Episode 1: The Prince of Darkness ( 1 - 5 )
Chapter IV
Visiting
The Furious Five and Dragon Warrior sauntered with Shifu in a corridor from Student Barracks. The Masters of Jade Palace had enough hardcore training for today as their schedules tomorrow was crucial. Shifu pondered about Emperor Huangdi, who embarked on trekking across China to foresee classes in perspective. He was expecting to have his followers with him to Jade Palace.
"What does the Emperor interest before he comes to Jade Palace, Master?" Crane inquired the red panda master.
"His preference will soon reveal, Crane," Shifu replied. Shortly as the Masters of Jade Palace arrived in the hallway, Shifu turned to his students, grasping his wooden staff. "At first, the Emperor interests us. Tomorrow, Huangdi will arrive here with his colleagues around daylight. I suggest you all five practice with Dragon Warrior in the morning. Most importantly, improvise preference skills you have trained all the years."
"What about you, Master?" Viper asked him, slithering beside her striped feline sister.
"I will demonstrate the Emperor by myself," Shifu answered, then patted Viper's lengthy neck. "Po has been a teacher for ten years and is skilled in chi, including inner peace at a young age. Get some rest. We have a big day tomorrow."
A moment after the Dragon Warrior and Furious Five began to sleep in their chambers, the red panda teacher headed to the Hall of Heroes, lightening all seventeen jade candles in front of Master Oogway's painting. He sat on his brown rug and closed his eyes, relaxing his muscles by breathing "inner peace." Ripples settled throughout his meditation course as his grandmaster spoke vividly about minding settlements. Agitation made strong currents, which by blinding what you struggle to see. If you allow ripples to settle, the answer becomes clear.
Master Shifu breathed in and out, his soul drifting amid gold and prospering hues of blossom foliage swimming over him.
The red panda surveyed the celestial terrain of the Spirit Realm with every land and water living gold: dazzling stars across the horizon, light brown meadows springing with colorful flower blooms. Water below Shifu circulated gently, developing a Yin-Yang icon representing life. The water spread over his body, and Shifu peered over the reflection of a tortoise appearing forward with soft chuckles.
The turtle in front believed Shifu's presence, and knowingly the red panda would soon join Oogway in a few years.
Water below Shifu circulated gently, developing a Yin-Yang icon representing life. The water spread over his body, and Shifu peered over the reflection of a tortoise appearing forward with a grin.
"My old friend," Oogway summoned, wielding his emerald pole with a yin-yang symbol.
"Master Oogway!" Shifu widened, then cleared his throat while bowing to his teacher. "It has been an honor to see you again."
"So has I," the tortoise simpered, giving both masters to embrace as Shifu had been missing him for more than ten years. "You have trained Po and Furious Five well, Shifu. I am proud of you."
Shifu unveiled his dazzling eyes with his grin breaking. "I perceived that my student Po is the only Dragon Warrior saving China I remember. My apologies, Master. I was too blind in the beginning to see. You were right."
"Well," Oogway patted Shifu's shoulder. "My prophecy was nearly stumbling from my brother wanting a chi power. I found one who will fulfill his destiny to defeat many warriors threatening souls." Oogway strolled behind, guiding with his stick where all beam blossoms soared gently around the tortoise. "Come, Shifu. Let us walk."
For a moment, Shifu gazed at every inch of the cosmic surroundings, experiencing the Spirit Realm for the first time that he could not describe in a thousand words how thriving this heaven was. "This... is beautiful, Master," Shifu looked at all the golden terrain as the wind murmured, soft waves chanting snow froths. It was this prosperous afterlife (or spiritual meditation trance) to live with late masters. You could lay upon the grass fields caressing your back and floating on the surface of the golden ocean. "My students are exceptional and well-trained. Po is in charge of being a teacher instead. My retirement is what I must regard my life for because my teaching days are already over for me. I am getting old now, Master."
"So am I, even eternity as my age is immortal and still old like you." Oogway joked, chuckling with his student.
"I wish to live in a new home instead of aging enough," Shifu said.
"Someday, my old friend," Oogway said sagaciously. "Someday."
Shifu crouched on the dirt as he touched the yellow water-like chi pouring down from his palm, which he sensed warmth with light that sparkled like stars. "I have someone coming to Jade Palace, Master Oogway," Shifu informed, meeting his eyes on Oogway. "My old friend will soon bring her students to meet the Furious Five. And she does not know you are in the Spirit Realm."
