Volume One: A Visitor
Chapter VIII
Historic Day
"Master Gidahn, you brought him here?!" Xing gasped.
The yak's hoof gestured. "Before you judge, Xing, your sister Lotus was the one let us bring him here," Gidahn calmed him. "There was a fight near the lake in the North, close about two miles away."
"There was?" Xing feared, meeting his grandmother's eyes before looking back to Gidahn. "Who or what attacked him?"
"Have you remember the bear in black who observed your vision, Xing?" the yak's rich voice let the tiger remind their afternoon discussion. "She was there, attacked General Kai above the rocky rainfall cliff. Your sisters and I nearly arrived in your village before we encountered the fight, as I traveled alone to meet your grandmother. Kai fell in the lake, and your sister and I saved him from drowning."
Unexpected sightseeing to Xing, he would have caused a heart attack if Kai ceased everyone he knew within this palace. But of course, how strange it was that the spirit warrior should only have normal senses, immune age, and sturdy in the mortal realm, but chi only stopped the beast. What stopped him but the chi? Xing wondered.
Every step Xing entered, the presence of harsh breath from unconscious Kai leveled the tiger's heart even worse. The bandage on the bull's left rib cage pressured, but only a speck of weak gore with threads closing the wound revealed. "Is he alive, Gidahn?" he asked, inspecting his whole fur body, which plenty to his sides, and above the bull's chest were bright cuts. Battle scars, the tiger figured as his paw pressed against Kai's pulse. "How bad are his injuries?"
"One of his left rib cages was plunged. Hong closed the wound, and Kai's lungs nearly filled with water, but still breathing," Gidahn reported. "Something suppressed this jade aura, Xing. When I observed his eyes, he no longer sees green."
Xing saw a crumpled gray cape resting behind Kai's head in between both horns. Beside the bull's left shoulder, his battle helmet perched on top of the bamboo cabinet. "Where are his jade knives?"
"Both sunk back there at the lake waterfall," Gidahn answered.
"We are in grave danger occupying him here, Gidahn." Ming forewarned her companion. "Without his jade aura within him, he might have plenty of strong abilities."
"Where exactly did he get that power from?" Hong asked.
"He wouldn't have the Earth blessing if Kai was greed taking anyone's soul to absorb strength," Gidahn prompted.
Xing rose. "I need to speak with Lotus."
"Do not attend her, Xing," Gidahn hesitated the tiger. "She needs more time to focus her thoughts."
Wolf Boss, behind the sliding door, cleared his rough throat. "Here. Er— Let me watch over my daughter. I deserve to stay in touch with Lotus."
"Very well," Xing approved. "You can see your daughter. She should have a father and daughter thing."
Staring directly to the bull's face, fearing to soon awake, Xing fiddled his fingers. His breath was half intense and half calm before standing. "The Masters need to know, Nana. We have to warn them now," Ming's grandson urged. His tone was utterly startled.
"Even if you warn them, none of the masters except Po will handle General Kai's fate," Ming stated, her impression was now sagacious and horrifying. "What will you do if the Jade Palace masters are late while the Collector awakens and claims all of our chi?"
"I'd say let him try," Xing considered. "He saw the white dragon before. If Kai attacks, then let me put an end to his reign of terror."
This move was not a test to prove whether Xing shall be Po's next successor, as Po thought of Xing dearly, but to Ming, she remained prose, determining her grandson's wisdom, just like his father. "Are you sure?"
A slow nod from Xing was his answer. For a moment, there was nothing to reject — Ming returned her nod. "Kong. Tell the Masters of Jade Palace: The Collector is here in the Nine's Shui Palace. The message is not a drill." Xing instructed the Nine's Messenger.
Kong saluted his feathers. "I will warn them, Master Xing."
The Nine's Messenger trotted outside and sprang off, soaring. There was no going back to announce this grave/shocking news. The Nine's Master beckoned her paw to her students. "Bao, Fanshe, return to your rooms. Xing, we speak privately."
