The Depth of Love

"Jiu Zhu writes from Northern China," said the messenger at the door. Po took the scroll. He looked over it as he went back to the table where Tigress and Crane were eating. While he sat down, he sipped his juice until he completely read the scroll. He spat the juice out, spreading it all over Crane.

"Thank you," Crane muttered.

"What's wrong?" Tigress asked. Po rolled up the scroll.

"Tai-Lung is coming here. He's going to be replacing the Soothsayer. He's fulfilled his duty in the Northern Providence and now he has to come here," Po said. They had been living in Kao for four months now.

"That's not a good enough reason to spit up on me," Crane grumbled. Jia gave him some towels. "Thank you, Jia," He smiled. Jia gave a blushing smile.

"The reason I spat up juice was he said he was bringing his fourteen-year-old daughter, Lula," Po replied. Tigress's eyes widened.

"She's fourteen?"

"Yeah, that's what I was shocked about. When's the last time we went to the Northern Providence?" Po asked. Tigress thought about it then smiled, laughing.

"I shouldn't be surprised that she's that old. It's been a while since we've last met Tai-Lung," Tigress answered.

"So when he comes, that means we'll be leaving?" Crane asked.

"Tigress and I will be leaving. I want you to stay here for a bit more," Po replied. "I want to make sure he understands about The Teachings of the Master." This was a large book that the villagers were writing to record the works of the Master. Crane nodded. He didn't question why, which brought a smile to Po's face.

"When will he be coming?" Tigress asked.

"He'll be here shortly, he said," Po replied. Then there was a knock on the door. Po got to the door, opened it, and saw the big snow leopard of their conversation standing in the door. "Tai-Lung!" Po exclaimed, hugging him. Tai-Lung looked a little older now. His fur was getting a bit dull and his muscles weren't as defined as they once were.

"It's good to see you, my brother," Tai-Lung hugging him back.

"Well, that was indeed short," Tigress commented, making it to the door. Tai-Lung bowed respectfully to Tigress.

"It's good to see you, Master Tigress," He said. Crane came to the door as well. "Master Crane, this will be the first time you've seen me."

"Second, you forget the time of the bridge," He corrected. Tai-Lung rubbed the back of his head nervously.

"Right," He sighed. "Anyways, I'm sorry for what I did."

"If Tigress trusts you, I trust you," He replied.

"Who told you she trusted me?" Tai-Lung asked, smirking.

"Let's put all that in the past," Po interrupted. Just then, a medium size mountain cat peered from behind the big snow leopard. "Um... who's that behind you?" Po asked. Tai-Lung looked back. He gently prodded the young girl out of her shy spot.

"Everyone, this is my daughter, Lula," Tai-Lung said. Po and the others were shocked. She looked like an almost fully grown woman. She nervously bowed.

"Hello," Po said, tenderly. "I'm Po. Do you remember me?" Lula nodded.

"This is all new to her. Moving here and getting acquainted with everyone can make someone nervous," Tai-Lung said.

"I understand the feeling," Tigress replied. Po smiled.

"Don't worry, I'll have you laughing in no time," He said. "The Soothsayer has already prepared your rooms. It will be a little more spacious when we're gone." Po and Tigress directed them to their rooms while Crane went back to the table where Jia was cleaning up. Crane smiled at Jia, who tried to look away from Crane's gaze. Normally, Crane wouldn't be this comfortable around women, but something about Jia's soft humble character attracted him greatly.

"Here's your other food, sir," She politely said, setting down the tray. Crane grabbed the tray.

"Jia, you don't have to-"

"Should a servant not serve her master?" Jia questioned.

"Not if she's the dearest of my heart," Crane replied, getting the tray from her.

"Crane, you're a Kung Fu master and I'm only a..."

"A what? A servant?" Crane answered, setting the tray down on the table.

"Yes," Jia said sadly. Crane gently grabbed her wings and turned her around.

"Jia, all the beautiful women in the world can't compare to you," Crane smiled. He kissed her wing with his beak. "You're more beautiful than ever." Jia snatched her wings from Crane's grip.

"I...I have to go. I'm wanted by the Soothsayer," Jia said as she ran away. Crane felt bad. He thought he had frightened her.

Po explained Tai-Lung's mission about The Teachings of the Master book. Tai-Lung worked alongside Po for the most part as Po helped him transition into his new job. Crane and Jia were always seen close to each other. Po always smiled when he saw them together, but something about Jia made him feel worried. He decided to talk to the Soothsayer about it. She sighed.

