3 years ago, in Shao Lin Temple
“Peiwu! Never did I imagine you to be such a vile traitor!” Master Lu’s voice thundered through the hall, his eyes burning with fury, his brows drawn tight like storm clouds. “You dared to murder your own senior brother!”
“I did not!” Peiwu fell to his knees, tears streaming down as he pleaded.
“Do not be deceived by his lies, Master!” cried the youngest disciple, Huang Wu. “I saw it with my own eyes—Peiwu pushed Senior Brother into the waterfall!”
Master Lu’s gaze hardened. “Then tell me, where is Xia Lewu, the brother who went to fetch water with you yesterday? It has been thirty hours since, and he has not returned. Do you still dare deny it?”
With trembling voice and bleeding heart, Peiwu kowtowed and cried, “Master, if you still trust me, grant me time! Yesterday, Senior Brother Xia promised he would be gone but three hours. I waited six, yet he did not return. Helpless, I came back to the temple—only to be accused of murder! Master, I am wronged!”
“Stand up!” Master Lu’s command rang out like a whip.
Peiwu rose shakily, wiping his tears. Master Lu rolled up his sleeves and set his stance, a tempest of force gathering about him. “By the rules of Shaolin, I must drive you out. Prepare yourself—this shall be the last time you wield your kung fu!” With a roar, he lunged forward, his fist crashing toward Peiwu’s face.
Peiwu twisted aside, diverting the strike, but Master Lu’s other palm slammed into his abdomen, blasting him backward more than ten paces. Staggering, Peiwu stamped the earth to regain his balance.
Again Master Lu advanced, his leg arcing toward Peiwu’s head. Peiwu flung himself into a backward roll, narrowly escaping the deadly kick.
“Leave, now!” Master Lu’s voice rolled like thunder. “Xia Lewu is dead. I have no wish to kill you. Go!” With that, he gathered his qi into his right palm, and with a single explosive strike, drove it against Peiwu’s chest.
Even with every shred of strength poured into defense, Peiwu was hurled out of the temple gates.
“That strike… the Shao Lin Iron Palm!” Peiwu gasped as he steadied himself. “So Master Lu truly intends to cast me out…”
“Begone!” Master Lu bellowed from atop the temple wall.
Kneeling once more, Peiwu bowed deeply, his forehead striking the earth. “Shaolin raised me since I was a child. This debt of kindness, I can never repay. But since Master has resolved… I shall leave.”
With that, Peiwu rose and walked away from Shao Lin Temple—never once looking back.
