Author Note : Well then, my story managed to escape from the Onslaught Of Fillers, glad all of you readers could make it this far. Anyway, now with the fillers are being put aside, I can now get back with a serious arc with story development and stuff. Hope you all enjoy reading this chapter!
Chapter 28 : Inside The Missing Scroll
Oh great! It's Monday... the day that's most people complained about it every time when the calendar strikes this specific day. Personally for me, I don't really hate Monday, but there are some reason why I hate Monday as well, such as I probably have the only person who has the shittiest luck of the day, which is by getting hurt or injured a lot during training. Anyway, as if this day, me and my friends are doing pretty much the usual thing like training in the Training Hall. I was currently at the fire breathing floor or what everyone calls it the "Field Of Fiery Death", the name sounded kinda exaggerated to me. I mean this floor is very dangerous indeed, but please go easy on naming them.
Dodging, dashing, rolling, sliding, jumping... just doing whatever I can to avoid being roasted by the rising tall flame coming from the floor's tubes underneath me. While I thought the fire breathing floor has ceased, I was wrong as I felt like the heat from the floor. It's looks the entire floor is gonna be fully engulf by the flame of it. Not wasting any precious seconds, I immediately begin sprinting before making a long jump while doing a quick roll upon landing on the wooden floor to avoid taking any damage on my back. I stood up and saw my serpent friend spectating my performance from a safe distance. I then approached her while she gave me her warm smile as usual.
"I see your getting better at my playground." She complimented. My eyes widens upon hearing the word 'playground'.
Did she just said that kind of place her playground? Damn, I wonder when she starts saying that...
Upon thinking of that, I soon cringed slightly on the inside as I've just imagined how she was able to survive and adapt to this "Floor Of Hell" during those years in such gruesome manners. Yes, and I also have gave this training ground a name from myself. I think the name "Floor Of Hell" sounds cooler than it's original and exaggerated name "Field Of Fiery Death".
"Thanks." I said while laughing nervously. After stepping away from her "playground". I was now again searching for what kind of training to do. Hold on, let me tell you guys something crazy, last night, instead of getting scary nightmares or something else worse, I was instead rewarded with an awesome dream, the dream involves me fighting over ONE MILLION ninjas with a me wearing heavy-detailed clothings and wielding a golden staff as I defeated them all with it without getting a single scrap on me. I don't remember much of the dream, but it was sure electrifying as fuck. There was so many flips, moves, technique and attacks I did in that dream, I tried believing if I can do all those tricks in real life, but HAHAHA! NOPE! Never in a goddamn millennium I can least learn one of those techniques, no matter the amount of confidence and determination.
After sitting on the edge of the Training Hall while gazing at everyone's training like more than half an hour. While looking around, my eyes was caught by what seemed to be out of this world too me. It's was Monkey, doing lots of tricks and techniques with a simple-looking staff, probably it's was made out of a bamboo stick. As I kept mesmerizing his skills with the staff, it turns exactly how the dream looks and felt like. My body then starts to itch, as it's telling me to go ask Monkey to teach me how to use a staff. I tried fighting the itching urges but it was all in vain as I eventually got up from the edge of the Training Hall's floor and start making my way to Monkey. Upon arrival, a very thin vertical tannish blur came at me with unexpected speed as it collides on my head. My whole body fell down to the wooden floor with my both hands holding my face. "AARRGH! It burns!" I screamed with my eyes closed tightly while my hands are still holding on to my face.
"Oh god I'm sorry! I didn't see you there." A familiar voice spoke. I slowly creaked my eyes open and soon noticed it was Monkey. He extended his hand down to me, I wasted no time and grabbed his hand as he helped me up from the floor. But then later, the pain is still burning in my whole face as I emit a low hiss.
"Anyway, I've something in request." I inquired, massaging my facial structure to ease down the remaining pain of it.
"Speak." Monkey motioned me to continue before repositioning his staff at a safer distance from me.
"I've been wondering if you can... well, teach me on how to use a staff." I sheepishly asked. My question has left Monkey in surprise.
