"Here in the peace and serenity of our temple we seem sheltered from the world." "But sometimes, the world intrudes despite the highest walls the thickest gates." "So it was that trouble came to us." "The news of the destruction of our brothers at the Fukien temple  was brought by Tamo, from Cold Mountain." "He told of a warlord, who, with the help of a great cannon  had reduced the temple into a pile of ashes." "The attempt to rescue the few survivors was long and dangerous  as the warlord's men were always close behind." "What is the warlord to you?" "Nothing." "It is what I am to him." "What do you mean?" "He wishes me to be his wife." "You are a girl." "How else could I be a wife?" "You thought I was a man." "They are upon us!" "He's getting away with the cart." "Seize them." "In a maneuver to distract the warlord's army  Tamo was lost to us  but, through his sacrifice, the survivors were able to reach  sanctuary in our temple." "Come on, nobody could survive that." "You cannot now deny me this place simply because I am a girl." "You are also of mixed blood." "And what of Kwai Chang Caine?" "Every Shaolin has a right to demand and receive a trial of the merit of his cause by combat." "I appoint as my champion, for this combat Kwai Chang Caine." " I cannot fight you." " Are you afraid of me?" " This is ridiculous." "Chen Ming Kan." "Give me my woman." "She has asked for sanctuary." "I've sent for my cannon." "I will position it right over there." "You'll never again be able to grant sanctuary to anybody!" "Your tread must be light and sure  as though your path were upon rice paper." "It is said a Shaolin priest can walk through walls." "Looked for, he cannot be seen." "Listened for, he cannot be heard." "Touched, he cannot be felt." "This rice paper is the test." "Fragile as the wings of the dragonfly, clinging as the cocoon of the silkworm." "When you can walk its length and leave no trace  you will have learned." "Charge." "The temple is empty." "All are gone." " Burn it." " Burn it!" "They came in the middle of the night." "Silently." "We had no warning." "Not even the slightest suspicion." "All were gone." "He had awakened and apparently was going toward the forward wall, when the first rocket hit." "Perhaps he had a premonition of the danger." "Who can say?" "Death came to him right then as the wall collapsed and the flames sprang up." "Nan Chi, we are grateful." "It has been an honor to have addressed my new masters." "Master Sun this cannon that was used to destroy our brothers at Fukien it must be most cumbersome." "Difficult to transport." "Extremely." " May I anticipate?" " Please do." "As you know, the distance between here and Fukien is great." "There are rivers, mountains, marshes." "At the very least, I would say we have a month before the clanging of the cannon's breechblock will offend our ears." "The immediate problem then is to withstand the siege." "Now let me remind you of my deepest concern." "We are dealing with a man who is motivated not by land nor wealth, nor power, nor fame but by passion." "That means we are dealing with a man half-mad at best whose moves can be expected to be desperately cunning and wildly resourceful." "Let us beware." "Are you well, Kwai Chang?" "Yes, I am well." "You do not sound well." "You see this mark in the stone?" "What do you make of it?" "Surely, we would have ample warning if the warlord's men tried to climb the wall." "Yet, the mark is there." " Well, what are you going to do?" " I do not know." "Perhaps I will suggest to Master Kan to put a sentry in its place." "As long as it is not yourself." "Why should it not be me?" "You and I have an unfinished business together a contest between us that was untimely interrupted." "Nan Chi there are more important things to be done at this moment." "Then you do not wish to resume the bout?" "Nothing would give me greater pleasure." "The warlord spoiled it all, coming when he did." "I was doing so well." "Has it occurred to you that I was holding back to keep from hurting you?" "I thought I had hurt you." "You struck me when my back was turned." "What is that strange stance?" "Tamo calls it the Way of the Bear." "It is better suited to him than to me." "You see, you have no defense." "Kang Li." "I've been looking for you." "I've been walking about my new temple and remembering the one I knew." "You must strive not to dwell on our great sadness, Kang Li." "It is