33. Cursed Peafowls

"Cursed! This family is cursed!"

Master Ox knelt in front of the huge statue of Master Oogway that was near the Jade Palace. His friend Master Croc stood behind him at some distance and looked up at him sadly, while Master Ox had a one-sided conversation with the former great master.

"I'm telling you, that was a mistake. It was a mistake from the start to make Lord Liang the victor!"

Master Croc looked down. "Lord Liang." He remembered that day very well. A day that was supposed to be a special day...

More than 40 years ago - somewhere in the snowy mountains

Master Oogway looked between the two students of the kung fu class. The two peacocks stood face to face. Master Shifu, Master Thundering Rhino, Master Storming Ox and Master Croc stood close behind him, just waiting for the wise turtle's words.

They were standing in the yard of an abandoned building that had been empty and lonely in the snowy mountains for many years. Some parts were in danger of collapsing or were completely covered with snow. But no one seemed bothered by the desolate coldness around them. Everyone was just focused on what would happen outside the ruins.

Finally, Oogway raised his long stick. "Well, at your request, we have chosen this place as the venue for the final battle. Whoever emerges victorious from this battle will have the great privilege of giving his place to the leaders of kung fu."

Lord Liang eyed his competitor, who had been a thorn in his side from the start. It was a peacock like him, albeit a little different in color. Although he was dark blue, his plumage was equipped with yellow spots. His body was also partially covered with yellow spots. Even his head feather crests contained yellow dots.

Master Oogway stepped back. "Well then." The two peacocks took their positions and raised their long sticks. The turtle waited a few more seconds before giving the signal. "Go!"

Immediately, the two peacocks attacked each other. Hitting each other with sticks or defensive blows. At first, this fight dance went in circles, then they veered and their fight carried through the snowy terrain, even up to one of the roofs.

The masters watched the fight spellbound.

Master Shifu's eyes widened as both peacocks fell from a highest roof to a lower one. But neither of them could be stopped from continuing to attack each other. "Master Oogway. It's still a tie."

Master Oogway nodded. "I was afraid that both would fight hard for it. Still, only one can win."

Master Shifu set back his ears. He had taught many kung fu classes before, although he hadn't been in this job long. But until now, he had never encountered such fierce fighters as these two peacocks. No wonder. It was about more than just winning a prize.

At that moment, a threatening crack sounded. Both peacocks briefly paused in the fight. The snowy old roof could no longer bear the weight of the two peacocks and with a loud crash it collapsed.

Master Shifu jumped up. "They're gone!"

"Let's see," Master Thundering Rhino suggested, going first. The other masters followed him. Not wanting to risk falling through the roof as well, they took the door into the building, which was closed by a large gate. The rhino carefully opened the icy wooden wall and peered inside. Inside it was dark and empty. But despite the barricaded windows, snow had blown in the corridors.

"They must be on the top floor if the floors haven't collapsed as well," Master Croc guessed.

The rhino nodded. "Let's go."

Hastily but cautiously, the masters crossed the floorboards and the menacingly rotten stairs.

Master Ox was not exactly enthusiastic about this extra tour. "I said from the beginning that it was a mistake to choose the old property in the mountains."

Master Oogway sighed. "It was once owned by Liang's peacock family, which was bequeathed to his family. But when they gave up this place because of heavy snowstorms, well... I couldn't talk it out of them. It was their choice to fight the decisive battle on rough terrain rather than in a tidy arena."

"They must have fallen down here," Master Croc said when they reached a door. Gently and laboriously, he pushed the icy door open. In the next moment, a load of snow flew into his face. Amazed, the other masters also stared into the room, in the ceiling was a large hole.

The peacocks were still fighting. They were in a larger room that had seen better days. They jumped on the old beams and always chased each other into every corner.

But when Master Shifu wondered how long this rush between them should go on, a part of the ceiling suddenly gave way. The heavy snow load was no longer bearable for the roof at the point of fracture and it broke off. Just at that moment, when the two peacocks rested underneath. Lord Liang saw the danger first. He skillfully swung himself up and lured his competitor upwards. But when the second peacock thought he could knock him out of the air, he was caught by the falling mass of snow and thrown to the ground, closely followed by some falling roof beams.

