Chapter XLV
Lumber Family
December 17, 1210
The Nine of Prosper Valley prepped their patched bags in their rooms and started departing out of Shui Palace around early in the morning. Two messengers latch the gate, giving goodbyes to students and their master. Once the group reached the side pinnacle across the bamboo forest, hiking beside Lady Xia's thorn house, the new sunlight broke its hues of cobalt and cheese. Closing the front chest of his green cloak, Kai neared the ridge and observed the Prosper Valley, the silver clouds above him casting tiny snow feathers. Despite his inability to enter the lone house because of his enormous height, Kai could picture all rooms from the interior, in which Lotus and Xing shared their loving memories with their peacock brother spending time with their peahen mother. Unlike their tales, the yak had his thoughts flooded with terrible memories that seemed to happen daily. Unlike forgetting fragments, he watched his beloved burn to ashes.
Neglecting the hurt was nearly impossible either way.
Halfway to the creek with gargantuan steeps of Guilin Mountains, the Nine of Prosper Valley passed through a sheep villager's vineyard, the fences leaving tiny rime fragments when warriors beckoned their waves at the pangolin farmer.
At first, during this night's passing, Kai had been laying his back on the dry soil beside the firepit, with his heavy eyelids peeping at the clear sky of rich charcoal and azure. On his right side were snapping sticks that blazed with fire flickers, drenching its light on his fur, and his love belly rested the wolf herself on his left. His hoof had laid on his chest quite a while, knowing he took his regard on his current teaching, which made him several attempts to summon this chi. So far, during his process, neither cast his light, as Kai mentioned that masters had to give their wait time, requiring several years to unleash their chi. After he was destroyed by himself with Po's dragon chi in the Spirit Realm, most people could now develop their tendencies only by flowing Tai Chi forms and during meditation.
In his head, reflecting bothersome, his tortoise brother always attempted a few tries with his chi to restore plants to fully grown from dying. Kai even endeavored several but needed to be managed to partake in what panda monks gave words of wisdom to these warlords; those pandas visioned a better future ahead of Oogway and Kai. Blinded with arrogance and revenge, the yak searched for ways to use their power to learn so that he could outnumber the rest of the traitors and armies of the Fire Clan.
Chen Xing had sat near the fire and scrutinized trees as the nippy breeze wept its murmurs, wrapping in a midnight winter coat with white tufts. He was the only one watching at night during this shift, as the Nine minded to take turns every three hours. Kai sought the tiger reaching his paws close to the fire, beckoning his slow turns throughout the valley's roads. Xing brushed his claws for a moment, lightly quivering his head as if his body leaned to one side, almost off balance, but quickly sat up.
Behind the fire rested Wolf Boss on his stomach, broadening his mouth before his eye caught Lotus's tiger brother. Kai flattened his head back once the wolf cleared his throat. "You're okay, Xing?" he heard Wolf Boss's fruity voice, following Xing's yawn.
"I'm alright. Just about to fall asleep."
"Let me take over. You can rest."
"Thank you, Zhong."
Kai sensed his belly's right side pressed by the tiger's head, and Xing lowered his chuffs before dozing.
"Bao, snow. . ." the gorilla spoke in his sleep.
December 18, 1210
The next day peaked the daylight's amber-yellow and rich sky blue horizon; the clouds that shattered holes brought crepuscular rays touched the remains of the prospering Guilin Mountains, the beam of light stroking on the Nine's Prosper Valley warriors. They trekked onto the light gray path, seeking a blue ribbon river frontward, now layered with a white glaze surface. The calm river underneath throbbed with bits of fragments crackling once they crossed on the wood bridge, covered in puffs of snow. There, lying next to the open lake river of white, stood the village of lumber forges.
Tanhuang.
A giant yak with colorful robes of light cobalt and gray strolled with his root pole on the dirt course, layered with soft white patches on most wood houses. Gidahn made his way to the broad road covered with snow and dirt, blessing his villagers, who decorated their lanterns throughout their homes. Children of yaks, bunnies, and geese giggled, sprinting at each other as Gidahn sought them by throwing snowballs. Each of them waved at the head of Tanhuang with commemoration, filling much gratitude for seeing how he treated his people with care.