"Chen Ming," Oogway revealed the guest's name. "I assure you she will understand my presence."
Shifu observed pink foliage next to his feet that dazzled into a rising sun. "My sister made a promise to herself she would return."
"She has. Chen Ming created her Wing Chun class. Nine of her fellow students are similar to your students' origin. One of my colleagues gradually found one of the Nine students having difficulties in his past."
"Who, Master?" Shifu stroked the blossom flower on his palm.
"A clever student," Oogway detailed. "My colleague once told me that his grandson could not remember his memory except the disturbing past continues haunting his life."
"I can offer Po to support Ming's student," Shifu vowed.
"Hmm," Oogway nodded, deeply hummed as honey.
"Is this. . . where I can be my new home after my life?" Shifu asked.
"Look at this here, Shifu," the tortoise guided his hand to the saturated soil, stroking the bloom that the red panda watched. "A soil grows one lotus flower on earthy mud. Each light stands firm, and the night sinks. As the evening passes the flower's sleep, the morning rebirths the lotus. Indeed, souls pass on with natural causes and unfortunate deaths the Mortal Realm binds."
So I can come here, whether I decide to be reborn in the Mortal Realm or stay with all masters. Shifu comprehended.
The tortoise inspected the swarm of peach foliage swimming over the giant pebble next to the blossom tree. One flower vibrated its brilliant yellow, pulsing other blooms near Oogway. It touched the reptile's hand, casting his on the glittering ripples. "Auh," the tortoise simpered.
"What is it, Master?" the red panda chuckled.
"Your sister has come home, my old friend."
Footsteps lingered as Shifu's ears twitched. Shifu's vision returns to his healthy life.
The red panda opened his eyes. Jade candles ahead of Shifu darkened as the wind sang its breath. Shifu rose from his rug, checking his surroundings in a Sacred Hall of Warriors everywhere. Large doors remained open for a while. Behind him, broadening his eyes, a feline in a brown hooded cloak stood before him. Her stone eyes met him, remembering her former partner in the youngest days with Shifu.
"Ming," Shifu gasped. Ming removed the hood as she blinked her eyes with a nod, releasing a tear that poured next to her cheek. The Nine's Master considered to herself before her arrival that either Shifu or Oogway Ming would have demanded her disappearance. Shifu palmed Ming's paw. "You look flawless."
Ming beamed. Her other paw patted Shifu's hand once she crouched. "Same cheek and robe with a blue shawl."
"Oh. I have different outfits instead of the same clothing," Shifu chuckled, ensuring he did not wear the same outfit daily. "You traveled long enough from West?"
"I've traveled for far too long," Ming grinned. The Nine's Master yet locked her eyes on Oogway's staff behind the candles, knowing her breath thronged inside of her nose. "I should have known Grandmaster Oogway has been gone. How was he when I was away?"
"He was better after you left, making himself comfortable in a better place."
Shifu carefully met his eyes on her expression: broke, kindly, and serene. Ming's arms surrounded the red panda after she hunkered. "You miss me well," Shifu had noticed her return that streamed his healthy heart, missing her desperately in years. She would have thought masters would never be disappointed with any student's return.
"I miss you too, brother," Ming twinkled her stone eyes and grinned her smooth lips.
Ming and Shifu entered the Training Hall, filled with training armaments as the feline wandered, surprisingly curious to marvel at Shifu's work educating his students. The red panda guided her, indicating his gift of a Wing Chun dummy beside the Panda model. He cherished how this dummy's wood and barely metal made harder than metallic. Ming's villager companion, Gidahn, expert lumber, forged this dummy as if he had become a talented designer along with a goose servant. Kong was the Nine's Messenger with the skillful uniqueness of the architect to build historical weapons.
Ming indicated Shifu with ten blocks of chi sao, part of the advantage skills to enhance and counter enemy strikes. She hurled her punches at the center, deflecting the dummy's arms with chi sao blocks. Ming palmed the model's jaw where its head thrust back, as the Nine's Master enabled a chi strike, yet again, diverting arms and pushing her kick to the model's belly. Shortly after Ming's indication, she and Shifu sat on a flat surface next to the panda design. Many candles around the rug they sat on lit with bright lights before the two served green tea themselves.
"How is your grandson doing?" Shifu inquired when he sipped his tea. "I like to see who he is."