"Jia, like everyone, has had a very difficult time in life," the Soothsayer replied. "Crane will have to learn to be patient with her." Po nodded and advised Crane to do the same. And Crane was patient with Jia, which she appreciated greatly. The time came that Po and Tigress left. Lula, who was no longer shy, hugged both of them tightly. Po rested his hands on Crane's shoulders.

"Write me anytime something between you and Jia goes wrong," He said. Crane nodded. Tigress and Po went back to the Jade Palace and told Shifu about everything that happened. The old red panda stroked his beard.

"This is all very interesting, but why did you leave Crane there?" Shifu asked. Po smiled.

"It is the Master's will," Po replied.

A couple weeks after they left, Jia was outside fixing something when Crane came outside to help her. "Do you need some help?" he asked. Jia smiled and let him help her. After he fixed it, they sat down side by side in silence. Jia sighed.

"Crane? Why are you so kind to me?" Jia asked sadly.

"Because that's what the Master has told me to do. It is good to be kind. Why do I need a reason?" Crane asked.

"Because I'm not someone who deserves that kindness," She replied remorsefully.

"What makes you think that?" Crane asked. Jia was silent for a while.

"In order to help my family in their times of need... I became a prostitute," She said with shame. The conversation that Crane had with Mantis and Po at the Jade Palace came rushing back at him. He felt sorry he ever thought about thinking something that critical and he was glad that Po stopped him. "That's why I stayed with the Soothsayer. I had a reputation at my hometown. I couldn't face them," She said tearfully. "When I first came here, I didn't even trust the Soothsayer. I gave her the hardest time ever, even calling her names. But over time, she helped me become better, but I'm still unworthy of your kindness." Her tears wetted the ground. Suddenly, Crane hugged her.

"Your past is your past and you can't change it," Crane said comfortingly.

"Why? Why are you so kind to me," Jia sobbed, snatching herself away from his grasp. Crane gently rubbed his wing over her tear stricken face, wiping away some of the tears.

"It's something I learned from the Master. I'm sorry for what happened to you. Don't listen to the people who try to hurt you," Crane said sadly smiling. Jia shook a bit and then hugged Crane tightly. After that talk, Crane messaged Po, looking for advice.

I now see the wisdom of your words, Po. What do I do?

He explained everything to Po. Po sighed with a heavy heart. Tigress was shocked by the news. "Keep it between us. He meant for me to get the message." Tigress nodded. Po wrote Crane back.

I am sorry for what Jia had to do in order to support herself and her family. The feeling of regret and guilt she has is something I can't fully understand. Tell her not to worry. The Master forgave her the moment she asked for it, and he loves her all the same. But as for you, make sure that you are patient, loving, and respectful towards her. I have dealt with these kinds of things and trusting someone can be a long process for her. So I tell you to be patient, loving, and respectful towards her. Tell Tai-Lung that I'll be needing you here, along with Jia. There is no need for her there now that the Soothsayer is resting peacefully. (The Soothsayer had died about five weeks ago. Crane told Po about her death in the letter) And tell Lula, Po said hi.

As Po told Zeng to send the letter, Po sighed a bit. A lot had happened during the time Crane stayed in Kao. He had to speak to another doomed city with only a handful of remnant people in that time. Tigress rested her hand on Po's shoulder and smiled. "I'm sure he'll do the right thing," Tigress encouraged. Po placed his hand on her hand.

"I hope so," Po sighed. He stood up and went outside, alone.

"Po?"

"Yes, Master?"

"Go to the town of 'Chengyi'. Speak to them about truth," The Master instructed. "You will take Master Shifu and Tigress along with you." Po bowed and went back in to tell Shifu and Tigress.

Po rubbed his head as he sighed heavily. Now Po knew why the Master wanted him to come here. He was sitting in a crowd in Chengyi listening to a worship service to the Master. The problem with it was the length of time. Every time someone got up to speak in reverence to the Master, everyone would kneel on one leg and face the ground. Then came the speaker, who just happened to be the big elephant that accused Xingfu, the fox. His name was Gail, which made a lot of sense to Po. The people there were friendly and nice, and they mentioned how it was an honor to have Po in their midst, but as Po sat on the floor listening to Gail, the panda tried to fight sleep and agitation at the same time. Once it was over, the congregation stood up, but Tigress and Shifu were still on the floor with their eyes open. Po was concerned. "Shifu? Tigress?" He called. The two blinked several times and shook their heads. Po glared at them. "You fell asleep?"