Hong took Xing's place as she sat beside Kai's left side when Gidahn remained his perch. Both tigers entered the Nine's Meeting Room; Xing's heart was still racing, his paws sparking without fisting. "Have you once said that if Oogway's brother arrives and you desired to help him manifest Kai no longer forgotten back then?"
"I do," Xing prosed. In his earlier days, Xing, Lotus, and Lao regarded Ming's Great War nighttime story, which had passed down the tale by Oogway. Generals were so aggressive that conquering China by defeating the adversaries was the path to bring peace by justice. Justice was when Oogway and his passed-on masters witnessed their house Qing Temple, destroyed by Prince Huoju and the Fire Clan with the order from cantankerous Emperor Khan.
The trio admired the warlords as if Lotus cherished the Mighty, Xing reflected the Mighty's temper to dissipate harshness and cruelty, and Lao admired both Oogway and Kai.
"Half of China do recall him; the masters' facts will judge to banish Kai if he returns. Now that Kai has been found, his life depends on our paws to hold him from prevailing and taking China," Ming enunciated, eying on Xing. "If the Collector attacks while the Masters cannot reach here in time, I will not risk losing you, Lotus, or my students holding him off before Po and the Furious Five arrive."
The tiger's expressing of weak nod was his coherent response. "Maybe you can stop Kai, but neither our students will. The White Dragon does have more possibilities than the impossible moments. Said Oogway to me, 'Nothing is impossible.'"
A particular quote, but that did not mean it was impossible. Anything is possible, Po always recalled Shifu's wise words followed by Oogway, Xing discerned the Dragon Warrior's fancy quote. "You and Gidahn will watch Kai all night before the Masters' arrival. The Nine have a day off to discuss the judgment." Ming said, patting Xing's shoulder. "I will meditate to Oogway, so if Shifu's students soon ask my presence, remind them."
More than three lucid dreams later, Xing kept his eyes open. The hours drew further. His lids casually fell; he only wanted to sleep, but this duty was not to compromise. Kai would soon awake, but what if his jade aura eyes would return? Indeed, Xing could handle him without Po's help, after all. He only stared at the unconscious beast warlord, expecting the bull's awakening.
Softly closing his heavy eyelids, Xing registered children giggles, spreading his lips full of bright.
I say we should heal Kai when he returns! A wolf cub clenched her fist, grinning.
I would love to do so. The tiger kitten nodded.
You both are ludicrous. The young peacock Lao doubted. Before Xing took over his bedroom, the young trio in this bamboo room eyed themselves and lay in bed, planning their "wishful tales" after contemplating Master Ming's Great War tale. The peachick disapproved. Have you both considered Oogway's brother so agitated and being aggressive?
Lotus, the young wolf, nurtured more. Oogway knew his brother well, so our teacher's Grandmaster has a reputation over him. Can't you see our wish that we'll be the first to respect his rank and redeem the warlord!
Xing buzzed his throat. It's not a terrible idea, but we three had heard Nana saying only a master of chi can stop Kai. So, Kai's return may never happen. Nana knows, and friends of hers do.
The young peacock prince turned from his bed toward his adoptive siblings. If and when this Beast of Vengeance returns, are we going to be the first to bow before him and say I am your biggest "fan"? Lao questioned, clutching his feathers. Warlords meant aggressive, but Oogway's character is not that harmful and ruthless, Nana discovered from our Grandmaster. Remember what Ming said from Oogway that Kai absorbed the panda monk's soul, something magical that could adapt the chi, making the beast go strong if defeating any master.
Lotus hummed and rolled her head into anticipation. Then if we all have chi someday, perhaps we three will be the first to help him! If that happens, can we promise to ourselves to bring Kai here and let us cast the jade power away from him?
Madness! Lao slammed his head on his pillow.
Xing took his sour taste while squirming his lips. Lao is right.
Xing, you know who is your favorite master! Can you not deny yourself what your desire is to change the warlord's course? Lotus learned of the tiger's good taste that he respected for these warlords, knowing every trance Xing was with them amidst battles.
For imagination, I would like that.
Lying next to the tiger, Lotus pulled their cover when Xing blew the candle. I'm saying in real life, would you promise?