Tapping gold wind chimes beside the cabin house, the yak farmer crossed near the rope bridge with sturdy woods that light silver and cobalt splotches blanked, reflected by the sky. The ice surface from the river billowed swirls of snowflakes, the calming wind fluttering Gidahn's braided silver mane. Gidahn had remained still with his giant root pole by the time he expected honorable guests' arrival. Good friends of his received the finest works of his sturdy wood: wooden dummies and training weapons — all of his skills were exemplary with oak materials and ironwood.
His sons from their lumber factory here crafted wooden dummies lovingly, willing to deliver the needs to most martial arts palaces. Not only to ship materials but to please their customers and citizens with requirements: building houses, barriers, kitchens to cook with the fire, woods to burn in firepits, and many more.
A silver-maned yak bent to his good knee and fiddled frost Blum blossom, his thumb stroking foliage. Tips of his hoof floated with beating dawn light, waving gold dust on flowers; many twined with steady heights to regular heights, blooming brilliant purple flowers and green stems. The giant fluttered his low chuckles in high spirits, seeing the rest of the blooms stand healthy.
"Gidahn!"
The yak farmer's brown eyes broadened, his snout puffing with a blessing. Gidahn turned to the bridge, and a group of warriors marched toward him; two striped felines with patch bags waved at him. "Xing! Ming!" Gidahn intensified his bold chuckles.
Two striped felines widened their limbs and hugged their companion. "Welcome back," the yak villager throbbed his silk voice. "It's good to see you, my friends."
"It's good to see you again, Master Gidahn," Xing simpered.
Gidahn regarded the tiger's faded wound around his right eye. "I see your scar is healing well."
"Fluffy!"
The lupine Lotus extended her tongue and crashed her hug on him.
Gidahn thundered his warm laugh. "My dear Lotus, such a wonderful surprise," the yak farmer fiddled behind Lotus's ears, giving the Nine's Dancer a long sigh of comfort.
Three students of the gorilla, cobra, and bunny gathered around Gidahn with chuckles. The yak villager patted Bao's sturdy shoulder. "Bao, Hong, and Fanshe. Nice to see you again."
"Likewise, Master Gidahn," Hong simpered on Bao Gorilla's shoulder.
"Bao, Gidahn. Bao, happy."
"Gidahn, happy too," the giant chuckled. "Make yourselves home at my sons' cottages. Surprise Tai and Mel at the factory."
A group of three warriors strolled on before addressing Tanhuang villagers at a welcoming party. More introduced with loud cheers as the Nine accepted their greetings, reaching seven cottages down to the large house with two curved roofs. Chen Xing gesticulated his paw at most before introducing Gidahn to Wolf Boss.
"Greetings. You must be Commander Zhong. I heard about you."
The one-eyed wolf shook Gidahn's hoof with contentment. "Pleasure to meet you, sir. I am Lotus's father," Wolf Boss grinned.
"I am happy you and your daughter reunited, Commander," Gidahn droned in his silky tone. "Make yourself comfortable with the Nine at my house."
Kai remained close to the friendly company, showing his respectful posture ahead of the yak farmer, who drummed his breath in awe. Master Ming held her paw to Kai's hoof.
"Here, my fellow warrior. I introduce you to my dearest friend Master Gidahn, the wood maker and Master Flying Rhino's last pupil," the old feline simpered. "And Gidahn, here you stand and see Kai, the Original Mightiest Warrior, the Great War's Supreme Warlord of all China, Grandmaster Oogway's dear brother and closest friend, and my grandchildren's student."
Both yaks stood grand, shaking their hooves. "Master Gidahn," Kai addressed.
"Hello there, General Kai. Welcome to Tanhuang," the elder yak simpered, inspecting Kai's muscular shoulders. "Your strength returns; you stand mighty and healthy. I also hear great things from you, one powerful and the muscle of the Supreme Warlord in the Great War. And to you living well with my friend's temple."
Kai stretched his right eye wide open. "Do we know each other?"
"You might have. Maybe in another lifetime?" Gidahn stretched his lips with curiosity.
Chen Xing stepped in between the two. "I think my student had a strange dream last night, Master Gidahn," he clarified. "Ain't that a small world to live in."
"Yes, indeed."
The elder yak thrilled his low hums with approval, simpering as he rested his rich brown eyes on the Mightiest Warrior. "I am whom Lotus brought her help, carried you to Master Ming's palace, and aided you in Chen Xing's bedroom. I am so glad you are alive and well in my old friend's temple."
