Author's note: Before starting this new chapter, I'd like to wish all of you, my friends, a merry Christmas and I hope 2020 will be a great year and the start of a great decade for all of us.

After spending a full day planning it, Master Tigress and Master Raging River could finally put their plan into action. Using the darkness of the night to their advantage, they easily made their way across Gongmen City and reached the Tower of Sacred Flames. However, this is where things became challenging. Being the residence of the new Emperor, the place was guarded to a point one wouldn't believe it to be possible. Tigress understood why Raging River couldn't penetrate the zone without getting assistance.

The two female masters found themselves knocking two watchers at the same time to avoid them sounding the alert before making their way through a camping site in the back of the tower. Tigress walked sideways along the walls of the camp site, the flames of the torches lodged close to her illuminating her almost entirely naked body. The poor feline couldn't help but frown as even the slightest move would cause her round, firm breasts to jiggle. Her pull-up bra was not good at doing its job.

"I hope Master Shifu and the others will never hear about this," the feline thought to herself.

After making it undetected on the other side of the camp, it was time for the fun part: climbing up the tower's wall. This task did not cause any problem for Master Tigress as her feline agility made it child's play for her. While Master Raging River did not climb with the same agility, she did not have any difficulty for more. They met a few bowmen posted to shoot at intruders like them, but nothing they couldn't take down with a good teamwork.

As she climbed the wall, Tigress felt the heat rise to her cheeks as the strong wind from such an elevated altitude pulled her loincloth up and left her rear end visible for all to see. Even if she knew nobody looked at it, that did not mean she liked having her poor plump butt exposed to the elements for more. It made her even more eager to get this plan done with and finally get to cover herself once and for all. After such an experience, she would probably never wear a swimsuit at the beach.

"Here we are," Raging River said as they finally arrived to a window located at the very last floor of the tower. They could see all of Gongmen City from there. "The throne room is right behind this window. And from the information I gathered, Shen should be sleeping in his bedroom at this hour. We're gonna sneak inside without making any noise, kill him in his sleep, and get out before the guards can realize what happened." She grabbed her half-moon guan dao in her wing. "Are you ready, Master Tigress?"

The feline responded with a glare mixing rage and excitation. "I've been waiting for this in the last six months, Master. I'm more than ready. The time has come to free China from this tyrant." She then gazed up at the sky and at the full moon. "It's time for me to avenge your death, Po..."

Raging River smiled. "Then let us do this." Pulling the window open with her talons, she made sure not to make any noise and then slipped inside.

The peahen gracefully landed on the marble floor without making even the slightest noise. Tigress followed suit and while she did not land with the same grace, she still did not produce any noise either. The throne room was plunged into the dark without the slightest bit of light to be seen. Of course, this did not cause any problem for Tigress who could easily see in the dark, but Raging River did not like having her sight taken away from her.

The peahen decided to voice what both she and Tigress were thinking. "Something's not right; it's too calm. Such an important room should have at least a dozen guards making sure nobody is trying to assassinate the Emperor of all people."

As if on cue, a swift noise resonated in the room and at least ten torches were lit up to bath it into light. The atmosphere around the two girls changed rapidly, the first thing they noticed being a familiar avian figure sitting on the throne. A white avian with a malicious smile on his black beak. A blood red and beautiful peahen standing to his right, a black wolf holding a sledgehammer to his left, and dozens of wolves and gorillas all around the room. The two females almost immediately understood what happened.

They fell into a trap!

"Well, well, well," Shen said with the tone of someone about to start a villain's speech. "Looks like we have unexpected guests in my tower. But I don't mind, of course. Because I love receiving lovely ladies in my humble residence."

As the peacock started devouring her almost entirely naked figure with his red eyes, Tigress frowned in disgust and took her fighting stance which Raging River also did. If they were to go down, it wouldn't be without a fight. "How did you know we were coming?!"

"I'm afraid I am to blame for this," the red peahen said without looking even the slightest bit guilty. She even giggled a bit and half-closed her eyes to show her black eyelashes. "It pays off to know so much about the legendary Master Raging River, don't you gals think?"

"P-Princess Mayuko?!" the blue peahen exclaimed, her ice blue eyes widened in surprise.

"It's LADY Mayuko please," the red peahen corrected.

