(Chapter Twenty-One :) Ever wonder how Tai Lung got to the Bridge with no interruptions? Zhang Liao cleared the path for him and Tai Lung defeating whoever Zhang Liao missed. Anyway this happened after Tai Lung's escape and before the Furious Five fight him at the Bridge I think so mwah :D )
Chapter Twenty-One: Zhang Liao's Path to the Valley
Zhang Liao pledged allegiance to the mighty warrior Tai Lung during their 20-year stay in the Chor Ghom Prison.
During the twentieth year, Tai Lung managed to break free of the contraption that kept him down. Zhang Liao showed his loyalties by helping Tai Lung escape. Everyone was shocked by this turn of events and no one managed to defeat Tai Lung and Zhang Liao.
Now, Zhang Liao would clear a path back to the Valley for Tai Lung. Zhang Liao thought of revealing himself as Shu Ai, yet he thought of timing.
"I am Zhang Liao! Face me if you do not want Tai Lung's wrath upon you!" Zhang Liao would announce his loyalties and that Tai Lung had returned. Many were surprised at this turn of events as well as they knew Zhang Liao as an honorable man and never thought he would side with Tai Lung. Zhang Liao defeated those using Dragon Revival who fought him yet he never killed any of them.
"Go home for you have loved ones to go home to. Redeem your actions through respect," Zhang Liao simply showed compassion and respect for his opponents. For this, he gained respect but was still feared.
Zhang Liao, though unknown to him, would face four warriors on his way back to the Valley. Word was starting to spread of Tai Lung's escape and that someone was assisting him. Zhang Liao merely defeated those on the path to the Valley for a safe passage for Tai Lung.
"Master, we are nearing the Valley," Zhang Liao had waited for Tai Lung to catch up and they were walking side-by-side.
"You have done so much for me, my friend," Tai Lung told him.
"Tai Lung, I have news from the warriors I have defeated," Zhang Liao had heard news from the warriors he had defeated.
"What is the news, Zhang Liao?" Tai Lung asked with curiosity in his eyes.
"The Dragon Warrior has been chosen. His name is Po," Zhang Liao told Tai Lung that the Dragon Warrior had finally been chosen.
"Ah, I see..," Tai Lung's interest was now aroused to greater heights.
"You are interested, my friend?" Zhang Liao looked at him.
"Yes. Now we'll have a challenge at out hands. This Po should be a challenge if he was Chosen," Tai Lung grinned widely.
"Master Tai Lung, I will go ahead once more. The Don't-look-down Bridge is nearing, and I will clear a path for you," Zhang Liao started to walk faster before he felt a paw on his shoulder, stopping him.
"Take care, my friend. I don't want to lose you. Together we will fight the Dragon Warrior," Tai Lung showed concern for the only one who believed in him for a long time.
"You needn't worry about me; I can take care of myself as much as you can take care of yourself," Zhang Liao patted Tai Lung's paw with the one not holding Dragon Revival as he sprinted forward to clear a path.
"Zhang Liao? Is that you?" A familiar voice reached Zhang Liao's ears on his way to the Don't-Look-Down Bridge. It was Meng Lao, the native bear who apparently had gone missing. He was sent to see if the rumors of Tai Lung's freedom were true.
"Meng Lao. This is… Unexpected. It seems time hasn't been good on you," Zhang Liao stopped and chatted with the one he made friends with before. He noticed that Meng Lao was fatter.
"Ha! Well, time… has… done well on you, you look better than before," Meng Lao noticed Zhang Liao looked tougher, stronger, and more calm due to his long mane, Dragon Revival, and body build.
"Well, I need you to move. Tai Lung wishes to pass," Zhang Liao showed truth in the rumors and put a serious face on Meng Lao.
"Ah, the rumors are true then… But you sided with Tai Lung?" Meng Lao asked Zhang Liao.
"Yes. My allegiance is with Tai Lung. If you don't move, I'm afraid I'll have to force you to move," Zhang Liao held Dragon Revival on both paws, ready to fight with no hesitation.
"Hm, How sad… But, it has been a while since we last sparred. Come on, then!" Meng Lao grinned at the fact of fighting Zhang Liao.
The battle didn't last long despite Meng Lao's status as a warrior. Time and his stomach made him slow. Zhang Liao merely avoided and side-stepped Meng's slow attacks and attacked his legs and the back of his head with the blunt area of Dragon Revival, forcing him down.
"Time hasn't been good on you, Meng Lao," Zhang Liao pointed the blade to Meng's head.
"Are you going to kill me?" Meng Lao asked, panting greatly and not looking at Zhang Liao.
"No. You can go," Zhang Liao retracted the blade and stood straight, allowing Meng to stand.
