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Capítulo 23

The air inside the cave was damp and cool. Elder Anxi coughed incessantly, seemingly exhausted. After walking for about half an hour, a faint light began to appear ahead.

“We have already crossed the border; just outside the cave entrance lies Kokang in Myanmar,” Elder Anxi said, panting.

Outside the cave entrance, green trees provide shade, and a winding path leads into the distance through the valley. In the blue sky, a few white clouds drift leisurely, and birds sing in the forests on both sides of the mountain, their voices long and clear.

Dudu flapped its wings enthusiastically and flew into the air. It was clear that it had been in a good mood ever since it defeated the falcon.

"Halt!" With a loud shout, the sound of a gun being pulled back came from the woods, and several soldiers wearing grass-green military jackets and carrying Type 56 submachine guns rushed out and blocked the way.

Elder Anxi waved his hand, and everyone stopped in their tracks.

"Who exactly are you people?" asked the leader, a man with a small black beard, as he sized up the Anxi elder. He spoke in Yunnan Mandarin.

Shen Caihua tugged at Elder Anxi's sleeve and whispered, "I saw him when we were eating rice noodles earlier..."

The elder nodded and said, "I am the recluse of the Shwedagon Pagoda Temple in Yangon."

Several soldiers surrounded them, their black gun barrels pointed directly at them.

The man with the mustache chuckled and looked at Chen Caihua, saying, "Kid, where's your big parrot?"

"What are you doing?" Shen Caihua asked warily.

“Our boss’s son, Awen, was killed by your big parrot. You should at least offer some compensation,” the man with the mustache said.

“Young man, this was a contest that your leader requested. Life and death are determined by fate, so you can’t blame the big parrot,” Elder Anxi said calmly.

"Hmph, you old monk living in Yangon, you're probably a spy sent by U Ne Win to the Kokang liberated area, aren't you?" The man with the mustache stared at Elder Anxi with his triangular eyes, looking him up and down.

“Amitabha, this old monk never inquires about worldly affairs,” Elder Anxi chanted.

"Come on, search them for me," the man with the mustache ordered.

At this moment, the left and right protectors turned their gazes to Elder Anxi. As long as their master gave the order, killing these people would be a piece of cake.

Elder Anxi chuckled and stretched out his arm for them to examine. Seeing that their master did not express his opinion, the two protectors had no choice but to give up.

"Who is this person?" The old beggar's ugly and ferocious face startled the man with the mustache, who asked with a puzzled look.

“He is deaf and mute, and is a new disciple of this old monk,” Elder Anxi replied.

“Damn ugly…” the mustachioed man said with disgust.

Chapter 31, Part 2

"Bright Moon..." The old beggar gurgled in his throat, as if something was blocking his throat, his pronunciation unclear, while he reached down and rubbed his testicles...

"Ha, so he wasn't mute after all. The old man's quite slutty, isn't he? Monk Anxi, you've been exposed now, haven't you?" The man with the mustache chuckled smugly.

"No weapons were found on them," a soldier reported after the search. Shen Caihua was just a child, so they didn't check his pockets.

“Look, a big parrot!” another soldier said, pointing to the sky.

Dudu soared gracefully in the air, its feathers shimmering with a sapphire-like luster in the sunlight, an exquisite sight.

The man with the mustache nodded and ordered, "Take them all back to camp. The big parrot will definitely come with them."

Elder Anxi pondered to himself, "This is Burmese People's Army territory. I'll go with them for now and deal with things as they come. In short, I won't resort to force unless absolutely necessary." He nodded and said, "Alright, I'll go with you."

These soldiers of the Myanmar People's Army, armed with guns, escorted Elder Anxi and his entourage along the valley toward Laogai, the capital of Kokang.

Kokang, located in the Shan State region of northern Myanmar, covers an area of over 10,000 square kilometers and was part of Yunnan Province during the Ming and Qing dynasties. In the late Ming and early Qing periods, some officials and commoners of the Ming Dynasty followed Emperor Yongli (Zhu Youlang, also known as the Prince of Gui), fleeing from Guangxi, Guizhou, and Yunnan, eventually ending up in Myanmar. In the winter of 1661, Wu Sangui led 100,000 Qing troops into Myanmar, forcing the Burmese king to hand over Emperor Yongli and escorting him back to China, where he was hanged at Bisipo in Kunming. However, many officials, followers, and commoners who had fled with Zhu Youlang to Myanmar refused to surrender to the Qing and tenaciously survived and multiplied in the remote and desolate mountains of what is now northern Myanmar. After more than 300 years of hardship and long existence, these people who had fled to other places eventually developed into the Kokang ethnic group of present-day Myanmar.

During the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China period, Kokang was seized by Britain as part of its colonial expansion, becoming a British colony in Burma. However, successive Republic of China governments refused to recognize this until after the founding of the People's Republic of China, when it was finally annexed by Burma. Therefore, the Kokang people are considered part of the Han Chinese population in Burma, speaking Kokang language (Southwest Chinese). During the anti-Chinese junta regime in Burma, the use of Chinese language and characters was banned, and the teaching of Chinese characters was prohibited. To preserve their Chinese traditions, the Kokang people were forced to accept the name "Kokang ethnic group," and their local dialect of Chinese became known as Kokang language, while the characters they used became known as Kokang script, ultimately ensuring the continuation of Chinese culture.

