Chapter II: To get the Tea
After making sure the Furious Five and Master Shifu were okay and knew he would be soon leaving for a 'short but much needed journey', Po left the Jade Palace and returned to his former home before sunrise the next morning to check on Tai Lung. His father, oblivious to everything but the fact that his son was now the greatest warrior of all China, was sleeping, peaceful and content, and didn't so much as stir as his son entered the house and climbed the stairs in the rosy light of dawn.
As Po had predicted, Tai Lung was still mostly immobilized. He could slowly turn his head or move his limbs, but he couldn't handle objects or walk. He lay there, in the panda's old bed, with a blanket on top of him, looking like a bundle of rags. Po asked himself if he should feel sorry for him. He couldn't find the answer. He could only wish his plan would work.
Po missed Master Oogway now more than ever, but at the same time, he could feel the tortoise's presence, his essence, and somehow he couldn't see Master Oogway disapproving of the panda's plan, not if he knew the whole story.
Early that morning, before any citizen in the Valley of Peace greeted the sun, Po, using a wooden cart to carry Tai Lung, took the felon to an abandoned house in the middle of a misty forest along the outskirts of the Valley. He kindled a cozy fire in the fireplace, placed the snow leopard gently next to it on a mattress on the floor, and returned to the Valley to talk with his father and to start helping rebuild after the battle.
"I'll be back. Don't worry," he whispered softly in Tai Lung's ear before leaving.
Maybe these words actually made it harder on Tai Lung, lying on the floor, his body a ball of pain and agony, his mind still boiling with rage. He couldn't understand any of it. Why was Po keeping him alive? Was the Panda trying to humiliate him somehow? And what those strange words about a journey meant?He concentrated on his body, trying to control his movements. He was healing fast, but it was still not enough to get up and walk without holding to the walls. Finally, exhausted, he let his body return to the wooden floor. He decided he'd wait for Po.
When he returned, carrying a huge backpack and a basket, the fire was totally gone, and the sun not far behind. He took another blanket from the backpack for Tai Lung to use as a pillow, so it was possible for him to sit, and opened the basket as a warm, delicious aroma permeated the room. He made certain that Tai Lung finished his first bowl of noodle soup before rekindling the fire.
He rummaged through his backpack, checking if he brought everything he needed.
"If you want any more soup or need help, let me know," He cheerfully offered.
"Why are you doing this?" Tai Lung asked, bluntly.
Po turned to face Tai Lung. By the fire the leopard's eyes were dark ambers, ruby slivers flickering in their centers, a promise of malice. Po was not afraid. In fact he seemed almost amused.
"Your word, remember? We have a journey to make together. You accepted my invitation, and now you'll drink the Golden Tea. Then you're free to go wherever you want, except if you return to the Valley of Peace I'll pretty much have to smack you down again, but that probably won't happen," explained Po, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"Excuse me," interrupted Tai Lung, his eyes growing redder. "What journey is this and what do you mean, Golden Tea?"
Po's smile merely widened as he replied, "Well, I guess we don't learn everything in the Jade Palace hall, or in training sessions, or with your head stuck in a hole for twenty years, but common folk have their own stories, you know, where I grew up. So I was thinking I could take you to the Golden Mountain, pick one of the flowers, and make you some tea."
"I still don't understand how that would help," pried Tai Lung, confused and annoyed at the same time.
"Oh, sorry, that's 'cause I didn't explain, see," producing a map, hastily drawn, indicating a place maybe ten days of journey west of the Valley. "That's where we are going. My father and his friends told me about this place many times. It's called the Golden Mountain because of the flowers that grow there, the Golden Stars, or Gold Drops. Anyway, a tea made of these flowers cures any stain of the soul."
He looked a little embarrassed at the last words.
"I see," muttered Tai Lung, beginning to understand.
"So, my plan," continued Po before Tai Lung could further his comment "We go there, I make you some tea, and you drink it. After that, well, you're free."
Tai Lung looked at Po for several seconds. He was usually good at reading his enemies. The thing was, Po was not cooperating, since he wasn't behaving as an enemy. Finally he spoke, shattering the tense silence that had been building up.
"Before I met you, Po, I heard you were a warrior unlike any other. And I think only now I understand how right they were, those who spoke these words," Tai Lung admitted, feeling he'd choke on his pride.
"Awesome!" Declared Po, smiling at Tai Lung with a wide grin. "So, we leave when you're better and ready, and that's gonna take a while, I bet. 'Till then, plenty of soup and rest for you, mister, like my father used to say. I'll sleep on the other side of the room. Need anything, call me."