Chapter 38 : I, You, Him and Her

Their eyes met, locked.

Silence filled the air in that room for a few seconds.

And it was in same room where the prince was facing the emperor with his fiery gaze, motionless. His chest rose and fell rapidly, not able to hold back his anger.

Emperor Tiger stared at his son in shock. So did the general. Both had no idea how Yuan Sheng, that was supposed to be in Darknest Land, could get in here in The Valley of Peace. It was completely confusing them.

But at this moment, it seemed that that question wasn't their major problem. This prince just found out a shocking truth about the death of his mother. And that truth was too surprising and hard to believe.

The soldiers were readying themselves with their spears and arrows in the doorway. There was yet any signal from the emperor but they had been prepared to protect him from the harmless prince. Though technically they were supposed to protect the prince as well, but the emperor was the one who had the highest position to give order.

"Murderer!" The prince repeated angrily.

Emperor Tiger was still upset for another second. But then quickly he controlled himself.

"You heard it, didn't you?" The emperor asked calmly, smirking.

"So it's really true." Yuan Sheng said, shocked. "You killed her."

"Well, didn't you just hear it by your own ears?"

Yuan Sheng growled furiously. And without himself realizing it, he had rushed towards the emperor.

"You-!"

Whack

A punch had landed in his stomach even before he could touch his father. That hard punch instantly made him fall and crashed to the floor.

"Thank you, General." Emperor Tiger said.

General Luo responded nothing. The look in his eyes showed a regret for had done something rough he shouldn't do to the prince.

Yuan Sheng held his hurted stomach, trying to bear the pain but never removing his gaze from his father. He found a trouble when tried to get up as the pain was starting to attack him again.

"Murderer." All the thing he could say.

His father smiled. "Is that how you call your own father now?"

"Monster. You're not fit to be called a father." Yuan Sheng mumbled to himself. He seemed calmer in the past few seconds ago but the feeling of shock still remained in his mind. "You killed my mother."

"Well, I did. And I have gotten the satisfactory results."

"You… you… why?" The prince asked weakly. "Why did you do that?"

"Oh, you want to know?" Emperor Tiger raised his chin. "Very simple. A sacrifice is always needed to reach a goal."

"It's your own wife."

"She has died."

"Ho… how? How in the world could you say that such thing without feeling guilty?" Yuan Sheng asked in a tone of disbelief.

"It was for launching my plan. Why?" The emperor asked back.

"A plan? So, It's all nothing but just one of your plans?"

"You didn't get anything, did you?" The emperor laughed. "I killed Shan to convince Tigress to join in my armada. And as you can see, it works. She has been doing well." He stated proudly. "The Great Valley and The Valley of Peace had fallen and in the near future, China will be ours." He smirked. "Don't you think it's great, my son?"

"Don't call me by that name again!" Yuan Sheng warned him. "Don't ever again. I… I am not willing to have a lunatic person like you as my father." As he gained his strength, the prince surreptitiously pulled out a knife from behind his robe and all of a sudden, without giving any warning, he shot it towards the emperor. But the emperor caught it as fast as blink of an eye before that knife could injure him. He observed the object in his grip with a look of pity.

"Were you attempting to fight against me using this stupid knife?" He asked. "Tsk, tsk, tsk, foolish." As he said that, a very hard slap landed on the prince's face. Yuan Sheng tumbled down all over the floor again.

A muffled gasp could be heard from the general and the soldiers.

"Such a shame." Emperor Tiger referred that words to Yuan Sheng. "I never except a disgrace in my family. And even since the first time you lost your leg, I've had known that you would never be able to bring a honor to my family. Never!"

The emperor walked forwards, still talking. "However, you're the only heir I have to inherit my empire and I had to give you chance to bring honor to our family ; that's the only reason why I let you live until now." Here, he smiled viciously. "But it turns out I was wrong. Today, you just proved me that you never deserve to be neither my son nor alive."

The emperor drew a swords that was hanging on Luo's belt next to him. He directed the tip of the sword towards his son. "Any last word?"

A mocking smile came up to the prince's lips. He knew his time was up. "You moron."

"That's not a kind of any sweet parting words, my son." The emperor said. " Ready to see your mother again?"

"I guess the death doesn't sound frightful anymore to me."

"Hmph," Emperor Tiger laughed briefly, assuming that it was just a quip for him. "Very well." He raised the sword. And when he was about to lower it and ready to execute , a hand suddenly stopped him with a voice.