I hope so.
Xing awakened his sleep with his whole legs and body recoiling. How long did he pass out furthermore? To the tiger's right arm, something laid small, and both ears drip against him. Hong was resting, giving a bend to her left. He assumed she was not the only warrior to stay up late, despite this visitor could awake and soon adapt his jade aura. Gidahn perched still beside Kai, and his hooves had spread as he meditated.
Gidahn opened his eyes, drumming his silky voice. "You both looked tired. Do you like some green tea to keep you awake?"
Xing bobbed a little. "Yes. Thank you." He saw the yak farmer rise, sauntering toward the shoji door. "Gidahn. Have you been staying up all night?"
Opening the sliding shoji door, Gidahn glimpsed at Xing. "I work at the wooden shop more than two shifts around morning to night and night to morning. Do not worry, my child. He hasn't woken up yet." The yak answered before he dismissed to the right corridor.
Hong yawned. "What happened?" she asked, folding her long ears back.
"We both slept for a while. Gidahn will bring us some green tea."
"And. . . Oh." Hong could see the enormous bull, still lying in bed. The giant's sleeping breath was harsh, rumbling against the paper structures elsewhere they both caught.
"Not yet," Xing assured the Nine's Doctor.
Nodding, Hong stretched both limbs and quivered her sleepy head. "I'll go to Gidahn."
Yet, Xing noticed the bunny's sense of intense and frightening at the same time, given that he was not the only warrior being aware of the beast. While the tiger kept his gaze on the bull soon to wake up, Hong accidentally left the sliding door open and headed into the Nine's Meeting Room, where Gidahn was boiling the pan for green tea.
Xing flickered his ears; faint steps approached, and the Nine's Dancer peeked to the side. The wolf's cheeks had drawn with silky, dry tears. "Lotus," Xing rose, and Lotus entered, embracing. "Are you okay?"
Lotus only held her breath once more but hesitated to speak plainly. The next thing the tiger glanced at was Wolf Boss behind her nod to Xing. "She had a nightmare," Zhong said. Now his view darted behind the tiger. "And how is he?"
"Breathing still."
"Has the big guy awakened yet?"
"Not that I'm afraid of, right now."
A she-wolf sniffed and met the tiger. "I had to, Xing. I had to bring him here…." Lotus spoke. Her voice was tendering. "That black bear was there on the waterfall cliff last night. I didn't know who was under the lake. Before Hong and I drew your sword, that bear went away and vanished. When Gidahn and I dove underwater, Kai was there, drowned, and we revived him."
"Let me grab some tea for her. Do you need some, Xing?" the one-eyed wolf pardoned.
"Gidahn is making tea for me, sir."
As affirmed to Wolf Boss, his walk paced, and he called the Nine's Doctor. Xing's paw pressed on Lotus' back. As both students sat without getting a single sound of wood whizzing, Lotus relieved her breaths. "Lotus, I know this will be a terrible time to let me tell you this. And this is serious to all of us. "Xing began, now tones engulfed with boldness and murmur. "You have to reconsider this situation. We are in deep trouble here."
Lotus, within her thoughts, did admit that this discussion was far too consequential. She held her lips to let her tiger partner whisper further. "Bringing Kai here is way too dangerous. You, me, we all know what this guy is capable of, stealing anyone's chi since his arrival ten years ago. The Nine are lucky not to encounter in front of his presence. And look at him now." His right thumb pointed at Kai. "He has returned. Whatever the cause of him not destroyed by himself with Po's chi, Huoju brought him back to the Mortal Realm."
Lotus's breath forced under her throat. "We waited for our wish, remember?" she wept, keeping her voice calm. "For you to help Kai when he is unforgiven and be in a peaceful mind from reflections of agony past. This wish is now Xing."
The tiger shook while palming Lotus's furry paws. "I might have remembered that, Lotus. But really, the wish has ended — no longer to tolerate our sympathies to the supreme warlord," Xing said. His stone eyes glazed as he held her hands. "We were small back then, Lotus. You and I called this promise desirable. But our brother Lao called it insanity. Do you expect Kai to see through all the misfortune and pardon us very quickly?"
