:10 minutes earlier:
The Furious Five along with Po and Master Shifu all jumped down from the Jade Palace. Landing on the roofs of the houses situated there. For Tigress this was familiar. Back when she wanted to face Tai Lung alone, she made this same jump. When they all landed as silently as possible, they all quickly crouched down. "I have an idea. We go see my dad. Hopefully he'll know what's going on." Po suggested to everyone.
Everyone looked at each other. "Panda, I know you're worried about your father." Po flinched away at Shifu about to tell him what a horrible plan that was and why there was clearly a better solution. "But I agree with you. He's been down here for all of this, and with all the gossip happening at his Noodle Shop, he will hopefully know more than most about these bandits." Shifu said to everyone, with Po being surprised that Shifu agreed with his plan. "Everyone make your way to Mr. Ping's Noodle Shop. We'll go in separate groups. Tigress, take Mantis over the roofs. Viper, you'll go with me and Po through the backalleys. Monkey and Crane, you're better making your own way, just make sure to be in earshot of either myself or Tigress. Try and get an idea of how many we're dealing with. Don't get caught." He told everyone and they nodded and leapt off the roof to make their way to the Shop.
Shifu moved quickly through the streets, with Po knowing the best and quietest ways to get to the Noodle Shop. Viper followed both of them, every so often branching off into a hole too small for either of them, only to emerge close to them out of another hole not long after.
Meanwhile, Tigress and Mantis were leaping over the rooftops together, making sure they weren't heard or spotted as they went. They counted what they could of the bandit gang. There were quite a few of them dotted around, but it wasn't looking too unmanageable. It was just that there were so many innocents in the way... "You'd think it was Market Day..." Mantis joked aloud, and Tigress rolled her eyes in slight amusement at that.
Meanwhile, Crane was quickly flying from building to building, not lingering for too long in the air. The bandits didn't seem to congregate greatly in any one location that he could see... They were likely indoors in that case, leaving some of their men out and about, meaning there were more of them than you could see at any given time...
Monkey deftly moved over signs and under hanging plantpots, hiding in places people without his climbing skill wouldn't be able to. He noticed the shakedowns and how people were scared and worried. He wondered if they would ever trust the Jade Palace to protect them again...
Eventually, Po, Shifu and Viper all jumped to the roof of the Noodle shop from the ground. "We'll make sure the area's clear and then go in through the back." Po said to the two of them, and they nodded, trusting that Po knew this area better than they ever would. They lay down on the roof, using the triangular shape to their advantage. Looking over to the building opposite them, they saw Tigress and Mantis laying low. Tigress gave Shifu a signal that they were in position. Crane suddenly opened his eyes and winked from next to them, where he was posing as a lifelike ornament. Monkey also popped his head out from behind a clothing line he was hanging on, using the clothes in question to hide himself from the bandits. Po peered over. "Alright, looks clear-"
Shifu then grabbed him by his pants and pulled him back into position. "Wait!" he exclaimed as a Badger entered the Noodle Shop.
He wasn't happy with everyone stopping to stare at him... "What?! What're you all lookin' at?! Go back to your damn food!" Walking up the counter, they heard him slam his fist down on it aggressively below them, almost shaking the building. "You're late Ping. Again." he spoke, and Shifu felt Po bristle from beside him.
They heard Mr. Ping's startled voice. "It's... It's just too much... If I give you what you're asking for, I won't have enough to buy more ingredients! That means no more Secret Ingredient Soup!" he defended his lack of payment to the Badger that was bullying him.
Po was about to get up then. "We've gotta stop this!" he stated, but Shifu pulled him back down.
He shook his head. "No. Unless your father is in physical danger, we do nothing. We can follow this Badger back to their hideout. This could be our chance." Shifu pointed out to the Dragon Warrior, who begrudgingly agreed. He wasn't sure he liked the idea of playing with his dad's life, but he trusted the others to step in if something happened...
They heard a chuckle. "I admit, that would be a shame. But the Boss is tired of waiting. Either you pay up now, or I break your wings and take whatever you have." The Badger than cracked his knuckles from the sound of it and Po looked panicked by this point.
Even Viper was getting worried. "Maybe we should do something?" she asked, but Shifu shook his head, and she bowed hers. Tigress made a gesture as to where they should make a move now, but Shifu responded with one in the negative, telling them to wait, which Po still didn't like but knew Shifu was correct. Unless his dad was in physical danger, they should wait.
