LIVEALIVE: Tales Through Time

by TheSilverSableye

8 denizens of Time. A Caveboy looking for love. A Master growing old. A Shinobi on a mission. A Cowboy searching for something. A Fighter with a purpose. A Teen on the road. A Robot just born. A Hero on a quest. These 8 will learn...to live. In honor of LIVEALIVE coming to the west, I decided to make a novelization of it. Sit back, relax, and live.

7. War In China

Hey all, it's me, Silva! Sorry for the wait(Two months, sheesh) but these long chapters take some time. Hope you're as excited as I am, because we're coming to the end of the Kung-Fu Chapter! (Maybe I should start calling these Arcs…) Next up is the Ninja Chapter, where stealth is key!

Hope you like another long chapter, cause these are going to be at the end of every Chapter. Aren't you lucky!

As always, FAVORITE if you like the story, FOLLOW if you want updates on when it's published, and REVIEW to give me feedback! It's a big help!

Now, sit back, relax, and LIVE.

---

Lei didn't know where she was but she was cold. She hated being cold. She never bundled up, she didn't have any winter wear, and her nose always got nipped. She would give anything to escape the dreaded cold and make it back home.

Only problem was the grave in front of her. Through her tired eyes, she could make out scrawling on the tombstone. But as she crouched to read the words, she was left, again, with nothing. The words were foreign to her, looking like chicken scratch. It was useless and offered no means to escape the cold.

Standing up from the grave, she stepped over it to the cliff that dropped off into a vast wilderness. But that wasn't even the half of it. Beyond that was a vast fortress that was taller than that dojo in the woods, taller than any house she had ever seen. If the Emperor were to live somewhere, it would be there.

And even beyond that? A monumental mountain that sent more shivers down her spine. Not cold shivers. Shivers of fear. That mountain was dangerous, she could feel it.

As she stepped away from the drop, she turned and considered that the drop would have been better. Maybe she could throw herself off, maybe she could hide behind the tombstone. Anything to get away from what stood before her.

A dark imposing figure stood over her, far bigger than her clad in silver armor, looking darker as twilight hung over them. Bloodlike veins seemed to snake across the armor, looking as if it could burst into fire as its face was hidden.

The feeble body of The Shifu stood before him and grasped in his gargantuan gauntlet were the motionless bodies of Yuan and Hong, hanging limply like fish on a hook.

"Ahh… common knave, pick-pocketing off honest and good men. Your desires are driven by pride and revenge. Never have you worked an honest day, never have you strived to be better. You are nothing. The skills you learn now, that which you strive to be more than you are…they are all for naught. For you shall always be what you are; a common bandit. Nothing more, nothing less. Lesser than less. YOU ARE NOTHING. YOU WILL NEVER BE BETTER, YOU SHALL ALWAYS BE AS YOU ARE. YOU WILL NEVER BE MORE."

Lei grit her teeth, moving her feet into the stance she had practiced so many times. She would not die here.

She closed her eyes, ready for battle…

---

…and woke in a cold sweat…and intense aching. Her sudden spring-up caused her to jolt before landing back down on the floor, the snores of Yuan and Hong slumbering into the night.

The Shifu had asked them to spar. To spar him, not each other. One by one, they each tried to take down the Shifu to the best of their abilities. It produced obvious results. They were so beat from the fight, Shifu had to postpone the actual training until tomorrow morning. Lei was grateful for that.

What…the hell was that dream? Why was I on the weird snowy cliff? What was that weird guy with that armor? And why were the others so hurt…god, none of my dreams have been that weird. Lei thought, turning over on the hut's creaky floor.

Maybe it's because I'm so beat…or maybe that tea the Shifu gave us was made with saltwater. It's just a dream anyway. Nothing to worry about. She thought, before yawning and closing her eyes, forcing herself to fall asleep.

---

"Here is where you shall begin your first training as a group." The Shifu said, motioning his hand to Mt. Aspiration's cliff. To him, it merely felt like a pleasant breeze swept around him. But for the three students…

"N-No…problem…just…gimme a sec." Lei coughed, crouching down to keep from collapsing. The same couldn't be said for Yuan, who was standing as still as a statue taking shallow breaths, or Hong, who was face-down and breathing shallowly.

"Yes, the air is thin up here. But, I've been at this peak many times, and the air is no longer a hindrance for me. Training up here will increase your stamina, how far you are able to go in battle." The Shifu stated, looking out over the land before him.

"Y-Yes, Shifu!" Yuan spoke before he clamped his mouth shut again. Even speaking was hard as he found out. Lei groaned as she hefted Hong up to his feet, who was exhaling heavily.

"I expect great results, my students. BEGIN!"

---

"HAHA! S-SEE THAT, OLD MAN! NOTHING BUT NET!" Lei shouted, standing proudly upon the mountain's peak. Her braid billowed in the wind as she basked in the sunlight, a sharp grin etched on her mouth.

"Yes, good job, Lei. Despite the thin amount of air, you've bested your limits. Amazing job as well, Hong and Yuan." The Shifu spoke, looking at the two young men. They weren't as happy as Lei, both flopped on the ground with tiredness written all over their faces. But they still shakily gave a thumbs up to the other two.

"Hell yeah! No stupid air is going to defeat me!" Lei pointed her thumb at her chest as she exploded into laughter. "AHAHAHAHAHAhahaha…ha…ha…" she laughed, tapering off before she suddenly fell backwards, groaning.

Looks like the stupid air did defeat her.

In an instant, Yuan and Hong rose to their feet bolting over to Lei to help her up.

"L-Lei! A-Are you okay?" he asked, grabbing her arm to haul her up. Lei tiredly wiggled her arm around to escape from his grasp.

"G-Goooo awaaay! I don't need your…your help!"

"But…of course you do. You've collapsed." Hong said, before grabbing her other arm. "You're a lady after all. And my mother…" Hong got a distant look in his eyes before shaking his head. "My mother always said to treat ladies with respect! So let us help you!"

Lei's eyes widened in shock as she was brought to her feet, balancing for a second before stabilizing.

"A…lady? Me? A lady?!" she sputtered, pointing to herself. Hong glanced confused at Yuan, who met that with a shrug. Hong lowered his gaze for a second down Lei, before looking at her eyes again.

"Um…yes? Are you not a lady?"

Lei stopped frozen, processing what Hong just said…before a small grin spread across her face.

"...Heh…heh heh heh heh…hahaHAHAHA! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAA!" she exclaimed, clutching her side for balance. Hong was still confused(when wasn't he) but seeing Lei happy was good enough for him.

"Ha! HA HA HA HA HA!" he laughed alongside her. Yuan was utterly perplexed by the whole situation that happened in the past 5 minutes, but he couldn't help but go along.

"H-Heh heh heh heh…Heeheeheeheehee!"

The three young students laughed, grabbing onto each other for support as if they had heard the funniest joke ever. The Shifu simply stood and watched, a small smile on his lips.

"HAHA! Ha, oh…a lady…me. Honestly, Hong. You're a comedian, man."

"HA HA! No, I am not a comedian…but…what was so funny?"
"D-Don't worry about it," Yuan muttered, patting him on the back. "Just be g-glad you were the one that did it."

Hong glanced down at Yuan again as Lei stood by the cliff. "Did what?"

Yuan tilted his head at the girl, and although they couldn't see her face, they could imagine her smiling out over China.

"You made her laugh."

---

"Here is where we shall improve your speed and agility," Shifu said, spreading his hand out to the Bamboo Forest. It was just like how he and Lei remembered. Lei couldn't help but feel some sense of nostalgia when she looked around the familiar trees.

"Ha! This'll be a sinch, then! I know this place like the back of my hand! You boys'll have to try and keep up." She cockily grinned. Hong looked downtrodden as he prodded his belly.

"Speed…is not my strength."

"B-But Hong, you were dodging those swipes from the knife when we first met you! You were fast despite your size."

"Yes, I'm good at getting away from things…but simply running…I don't believe I can do that," he mumbled.

Yuan quizzically attempted to raise his foot from the earth. It was easy to do so, but when he put his foot back down, it seemed to recoil on the ground, taking some difficulty to properly place down his foot.

"Strange… It seems difficult to walk here…much less run. It's slippery, but also rough. This will take some effort."

Lei chuckled, dragging a finger across her nose. "For you, maybe. You guys'll just have to eat my dust. Now c'mon! Last one to the tree is a rotten dumpling!" she shouted before dashing off into the forest. Yuan hesitantly followed as Hong groaned belligerently, waddling after them. The Shifu stayed behind, watching his disciples go on with training, humming to himself.

"...Reminds me of the old days. Eh, Master?" he asked, seemingly to no one. He shook his head, following after the students.

---

"Another good day of training. Lei's performance is impeccable, no question she is the best of my students, no doubt."

The Shifu stopped, dipping his bamboo pen in ink again before resuming writing.

"Of course, that is not to say Yuan and Hong are useless. Yuan is slowly getting out of his shell, and Hong has made considerable advancements with his wisdom. Truly, I have picked the perfect students to train." The Shifu wrote, placing down his bamboo pen and placing the piece of parchment away in a small compartment by his bed. He sighed to himself, hearing the soft snores of Hong drifting from the other room. The moonlight guided its way through the small windows, allowing him a few motes of light.

"...I place my trust in them greatly. They've already begun learning at quite a fast speed. I'm almost surprised, to be certain." The Shifu chuckled, once more talking to himself.

"They're certainly learning much faster than Yi Pei and myself, Master! …I…I hope I am doing you justice. Xian Shan Quan has been passed to me, and it will now live throughout the coming ages thanks to you." He whispers, beginning to lay back to take a rest until he heard the sound of solid strikes. He got up, peeking his head out to see if his students were okay. Hong was flat on his back, still snoring up a storm while Lei was huddled like a baby panda on her side. The only one missing was…

The Shifu quietly stepped out of the hut, looking around before another series of strikes echoed through the night. Gasps of breath sounded, and the Shifu finally rounded the corner to see where the noises were coming from.

Yuan was hunched over, sweat pouring from his body, his shirt discarded as he exhaled heavily. The Shifu was ready to go over and ask if he was alright, but Yuan popped right back up, muttering to himself.

"Lei's really fast…and Hong's got all that muscle…I gotta figure out what I have…Then, the Shifu'll see me as a worthy student!" He muttered to himself, striking the tree in front of him repeatedly again. The Shifu hung back, a soft smile on his thin lips.

"Yuan…you stand out much on your own…"

---

"Well done, everyone. These past few days, you have improved very, very much. You've shown the true testaments of martial arts and have shown exemplary fundamentals, and proved that you are truly ready to wield Xin Shan Quan; The Earthen Heart." The Shifu spoke, looking over at all his students. Lin looked as ready as ever. Yuan looked much more confident than he ever was. And Hong…well, he was still the same. But he was still Hong.

"Which is why today, we will not be sparring. No, this will be a true battle. In doing so, you will learn the techniques I taught you, and draw upon your inner strength." The Shifu said, nodding. Lei couldn't contain her excitement as she let out a laugh.

"HAHA, YES! Finally, this is what I've been waiting for! Ohohohohoho, this is gonna be fun!" She cheered, bouncing up and down like a child.

Hong, of course, was focused on more important things. "This seems like a tremendous amount of work…we will have a feast after this, yes?"