For a few seconds, the view was blocked only by powdered snow. As it slowly settled, the masters hastily looked around. Where were their students?

Suddenly, a shadow swung into the air in front of them and landed skillfully in front of them. Lord Liang rose, breathing heavily, but there was no sign of his opponent.

For a moment, there was only silence, until something started to stir under the heavy snow. Master Shifu immediately ran onto the moving snow mountain and used kung fu moves to sweep away the layers of snow. The head of the second peacock came out, gasping for air.

"Are you all right?" the little master asked concerned.

The blue and yellow peacock nodded shakily. "I'm okay. I'm okay." With an effort, he pulled himself out of the snow and started to get up, but he fell to the ground again.

"Can you still fight?" Master Thundering Rhino wanted to know.

The peacock looked up at him. He jumped to his feet, but they couldn't hold him and he fell sideways. Master Shifu was just able to catch him.

The rhino narrowed his eyes. "Well, in your words, you agreed, no matter what, the one who's down loses."

All eyes went to Lord Liang. At first, everyone was silent. Then Master Oogway approached Lord Liang and lifted his wing with his walking cane. At the same time, the turtle's gaze wandered to the four masters. "The universe has given us the place where you will be based from now on."

Lord Liang looked at him in amazement. "Does that mean, I won?"

"Indeed, my friend," Oogway confirmed with a smile. "You are. From now on, Gongmen City serves as the council of the kung fu masters."

For a moment, Lord Liang was dumbstruck. Then he hastily knelt and bowed in reverence and devotion to Master Oogway.

But before he could say anything, someone else shouted down the deserted corridors of the building. "My Lord!" it echoed through to them. But it wasn't for Lord Liang. In the next moment, a small colorful bird stuck its head through the small door. "Oh, I've finally found you," and ran towards the other peacock, who was slowly struggling to get up out of the snow.

"My Lord, your child has been born! It's a girl! You have a daughter!"

The other peacock looked at the messenger as if frozen. Then he cried out and hit the ground violently. "AHHH! Cursed be the birth of this child! It brought me bad luck!"

In a rage, he kicked the snow and kicked the wall.

At first, Lord Liang and the masters were completely irritated by his reaction. But Oogway didn't bother to congratulate the winner. "Well then, my friend. You and your descendants will be given an important task from now on."

Lord Liang nodded and bowed his head respectfully. "My family will always honor that heritage and privilege."

"A nice honor," Master Ox growled sarcastically at this memory. "Why do I have to experience such a wayward offspring? Why not in the generation if I'm already dead?"

Master Croc, still standing behind him, let out a deep sigh. But then both raised their heads in surprise when they heard a loud crash.

"What happened now?" Master Ox complained and got up with a scowl.

"That came from the Jade Palace," Master Croc said worried. "Didn't sound good at all."

"What good can be expected from a day like this?" Master Ox snorted.

"Then let's take a look," the crocodile suggested.

"What in the name of kung fu happened here?" Stunned, Master Ox stared at the smashed palace doors.

"Someone probably didn't want to open the door normally," Master Croco said sheepishly.

A loud curse made both flinch for a moment. After a moment's hesitation, they entered the hall, where there was a commotion at the other end.

Master Ox thought, he didn't see right when he saw Master Shifu hanging upside down in the air. His feet, in turn, were held by a black panther figure that didn't exactly look like a nice citizen.

"What's going on here?" the ox thundered angrily.

"Well, well, look at this, more members of that gymnastics club?"

Another black panther stepped aside and eyed the ox skeptically.

Master Ox snorted at the insult. "What are you doing here?!"

"And why can't you open a door normally?" Master Croc intervened, casting a questioning look at Master Shifu, who was still hanging with his head down. "Why did you let them in?" he now wanted to know from Master Shifu.

Before the little master could reply, Ravan spoke up. "Well, maybe he was a little bit too shy about doing some movement exercises with us."