They heard Mr. Ping respond. "I can't! I'll go out of business! I can give you half now, half later?" he bargained, but the Badger was having none of it.
"Sorry old timer." he said which sounded negative. They then heard him grabbing Mr. Ping by the neck and pulling him over the counter before pinning him to it.
Po looked to Shifu desperately, who looked disappointed they couldn't follow the bandit. Now they'll need to capture and interrogate him. Shifu nodded and held up his paw to count down from five... Four... Three... "Let him go." came a voice, and Shifu held up his hand to stop as they all looked down.
The Badger walked a little more into their view now. "What did you just say to me?" Whoever it was who spoke moved like the wind as he stood face to face with the Badger.
Well, that wasn't entirely accurate. He stood much taller than the Badger did. "You look like you have hearing problems." the stranger stated. "I said let him go." a growl came from his mouth that sent shivers through those who heard it.
Pulling back, the Badger got defensive. "Who the fuck do you think you are?!"
Everyone's eyes widened in shock as they witness the stranger pick the Badger up by the throat. "Drop him, or I'll fucking break your fingers. One. By. One." His tone was so calm, a tone of complete control and confidence about him that was rarely seen in those who aren't Kung Fu Masters. The Badger did indeed drop Mr. Ping, and they heard him run into the Shop, to Po's outward relief. The stranger then dropped the Badger on the ground. "See? Easily done." came the almost taunting voice, and yet it held no tone to it.
Shifu was ready to jump in seeing the Badger tensing for an attack. "Fucker!" Viper's mouth dropped as she saw him catch the punch effortlessly. The Badger seemed to realise he'd made a mistake.
The stranger stated still without a tone to his voice. "Impressive." he then kicked out with a shocking amount of force, enough to send the Badger flying into the wall and leaving several cracks in his wake. Shifu blinked in disbelief at the sheer power behind the strike. This was mirrored as they watched the Badger try and fail to recover before he was again hoisted off his feet by his throat. "Would you say I've beaten you?" came the strange question.
They saw the Badger nodding in agreement. "Yeah, yeah you've beaten me!" The Badger looked ready to receive a further beating, but was instead let go.
The stranger then began to smile and laugh as if it were a joke, picking the Badger up like they were old friends partaking in an inside joke. "Sorry about that. I just wanted to prove myself! I'm looking to join up with you lot! Say, where would I go to do that exactly?" the stranger said, much to the apparent disbelief of the entire Furious Five as well as Shifu and Po.
The Badger accepted this, happy it seems about finding such a capable recruit. "That was you proving yourself? Well damn, you came to the right man! I'm the Boss' second." Shifu started thinking of a new plan... They definitely needed to capture this Badger now, and this stranger was not a threat they could ignore. "We're based out of the old warehouses, near the Jade River. Password is Sǐrén." the Badger said, which Shifu smiled a bit at. Perfect. They had the information they needed to plan an attack.
However, when he blinked something had changed. The laughing stopped and the Badger stood stock still for a second, and Shifu noticed a sword now in the stranger's paw... Talon or whatever he had. The Badger's eyes then widened and he began choking, falling back as his cut throat was revealed. It had happened so quickly that not even the Badger had known it had before it was too late. They watched in part curiosity and part shock as the stranger pulled a tooth from the dead Badger's mouth, and pocketed it. Said stranger then put a significant amount of coins on the counter of the Noodle Shop. "For any damages." he presumably said to Mr. Ping...
They watched with wide eyes as he walked out of the shop with a determined look in his eyes while whistling a haunting tune that sent shivers along the spines of everyone who heard it...
Po shook his head out as Shifu motioned for the Five regroup at the Shop. "What... What just happened?" Po asked everyone, all of whom shrugged in response, aside from Tigress who looked thoughtful.
Crane was still blinking in shock. "It... It happened so fast, I didn't get a look..." he said, shaking his head as he tried to process what exactly he'd seen.
Monkey for his part just shrugged in response to Po, not offering anything more.
Mantis was at the body, inspecting it closely. "Quite a severance package..." he joked, and Viper hissed at his insensitive joke, and he flinched a little. "Throat cut. Clean. Precise. Almost perfect." He told everyone, jumping on Tigress' shoulder then to be close to eye level with the others.