The Shifu chuckled at their excitement, nodding. "Yes, yes, I suppose we will…but be advised. In a real battle, your opponent will hold nothing back. They would use every trick and trade they have to win. Which is why…" The Shifu patted down his beizi before assuming a stance. "Which is why I would like for you all to face me at once, and each of us will hold nothing back."

It was time for Yuan to speak up, who stuttered constantly. "B-B-But, isn't th-that a bit…u-unfair?"

"In a true battle, your opponents might not know honor. They'll use underhanded tactics to overcome you. You must be ready for anything." Yuan still looked against the idea, but nodded nonetheless.

"That's fine by me! Now I can finally do what I've been waiting for! GET READY FOR A WORLD OF PAIN, OLD MAN!" Lei shouted, immediately sprinting from her spot to jump-kick The Shifu. The Shifu nearly stopped to congratulate her. It was much better than when they first met. But, her speed of a cat was no match for the Shifu. Swiftly, he countered Lei, grabbing her leg and tossing her over his shoulder.

Just as he expected, Lei rebounded off the wall, kicking it off and extending her hand to claw at the Shifu with the fierceness of a monkey. As she did that, he could see Hong coming in, ready to unleash a swarm of strikes with the power of a bear. But, Hong was too slow, and Lei was going too fast. All the Shifu had to do was duck, and the two students collided. Hong's immense stature allowed him to remain standing, but Lei was sent flying by the backlash, landing on the one table they had. Thankfully, she was too light to break it. Bad news?

"OUCH! DAMMIT, HONG, YOU LEFT YOUR BREAKFAST HERE! THIS IS THE ONE OUTFIT I HAVE, NOW I GOTTA WASH IT!" she cried, her ru now stained with soy sauce and vinegar. Hong was too busy slowly turning to face the Shifu again as Yuan shakily approached.

"Sh-Shifu! I-I…FORGIVE MEEEEEEE!" he cried, launching a punch from his hips. The Shifu easily blocked it, kicking him in the chest and sending him back, but Yuan stayed on his feet.

Good. He's still standing. Shifu muttered, before suddenly executing a backflip as Hong fell forward. A worthy effort, but one where he wasn't able to right himself. As Yuan attempted to overturn the behemoth, Lei jumped from the table, facing the Shifu.

"Alright, old man. No more interruptions. No more little tricks and proverbs. We settle this like men." She grit, holding out her fist. The Shifu said nothing, extending a hand and performing a 'come here' gesture.

Lei's glare intensified, when suddenly the cross-shaped scar on her cheek began to glow a dull yellow. All of a sudden, she became a blur, before suddenly vanishing. The Shifu kept' his cool, his stance as rigid as a rock. The grunting of Yuan was blocked from his mind as he focused. She was still here, he knew that, he just needed to hear her.

But as he focused, something gripped his spirit. Another spirit, one a blazing fire to his calm stream. He knew immediately it was Lei's spirit. He didn't hear her. He sensed her.

And he was lucky he did, as Lei popped back into view as another blur, executing a flurry of kicks that looked like a kingfisher bombarding. But the Shifu didn't waver, blocking each and every strike before pushing her back, Lei landing on her feet again.

The Shifu moved in with his own speed, dashing around her with such speed it looked like he was walking. Lei's eyes darted all over, trying to find him. As the Shifu finally sent out a kick, Lei whipped around sending out a punch. The Shifu dodged it as Lei moved back with the cheekiness of a monkey.

My technique…she used my technique…well done, Lei. The Shifu couldn't help but think.

Guess it was time for him to show his skill.

As Lei was moving in, ready to unleash a fierce kick, the Shifu concentrated his will. He could feel his spirit enlighten, his mind going beyond its limits, his body forget its dead ends as he invoked his power.

Master…your technique…I USE IT NOW!

Before Lei could attack him, something flew from his hands. It was bright and fast, like a mini cannonball. She didn't know what it was, but as it hit her, she learned it hurt like fucking hell.

She was sent back, knocking into Yuan as Hong still lay on his stomach, sending the trio of students to the ground, groaning in pain. The Shifu calmed his spirit, eased his mind, and relaxed his body, but he could still feel the effects on him. That technique took a lot out of him.

"Great job, my students. You've shown amazing effort..that…will be all…for today…" the Shifu's words tumbled like a waterfall, as he collapsed to one knee, clutching his chest. A piercing headache rippled through his head as he groaned.

"Sh-Shifu!" Yuan cried, getting up and running to his side. Lei got up too, though much more slowly. She looked at the Shifu was a strange look, one that he had never seen on her before. Contemplation? Confusion?

"A-Are you okay?" she grunted. The Shifu nodded, rising to his feet.

"Y-yes…but, worry not for me…each of you have shown me how much you have learned. My tiredness is evidence of that." he chuckled.

"Each of you should be proud of yourselves. You have proven much more than I thought possible. Good job, to all of you." he said. Yuan looked like he was about to explode from happiness, but Lei looked more reserved. She and the Shifu locked eyes, and her expression still stayed. She knew something was strange about what the Shifu did, but didn't know what.

She will learn soon. Much, much sooner.

"Oooohhhh, ooooooohh…" Hong moaned, still lying flat. "So…hungry…eat…"

The Shifu grinned. "And still, he is hungry. Well, I promised that feast. I will make do on my promise."

As if a fire was ignited, Hong sprang to his feet, a dollop of drool falling to the floor.

"A feast! Food! What are we waiting for?" he excitedly stated, bounding out the door in the direction of Yunfa Market. Yuan hurriedly followed behind, while the Shifu and Lei lagged.

"...We better hurry to catch up before Hong eats us out of house and home," she mutters, cracking her neck as she follows the others. The Shifu nodded as he strolled to catch up.

She didn't ask me about the technique…she must truly be contemplating on it. Peculiar for her, but it gives me more time to come up with what I will say once she asks. He thought, his head too occupied to realize Lei had called the hut a home.

---

Months passed like the passing breeze. The students trained, and their master trained them just as well. The ever-flowing course of time allowed their skills to rise, their senses enhancing ever stronger.

The first student, her speed was unparalleled as she excelled above the others.

The second student, whose latent strength was beginning to make a resurgence.

The third student, his physical mass became more of a gift than a curse as he used it to his advantage.

And the master, whose wise ways and peaceful nature allowed them to flourish where they would otherwise fail. Slowly, but surely, they were becoming strong.

But, the master realized, he had little left to teach his students. Soon, their days of training would be a thing of the past. But, until then, he would keep training his students to the bitter end.

A shame that they would soon be met with power true.

---

The students were gathered once again in the hut that they had lived in for nearly so long. No longer were the creaky walls embarrassing or cheap, it was a show of how far they had come.

"Now, listen closely, my students…" the Shifu spoke, clasping his hands together, "We have trained for so long, and I have taught you many things. Today, however, will be the most important one of all."

Lei cocked an eyebrow, folding her arms. This was new. Usually, the old man did get sappy and go into proverb mode, but today he looked kind of serious about this one.

And I still haven't asked him about that weird move he did…just what was it? And why did it feel so…familiar when it hit me? She thought.

"Th-The most important? What is it?" Yuan asked. In the past months, his physique had improved and had even grown some muscles along with Lei.

"The most important lesson is to protect yourself and those that you hold dear." The Shifu stated. Hong cocked his head in confusion. Unlike Lei and Hong, his physique hadn't really changed much, though his belly had subdued in size a small bit. In contrast, his mental strength had improved, becoming much smarter than he was months ago.

"But…all I have to do is stand in front of people, and they are protected."

But, he was still Hong.

The Shifu chuckled, shaking his head. "While you are correct, Hong, it takes much more than that to protect someone. Now, to start, we shall-"

Before the Shifu could continue, laborious breaths began to drift into the hut, before growing in volume until someone burst into the hut, looking as if they had run the mile. As his sweaty face reared up, Hong immediately recognized him.

"Y-You!" he cried, quickly hiding behind Lei. "Wh-Whatever it is, I didn't do it! I haven't stolen anything!"

The restaurateur, however, ignored the blubbering blubber-boy and dove in front of the Shifu, hands clasped together.

"Sh-Shifu! Thank goodness you're here! You have to help us! Bandits are attacking Yunfa, nobody can do anything about it, they're too strong!" he blubbered.

The Shifu helped up a hand, stopping the restaurateur's cries. "Bandits, you say? What do they desire?" he asked, calmly.

"I-I don't know! They've taken our money, but then they demanded to be fed and forced the women to fawn over them! And they won't leave no matter how hard we beeeeeeeeg!" he cried, blowing his nose into his sleeve.

Yuan's fist suddenly curled into a fist, turning to the door. "We can't let that happen! It can't be that many, I'll deal with them!"

"Hey, I'm coming too!" Lei argued, Hong nodding excitedly.

"Oh, I wish to come too! It will be like a true fight, just like we practiced!"

Yuan nodded, tightening the bandanna around his head. "Then let's-"

"You will do no such thing!" The three students halted in their tracks, looking at their Shifu that suddenly shouted. "Strong as you are, and though you have numbers, it would be foolish and reckless.

Lei turned around, stomping forward. "WHAT?! The hell are you talking about, gramps? You're the one that trained us to do stuff like this, and now you won't even let us go help people?" she spat. The Shifu shook his head.

"You misunderstand. I have no doubt that you three would be able to show those ruffians what for…but-"

"But what?! Why won't you let us-"

"Then what will happen after that? If you beat them, they will just come back, bringing more, and they would be looking for you three. You would be putting yourself, and the town at risk. Sometimes, fighting is not the only option. Violence begets violence. Anger welcomes anger. Hate breeds hate." He spoke wisely, silencing his students. Lei glared at the ground, her teeth tightened into a sharp grimace. So long she had trained, so long she had fought, so long had she'd forgotten about her previous mission. These past months have been the best for her, where she felt somewhere she could actually belong. And now, the old man didn't even trust them to do something as simple as this?

But even through all her anger, she knew the old man was right. He always was. She hated it, that he always had something smart to say, but she'd be lying if she didn't admit his sayings were wise…if not complete bullshit at the same time.

"Your minds and your bodies have been honed, yet your hearts are still wanting. I, too, was like that. But you shall learn how to hone that, as well, in due time…"

Like just now.

"F-Forgive me, Shifu. I did not mean to speak out of t-turn…" Yuan chided himself, bowing. Hong hung his head as Lei folded her arms, letting out a grunt.

"Forget about that! What about the bandits!? If they're not going to fight-"

"Then I shall go." The Shifu said, walking past the restaurateur to the door turning to look at his students again. "I want you three to continue your training while I am gone. Understood?"

"Y-Yes, Shifu…"

"Of course…"

"Yeah, yeah…"

With that, the Shifu turned, followed by the restauranter, as he left the hut to head to Yunfa Market, leaving the three students in the hut.

---

The bustling streets of Yunfa market were quiet. Too quiet. The only noise being heard was the sound of boisterous laughter coming from up the streets. As the Shifu entered the marketplace, he could see the vendors hiding behind their stalls, crouched down to avoid the ire of the bandits.

"People," the restaurateur whispered, "I've brought the Shifu! He's going to save us from the bandits!" the vendors silently cheered, giving their thanks as the Shifu strode further down the street. The boisterous laughter erupted again, this time louder. Someone must have told a joke.

"There's enough wine here to get a dragon drunk!" one shouted, his speech slightly slurring. The Shifu folded his hands behind his back, thinking. He thought he had heard that voice before.

"And enough food for an emperor's banquet, and all for us!" Another similar voice shouted. Now it was apparent that the Shifu swore he knew that voice, but couldn't place where.

