(A/N) "To all those who have been reading my work, let me say thanks for all the kind words and encouragement to push forward with my story. Also I'd like to say this is my first time writting a kung fu fight scene, so please be kind.

Chapter 10

Once Xiong reached the camp he had to be careful from here on in. Though his shadow technique made him almost completely invisible there was still plenty of light for someone to see him with the naked eye.

He slipped from shadow to shadow, never staying in one place for too long to attract attention. He could still see the wolves tossing ore to be melted, but there were also a few who were pounding slabs of metal into thick plates. He couldn't fathom what they were making with all those hunks of metals, and perfectly honest he couldn't bring himself to care.

Before long, his path brought him to a large a large white silk tent. The sound talons clicking filled his ears and a shiver ran down his spine. Visions of his mother flashed before his eyes. The pleasant smile he always remember, the one that settled his fears each night he went to sleep was now replaced with a look of terror as Shen and his wolves hunted her down. Rage burned through his veins. He was about to storm into the tent and tear the peacock limb from limb when two apes marched toward the entrance with an aged goat in between them.

"Ah," he heard Shen's voice from inside the tent, "it's about you got here."

"We would have been here sooner boss..."

"…but this here goat is a hand full"

Xiong heard a soft whack from within the tent followed by someone wincing in pain.

"Stupid old goat," came Shen's voice, "do that again and I will ensure you die a slow and painful death."

Xiong heard the faint sigh followed by a female's voice. "My fate is already set and I am more than ready to face it, but are you?"

"I have not brought you here to tell me my future, but to help point out a new source of raw materials."

"And what would you do with such knowledge?"

Xiong wondered the same thing, but his thoughts were interrupted as Shen's laughter ringed in his ears.

"I thought you were a seer, why don't you tell me?"

"I already know what you intend to do Shen, and as before I implore you to reconsider your scheme, it will only lead to your down fall."

"You still cling to that rubbish," Shen said in a harsh tone, "I will not be ruled by such foolishness. I will make my own future, by taking that what is mine. Now show me what I seek."

Xiong had heard enough. The sheer argentines of this peacock boiled his blood. He was just about to charge in and stuff the madman with his own tail feathers when a loud snapping sound filled the air. Looking down he was dumbfounded to see he had stepped on a fallen spear.

"What the…" a wolf asked his attention drawn to the sound, only to drop the box he was lugging and shouted, "Intruder!"

Xiong cursed himself for making such a foolish mistake but quickly pushed his discomfort aside and swung into action. Four wolves rushed him and he took them down with a few rapid punches to the face and stomach. Another wolf came at him from the side, and Xiong merely flip over him and laid him to rest with a swift kick to the knees. A smirk formed on his face as he heard the sounds of bone cracking. More wolves were upon him, these wielding swords and spears, however it did not faze Xiong by any means; nothing would stand in his way. He his gauntlets to block the first few in coming sword swings followed up with rapid punches to the face and gut, laying wolves down left and right. He side step to avoid the lunge of a spear and before the wolf could react, Xiong took hold of the shaft and swung both the spear and wolf about knocking row after row of bandits, afterwards he kicked the still clinging wolf clear over the horizon.

A loud roar drew his attention and turned to see a large gorilla beating his chest. The massive creature loomed over Xiong by a solid foot and he was leaning down.

"Well you're a big one," Xiong said, "but I've faced worse."

The gorilla roared once more and charged, stomping his fist into the ground. Once the massive brute came within reach, he swung his fist at Xiong. The panda brought his arm up to block the attack, but the force of strength behind the thrust proved to be too much even for him and was knocked down, sliding along the ground for several feet.

"Alright," Xiong muttered getting back to his feet, "guess this going to be a bit tougher than I thought. But then again, that will make it more fun.

The grunted an evil grin on his face and charged again, bringing his fist to bear once more. Xiong was ready for him this time, shifting his weight so as to avoid each thrust.

"Stand still so I can crush you!" the ape shouted with another loud roar.

Xiong chuckled as he dodged another on coming attack. "What? Don't tell me you can't hit little old me," he paused to stand before the ape, his fist pressed against his waist and thrusting his pecs out, "Alright then take your best shot."

"Stupid move," the black fur brute smirked as he brought his fist back as far as his body would allow and thrust it forward, nailing Xiong squarely in his chest, the resulting impact cause a gush of wind to spread forth. Those closest to the scene stood ridge waiting for Xiong to fall.

And yet it never happened.

While studying the scrolls the turtle gave him, Xiong discovered a way to gather his chi in one solid mass. The end result was amazing. Not only did it increase the density of his body but greatly magnify his strength.