"I give my thanks," Kai accepted with a nod.
"Okay, guys. I'm going to surprise Tai, Mel, and Mika with my arrival," Chen Xing said, nudging his paw's knuckle on Kai's upper arm. "Spend your time with Master Gidahn, Kai; he doesn't bite. Share your story with him."
The tiger dismissed as Xing and Lotus jogged across the main path, passing under pennant banners and red lanterns; lambs and pigs laid out lengthy strings on both ways forward.
Within the entrance of Wood Factory, the yak with heterochromia eyes of inky indigo and rich brown crafted a work-in-progress model, which stood around his height with four limbs on top, three arms below, and one leg. Its coating was forged by iron oak from the materials of Ironwood Trees near the desert, which were expensive to purchase as their growth consumed more extended periods. Tai tapped his hooves and forearms against the wooden limbs, the noises of each impact making clacks.
Inspected his work model enough to continue working on this complicated project, Tai began to assemble a log from his giant cart, having bovine employees help him lift the round tree toward a long table. They measured its volume before trimming the skin to plain timber. Tai grabbed his metal hammer from the counter and went for the other wood cutting its square shapes.
"Hey there, Tai."
Tai stopped hammering and heard looked behind from the giant door. Chen Xing spread his arms wide and laughed.
"By the Gods! Xing!" the yak approached and embraced him with his strong arms. Surprised to see his old companion, Tai patted his hoof on the tiger's shoulders. "How are you doing, my friend? It's so good to see you coming by!"
"So do I, Tai," Xing chuckled.
With the light beaming by from outside, Tai's left indigo eye lightened as you could see his iris reflected. He deadened his cheer once he sought Xing's scar on his right eye, which faded its light tone. "Your. . . scar," Tai broadened his eyes, dropping his jaw.
Chen Xing nodded. "I know. I took in courageous acts, and a few bandits the Nine encountered have been pissing their trousers after seeing me."
"Oh? At least you got your good-looking, better than last time we met."
Xing and Tai burst their warm chuckles. The yak hollered his brother, who was strolling with his root pole. "Mel. Brother! Guess who's back!"
Mel appeared with his brown patches of robes and brown-grayish mane, stopping with his freeze gesture as he widened his mouth. "Good heavens. Xing?"
"Hey, Mel!" Xing waved at him.
Mel drummed his blunt chuckles with a welcoming posture, walking toward him as they hugged. "Welcome back!" he simpered and checked Xing's scar. "And—Oh. I see our father mentioned your wound. Have you been alright with it, my friend?"
"I am better, getting used to my treatment," Chen Xing said.
Mel tapped his root pole, smirking. "Now you have the warrior's face, my friend. Our father had seen several people with battle scars like this before, minor and worse ones. I am glad you are alive and well, Xing."
"Same here, buddy," the tiger approved. "You guys went to your home and protected villagers? Gongmen Battle was insane."
Tai bobbed his head. "Yes, we heard. Mel and I were the ones who fled to the Blue Ribbon Valley after we heard about the Valley of Peace attack," he explained. "Our father and sister Mika joined the Emperor and went to Gongmen City. We kept ourselves a low profile with Tok, Ms. Ling, and our people."
"Thank goodness you all are alright," the tiger was relieved. "And Mika?"
"She's outside at the back, delivering a wagon of woods to her customers," Tai said. "Right this way."
Mel, Tai, and Chen Xing walked across the long hall of timbers, reaching for the second interior, piled with chopped wood and branches on the sides.
"I do not know how Mika would like to see your scar," Mel commented with uncertainty. "She was in your mother's chamber with our father in the new Gongmen Tower. I heard you were terrible."
"Took me a while to regain my strength before I went home," Chen Xing spoke with honesty, sharing his experience of slight trauma after his deadly battle. "After fighting and my injury got me into uncomfortable times, depends on highs and lows as my brothers and sisters stayed in touch with me."
"We apologize for not coming by at your grandmother's temple, Xing. Mel and I were behind schedule after we reopened our business," Tai expressed with his excuse. "But we did send our letters and keep thoughts about you all the time."
"That's okay, guys. I read all of yours during my recovery," he said with relief. "How is your Wood Company been running to?"
