Chapter 4

For next few weeks, Xiong carried on with his kung fu training in the wee hours of the morning. Making sure not to wake his father, and only for a few hours. He quickly mastered the first five scrolls. Upon looking over the next one he realized he would have trouble performing the moves illustrated with his rather plump belly. Not wanting to give up now, as he truly enjoyed this training, Xiong began working out to build up his muscles and burn off some much need weight.

He started by offering to help out around the village that required a great deal of strength: plowing fields, chopping wood or clearing large rocks. To lose weight, he spent hours running across the open plain that ran along the valley.

With the combination of his work out and kung fu training, his physical appearance took on a major change. He no longer slouched, there by adding three to five inches to his height. His trim slender arms and chest had expand greatly to where he could no longer where his shirt without the sleeve or front ripping apart. The muscles in his legs had grown as well allowing him to run whole days without getting tired and he smiled at how high he could jump, something reaching the top of trees without even trying.

His training did come with a down side however, though he was able to hide his knowledge of kung fu, there was no chance of him hiding how strong he had become. Each time he passed down the street, the female pandas would stop dead in their tracks and just gaze at him with loving eyes. Xiong could not be bothered with their attention. After a solid month he had a learned a great deal of kung fu, far more than anyone in the village; however, it had yet bring him a sense of balance, and he was beginning to feel it never would.

But who care, he thought flexing his meaty biceps, who needs balance when you've got strength.

Xiong returned to Fang Mouth after doing a number of choirs around the village. His muscles had grown so much that his normal training routine had become almost child play and sought something new to test his strength.

There were only five scrolls left. He had mastered the others in such a short time he felt confident these would prove no different.

He could not be more wrong.

The first scroll went into great length on the awakening and usage of a warriors Chi—whatever that was. It stated that in order to perform the chi attack…listed in scroll as the 'Wind thrust', the warrior must first enter a state of perfect balance.

Xiong spent hours on trying to obtain the level of balance laid out in the scroll, performing the chi attack countless times in which he brought a hand back, palm open and fingers slightly curled and then slowly brought it forward stretching his arm out as far as possible.

According to the scroll, the attack was suppose to create a blast of wind; however, no matter how many times or how hard he focused, nothing happened.

"Ah come on!" he snapped after trying for the umpteenth time.

Dropping his arms, Xiong breathe heavily and lowered his head. He never felt so tired, not even with all his training and building up his body had he felt so drained.

I guess it's not as easy as I thought.

Xiong walked pass the many female pandas—most of which were pushing and shoving just to get a good look at him—on his way home. As usual he found he could not be bothered by their silly action. His thoughts were rooted on his failure with the wind thrust.

Why could he not do it? Everything else had come so easy for him.

So enthralled in his thoughts that he barely felt the slight pump against his chest.

"Hey watch where you're going Xiong."

Looking down, Xiong saw Jiao sitting on the ground rubbing the back of her head.

"Jiao," he said, "sorry I didn't see you."

"I bet you didn't feel me either with all those muscles."

Xiong's cheeks began to turn pink. He never thought he would be embarrassed by his strength. "Here," he said stretching out a paw, "let me help you up."

Jiao accepted the offer, but was unprepared for Xiong's wealth of strength and found herself being jerked from the ground, once again crashing into Xiong's chest.

Xiong stumbled a bit, caught off guard for a moment, but his heighten reflexes—thanks to his training—had allowed him to recover quickly. He gently wrapped his free arm around Jiao's waist to her steady. As his gaze traveled the length of her body, he couldn't help but noticed how beautiful she looked.

Her light green silk dress hugged her slender—even by panda standards—frame and supple breasts. Her eyelids fluttered about serving only to enhance her radiant sky blue eyes. Her lips, coated with red ruby lipstick, were no more an few feet from his own. As she placed a hand against his muscular chest his heart began to race.

Stupid, over grown, muscle bound panda! Jiao thought as Xiong pulled her up. Not just once but twice already did she smack into Xiong's hard rock body. As he held her with one arm, Jiao gazed into his jade eyes. Their bright green hue seemed to draw her closer to him. For some time she had grown fond of the young prince, and though he never showed any interest in her or anyone, she could not deny these feeling. She gently began to stroke his arm, marveling at how plump it was, and as she placed a paw against his chest, she felt a warm sensation build within her.

In the mist of all those who were either gasping or whispering, one thought seemed to pass between the two pandas.

Could I be falling love…

Xiong felt something flow through him, something he never had before and as he held Jiao in his arm, he slowly leaned forward, their lips inching closer together.

Oh Gods he going to kiss me, Jiao thought, eyes closing, her bosom swelling from the held breath. Oh please don't make this moment end.

Sadly it was not meant to be.

"Jiao!"

Jiao grown and Xiong growled then both turned to face an elderly panda with a swath of gray hair about her forehead.

"Jiao, those fish aren't going to catch themselves. Now get going."

"Alright grandma," Jiao said looking annoyed then turned back to Xiong. "Sorry I have to go…how about you come with me?"

Xiong did not take notice of her offer at first. He was still angry at the old panda. For one moment he felt truly happy, and not it was gone.

"Xiong?"

Xiong sighed; looking puzzled and then finally grinned. "Oh yeah I could do for some fishing."

With that, Jiao took Xiong's hand and together walked down toward the port, all the while the women nearby cried at the chances of getting Xiong to themselves lost.