Grains of Sand

In the twilight of the setting sun, Fucanglong clawed his way through the Earth’s thick crust like a rabid prairie dog escaping its dusty prison. A massive volcano marked his birth five hundred miles southwest from a small water town called Zhouzhuang, located in the Jiangsu province, China. The three-hundred foot long dragon slithered through jade waters and lush maidenhair trees like a monster born from nightmares. Its destructive path cut deep fissures in the land where magma rivers formed and boiled like a thousand supernovas.

Fucanglong had dark-orange scales and an emerald-green underbelly. His black ivory claws were like a million razor blades pieced together as one and a deadly crown of horns rested on top of his angular skull. His teeth were like the jagged Hengduan Mountains and his red eyes birthed an evil stench.

The unsuspecting villagers of Zhouzhuang had no idea what was coming for them. The small isolated fishing village rested along a sleuth of interconnected waterways from the merging of the Baixian River and the Dianshan, Cheng, and Yuan Lakes. A crisscross of canals snaked their way by the majestic huts and underneath the ancient stone bridges that ran the length of the entire town.

Fucanglong took to the air like a flying worm and circled the town three times before crashing into the water like an unstoppable landslide. His massive girth created a circular wall around the village where no one could enter, and no one could escape. Then, he closed his eyes and fell into a roaring slumber.

Qin Shi Huang, Zhouzhuang’s ruler, united the imperial guards and attacked Fucanglong head on. Dressed in their finest samurai armor, the guards hacked and slashed at the dragons’ hide with their katanas to no avail. The mighty beast lied still like a slumbering troll. His flesh was impervious to such things. Realizing their debacle, Qin Shi Huang withdrew his forces in a strategic retreat. He knew there was more to this dragon than making a nest out of their small village.

“What do you want?” Qin Shi shouted. “Why have you trapped us like this?!”

No answer came.

Qin Shi Huang sat on the broken dock near Fucanglong’s sleeping head and crossed his legs. He knew dragons were patient creatures and respected their authoritative nature. He ordered his guards and the townsfolk to return to their homes and meditated in silence for the next two days until at long last, Fucanglong opened the slits of his eyes and was ready to answer the question.

“Mmm…I am Fucanglong, the great devourer of hidden treasures! For centuries I’ve roamed the Underworld and the Heavens in search of power to feed my belly. I grow hungry and need to feast!”

“But we don’t have any hidden treasure here, great dragon. You must be mistaken!” Qin Shi said, rising to his feet.

“FALSE!” Fucanglong thundered. “You have mystics here that wield great power. My belly longs to taste those pleasures! Bring them forth and I might release your village unscathed.”

Qin Shi lowered his head. Indeed, the beast was correct. The mystics possessed fantastic powers that no one could explain. They hid for decades in the Zhouzhuang village to preserve the peace. If China knew of their whereabouts, then wars would be waged to control their great powers.

“Why should I give up anything when you could destroy this village and eat what you want?”

Fucanglong rolled his huge bulbous eyes to the left and grumbled, “Have you ever tasted a bowl of rice filled with maggots? It spoils the taste. I want my food delivered to me—untainted and fresh.”

Without hesitation, Qin Shi yelled, “NO! I will not deliver them to you on a shiny dinner plate. You shall suffer in your hunger.”

“GRRRR! I SHALL NOT MOVE UNTIL MY WISH IS FULLFILLED! THIS VILLAGE WILL BE YOUR TOMB!”

“Suit yourself, dragon, but mark my words, I will find a way to slay you if it’s the last thing I do!”

***

“Is that really how it all began, Yéye?”

Yéye ran his fingers through his white hair and smiled. He loved being a grandpa. His granddaughter, Feng, was only six years old—much too young to know suffering and loss. Her mother and father died three months ago when Qin Shi Huang summoned the entire village to attack the dragon, Fucanglong. Many lives were lost that day when the fearsome monster opened his maw and spewed hellfire with a simple gust of wind.

“That is the way of it, yes,” Yéye said.

Feng plopped herself on the wooden planks where her grandfather was fishing with a long tree branch and frowned. She dipped her small tanned feet into the cool jade water, looked at the dragon’s towering body blocking the horizon, and asked, “Can anyone defeat him?”

“Ho-ho! I suspect that he will leave when he sees fit. The mystics have all but failed to remove him. Normal attacks have no effect on him, so the guardsmen cannot hurt him. Every week Qin Shi Huang sends a new magic caster to assassinate the beast, but they always fail in their quest. Qin Shi deeply believes that a special mystic will rise up and defeat the dragon. Instead of sending them all at once—a hard lesson learned—a new spell caster emerges once a week to challenge Fucanglong only to meet their untimely demise. I suspect that once they have all perished, the monster will leave us. It’s what he wants anyway.”

Feng grabbed Yéye’s self-made fishing pole and gave it a tug. “I saw a fish swim that way,” she pointed with a rush of excitement. “Hurry and catch it!”