"Same as goes, you know. Keeping ahead of schedule to deliver dependable qualities as those who need wood materials," Mel shared. "Now, we have musician experts who can build various instruments, carpenters crafting interiors, toymakers shaping action figures, and warriors like us creating dummies."
"That's pleasing to hear your work well. Here, get a load of this," Chen Xing unbuckled his weapon belt and offered his straight katana sword to Tai.
"Is that the sword you brought?" the yak with heterochromia eyes inspected the katana's elegant details of cobalt scabbard and tsuka grip, unsheathing the bottom of a silver-meteor blade, which pulsed character words white and gray. The blade's intense gloss reflected Tai's left indigo eye. "Oogway's blessing. . . It's beautiful!"
Mel checked Xing's sword, angling his sharp eyes around the weapon. "And shiny. This blade comes from the stars, and only hundreds are left there. This heaven sword material is full of starry, unimaginable to think of its price."
His rich cinnamon eyes darted at his feline companion, unmaking his stern head. "Now I am jealous, thanks to you," he commented with envy, and they guffawed before Mel asked Xing. "Have you managed to swing your weapon?"
"Part times with Heaven's Wrath, but it's not that easy to use," Xing said, obtaining his sword from Mel. "Can this sword be reforged with this rare blade?"
"You'll have to find an ancient blacksmith who does fine work on heaven blade by making and reforging, Xing," Mel advised. "From what I can see, the shape of your katana, that sword is from Japan, and it is the first generation you are carrying. Father mentioned that their weapons are enhanced in this current era, unlike heaven blades."
"Yours is still sharp by cutting bones and regular metal," Tai said. "If you wish to make your weapon some improvements, you might find one there, and you'll likely be the first owner who wields the katana made by heaven."
"I look forward to that," Chen Xing anticipated.
Around the back they went, the outside perched fifty timbers on the broad opening with over a hundred villagers of geese, sows, and rabbits. The rest gathered small to large blocks of chopped wood on their small wagons, delivering several toward the front where their customers expected their demands. There she is. Tai spotted their adoptive sister across ahead of them.
A bunny with sleeveless cinnamon tops and trousers towed one wooden wagon with its handle, meeting two geese of gray and dark gray in midnight changshan and melon caps. Mika presented their purchases as her sow associate wrote out their tickets with a list: twenty blocks and twelve hero action figures. Once pleased enough with gratitude and complimentary by geese buyers, Mika shared her thanks to the birds. They invited their antelope using their wheel cart, gathering products before Tai and Mel's sister turned away with her own.
"Sister! We have guests!" Tai hollered, and his brother did the same. "The Nine are here!"
Mika stopped and turned to her brothers, and their guest was among two yaks ahead of them. For a moment, her breaths surged under her chilly lungs with a surprised glance, squinting her ocean eyes with slight puzzlement recognizing the warrior's scar, which she recalled only yesterday paying her visit with Gidahn in Gongmen City. She strode to the tiger after releasing the wagon's handle.
"Xing?" Mika puffed out her breath, startled with amazement.
"Hi, Mika," Xing simpered.
Filling tenderness, Mika drooped her long ears as she rushed to him, mounting Xing with her embrace. "You're here," she shed her tears. "By the tortoise's blessing, you are okay."
"With every flesh and bone," Chen Xing soothed, hugging her on his shoulder.
Her cheek pressed on his. "You kicked that ox's butt."
"I did."
Around midday, the cloud shredding apart with the gold sunlight from above, two yaks assembled outside of their shed backyard, wielding their wooden swords. On the opposite side, Chen Xing stood still with his single sword, facing Gidahn's sons with a slight smirk. The fifth round had Tai commenced his root pole in the air and darted toward his companion.
Sweeping his white and black tail with determination, Chen Xing propelled his training sword above, parrying Tai's thrust. The yak with heterochromia eyes advanced to his left angle as Xing countered his right and the next. Mel joined in the session as he heaved his great wooden sword. Determining the situation that cornered Xing in a one-versus-two scenario, the tiger countered Tai's lunge as he dodged to the right and sliced his left arm.
Mel shoved his great sword to the left, and Xing deflected, parrying several attacks that threw from his sides. Once the tiger reeled from his opponent's giant attacks, Mel began to thrust his sword forward, hammering down; Xing landed the yak's weapon to his right and delivered another slash under his feet.
