Hey! Remember when I said I would be updating this sooner?... Guess you're wondering what happened to that, huh?

Me too.

...

...Ugh. Not even making excuses. I got a bit lazy with this one. It's FAR from over. For example, the Gongmen Arc isn't over, but it's very close to it. The waits are awful to you and me both...but I assure you that I'm still going strong. Medium. Something.

I dunno. Goodness the title chapter is terrible...I hope the chapter quality isn't the same way...

Not much happens here, just a bit of small events that lead up into something...well...Shen will have his work cut out for him. It's initially less serious, so I figured a shorter chapter length would somewhat make sense here. For now, read on!

Fung was sitting against the wall, currently downing a bowl of dumplings of his own. Sitting across from him were his subordinates. "I have to say, you guys really stuck through back then. Even when you basically got the crap best outta you, you still tried to help however you could."

"We had to, Fung. If we could still move, we could still find a way to help others. Even if it was something pretty small like helping civilians get to safety. Get them away from all the fighting." Gahri said, still rubbing his slightly sore cheek.

"Exactly. You really pulled through." Fung placed a paw on his shoulder. "You sure that you're alright?"

"We're recovering just fine, Fung. It was you and the others that we were mainly worried about. There were explosions, people shouting in fear, anger, or cheering for you guys. Bad guys swarming all over the place, trying to get in our way...not going to lie, things got seriously chaotic here."

"As in, things went straight to hell." Wong stated simply. Gahri shrugged.

"Well if you wanna put it like that..."

"All things considered, we're all just glad that we got out of this crazy mess in one piece." Irwin said, munching on an apple. He then looked up to Fung with a curious look of concern. "What about Shen? I heard that he's being watched intensely by the Kung Fu Council. Due to all the things he's done, I'm a bit surprised he's not being executed."

Fung lowered his eyes at the subject, removing his helmet from his head and placing it to the side. "They're still trying to come to an actual decision on that matter. Right now they're dealing with more important things. Like damages to the city, looking out for any remnants of Shen's army, trying to deal with Master Yao..."

"Wait. What? The Master Yao? How is he even here?!" Gahri shouted in surprise, managing not to spill his tea.

"Apparently Shifu and Tigress know him personally. During the other Masters seriously extended trek here, they wanted to make sure no one got left behind. And we have quite a bit of people to keep track of. Luckily, we were able to manage for the most part. Though I'd still rather not be the one to continously count heads." Fung folded his arms. "They're trying to decide exactly what they should do with Master Yao since he's far away from his box...which is completely and utterly destroyed, so he's pretty much never going back in there."

Gahri hummed in understanding. "Gee, you sure are having quite the adventures out there, aren't you? Must be pretty amazing." Something else came to mind, and his own eyes showed concern as well. "I just remembered...how are things between you and Croc. Are you two still...I dunno...okay?"

Fung blinked, initially confused as to what Gahri was insinuating. It came to him soon enough, and he gently chuckled. "Oh yeah, that whole ordeal. I was definitely pissed off at the guy. But rest assured, I'm not mad at him anymore. He was simply unable to protect you in the position she was in. Too many risks, too many unknown factors, too many possible ways a rebellion can go wrong. That kind of stuff that an official Kung Fu Master under the heel of a tyrant just cannot afford to chance."

"Sure didn't stop your panda friend from doing something about all of this." Wong said.

Fung actually huffed at this. "Po has always been like that. From what I heard from Mr. Ping and Fenghuang, and also judging by what I've seen so far from him, he's the kind of guy who'll do whatever he wants. And that's how he wants us to be as well. Follow the rules down to the very last letter. But if it's keeping him from doing the right thing and helping whoever is in need, you'd have better luck getting him to stop eating as much as he does."

Irwin look astonished. "...Seriously? When he woke up from his injuries, the first thing he did was clear out about all of the foods initially placed on a few tables at once! And he did all that with one arm!"