Viper sighed and shook her head. "I barely caught a glance before he was bleeding and dying." she stated. "Did you see the way he looked at him. He stared right into his eyes as he died." Viper shivered at the thought of it. Watching someone's life leave them so closely, so intimately. "And then that odd tune he whistled..." Viper had no idea why even thinking about it made her shiver and check to see if he'd come back...
Po scratched his chin. "And then he pulled his tooth out..." he reminded everyone. "Why would he do that?"
Shifu hmm'd thoughtfully. "The way he dressed, that strange sword... There's something familiar about it. But it's not like any sword I've ever seen, nor is he dressed like anyone I've ever seen." he told the group, who were shocked even he didn't know.
Tigress then finally spoke. "Master, did Tai Lung have any students?" she asked him suddenly, to his surprise.
It took him a good while to consider the question. "What? Why would-? No, no he didn't. He was never made a Master of the Jade Palace." Shifu informed Tigress.
She continued this line of questioning. "Is it possible he trained one in secret?" Tigress then asked.
Shifu once more shook his head. "No, no he never had time. The times he was out of my sight weren't long enough to train a student." he told her.
Viper was confused by it all. "Why are you asking these questions?" she asked Tigress, touching her arm with her tail seeing the concern in her eyes.
She sighed at that in agreement with Shifu's conclusion on the matter. "His fighting style, just... His aggressiveness. It just reminded me of his." Tigress informed the old Master, who nodded in agreement with her in return.
"You have a point, my dear. But I do not think this is any student of Tai Lung's." He said to her. "Now we know where they are located." Shifu spoke, once more thoughtfully stroking his moustache.
Po spoke up next, offering a plan to everyone. "We should follow this stranger first, and see what he plans to do. It may take all of us to subdue him if he intends to take the second's place in the Clan." He said, much to everyone's surprise. He really was coming along as Grand Master...
Everyone nodded in agreement with Po's plan. "Very well. We will follow him via the rooftops. Again, do not be seen." he reiterated to his students, and they all nodded in response.
They then heard a familiar voice "Po!" Mr. Ping exclaimed and hugged his son. "And the Furious Five! It is so good to see you all!" he actually hugged each of the Five. Tigress just accepted Mr. Ping's moment of affection while the others actively returned it and greeted him. "I'm glad to see I got Zhu into the Palace!"
Po smiled at his dad. "That was very brave dad. I definitely got that from you." he said to Mr. Ping, who chuckled in embarrassment. "We've gotta go, but we'll back for dinner later! Kicking bandit butt gives us an appetite!" he exclaimed and jumped up onto the roof with the Five and Shifu.
They looked around for the stranger but couldn't see him anywhere... "There!" Tigress pointed down the street, and saw the stranger walking behind two bandits making their way down the street, a Jackal and a Wolf. They watched as he walked up casually behind them and put his arms around their shoulders before moving his arms slightly.
Suddenly they slumped down in his arms and he turned to his side, dragging them in between some buildings before re-emerging and continuing on. "I don't think he's planning on joining them..." Mantis observed.
In the second that he turned and they were visible, they saw that he'd slit both their throats at the same time. Seeing him move on, the Five, Po and Shifu couldn't waste anymore time. They leapt over the rooftops after him, but were forced to quickly duck down when he turned around and looked right at them... "Did he see us?" Po asked worriedly. Shifu carefully peered over the roof and found he'd vanished... Likely around the corner.
Shifu shook his head in response. "I'm not sure, but he went around that corner, come on." he said and they all quickly moved to the building beyond the corner. They eventually saw him casually leaning against a wall. Two bandits, clearly drunk, moved between the buildings likely to relieve themselves, and he smoothly moved off the wall and turned down the alleyway they had. He returned alone.
Tigress narrowed her eyes then, and realising what he was doing. "He's picking them off." she said to them. "The stragglers, the ones away from the pack." Tigress pointed out to the others.
"He's... Terrifyingly efficient." Crane noted, earning nods in agreement. "He blends in so effortlessly and moves so fast..."
Shifu nodded in agreement. "And if we don't, we'll lose him. Come on." They ran after him above ground, but didn't notice he stopped before they were on top of him... They all ducked carefully as he leaned against a stall and looked around nonchalantly.
Seeing him about to move, the group went to jump, but Po almost slipped on a tile, sending it flying backwards. It hit Viper in the face, and as she jumped, she mistimed it and fell down.
"Viper!" Po looked incredibly embarrassed by his blunder, but was stopped from going after her right away by Shifu, who eyed the situation carefully...