Mel crashed his back on the snow with a soft thud, laughing. "Come on! I haven't been training with sword fights since last year," Mel complained, dusting snow off his patched garment. "Could you please go easy on us, Xing?"
"I can try," Chen Xing giggled, extending his paw before Mel reached his, standing up.
"Careful now, Mel. He has been gaining on us," Tai warned behind Xing, still filling compliments with chuckles. "He will not go easy on us."
"I'm telling you, brothers. Our buddy learns his sword stances," Mika uttered with laughs at the patio with a group of students.
The gorilla hammered his fist on his chest with satisfaction. "Bao, entertaining!"
On Bao's shoulder, Hong gasped. "Whoa, a new word for today!"
"Great job, Bao!" Chen Xing praised as the Nine of Prosper Valley cheered with their gorilla companion around him.
The tiger angled his training sword with his wrist by eyeballing the weapon's tip, his grip attempting to swing while he fastened his stone stance. "Do you know what's crazy, Xing?" Tai pinned his staff in between his feet. "Our father had some dream, sort of like too authentic."
"How authentic was that?" Chen Xing grinned.
"We were in Blue Ribbon Valley, and dad was near the great river along with fellow villagers. Father thought Mel and me were at our cottage helping Tok deliver his wood carts full of fruits and carrots. He saw someone floating on the water and safely reached for the bank river, lying stiff. Villagers were around the stranger. And maybe while dad went closer to see who he was —"
Tai's voice faded while drifting his view on the snow. "What did Gidahn see?" the tiger angled his training sword with one arm swinging.
Tai took his deep thought, remembering his father's fruity words that he could describe the mystery figure entering their old village. He relaxed his eyes of purple and cinnamon at his companion. "He saw your student there."
That led Xing to cease sweeping, his silver eyes slowly looking at him with surprise. "I know that sounds crazy," Tai commented further. "Only a dream makes us wonder how that happened, but there's no way because your friend resides in your palace, with a word from your grandmother."
Mel swept chilling specks of snow from his wood sword, standing next to Chen Xing. "Compared to dad's dream, Tai, I did see someone taller than me behind the wood fence, got giant horns, who plants carrots at the farm. I could not get a chance to get closer," Mel puffed out from his snout. "Ain't that a coincidence?"
"Could be," Tai pondered with his brother and the tiger. "Was that guy in Miss Ling's yard?"
"I think so? I was not paying attention close enough," Mel hummed with determination. "Even if that strange bovine was doing something in Miss Ling's yard, we know she does not hesitate using her chef knife at unfamiliar faces."
"You're right about that," Mika commented, agreeing. "What about you, Xing? You got any strange dreams?"
"Nope," he shook his head.
"Not one nightmare?" Mel broadened his smile. He sought the tiger beaming his lips while shaking his head.
"That's good!"
The three turned to Mika, who praised the tiger with such aid, and her long ears shot upward. "Hey. Get back to sparring! I like to see the entertainment!"
Spectators of the Nine and a few villagers of Tanhuang intensified their cheers and whistles, ravenously anticipating rounds from three warriors amidst the round arena. Chen Xing droned his light chuckles as Mel walked beside him, catching up with his brother. "Round six, Mel?" he extended his fist.
"You bet I rematch," Mel snickered, his knuckle nudging the tiger's fist. "Let's do this!"
Chen Ming was on the lengthy patio with her students to her right, who began their cheers as two yaks and the tiger commenced sparring. From her left side down, Kai sat on the floor with Lotus and Wolf Boss, betting on which fighters could win. The surface creaked as giant steps closed behind the feline grandmaster. Gidahn leaned his belly against the wood rail with comfort, placing his root pole next to the red column.
"I see your grandson remains to have enjoyment with my sons and my daughter," Gidahn intensified his drones with delight, holding his hoof grips ahead of him. "How has Xing been doing with his drawings?"
The old feline reflected her grandson's words, which kept her slightly anxious about his paintings. "Xing wishes to continue training with his student, as the Nine of Prosper Valley want their leader. Those visions of his have been quiet, nothing major irritating him," Ming elucidated, showing her little grin as he vibrated his hum. "You wish to speak with my grandson, my dear friend?"