Lotus's pupils slid to the edge of her right instead of turning to her shoulder. The only fact that their Grandmaster shared his tale to both students Shifu and Ming, his bull brother was impossible to miss Kai's ruthless and robust character. One did advise the soldiers in war, so brilliant and calm, to strengthen the army without showing weakness. The other was too fierce to intimidate, as of which any soldier mistakenly called their name without respective ranks; you would not like to encounter a soldier yelling in front of your head.
Lotus drifted her pupils back to Xing and shook. "I do not think so," Xing followed the wolf's head gesture. "If he wakes soon, our lives depend on his immediate actions against us. Kai has the jade power to seize and lie our souls within his grasp."
His eyes rapidly caught a jolting movement of the hoof clenching Lotus's wrist.
Kai bent and roared his awakening. Lotus screamed, and Xing jerked her away from the bull who yelped. "We're here, Xing!" The voice was the Dragon Warrior's shout, racing down to Xing's bedroom once the tiger and she-wolf aimed their paws of metal and sun chi at the mighty warlord.
"Dammit!" Xing glared at Kai. "It's about time!" He didn't get to see Po and Furious Five behind him. He remained his observation as he would not fall from distraction. He was the only warrior using his pure chi, mixed with sun and snow, while the rest aimed their sun hands at Kai.
Swimming his head to a cluster blankness with harsh breaths, Kai winced, bending his left rib cage, which the wound was flared worse than being stabbed. Yes, the pain was almost too impossible to shut its screaming wound, letting you cry more. His blurry vision slowly opened. To Xing, Gidahn was right one thing many warriors remained calm: green eyes no longer glared, now his actual eye color was the brilliant ocean, like Xing's mother's eyes he would never forget.
"Where— Where am— I?" Kai grunted, whizzing his long throat. Dizzying his whole head, Kai pressed his hoof on where the wound kept stinging; the bandages massaged his palm. The tip of his tongue began registering the air, black lips spreading. "Water… Water…"
"Kong. You and every messenger bring buckets of water here. Now," Xing uttered the Nine's Messenger without turning to the goose.
The messenger followed the command he raced and announced to all geese outside.
"Phantom… Where is that wupo?" Kai weakened his demanding tone. His strength had failed, yet bulky shoulders were gripped like a whole tape around your upper chest, holding you from spreading.
Something pinched to the tiger's sleeves under and gently pulled the silk twice. "Did Kai jombie you, Xing?" Monkey behind Lotus asked.
"Hey, can you see our colleague turning green?" Crane spoke out, reaching out his wings with pure sun chi.
"Not at that very moment," Xing only answered. His tone was startled.
Kai towered his whole right arm and held his head to where startling sounds entered, listening to familiar voices within this comfortable room where the bull was aware of their presence. His visions (now regular instead of surrounding green) now sharpened, and Kai met the staggering amber feline with black stripes, stone eyes, and cobalt silk garment, widening at him when spreading his paw with metal chi.
"You—"
Kai had only bent his body forward, but something within their eyes caught the pursuit of a pure yellow glow. The paw on Kai's belly massaged, the flow of silky gold ribbon entering the wound, and misty surroundings swimming into the bull's body, emanating the tiger's room full of warming chi and the Dragon Warrior's awe of - Whoooa! - moment, Lotus fell to her knees.
General Kai relieved and began to faint, behind his mane head slamming against the pillow. PLOP!
"Lotus!"
Her father cried out first. Panting, Lotus felt her arm and chest balance from falling; Monkey and Crane held her. Xing positioned Kai's left rib cage and softly lifted the side of the bandage. The wound was no longer closed with strings; only gray fur met the light like other battle scars.
Half an hour later, Xing and the Masters of Jade Palace were outside of the Fighting Square. There was something the tiger could not describe the reason for his wolf sister's action. He was revealing to his dream and his sister that their "imagination" plan was yet to be dependable. What happened to their promise when Xing and Lotus discovered the bull's return ten years ago?