"And plenty of girls to keep us company." A rougher, deeper voice laughed, followed by the shrieks of several girls. Finally, the Shifu figured it out, the memory coming back to him as he picked up the pace. Now he was glad Yuan wasn't here, things might have turned out bad.

There, at the end of the market, lounging on an overturned cart while flocked by tear-stricken women was Sun Tzu Wang and his two brothers, laughing uproariously.

One guzzled down a cup of wine before tossing it away. "And to think it was this easy! We could have done this years ago!"

The other grinned, smirking lecherously at a distraught girl. "Well, we did have some help, right brother?"

Sun Tzu nodded, enjoying a delicious peach on his homemade throne. "That's right, and it's all thanks to the Indomi-" he stopped, dropping his peach as he stood up. "YOU!"

The Shifu said nothing, stepping up to the three young men as they stepped back, the women taking the chance to flee.

"I advise you to leave this village in peace. I wish not to fight you young men even after what you have done," he spoke, standing straight and upright like a bamboo pole, not wavering.

Sun Tzu, however, began to laugh, clutching his stomach as he roared to the heavens, his brothers following in tandem.

"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! You are quick to assume it will be the same as last time, you old fool!" He laughed, dropping to the ground and making a fist.

"In these months, I have trained rigorously with a school of martial arts that has made me even more powerful than you! You can't hope to defeat me at all!"

The Shifu, his expression remaining the same, hummed to himself. "Another school of martial arts, you say?"

"That's right! Now, allow me to show you the techniques I've earned! BROTHERS, TO ME!" he cried, and the three siblings flung themselves at the Shifu, ready to attack. Sighing, the Shifu dashed away, suddenly appearing above one brother, sending a foot straight down on his head before moving to the other brother faster than the eye could see, laying a fist to his neck. In a matter of seconds, the unfair 3v1 was now reduced to a 1v1.

But, even after that, Sun Tzu still laughed. "Still using your same old tricks, old fool. Well, let's see you have a taste of this!" He shouted, backflipping onto the cart and springing off it, launching a kick at the Shifu. Effortlessly, the Shifu dodged, retaliating with his own kick. Sun Tzu landed, exerting a punch that narrowly collided with the Shifu's foot. The two combatants stood still, inches apart as they showed no sign of exhaustion.

Before the Shifu could leap back, Sun Tzu suddenly swept his leg, catching Shifu by his pants and tossing him over his shoulder, nearly effortlessly.

The Shifu's eyes widened as he was flung, turning in the air before landing on his feet. It was a long time- going on years -that a technique had worked on him. And that particular technique…he knew of it. The exact detail that it was used in, the way it flowed, how it was used, the Shifu knew.

Only one person was able to pull off that technique.

Sun Tzu froze in place, looking at his hands in confusion and awe. "I-I did it! I beat the Shifu! Look at me, everyone! Your hero has been defeated! I have beaten the Shif-" he was cut off as the Shifu retaliated swiftly, landing a kick to the side of Sun Tzu's head. The blow reverberated around the market as Sun Tzu fell face first, head over heels as he rolled over on the ground before coming to a stop. The Shifu dusted off his beizi, sighing.

"The longest journey begins with but a simple step. I hope that you are humbled by this experience." The Shifu said, clasping his arms and bowing to the south. Sun Tzu painfully stood up, his brothers doing the same as Sun Tzu corrected his jaw back into place.

"D-Dammit! How could I lose? Impossible, IMPOSSIBLE!" Sun Tzu screamed, clawing at his temples. Before the Shifu could attempt to soothe him, he ran his hands down his slowly bruising face, forming his mouth into a manic smile.

"Just you wait, old man…just you wait. This is just the beginning! Soon, that rotten shack you call a school and your students, especially that coward Yuan, will rue the day you crossed me! You will soon see!" he shouted, before turning and bolting away, his brothers tripping over themselves to follow. "B-Brother! Wait for us!"

As the bandits fled, becoming no more than a fading memory, the market erupted into cheers, vendors vaulting over their stands to bow at the Shifu.

"Oh, gracious Shifu! Thank you for helping us! Please, you've rescued us from this terrible time! Who knows what those bandits would have done if you were not here?! A feast for the Shifu! No, he shall eat for life and pay not a single coin! Cheers for the Shifu, a thousand if possible!"

And though as the crowd sang him praises, the women complimenting him on his courageous prowess and wanting to thank him, and the expensive gifts he was offered, the Shifu could only think of one thing.

Just what did Sun Tzu mean by, 'This is just the beginning…'

---

The Shifu quickly left Yunfa Market, not wasting a second. He thanked the vendors before he left, taking no meals, taking no women on their offers, and not cashing in that 'eat for life' deal. The bandits were dealt with, and he had to reach his students to teach them their lesson. But, he got an uneasy feeling in his heart, a bad aura that nearly sent him to the ground.

Why am I feeling this way…what Sun Tzu said was merely empty threats…yet, a cornered rat will do anything to survive…what has he done? He thought as he climbed up Mt. Aspiration to the hut.

However, as he approached, he could plainly see something was wrong; his hut had been trashed. Cracks had formed on the outside, and a portion of it had crumbled, exposing the inside to the elements. Deep impacts were also evident, one might think a cannonball had done so, but the way they looked to be formed led the Shifu to believe they were done by fists.

And finally, the window had been smashed, wood blanketing the ground. Although, the Shifu was more worried about the figure lying in the remains of the window, barely breathing and clinging to life.

"LEI!" the Shifu quickly ran towards his fallen student, crouching down to her. She looked a mess, her face was slowly forming a black eye, her lip was slowly swollen, and a large bruise on her cheek. Her signature ru, her only piece of clothing besides her pants, was tattered and frayed and her braid had come undone, exposing her frazzled hair. Her fists had become bloodied, and several cuts were etched onto her skin, blood pooling beneath her as the Shifu raised her head.

"Lei! LEI! Speak to me, Lei! Wake up!" The Shifu lightly shook her, fearing the worse. A terrifying moment passed as the Shifu feared his thoughts to be true before Lei coughed up a stream of blood, her breathing hitched and wavering.

"Y-You're back…b-but…you're too late…" she coughed, her body aching at just talking.

"Save your breath, Lei, we have to get you to-"

"Wh-While you were gone," she sputtered, not listening to him or not hearing him thanks to her delusional state, "Th-they came…the people from the fortress in the f-forest…they attacked us. We tried everything we could to stop them but-"

"Where are Hong and Yuan? Are they alright?" The Shifu interrupted. Lei bit her lip, shivering at the question when suddenly the Shifu lifted her up. Lei let out a prolonged shriek as the Shifu helped her to her feet, limping on his shoulder as he brought her into the hut.

The inside was worse than the outside. The one table they had was splintered into firewood, his teapot broken, training dummy destroyed, the floor broken, more indents in the wall…

The Shifu set Lei on the softest part of the floor, Lei choking back her cries as she curled up into a ball.

"Th-There were too many of them…t-too strong…too fast. They were merciless, a-and, a-and…" she breathed, and the Shifu shook his head.

"And? What happened after, Lei? Where are Yuan and Hong?" Lei sniffled, trying to talk through the series of tears that were beginning to drop down her face.

"Th-They were too strong…and I was too weak…I was too weak to save them…"

---

It had been mere moments since the Shifu left for Yunfa Market, and already the three students had forgotten about their promise of training. They were still antsy to do something, to prove they had done their training well, but they were stuck in the hut. Lei was busily letting out her frustration on the training dummy while Hong gorged himself on some leftover dumplings. Yuan was busy writing something, before tossing down his bamboo pen until Lei suddenly landed a devastating kick to the dummy, sending its head flying away as it landed softly.

"W-Wow," Yuan gasped, "Y-You must be really mad, Lei…"

"YOU'RE DAMN RIGHT I'M MAD." She growled, flopping on the ground roughly. "We spend months and months training, doing whatever the old man says, but the first time we actually get a chance to use them, he says no and goes off and does it himself!" she huffs, her large sleeves billowing as she threw her hands up. Hong finished his dumplings, gulping as he watched Lei throw her fit.

"...Lei, if it's not rude for me to ask…but why did you begin to train with Shifu? To only fight?" he asked. Lei turned to shout at him, but stopped, letting out a struggling sigh. It was Hong, there was no way he was being sarcastic, he was truly asking. She had to think first. She first joined to get back at the Shifu, to catch him off-guard and pay him back for embarrassing her back in the bamboo forest. But that had been months ago. She had multiple opportunities to make good on her promise, but each time she waited, making excuses on it 'not being the right time'.

"...Ya' know what? Yeah, that is why I started training with gramps." she responded bluntly. Yuan and Hong looked at eachother, a motion they had become familiar with whenever talking with Lei, and turned back.

"Um…why? Why did you wish only to fight?" Yuan asked next, setting down his pen. Lei let out a gravelly groan. What was it, interrogate Lei day?

But still, a deep part of her mind urged her to share. These two, Lei and Hong, were the only people aside from the Shifu she had spent prolonged time with. They ate together, trained together, and slept together. She had spent so long sleeping with one eye open, but with them she felt comfortable actually getting a good night's sleep. Why couldn't she share something with them just once and not be hostile?

"...I don't remember anything when I was a kid. And I mean, like a little kid. I grew up on the streets, having to fight to eat, eat to survive. Like a wild animal. And I saw other people, well-off fucks, have things I could only dream of. It…made me angry. Why did they have food to eat, comfortable clothes to wear, and beds to sleep in while I had nothing? So, I stole. Became a bandit, started stealing from people and shaking them down. I never got as well off as the rich assholes, but it was enough for me to not die.

"Then, I posted up in the Bamboo Forest, and I had the bright idea to try and shake down an old man." she chuckled, remembering the memory like it was yesterday. "And wouldn't you believe it, that old man kicked my ass all the way to diyu. And I was mad. Madder than I had ever been in my life. And I got even madder when he offered to teach me his Kung Fu. I wanted to get back at the bastard, so I agreed so I could use it against him. And I kept' thinking about it, and seething, and getting angry…until I just…forgot about it." She shrugged. "I mean…I used to feel so mad whenever I remembered that he beat me…but now? I don't care…heck, sometimes I think it's a good thing I mugged him. I got a place to sleep, food, and learned a martial art that only 4 people know of." she shrugged.

"So…yeah. That's why I joined. That answer your question?" she asked, turning to the boys. Yuan nodded after a second, twiddling his thumbs.

"I…I can understand that. I…wasn't the bravest person in my village. In fact, I was a wimp. I used to get teased, called a weakling by the other kids when I got scared. I felt…trapped. Like I couldn't get out. M-My parents, they tried to help me. They were the most important people in my life…b-but then the sickness came and…" Yuan exhaled and let out a choked sigh. "Th-They died."

"My grandmother began to take care of me, but we barely had any money. I wanted to help, but…I was scared. I wanted to do nothing more than to stay where I was, curl into a ball and not make any decisions because I felt weak and scared. But, then I ran into Sun Tzu, and he coerced me into picking pockets. I didn't say no. I was-"

"Scared?" Lei finished for him.

"Frightened?" Hong added. Yuan nodded.