The two masters looked up as more panthers approached and surrounded them.

But that didn't intimidate the ox and clenched his fists. "You'd better get out, or we'll show you the way to the exit."

Raven laughed. "Well, if you can hold out against our Tori for a minute, then maybe."

Ox and crocodile stared at the ninja leader in irritation. "Tori?"

Ravan snapped his fingers. Shortly thereafter, soft, slow footsteps could be heard. The ox didn't think he could see right. A peacock figure emerged from the darkness. A white bird in a black shirt. A new katana flashed in his wing, which the ninjas had given him.

Master Ox narrowed his eyes angrily as Dao strode towards him and clenched his fists. "Gradually, I'm sick and tired of peacocks!" he roared, echoing off the walls. "Get out of here!"

Unfazed, Ravan wiped his ear. "Why don't you arrange it with him?"

Before Master Ox could flare up again, Ravan waved his arm and Dao walked towards Master Ox. Master Croc narrowed his eyes. Somehow the peacock seemed strange to him.

"Uh, is anything wrong with him?"

Ravan shrugged indifferently. "How so?"

"I don't know, he's so... absent."

The panther laughed again. "For a gym teacher, you don't seem to have fallen on your head." He walked over to Dao and waved his paw in front of his face. But the peacock didn't respond. "A little-known drug," Ravan explained in a soothed voice. "Absolute control of the person." He grinned at the shocked faces of the masters. "Little demonstration, would you like?"

Master Croc backed away as Ravan uttered a command in Japanese and the white peacock raised his katana. But master ox didn't want to be intimidated that easily and also raised his arms.

"Buddy, forget it," Master Croc warned. He wasn't comfortable with Dao's change in behavior.

"Oh, shut up," Master Ox snapped at him. He was about to throw everyone out in one fell swoop.

But Ravan didn't want to wait any longer either and shouted another command to Dao. Dao reacted immediately and swung his katana. Master Ox dodged the blow and jumped behind the peacock, but a command from Ravan immediately caused Dao to turn and repelled an Ox attack.

Master Croc's mouth remained open. Dao was far more skilled than Shen, he had to admit. But this time master ox was not as squeamish as in the first fight with his older brother and now attacked more aggressively and harder.

For a few seconds, it even looked like he could break through Dao's katana defenses, but then two of the ninja panthers punched the ox in the back.

Master Croc jumped up indignantly. "Hey, one against several persons, that's unfair!"

Ravan grinned. "Everything is fair with us."

The ninja's powerful blow had knocked Master Ox out of action for a fraction. Dao shamelessly exploited this, if only at Ravan's command. After a few hard kicks, an ominous whirring sounded. Master Croc covered his mouth with his hands as the katana narrowly grazed Master Ox's head and chopped off part of a horn.

The tip of the horn hit the marble floor with a clatter. But before Master Ox could counterattack, Dao held the tip of his katana in front of his throat.

Master Ox stood frozen.

Only Ravan remained calm and smiled. "You have the choice. Either you give up or we will make it up to you when you die."

Master Croc threw up his arms. "We surrender!"

Raven laughed. "That is very reasonable."

He snapped his fingers and Dao lowered his katana. Then the white peacock walked away with slow steps, while Master Ox watched him snorting.

First Shen, then Xiang, and now Dao... Master Ox banged his fist on the stone floor. This was the third time he had lost to one of the family. Why did he always lose to a peacock?

Heart pounding, Shenmi stood in front of the boys' door into which Xiang had disappeared earlier. She swallowed hard. Maybe returning to the guest apartment hadn't been such a good idea after all. But Shenmi could no longer bear to leave Xiang in his miserable situation after such a violent riot. The white peacock girl hesitantly lifted her wing. She didn't have a plan, but felt compelled to do something. She knocked softly. "Hello? Xiang are you still in there?"

She pressed her hidden ear to the door and listened. But inside, everything was quiet. She allowed a few more seconds to muster up the courage to hit the wood again.