"Ha ha you're still the Zhang Liao I know!" Meng Lao allowed Zhang Liao passage. He would later face Tai Lung but face a greater defeat.
"Do you know about Po by the way? I hear he's the new Dragon Warrior," Zhang Liao wanted to see if Meng knew of this.
"Ha! It's hard to believe! The dude's more out of shaoe than me and he got chose! Sheer luck I say! Ha!" Meng laughed at Po for being chosen.
"Thank you. Be careful of Tai Lung, he's usually following close by," Zhang Liao warned Meng Lao that Tai Lung usually followed close by after Liao cleared a path.
"Surely! Anyway, Hei Li will be your next opponent!" Meng told Zhang Liao.
Zhang Liao neared the Don't-Look-Down Bridge. Hei Li stood with a Bo Staff in hand, the next line of defense if the rumors were true.
"Zhang Liao! It's great to see you! You look great!" Hei Li greeted Zhang Liao with a smile. Zhang Liao stood in front of Li, both of them standing straight with their weapons held.
"Li. It's been a while. I see unlike Meng you stayed fit," Zhang Liao was glad to see that Li stayed fit.
"Of course! Meng got addicted to eating and drinking more than training and… well, you know what happened," Li replied.
"Li, I'm sorry. Please move or face the wrath of me and Tai Lung," Zhang Liao told his friend.
"So the rumors are true… Tai Lung has escaped… I never expected you to turn, though," Li got ready to fight.
"I never turned. I'm loyal to my friends," Liao simply replied.
Their weapons soon clashed and sounds of Spear-on-Staff were soon heard. Li managed to avoid hitting the blade with his staff as Zhang Liao had more strength and could easily shatter the staff.
"You've grown strong! And fast!" Li complimented as they clashed weapons once more.
"So have you, Li. By the way, you owe me a Sansetsukon," Zhang Liao returned the compliment and reminded him of his used-to-be favorite weapon.
"Don't worry; it's back at the Monastery!" Li replied as they fought with their weapons; strength versus speed.
Soon however Li gave up and stood straight. Zhang Liao wondered why this was so.
"I do not wish to fight you. You two can pass," Li stepped aside for the mighty warrior.
"You do know you are letting Tai Lung through?" Zhang Liao pointed out.
"I have a feeling Meng will face him. I'll help him there," Li admitted.
"I see, understood," Zhang Liao nodded as he walked passed Hei Li.
"By the way… The last two in the line of defense may be too easy for you… I've told them that if Tai Lung and the rumored bodyguard make it through, I didn't make it," Li warned as he went to look for Meng Lao.
Zhang Liao had shown no weakness even with a blind eye. He had trained in the Prison not to have the weakness weaken him.
Meng Lao and Hei Li indeed faced Tai Lung and were brutally defeated. However they were spared as Tai Lung met with Zhang Liao who had waited for him once more.
"Fat bear and Speedy Wolf met you?" Zhang Liao asked.
"They were easy! Especially the fat one," Tai Lung replied.
"Did you spare them?" Zhang Liao asked as he was beside Tai Lung.
"Both of them have a high regard for you even though you've sided with me. I spared them," Tai Lung replied, apparently sparing those who respect Tai Lung.
"I will check ahead," Zhang Liao said as he moved foreword once more to clear a path for Tai Lung.
Zhang Liao arrived at the Don't-Look-Down Bridge, also the Thread of Hope. He began to cross it. According to Hei Li, he still had two more Warriors to face. He looked around; Dragon Revival held steadily and calmly.
Suddenly, Zhang Liao saw something flying at him from the other side of the bridge: It was an arrow.
"What a bother…" Zhang Liao thought as he ducked; the arrow narrowly missing his head. He was at the center of the bridge still. He started to move faster; the bridge beginning to sway to the bridge.
More shots of arrows were shot at him; most of them deflected with Dragon Revival and avoided by ducking and swaying. Some were able to graze Liao's arm. He finally saw two figures at the end of the bridge: One appeared to be the archer. He showed great skill in the art of archery. Liao could not identify the second figure. Liao decided to take a chance: He was to use a move Tai Lung constantly used on him.
Liao ran at the two figures with the Archer increasing his speed of firing. Liao managed to get a balance despite the swaying bridge. He quickly stopped as he neared the end. He looked down as he did so and jumped high over the two figures. He ended up behind them now and faced them with Dragon Revival pointed at both of them. The two also faced him with speed.
All three of them were shocked to see each other.
Zhang Liao faced Ping, now a twenty-six year old and studying the art of archery, and someone he did not expect as the last line of defense: Master Tigress of the Furious Five.