"Y-Yeah. But that day, the day Shifu was in town, I suddenly felt this urge to stand up for myself, to do something. And when I did, the Shifu saved me. And I thought, 'Hey, if I get him to teach me, maybe I won't be scared anymore. Maybe I won't be weak. Maybe I'll be like him.' I didn't want to stay where I was, to not go forward. I saw a path…and I took it. That's why I joined." he stated, twiddling his thumbs. Lei nodded a tiny bit resting her head on her knee. She could see where Yuan was coming from. When she was younger, she too ran into a nasty bully that wanted her to become a part of his gang or else they would fight her. She struck first and had to get out when his friends showed up, but she didn't back down and take it. She went her own path.

"I understand." Hong suddenly said, bringing the other's attention to him. "But…I joined for a different reason. You see…my real name isn't Hong." he stated. Lei and Yuan's brows furrowed, waiting for him to say he was joking and correct himself. When he didn't, he continued.

"My real name is Sammo. Sammo Hakka. I used to belong to a rich family, but…even then, my body was still hungry. I wasn't the son they wanted, I shamed them just because of the way I looked. One time, my mother…she really let me have it. She said that I was eating them out of house and home, that I was a failure, and I didn't deserve to live." He said, without a single negative emotion in his voice.

"And I just…couldn't take it anymore. I hated being mocked, I hated being made fun of. So…I attacked her. I was so…mad. She was my mother and I loved her, but at that moment, I hated her. I think I almost killed her until someone found me. I ran away, changed my name so they wouldn't find me. I don't know if they are still looking for me, but I don't want them to find me. I don't want to go back. That's why I joined, not just for food. I wanted to just…get away." he said. After that, there was a steady silence in the hut as Yuan and Lei processed what Hong had said.

"Jeez…do you want us to call you Sammo now? Or…"

"No, Hong is fine. I just figured that since we were sharing our pasts, I might as well pitch in." He said. Lei shrugged, it wasn't like she was inviting anyone to share their past after she shared hers.

"But…these past few months have been great! Shifu has taught me so much, and I feel like I've gotten better…and, I don't know, training with you guys has been…fun." spoke Yuan, shocking Lei. Fun? She was…fun to hang around with?

"Yes, I agree! I've come to think of you as brothers if you don't mind. Even Lei!" Hong added. Ignoring that for now, Lei couldn't help but realize the tingly feeling in her heart. It wasn't anger like most of the time, or fear, not even sadness. It felt good. She didn't know if she had ever felt this.

'Is…is this what it feels like to belong somewhere? To be happy? It feels… good.'

"...Fine. I guess," she groaned, hating that she was even saying this, "These past months have been…a good time, I'll admit that." she scoffed. Immediately, Yuan and Hong's faces exploded into smiles. And even though she tried to tough it out, Lei couldn't help but smile as well.

THUMP THUMP THUMP. The student's heads turned to the door at the knocking, slow and hard. They glanced at each other, rising to their feet. It couldn't have been the Shifu, he would have walked straight in…or was this some kind of test? They couldn't see anything out the window, so it must have just been one person.

"Uh, who is it?" Hong asked, ignoring the sharp elbow jab Lei gave him. A moment passed before another series of knocks came.

"...I'll get it." Yuan motioned for the others to stay where they were as he approached the door. Lei's warm feeling in her stomach was suddenly replaced with a cold, sharp feeling as she began to shout out to Yuan, but it never came.

The door flew off its hinges, pushing Yuan back as he toppled to the floor. Before Hong and Lei could react, a dozen men charged. Some were shirtless and had their hair in a queue, while others wore black yi-fu with something written in Hanzi on the back. Lei could read it though, as suddenly she was assaulted in the stomach getting thrown back into a wall while Hong was still standing.

"Yuan! Lei!" he cried, as more of the men began to charge into the small hut, leaping on Hong and peppering him with hits. Without hesitation, he began to spin in place, kicking out at the men that surrounded him with the force of a stir fry. Many of the men flew across the hut, but some were able to dodge and continue their assault.

Lei shakily made her way upright, ready to help. She leapt and landed a jump kick on one, spinning and hitting the other forceful push before smashing her fist into another's face.

"O-Ouch…Lei, Ho-" Yuan croaked, his sentence cut off as a dozen men jumped on him, pinning him down.

"Yuan! Hold o-" Hong stopped his spinning, running to help Yuan when one of the men struck out, striking his knee with a furious kick. He toppled like a fallen tree onto his back, and though the men held him down, he wasn't going to be able to get up without help.

"Hong! Yuan! You sons of-LET THEM GO!" Lei cried, leaping onto one and tossing him away, turning to the last group of men wearing yi-fu's. But they didn't advance. Instead, they reached into the pockets of their pants, each of them pulling out throwing stars, sharp to the touch.

"Oh, shi-" the stars were thrown, and Lei dove to get out of the way. But the throwing stars still struck, slashing her across her body as she fell to the ground.

"GAH! You…!" she spat as the men held her down, all three of the students now down for the count. "What the hell do you want? Why are you here? If you want money, look somewhere else!"

The men stayed quiet, however, as they looked towards the door. One more figure stood in the doorway, his height making him have to duck his head as he walked in.

He was easily the size of two pandas stacked on top of each other, towering above all who stood in the room. His eyes were sharp like a tiger and blue like a blizzard. His hair was pure gray, but his face was that of a young man, not a scar or blemish on him. Lei would have thought he was cute if not for her situation. His yi-fu stood out against the other men, with blue shoulders that gave way to a chest of white tied with a yellow cloth. In the middle was an emblem of a black dragon surrounded by red, like the setting sun. Lei didn't know who he was, but he oozed the confidence and regality of an emperor.

"Forgive my intrusion," he spoke, his voice calm and collected but with the slyness of a fox, "But I believe I am looking for your master."

"W-What would you want with our Shifu?! A-And why have you attacked us?!" Yuan cried, struggling to escape the men's grasp.

"Your Shifu and I…go back. It is imperative that I see him. Oh, and as for this?" He motioned to the men gathered around him. "This was merely a test to see how well his students have been trained. Though, now that I am seeing it…your techniques need some work."

"No, they don't! Shifu trained us perfectly! All of these guys attacked us at once! We didn't stand a chance!" Hong objected.

"Yes, I can see that. Now, I stand to believe that your master is not currently here, which means my trip down here was all for not. A pity, I was so hoping to be able to see him. Would you children mind telling me where he is?" he asked, walking to Lei and crouching down to his level. She didn't say a word. She glared with every sense of spite she could muster, trying to drill a hole in this man's face. It didn't work, but that man suddenly grabbed her face, running a thumb along her scar.

"Hmm. Curious. And here I thought there were only so many." He said aloud before dropping Lei's hand. She felt dirty by him just touching her, and she wanted nothing more than to take a long bath.

"Look here. Does this look familiar to you?" he asked, opening his clenched right hand. Etched onto his palm was a cross-shaped scar that resembled Lei's greatly. But she just shrugged, still struggling. "Yeah, so what? You get a boo-boo? Want your mommy to kiss it for you?"

The man sighed, standing back up as he dusted off his clothes. "Clearly, you are unaware of just what this means. But no matter. You too shall see just what it means. Now your master is not here, that I see. It is dire that I meet with him to settle unfinished business between him and I. And, to make sure he'll come see me…" he snapped his fingers, the men holding Yuan and Hong suddenly forcing them up and dragging them away. Those holding Hong had a longer time getting him to move.

"I'll take his students and show them some real Kung Fu." He grinned down at Lei, her eyes widening.

"No, NO! Take me, you bastard! TAKE ME INSTEAD! LET GO!" she shouted as the man turned to leave.

"I don't think so. You have intrigued me, child. You must know your full strength before you can even see a display of my power. Tell your master that Ou Di Wan Lee is waiting for him, and the Indomitable Fist is ready to welcome him. Goodbye for now, child." he finished, the men filing out of the house as Ou Di Wan Lee ducked down to head out.

But Lei wasn't finished. Lei was angry. Lei was furious. Before their very eyes, the men holding her suddenly were grabbing air as Lei suddenly vanished, appearing in the doorway. Her scar glowed a bright and vibrant yellow as she charged at Ou Di Wan Lee.

"WE'RE NOT DONE YET, ASSHOLE! I WANT YOU DEA-" before she could righteously attack Ou Di Wan Lee, as if from nowhere, two pairs of blades blocked her, before a swift kick sent her back into the hut. Her scar glowed again before dimming, and she busted through the wooden floor of the house.

"It seems as if the child still has not learned. Lin." he nodded at the girl wielding the blades before him, then pointed to the house. "Educate her, but don't kill her just yet. You'll get your chance soon."

The girl nodded, sheathing her blades as she walked into the house, grabbing Lei by the braid and lifting her up. A devilish smile appeared on her face as her grip tightened.

"With pleasure, master."

---

The Shifu listened as Lei finished her recollection. His hands which could break boulders, knock a human out, and fight off a tiger were shaking. In fear? In anger? Even he did not know.

Lei had fallen asleep after, all the crying tuckering her out quickly. The Shifu watched over her carefully, making sure she didn't pass from her injuries in her sleep. He looked back over to the wall above his room and grit his teeth. Stained with ink and written in Hanzu, 'Indomitable Fist' was written on the wall. The Shifu looked up at it, the rage in his body reaching a boiling point as he punched the wall, easily creating a hole through his already destroyed abode.

"There will be a reckoning…mark my words." He muttered, holding his hand. "The Indomitable Fist will pay for the sins they have committed today. These deeds will not go unpunished! MARK YOUR DAYS!" he cried to the heavens, not caring if he woke Lei up.

The Indomitable Fist must pay.

---

The thin air on Mt. Aspiration was no stranger to the Shifu or Lei as they stood atop it, both bowing to the south. It was just yesterday when the Shifu came home and saw his house ransacked and two of his students kidnapped. Lei's injuries had healed considerably from yesterday, her lip had stopped swelling, her black eye had disappeared, and the cuts on her were beginning to close. It was a miracle, but the Shifu knew of it all too well. And it was about time for her to learn.

"Lei." He said, stopping the bowing. She stood up straight and looked at him, nodding. The Shifu had expected her to charge the Indomitable as soon as she woke up, but to his surprise, she just sat in what seemed like shock.

"I believe it's time I told you the truth. I've been keeping some things secret from you and the others. You've matured greatly since I first met you. I have no doubt in my heart that you are my best student, which is why I am telling you this." said the Shifu. Lei nodded again, rubbing at her shoulder.

"Yeah, I know. It had something to do with this, right?" She pointed to the scar on her cheek. "O-Ou Di Wan Lee had one exactly like it on his hand. And months ago, when you used that technique without hitting me…it's all connected." she said, earning a nod from the Shifu. He pulled down the left sleeve of his beizi, exposing his left shoulder.

And etched right there on his skin was a cross-shaped scar just like Lei's and Ou Di Wan Lee's.

"Yes, you are right. Those with this mark possess extraordinary abilities. We are faster, stronger, than other people. We are able to do things that are considered magic. That, unfortunately, is all I know of it." he stated, looking out over the cliff.

"I first discovered my abilities when I was training under a master."

"Whoa, you weren't always a shifu, Shifu?" Lei asked, then nearly face-palmed of course he wasn't always a Shifu. But the words brought a small smile to the Shifu's face.

"Yes, I was a student to a great Kung-Fu master, Master Fang Huo. Me and Yi Pei, another student. We trained under him for years, learning his techniques. He was a better master than me, teaching me such wisdom that I thought only the gods possessed. And his proverbs, while they did get on my nerves, were also wise. Then, one day I discovered my master had the same scar as me. He told me of the abilities we both possessed, then sent me off on a journey to discover myself and test what I have learned. A year went by, and when I returned to my master, I found him dead." The Shifu sighed, remembering the memory. The destroyed dojo, the pain in his heart as he looked at his master's lifeless body. Lei bowed her head solemnly as the Shifu continued.