"No. Please, Your Majesty. Don't."

The emperor turned to the one who had been daring enough to interrupt him. "Luo!"

"Forgive me, Your Majesty." Luo said quickly and knelt down. "I truly mean you no disrespect. But you don't have to kill him."

In a flash, the sword was now aimed towards the general's face. "Explain." He demanded. "Before I tear out your eyes of its place."

The general gulped, afraid. "He… he's your own son."

The emperor raised both of his eyebrows. "And would it mean I cannot kill him?"

"It's just… if… if you killed him right now, you would lose the respect of your people." Luo was trembling. "Howsoever your ancestor-Khan- would never forgive you since he's one of his descendants. Please, Your Majesty. Please consider it again."

The emperor stared down at his general with a face that showed no any expression to describe what he was thinking of. The sword was still in his grips.

"Just because you are my childhood friend," the emperor finally said after a brief silence. "and my most loyal follower." His eyes glanced at Yuan Sheng. "Then I let this pathetic lad live."

Luo sighed in relief. "Thank you, Your Majesty. You're absolutely the wisest emperor I've ever—"

"But," Emperor Tiger continued, pretending as if he was not listening to his general. "I now proclaim that he has been disowned." He turned his back on Luo. "He's not my blood anymore. Now set him free before I change my mind!"

"Certainly, Your Majesty."

Luo stood and walked up to Yuan Sheng. "Are you fine, Your Majesty?" He whispered, holding the prince's left arm attentively to help him up.

Yuan Sheng slightly shoved the general, rejecting his help. "Don't touch me." He said slowly. He didn't sound angry as he said that, however, the feelings of hatred could be seen radiating from his eyes. He tried to get to his feet onerously.

"With all due respect, please leave this place, Your Majesty." Luo advised him, somewhat pleading. "It's for your own good."

Yuan Sheng glowered at the general. "I don't need mercy from someone who has plotted a murder on my mother." His voice was abrasive. "You and him may win now. But it won't last long. From now on, I turn against my own father. Keep that in mind!" He said in threatening tone. Hobbling, he walked to the door. "And I believe," he muttered before reaching the door, not looking at neither the emperor nor the general. " despite the fact that it's truly unbelieveable for me to admit it ; someday, that one will stop you."

Luo didn't respond anything about Yuan Sheng's recent statement. For him, it was just a kind of a bluff, yet part of him, he felt sorry for the expelled prince.

TLoTDaTT

Po blinked again, surprised. He was still feeling hallucinating as he did not believe with what he was seeing with his own eyes.

'Is that really her? Or is she just an imagination?'

The panda pinched his own cheeks.

'Ouch!'

A pain. Definitely, it was not a dream.

.

A second later, his countenance turned bright, as if the sun was shining his face.

.

"Tigress!" He hurriedly scurried towards the tigress, not able to hide his excitement.

"No, Po!" Shifu grabbed Po's wrist, stopping him from getting closer to Tigress. "Back off. Stay away from her."

"What?"

Shifu squinted, staring at the tigress. "She's here to kill you."

"WHAT?!"

A wicked smile never leaving Tigress' lips. "So," she said to Shifu. "you refused my offer? You really want to die, don't you?"

Shifu said nothing. The same thing for Po. That panda was still too shocked to realize what was happening so that he hadn't been able to think clearly.

'It's really her,' Po thought. He seriously wanted to approach and touch her just to make sure that she was real. But with Shifu holding his wrist tightly, he couldn't.

"Panda. Get away from here and evacuate the villagers to a safe place!" The red panda ordered.

"Huh?! Shifu—"

"Quick!"

"But—"

"Now!"

"Silent!" Tigress shouted out.

Either the giant panda or the red panda paused, turning their glances at the tigress.

"Trying to escape?" She said softly but dangerously, laying her eyes on Po. "I heard you were looking for me, Dragon Warrior?"

Po was nervous. Of course he missed her so much. He missed everything about her ; her face, her voice. But seeing how Shifu's reaction was as he heard Tigress talk, Po became a bit weird and felt awkward.

"Tigress. I … I …" Po tried to speak but hardly found the right word to say. He knew Tigress had completely changed. And he also knew that Tigress desired to kill him. "I… I am happy to see you again."

Tigress stared at Po. He was still the same the last time she saw him. It even looked almost impossible when she recalled what Yuan Sheng said to her; about her friends turning againts her.

