Tiger by Jeff Stone Read Free Book Online Page A

heirloom over, bowing low. Ying ripped the scabbard from the sword and cast it disrespectfully aside onto the dusty ground. He raised the sword high over his head with both hands.
    In one long, sweeping motion, Ying brought the sword down in a powerful arc. The sword breezedover Tonglong's bowed head as Ying twisted around. When the arc was complete, the sword dug deep into the earth, and Grandmaster's head rolled away from his lifeless body.
    Ying released the sword from the ground with a rough jerk and cast it aside irreverently. Then he grabbed Grandmaster's bald head by one ear and threw it at Tonglong. Tonglong caught the spinning object with outstretched arms, ignoring the blood that pelted him from head to toe. Tonglong respectfully placed his catch on the ground beside him and wiped his bloody hands across the front of his green silk robe.
    “I promised to take that to the Emperor,” Ying said to Tonglong. “You will take it to him for me at once. You will also give him the unfortunate news that my mission is not yet complete, and I would not dream of accepting the title of General until I have fulfilled my end of our agreement. Understood?”
    “Completely, sir,” Tonglong said.
    “Good.”
    Ying turned to his number-two-in-command, Commander Woo. The powerful, stocky man stood at attention. He adjusted his armor.
    “Commander Woo, you and half the men will remain here to sort and count bodies. Then you will strip the armor from our fallen comrades. You will work through the night.”
    “Yes, sir!” Commander Woo replied.
    Ying turned to Captain Yue, his number-three-in-command.Captain Yue sighed and fidgeted with his large silk hat.
    “Captain Yue!” Ying said. “Pay attention! You will break the remaining men into groups and spread out to inform every village within one hundred
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that I am searching for anyone resembling a young monk. Five monks between the ages of eleven and thirteen may be out there, and one of them has a set of scrolls that I want back. You are to inform one and all that it will mean instant death for them, their entire family, and all their neighbors if they are found to be harboring one or more of these monks or the scrolls. Anyone coming in contact with one of these monks or the scrolls is to notify me without delay. Tell everyone along the way the name and location of this ‘secret' temple, as I will be waiting here for updates. Is that clear?”
    Captain Yue nodded and plucked at his spotless silk robe. Ying scowled and leaned forward, slowly turning within the circle of soldiers. His black eyes connected with every man in the group.
    “Keep in mind that those of you who remain here will have no easy task,” Ying said, “for you must keep your eyes and ears open whether asleep or awake. I am confident at least one sentimental young monk will return. Now form your groups and get moving! You can find me here at this wretched place until further notice.”

F u raced on. The earth felt the pounding of his feet as he leaped over boulders and darted between enormous, ancient trees. His eyes fed off the occasional moonbeam with feline proficiency, his bare feet cunningly avoiding the numerous snarled roots hiding in the deep shadows. Fu's heart pounded, forcing bursts of hot, sticky blood out of the slice in his cheek. He kept his head tilted to one side so that the blood would run down his neck and onto the collar of his robe instead of dripping onto the ground, leaving a telltale trail for Ying and his men to follow.
    All alone, Fu's mind raced even faster than his feet.
How could Ying do this?
    Fu often grew angry over things that happened tohim at Cangzhen. But he would never have retaliated by killing someone. That was crazy. He had never even dreamed of killing Ying, who had picked on him constantly. One of Fu's older brothers once suggested killing Ying as retaliation for Ying's publicly blaming the death of his only friend on Grandmaster—but the older brother was just