Winner
Dark Mysteries of the Great Wall
Ethan Ni
n a secluded forest in Xi'an adjacent to the Great Wall, there lived a pauper farmer named Bang. The forest
was shrouded by mist and mysteries. It was believed that an abundant number of wizards lived there.
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cholas Chan, Group 2: Fiction, Independent Schools Foundation Academy
Farmer Bang worked diligently in his rice fields but unfortunately, his tenacity led to no avail due to
bitter harsh weather. One day, he ambled aimlessly, desperate to find food. In the acrid land, he
to find two pieces of meagre yam. Overjoyed, he carefully placed them in his ragged jacket. Suddenly,
a feeble old beggar appeared behind the verdant foliage.
I
The senile beggar held out his quivering hand and muttered. "Pleeaaa....se give me some food. I am
famished!"
Bang was faced with a dilemma. He was reluctant to part with his precious yam, for he had no more edible
food in his larder. However, the old beggar looked weary and drawn, and he couldn't bear to walk away from
this pitiful man.
With much hesitation, Bang reached out to his pocket and replied. "Poor you! Take this yam! I hope this
will relieve your hunger." He passed him his precious vegetable.
The beggar accepted the yam gratefully and devoured it in one big gulp. As he turned to Bang with a
contented smile, the grey sky was ablaze with vivid orange and golden amber. With a puff of smoke, the feeble
beggar transformed to a wizard. Mesmerised by the inexplicable magic, Bang took a few minutes to gather
himself although he was tempted to turn and run for safety.
To Bang’s amazement, the wizard spoke in a gentle voice. "You're a kind man. I shall repay you by
revealing a secret only known by the emperor, Qin Shi Huang, himself."
The frightened farmer was in complete dismay. He cowered under the bush and waited for the wizard to
continue.
"
Many people thought that the wall was built for defence. But the truth is The Great Wall is more than a
military infrastructure. It is a Feng Shui instrument." The wizard paused, clearing his throat as he pondered deep
in thought.
The farmer was completely amazed, glaring intensely at the beggar as he waited for him to reveal the dark
secrets and conspiracy behind the Wall.
The wise man lowered his voice. "Emperor Qin is very superstitious. He believes that the Great Wall can
give him strength to rule the kingdom. It resembles a dragon twisting over the mountains. Beneath the Wall lies
the tomb of our emperor's ancestors, buried with precious stones and jewels.”
Intrigued, the farmer was no longer terrified but inched closer to the wizard, ensuring that he would not miss
any key words.
"
Unfortunately the entrance is guarded by a gigantic White Snake. If you can outwit the creature and get
through the tunnel then abundant wealth and riches will await you!"
Just as the farmer wanted to ask more questions, the whole landscape crumbled. With a mighty bang, the
wizard cast a magical spell and led him to the Wall. A thick, ominous fog engulfed him, making it difficult to
navigate. Wiping his teary eyes, he vaguely saw a silhouette of an immense creature which vanished into a
narrow tunnel. Bang was flabbergasted. Gasping with fear, he mustered his courage and followed the dark
shadow, landing right at the entrance of the tomb. He groped his way in search of the lost treasures.
Taking a deep breath Bang scampered into the dank passage. The air carried a stale and musty odour and the
ground was littered with sparkling jewels. They flashed alluringly as if cooing him, "Bring me home!"
Dazzled by the jewels’ beauty, Bang bent down and retrieved them. Suddenly, a monstrous snake leapt out
behind him. Her menacing eyes glared coldly at him. Her vicious fangs were snapping impatiently. She charged
at him with his white, budging muscles wrapped with scales that were as sharp as razor blades! He knew
instantly that he was no match for her strength. He needed to outwit this creature to escape from this
predicament. FAST!
"
White snake! Don't you dare devour me," declared Bang. "I am very strong and I can crush a rock with my
bare hands! I bet I can smash your bones with my little finger." Quick as a flash, he seized a "rock" from his
pocket and crumpled it into pieces.
Stunned by his intense strength, the snake grunted. "You're sssstrong!" The preposterous snake didn't know
Bang's stone was just a lump of old yam.