From the Nine's Bunker door, Lotus's father came forward to Xing and informed him that his daughter was relieved from weak strength, returning regularly. Looking at Wolf Boss head back to the barrack, the Dragon Warrior returned his glance to Xing.
"What I'm about to tell you, nephew: He attacked every master across many provinces throughout China, stolen many souls of chi," Tigress suggested. Her nephew would not mind Tigress mentioning this Maker, who opposed the Furious Five before, especially when he and his jombies united and swarmed against the Rebellion and Fire Clan in Gongmen City. "Who or what brought Oogway's brother in your temple, Xing?"
"The question of yours, truly, is only Lotus will have to answer her reasonable way," Xing told his aunt, not his defense to let Tigress believe her nephew. He processed further when clasping both paws behind his back. "With help, she was the one who brought Kai here. Why did she? Because there was this nonsense plan of ours, the way she and I used to consider Kai in our young days."
"I mean," Crane scratched his chest with his talon, "it might be wrong to have someone who did terrible things to be redeemed."
Tigress leveled her composed figure toward her avian companion. "And the Dragon Warrior is educating his student, Crane. So, we are doing this for Po and Shifu. Only half of us Masters of Jade Palace voted yes for Shen's clemency."
Crane tugged the edge of his hat in front of his eyes. Viper spread her grin beside the avian. "We'll help Shen and Tai Lung, my sister."
The Nine's Leader beckoned his slow nod before returning his view to both Po and Tigress. "There's no need to have Oogway's brother look forward without turning back to the terrible acts he did."
"He no longer has jombie powers. What does that mean?" Viper wandered to Xing and Masters.
"Kai's mortal now. So we should treat him back how he did to us!" Mantis waved both thingies, and Monkey palmed his clutching fist, which popped to all fingers at once.
"That's not happening. We have one of Shaolin's codes not to bully a subject," Po shook to both Mantis and Monkey. The insect and golden snub shared their vengeful grin, but their figures dissipated.
"We're just messing," Monkey spread his hands away with guilt. "Another thought: where's Master Ming?" the golden snub asked Xing.
"She's in her room, meditating to Grandmaster Oogway," Xing answered.
Green insect bugged his eyes wide he gaped, bowing. The Masters copied the bug's glance and did the same; the tiger followed the Dragon Warrior's view. Behind Xing, when the gray clouds above them began spreading its morning silk tearing away, the dawn spotting the Fighting Square, was his grandmother standing before him.
"Master Ming!" Po announced, grinning.
The Nine's Master bobbed and closed both eyes. "I see the Dragon Warrior and Furious Five arrived in time," Ming determined.
Nodding to his grandmother, Xing perceived his aunt stepping forward at once. "Your grandson was clarifying to us, Master Ming," Tigress explained. "We also counseled to him of Kai's terrible actions."
"So I see, Tigress," Ming said. She now eyed on her grandson, so determining as she could read expressions well. Her sparkling stone eyes met Xing. "I have heard of the visitor awake earlier. How is the Maker?"
Xing rubbed his eyes. "Kai woke up wildly before Lotus healed him. He shortly fainted after that."
Forgive me, my child, for letting you, Hong, and my companion watch over Kai all night long. I would have stayed awake and keep Oogway's brother away from you all. Ming thought. "He needs more strength before asking questions later on," Ming advised. Her paws clasped ahead of her belly. "Grandson. May we have a word?"
"Nana, forgive my exhausted presence for rushing my head," he began as if his voice was sharp from fatigue, his thumb stroking his silky forehead, "It's better to speak publicly so the Masters will hear."
Ming stepped ahead of her grandson's personal space. "Are you sure the Masters want to hear, Xing?" Ming forewarned him cooly. He had often used to hearing his Nana's soft, solemn tone by determining every circumstantial task, mission, and news. "This conversation will flip the table as you soon know this right now."
"Flip the table?" Po repeated with wondrous expression.
The avian fuddled his feathers with a "guessing" gesture. "To make you angrily react, I guess?" Crane explained.