"M-Me?!" Monkey spoke as he was staggering with confusion while point a finger to himself. It took a few good seconds for I'm to think first before responding. "S-Sure then, okay." He accepted my request.
"Awesome!" I exclaimed triumphantly. But I'm getting a feeling that this is not over yet.
"But something in exchange..." He said as I predicted.
Crap! I fucking knew it...
"Alright, what's in it?" I asked while being cautious of his desires.
"Anything sounds good, but needs to be good enough." Monkey spoke while grinning at me. Crap, I knew this would come anyway, c'mon, c'mon! Multiple times I've pummeled my brain for anything to say, but none of them would worked... expect for one.
"Alright, how about I'll pay the lunch bill for you guys for a whole month after you teach me how to use a staff." I said. Monkey was now busy thinking as he rub his chin.
"Sounds quite tempting Lukas, but I know you have something else better." Monkey said with a sly tone.
No, no... no! Is 'that' what I think it is... YUP, it is !
An exasperated sigh soon has flies out of my mouth before I could speak. I then lean close to his ear as my head swiveled around to see if anyone can hear us. "Alright, I'll let you have a peek at my secret project that I've promised to finished before New Year." I whispered. A large grin can be seen on his face.
"Okay then, let's begin." He motioned for me to follow him. Monkey later walked to a nearby weapon stash and grabbed a spare staff that's literally identical to his. "Catch!" He callled before throwing the staff to me. I quickly hopped and caught the staff in the air.
As the enthusiastic excitement is now surging through my body, I begin by swinging the staff around the empty air, but it was far harder than I thought it would be. The spinning staff then eventually went on an unstable rotation, which made me cowardly threw the staff down to floor before getting my face whammed again, much to Monkey's amusement as he was covering his mouth with his hand to suppress a laugh.
"Oh shut the hell up, or I'll kick your freakin ass with feet." I glared at him.
"Sorry." He sheepishly apologized.
Hours of practicing with Monkey here is slowly going well. The first thing is that I need to learn is to rotate the staff without hitting myself and making the staff spins like a frickin unstable BeyBlade. The second thing was learning how to use it, it went well at the start, but shitty at the end as I accidentally hit myself in the nuts. My body literally went instantly numb after that. As for Monkey, who was laughing hysterically at me of me at my current miserable state.
After relaxing and recovered from that incident of mine. I quickly get back up and readied myself for the thirds part, but the golden snub-nosed monkey was still laughing upon looking at me from that incident, I released an annoyed grunt before lightly smacking Monkey at the back of his head.
"Ow."
"Be quiet will you?" I spoke with slight annoyance. He chuckled lightly before resuming this little training of ours. The third part was... crap, you guessed folks, sparing with him while we both use staffs on each other.
At the Training Courtyard
The quiet wind was blowing gently on the Training Courtyard as it was trying help me calm down, well it didn't help at all with my nervousness. My hand was gripping on the staff tightly as possible while shaken. I then gulped before opening my mouth.
"M-Monkey, I don't think this is a g-good idea." I inquired jittery and nervously.
"Don't worry, just relax and calm your mind, I've highly believe that I've taught you good enough, you'll be fine." Monkey assured, spinning his staff skillfully and shifted it to a fighting stance. I closed my eyes and start praying for my survival.
Dear God... please, lend me your strength and courage-
My praying was interrupted as he lunges at me and was preparing to throw a hit. Upon instinct, I ducked down below while a long, thin blur missed my head by inches. After readjusting my stance, he was already doing lots of hit on my body. I did managed to block a few, but the rest were too fast for me. He spins his staff rapidly and performs an heavy strike at me, I quickly dodge it by rolling backwards, I later stood up and charged at him.
Damn, there's not a single opening... !