"Exactly. Getting to stop eating, even with half an arm gone, is nowhere near as impossible as getting him to abandon someone in need. And when it comes to trying to make him give up, when he really sets his mind to something...heh, don't even think about it." Fung smiled as he sat back in his chair, placing his laws behind his head and clasping them. "Even though the guy can be a total moron...there's a reason why he's usually in charge of what we're doing. Usually. Sometimes it's gotta be Tigress. She's mostly the same as he is when it comes to the whole willpower thing. Though she's much more talented at Kung Fu than Po is. Both of them readily admitted this."

"Oh really? Wow. Po is a pretty incredible guy in Kung Fu. And yet she's even better?'

Fung nodded. "Well, not in the mystical side, she's not as connected to her chi abilities like he is. But when it comes to physical prowess, she's a natural warrior alright. Though her social skills might pretty much be one of the very few things she seriously sucks at. Not without good reason, mind you." He shrugged. "Being social is not her thing, not with those she doesn't know. Heck, the ones she DOES know still have a somewhat difficult time keeping a conversation going with her. Though I did notice that it's getting slightly easier for her to open up as time passes and our adventures continue. Everyone's closer together after this one. It was a really intense experience."

Gahri nodded. "There's no exaggerating that. I completely agree about the intensity of the situation." He scooter closer to Fung and pulled him into a hug. "Regardless of all of that, it really is good to see that you're doing so well for yourself, Fung. Guess we didn't have to worry about you nearly as much as we did."

"Ah heck with it. I want in on this." Wong stood up and walked to the other side of Fung, also giving him a hug.

"A group hug between crocs? Why not?" Irwin shrugged as he went up and hugged Fung as well.

"Huggles..." Wall-Eye mumbled a bit incoherently as he turned around and jumped into the like.

"WALL-EYE WAI-"

CRASH!

"Ugggh..." Fung groaned as he was at the very bottom of the pile of crocs, each of them moaning in a bit of pain. Though he was in the most of it since he was at the very bottom. "...D...Darn it...you're lucky I missed you guys...or else I'd be seriously kicking your scaly tiles right now...gah..." Fung grumbled. He then heard a bit of a commotion going on outside...

"Did those hooligans do this to you, son?! I've got a good mind to show those mangy mutts what for!"

"Dad...not fully trying to stomp on your inner fire or anything...but I don't think that you'd be able to do much to them..." Bian Zao told his father in a very straight manner, flinching a bit as Lian placed an ice pack against the top of his skull, which he really injured amdist the chaos.

"Will you quit your bellyaching. Your Dad is just worried about you, is all." Lian smiled. "Go ahead and tell him, BZ. You have to tell him about what you did. You actually got off your lazy ass and did something that helped us greatly in the long-run."

"Bian Zao really came through for us. Even shrugging off being really injured in his head. Literally, not metaphorically." Peng rubbed his neck a bit awkwardly. "Though I guess that was kind of obvious, right...?"

"Geez. Stop the fighting and you're already back to dork mode." Bian Zao said with a laugh. "You were doing whatever it took to crush the enemies trying to get to me and Lian. And you were definitely suceeding in that regard. Kicking ass all over the place."

"And of course we were doing whatever we could regardless. You were the one who came up with the idea of using the explosive barrels. We just had to protect you so you could follow the plan through." Lian said with a bright smile. "You came up with that plan on the spot. Not many can do that under that sort of pressure."

Taotie smiled. "Haaaaahahahaha! You're tapping into your hidden IQ, son! I knew you had it in you! I'm so proud of you!"

"Yeah yeah, we get that I'm smarter than I look. Let's not make it weird." Bian Zao looked away.

"Oh, it's not you simply feeling weird, BZ. You're just embarassed." Lian said slyly. "Your Dad is totally praising you and you have no idea how to properly react to it without abandoning your poker face."

"You don't know what you're talking about, Lian..." He mumbled, despite the small blush beginning to brush against his cheeks. Taotie then hugged him from behind, causing him to groan. "Oh please, Dad. Why are you intending to make this even weirder?"

"...I love you, son." Bian Zao blinked, clearly not expecting to hear this. "I had to leave you in the capable paws of all of your friends. I was really worried about you from start to finish. Sure I may have looked decently calm on the outside, but the inside of me had plenty of turmoil to go around. I was really scared that I'd lose you and I wouldn't even know about it. I'm just...really glad you're alright, son. Really, I am."