"I wished to carry on his legacy, as he had died too soon. So, I used the art he taught me and my own to create what you have learned; Xin Shan Quan."

"The Earthen Heart." Lei finished, nodding. She faintly touched the scar on her cheek, thinking of the past. Is that why she had always been so fast? So much more powerful than a girl her age could be? It was almost crazy that if she was told this years ago, she would have laughed in your face.

"Now then," he stated, turning back around, "I know not who this Ou Di Wan Lee is, but what he has done is unforgivable and has made me realize that my time is fleeting. Lei, I have something to show you. Pay attention. Miss nothing. Observe anything. My strength wanes, and I will not be able to perform this art again." he explained. Lei nodded, locking her eyes on the Shifu as he clasped his hands together. The wind began to blow, their clothes billowing in the wind as Lei could feel something rumble beneath her feet.

"Your spirit must be unwavering…" he announced as his scar began to glow.

"Your body must be at its peak, perfectly trained for this very moment." Before Lei's eyes, she could see an aura of energy begin to engulf the Shifu, the golden color nearly blinding her.

"And your mind as tranquil as a lake, but even then it can surge to split hardened stone! This is what Xin Shan Quan is about, this is what I have strived for all my life! With the culmination of my art…MARK WELL AND LEARN!" He yelled before suddenly he vanished from view. Lei stepped back in confusion, as she looked around for where the Shifu would appear from.

Then, he appeared, kicking and punching faster than the eye could see. It was like lightning striking over a hundred times all in one place. Then, he disappeared again before appearing to the west from where he originally was, unleashing another volley of attacks. He disappeared and appeared again, this time to the north. And finally, once more to the south. Then, it was as if 3 Shifu's appeared from the original, attacking from all 4 directions, puncturing the air itself, sending shockwaves that made Lei's braid shake like a wave at stormy sea.

All at once, the various Shifu's disappeared, the lone one remaining, before he collapsed on his knees.

"H-Hey!" Lei hurried towards the Shifu, grabbing his shoulders to keep him steady. "Are you okay? What the hell was that?"

The Shifu took several strangled breaths before he was able to talk. "That was my ultimate technique. Years of mastery, training, and discipline all in one fell swoop. I call it XuanYaLianShanQuan.

"Heavenly Peaks Descent…" Lei muttered, noting how excited she sounded when the words left her mouth.

"However, though you have become strong, you are not yet powerful enough to use it." The Shifu grunted as he stood up, feeling his bones ache. "But I believe that letting you know of it will improve your heart and soul. When the time is right, you will be able to use it." He stated.

"This is great and all, believe me, but what are we going to do about the Indomitable Fist? They still have Hong and Yuan in their clutches! We have to save them!" She exclaimed, grabbing the Shifu's shoulders.

"We have to do something. Please." The Shifu calmly patted Lei's hands, dropping her arms to her sides as the Shifu began the descent down the mountain."

"I believe you, Lei. The longer Yuan and Hong are in the madman's clutches, I fear for them. But, we are still not ready. The time is not right. For now, I want you to rest while I go get some tea." he said as they arrived at the hut. Lei looked at him incredulously.

"Tea? You're thinking about tea at a time like this? What about Yuan and Hong? What about Ou Di Wang Lee? We can't just sit here and drink some stupid tea while they're waiting for us! I just can't stand here while they…while they…" She struggled to find something to say, anything that could convince the Shifu, but she just hung her head, sighing.

"As you wish. She mumbled, heading into the hut. The Shifu turned, taking one last look at the hut as Lei went inside, and then trekked further down the mountain.

As he came to the crossroads that would lead him to Yunfa, Wong, and the Bamboo Forest, he took a deep sigh.

"I'm sorry, Lei. I don't wish for you to be hurt. It is my fault I went to Yunfa to deal with the bandits, and I wasn't there to protect you, Hong, and Yuan. I must atone for my mistakes. I hope you ]'ll find it in your heart to forgive me." he muttered to himself as he turned west in the direction of Bamboo Forest.

---

The trek through the forest was one the Shifu remembered from long ago when he first met Lei. Back then, she was a hot-headed girl who got easily offended if she thought you were disrespected. But in the past months, while she was still very much easy to anger, she had mellowed out, and the Shifu dared to say that she could even be nice at times.

His students. Lei, Yuan, and Hong. He wouldn't trade them even if he was offered to be emperor. Without them, The Earthen Heart art would not survive. His training had made them better than they were, towering over their shortcomings.

He could see the fortress through the bamboo stalks as he got closer, his heart beating faster. Would this be the end? Would he fail? No, he had to save his students. Even if he perished along the way, he had to save them. No matter what.

As he got closer, nearly passing the threshold where the trees stopped and the cobblestone started, a voice called out to him.

"Thought you could go without me, couldn't you?" ahead of him, a blur appeared from the underbrush, shaking the leaves from her hair. It had been a while since she had last been in Bamboo Forest, but it was a welcome return of nostalgia.

"Lei? I didn't hear you. What are you doing here?" the Shifu asked as Lei sadly smirked.

"I can thank you for that. You taught me to be faster, to go beyond my limits. You taught me to be better than who I was. And I…I want to help. I knew you were going to confront the Indomitable Fist, and I want to help. I won't let you pass unless you do, old man." Lei spoke, digging herself further into the spot. The Shifu was silent as Lei awaited his response, the suspense killing her.

After what seemed like hours, the Shifu spoke.

"Very well, Lei…however, I must know if you are truly ready for what will unfold once we delve into that fortress," he stated, sweeping his legs back as he held up his hands into a stance. "You must prove to me you have what it takes."

Lei gulped, ignoring the shivering of her body as she stanced herself up, the two martial artists locking eyes. A sharp breeze blew by, kicking up the leaves as they spun around them, like hungry moths to a fulfilling flame.

The Shifu, surprisingly, was the first to move, charging at Lei as she did the same. The Shifu throughout a punch while Lei kicked, both the attacks missing as they skidded away from each other. Lei quickly spun while unleashing a kick, which the Shifu effortlessly grabbed. But Lei twisted her heel, using her momentum to roll the both of them over to the ground. It was the first time she had even gotten a hit on the Shifu, but she wasn't worried about that at the moment.

The Shifu sprung up, disappearing from view as Lei was on her guard, closing her eyes to concentrate. Her ears perked up as she reached her hand out, grabbing the Shifu's fist and stopping him.

"H-Hmmm…your techniques are good, Lei."

"Ngh…thank the gramps I learned them from!" she struck out with a kick similar to the Shifu's, but he jumped away, bounding from tree to tree as Lei dashed after him. She sent out a rebuking attack with all the energy of a Tiger and Dragon, but the Shifu, retaliated with his own kick, tossing her down to the forest floor as he landed as well.

"Grrr…I'm gonna show myself to you, old man! Watch just how far I've come!" she cried as the scar on her cheek began to glow. The Shifu could see energy building in his hand as she formed a fist, energy building up around it.

"WITNESS ME, OLD MAN, WHILE I PROVE I'VE GOT WHAT IT TAKES!" she sent out a punch, the energy firing out swift and true as it was sent on a course towards the Shifu. However, the Shofu saw this coming a mile away. He tilted his head slightly, the arrow-like energy missing him entirely as he moved in on Lei.

"H-Huh? What the-" Lei had no time to perform another attack, as the Shifu landed a swift kick to her jaw and a knife hand to the gut, knocking the wind out of her and sending her toppling to the ground. But the Shifu grabbed her ru, keeping her standing as she shook her head deliriously.

"D-Damnit…I guess….I guess I really am weak after a-all." she chuckled dryly, clenching her toes.

"Lei…"

"I couldn't even protect Yuan and Hong from being taken the Indomitable Fist…you said it yourself, I was the best student…but I still wasn't able to save them…I still failed. I still lost…I'm to blame. It's all my fault…" tears sprung from her eyes, trailing down her cheeks as she choked on her words.

"...No, Lei." The Shifu firmly shook his student, shocking her out of her stupor. "What you're saying is not true. The Indomitablefist used unhonorable tactics to face you, there was no way for you to win. All that I have taught you, I knew you would be able to use them to the best of your abilities."

Lei sniffed, drying her tears. "Sh…Shi-"

"But, now is not the time for tears." he walked past Lei, looking behind him and motioning for her to follow. "Together, we shall face the Indomitable Fist, rescue Yuan and Hong, and make sure that heart of black, Ou Di Wan Lee, pays for his crimes! Are you ready?"

"I…" drying the last of her tears, her watery sad eyes being replaced with a determined glare, her frown morphing into a wry grin. "I was born ready."

---

The gates to the Indomitable Fist's fortress were laxly guarded, as always. Coincidentally, the same pair of guards who were on duty months ago were stationed there today.

"Man, I hate this. There's nothing to do, nothing to talk about, and I didn't even bring anything to eat. It would be better if I had gotten cleaning duty."

"Quit your whining! Look." the other guard snapped, nodding ahead of him. Two figures walked out of the forest, their heads low as they ambled forward.

"Hey, it's that same old guy and girl from those months ago! We didn't want you then, and we don't want you now! Get lost before we have some problems." the western guard said.

"That is unfortunate, very much so. You see," the old man said, looking up at the men, "This old man and this girl, we have some business to discuss with your master!" swiftly, the Shifu and Lei kicked forward, attacking the guards at the same time. The disciples couldn't react, their bodies crashing through the wooden gates and getting knocked out on the cobblestone ground.

"Two down, who knows how many more to go," Lei muttered, stepping through the opening they created with the Shifu. Before them lay a massive courtyard, 4 marble statues of lying tigers surrounding them. Behind them was the massive fortress of the Indomitable Fist, towering over them like predator to prey. But their eyes were not drawn to the building, it was what was in the courtyard. First, the familiar face of Hong and Yuan, strung up on wooden poles in some sort of crucifix formation.

The second was the scene that lay before them. A dozen Indomitable Fist disciples, one wearing a different color of pants and looking much stronger at the back, all looked at the boy standing before him. He had long orange hair and an orange beizi and looked to only be 1 or 2 years younger than Yuan. He stood with a furious stance that nearly made the Shifu step back.

"You don't remember me? YOU DON'T REMEMBER ME? My name is Wan Tan Na Bei, and your school is the one that killed my father. Now stand aside, I must speak to your master."

"Ha! A boy thinking he can boss around adults! How stupid do you have to be? Run along, little boy. Before you get hurt." the stronger disciple spat, Wan Tan Na Bei sighing.

"Then you leave me no choice…WITNESS ME!" he cried, his hair flying up into a spiky do', and it was then that Lei and the Shifu noticed the cross-shaped scar on his neck.

"What the-how many of these guys are there?" Lei wondered aloud as a fiery aura began to build around Wan Tan Na Bei.

"Long have I waited for this day where I would avenge my father by taking revenge, and I will not be dissuaded! My hands, bloody and raw from training, it was all worth it for this day! To unleash the secret technique of the Na Bei family! CALAMITOUS RAGE!" the fiery aura around Wan Tan Na Bei began to grow larger, the heat radiating from it causing all those within the vicinity to sweat. The members of the Indomitable Fist and Earthen heart all stepped back, the power of the attack becoming evident right as Wan Tan began to strike out…

…Until his own fiery aura exploded, his scar's glow fading away as he was now covered in soot and ash, his overwhelming energy back-firing. A crater had formed under his feet, now leaving him at a far shorter stature.