Recklessness... a mistake that most warriors or soldiers would eventually made, I soon realized I was charging at him without thinking any counterattacks or anything at all. He quickly took this opportunity of my current blank minded state and did a quick jab on my stomach with the tip of his staff, stunning me with swelling pain. I shrugged off the pain and lunges at him a spin attack, he was very fast indeed while wielding a staff as he block my spin attack with a horizontal block with the middle part of his staff. He again tried his previous jabbing move, which I reacted quickly enough and dodges the jab of his staff barely. I quickly swing my staff right at him as I successfully landed a heavy hit on his chest, flinging him across. He later does a kip up from the floor with lightning speed and charges towards me, preparing to deliver multiple strikes at once. While he was sprinting at me, he start spinning his staff around while switching the spinning staff from hand to hand. I quickly saw an opening and did a vertical swing with my staff, he avoid my vertical strike as he dashed to the left and rolled past me. Before I could react, he sends a fast horizontal sweep strike on my both feet, causing my whole body to fall sideways. While on the ground holding my stomach and groaning in pain. After few seconds later, I managed to slowly stood up from the ground. Before I could speak, I shot Monkey with a 'seriously, dude?' glare.
"Good enough' you say?" I sarcastically spoke, referring to him when he assured me that I'll do good like a few minutes ago.
"Either way, we're done here and you owe me something." He told me plainly. I shook my head.
"A-Are you sure? You wanna see it?" I reluctantly asked. He nodded. I let out a sign before walking. "Follow me then." I gestured, which he complied.
Exiting the Training Courtyard from it's double wooden door while later exiting the Training Hall and reached the bunkhouse. After approaching my room, I've grabbed the sliding door's handle and slide it right. Once Monkey entered my room as he become the very first guest to enter my room. He was in awe as he mesmerizing the inside of my room. His gaze soon shifted towards my workbench with drawers. He slowly approached my workbench and start opening as he inspects the tools he sees.
"I'm not sure if master Shifu can allow you to have stuff like these." Monkey inquired. I merely shook my head.
"Don't worry, I've already gotten permission from him to have these stuffs." I assured him.
He nodded and gone back inspecting my stuff until he finished checking the upper drawers and his eyes was met by an large object covered by an white sheet. While he was looking at it, he titled his head in confusion.
"What's this thing?" He asked.
"You know what I mean." I spoke with wink. I then motioned him to go on and uncover the sheet. He nodded enthusiastically as he grabbed the sheet and uncovered what's in it. The monkey was in totally awestruck as he laid eyes on what I've made. I walked beside him. "Let me introduce to this what it's known called the almighty 'Minigun!'" I introduced my project with a silly voice of an enthusiastic salesman.
"Lukas! I don't k-know what to say?" Monkey said as he's still in complete awestruck. After moments for Monkey to inspected the whole thing, I've immediately covered the firework minigun again with the white sheet while checking outside of my room if there's anythere, but luckily there was none.
"Alright Monkey, now you saw it, do me ONE thing." I spoke sternly. He looked at me with full attention. "Do not tell anyone about this, it is now kept between you and me." I warned cautiously. He nodded again.
"Yes, you have my word." Monkey assured.
"You better." I said, shooting a glare at him.
I soon told Monkey to excuse me for a moment as I want some time alone right now. He nodded and left my room while he head back to train with the others. After Monkey's fainting footsteps has fully fainted off of my ears, I walked to the one of the drawers of my workbench and took out Xiaoli's missing scroll and sat on my bed. I was not sure of I need to read it or not, but every time I tried, my own hand just won't go any further as I felt I'm intruding her privacy. I set the scroll down on the bed next to me.
The sound of my heartbeat is slowly beating harder and harder, sweat began forming while dropping from my forehead, breathing is becoming harder, which causes me to break the heavy nervousness in my mind as I grabbed the scroll again and removed the lid for the scroll's casing. I was hesitating at first, trying to read it but my head kept looking away, until I took a deep breath and let all the anxiety out before reading what's in the scroll.
Dear Xiaoli,
Me and your family has been doing this business for almost ten years now, and they're never shown to be let late until this moment. I am expecting that you can wrap things up quickly and remember to bring the weapons you've promised to bring us more than a year ago, because me and my group are running low on weapons. You and your father will be meeting each us at the northern hills, almost outside the border of the Valley Of Peace with the weapons. Good luck. If you don't bring the requested weapons by two more weeks, the rest of your family will be dead before you know it and as well as you.