"Please let me in." In the next moment, the door gave way a little. Shenmi looked up in surprise. But when she peered through the crack in the door, the room was empty. The door hadn't been locked and she was able to gain entry without any problems. Reluctantly, she pushed the door open enough to fit through and stuck her head into the room. But except for the boys' four beds, Sheng had a mat on the floor instead of a bed, she couldn't see anyone. Had Xiang left the room?

Shenmi was about to turn around when she heard a barely audible rustling and scratching. Only for a few seconds, but it was enough for her to realize that she wasn't alone in the room. She walked carefully to the middle of the room and looked around. Then she noticed something huddled in the corner next to a bed, covered with a dark blanket. Slowly, she approached the mountain of laundry and lifted the fabric a little bit. Underneath, the beautiful blue feathers came to light. Shenmi craned her neck, but couldn't see Xiang's face because of the blanket. The blue peacock didn't even seem to have noticed her. Was he sleeping?

At first, Shenmi hesitated, then she gently tugged at the end of the fabric. The person under the blankets immediately moved, tearing the upper part off his face. Shenmi flinched as she stared at Xiang's fierce but teary-eyed eyes.

But Shenmi managed to formulate a sentence. "Are... are you alright?"

Xiang narrowed his eyes angrily. "Didn't we agree that you'd leave me alone for a week?!" he thundered. "What do you want?!"

"I..." Shenmi felt a surge of fear upon hearing that question. "Er...I...I was worried and wanted to check on you."

At first, there was silence. Then Xiang hastily rubbed the dried salt water from his face feathers, turned his head away and hid it slightly under the covers again. "Nice that it amuses you to see me like this," he grumbled sarcastically. "Now go away!"

Shenmi swallowed again. "But are you hurt? I'm sure dad didn't mean anything by wanting to hurt you."

"Don't waste your drivel," Xiang growled aggressively.

Shenmi ducked her head. "Can I do something for you?"

"Why can't you just leave me alone?"

The girl sighed sadly. "I just want to help."

"I don't need anyone," the peacock countered angrily and turned his back on her, still wrapped in the blanket.

"But mum always says when..."

"Don't come at me with that bitch!" Xiang snapped in a strained voice. He'd hated Yin-Yu for years, but after Shen grabbed her again, he just hated her even more.

But Shenmi didn't think that was nice at all. "Never talk like that about my mother! That was mean of you."

"If you think I'm so mean, why don't you just leave me alone?!"

"But you're my uncle now."

Through Xiang, this sentence went through his soul like a crack in porcelain. "All lie!"

Now Shenmi was confused. "But why? Nanny proved you're my uncle..."

A nervous twitch went through Xiang's body. He didn't want to admit it.

"No, that's all a lie!" An uncontrolled tremor gripped his body. "And if so, then only your half… No! Leave me alone!" He jumped up and pushed her aside. To Shenmi's amazement, he hobbled to the door so quickly that she was surprised he didn't fall.

As soon as Xiang stood in the doorway, he looked around. Where was his crutch? Why wasn't it there when he needed it?

He heard Shenmi coming up behind him. "Xiang, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say anything wrong," she shouted. He looked behind. Shenmi looked quite distressed. "You are right. You are my half uncle. But that doesn't change anything... I just wanted you to stop being sad. Mom said, if someone in the family needs help, we always help each other."

Xiang narrowed his eyes dangerously. "I'd rather kill myself!"

Shenmi looked at him in horror. "But you're part of our family."

"Shut up!" He pushed her away. Then, leaning on the wall, he hopped to the front door. He stopped short of the stairs.

"Xiang, stay here," Shenmi called after him.

Xiang tried to flee but staggered on the stairhead. Shenmi just got hold of the tail of his robe. But Xiang was much too heavy for her. He had taken on too much momentum. Reflexively, Shenmi let go as she threatened to be pulled down. Xiang lost his last stability and tumbled down the stairs. With wide eyes, the girl watched as the blue peacock came to a halt below.

"Xiang! Xiang? Everything okay?"

Startled, she hurried down the stairs. She bent over him with shaky legs. Xiang was lying on his side, but his eyes were open. Shenmi turned pale under her feathers. Was he dead?

