Chapter 34 : Surrender

It can't be

It can't be happening

And it can't be her

But the fact said otherwise. What he was seeing was the truth. Surprising, it was. But sometimes the truth is surprising, isn't it?

Mr. Ping started to panic. "Run!" he shouted very loudly to his customers, though it wasn't necessary since they had already rushed everywhere followed by their cries in fear.

Shifu did not budge from his place. He was probably the only one who looked quiet and calm among those restless crowds and noises. His eyes kept watching over that certain tigress who was standing calmly as she oversaw her soldiers destroying The Jade Palace.

That prophecy comes true, he whispered.

Po and the four hadn't gotten back from their mission but Tigress had already been here. In other words, their mission to find and get Tigress back home failed. Yes, Tigress is here now. But it's not like what he expected before.

The little girl he had adopted and raised had became a monster. She even looked more dangerous and harmful than Tai Lung. Does it mean he has to fight against his adopted child again, just like what had happened back in twenty years ago?

He definitely did not want it to happen anymore. There's one thing for sure though ; he got to meet and talk with that tigress although it seemed too risky and not safe.

That red panda immediately scurried pretty quickly to The Jade Palace. He ran as fast as lightning, as agile as a fox, as light as a fleece … through the villagers who were running aimlessly in panick … climbed up a thousand of stairs … kicked the gate open … jumped and leaped towards Hall of Heroes … and …

… he landed in front of the only tiger he want to meet with.

"Tigress!"

His voice was real big enough that made the soldiers pause for a moment, watching the reunion of the master and his student.

Tigress was not shocked nor was she surprised. Her face looked relaxed as if she was facing an ordinary old man rather than a Kung Fu Master.

"What are you waiting for?!" General Luo broke that brief silence moment and gave an order to his men. "Get him!"

There was no move.

"Idiot! What's wrong with you?!" the general snarled. "Attack!"

Still no one moved. The general was getting furious. He pulled his sword out and aimed it at a soldier next to him.

"You! Attack him. Now!"

Tigress laughed bitterly. "Don't be mad at him, General," she said casually without noticing at him. "They'll just do what I say, remember?"

"Sure they will," he groused and with a half-hearted, he inserted his weapon back to its place.

Tigress took two steps forward to get closer with the only red panda among them. Shifu peered at her with his watchful gaze.

"Tigress. You have—"

"Where is he?"

Shifu stopped momentary. "Him?"

"The dragon warrior that is destined to stop and kill me. Where are you hiding him?"

"What are you saying? I sent him away to look for you."

"You sent him? Along with the others, right?" she asked, somewhat mocking him. "You never change, don't you? Sending your pupils away on a mission while you're lazily lounging here in this palace. Very your typical."

"I am your master."

"You were my master. An idiot master who tried to banish his best student when she needed him and sent his another pupils to murder an innocent soul."

"I never teach my students and you for being a murderer, you should already have known about it, Tigress."

"Do you?" Tigress laughed briefly. "Don't make me laugh, Shifu."

Shifu gawked. Did she just call him Shifu? Really? Just Shifu, not Master Shifu?

"What came over you?" the red panda stepped forwards as he kept talking. "You … you …" he placed a hand on his head, disquietude upon his face, feeling completely upset. "I don't understand … you …"

"Oh," Tigress paused him. "Don't tell me you have no idea on what they had done in my new home."

"They're looking for you."

"They shouldn't!" that young tigress snapped at him.

Shifu seemed not to care with that yell, although getting yelled by his own student sounded very unacceptable. He was pretty sure there was something very wrong. Based on what Tigress just said, it seemed she thought Po and the four had murdered someone that Tigress loved. But he knew his student very well ; Po was too kind to kill someone.

"Your Majesty," another soldier came to Tigress with his report.

"How is it?" Tigress asked him directly, ignoring Shifu who was still standing before her.

"We've been searching into all corners of the palace. They're not here."

"Are you sure?"

"Certainly, Your Majesty. We did not miss any single spot of this palace."

"I see." Her voice sounded gently. "It looks like we arrived here before them, right Shifu?" she said to the red panda.

Shifu did not respond. Not because of feeling shocked for being put in this situation.

But because he was trying to figure out a plan.

Stay calm, he thought.

He had already known Tigress wouldn't order her soldiers to attack him. She herself would not even have an intent to shot her sword through his heart. There was no reason for her to kill someone who had no any relate to her business. Her only target was actually Po, not himself.

The panda he was thinking of was the only key to overcome this tigress.

"Now Shifu," Tigress aimed the end of her sword towards the red panda's face. "I'm not going to command my soldier to fall upon you. Don't get me wrong, my emperor has me arrest you as our hostage and bait to lurk the dragon warrior. It depends on you, however, since His Majesty has given me a backup plan to kill you, in case if you're not going to cooperate with us." She pressed the end of her weapon to Shifu's nose lightly, patiently asking for his answer. "Well?"

Shifu still stayed calm. He got an idea.

"I'm willing to offer myself as your hostage. You can use me anytime to get Po with a condition that you have to let my people free."

The smirk upon Tigress' face started to fade. "Is it a trick?" she asked him. "Or you got no another choice?"

"You don't have another choice either ; the result just would be the same. If you capture me, Po will come to deal with you and save his master. Even if I let myself get killed by your arms in here now, Po will certainly come to face against you someday."

Tigress lowered her weapon. "What a plausible explanation," she muttered. "And so … you surrender … without fighting us?"

"I leave everything to Po. If this has to end this way, it's him who will fight you for me."

"I never thought you would say like that. If I recall correctly, it's very contrast with what you once said to that panda some time ago about not to fight me. Still I don't mind with your decision, Shifu."

"That's because it'll go according to your plan," The red panda said while another two tigers set a handcuff on his arms.

"Wrong," Tigress corrected him as the two soldiers dragged Shifu's shoulder away from her. "This will go according to my ancestor's plan."

The red panda master just kept scruntinizing her while he was being dragged away until Tigress disappeared from his sight.

Hmph …

He set a smile upon his lips. The handcuff that was cuffing his arms was very easy to break and the two soldiers that were dragging him were likely just stupid tigers. They might had no idea yet that the red panda they were bringing was a hundred times more powerful than both of them. It was too easy for him to escape now...

…yet he got to keep pretending to stay with his plan.