"You know this bird, Master Raging River?" Tigress asked.

"What? The masters from the Jade Palace haven't heard of me? How insulting!" Lady Mayuko exclaimed with an insulted look... before suddenly breaking down into a fit of laughter. "Just kidding. I couldn't care less about yourpathetic Kung Fu masters knowing about me, the princess of the Fire Peacock Clan's royal family."

Tigress' eyes widened a bit. The Fire Peacock Clan? One of the most important peacock clans in China? Of course, she should have guessed they would eventually join with their new Emperor.

"Now, you will kindly put your weapons down - or should I say, your only weapon - and surrender to me," Shen said with getting up from his throne chair, a smile on his black beak.

"You can forget about that, peacock!" Tigress growled. "Even if you're going to kill us, we will give all of you and your men the beating of a lifetime!"

However, Shen did not seem to be intimidated and even laughed at her statement. "I'm afraid you are mistaken, my dear kitty. I have no intention of killing any of you two." He then narrowed his red eyes. "However... there is ONE person I could potentially kill if you do not cooperate..."

The white peacock snapped his feathers and the door leading to his bedroom opened. Two wolves walked out of it while escorting someone between them. A reptile whose scales were reflecting the torch lights, whose beautiful face was decorated with exotic makeup, and whose stomach was covered with elegant paintings. A figure that Tigress did not see in a very long time. The feline's amber eyes widened and her fighting stance collapsed.

"V... Viper...?!"

"Happy to see your dear sister after so long, my poor Tigress?" Shen asked in a mocking tone as Viper slithered right beside him and he reached a wing to stroke her chin.

Was that really Viper? No. Impossible. Viper did not have such an... empty and emotionless look. The Viper Tigress knew during all those years always looked positive and proud, even when she was held prisoner or in a bad position. But this snake... she just looked like a brainwashed zombie. And why could she see the red symbol of Shen's army painted in the middle of her stomach. A storm of questions rushed through the feline's mind.

"No reaction?" Shen asked. "When I held you prisoner in my dungeon, you threatened to tear me apart if I didn't show you your dear sister. Well, now that she's here, I would have expected at the very least a smile from you." He stroked Viper's pretty face with his wing throughout his whole speech.

"What have you done to her?!" Tigress almost screamed. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MY SISTER?!" She started making her way toward the peacock who grabbed an hidden blade from within his robe's sleeve and held it to Viper's throat.

"Ha-ha-ha, I wouldn't do that if I were you. Your sister is so beautiful and so obedient. It would be a shame to be forced to cut her throat simply because you refused to back down," the evil peacock stated with a grin forming on his black beak.

Tigress' rage immediately turned into fear. He wouldn't actually kill her sister! What did she think? Of course he would! He killed hundred of innocents just to get power and he even committed genocide over an entire village just because of a prophecy. Viper was nothing to him. Nothing more than a sex toy that could easily be replaced. But Tigress and Raging River worked so hard to get there. They couldn't just give up like this, could they?

As she was struggling with her thoughts, Tigress felt Raging River placing her wing on her shoulder and giving her a sad look. "Master Tigress... I hate to admit it... but he's right. We can't risk him killing Master Viper. We have to surrender." And with that, she gently pulled her half-moon guan dao on the floor, rising her wings in surrender.

Finding the strength to swallow her pride, Tigress did the same. Shen gave a satisfied look and pulled his blade away from Viper's throat. "Excellent. You're making things easier for once." He gave a kiss to Viper's cheek. "Bring Master Raging River's guan dao to me. It's gonna be a fine addition to my collection."

The blue peahen couldn't help but frown as her dear weapon was taken by Wolf Boss and carried over to the white peacock who took it in his wings. He examined the weapon, running his feathers over its fine features, and chuckled. He then looked at the two ladies again.

"You two are now officially added to my harem. Wolf Boss, take them to our royal bathroom. They need a good wash and a change of outfit. But keep the one our lovely Tigress is currently wearing; I admit she looks pretty... exotic in this."

Author's note: Looks like Tigress and Raging River's plan failed. But of course, with someone like Shen, you never know what to expect. Tigress will feel bad for getting captured twice in one story. What twisted things does the Emperor have in mind for the two ladies? Stay stunned to find out. Constructive reviews are welcome and, as always, may the gods watch over you all.