"F-Fa…" the Indomitable Fist disciples, unimpressed, began to move in, cracking their knuckles and gnashing their teeth.

"FAAAAAATHER!" Wan Tan Na Bei burst into tears, turning and bolting right past Lei and the Shifu and into the Bamboo Forest, his crying being heard all throughout the land of China. The Shifu and Lei glanced at each other, silently agreeing they would never speak of this again. It was just too sad…something like this would never happen again, and certainly never happened before.

"Well…that was…h-hey! It's the Shifu and the girl! Remember what Master Ou Di Wan Lee said; anybody who deals the finishing blow will be handsomely rewarded! Now go, go!" The stronger disciple urged, the dozens of students facing the lone pair.

"So much for an arms-open welcome. Get ready, Lei." The Shifu urged, Lei grinning.

"Didn't I say I was born ready for this? Try and keep up, old man!" with that, the two charged into the crowd, a tiger and dragon up against an army full of ravenous monkeys.

Yuan blearily opened his eyes, taking a great effort to do so. He was bloodied, he and Hong having been used as makeshift target dummies ever since they were brought in yesterday. Bruises covered their bodies, Hong's lip was bleeding, and Yuan swore he had lost a tooth.

"Ugh…H-Hong…Hong, w-wake up…" Yuan muttered, struggling to shake his pole to wake up Hong. After a few seconds, the large lad did wake up, his wooden pole having to be heavily reinforced to accommodate his weight.

"Oooohh…snack time already…?"

"N-No, but…what going on…?" Yuan mumbled, picking his head up to look over the courtyard, and his eyes flew open. He could immediately see the recognizable form of Lei and the Shifu, striking at all the Indomitable Fist disciples that came their way.

"H-Hong! It's Lei and Shifu! T-They've come to help us!" Yuan eagerly said, Hong smacking his lips.

"A dozen fried pork buns, 10 peaches that are juuuust ripe, soy sauce that flows like a river, and noodles…so many noodles…" Hong groaned, Yuan hearing his stomach rumble greatly. He sighed, shaking his head as he struggled against his confinements.

"They came to rescue us…and w-we have to help them! C'mon, Hong! We might n-not be as fast as Lei, o-or as powerful as Shifu…" Yuan groaned, straining against the roped that bound him. Even though they dug into his wrists, he struggled to break them, feeling the material burn his skin.

"We're still students of the Earthen Heart! And we…have to…FIGHT!" all at once, the ropes binding Yuan broke, sending him dropping to the floor, his bones and muscles aching. But Yuan ignored that, rushing into the crowd of enemies as Hong murmured incoherently about his next meal.

"Shifu! Lei!" Yuan cried as kicked an Indomitable Fist disciple, knocking him out.

"Yuan! We came here to save you, not for you to help us! Get outta here, you're hurt!" Lei urged, pushing another student into a tiger statue.

"No way! Ou Di Wan Lee has to pay for what he's done! I'm tired of running away, I want to help! I-If that's okay with you, of course, Shifu!"

"We all must band together to strike at his black heart! All of us must work together if we are to come out victorious!" The Shifu spoke, stepping off a student's head to jump into the air. "Hong! A momentous feast awaits you after we topple the Indomitable Feast! Fight with us!"

Immediately, Hong's eyes flew open, the ropes breaking apart as he merely flexed to break them. He dropped to the ground in a roll, not stopping as he barreled towards the group gathered.

"Outta the way!" Lei cried, the members of the Earthen Heart jumping away from the living boulder that moved towards them. The Indomitable Fist wasn't so lucky, all of them getting launched as Hong barreled into them, sending them straight to unconsciousness.

"You had me at feast! Oh, and stopping the Indomitable Fist. There's no time to lose, we must make haste!" he exclaimed, turning to dash into the fortress, the others quickly following behind him.

"There goes the heartwarming reunion, but that can be saved until after we air this place out. C'mon, straight the Ou Di Wan Lee!" Lei cheered, as they moved forward the assault the Indomitable Fist fortress.

---

Ou Di Wan Lee tapped his fingers on his throne, the rushing of the waterfall behind him doing nothing to drown out the noises of the student's cries, the roars of white tigers, nor the encouragement the members of the Earthen Heart shouted to each other throughout the halls.

Camaraderie. What a foolish gesture. Each of them would be so much stronger if they merely focused on themselves alone, but instead, they wasted their energy helping one another. Ou Di Wan Lee just couldn't understand it.

The members at his table, all stoic and calm despite the war that was going on outside their room. Each of them had been trained to the best of their abilities, being taught that self-preservation was to be used at all costs. If Ou Di Wan Lee gave the word, they would all kill each other without a moment's notice. That was what made them the best.

Suddenly, something flew through the curtains of their enormous hall, sailing forward until it came to a stop at the head of the table. 4 figures then walked in, and Ou Di Wan Lee could feel their fury even from across the room. Still, he smiled, leaning his head on his knuckle. The fun could finally begin.

The Shifu, his chest heaving a great deal, pointed a finger right at the man sitting on the throne. "You. You are Ou Di Wan Lee, the master here, are you not?"

"That's him," Lei said through gritted teeth, her face rushing with sweat. "I'd single out that bastard anywhere!"

"I-It's true, it is him. He's the man that attacked us!" Yuan called out, fists forming even though his heart hammered heavily.

Hong scratched his head, his other hand holding onto the tail that belonged to an unconscious white tiger. "Yes…I do believe that is him. Though, truth be told, I did not get a good look at him…"

Ou Di Wan Lee's grin extended. "We meet at last, Shifu of Xin Shan Quan; The Earthen Heart. Or should I say…Roshi?" The Shifu visibly stepped back in shock, not expecting to hear his name after so long.

"You…how do you-"

"Master Fang was eager to talk about you when I returned to meet him. And by the way you reacted, I'm guessing he has never mentioned me?" Ou Di Wan Lee asked. The Shifu stayed silent, causing him to sigh.

"It seems not. You see, you and Yi Pei weren't the master's only students. After you left on your pilgrimage, Roshi, Master Fang took me in as his student. He taught me lots of things and was even surprised when he learned I shared the same gift as him. But…he was frightful of the way I fought. He was too…idiotic about the values I shared. He called me a fool, stating that fighting alone was a way of straying away front the path." Ou Di Wan Lee grimaced. "The fool. He couldn't understand. So, I taught him a lesson. Taught him just how strong I was without the help of others, without relying on such foolish things such as 'companionship' or 'empathy'. The true might of my power…and he just couldn't survive it." Ou Di Wan Lee explained, the idea finally getting across to the Shifu.

"You…you killed my Master! You slaughtered him in cold blood! You're a monster, not even human!" the Shifu exclaimed, stepping ever closer to the table. Ou Di Wan Lee huffed.

"Hmph. I see even you cling to Fang's foolish sentiments. A pity, I seeked you out just so I could test if you were stronger than him. But by the way your students fought…" he peered at each of the students, shaking his head. "I see that, just like Fang, the youthful dross you picked as your students were no match against true power."

Lei couldn't keep quiet anymore, stomping up next to the Shifu. "True power? Is that what you call sending an army to attack my master's home? By kidnapping my friends? To sending your lapdog to attack even when I could not fight anymore?!" she shouted, her fists shaking.

"L-Lei's right! That's not true power, that's pushing someone around! You're nothing but a bully, Lee! And I've dealt with enough bullies to know that you're the worst of them!" Yuan yelled, taking his place next to the others.

"I might not be the smartest, but even I know when someone is too full of anger. Too full of rage. Pushing your anger onto us because you cannot control it yourself…you're not a master of an art. You're a cornered rat, looking for a way to survive." Hong called, stomping up next to everybody else.

Ou Di Wan Lee furrowed his brow, his fist clenching as his grip tightened on the arm of his throne. "I see that I misjudged you all greatly. You cannot deal with true power, you are still blind. As I've said to you, girl. You cannot face true power just yet. As a way of apology, I will stoop down to your level, just this once."

He spread his arms out, motioning to the members sitting at the table before them. "These shall be your opponents in combat. San Xi, Su Xi." Two members of the table stood up, looking identical to each other by their faces and brown hair. San Xi, with an orange yi-fu, and Su Xi with a blue one.

"Yi Xi, Er Xi-the 4 brothers of Chaos." Another identical pair stood, Yi Xi with a red yi-fu and Er Xi with a green one.

"Tong Cha, Sha Cha." another pair stood up, much older than the four brothers and much bigger. Their beards and hair brought to mind the whiskers of a catfish, Tong Cha had a red vest and blue pants while Sha Cha had a blue vest and green pants.

"Nan Cha, Pei Cha-the 4 brothers of destruction." Nan Cha and Pei Cha stood up, identical to their brothers apart from their clothes. Nan Cha wore a green vest and blue pants, and Pei Cha wore a golden vest and red pants.

"Chan." A tall woman, wearing a red dress which brought attention to her long legs with no pants, stood up. Her purple hair was adorned in a single long braid like Lei's, with yellow pearl earrings. She held a bo staff in one hand as she bowed.

"Lin." the shortest member of the table, a girl with her yellow hair done in twin braids, two white flowers adorning the side of her head while also wielding twin swords. Lei could feel her anger rise as she bowed, and Lin opened one eye while flashing a grin at the girl, the green pearl earring on her neck sparkling.

"Xian-the sisters three." the last member of the sisters was the biggest, her green hair tied into a long braid, a pair of roses on the sides of her hair. She wielded a pair of paper fans and two blue pearl earrings hung from her ears.

"And finally, with Roshi knowing all too well who this is…" the last member stood up, an old man with a flowing white beard and orange robe, his bald head shimmering in the water's surface. He and the Shifu locked eyes, not a word being spoken between them, but a million feelings passing.

"Yi Pei Kou, Master Fang's final student. Now…" Ou Di Wan Lee extended his arms, a manic smile on his face. "Let the revelry of blood begin!" he cheered, each member of the table readying a stance. The Earthen Heart members looked at each other, nodded, and jumped up onto the table.

"Come at us with all your strength! We will be ready!" The Shifu shouted, just as the 4 Xi brothers dove towards them, all of them throwing a punch. Lei countered with a spinning kick, sending San Xi to the floor. Yuan blocked Su Xi's punch, sweeping his legs before delivering an elbow strike to the gut, throwing him off the table.

"Soon, all will know the name Er-" Er Xi's punch connected, and for a second he found himself growing jubilant, but his opponent did not go down. He looked up, coming face to face with Hong Hakka, who shook his head in pity.

"-X-XiiiiIIII!" Hong grabbed him by the color, before throwing him over his shoulder, colliding with the floor. Yi Xi's punch was dodged by the Shifu, and when Yi Xi attempted a kick, the Shifu gave him a forceful push, sending him off the table.

Earthen Heart: 4. Indomitable Fist: 0

The table suddenly quaked, as the Chas brothers lumber on.

"You should feel honored to die by Tong Cha's hand!" the behemoth bellowed, sending a punch right at Yuan. The nimble boy dodged, jumping up and delivering a kick right to Tong Cha's head. Lei was busy with Sha Cha, who was lumbering towards her. When he attempted to flatten her with his gut, Lei slid between his legs, Sha Cha landing on nothing but his own belly. He sputtered in pain as he uselessly flailed about, Lei covering her mouth to hide her laugh.