"Dad...I love you too." Bian Zao blinked momentarily before he turned himself around and returned the hug. After a few minutes, he sweatdropped. "Okay. It's getting awkward. You can let go now."

"Er...right." Taotie released Bian Zao and looked anywhere but his face, with his son doing the same. "Well...keep relaxing and winding doen with your friends, I guess. I'm gonna go see what Shifu is doing..." He turns around and walks off, leaving his son alone with Peng and Lian.

Bian Zao shrugged. "He's getting better. Still totally a lame dorky Dad, but...definitely getting better."

Peng tilted his head. "I'm going to take a guess and say that 'I love you' isn't something he says to you as often as you'd want him to?" The slackened shoulders more or less confirmed his suspicions. "Well...at least he's very clear about it this time. It's very obvious that he really cares about you, despite how obsessed he was with the past. Just needed something to get him to admit it."

"Yeah, Bian Zao. Whether you did anything or not, there's no doubt in our minds that your Dad loves you. He just doesn't have a lot of ways to show it properly, and it seems that you inherited that awkwardness. You're just a bit more...juvenile about it." Bian Zao thought over what she said, and realized she was sort of right about that. But she interrupted him before he could say so. "Just like you're not used to having friends, right? Well you don't have to worry about the latter. We're not going anywhere anytime soon, I can assure you."

"That's right, Bian Zao. We'll remain by your side no matter what. Even if it was by slight chance, we're best friends now." Peng assured him with a kind smile.

Bian Zao was once again taken aback by these two. He huffed as he folded his arms and turned around, so they couldn't see his blush. "There's no need to butter me up like that..." Lian smiled as she slyly leaned over his shoulder and planted a friendly kiss on his cheek. This did nothing to help his blush at all. "I told you you didn't need to butter me up!"

"I know...but it's fun to see you react." Lian chuckled.

Bian Zao facepalmed. "Peng, your girlfriend is teasing me. Can you do something about that?"

"Lian is a free-spirited kind of girl. She won't be controlled by anyone, especially not me. Nor do I want to." Peng shrugged. Lian smiled at this, turning her head and kissing his cheek as well. Peng wrapped an arm around her waist and nuzzled her nose affectionately, and vice versa.

"Oh good grief, can you not do this in front of me?" Bian Zao turned around and covered his eyes.

(Meanwhile...)

"...Staring at it isn't gonna do anything, ya know." Po said a bit dully as Monkey continued to stare at his missing arm, walking around the lands with constant curious looks. Mr. Ping and Fenghuang were standing against the wall, keeping their eyes on the panda with concern very clear on their faces. They couldn't be too careful, after all. "It's gone guys. Gotta move on without it."

"Yeah, I realize that. It's just really shocking that you're totally okay with this. There are a lot of soldiers that have been through various wars and ended up losing a limb or two. Some weren't nearly as chill as you are being right now."

"Guess that just makes me one of a kind, as well as super tough, doesn't it?" Po said a bit proudly, even as he was munching on a dumpling in a rather childlike manner. "Anyway, we'll be staying in Gongmen for a while, right? Gotta heal up and stuff like that before we move on to journey somewhere else?"

"Are you sure about this, Po? This city and the area around it holds a lot of memories involving your past. Are you sure you're willing to move on so easily?" Viper asked him, gently wrapped around his neck like a scarf, since his father was busy cleaning his own scarf.

Shen immediately peeked an eye open towards the panda, wondering what his answer would be towards the question. It was rather fortuitous that the snake would ask Po such a question so that he wouldn't have to do it himself. He would be spared from the incredibly hostile flares from the insensitive question. Because he wouldn't have any other idea how to ask it than to demand for it.

Po scratched his head. "Well...I have been thinking over that for a very long time now, truly. And I gotta say, my decision is based on-"

"Po." Rhino said from the doorway, cutting off what Po was going to say, and greatly aggravating Shen. "I would like to have a word with you and Shen on a rather worrying matter."