"No," Shifu denied. Po continued to glare at him. "Yes," Shifu said ashamed.

"We didn't mean to Po," Tigress said.

"I'm not angry you fell asleep. I'm angry you could fall asleep with your eyes open. If I could do that I would have already been in La La Land," Po quietly exclaimed as everyone filed out. Po and the others went to the rooms that were prepared for them. "Well, now I know what I'm going to speak about."

"What?" Shifu asked.

"Sincerity," Po answered, huffing a bit.

The next day, the people let Po speak. Before he went up, there was another long service before the message. Before Po went up, Tigress held him back a bit. "Only speak what the Master has told you to speak," she said. Po calmed down a bit for he was getting a little annoyed by the people. He walked up to the front of the crowd and stood in the middle of them.

"This is what the Master has said, 'My children of Chengyi, you have the truth with you and are my beloved ones. Yet, there is something I have to question you about. What are you trying to tell me?'" This caused a murmuring amongst the people. As the crowd slowly quieted down, Po spoke again. "'When you come together, you speak to me as if you are trying to impress me. I am not a Master who is flattered. I do not want your flowery words or eloquent speech. I want your sincere heart. When you speak to me individually, I listen to your needs, wants, and desires as long as you speak for I know the trouble you go through. I listen to a friend listens to a broken person. I listen even to children's prayers. Yet when you speak, as one group, say what needs to be said. None of you talk uselessly to your earthly fathers and masters. Do not try to impress me. Instead, talk to me with a sincere heart.'" With that, Po was finished. The room was so silent a pin could be heard on a woolly carpet. When Po sat down, Gail, the elephant, solemnly came up and gave the finishing speech.

"Thank you, Dragon Warrior. Today, we have been given a simple, truthful, powerful, and... short message," he said, making the room lightly chuckle, "But if I had to make one theme of that message, it was love. You are right. Normally, we try to impress our superiors, but the Master is different. He doesn't want our best. He wants our entirety. Our all: good and bad. That is a kind of love that we mortals just can not fully understand. We still have so much to learn from the Master, and I thank you, Mas,- Po, for enlightening us." With that, the service ended and everyone congratulated Po for speaking a great message. Tigress could see that Po was anxious about something. As they ate at the house prepared for them, Shifu said,

"That was a very wonderful speech you gave, Po," Shifu smiled.

"It wasn't me, Master Shifu," Po replied. "It was just the Master."

"I know. I'm saying you did very well being his servant. Now, I have to retire for the day," Shifu said.

"Sleep well. The Master told me we leave tomorrow," Po replied. When Shifu left, Po absentmindedly looked at his food.

"What's wrong Po?" Tigress asked. Before Po could say anything, Tigress spoke again. "Don't say nothing is wrong. I know you, Po." Po sighed.

"Am I that see-through," Po asked.

"No, I just know you like the back of my hand," Tigress stated, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing... physically is wrong. It's something that Gail said," Po explained. Tigress looked at him, telling him to go on. "He said there was still so much to learn about the Master."

"Yes and?"

"It just... pains me a little to think we'll never fully understand the Master. There's so much to learn. So much to know. Even if I had eternal life, I still would learn more about the Master. It's... a little depressing to think we'll never understand him," Po said.

"I don't think so," Tigress said. Po looked at her confused. "In the time we've seen the Master's deeds, we can safely assume he is a person with ultimate power, who created us complicatedly. If we were able to understand everything, then we would be essentially gods, which is not good because of our selfish nature. Like you said, servants will never fully understand their master, nor will creation fully comprehend the creator. Or like children will never fully understand their parents. We need someone to look up to. The call from the weak to the mighty is the natural call of mortals." Po's mouth dropped and then turned into an open-mouth smile.

"There are days where I really do believe you could do this much better than me," Po confessed.

"Your job is to help people. My job is to only help you. And until the Master tells me to do otherwise, I'm not going to stop helping you," She said. The determined look in her eyes made Po know that she meant every word. Of course, Tigress usually means every word she says. Tigress stood up and started going to her room.

"Tigress," Po called. Just as Tigress turned around, Po hugged Tigress tightly. Shocked and surprised, Tigress froze up. "Thank you for helping me," Po said with all sincerity. Tigress slowly got out of her shock and hugged Po back.

"You're welcome Po," Tigress smiled.

Continued...