Yéye raised his bushy eyebrows and uttered, “It doesn’t work like that.” He patted Feng’s head and parted her black hair so he could see her brown eyes. “Patience is the key to fishing.”

“Is it?”

“It is.”

“But…you’ve been here for hours and haven’t caught anything.”

“Ah…you see…I have not been patient enough. The fish will bite when they are ready.”

“Just like the dragon will leave when he’s ready?”

“Quite, right.”

Feng bit her lower lip and centered her eyes on the curved fishing pole. “Can I give it a try?”

Yéye shook his head. “You are not patient enough yet. Why don’t you go play? I’m sure those fish are getting tired of avoiding my line.” He paused and pointed to the dragon. “There may not be many fish left because the fresh flow of water has been cut off. I pray that I’m wrong for the sake of our village. People here are growing very hungry….”

***

Qin Shi Huang marveled at the brave warrior standing before his throne. He had never seen gold armor shining so brightly. His oval palace rested in the center of the village—a strategic calculation carefully crafted by his ancestors to keep a roaming eye on the people.

“An heirloom?” Qin Shi asked in a deep tone.

“Yes,” said the lone warrior with his chin held high.

Qin Shi rose and circled the armoured man. His eyes flashed up and down the length of the man’s golden suit until he came to a full stop at his eyes. “Fucanglong will be impressed with you. He loves treasures. Tell me…what is your name and what is your power?”

The brave warrior extended his palm and smiled as a stream of water erupted from his flesh. It flowed straight up to the plastered ceiling and arched downward to the man’s other open hand where it vanished as fast as it came. “My name is Yong, and my power is as you’ve seen.”

“Is this a joke?” Qin Shi laughed. “What are you going to do? Give the dragon a bath?!”

“N-no,” Yong mumbled. He couldn’t believe his folly. This was a serious matter and his showboating was out of place. “I beg your forgiveness, my humble majesty!” he said with a bow. “My plan is to extinguish the dragon’s mighty flames when he spews them and fill his ferocious maw with an ocean until he drowns.”

Qin Shi thinned his lips and nodded. “Yes…that could work. Are you prepared to face him?”

“Yes, your majesty. I will march upon this wicked creature in the hopes of freeing us all.”

“Very good,” Qin Shi said with a dash of hope. “I pray that you succeed.”

***

Later that evening, the entire village gathered at a safe distance to watch the fight. They longed to see the dragon dead. The brave warrior, Yong, made his way through the stoned pathway and bridges and graciously accepted the onlookers’ praises. It gave him confidence to face the slumbering nightmare.

The smell of sulfur burned Yong’s eyes as he neared Fucanglong. He grabbed his nose and pressed on. With only ten feet of distance between them, the dragon opened his eyes and saw his next meal standing before him.

“Ah… A mystic dressed in gold! How delicious!”

“Hold your tongue, foul dragon!” Yong yelled. “I didn’t come here to exchange words with you.” He extended his arm and sent forth a stream of fresh water that tickled Fucanglong’s nose, which caused him to open his mouth. Exactly what Yong had planned. “I came here to kill you!”

The villagers gasped when Yong held out his other hand and fired another burst of water into the dragon’s open mouth. Fucanglong shook his head and jerked backward. Things looked very promising and Yong’s confidence grew. He took a step forward and poured on the pressure.

“He’s going to do it, Yéye!” Feng said, watching from a nearby bridge overlooking the fight.

“All he needs now is a bit of patience to hold the line,” Yéye said with tightly squeezed fists.

Qin Shi Huang stood firmly from his palace balcony and watched proudly. His unblinking gaze never faltered. “Yes…yes…pour it on. Don’t let up!”

Reaching deep for a burst of energy, Fucanglong snapped his massive neck away from Yong, so his head could escape the water, and quickly blew a sudden burst of wind that twirled like a tornado. Yong was caught off balance and fell to the ground, which halted his magic liquid. With a mighty roar, the dragon spewed hellfire.

The flames soared through the air like a burning phoenix and the crowd moaned in despair. Yong saw the hungry fire coming to eat him and quickly rose to his feet. He extended both arms and eradicated the flames with his magic water. The villagers cheered with excitement.

Fucanglong was tired of playing games. He blew out another tornado while Yong continued to spray his face with water. The spinning vortex twirled around the brave warrior and engulfed him in one swallow. Yong foolishly tried to break free by using his water powers. It was his only option.

As his body twisted and flopped in the windy cyclone, Yong mustered the last of his magical energy and sent forth all the water he could. The high wind kept the liquid contained inside its body like a large cup and Yong quickly drowned. Before darkness could claim his soul, Fucanglong dispersed the vortex with a nod and snatched Yong’s body like a striking cobra before his carcass could kiss the ground.

“I love a fresh drink with my meal!” Fucanglong growled. “Bring me MORE!”

Qin Shi Huang lowered his head and turned his back in shame. As the villagers wiped their tears away, the dragon lowered his head and sealed them in once again. Was there anyone who could save them?