Upon reading this message, my eyes widens openly with a horrified expression formed on my face. That poor vixen, she and her family was being forced to do these dirty work? Anyway, I better inform everyone else about this message that I've found by not luck nor by destiny itself.
I sat up from my bed and slide the door of my room and made a quick mad dash to the Training Hall. As I arrived, everyone was taking a short break, which it was a perfect time for me to explain them what I've found before approaching them.
"Lukas! My buddy!" Po spoke before hugging me tightly as usual, we both later break the hug. Po soon noticed my worrisome expression. "What's wrong?" He asked. I open the scroll and give Po a look at the scroll as he began the too read it. His face was soon filled with horror as I am. The other grew suspicious and lean their head to read the scroll I'm currently holding. The others faces was then filled with horror as well.
"Damn..." Mantis uttered in a hushed tone.
"Look at the date of the scroll and see for yourself." I said pointing at the date when this scroll was written.
"This message has been sent to them eleven days ago, she and her family only has three more days left to live." Viper spoke in a hushed tone. Crane soon leaned closer and take the scroll to analyze it.
"I think we should give this to the Valley's Guard Outpost and let them handle it." Crane suggested.
I was thinking we all should take care of it instead... oh well... hope those other guys gonna handle it well...
After telling Shifu about this, he nodded as we all began sprinted down to the staircase of a thousand steps.
Reaching the bottom, we've again began to sprint as quickly and safety as possible to avoid bumping into the villagers and pedestrians. Arriving at the front gate of the Guard Outpost, two rhino who's guarding the gate step forward to us.
"Permission scroll?" The one on the right asked.
"There no time for this! This an emergency!" Monkey exclaimed.
"Not a chance." The one of the left said.
God, if these two kept this up, they'll soon regret it. Me and my friends are starting to lose patience with these idiots as this little problem might escalate to violence while it is the only option for us, but to our luck, a familiar cheetah had opened the front gate with an irritated look on his face.
"What's with this commotion out here?" He yelled irritated. Both the rhino guards quickly shifted their attention fully towards their captain and smiled nervously. Yun let an exasperated huff before noticing us. "Ah, the type of people who's always levitates my endless stream of boredom every time we cross paths with each together." He spoke with a jest before continuing. "So what can I assist you all with this time?" He inquired. Tigress stepped out of the group and made few steps towards him and let him have a look at the scroll she's holding on her paw.
"Nothing seriously, but can you determines the threat level of it?" Tigress inquired, Yun nodded and took the scroll from her paw and start reading the content in it. After a moment, he raised an eyebrow in curiosity as he finished reading the whole thing up.
"Just another common problem crime of illegal weapon dealing, which kinda reminds me of another case," he said, straightening his whiskers with his paw. "I've been getting reports that there has been strange activities is going on the northern hills." He pointed his paw at a hill with a thick forest.
"Did you find anything?" I asked. Yun turned his attention towards me and frown as he shook his head slowly in disagreement.
"I'm afraid not." Yun began. "Not even my top investigators didn't find any clues." He spoke before he somehow regain his slight confidence back. "But I've heard people saying that they've witnessed some few cloaked figures roaming around at woods of the northern hills."
"I'm getting this feeling that you'll be needing our assistance." I suggested. The cheetah merely shook his head.
"No, no. I think we'll be handling this situation ourselves, thank you all for trying to help," he said closing the front gate, but he stopped before fully closing the door. "beside, all of you guys deserve a nice good rest after solving and put an end to that notorious Night Killer." Upon hearing that name gain, my skin crawled for a few second as the cheetah reminded me of that absolute maniac, but since he's dead, there will be no worries about him anymore.
Me and the guys had bid goodbye to our friend Yun and head back to the Jade Palace. While walking on the thousand steps. The cold air is blowing softly towards us as some one us let out a satisfying sign, especially me since I'm starting to getting used to very cold temperatures now, but not completely. We've then decided to light up an small conversation since we're only halfway to the Jade Palace.
"Aahhh, I was hoping for another mission." Po complained as he release a long groan filled with boredom.
"Me too, what are we suppose do? Wasting our youth while sitting around doing nothing?" Mantis agreed with the panda, hopping after each steps.
