help in unlikely places. The fate of the kingdom is at stake.
Excerpt:
A
strong hand tugging at his shoulder roused Kyetsu from his sleep. He groaned,
turning over, but the hand would have none of it, practically yanking him from
his nest amongst the blankets.
“It
is so early.” Kyetsu rubbed his eyes and moaned.
“Best
time to train,” Hyo said.
“Heh?”
“Come
with me.”
Hyo
climbed a stony goat track that headed up the side of the mountain. Kyetsu was
so stiff and sore, he could hardly keep up. He tripped and fell several times,
grazing his knees, and once, almost falling off the edge of a sheer cliff-face.
Somehow, he made it to a grassy plateau where he found Hyo squatting in a
strange fashion. Kyetsu cocked his head and blinked.
“Stances
are the foundation of your technique,” Hyo said. “Just as a tree is helpless
without its roots, so are you without the correct stance.”
Kyetsu
studied Hyo’s stance, noting that his legs were spread wide, with both feet
pointing forward, his thighs perfectly horizontal. It seemed unnatural that his
body could form such a position, let alone remain in it comfortably. “It looks
difficult.”
“All
things are difficult before they are easy. You do it.”
“You
want me to do that?”
“I
do not see anyone else here.”
Kyetsu
had zero enthusiasm but he tried to mimic the stance. It would have been uncomfortable
enough without the soreness from riding the previous day. Hyo circled, poking
and nudging him this way and that until he was at least partly satisfied with
the stance. After only a minute in this position, Kyetsu’s legs began to
tremble with the strain. In another minute, he wished he were back on the
horse.
“How
long must I...do this for?” Kyetsu said through gritted teeth.
“Until
you cannot do it any longer. And then you will do it some more.”
Several more minutes brought his legs
to the brink of giving way.
“Breathe.”
Following
Hyo’s instruction eased the pain a fraction—enough to allow the torture to
continue for longer. Finally Kyetsu’s body, without consent from his will,
decided to raise itself from the position. He let out an agonized cry.
“That
is horse stance. Now do it again.”
And
so, Kyetsu’s training began…
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