hard not to with the warlord's threat renewed at these walls." "Only a threat, Kang Li." "We are secure here." "Perhaps." "Under the state of siege, a careful watch was kept on the forces the warlord  outside the temple  but none among us suspected that the immediate and real danger  would come from within  attacking the very lifeblood of the temple  the supply of rice." "Fire." "Fire in the storeroom." "Our food's burning up." "Fire in the storeroom." "Our food's burning up." "Fire." "Fire in the storeroom." "Even a Shaolin cannot exist without food." "It is perhaps time we tried." "Master Hake wishes to see you now." "Kwai Chang is all outside quiet?" " They are holding their positions, still." "They must know our food supply has been destroyed." " Yes." " Master Hake Tao is leading a party tonight." "We'll slip through the lines and follow the river road to the rice field." "This is information best kept to yourself." "You have never been one to gossip, Kwai Chang certainly not to soldiers." " Have they gone?" " Yes, master." " Grasshopper." " Yes, master?" "Do you remember when we were climbing the mountain with Tamo I felt eyes upon us?" "Do you feel them now?" "Now, Grasshopper." "Now I feel fingers." "Shaolin grow hungry, just as you predicted, sir." "I think it would be only proper for us to greet them." " I've already seen to it, sir." " Splendid." "That is the last of the rice." "There is no more." "They do not complain." "When you were their age would you have complained?" " No, master." "I was Shaolin, as they are." "They are steadfast." "Tomorrow, their bowls should be full." "The bridge is clear." " Are you sure?" " Yes, Hake Tao." "We will keep in, among the trees." "Go." "Attack!" "Attack!" "We've got you now." "Greetings." "Greetings, my friends." "Were you planning to gather something Shaolin?" "I hope it wasn't anything important." "Your students have a final lesson to learn from me." "When I am done, you can see to the others." "Tamo." "Fall back." "Fall back." "Tamo, you are a whirlwind." "You feel a hunger within you." "Yet, your masters have taught you that it is your mind that tells you of your body's needs." "We are strong because we are together." "I am with you as long as you like." "We must make our bodies small and light so that they can float on the wind." "Small and light." "Small and light." "Tamo, you are alive." "In my heart I felt that you would return to us in safety." "All of you." "We have brought back no food, master." "You are alive." "We are grateful for that." "Attend to their needs." "Giant among the living, let me touch you." "I think you are the life force itself." "Masters." "Shaolin." "We must now decide what to do." "Bring me Shaolin who will fight and we will vanquish this warlord." " Why must you annoy me?" " I see that you are hurt." "You see nothing." "None of you can!" "What is your proposal?" "Do you wish to stay here until the return of the saber-toothed tiger?" "I believe that the move for the food was a good move." "We were not successful, only because the warlord's soldiers lay in ambush, waiting." "And that is the part I do not understand." "Is it possible that somewhere within our walls there is an informer?" "Captain." "Captain." "The advanced scouting party reports that it has made contact with your squad of soldiers bringing up the emperor's cannon." "It will be here in two days." "Where is it?" "There, to the north in a path behind that hill." "Those Shaolin." "There, we've got them now." "Up front." "Go and help them." "The injuries the brave Tamo had suffered  finally began to take their toll." "And, finally  even this giant of a man had to take to his bed." "Mr. Tamo." "I cried for you in my sleep." "I thought I might never see you again." "I have fallen off cliffs before." "But you disappeared." "You were thought to be dead." "It is written that I will not die in such a quiet way." "There is much time for the heavens to decide how spectacular my death will be." "After all I am only 77 years of age." "Tamo?" "Yes, child." " Have you ever thought to marry?" " Marry?" "Marry what?" "Have you never thought what it might be like?" "I know what it's like." "But you have never been married." "But I did have a companion once." "Tell me of her, please." "She was a mountain lion who shared my cave." "What became of her?" "One day, she scratched me so hard I threw her off my mountain." "Tamo, sometimes I