In the center of the old street stands a large courtyard with high walls topped with barbed wire. Two lazy soldiers stand at the entrance, leaning on their guns, smoking, and basking in the sun. This is the location of the Kokang County Brigade of the People's Army.

"Have you arrested them all?" A middle-aged man in a grass-green military uniform walked out of the bungalow. He was Yang Kunming, the brigade commander and owner of the falcon Awen.

"Commander Yang, we've brought everyone, not a single one of them," the man with the mustache reported.

"Where's the big parrot?" Brigade Commander Yang looked around at everyone, not noticing Dudu, and asked in confusion.

The man with the mustache pointed to the sky, where a large blue parrot was circling overhead, closely watching the situation below.

"Bring him in," Yang Kunming ordered.

Chapter 31, Part 3

Inside the room, a portrait of Chairman Mao Zedong hangs on the central wall, next to which are two red banners with quotations: one reads "Serve the people wholeheartedly," and the other reads "Imperialism and all reactionaries are paper tigers."

"Let me introduce myself. I am Yang Kunming, Brigade Commander of the Burmese Communist Party People's Army. I was a member of the 'Old Three Classes' of educated youth from Kunming who went to the border regions in 1968. Who are you all?" Brigade Commander Yang asked Elder Anxi. As a former soldier, he spoke crisply and decisively.

“Amitabha Buddha, Elder Anxi of the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, they are all my disciples.” Elder Anxi put his hands together and nodded slightly.

"Is this child also an elder's disciple?" Brigade Commander Yang asked Shen Caihua with considerable doubt.

“My newly accepted disciple is named Xiao Xiao,” Elder Anxi replied.

The man with the mustache whispered a few words in Yang Kunming's ear, glancing at the old beggar standing behind him.

Brigade Commander Yang walked over to the old beggar, circled him, noticed something amiss, grabbed his arm, and rolled up his sleeve to reveal fair and delicate skin...

"This man's face is incredibly ugly, and his hands are withered like those of a dying old man, but his body has the skin of a young man. It's really strange..." Yang Kunming muttered to himself as he walked to his desk and picked up the telephone.

The elder of Anxi, unaware of his intentions, silently watched him.

"Operator, please connect me to Central 8.19," Yang Kunming said, holding the receiver in one hand and waiting. "Hello, is this Vice Chairman Deqin? This is Yang Kunming. My department has captured a strange person... Yes, very strange. His face and hands look like those of a 100-year-old man, but his body is that of a young man. Could you please ask Elder Ao to come and take a look and identify what's going on... What? He'll be here soon. Okay, we'll wait for him..." He then hung up the phone with a smile on his face.

"Commander Yang, when will you grant permission for this old monk and his party to leave?" Elder Anxi asked.

“No rush, Elder Ao from the Central Government will be here soon,” Yang Kunming said, taking out a cigarette, lighting it with a match and exhaling a puff of smoke. Then he asked Shen Caihua, “Alright, your name is Xiaoxiao, right? Your parrot killed my Awen, so you have to compensate me with that macaw.”

"Dudu is mine!" A flash of crimson light appeared in Shen Caihua's deep eyes, but it vanished in an instant.

“A life for a life, killing an eagle means paying for a parrot. Of course, if you want some money, we can discuss it. How about it?” Yang Kunming exhaled a large smoke ring and then chuckled.

"No!" Shen Caihua shouted.

"Beep beep..." A car horn sounded in the yard, and Yang Kunming immediately went out to greet it.

"Where is that strange man now?" A hoarse voice came from outside the door, sounding like a duck's quack, which was extremely unpleasant to hear.

A plump old man with a full head of white hair, long eyebrows and a bushy beard appeared at the door. He had a ruddy complexion, round and bulging eyes like the bubble eyes of a goldfish, and missing teeth. He was dressed in a gray robe with a blue round collar, wide sleeves with black trim and a soft sash hanging down. He had a square scarf on his head, and he was dressed exactly like a Confucian scholar from the Ming Dynasty.

“Old Ao, this is the man,” Yang Kunming said, pointing to the old beggar.

Old Ao approached, his goldfish eyes bulging as he scrutinized the old beggar from head to toe, his expression gradually changing...

Chapter 32, Part 1

Ao Lao has lived in Kokang for generations. His ancestor was an Imperial Astrologer during the Chongzhen reign of the Ming Dynasty. He protected Emperor Yongli (Zhu Youlang) during his exile in southwestern Yunnan. His real name is now lost to history, but he was said to be a court geomancer who was well-versed in astronomy and geography. By the time of Ao Lao's generation, the times were unfortunate, with war and chaos everywhere. But as the saying goes, "heroes emerge in troubled times." The Burmese Communist Party, which had seized control of northern Burma, recognized Ao Lao's talents and hired him as a military advisor (similar to a chief of staff) for the People's Army, where he worked for the party using his expertise in feng shui and other supernatural arts.