"Same here, there's got to be some fun mission for us to do." Monkey agreed as well.
"Would you three be quiet," Viper spoke. Silencing the trio. "there will be some fun and interesting mission available soon, all we need to do is to wait for them and resume our training as usual." Viper assured the trio, even though she too also wanted to have a fun time as well as all of us. We've eventually reached the top who stood at the front who was none other than master Shifu who was patiently waiting for us all.
"So how did it go my students?" He inquired. We all shook our heads in slight dissatisfaction and disappointment for the day.
"Didn't go as we expected." I replied, while lowering my head.
"I see," he began calmly, "You were all expecting to have a mission, not to worry, a worthy task will reveals itself in the mean time." He assured, opening the gate and made a few step inside. "Come, let's get back to training shall we?" He gestured. We've all nodded and complied as we've entered and head straight back to training.
Spinning and swinging the wooden staff that I've been doing this for hours with Monkey guiding me at the Training Hall. I glanced down and saw a very small and visible puddle of sweat of mine raining down from my body due to this swinging this staff nonstop, but look on the bright side, I've actually did better than before, which I'm less afraid of using and gotten more confidence of utilizing the staff.
More hours of training with the staff has passed, the sun has set down into the horizon of the mountains while the moon began to show itself. A loud creak came from the large double wooden door as it was none other than our master Shifu, he straighten his back before announcing.
"That's enough for today." He announced, we all ceased our training while me and Monkey were still in the Training Hall conversing for a moment.
"I'm believing your starting to getting the hang out of this." Monkey noticed. I nodded and threw the staff for him as he caught with his other free hand while the other occupied hand was holding his staff.
"How did I do?" I asked. He smiled.
"Your a fast learner, I would say your doing great, like when I was really bad with the staff before." He complimented.
"Thanks, I think I'm confident that I'll learn how to use the staff soon enough." I replied.
Monkey walked to the nearby weapon stash and put the two staff back to it. We've both Later decided to head back the kitchen for dinner. Opening the door of the kitchen, as expected, everyone was in. I took a seat next to Monkey and Viper while me and everyone are waiting for Po to cook dinner for us.
I let out a huff filled boredom due to Po don't know what to cook for today? "Aahh... this gonna take forever to finish!" I complained loudly while slouching on the chair.
"Your impatient as ever, which reminds of Mantis back then or now." Viper spoke, which made me quickly adjust myself correctly on the chair.
"Hey!" Mantis exclaimed. Viper shot him with a sly smile
"Oh really? Then what's your limit of waiting." Viper asked with a lifted brow.
"Ten to fifteen minutes." Mantis answered.
"Wrong! Not even a minute." Viper corrected. I chuckled under my breath.
"Hey, hey, break it up." I stood up from the chair and flash both my palms at the two before retracting my hand back as I cracked my fingers. "Fear not my friends, as I will go assist Po with his troubled mind for what to cook." I spoke with a stereotypical medieval with a mix of English accent as I gain some chuckles from the guys. I walked towards Po as he turned his attention to me.
"Oh, what's up?" He asked.
"What's with the holdup? Me and other are starving." I replied holding and slowly rubbing my belly.
"The reason is... that I've may have ran out of noodles." Po smiled sheepishly. My eyes widens as my stomach growl like beast.
"So that's why." I was unsure and looked around the kitchen's cabinet. Cabinet after another cabinet, I've found no noodles, only a bunch of vegetables. There's cabbages, tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots. Then a sudden idea popped out of my head again.
Wait... I'm not sure if the guys will like it or not...
Grabbing the vegetables from each cabinets and put them on the kitchen's chopping board. I grabbed a nearby knife on the knife holder and start cutting the vegetables into small pieces. After the chopping session has ended, I put the chopped vegetables on seven bowl and add some few small drops of salts before setting them on the table. Everyone was gazing at the completely different food that I've made.
"What in the world is this?" Crane asked.
"And it's not cooked, are you sure it's safe for us to eat it like this?" Tigress asked inspecting and smelling a piece of lettuce.