"Whenever he finishes sparring with my sons," Gidahn desired. "I like to see what he has been up to; despite his illusion, he still sees."
With understanding, Chen Ming croaked her chuffs with pleasant rhythms. "Are you and your family aware of Iron Antlers rampaging across China, Gidahn?"
The sagacious yak filled his perspective, recalling wanted pictures of Wang from across Tanhuang to Blue Ribbon Valley. Often rare to see scouts of avian Jade Warriors nearby, citizens of Tanhuang prepped their defenses behind covers within their cottage and charged their chi, waiting for either Wang's victims to ambush them. "We all have our eyes on our villages from Wang and his Jade Warriors army," he answered. "Despite recent actions, I heard he had a terrible life from his father after reading the rest of the articles from Shaolin Provinces. A former Disciple teacher caused crimes against his son; I cannot imagine this treasonous act he had done to someone at that youth age."
"Worse, but I still do not see how or why did Wang's father do to Master Owl's daughter; my grandson met with two owls that she and her father used to be their neighbor across the Yellow River," Chen Ming leaned toward the wood rail, crooning her silver voice in suspicion. "Of which I needed to know more, Wang and his father had their happy life, along with someone else."
Being curious, Gidahn read her eyes. "Who was there?"
"Wang's mother," she answered, full of sympathy. "Master Owl and his daughter met her and mentioned she was a lovely dancer. I assume their marriage had fallen apart, and Le began his darkest path to ruining his son's life."
Gidahn rumbled his rich drone, fulfilling his perception regarding Wang's past life. Onlookers deafened their joyfulness as two elders shared their smiles with their children, anticipating movements from two yaks and the tiger. Lotus, Wolf Boss, and Kai leveled their eyes at Chen Xing, who fastened his sword stance before Mel and Tai launched forward, one turn and the next. With utmost experience in weapon fighting in the Great War, being the most vicious beef in battles with his best fighters, Kai studied his teacher's movements dancing his feet. The training sword, Xing wielded with two paws rather than one, contacted parries with fluidity flows, the tip piercing one's upper chest and the edge slicing the belly after the tiger skidded from the ground.
Seeking his feline teacher to master his stances after a few rounds, Kai surged his thoughts about Xing's weapon.
Who taught you how to use the sword?
No one. Xing answered.
Kai began to suspect Xing's answer, flooded with uncertainty.
His feet prop well to his stance, and this sword training requires years to master. Smart brain to learn quicker, indeed, but does he get trained by anyone? Are you sure you were self-taught, Little Kitten?
Reminiscing how he educated his soldiers in training combats with his warlords, mastering them for more survivability, he thought of one who was far more brilliant in weaponry. One soldier sought their paths to outsmart the enemy's strengths with brilliance, dedicated to understanding ancient warlords' codes of war.
Another that kept his body hesitant was wood swords altered to metal clangs, sheathing, and battering. Thus with affrays flooding with blades and halberds, cries and deaths echoed from afar, escalating near his spine. Fought by the Mightiest Warrior's side, his tortoise brother sweeping away with his halberd across two hills away, was a feline with a dark green cloak.
Chen Xing's skill in dancing his sword stance replicated the exact pose of his soldier.
A/N:
— Here are your characters, Shey! I promise they will be in future chapters. If you notice all four of their personalities are off, let me know, my friend. I miss them so much.
— Gidahn, Mel, Tai, and Mika will only appear as cameos for the time being. Tok and Ms. Ling's names were only mentioned as both yaks shared their thoughts with Xing. All of those characters belong to SheyConYamo.
— Let me explain. There used to be Kai's clemency fic story called Redemption by my writer companion SheyConYamo (Art Inclined on Tumblr). What I meant by "used to," it's no longer on the KFP fanfiction site. If I remember the tale's beginning, the Dragon Warrior paid his visit to Oogway in the Spirit Realm, mentioning a mystery that kept haunting not only Po but Shifu and theirs. Po could not explain his dream as something that lingered close startled him. Oogway gave Po a chest box with no keyhole or anything to unlock, as only a riddle to seek an answer would open. (It's been a while, but I still remember Shey's characters.)
— I named the Blue Ribbon Valley after Shey's Redemption fic. A riddle used to phrase "blue ribbon," something like a lake river near Gidahn's village. It's where Po and the Five used to travel there and find one who could open the chest.