Instead of letting his voice crawl to demand, Xing glanced back at his grandmother, who only watched him. "You spoke to Grandmaster Oogway," Xing revealed into his Nana's truth eyes. He made sure her announcement could not be drilled, or rumors that only news expected to be true or not, but the words were only expectations instead. Choose your words carefully to bring good or bad news without a hoax.
The tiger's back was breathing cold after Ming nodded. "Yes. Oogway and I did, thank the blessings. I love meeting him." Ming spread her shiny lips, chuckling. She inhaled. "This conversation is not a reunion thing between the Grandmaster of Kung Fu and me. It is a crucial quest you shall not refuse."
"Oooh! Is it the white dragon quest thingy?!" Po posed excitingly, patting Xing's shoulders like the tiger's nose detected the aroma presence of cookies from Po's breath. "Is it the quest where my Wing Chun student shall be swift the darkness out of the cave?!"
Xing's grandmother hummed. "That, I wished Oogway could have spoken the awesomeness missions, Dragon Warrior," Ming answered as the matter-of-fact.
"You love dangerous tasks, don't you agree, Po?" Tigress asked her panda partner, slowly grinning to the side of her lips.
"Yes!" Po turned and spread both limbs ahead of the Furious Five. "Don't we all have missions to taste the defeat of bandits?"
The group bobbed, and the other half pressed their lips.
"Yeah."
"Sort of."
Crane and Mantis were the only warriors answered, with honesty as either of them bored to put an end to every bandit's tyranny. Don't we all. Xing agreed. He breathed in as Ming held her lips. "I'm not gonna like this quest, right, Nana?"
Ming fiddled her grandson's firm paw. "You must swear Oogway's vow," She worded. "Swear it, and I will answer his important quest."
The Furious Five looked at themselves while the Dragon Warrior gazed at Tigress. Xing glanced at once at a time before returning his view to his grandmother, his sinus breathing slow. "The Nine's Leader swears," Xing pledged. "I swear it."
Nodding to her grandson when he flickered his ears, Ming walked to Po. "Oogway foresees you as the next hope of all of China, aside from the Dragon Warrior you both are." She began, meeting both of the chosen warriors. "Master Po. Lord Shen's parents seek their son's heart, soon to shine from out of the shadows. Their hearts grow warm. Make sure you let their son proud his parents."
"Will do, Master Ming!" his left paw closed to a fine oath he announced.
Ming approached Tigress, who steadied her chin so straight, her eyes training ahead of her aunt. Ming palmed and stroked her niece's golden silk shoulder. "Tigress. My angel. Have you met Shifu's son in time?" she asked.
Tigress shut her amber eyes with a nod. "Yes. He arrived at Jade Palace last night."
"There must always be proudness within him. Like a child, Shifu and I raised him before my best friend brought you to Jade Palace," Ming briefed. "Relief the issues of Tai Lung's rage. The darkness within his heart continues to shade even darker. Bring him back into the light."
"I will."
Xing sighed in wondrous. "One did turn back against Shifu and have issues of himself soon to go mad. The other had parental affairs, especially a sickening mind to let people remember him," he fiddled his Fu Manchu underneath his chin, meeting the Dragon Warrior. "Po, if I were you, I would make sure to keep Shen remain in the course of inner peace before he decides to backstab anyone."
"Don't worry, big guy. The Furious Five and I got eyes on him and Tai Lung," He grinned, promising.
I hope you all have. Xing bobbed.
Ming stepped ahead of her grandson and palmed on his paws. "This quest from Oogway to you and Lotus. . . is awkward."
Lotus sipped her pale mug with blue paintings of mountains over it. Hot green tea steamed and stroked under her throat. Relieving her sigh, as the group inside Xing's bedroom observed General Kai doze on the bed, Lotus perched her ears. Voices of Masters of Jade Palace farewelled the Nine's Master and Leader. Sometimes in her thoughts, the way this conversation could be worse than her trouble, she would have had to tolerate other disciplines that most students do when making some mistakes.
The Nine's Doctor pressed Kai's upper wrist, and soft pulses pressed back against her thumb. Hong trembled her head by hearing the bull's ragged breaths, which rumbled the whole bedroom's shoji-paper walls.