Xiong smirked as the gorilla took a step back only to fall to one knee clutching a broken bloodily hand.

"Looks like it's my turn now." Xiong said.

A gasp rung out throughout the camp as Xiong took a firm grip of the gorilla's arm and simple twist, cracked the bone in two. To deepen their shock, Xiong took hold of the beast by his belt and effortlessly picked him off the ground, spun around and hurled the brute clear across the valley.

Once the sounds of the gorilla's scream faded into the night, Xiong turned to the still stunned wolf pack and said a calm cheerful tone, "So who's next."

The wolves did not hesitate as they ran from the scream monster.

"ENOUGH!"

Everyone—Xiong include—turned to face Shen. The mad peacock stood atop a large metal tube of some kind. It was by far the strangest thing Xiong ever seen, but it didn't matter what it was. Shen was in his sights, and he wasn't about to let anything stand between him and his quest for revenge.

"Shen!" Xiong shouted pointing at the peacock. "You're time has come."

"Oh really?" Shen muttered pacing back and forth across the metal object. "And what makes you so sure."

"Aw come on, what are you some kind of idiot are you? Look around you, half of your wolf army has been beaten to a pulp and the rest are so scared they've wet their pants. Plus I just tossed a four ton gorilla clear across the forest as if he were pillow. What could you possibly have left to stand against me?"

The peacock narrowed his eyes, turned to gaze at Xiong with an evil grin on his face. "I was planning on using this on someone more formable than you, but you've caused me enough trouble," he then began to scrap a talon across the tube, causing sparks to flare. "Now you will know true pain."

"Lord Shen, no!" A one eye wolf cried. "The weapon hasn't been fully…"

The wolf's pleas were drown out as a sudden explosion erupted from under the peacock's feet. The blast too everyone by surprise as it engulfed Shen in a bright friary glow. Those closest to the blast were knocked to the ground, some with smoldering shards of metal piercing their bodies, while many others had ran from the scene, their tails tucked firmly between their legs.

Only Xiong remain, rooted to the ground, the sheer force of the explosion had not even nudged him. His expression was one of anger and disbelief. For as long as he could remember Xiong has thought of what he would do if and when he ever got the chance to exact his revenge on Shen, and now because of some accident, his one time opportunity had be stole from him.

Regaining his composer, Xiong rushed toward the remains of Shen's ridiculous so-called weapon and began shifting through the hot and cracked metal. His felt his paws burn as he clutched the heated slabs, but pushed through the pain. Shen had to be alive; he could never live with him if the mad peacock died by any mean other than by his hands.

As he tossed the last piece of charred metal, Xiong came upon Shen. The peacock looked hideous. His left wing was twisted in a ghastly position; most of the feathers were missing leaving a burnt limb. One of his legs was gone, the joint along the body was still twitching. Cracks ran along his beak, and one eye had burst, allowing blood to squirt forth to stain his face.

Xiong growled as he stood before the mangled avian. His jade eyes burned with an unnatural red glow. "You don't know how long I've waited till this moment," he said lowering himself down to Shen level. "To finally see you pay for what you've done to me…to what you did to my kin."

Shen stared at Xiong with his good eye, his beak began to split apart as he fought to speak. "W…who…a…are…"

"What's the matter bird?" Xiong asked his voice full of rage. He took hold of Shen's neck and stood up letting the bird dangle above the ground. "Ran out of boasting?"

"Who…are…you?"

"Well, seeing how you're about to die, I see no harm in letting you know."

With his free hand, Xiong released the clasps of his helmet and slowly lifted it off his head to reveal an expression of boundless rage to the dying peacock.

Shen remaining eye opened with terror and began struggle against Xiong's grip, yet is was all in vain as the panda merely laughed at the sight of the beaten avian.

"You know, I don't know why I was ever afraid of you in the first place," Xiong said, "I mean look at you, you're nothing compared to me. I could crush what's left of you just by tightening my grip," he paused as he applied pressure to Shen's neck, but then stopped as a smile formed on his face. "But I don't think I'll kill you, no, killing you would be far too simple and quick."

Xiong then began to chain the beating peacock to nearby post. Once pleased with his work, he stood back, his hateful glared rooted on Shen's mangled body.

"Now, whenever someone walks by they look at what remains of your worthless body and cringe at the sight as you slowly decay and believe me that whenever a panda walks past, they will laugh at foolish they were to be so scared of you. Let those sounds of merriment fuel your torment in the depths of hell."

With nothing else to keep him there, Xiong turned away from Shen, and his fears behind.