"… was just in time. I suppose we now got no other surprises to expect. Though we need to be careful. The Jade Palace is coming closer.", Shiren hear someone speaking from dim to more clear with every word. He was not sure where we was. It did not feel like the stairs he was laying at previously. It wasn't hard or sharp as he remembered that stairs on Héping. It felt comfortable and squashy like he was laying in a bed. So he was not in his tent or something for sure. Shiren usually only used his little gray carpet to sleep because it was mostly enough for him and just sometimes he used a blanket. Now, what was the last thing he could remember? He got hit by this Peng. Then… Jil and Hao saved him and after that…
He was not able to remember what happened after that.
Did they win?
It did not felt like he was locked in chains or he would lay in a cold and hard cell. He felt cold though but a cell wouldn't have a smell of grass and march rather than cold stone or iron rods.
"To be honest that battle was closer than we expected. Luckily Huyuan got up a firework or we never had find them and good thing Junjie saw it.", another person answered. It may had been Jil. It sounded very like her at least but Shiren was still half at sleep so he could be wrong.
Shiren opened his eyes slowly and straightened up. His head was commuting a little bit from a headache. He put his tail on his head and rubbed his eyes and then he took a look around.
He looked at a small tent with brown material from the inside.
Darkness from the outside with some glimmering lights at the ground showed well enough it was at night currently or maybe even at the late evening. He firstly assumed like he was back to the alliance´s stronghold and did not worry about anything at all. Nextly he was alone in the tent. Two other empty beds lay in this tent as well and one bowl with water near by his own bed.
Water. Great. Water was good now.
As he grabbed the bowl and hear the keeping conversation: "Since we have no time to waste Hao talked to the authorities. With few wounded members the desired group or our chieftain won't be able to do this special mission." The other male voice was some other Shiren did not recognise.
After he drank all the water of the bowl at once his mind became clearer but yet he still did not remember anything other. Surely Jil will be willing to explain to him.
"We'll wait until Shiren is awake again and decide. But I doubt he want to got strait into the next fight after what happened in Héping.", Jil said.
Shiren shook his head and looked to the entry. His chest was hurting a lot, like a knife was sticking within, as he shook his body. He looked at his wound but it was nothing odd to see. His chest looked normal but felt unwell. It had to be the place where Peng hurt him previously.
"Yes, it's to dangerous for some greenhorns, specially if those are wounded. Well, I wouldn't even decide to pick them for that mission anyway."
Shiren carefully slithered to the entry, so the chest won't hurt that much, and put the awning away in order to look to the outside. It was very bright but he recognised Jil who was talking to a tiger who seemed like a solder from the alliance. The sun was no more to see so the day was already over. Did he sleep that long?
"What mission are you talking about?", Shiren asked sleepy and half on daze.
"You're awake!", Jil said with joy without answering Shiren´s question.
She nodded to the tiger which saluted and then went away while Jil turned back to Shiren.
"How do you feel?", she asked and Shiren shook his head a bit.
"It's okay. My chest still hurts when I move it to heavily. But otherwise just a little sleepy.", he reported.
Jil seemed to examine him and judge about his answer and then she answered: "You look a bit pale though. You better rest yourself a bit longer. Do you need some fresh water?"
"I need a walk.", he answered and sighed and nodded: "Yeah. Some water would be nice too."
Jil winked with her head Shiren to follow her as she went away.
As they begun slowly to walk Shiren asked: "How long was I asleep? What happened after you defeated Peng? Where are he and his troops?"
His memory did not help Shiren and no regain of lost memories. There was really nothing after Jil and Hao saved him. He must passed out right as it happened.
Jil did not answer immediately. She waited with her answer and filled a liquid from a barrel into a pot as she answered: "How much do you remember?", she firstly asked.
"Not much. You and Hao saved me from his attack. I fell down to the ground and you were saying something."
Jil nodded slowly and gave the pot to Shiren who took it and begun to drink. It was coldly but fresh water.
"Hao nearly immediately saw and examined you and since our work was already done we were able to return already. Junjie took the work clearing that area with his solders.
You all were in very bad conditions, except the fighters at the main city. Yong was nerve-shocked, Lao… nah, don't matter. At least you were the one who took the most of the damage. Your friends are already healthy again and are asleep now."
Shiren gave the pot back to Jil. "That's good to hear.", he said and breathed deeply. The wind was cold but had the smell of the forest in it which reminded him of his home. Chilling on a campfire outside and chatting with friends.
Jil explained: "Ku Zhan was telling about that technique Peng used against you."
"He knows about that?", Shiren asked surprised and remembered one second later Ku Zhan used to live here so he surely could know something.
Jil nodded: "Yes. It's a technique from this province. He did not know how it exactly works but it can deal quite a lot of damage as you feel. It makes his enemy unable to fight. As you… should feel."