"Pei Cha will be your death!"

"Nan Cha will be your doom!" the last pair of brothers announced, standing before Hong and the Shifu.

"Do they ever stop their taunting?" Hong asked. The Shifu shook his head.

"Their Pride is too big, clouding their mind. Come, Hong. Let us humble them." the Shifu lept up, delivering a swift kick to Nan Cha's nose, sending him reeling. Quickly, he attacked again, sending a punch to his head that made him topple off the table.

Pei Cha sized Hong up, the boy steeling his body for battle. With the strength of an ox, Pei Cha ran at Hong, his belly extended outward. Hong did the same, the two stomachs clashing like tigers locked in battle. But though Pei Cha's belly was bigger, Hong had a sturdier body. He held his stance firm, flexing his stomach and sending Pei Cha away, the large enemy landing on a fountain.

"Alright, now next is-" Yuan began, but Lei held up her hand.

"No. Their mine. You guys catch your breath. I have a score to settle with these insects." she spat, not waiting to see if they would listen to her. The boys looked to the Shifu, who nodded sagely. From what Lei had told him, she wanted to make Lin pay. And he wasn't going to stop her.

The three sisters bounded onto the table, looking down at Lei as if she wasn't there.

"I am Chan, the one that will take your life," Chan spoke, twirling her staff before rushing at Lei with the fury of a flaming dragon. But Lei simply stood there, waiting until the last possible moment to catch her staff between her hands, smirking.

"You're all talk!" She said, swinging on the staff and kicking defiantly at Chan. The force caused her to fly back, leaving her staff in Lei's hands.

"I, Xian, will be to one to defeat you." before Lei could react, the lumbering figure of Xian appeared behind her, knocking her away with her fans. Lei didn't expect that much force, but hung on nonetheless, and just in time too. Out of nowhere, Lin jumped up, falling from the skies as she held out her blades. Lei blocked with Chan's staff just in time, two girls glaring at each other.

"Lin's the name, and killing's my game! And for the moment, you're my hunt!" she shouted gleefully. Lei grit her teeth, the fire in her heart burning as she remembered the beatdown Lin gave her yesterday.

"If killing's your game, then you're really bad at it if you couldn't kill me!" she snarked, making Lin's glare harder.

"Please, you were just a morsel to me. In fact, killing you wouldn't even be a part of my list. You're too weak, not important enough, and most of all? You're just a pretty face with nothing else going for you!" Lin laughed, digging her blades in deeper. She waited for Lei to devolve into stammers, maybe even started crying. But those never came, as Lei's eyes glared with the intensity of a tiger, nearly growling as she spoke back. "What did you call me?"

Before Lin's eyes, Lei's scar began to glow, and suddenly she vanished, the staff disappearing along with her with Lin's blades still embedded into it. Behind her, she could hear a sharp snap, then a cry escape from Chan before she suddenly went sailing over Lin, landing roughly on the table. Her dress was in tatters, and her face was roughed up when just a minute ago she looked pristine and pretty. Her staff had been broken in half, the two splinted parts sticking out of her beautiful legs, blood coating the weapon.

"But…how…" she coughed out, before closing her eyes. Lin gasped in shock, but the battle wasn't over yet. Xian let out a pained shout, and Lin turned around quickly to help her sister. But she was too late, as a blue disappeared before her eyes, and Xian was covered in several sharp cuts from her paper fan, which were ripped into several pieces.

"No…way…" Xian groaned, falling off the table, leaving Lin the lone sister in the battle. She took on a stance, ready for anything until two familiar pairs of cold steel met her neck. Lei stood behind her, holding Lin's twin swords to their owner's neck, her grip tight. "Am I just a pretty face now, bitch?" she spat, kicking at the back of Lin's knees, causing her to cry out and kneel.

"N-No, wait! Please, please don't kill me! I don't want to die, please, please spare meeeee!" she cried, no longer the malicious killer she was not too long ago.

"That's just what I wanted to hear." with a flourish, Lei knocked Lin unconscious with the pommel of her sword before chucking them into the water, cracking her neck as she turned to the men. "C'mon, there's one more guy to beat, then it's Ou Di Wan Lee's turn to pay.

"Yes…but leave Yi Pei Kou to me…" the Shifu spoke, walking past Lei as Yi Pei Kou seemed to glide onto the table. The two old men stared at each other, long-forgotten memories coming to light.

"Why, Yi Pei? Why did you follow Ou Di Wan Lee? Have you forgotten what Master Fang has taught you?" The Shifu pleaded as Yi Pei Kou shook his head.

"The key to kung-fu is power, and the sympathy Fang taught us got in the way of that power. I expect you, Roshi, of all people to realize that." Yi Pei Kou said. The Shifu let out a pained sigh as he raised up his fists, Yi Pei Kou holding his hands over his head.

"...Do you remember the times you, me, and Master would sit around the fire, telling stories and laughing?" asked the Shifu. Yi Pei Kou stood for a second, then nodded.

"Yes…I do." he muttered. In the blink of an eye, the two vanished, and several shockwaves shook the table. Lei brought her hand in front of her face as the others stood behind her, several flashes of energy appearing around them. She could have sworn she saw the Shifu and Yi Pei Kou dashing around the table, trading punches that shook the very wind into obeying.

Finally, one last shockwave shook the table, and the Shifu and Yi Pei Kou reappeared. Both were out of breath, their clothes billowing by the wind they both created from their strikes. Yi Pei Kou's legs were shaky, and he took one more look at the Shifu.

"H-Heh…just like the old days…" he said, before collapsing off the table, the Shifu nodding solemnly.

"Yes, my friend…just like the old days." The Shifu brought his hands together, bowing to the south one more time before turning his attention to Ou Di Wan Lee, his students standing next to him. Slowly, very slowly, Ou Di Wan Lee began to clap. His smile was gone, replaced by a grimace.

"I must say, Roshi, I'm impressed. Not only have you and your students defeated my fighters, the best of the best, but you also did so without them even laying a finger on you. Good job. However…" he snapped his fingers, and from behind his throne two figures appeared, clad in black and white yi-fus.

"I've forgotten to introduce So Zu and Man Zu, elite assassin brothers that shadow my every move." The Zu's advanced forward, the Earthen Heart group on the defense.

"Were they to grow ambitious, they would have a fighting chance against me. This is why I keep them close, so as to constantly be on my guard every step of the way."

"Th-That's no way to live a life!" Yuan objected, the group edgeing together as the brothers stepped closer.

"As if you would know! We of the Indomitable Fist eschew things such as 'trust' and 'camaraderie'. For sentiment is the enemy of strength. Attachments bind lesser men, and prevent them from attaining true power! You are noteworthy examples and shall be shown just why your puny Kung-Fu shall be forgotten, and the Indomitable Fist shall carve its place in that annals of history!" Ou Di Wan Lee rejoiced.

"What do we do? They seem a lot stronger than the one we just fought." Hong whispered, his stomach rumbling. Either he was hungry, or very nervous.

"I-I don't know. Even if we all attack together, I'm not sure we can win! This…this might be the end…" Yuan muttered, his legs quivering and threatening to collapse him. Lei opened her mouth to speak, to say that even if they died here they went down fighting until the end, when a voice suddenly spoke in her mind.

Lei…listen…me, Hong, and Yuan will handle the assassins. And you, my disciple…you must face Ou Di Wan Lee.

Lei gasped aloud as the Shifu spoke in her mind, and she nearly responded audibly before she held her tongue. Focusing her thoughts, she responded in her mind. You're leaving Lee…to me?! But why?

Lee's intent from the start was to wear us all down by fighting his gauntlet of warriors. And unfortunately, we fell for it like a rabbit in a trap. He knows my strength will not last, and Hong and Yuan's as well. But he is unaware of your potential. The Shifu replied back mentally. And he was right, even after going up against the sisters, Lei didn't feel tired one bit.

Remember, Lei. Remember what I have taught you. My greatest secret, my ultimate technique! The Shifu thought, and Lei's thoughts went back to earlier that day atop Mt. Aspiration.

My spirit unwavering…my body at it's peak…and my mind like a tranquil lake, ready to surge at a moment's notice… Lei thought, her scar glowing faintly as she nodded. "I remember!"

Swiftly, she jumped further back on the table, Yuan and Hong reacting in shock. "L-Lei, what are you doing?!" Yuan called out.

"I'm doing what I've been trained from the start to do! So c'mon, Lee! I'm your final opponent, and I'm gonna make you pay!"

Ou Di Wan Lee glared harshly, his grimace extending. "So, instead of facing me yourself, you send this…pest to fight me? Ha…AHAHAHAHAHA! HEEHAHAHEEHAHA!" Ou Di Wan Lee laughed, clutching his stomach for air. "I expected an old fool, but an old coward? Master Fang would be disappointed in you, Roshi!"

"I wouldn't be laughing so quickly, you bastard!" Lei exclaimed, adopting a stance. "We'll see whose still standing when all's said and done!"

Ou Di Wan Lee scoffed, standing up from his throne. "Fine. Tell me, child. Your abilities are still in its infancy, and you share Roshi's foolish lessons. So why…" he suddenly jumped from his throne to the table, his imposing height doing nothing to scare Lei. "Why are you so eager to die!?"

Lei didn't reply, as from behind Ou Di Wan Lee, the Shifu clasped his hands together, and although she couldn't see it, could feel his scar glowing. An aura of golden energy formed around him, causing the Zu brothers to leap back as Yuan and Hong reacted in confusion.

"Wh-What the-" Yuan breathed.

"W-Wow…the Shifu is even more powerful than a dragon! What I've heard is true!" Hong exclaimed.

"HAAAAAAAAAGGH! LEI, TAKE MY ENERGY! SHOW OU DI WAN LEE TRUE POWER!" he announced, the aura around him flying over to Lei, her own scar glowing as the aura surrounded her.

"GYAAAAAAAAAAHHH!" she cried out, Ou Di Wan Lee stepping back from the sheer power before him.

"H-Ha! Nothing but a desperate bluff! Behold, my true power! Embrace the wolf within!" the scar on Ou Di Wan Lee's palm glowed, and his fist was engulfed in white energy as he seemed to move around Lei, almost as if two versions of himself were circling her before he attacked with all the rage of a rabid wolf.

But to his surprise, Lei barely even flinched, a grin was forming on her lips before she suddenly struck out, appearing in front of him with the speed of starlight itself before striking with a whirling knifehand to his side. Ou Di Wan Lee was sent reeling, holding a hand to his damaged side as he glowered at Lei.

"You…I see what your master saw in you now. But it will do nothing to save you!" Ou Di Wan Lee threw his fist forward, sending a volley of energy at Lei at the speed of throwing stars. Lei, however, leaped over the attack, coming back down and kicking at Ou Di Wan Lee's neck, striking the pressure point on his knee, and elbow striking him in the side, all at the speed of a serpent.

"G-GYAHH! Meddlesome welp! You've proven to be a challenge, so you shall have the honor of me ending you with my strongest technique! Feel my vengeance!" Ou Di Wan Lee leapt' into the air, energy gathering around his foot as he spun around, before coming down at Lei, gaining speed as he kicked her with the vengeance of a mad dragon.

It seemed finally he had done some damage, Lei getting knocked back as he landed, grinning maniacally. "How does it feel, girl, knowing that even with your abilities, you cannot defeat me! You're better off giving up!" he shouted.