find it very difficult to talk with you." "Sometimes, I..." "I find very difficult to talk, myself." "I fear for the temple." "I will not allow it to be destroyed." "You know I feel the same way." "There are other ways to save this place." "Kwai Chang." "If you could see yourself." "See myself?" "Meditating, with your eyes closed." "How could I see myself?" "You're so literal." "I hate it." "Then I shall never be literal again." "I do not wish to be anything you will hate." "Kwai Chang?" "Yes?" "Close your eyes again." "Do you see me?" "With my eyes closed?" "You're doing it again." "I can see you." "Describe me." "Long dark hair brown eyes smooth skin very beautiful." "Do you think so?" "Yes." "Where will you be, Kwai Chang a month from now?" "A year from now?" "I will be here." "Near this fountain?" "Under this tree?" "Perhaps." "I hope it will never change." "You are afraid of the warlord." "You need not be afraid." "We will survive." "Yes." "I know." "I must go now." "Goodbye, Kwai Chang." "Goodbye, Nan Chi." "The young monk, meditating, heard Nan Chi's farewell and responded." "But it was only the words he heard and not the intent." "How could he know the desperate measure Nan Chi and her love intended?" "For Nan Chi had decided nothing less  than to give up all she held dear to surrender herself  and become that which she held to be the worst of all possible things  the wife of the Warlord Sing." "Who goes there?" "I." "Come forward." "Stop." "Who are you?" "A priest?" "The emperor." "The emperor is not a girl." "You are brilliant at making deductions." "You must have been a mathematician before you became an imbecile." "Take me to Warlord Sing." "Girls are not for giving orders." "Captain, this girl wants to see the warlord." " Do you know her?" " No, sir." " Get out." " Yes, sir." "You were very clever in picking your way through our lines without being seen." "How did you manage it?" " I have lived among the Shaolin." " Yes." "That is so." "If you try a move that you have learned from the Shaolin you will be living among the dead." "Sentry!" "Bind her." "Men have died for coming up on me softly, boy." " What do you want?" " I cannot find Nan Chi." " You thought to find her here?" " I was told she was here." "Many hours ago." "Can you remember how she acted, what she said?" "What is so important about the words of a child?" "I have a certain idea of what she might have done." "She wanted to know what it was like to marry." "Master Tamo." "Do you know why she asked you if you thought of marriage?" "She wanted to know what it was like." "Has it occurred to you that Nan Chi is the promised bride of the Warlord Sing?" "Oh, I have been an idiot." "She has given herself up to him to save the temple." "Master Tamo, you are too weak." "I will go if I have to crawl all the way." "That is exactly what you would have to do." "It would slow me down to look after you." "You will go for her?" "I will go nowhere else." "I have thought to save you for myself but you will deserve whatever will happen to you." "You are thinking what the warlord will say to this but he will never know." "The warlord believes that you are still held by the stubborn Shaolin monks." "He will forgive me for the destruction of the temple when he hears the cannon begin to fire." "But then it will be too late for all the monks for you and for him." "Do you remember what happened at Fukien?" "That was my idea." "Between the cannon and a friend on the inside, the Fukien never had a chance." "Nor do the Honan." "For I still have those two weapons." "Even the emperor will have to deal with me on my terms." "You might even have been a bride of an emperor." "Think about that when it is your turn to die." "Once more, the young monk had braved the forces of the warlord  to seek out yet another prisoner." "Kwai Chang." "We must hurry." "They will use the cannon to destroy the temple as they did at Fukien." "But the cannon is still far away." "No, Shun Low has had it brought in secret." "It is here." "Then we must hurry." "Kwai Chang, I need to receive some assistance." "It is much too big." "I cannot move." "Mine is too small." "Thank you, Kwai Chang." "You are welcome, Nan Chi." "Now give me your coat." "Of course." "Do you not wish to turn around while I remove it?" "You look funny in a hat." "So do you." "Ready to fire." "Well, the monks will learn a lesson." "Now it was time for the traitor within  