But then Xiang's face clenched.

"Are you hurt?" Shenmi asked worried. Her heart was pounding in fear.

But Xiang didn't listen to that, what she was saying. When Shenmi's wings touched him, it threw him into a half blackout.

He had often had to feel this feeling of falling in his childhood. Whenever no one was looking, his mother had pushed him down a flight of stairs. His finger feathers dug into the floor. Anger built up in him again.

He winced violently as Shenmi's wings caressed him.

He pressed his eyelids together.

No, he didn't want to feel pain anymore!

"Xiang, say something," Shenmi begged. But when Xiang didn't answer, she got up hastily. "I'll get help."

But no sooner had she run a meter than Xiang's words stopped her.

"I hate my mother!" he whimpered.

She turned to him in surprise.

Xiang rolled onto his stomach and was shaking.

"But your mother is dead," Shenmi said hesitantly. "She can't hurt you anymore."

Xiang lifted his head. Their eyes met. Shenmi lifted the corners of her beak in an encouraging forced smile. "Come on, I'll help you up."

She leaned forward to get him up, but then he violently pushed her away. The girl fell to the ground. Xiang looked at her with anger burning eyes.

"WHY DO YOU ALWAYS GET EVERYTHING WHAT I NEVER HAD?" he yelled.

Shenmi looked at him in shock. "How so? What have I done wrong again?"

But instead of an answer, he just threw himself on her and fixed her with her back on the ground. "I warned you that if you approach me again, you'll really get to know my unpleasant side."

At first, Shenmi was paralyzed, then she tried to wriggle out of his grasp, but Xiang held her to the ground with an iron grip.

"Let go of me!" Shenmi pleaded. She froze when Xiang placed a wing on her larynx.

"Coming here was a mistake," he growled.

"What are you doing?" Anxiously, the girl watched as the peacock with trembling finger feathers clutched her thin, long neck with both wings. "Please don't hurt me." She tried to push his wings away in fear, but she was powerless against the peacock's angry power. He continued to hold her neck and slightly tightened his grip.

Shenmi looked at Xiang begging. But his face was expressionless and cold as pure ice. And that's how he felt.

Xiang wanted to hear her whimper. His wings spasmed. He wanted to squeeze. He wanted to see her suffer. This brat shouldn't have the peace he'd been denied his whole life.

"Please stop that," he heard Shenmi's voice. "I haven't done anything."

Xiang's eyes began to tremble.

How many times had he begged his mother to stop her terror, but that only made it worse. He had never done anything. He had never opposed her. And yet, she kept bullying him.

He continued to squeeze her neck.

"Let me go!" she yelled, even trying to kick him. But Xiang just lay down on her legs and immobilized her even more. Nevertheless, she continued to resist.

"Let me... mmppf." He covered her beak. In vain, Shenmi tried to get it free again, but Xiang gave her no chance to do so. While he continued to cover her mouth with one wing, he continued to apply pressure to her neck with his other.

For a while, she tried to free herself, then she gave up. She lowered herself to the floor, but wasn't afraid to continue looking at Xiang.

Xiang could feel her heart beating fast. He was rarely that close to anyone. For a moment, he thought that the same blood was running through them... He shook his head. Only half. It was only half. She was just an offshoot of his rival, who had been a curse on him from the start. He had arranged everything. The whole revolution in the Hun Empire. Everything had been planned by him...

Shenmi mumbled something through his beak that he couldn't understand. He loosened his grip a little. "Don't do it," her muffled voice came from underneath.

A cold smile spread across Xiang Schnabel. "No matter what you believe, but you don't know me. I'm not like you." He lifted her head slightly. "I'm just a stranger."

"Grandfather looks like you," Shenmi managed to choke out. "He wasn't a bad person. You certainly aren't either."

Xiang's face took on a somber expression. There was a father, a real father. Someone he had never met.

"He's dead," he growled. "Same to my mother and my aunt." He let out a breathy gasp. "Because I killed them."

"I didn't like your aunt either," the girl breathed. "I didn't want her to hurt you."