"Okay, sure." Po nodded as he stood up and waved at Shen while Viper slowly slithered off of his neck and onto the floor. "C'mon Shen! The Rhino calls to us for help!"

"Ugh..." Shen groaned as he dusted himself off and followed Po and Rhino outside. Mr. Ping and Tigress glared harshly at him, as if daring them to harm Po while no one was watching either of them. Because they'll find out, and he'll surely pay for it. Admittedly he wouldn't mind them simply ending his life. But he was too stubborn to give up that easily. In fact, he refused to truly believe that he's lost.

Though it really wouldn't matter to Po either way. He'd just keep doing what he's doing...and it greatly irritates Shen to no end. After such a traumatic experience he just goes back to being himself. Why is he so strong...and himself so weak...?

"Hey, Shen. Buddy~" Po said, snapping Shen out of his thoughts relatively quickly. "Rhino is talking to us, gotta stay focused."

Is he seriously talking to ME about focus? Impudent fool... Shen mentally grumbled. Though he let's it go for the time being and just focuses on what Rhino was calling the both of them out for.

Master Rhino stood before the both of them, looking quite serious as Master Croc and Master Ox, as well as Master Fenghuang, stood by his sides. "A majority of your army has been dispersed and imprisoned...all except one single unit. One of your Komodo Dragons, Zhou Dan, has officially broke away from your ranks and formed his very own. He's trying to cause some trouble all on his own, and we're still trying to clean things up. Since this moronic reptile was under your command, you are going to bring him in."

"EXCUSE me?! You will not order m-!" Po immediately clamped Shen's beak shut while smiling.

"He'll be right on it, Master Rhino! Luckily for him, I'll be there to help him out!" Po smiled.

"...Are you sure, Po? You're still recovering from all of your wounds. Besides, Shen should be more than enough to deal with this nuisance."

"Oh come on! I can still fight! I don't wanna be constantly sidelined because of some cruddy injruy like this! I won't be held back like this, so please gimme a chance!" Po begged Master Rhino. Since he couldn't really clasp hands anymore, he could only bow respectfully. The elder master raised an amused eyebrow at such a strong warrior trying his hand at being humble. He's also kept Shen from saying something that he'll surely regret.

"Alright, Po. If you're so determined to get on this case, then you are allowed to go." Rhino said. He turned to Fenghuang. "What say you, Fenghuang?"

Po immediately turned to Fenghuang, his lips curving into a slight quiver and his eyes grew wide and pleading. The Owl Master was completely stoic because she was half-glaring at Shen while considering Po's request. Po tends to be lazy, but he also doesn't like being in one place for too long in this manner. He prefers not to be cooped up somewhere if he doesn't want to be. And Fenghuang isn't one to do that to her precious student. Besides...

"...I can't say no to that face." She said in the most deadpan manner she could muster without embarassing herself.

"YES!" Po cheered excitedly, pumping his fist. "We've got the go-ahead, Shen! Time to kick some Komodo Dragon butt! Whoooo!" Po took off without much care in the world, except that he finally had something interesting to do.

Fenghuang gleefully turned to Shen...and he suddenly grew very unnerved as a result. She walked up to him and placed a wing on his shoulder. "Even with one arm, my student can kick your ass. So I suggest you stay on your best behavior on this assignment. And if there's a scratch on him that belongs to you...so help me, you will be ending up in complete and utter agony. I'd rather you not waste my students generosity and make me break your neck. And that's the nicest thing we'll do. Mr. Ping will do MUCH worse to you, some of which chilled my soul. Have fun~" She pushed him forward, making him trip a little bit. Though he quickly regained his balance and begrudgingly followed the energetically hopping Po. When they were far enough away, she sighed.

That panda is going to drive him insane...again.

Sure this isn't taking too much of your time, some might have even heard about it already...but any of you heard about fellow writer 3431jess's KFP Competition? If you haven't, be sure to check it out, and see what it can offer. I'm certainly gonna do a thing or two. The deeper details are a bit blurry to me, so you'll have to see it for yourself.

Alright, until the next chapter with Po and Shen's little mini-quest that may or may not lead into a major event!

...expect annoyed peacock noises from the latter.