to see to his own safety." "As he had done before at the temple at Fukien." "The traitor prepared his escape." "What he did not anticipate  was the restless movements of Tamo  the man from Cold Mountain  already up from his sickbed." "Kang Li." "Tamo." "You know about Nan Chi?" "Yes." "She will pay for her stupidity when I find her." " Do you believe that?" " Yes." "Tip the cannon up so that it can be loaded." "Stand clear." "You are a sentry?" "Yes." "Unarmed?" "No one can approach me from below." "There is a man lying down there." "It seems strange that among all the splendid young monks at Fukien only one was spared." "There is a traitor within these walls." "You." "Sergeant, have your men prepare the cannon." "Release him." " With all my heart." " No." "Bring him up first." "Tell them." "Tell them!" "It is true." "It was I who burned the rice." "I who let in the warlord's troops at Fukien." "You hear those monstrous things?" "We hear." "Bring him up." "Prepare to fire." " Why?" " For the promise of a kingdom." "And an army under me." "More than you'll ever know." "Light the cannon." "Stand by." "Well, the monks will learn a lesson." "The cannon." "It is the end of your temple." "The end of the Shaolin order." "There's nothing you can do." "The young monk knew that the rocket and the cannon's bore  must be exactly of a size to make the rocket fire true." "A hatful of dirt would turn the force of the explosion inward." "Unaware of the action of the brave young monk  his Shaolin brethren armed themselves, preparing to attack." "From the time the torch was touched to the fuse I counted 17." " So?" " When the torch touches the fuse..." " Pick the cannon up I will begin to count." "...so that it can be loaded." "No." "The longer we wait, the more destruction there will be to the temple." "Stand clear." "Kwai Chang." "You will be killed, if not by the cannon blast, then by the soldiers." "For all my brothers in the temple there is no other way." "Kwai Chang I love you." "Thank you." "Please do not do this." "Please, you will die." "No!" "Light the fuse." "Kwai Chang!" "Kwai Chang, they have killed you." "It is the monk, Caine." "Fortunate for him, he is already dead." "The warlord had discovered the treachery of his captain  but not before the captain had delivered his cruelest blow." "Why was I not told that the cannon was brought here?" "Why was I not told it was to be fired?" "You dared to bring the cannon here without my orders?" "You ordered it fired?" "You broke it!" " I swear, my lord, it was the monk, Caine." " Tamo?" " Nan Chi, alive?" " Warlord Sing." "Did you not know Nan Chi surrendered herself to you just to prevent this battle?" " It's a lie." " Tamo has never told a lie in his life." "You, Captain Shun Low, traitor." "No, not so easily." "Bind him." "There will be years to think of delicious ways to make you pay for this." "It may be they will make up for what you have done to my cannon." "Nan Chi." "Who is that man you are fondling?" "A brave noble monk Kwai Chang Caine." "Even the warlord's hard heart relented  before this tragic revelation." "And he left the young monk and the girl alone  to play out their last seconds together  on this Earth, together." "Nan Chi?" " You are hurt?" " No." "No." "Dear Kwai Chang." " I'm dead." " Nan Chi." "Will you pretend with me, Kwai Chang a little child's game I used to play?" "That you are my husband, and I am your wife and we have a child." "Only live, Nan Chi, and it will be true." "It would never be so." "It will never be so." "Kwai Chang I have loved you." "We pay tribute here to our beloved Nan Chi." "The sage says a man is born gentle and weak." "At his death, he is hard and cold." "Green plants are tender and filled with sap." "At their death, they are withered and dry." "Therefore the stiff and unbending is the disciple of death." "The gentle and yielding is the disciple of life." "May our gentle and lovely Nan Chi be consecrated to life even in her death and may she find eternal peace." "She is not lost to us forever, Tamo." "Save your comfort for the priests and children, boy." "Is there no comfort for you?" "If I had thrown my spear just a fraction of a second sooner she would still be alive." "It was I whose life she gave her own for." "I don't begrudge you life, boy." "It is as she wished it." "What shall we do for comfort, Tamo?" "Make the world whole again." "Bring her back alive." "We cannot."