Feng released her tight grip on Yéye’s hand and ran away with a heavy heart. She kept her head down so no one could see her tears. It was not proper to show her emotions in public.

“It will be alright, Feng!” Yéye shouted. He knew she was upset. She needed some time to heal and a bit of patience to seal the heartbreak.

***

The hour was late and most of the villagers had returned home. Feng wandered the pathways around the village alone. The emotional wreckage of watching one of their own warriors die was more than she could take. They were all like family. Her stomach was tight and her lungs were heavy.

Out of the blue, a raspy voice called out from behind her. Feng turned in one swift motion and saw silver eyes staring at her from the shadows of the nearest hut.

“Who’s there?”

“A friend.”

“A friend?”

“Yes.”

“Well,” Feng said defiantly, “a real friend wouldn’t hide in the darkness like a coward.”

“If I reveal myself, you must not run away because I believe you can defeat the dragon.”

“Ha! I’m only six years old! I’m young and no one here will let me do anything because I’m a girl, but show yourself. My ears are curious.”

A large yellow paw with black claws emerged from the shadows, and soon, a full scale lion stood before Feng. The beast had long golden fur, silver eyes, a spiked tail, and four black horns on top of his skull—two on each side.

Feng felt no fear. There was only a profound calmness. “What is your name?”

“I am Denglong—a guardian spirit who brings hope.”

“There is no more hope here. People here are starving and that dragon will not leave.”

Denglong opened his maw and snatched a brown sack that was tied to his left leg. He tossed it at Feng’s feet. “This will kill the dragon and save your village.”

Feng eagerly opened the sack and saw nothing but sand. “How is a bag of sand supposed to kill a dragon?”

“A single grain of sand alone will do nothing, but…together, a thousand grains of sand can do much.”

“I don’t understand,” Feng said.

“All will be as it should when you face the dragon alone. Take that bag of sand and trust in yourself. Do not give in to fear.”

Denglong backed away and disappeared into the shadows without uttering another word. Feng lowered her head and stared at the bag of sand. “I can do this. I know I can. I’ll show everyone that I’m not a silly little girl.”

Feng snatched the bag and ran towards the dragon. Everyone was gone. Nobody stayed near Fucanglong’s head, especially when he was sleeping. She tiptoed closer and closer to the slumbering beast and held out the sack of sand.

“This is for you, great dragon. Please accept my gift and leave this village.”

Fucanglong opened his eyes and saw the little girl before him. “Ahh…another snack! I’m still hungry, but there is not enough meat on your bones to fill my belly. Nonetheless, you can crawl into my mouth and spare me the effort.”

Feng’s eyes grew three times larger when Fucanglong opened his mouth. She stood tall and gripped the sack tighter. “NO! Leave this village now, or I will kill you!”

“Ha, ha, ha,” Fucanglong laughed. “Very well, have it your way.”

The dragon blew a sudden burst of wind and before Feng could open the sack, she was snatched up in the spinning tornado. She did not scream and was not afraid. Denglong’s words still lingered within her heart and brought her peace.

“Now, I shall feast upon you,” said the dragon. “Your power is weak at this young age, but it will do. It will do…”

“M-my power?” Feng stuttered.

She released the bag of sand and watched each grain swirl within the cyclone. As her body twirled around she looked at her tiny hands and saw red embers glowing within. Something had awakened in her soul. She knew exactly what to do. Feng stayed calm and remembered what Yéye had always told her. Patience is the key to everything in life.

Feng smiled. She waited for Fucanglong to spew his hellfire and unleashed her power. With her arms extended, she sent forth each grain of sand through the vortex so they could pass through the fire. The flames disintegrated into ash and the rest of the sand punctured Fucanglong’s flesh like a thousand bullets.

Each grain of sand was like a sharp blade carving flesh from bone. The dragon screamed a painful howl that woke everyone in the village. Everybody came running to witness the final moments of Fucanglong.

As the jade water drank red blood and ate dragon flesh, the tornado holding Feng in the air faded away to nothing. The little girl fell to the ground with a loud thud. Fucanglong’s eyes rolled into the back of his head and his entire body convulsed and twisted. His evil hold on the village was finally broken. At long last, Zhouzhuang was free.

Yéye ran to his granddaughter and embraced her tightly. “Feng! How can this be? I had no idea you had mystic powers!”

“Indeed,” Qin Shi Huang said. A smile as wide as the horizon graced his face. “This little girl is full of surprises.” He helped Yéye lift Feng off the ground and praised her efforts. “At long last, our village is free because of your valiant bravery. We owe you a great debt.”

Feng nodded and looked at her grandfather. “Do you think I can help you fish now?”

Yéye laughed. “Yes, my dear child. Like the grains of sand in an hourglass, you have been patient long enough.”

“Yes!” Qin Shi yelled, “This village will hold a celebration the likes we have never seen before!”

Feng’s face lit up like the sun.

The cheering from the village birthed a new beginning—one where they were free from dragons and peace prospered like fine wine.

Feng’s story was passed down from generation to generation and became legendary, just like the sands of time.