Shiren was tipping on his chest and felt the hurt again as he touched it.
"Where is this… Peng and the Ladies of Shade? Did they escape or are they here somewhere?", Shiren asked and looked back to Jil.
She shook her head slowly: "No. They aren't here. We decided to not put them together with the masters. Some solders and Kung Fu warriors are escorting them to another prison. Since they are no masters we don't need them in prisons that quick."
Shiren laughed lightly: "No master? Man, this guy felt harder than Crane or Mantis!"
Sharply Jil responded to that sentence quickly: "Mantis and Crane were simply out of position. They did not prepare the battles we fought on and were on a huge disadvantage while they were trying to save their people which were no real masters yet. Peng was surrounded by fighter on his level. Seriously, I took him off very quickly than I did with Crane or Mantis!"
Shiren looked aside. Maybe that was the end of their luck and such normal people now are very dangerous. Shiren did not yet realize how strong his enemies exactly were. Until now Jil were always there to keep them save. Now he thought he was just making his strategies which won't work as he saw. And the next battles won't be easier. As near they come to the Jade-Palace as stronger their opponent would become. Maybe the enemies now got too strong. His road may end here.
"So what's about that mission that guy mentioned?", he asked next and looked at Jil´s eyes again.
She surely was too tired to show any big emotions but she looked like she did not want to tell something but needed to, breathed in to say something but she hesitated and looked down: "Nothing important. Just clearing up a wild area near by the army´s path. Well, yes it is important but nothing other people couldn't do.
"Aha.", Shiren nodded sceptically but took it.
"I mean, except Ku Zhan you guys are no longer able to take real fights, specially you! I think your path sadly ends here, Shiren. Maybe you will take the task to watch for the prisoners or something..."
Shiren shook his head and sounded depressed while he wanted to smother it: "No, no. It's totally fine. Totally fine… You don't need to explain anything. I understand I will need too many days before I will be able to fight again. Even just to fight more stronger enemies. Don't worry about me, I can cheer you up from the back.", he said as simpered.
Jil smiled consolatory while she knew it was not easy for him to get left behind alone. She spoke carefully: "I mean, you surely have skills outside the battlefield. I hear how you observed the whole field while fighting and gave orders to your allies. That's… a good trait."
Shiren shook his head cranky and grumbled: "I said it was okay! Okay? Maybe we can talk about that tomorrow and see how things progresses." She sough and went calm again: "Maybe I got lucky and heal a bit faster or something. But you must be tired right now.", he answered her tries to cheer him up.
"Well,", she responded and took a big breath: "Yes, I truly could use some sleep but actually that was what I wanted to ask you. You must be tired."
Shiren suckled which hurt in his chest: "I quite woke up few minutes ago! Why do you think I'm sleepy?"
She smiled a little bit: "Well, if so I will go now to bed if you don't mind. Do you have all what you need? Water is here, you can find some food in your tent and eh… yes. I think the others are all sleeping right now. Hao may be pleasured to see you if she is still awake..."
Shiren made a pretty smile and said: "I will be fine, thank you. I know where I can find you if I need something. Now get some sleep. I think you need to do my work for now."
She smirked and seemed happy Shiren`s mind was still in a good condition. "Alright.", She said: "Good night."
"Good night. I'll sleep when I think I can sleep again.", he greeted and saw Jil going away leaving him alone with the barrel filled with water. Shiren drunk another pot of it and started to move away.
The only other awake people are some few persons on the campfires and the guards of the night.
No one Shiren was willing to speak to. He did not know any of this guys and he did not want to really wanted to start knowing them. Those people are solders doing their jobs.
While slithering around the stronghold he remembered one thing he actually could do right now. It was the perfect time to do it now when so less people are awake. He slithered to the newest building and most save structure in this whole stronghold:
The prison.
It not protected currently, maybe the solders supposed the masters can't get out of their cages so Shiren was slithering in and saw one guard inside the building. He saw Shiren and Shiren looked at him. The rhino leaned on the wall and looked very sleepy. "What do you want?", he asked.
Shiren shook his head and answered normally: "Nothing special. I just can't sleep and have a look around."
"If so you could may do a favour for me?", the rhino asked hopefully.
Shiren looked confused but did not ask but simply said: "Eh… yes?"
"Do you mind to do my job here? I can't keep my eyes open.", the rhino explained and Shiren firstly saw a rhino being very sleepy.
Shiren saw his suffer being awake while be terribly sleepy and he nodded: "Sure sure. I bet you will be more needed than me tomorrow. I got hurt today."
The rhino stood up and went to the entry and said: "Nah, don't worry. If you are wounded, sometimes you are lucky and it's not that terrible as it feels. Cheer cheer, little snake.", he said as he left the prison while yawning.
