Lianzhong's character dialouge and story is so rushed, and I hate myself for it. :(

Later that day, while Lianzhong and Mian were eating some food that Shifu and Po had given them, Po gently tapped his master on the shoulder as if telling him that he had wanted to speak with him.

With a gentle notion, Po beckoned Shifu over towards the other side of the little camp that was positioned by the beautiful and colorful hills they were on.

"Master," Po cleared his throat a little bit, for honestly, he wasn't doing it for show. "Don't you feel like the two of them are really suspicious?"
Shifu blinked, quite impressed with his student that he could make that out. Although, they weren't the most conflicting of individuals.
"The master is, deeply. The student, however.." Shifu shook his head. "I do not know."
"Do you think they will leave by tomorrow?"

"I don't know."

Po sighed. "He DID have a really weird change-of-heart." Po admitted, remembering seeing his master positioned over the sheep, threateningly. "Did he hurt you at all?"
"No." Shifu shook his head, quite honored that his student would think of him at a time like this. "I'm all right."
Po let out a grateful sigh as Shifu continued.

"Let's just wait until tomorrow and see what happens." Shifu closed his eyes tight, as if calming himself, then opened them again and saw that Po was still staring at him. "I know this whole skirmish seems small, but we do have rules in place here for the palace, and…"

Shifu's ear flicked, as if he was not sure how to say the next few words properly to his student.

"...and I want to make sure that this place is kept the way it should be.."

Po nodded. "I understand, Master." Po again placed a gentle hand on his shoulder and smiled. "I'm with you, all the way."

As Shifu was writing on a scroll while occasionally glancing upwards to check on the new master-and-student, Po just softly watched his master's calm and fluid writing for a while before leaning back and softly sighing. The day had gone by fast, and it seemed as if this whole day had been nothing but trying to watch over the visitors.

Indeed, that's pretty much what it was.

Po was a bit disappointed that he couldn't spend as much time one-on-one as he wanted to with his master, but he was with him everyday and he would pretty much always have the chance to go to him for any particular circumstance.

That was one of the good things about living with your teacher, I suppose.

Of course, if it's a teacher that you love.

Po averted his gaze from behind his master's back and walked over and poured a cup of tea for Mian, as he was sitting by a tree, leaning against it, just randomly staring over at Shifu and Po for the time while literally doing nothing.

Mian's eyes scare me. Po shivered underneath Mian's accusing gaze, which wasn't really accusing, it was just piercing right into him like a blast of sunlight had struck into his eyes.

"Here you go." Po gently handed Mian the tea and sat beside him, keeping watch on his master and Lianzhong in a meditative state.

"Thank you." Mian's voice was a bit shaky, and all this time he had been sort of scared and distant around Shifu and even Po himself, even when he tried to be nice.

Po had also observed that the young goat was shaky even around his own master, and that was certainly something that Po had clearly seen first-hand.

I mean, Po wasn't THAT shaky when he had first met Shifu, but even then, it took a while for their relationship and trust to really develop between the two of them.

Now that it has, it really is awesome, In Po's words.

"So….how old are you?"
Po pleaded that Mian wouldn't be older-like an adult, or something-but he figured that he probably wasn't.

"Twenty-one."
Okay, good. Po breathed out. One year older than me, then. Good thing he acts his age…sort of.

Even though Mian was shaky, nervous, and awkward, Po still felt like he could talk to him a little, ever since he had approached him all the way back by the Great Rock's ledge, where Mian had started to say something about his master regarding Shifu.

What WAS Mian going to say?

…perhaps I should ask?
Po suddenly thought the better of himself, since Shifu and Lianzhong were pretty nearby.

Never mind. It could be nothing.

But, then again, it could be something. His master's life or something could be at danger, and Po wouldn't risk that for the world.

Perhaps he should tell his master?

Tell him that Mian had said something about his master that regarded him?
The problem was, Po didn't know WHAT exactly he was going to say.

Maybe I should just ask him and let Master Shifu find out?

Po wracked his brain for answers, but nothing came through. He decided the better of it to just let it be, and possibly tell his master later. He felt better when he talked to Shifu about personal matters, since Shifu was very open and patient with him about it.

He really is such a great master. Po pondered, remembering his first day as a student and how kind and patient Shifu had been. He would do anything he could to save him from anything, if he was in danger.

And really, he would do anything for him.

A spark flew off in Po's brain to ask Mian about Lianzhong, and possibly just find some answers, if this young student would really tell Po the truth. He didn't really come across as being outspoken, but he could just be faking.

"So…how long has Lianzhong been your master?"

Mian's gaze sparked for a moment, then dimmed. Po seemed to have brought up a recent memory as Mian was silent for a very long time. Po glanced over to his master, wondering if Shifu was listening to him, and sure enough, he saw his ear flick, catching up the vibration of their speech.

Master Shifu can probably hear me and Mian. Po thought. Maybe he can catch something, too. I know he's suspicious.

"Um….just a year and a half now."
Shifu's ear flicked again, and Po gave an unnoticeable nod. "That's cool. What does he teach you, anyways?"

Mian's gaze averted from Po's and landed over to his master's, where Lianzhong was peacefully meditating. Whether he heard this conversation or not was completely unknown, unlike Shifu, who made it more known. Po at least hoped that Mian didn't catch Shifu listening into this conversation.

"Um…." Mian then glanced down at the ground and shrugged. "A lot of things."
Over by Shifu's side where he was writing on the massive slab of stone, Shifu's ear flicked again as he was intently listening into his student's and Mian's conversation. He silently willed for his student to choose his words wisely.

Over by Lianzhong's side, Shifu could make out that he still was at least closing his eyes and possibly trying to meditate, but whether or not he was was completely oblivious.

Shifu turned around and placed down the pen beside the scroll, standing up and walking over to Po and Mian.

"I couldn't help but overhear your conversation," Shifu thought it best of himself if he would have a private talk with Mian in private, without his student listening in. Of course, Shifu wouldn't go far, for he wanted to keep watch on his student in case Lianzhong found it okay to attack Po while Shifu wasn't there. "I am mildly curious to learn more about you, child. Would you mind taking a walk with me for a moment?"
Mian glanced down at the ground, then at his master, who never interjected. Mian's gaze turned to Po, and Po and Shifu shared solemn glances.

"It's fine, you can go with him." Po leaned in and whispered into the student's ear. "He just wants to talk with you, I promise."

"But-but, my master-"
"Don't worry." Shifu shook his head, interrupting them. "We won't go far."
After a period of silence, Mian stood up and gently grasped Shifu's outstretched hand.
"O-okay.."

Shifu turned back to his student and softly dipped his head, as if trying to relay a message to him. Shifu was suspicious of the master, so he thought himself best to get to know his student in an effort. He could be clear, and truly just want to find somewhere to rest. The master could be protective of his student, you know. Shifu himself knows what that's like.

"Stay here, I won't go far." Shifu blinked at his student and flicked an ear to Po, who solemnly bowed and nodded in return.

"Yes, Master. I'll wait."

Don't you just love it when a plan comes together?

You know what to do, review!