"This is another healthy food that I've eaten in my country," I began. "and we've call this 'Salad'." Everyone was still in awe as they're mesmerizing and poking this type of food they've never seen in their entire life. "Go on try it." I assured them, by sitting on my chair and taking the first bite to assure them that there's nothing to be worry about. They all nodded and grabbed a pair of chopsticks and stuff some in their mouth. Multiple light satisfying moan can be heard, especially from Po.
"Oh wow! What's in it?" Po asked mouthful.
"Just some plain ol' uncooked fresh cut vegetables and put some salt on it." I replied.
"If you keep this up Lukas, you and Po will definitely resembles the rivalry of Mr. Ping and Chang Jun for us." Mantis jested, gaining chuckles from us all. Actually, he got a point about me and Po resembles the rivalry of Mr. Ping and Chang Jun, but in this situation, Po's cooking is still far superior than the basics cookings of mine.
Later
After we all finished eating the salads I've made for us, I've quickly finished the dishes before everyone could exit the kitchen. Eventually we've reached the bunkhouse, say goodnight to each other and slide our the door of room close and head back to sleeping. As hours passes by, everyone was now dead asleep. It was midnight as I got up from my bed, wears my clothes and sandals. I slowly slide open the door of my room as a low audible creak create by the slight slide of the door. I gently sneak out of the bunkhouse and exited the Jade Palace from the Training Courtyard.
Walking towards north as I came across with a thick forest on a hill. It was damn eerie in here. The only light source I got is from moonlight on the sky. Sudden, I heard a voice.
No... there's more...
A bright light, due to it being in a forest, its has to be a campfire. I bent down and start approaching the source of that light more quietly. As the voices sounds more clearer I quickly had myself behind a wide trunk of a large tree. I peaked and saw a small camp with loads of crates with some inhabitants in it as well. There were two crocodiles, a lion, a leopardess, a boar and a... what? I am currently seeing a tall figure who's around more around six feet tall while wearing black armor with golden trims on specific spots of it's armor, judging from the others armor who has wearing normal plain armor with black cloak while the figure must be the one who's leading them. The figure itself looks very humanly indeed, but it turns to be a false assumption of mine as the figure has golden eyes that glows in the darkness of the night. Judging from the figure's height and body structure, it could be either a canine or a feline, but I can't see it's tail so I can't tell which is which. The figure then raises it's paw as the others became tensed up.
"Come out! I know your around here!" The figure yelled as its deep and rough masculine voice with a somewhat of a thick Chinese accent echoed through the thick forest. As sweats began to form while great amount of anxiety began surging through my body. I pressed my back against the wide trunk of the large tree harder while trying to think of a plan for this situation that I'm apparently stuck in.
Why do this happen to me... ?
Author Note : So, what do you guys think? *Dragon Ball Z Narrator's* With Lukas stuck in this sticky and deadly situation he's in, while he able to figure something to get out of this situation he's currently in? Find out, in next chapter of Kung Fu Panda : The Foreign Warrior...
Lol, I couldn't help it there XD, so I got good news, my school has gotten some holidays, which it'll start from today 1th October 2018 to 8th October 2018 and it means I'll get more free time to write and probably watch some anime if I'm bored or dried on ideas. And if anyone of you guys are wondering when will the next chapter will coming, the next chapter should arrive around the mid-to-late October, so yay.
Also, my story now has total of 15,4K views! Man, you guys are the best, without your constant support and love, this story would never ever had reached this far, I'm still very grateful for you guys and I hope this story will keep all of you entertained as well.
One more things, you guys noticed anything strange or something in the story, less than two weeks ago, I've made a quick edit at the end of the author note on the previous chapter or Chapter 27 to be more specific of that I've decision to delete a chapter that only was just a very short author note of me asking for guest to make account so they can post 'real' reviews, during these days of me thinking about it. I soon felt like I was being rude and selfish, so I quickly deleted it. If you wanna read more of this, I suggested you guys to go back to Chapter 27 and scroll completely down until you can see the edit that I've made. As always, any feedbacks, reviews, questions and constructive criticisms would be much appreciated and see you guys/girls in October!
