Unknown Happen Stance

Chapter 36: The Mural of Chi Li The Female Chinese Prequel Heroine

The First Female Chinese Warrior Chi Li's Legendary Myth

"Ma'am, what is the mural of that woman in the living room of abstracted stained glass?" Musa asked, remembering it from earlier, displayed behind Lonnie and Ben as they played the handheld fan art language.

"That is a relic of a feminine hero's story," Mulan's mother answered, her voice filled with pride. "Mother, would you explain the history?"

"That is from a long, long ago time—a way earlier dynasty during the Zhou & Quin Dynasties a reminder of an oral woman war heroine's legendary story, Musa," replied Mulan's great-grandmother, her eyes sparkling with the wisdom of age. "Several dynasties before we had an emperor who burned a lot of books. How this one survived in such a dire time is completely unknown. Let's all go to the living room. Shang and Mulan, you may join me and the younger kids—Evie, Musa, Ben. Lonnie and Mulan, please do not spoil this bedtime story."

"Yes, Grandma," Mulan agreed, knowing well the tale and having told it to Lonnie before.

"Of course, Wàipó," Lonnie echoed, smiles spreading across the faces of the younger kids as they followed the elder into the living room.

As they settled into the comfortable space, the warm light of lanterns illuminated the stained glass, casting colorful patterns on the walls.

"That woman is Chi Li, a hero of the Tan family lineage, a prequel to all Chinese feminine hero legends, Mulan's included," the great-grandmother continued, her voice resonating with warmth and authority. "This is one of the very rare stories that escaped the burning book piles decreed by the Ch'in dynasty, which prohibited subjects from learning, reading, or studying literature that did not involve prophecy, medicine, or farming, young children. So let me tell you the Tale of Chi Li and The Serpent Legendary Myth.

In a time long past, in the ancient kingdom of Yueh, a monstrous serpent had made its home in a cave located on a high pass between the towering peaks of the Yung Mountains. For nine years, on the appointed day in the eighth month of the year, the Yung serpent had demanded the flesh of a young maiden for its nourishment. For nine years, long before the appointed day, this serpent had communicated its demand to the people of Chiang Lo County through an oracle and through the dreams of men.

The people of Chiang Lo County lived in terror of the monstrous Yung serpent. No one had found another way to pacify it. And no one had been able to slay it. Local villagers had tried offering the serpent their best sheep and oxen, but its demands continued until it received a human sacrifice.

The villagers had appealed to the officials of neighboring counties, and courageous magistrates and officers of the law had come to their aid. They, too, had tried to slay the Yung serpent. But its body spanned the distance of the tallest tree, and its girth was greater than the span of ten hands. Therefore, despite their skill and their number, the monstrous serpent had killed many magistrates and officers of the law, and the survivors had fled in panic down the mountainside.

Hearing of their defeat, other magistrates had sent word of the Yung serpent to the capital city of Yueh, and the king's chief minister had responded by sending the king's royal warriors under experienced commanders to slay the Yung serpent. However, once again, despite their skill and their number, the monstrous serpent had killed many of the king's warriors, and the survivors had fled in panic down the mountainside.

And so it came to pass that with all their resources exhausted, no choice remained for the people of Chiang Lo County but to appease the demands of the Yung serpent. Each year, the county officials tried to find a maiden whose sacrifice would not be a great loss to her community. Therefore, the magistrates would choose the maiden from among the daughters of criminals or from among female slaves.