But what they did to the empress had proved everything. It was unclear if Po killed her adoptive mother in purpose or not, she would never forgive him. Only within three days since she left the Jade Palace, she got a new family and new home. Then only within a day since her adoptive mother died, she had became a leader to an army to attack village by village. Her fate said that someday she would be killed by The Dragon Warrior if she followed her path. The Emperor ordered her to kill Shifu. Now, the one destinied to kill her was right before her eyes. She must admit, she felt a bit tired of it. After destroying The Great Valley, she felt her revenge had completed. The last thing left was a battle with Dragon Warrior. She didn't care to be killed. Her world hadn't been the same anymore since her true identity as the reicarnation of Khan was revealed. It was either she or Po be killed at the end.

"Well," Tigress said. "So am I." Her right arm was ready to pull out a sword that was hanging on her waist. "Then, are you ready to finish our destiny?"

Shifu stepped forth, setting a martial arts pose and covering Po. "I will fight you." He said firmly.

"I am not talking to you!" Tigress exclaimed. "Beside, you said it's him who would fight me."

Shifu felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Shifu. May I—"

"No. You may not! Don't you hear your master, Panda?!" The red panda master bawled out of anger. "Go away from here now!"

"I'm just wanting to talk with her!" A yell escaped Po's lips. He never meant to do it, though. "Shifu, just please let me have a word with her." He pleaded.

"Can't you see how she looks at you?" Shifu asked as he emphasized the word how. "Do you seriously think she'll listen to any single word from you?"

Tigress rolled her eyes, muttering to herself lazily. "What a waste time."

That tigress then jumped up to the air, leaping towards Po. Shifu promptly realized it and quickly he got himself ready for the attack.

But what he did not know that Tigress had some throwing knives hidden behind her armor. With her left arm, she picked up some and threw it to Po before she landed gracefully.

"Look out!"

Shifu pushed Po aside and almost in the same time, he blocked those throwing knives with his bare arms.

Tigress smiled smugly. "I was actually expecting an another better place for us to fight." She said. "But this will be a perfect place for our grave."

Shifu watchfully watched over the tigress, warry of the possibility of subsequent attack.

Po was thrown aside and accidently fell flat on the face. He got up as he grimaced in pain. "Tigress. Stop. We don't have to fight."

But Tigress even did not listen to him. With her right arm, she brandished her sword to Po. The tigress started to sway her weapon and was ready to shoot it to the panda.

"Kiyah!"

Po dodged to the side as he resisted the attack. "Stop." He was still trying to discontinue the fight.

Tigress swung her sword rapidly. Po, who was not ready with it got a scratch right on the face as a result.

"Ouch!" The panda covered his injured face.

Shifu hopped to his student, worried about the panda. "Po!"

Tigress jumped up again, and with the sword in her hand, she was ready to stab the panda as she was about to drop.

Whack

A strong kick hit Tigress, sending her away and colliding the cell wall severely with a big bang, creating a hole on the said wall. Tigress felt her head dizzy as she tried to rise. She looked sharply at the one who just kicked her. Particle of dust obstructed her view but she could still set eyes at her opponents. She lost her sword as it was now laying near Shifu. The red panda then picked it up and pointed the tip of the sword to Tigress.

"Surrender." He demanded.

Tigress smirked, wiping the blood around her lips. "Not bad." She gave a compliment on Shifu's attack. "But let I and the Dragon Warrior fulfill our destiny."

Tigress, at full speed, rushed towards Shifu. And as she almost reached him, once again, she jumped up and unsheated her tiger claws, ready to pounce on the red panda. She knew Shifu wouldn't hurt her. And he would block her attack easily. To get her and Po's destiny completed, Shifu must stood aside from this battle. She had no intention to hurt that red panda.

Shifu prepared himself again. Tigress' sword was still in his hand. He could've made use of it to defend himself from the feline's attack.

.

.

But then, a memory of the past popped out to his mind all at once.

.

.

He saw a frightened tiger cub of Bao Gu Orphanage on Tigress' face.

.

.

His mind was blank. He became scatterbrained.

.

.

Tigress drew of some of her throwing knives again and nimbly shot it down directly to that careless red panda. She expected him to step aside but a frown formed on her forehead as she notice that the red panda hadn't moved an inch.

"Run, Shifu!" she didn't realized screaming it in her thought.

.

.

Shifu was taken by surprise as he returned to consciousness and watched those flying down knives directing to him. But it was too late to realize it.

.

.

.

.

Too late.