Xiang narrowed his eyes. He reluctantly remembered how his aunt Chiwa had tied him to a table to slaughter him. It was a horrible feeling to be helplessly at the mercy of someone. The way her knife stroked his body. The pain, a stab. Then… there had been the girl's voice. And the pain had stopped.

Xiang audibly exhaled and pinched Shenmi's beak again. "Let's just get it over with."

He squeezed her neck again. But he stopped when he felt Shenmi's small wings embraced his wing. For a moment, he was frozen. But he shook off the thought of hesitation. He would keep squeezing until she let go.

He increased the pressure again, but when he felt her larynx, he was reluctant to squeeze any further. His body began to tremble. Why couldn't he treat her like he used to treat Xia when she was a child? He had injured her - with a knife. Somehow it hadn't been difficult. He just wouldn't live the brat in peace. Same to her mother.

Xiang gasped as Shenmi dug her finger feathers into his wing feathers as if to hold on to him.

Suddenly, nausea rose up in him. No matter what he did, something wasn't right. That damn white brat acted like... like Liu. He hated and loved it at the same time. This was already the second person in his life... although, what had Dao done for him?

Xiang's gaze wandered into space. After his mother died, he had sworn, he would do everything by himself. He would be alone forever. Everything was so different now. His breath hitched as he focused on Shenmi's clutching grip on his wing. Liu had also often caressed him, but that was so different... it wasn't erotic... it was something... familistic?

For a few seconds, he couldn't breathe. He tried to fathom what was causing this terrible restlessness in him. Then he caved inwardly.

Damned! He had wanted a mother who would hug him when he fell. She had never hugged him. He had always longed for protection. All his childhood life. He wanted to feel safe with his mother, which she had always denied him.

Every second of his past was just a dark debris field.

A heavy feeling built up in Xiang. As if his body were filled with stones. His head was empty. He couldn't think straight anymore. Only Shenmi's warm wings sent a sign of life around him. His blank gaze wandered to the girl below him. He had intended to make her life just as hell as his. But today, it wasn't him anymore. He just didn't want it like he did to Xia back then.

His wing still pressed against the girl's chest, but with at least enough pressure for her to breathe, he rose. Then, as if in a trance, he pushed himself off her and leaned his back against the corridor wall.

There was an oppressive silence for a while. He didn't even look up when Shenmi dared to move again and turned onto her side. Then he hugged himself.

"Everything goes wrong for me," he blurted out with difficulty. It was difficult for him to speak. He felt a big lump in his throat. He had already cried so much. Now something new was building up inside him.

The girl got up and looked at him helplessly. Xiang avoided her gaze.

"And that's the culmination." He grabbed his lame leg and threw it back to the ground. Then he trembled, as if he had chills. He gasped for a moment as he let out a few violent sobs. But he held back the tears convulsively. He found it childish and embarrassing to cry. But the awful feeling remained. He felt thrown away, like a toy about to be forgotten. Sorted out. Repelled. His mother had despised him like the plague. His father wasn't his father at all. Nobody wanted him. Even the white peacocks, whom he was forced to call blood relatives, had fallen out. Now he had scared away Liu as well. Did she even want to talk to him anymore?

Burying his face in his wings, he pressed his beaked lips together tightly to keep from crying out loud. He flinched when he felt a touch on his left elbow. He snapped his head up.

When he met Shenmi's eyes, who had folded her wings on his, he backed away from her. But the girl didn't let that stop her this time. Before the peacock could withdraw from her touch again, she stubbornly grabbed his wing and wouldn't let go. At first, Xiang struggled, but when Shenmi clutched him tightly, he stopped and looked at her in bewilderment.

"If you have problems, then we can solve it together," Shenmi said in a soft, timid voice. "We're a family after all."

She hugged him tightly. Xiang froze at first, then tears welled up in his eyes, which then dripped onto his shirt. He squeezed his eyes shut, but he couldn't stop crying. Finally, he sobbed uncontrollably and hid his face in his wings again. Shenmi tilted her head in sympathy, but continued to hug him. Then she couldn't hold back any longer and cried softly with him.