Firm and faint steps strode near the shoji door, and Xing opened it to the side. The whole group's eyes met him.
"I assume the conversation was on fire, right, Xing?" Wolf Boss spread his sharp teeth.
The tiger's lips pulled. "Well, not even close, Zhong. The decision is now for both me and Lotus."
A she-wolf glanced at her partner. "My cookie. What is it?"
Xing clasped his paws ahead of him. "You and I have a quest from Nana. I pledged Grandmaster Oogway's vow, and you must swear it as neither of us will avoid."
For a moment, Lotus pondered during her weary glance casting on elsewhere. Xing's bedroom enchanted more vibrant from Kai's muzzle; each of the Nine was pre-aiming their chi paws against the beast if he would attack. Studdering, the wolf bobbed her head once. "The Nine's Dancer swears."
Wolf Boss stood behind his daughter. "Okay. My girl now pledges to whatever your grandmother counseled you for that turtle's vow. If I am going to be part of the Nine, Xing, then I am with Lotus," Zhong vouched for him and Lotus.
Agreeing with this accord that should not dodge Zhong as the father figure, Xing patted his shoulder and knelt ahead of his wolf partner, whose eyes began drying. Gidahn remained in his seat with Hong as they expected this significance, and both Bao and Fanshe shared their concerned looks. "Our wish, Lotus, has granted," the Nine's Leader broke his grin.
"Granted? Granted for what?" she rolled her perplexing glance.
"Grandmaster Oogway covets us to educate his brother, redeem him from being forgotten."
"Thank the Gods!" Wolf Boss clenched the back of his mohawk head.
"I would not be standing here if I was bluffing."
And he says true.
Zhong hardly shut his single eye, restraining his short snout because he would not want his daughter to reveal his glare in front of Xing. The ape snorted his nostrils, towering his lofty limbs on all fours. "Bao, say true?" he nodded with a gruff voice.
"Xing, say true," the tiger agreed, knuckling the gorilla's top shoulder. Gidahn and Hong saw the Nine's Leader turning to each student. "We are off practice for today until tomorrow. Starting now, each of us takes turns in my chamber for an hour. On nightfall, I will watch and sleep in here," he stroked Lotus's cheek, "until our student rises."
When the Nine slept in their chambers around nightfall, they had tight schedules to embark on Wing Chun training more than ever, even to guard this palace on high alert. What a historic day from Xing's panda colleague! With this historical opportunity of the unfathomable appearance of General Kai, thanks to Lotus, Xing mainly masked his inner complexities. Thoughts of his were clear enough to devote to Ming's original discussion that neither of him or both Lotus and Lao could obtain the Maker's redemption. That was when the three were small with bright eyes. By the time the pledge was unavoidable for Oogway's sake, Xing was far off to renounce this promise but never will in the Grandmaster's eyes.
Inside the Leader's chamber, the tiger's throat began to wobble that harsh air combed with thick growls he wanted to unleash, although this day was rough, but not exactly the worst-case scenario as if this pledge was crucial. While departing from his room in his sleeping kimono robes, Xing searched for the pillow in the Nine's visitor chamber at five bedrooms down to the left and crept toward the front door of the Nine's Barrack, not wanting to disturb the Nine's sleeping hours.
Lurking close on the Fighting Square that night flies wheezed their wings, and buzzing their songs was almost too late to reject this pledge. Xing's fingers clenched both edges of the pillow, slammed on his face, bracing for dear life, and let out of his muffling roar.
Author's Note:
I will release a few completed chapters of The Trinity later this third - fourth quarter of the year while I am still in the middle of the book's tale, which has already mapped the beginning, middle, and ending at many chapters away. There will be a list of volumes there to a complete epic novel.
Earlier, I changed the book's summary that can mainly focus on the plot of our baddies and my OC's course, something to go for gripping with full of expectations.
Now Tai Lung, Lord Shen, and Kai are just the beginning of their clemency. Another wobbles across the desert, vowing for retribution.
Enjoy Summer, pandoms! :)
7/2/2020