But, despite that, Lei hung on, the aura around her flaring up as the very earth began to rumble, cracks appearing on the table where she walked.

"You think you have it all figured out, huh? That you're the strongest there is, that nobody can defeat you, that the price you've paid for this power is all worth it? Well, I've got news for you, Lee! YOU'RE WEAK! And I'll show you just how weak you are, with my shifu's greatest technique! I'll show you true power, and finally, you'll see just how strong one is when they have people to fight for!" her aura flared up until it was as blinding as the sun, the table cracking under her power, as Lei grit his teeth. "Do your worst, girl! Nothing you have can put an end to me!"

"You…YOU'RE DONE FOR! HEAVENLY PEAKS DESCENT!" she roared, vanishing from sight. It was as if she was plucked away by a god, leaving no trace if she had ever been there. Lee focused his mind, attempting to sense her, but he couldn't see, hear, or sense her.

"What…what is this…?" he sputtered, until Lei appeared in front of him. Before he could react, a tsunami of blows was unleashed onto his front, then a hurricane of strikes at his back, and a thunderstorm of fury at his sides. His energy was sapped, a painful growl escaping from him as he witness multiple Lei's attacking him all at once, spinning around him as everywhere h could feel their attacks hit him, feeling true pain for the very first time.

"IT'S," Lei appeared in front of him once again, and he was too weak to react. Too weak to counter, too weak to block as he stood with his head hung low, his body in unbearable pain. Lei spun around, extending her foot, going so fast it almost seemed like she was slowing down to a snail's pace. "OVER!"

Her kick connected right into his jaw, sending him flying up into the air, sailing over the table, over the collapsed form of So Zu and Man Zu, and he choked out a grunt as he smashed through his throne, body limp like a fish on a line.

"Bested…by this…weak…ling?" he moaned, until he finally came to stop as his back met the great gong behind his throne. A sickening crack echoed from his back throughout the chamber, the sound of the gong drowning it out. "This…cannot…be…" he fell from the gong, landing in the water as Ou Di Wan Lee breathed his last breath, rising and bobbing at the surface. The master had finally met his match.

Justice has been served.

Lei shook, her body's energy fleeting away after she had performed the technique. But she was still able to move, and did so running towards the crouching Yuan and Hong as the Shifu lay on his back. "Shifu!"

Jumping from the table and crouching with Yuan and Hong, Lei held out an arm to steady the Shifu, who weakly held up his head with straining effort.

"Lei…Hong…Yuan…you have all grown more strong than I could have possibly imagined," the Shifu coughed harshly, sounding like his throat was as dry as a, "Much stronger than I have dared hoped…"

Lei bit her lip, trying to force her eye not to release any more tears. "Wh-What are you saying? There's still so much more you need to teach us…"

"Y-Yes, Shifu…there's still time, you're still strong…" Yuan sniffed, rubbing his eyes.

"P-Pleae, Shifu, you can't talk like that, w-we can get you help, we can-" Hong couldn't find any more words to say as he bit his lip, his stomach rumbling in sadness.

"I have no doubt, my students, that our art will be preserved for generations to come. Protected by all of you, my worthy successors…and it's next shifu." The Shifu reached out, touching his hand to Lei's forehead.

Lei couldn't hold back anymore, letting the tears fall from her eys like fresh rain. "Quit talking like it's the end, gramps! I'm not the shifu, you are! So just shut up and let us help you…"

Yuan pulled his bandanna down further, hiding his tear-soaked eyes. "Wh-What if it can't go on when you're gone? What if…what if…"

"Shifu, please! You can't go! Stop talking crazy, you have to!" Hong sobbed, and for the first time, food was not at the forefront of his mind.

"Listen, all of you. I am old…much too old. That I have survived so long is a miracle itself. I found myself unable to figure out what to do as my age advanced, and I feared that my art would be lost to history. But, in guiding each of you on this path, teaching all of you my art…I found renewed purpose for a time by helping you all."

He turned to Yuan, laying a hand on his temples. "Yuan…you are a kind and loving young man, with a purity of spirit that shines in your every word and deed. Trust in yourself. No matter how many times you say otherwise, you are brave, courageous, and bold. Be more confident. Your soul is righteous and true."

Yuan dried his tears, nodding determinedly. "I will remember your words forever, shifu…."

Next, the Shifu held his hands to Hong's temples. "Hong…never be ashamed of who you are. Let none deny your worth. Have faith in yourself. Your mind is not simple, it is prodigious. Let your words have value. Speak and be heard by all."

Hong sniffled, his mouth quivering as he struggled to find words to say. "Th-Thank you, shifu. I will."

Finally, the Shifu place his hand to Lei's temples, the two feeling each other's hearts just by a single touch. Lei's scar began to glow as the Shifu spoke. "Lei…you have a passion and dedication that no other shares. That passion, that determination to break out of what people perceive you as…it is amazing. If you must take merely one of my teachings to heart, let it be this; Your heart is a fire, but let it not just be used for burning. Have it be for warmth, to shelter. There is strength in kindness. Do not be afraid to show it." spoke the Shifu. Lei's flow of tears increased as she nodded, before enveloping the Shifu in a hug, letting her tears fall onto his shoulders.

"I know…I know…" slowly, she felt the Shifu's creaky arms hug her back, and Yuan's arms enveloped her too. Hong brung his arms around everyone, bringing them all closer as the Earthen Heart students poured their hearts, minds, and spirit's out to the Shifu. Their heart all beat as one, their minds connected, and their spirit's unbound.

"Shifu…am I really ready to be…" Lei stammered, the Shifu rubbing her back lightly.

"I have faith in you, Lei. The progress you have shown…the strength you possess…the ideals you hold close…you have the great making of a shifu, Lei. Now…" Lei could slowly feel his grip lessening, and she hugged him harder, trying to ignore how she could feel his heart slowing down. "It's time for me…to watch over you all…you've all grown so much…I'm so…proud of you…all…" the Shifu's arms dropped and he closed his eyes for the final time, breathing his last breath.

"Shifu…please…say something…" Yuan urged.

"Shifu…I…I…" Hong could feel his stomach rumble again, the grim feeling overcoming them all being the reason.

"Shifu?" Lei shook him. No response. "Shifu!" She focused her mind, trying to sense his heart, trying to listen to his thoughts. No response. She pulled down the shoulder of his beizi, running a thumb over his scar. It was glowing a dull yellow, and before long, it faded away, leaving nothing but a simple cross-shaped scar etched onto an old body. "SHIFUUUUUUU!"

The master had passed on his legacy.

---

Atop the peak of Mt. Aspiration, the thin air helping them concentrate, three young ones stood. A girl, who stood at the front of the group and wearing a red ru. A thin boy, wearing a blue bandanna atop his head. And a large boy, wearing a blue vest that barely contained his large belly. Each of them was bowing south towards a rock that stood at the cliff to the mountain. A mound of first stood in front of the rock, a small array of flowers growing around it.

Without saying a word, the girl stopped bowing, turning to the north and approaching a large rock. A small crack was embedded into it, and the girl ran her hand along it until she made a fist of her own. She breathed, in and out for several seconds, before striking the rock with her fist.

Moments passed, before a humongous crack spread down the rock before it split in half, the two parts aligned evenly and neatly. The girl held up her fist, before turning to the others, smiling.

"And that's how it's done. No need to make the applause too loud, it's all in a day's work." Lei smirked, tossing her braid over her shoulder haughtily.

Yuan groaned, rolling his eyes as he threw up his arms. "You just had to say something. And we were having such a great time too." he grinned despite his snark, and Hong turned towards them, though he continued to have his hands collapsed together.

"Er, shifu, not to be rude, but-" Hong began, until Lei shook her head.

"No, no, Hong. Don't call me that, it makes me feel…I don't know, old. Just keep calling me by my name, I might be the shifu, but we're still equals ya' big lug!" she joked, playfully punching him in the arm.

"Oh, okay! Then, um…you promised we would get food after we finished training today, remember?"

"I'll always leave it to you to keep track of meal times, Hong. Yeah, we're done for the day, and just in time too! I'm staaaarving, I could go for some noodles right now."

"I guess I could eat too…"

"Please, you ate at your grandmother's a while ago, I know you're not hungry. The only reason you want to go to Yunfa is because they have that new server girl there, and you like how her hair buns look and the way she smiles at youuuuu~" Lei teased, poking Yuan in the cheek.

The blushing boy batted her hand away, sputtering an answer. "N-No! I really am hungry! I-I'll eat 10 whole bowls of noodles just to show you how hungry I am!"

"Hey, I was going to eat 10 bowls!" Hong objected. "Then I'll eat 12 bowls for good measure!"

"Oh yeah, then I'll eat 13!"

"Then I'll eat 14!"

"15!"

"16!"

"17!"

"Well, the first one there gets to figure out how many the loser gets!" Hong cheekily said before turning and bolting down Mt. Aspiration, Yuan hot on his tails.

"H-Hey, wait up!" he called, leaving Lei alone at the peak. She smiled as the boys ran ahead, turning back to the rock that served as a gravestone. She kneeled next to it, placing her hand upon it.

"Hey, old man, I split the boulder today…I know, I was pretty excited too. And in just one punch too. Guess I've gotten alot stronger. Yuan is improving with his power, and Hong's speed is coming along nicely. And while I try my best to be kind, like you urged me…I still lose my temper from time to time. But we're only human, right?" she laughed, standing up and gazing over the cliff at the land of china before her. She could her the jubilant voices of Yuan and Hong, the sounds of distant waterfalls, and the hustle and bustle of Yunfa and Wong from this distance.

"I don't think I have it in me to be as calm and collected as you were, but I won't give up! Hey, who knows, one day they might praise my bleeding, heroic heart even more than yours! You'd like that, wouldn't you? So keep watching, old man! Your legacy is in good hands. We'll put Xin Shan Quan; The Earthen Heart on the pages of history! Because I'm the-"

"Leeeeiii, hurry up! You don't want Hong to eat your share, do you?" Yuan yelled.

"I'm coming, hold on!" she shouted, running towards the decline of the mountain, taking one last look at the Shifu's grave. She smiled, jabbing a finger at herself.

"That's because I'm the Earthen Heart master now!"

With that, Lei Kugo ran down the mountain, easily catching up to Yuan Jou and Hong Hakka, the three successors of Xin Shan Quan; The Earthen Heart knew in their hearts that their fallen master's art would not be forgotten to the everflowing stream of time. Their master's wish had been granted.

His LEGACY PRESERVED, he could finally rest in peace…

---

Time is ever flowing, with few things flowing along with it. Legacy is one of many that follows with time. Many legacies follow time, hundreds of thousands of millions of legacies flowing for all denizens of time to see. One child, selfishly thinking that he could force his foolish legacy onto the flow of time, adopted other followers to his cause. When one's superior legacy opposed theirs, the children took it upon themselves to slay the master, marking their selfish style on history. Robbed, the winners are, of their just reward. But time flowed its course, and the villainous child that started the ordeal finally fell. A small vict'ry, but a worthwhile one nonetheless.

As time flows, minds grow, but the primal feeling in men remain. Battle for land was had, for who would bring their home into a prosperous future. Even though time flowed, one thing remained the same; acquiescence. The inability to speak your mind, unable to choose that you have freedom, a slave to those that bind you. Thus is the fate of another inhabitant of time, that attempted to topple a monarch's glorious reign with false ambition. Time flows on this new tale, of a shinobi on a mission…