Fiction: Group 3
Tales of the Pearl River Delta
Po Leung Kuk Choi Kai Yau School, Lee, Joyce - 13, Fiction: Group 3
arm sunny weather, fishing boats breaking waves, towing nets, it was a perfect day for fishing in
Guangzhou. The boats were scattered over the harbour, like fallen leaves on a pond. Suddenly
the clouds turned grey, the murky clouds swirled in a spiral altering the wild blue yonder into a
misty shade of grey, a majestic monster of darkness. A fuzzy mist overtook the city of Guangzhou, a giant
whirlpool circled the dark ocean. As the fishermen struggled to reach the shore, a bipedal monster dived out,
waves violently sank the boats tied to the pier. There was complete darkness with screeches that could raise
the dead. The creature towered over the fishermen’s boats, gigantic waves crashed recklessly onto the walls
of their ships. Fishermen grasped on to the edge of their boats. Water splashed their injured faces as they
yelled, ‘Help! A monster, a monster!’ Many fishermen were tossed into the sea. The creature had a
humongous mouth, replete with frothing saliva, ‘I want food!’ it roared. It stomped violently on to the
ocean floor, forming waves that slapped vigorously against the harbor. ‘The waves were like wild and
uncontrollable horses,’ wailed a fisherman, ‘pounding recklessly on to our precious harbor with their foamed
hooves.’ It launched itself out of the ocean and onto land. Every step it took sent shudders down the earth’s
core.
The streets of Guangzhou were filled with chaos, the monster destroyed everything in its path.
Children and women were terrified, they had never experienced such a tragedy before. It devoured
everything in sight in a beastly manner. It picked up houses like they were nothing and pulled the trees from
the ground like they were toys. Guangzhou became a war zone. Courageous men fought against the hideous
creature using stones, rocks, and arrows but its skin was as hard as a coat of armour, grisly crumbled and
folded, gigantic scales laid on his concave skin like large rocks on a mountain. One brave soldier shot the
creature right in its heart and it reeled backwards, diving back into the deep ocean. Many citizens thought
that the monster was gone forever, but they were wrong…
A village chief from Hong Kong wanted to stop the monster from attacking, he gathered all the
villagers to the village square and made an announcement. He said seriously, ‘Perhaps we have angered the
sea goddess Guanyin, she had created this horrendous monster to attack us. I know an old man from the
high mountains of Tai Mo Shan, we must find him, he might be able help us to eliminate the monster.
However, I need a brave person to go on this mission.’ Voices babbled inside the crowd, everyone discussed
who should go on this dangerous quest. After some time, a young man fearlessly volunteered. ‘Thank you
Chan Siu Ming!’ clapped the village chief, ‘However, you have to go on foot to show your sincerity to our
goddess Guanyin. You must return by sundown tomorrow, or else, the monster may return and destroy our
city.’ Siu Ming nodded bravely and set on his journey.
During Siu Ming’s journey to the mountains, he heard a wretched cry in the woods. He went
closer to find out where the sound came from. Siu Ming saw a gorgeous big bird, injured and caught in a
hunter’s trap. Siu Ming kindly released the bird and helped it bind its wound. The bird having earned its
freedom happily flew away.
As Siu Ming reached the peak of Tai Mo Shan, he saw a cave. As he stepped into the cave, his
shadow dissolved into the surrounding darkness. A kind old man’s voice cut through the darkness asking
him of his intent. Siu Ming replied nervously and it asked Siu Ming to look at the ground. A beautiful
flower appeared and it was dazzling and alluring, the petals were pink and red and a sunshine yellow in the
middle - a natural beauty on fire. Siu Ming held the tiny bauhinia in his palms, then challenged the man,
‘How can this puny flower help me get rid of the monster?’ The old man explained, ‘This is no ordinary
flower, it is a bauhinia. When the monster arrives, simply place it into the water, there will be magic. But
remember young man, this flower may only touch the ocean and your own hands, or else, its magnificent
magic shall be gone.’ Siu Ming became curious and questioned him, ‘Well, then do you know the origin of
the monster? Is the Guanyin mad?’
‘Guanyin is mad because of the water pollution. After several years, the Pearl River Delta became a filthy
habitat for sea creatures. Guanyin used trash and dirt from the ocean to assemble a monster as punishment.
By using the bauhinia I gave you, the monster shall vanish forever. Citizens like you must clean the ocean,
or else the monster might appear again.’
Siu Ming thanked the sage, and quickly returned to his village.
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