So now Shiren was alone. He looked around and saw few cages and the master even captive with chambers. He was not sure if they even were able to move. Around all of them, sleeping, he found Grandmaster Viper laying on the cold ground, enchained by an eight-point acupressure cuff.
Shiren looked around to make sure no one was near by and then prodded on him to wake him up.
And it worked.
"What?", Viper asked before he opened his eyes and saw Shiren. "Who are- Wait, I know you..."
"Shhh!", Shiren immediately calmed him down to be quiet and he whispered:
"I know but please be quiet.", he asked him nervously.
"How did you manage to get in here?", Viper asked and tried to rise as good as he could. He looked poorly. Like a really prisoner, with wounds, sleepy eyes and a sad look.
Shiren hesitated with his answer but said the truth:"Well… I am on their side to fight against the Jade-Palace."
"What? Why? I thought you-", Viper asked excitedly but Shiren interrupted him before he could get too loud: "I lived at Lu Lan while all this happened and to be honest: I don't want a return of a new Kai as everyone else here.", he explained quietly.
Grandmaster Viper sighed and understood and grew quiet as well: "Yeah, you are not comfortable with the Chi..." Shiren looked around and nervously spook on:
"Please, Master! I don't have much time! Rather… I don't want to get seen talking to you. Now… I kinda found this...", he said and showed the scroll of Viper. His eyes went very open as he saw that.
"Where did you found that?", he asked.
"Someone gave it to me. A sheep who was leading a library.", Shiren answered and put it back in his bag again and explained on: "A sheep gave it… how… na, don't matter."
"Did you read it?", Viper wanted to know rather where Shiren exactly found it.
Shiren nodded:"Of course I did. But… I kinda don't understand this. Specially that part with… Inner peace..." He looked at Viper with a view that wanted answers.
Viper thought for few moments before he siad: "Well, I guess I can't help you this quick. But I guess it's in good hands if you have it."
"That's what Quin was saying as well. You know, you can help me in an other way. Send a message for me.", Shiren new put up a new topic since Viper said he cannot help him with Inner Peace.
Viper grinned: "Well I would be happy to do but you see, I'm in this cell.", he explained and looked around the cell and then back to Shiren while he was saying that.
Shiren hesitated. He was scary doing this finally as he now stood here. Did he trust Viper as much as he could rescue him now? "Well, I might help you here but… you need to promise me one thing for this:", he spoke: "Go out of the war. Don't try to harm us. Don't risk anything please! Just go home. Quin is worried about you and asked me to bring you home." Shiren spoke clearly and showed it was very important to him.
"I would make more worries about our daughter on the valley...", Viper answered. Shiren interpret that as an yes.
"You mean that who lives at the valley of peace? Yes, that what she was telling me as well. I'll do my best.", he promised to Viper.
"Now… what about your chest?", Viper lastly asked as he saw Shiren being carefully with it.
"Huh? Oh, I got hurt there today. That's why I'm awake right now. I slept since now. That was a bit too much for me.", he explained quickly and put his attention to Vipers chain.
"Hm… I think I … may I make a demonstration of the Chi to you?"
Shiren went one step away: "Chi? What? I...",
Viper answered calmly: "No, I won't hurt you! I will never take your Chi. I know you will save my daughter and I know you keep your words. So please. Allow me."
"Okay..." Shiren hesitated but trusted him.
Vipers Tail was glowing lightly golden as he touched Shiren's chest. Shiren kniffed his eyes but nothing badly happened. As Viper was done he looked at it and touched. The hurt was gone.
"That's the Ying of the Chi.", Viper explained: "The Chi is more than something someone can take from you."
"But the Yang is the more scary one.", Shiren shook his head: "And I suppose you know how it feels like. When the Chi is taken from you. And how powerful that Kai was."
"But Po stopped him!", Viper tried to calm Shiren down: "We got warriors who can take care about him! Or other people. You know, Kai spend more than three hundred years to gain all of his power."
Shiren shook his head and looked away: "No, that's not satisfying. The Jade-Palace can be too late if something collapses. We… we just want to get sure. Or what if… I mean, I don't think they would do but if the Jade-Palace trains someone like Tai Lung who want the power for himself?"
Viper looked at him for few seconds and breathed.
"… I see you don't know much about the Chi and I can't explain now in that short time. Now I promise I will go to Wang Fu and avoid every possibly fight. I know you got a duty to your lords."
Shiren nodded thankfully. "Thanks for your understanding.", Shiren said and opened the cuff.
Than Viper moved to the door of the gate and locked up the keyhole on himself. He opened the door heavily, looked at Shiren and pushed his head roughly aside so Shiren fell to the ground. Luckily he did not lost his awareness but he did not see what Viper did as he was already gone.