"Commander Yang, come out here for a moment, I have something to say." A mysterious smile flashed across Old Man Ao's face as he limped out of the room.

"What is it, Elder Ao?" Yang Kunming asked in surprise as he followed closely behind.

The two arrived at the side of the bungalow and stopped under a kapok tree. After looking around to make sure no one was there, Elder Ao said with a serious expression, "This person has a mysterious power within him, but for some reason it is restrained. If we can find a way to remove the restraint and make this strange person serve us, it will be a secret weapon for our party to deal with the Newin military government."

"A sharp weapon?" Yang Kunming asked, puzzled.

"Indeed, this strange man possesses an extremely rare and powerful aura of yin energy, the only one I have ever seen in my life. It is truly unparalleled. Therefore, I deduce that this strange man must possess extraordinary skills. If he is willing to contribute to the cause of revolution and liberation, he will surely become the number one assassin of our Party's secret anti-traitor department," Elder Ao explained.

"Oh, then does Elder Ao have a way to lift the restriction on him?" Yang Kunming asked, intrigued.

"Well..." Elder Ao said hesitantly, "I need to think about it carefully; I'm not entirely sure."

“Alright, Elder Ao, you can take this person away at any time,” Yang Kunming said frankly.

“Very well, I will report this to Vice Chairman Deqin Pedin and commend you for your special contribution to the revolutionary cause,” Elder Ao said approvingly.

Yang Kunming waved his hand, signaling for the man with the mustache to bring over a few soldiers.

“Old monk Anxi, this strange man’s identity is suspicious. He and this child stay here, the rest of you can leave,” Yang Kunming said, pointing to the old beggar and Shen Caihua after entering the room.

“Amitabha, you cannot dispose of my disciples at will,” Elder Anxi said coldly, frowning.

Yang Kunming's gaze fell on Elder Anxi's face, and he said expressionlessly, "Old monk, keeping these two alive is necessary for the revolutionary liberation struggle of the Burmese people. Letting the rest of you leave is already showing leniency. Otherwise, you would be arrested immediately and punished for counter-revolutionary crimes."

Elder Anxi smiled faintly and said, "This old monk does not concern himself with worldly affairs, but I cannot ignore the safety of my disciples. We must travel together. I hope Commander Yang will do me a favor."

"Enough with the nonsense! Men, throw this old monk out!" Yang Kunming shouted.

The man with the mustache led his men in and charged in, pressing the muzzle of his gun against Elder Anxi.

Elder Anxi sighed and said, "Then please don't blame this old monk for being rude."

Chapter 32, Part 2

Before Elder Anxi could make a move, the two guardians rose up at the sound, their fists and palms flying, and several soldiers fell to the ground with a thud. Elder Peng leaped up and grabbed Yang Kunming's throat with two fingers.

Yang Kunming was stunned. He didn't know that the old monk's disciples were all skilled in martial arts. "No, don't do anything rash..." He managed to squeeze out these words with great difficulty.

“Brigade Commander Yang, as long as you escort us out of your defense zone, this old monk will not make things difficult for you,” Elder Anxi said calmly to him.

“Okay, okay, I’ll take you, I’ll take you,” Yang Kunming said repeatedly.

"Do you still want me to compensate you for the parrot?" Shen Caihua asked, looking up at him.

"No, I don't want it anymore..." Yang Kunming said with a wry smile.

Elder Anxi and his entourage escorted Brigade Commander Yang out of the house. In the courtyard stood more than ten soldiers of the People's Army, dressed in grass-green jungle-style khaki jackets designed and produced in China, wearing PLA caps with plastic five-pointed star badges, and yellow high-top canvas liberation shoes. They were aiming at them with all of their Type 56 assault rifles, including a Type 62 light machine gun.

Elder Ao stood with his hands behind his back under the kapok tree, staring expressionlessly at Elder Anxi and the others.

"No, don't shoot..." Yang Kunming cried out, his face pale, as Elder Peng's steel-like fingers were still gripping his throat.

The soldiers lowered their guns and glanced at Elder Ao. They all knew that Elder Ao was an important member of the Party Central Committee and a big shot who had to give orders.

"Hehe..." Old Ao chuckled coldly twice and said, "Brigade Commander Yang, Chairman Mao said, 'Where there is struggle, there will be sacrifice. Deaths happen frequently, some heavier than Mount Tai, some lighter than a feather...' Your sacrifice for the revolution today is heavier than Mount Tai, and you died a worthy death."

The soldiers raised their guns again.

“You…” Brigade Commander Yang’s face turned deathly pale, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead.

Elder Anxi was secretly alarmed. No matter how high a mortal's martial arts skills were, they could never outrun a bullet. It seemed that trouble was brewing.

"Hahaha... I was just joking. Commander Yang gave up his comfortable life as a cadre in Kunming for the revolutionary cause and was willing to dedicate his youth and blood to the liberation of the Burmese people. How could I disregard the lives of my comrades for the sake of a few insignificant monks? Let them go..." Old Ao chuckled and waved his hand.

Yang Kunming breathed a sigh of relief, and the soldiers immediately put down their guns, resting the butts on the ground, their tense expressions relaxing.