"He's been substantially alright," Ming answered, guzzling the mug. "Chen Xing has been sparring well with other students of mine. Before my son's death, including his wife, my grandson had no parents to look after him. My home was destroyed long ago when we fled, where I watched my son die from the fire. Standing by the fire was the outsider who murdered my boy and my daughter-in-law — my grandson's parents. I could not engage my son's killer because I had to save my grandson from him. Chen Xing had envisioned nightmares, day by day, every morning at a young age."
"That's tragic," Shifu apologized for Ming's loss. "I am sorry about your son."
"Chen Xing disciplined throughout his course," Ming interpreted. "He's no longer having nightmare issues. There were numerous perplexities I've encountered, which both Xing and I had to hide somewhere where no soul would find us."
"From whom, Ming?" Shifu asked worriedly. "Who was following you both?"
"From those who wanted us slain," Ming added, caressing a tip of the cup that she revolved her finger. "Not just me and Xing. I remember the face of the killer, and I bear not to mention his name."
An omniscient killer. Shifu pondered.
Chen Ming continued stroking her snow-white cup with detailed cobalt clouds. "I heard this rumor from my messengers' colleagues in China. People living in rural areas, sending messages to a few geese messengers reckoned the name that controlled his army, remained silent for years. Something dark merges, assuming that the person name 'Ruler of Retaliation' has been lurking here in Mortal Realm and will avenge his father's legacy."
"'Ruler of Retaliation?'" Shifu repeated with confusion.
"This Ruler had an ancient title who promised his father to restore his legacy. My messenger Kong mentioned an old tale of an Ox warrior seven hundred years ago. I meditated on one of my ancestors last week in my chamber, who once informed me about the young prince, commonly known as the son of Emperor Khan. He craves to rule China, leaving martial arts in ruins we have created."
"That sounds terrifying," Shifu noticed her clarification.
"I am aware of his return," Ming was concerned. "My grandmother, whom I saw in the Spirit Realm, warned me that this sickness lies near a hidden summit. Northwest of Tibet. She spotted many armies, saying they are all growing in the border and will emerge."
"I believe your words are ominous to hear this news," Shifu comprehended, placing his cup beside his rug. "But is there any situation that will prevent terror?"
"If a miracle happens, then their leader would soon dissipate," Ming shook her head, placing her cup beside her. "Earlier, one of my messengers shared one piece of news before I ventured to the Valley of Peace. A messenger from Master Wolf's palace flew to the northwest and then disappeared for at least a day. I recommend not sending one of your messengers to head over to the lands of the West. What I concern, the enemies are clever and can examine the skies to seize avian messengers."
"Very well. I will note my servants to draw themselves away from there," Shifu nodded, sipping his green tea that soothed his voice and throat.
A moment passed on for a short conversation, and Shifu and Ming spoke about their students. Ming contemplated the red panda's confrontation with Dragon Warrior's arrival in the beginning. The Great Dragon's dark heart in which she remembered rumors about the escape from Chorh-Gom Prison, the ambitious Lord of Gongmen in the eastern city, and then the Jade Slayer's final days of power-hungry chi to everyone's defeat. Chen Ming filled her spirits after contemplating Shifu's story, including the Furious Five's origins.
"I would love to see your students one day, brother," Ming was immediately interested in the Furious Five when Shifu finished his tea. "I should have seen everything I missed. The Nine will be honored to greet them all, especially your student Po. May I see the portrait of Tigress, brother?"
Shifu offered Zeng to fetch the parchment painting within his chamber and brought it to him. The Nine's Master opened the scroll, manifesting the young feline in red qipao and black trousers, who was bounding the limbs of her Kung Fu tiger style. By the Gods. Look at her! There was denying that the face was the only one related to Chen Ming's sister she could describe with more than a thousand blessings. "I just wanted to say that I deeply miss your student's family. Tigress must know that she's no longer in solitude. I'm delighted that you have been raising my niece, as she's the pure one of the Furious Five. I've always wondered if she was just like her mother. Soon, she has to see her aunt."
"That can wait, sister," Shifu patted Ming's paw, letting her return Tigress's portrait to him. "It will be a genuine pleasure to greet my students in the morning. I have some important schedules to do. The Emperor will appear at Jade Palace here to see a demonstration."
"I understand," Ming comprehended.
"You have your place, right?" Shifu asked as his pupils grew across his ocean eyes.
"Of course," she smirked, chuckling lightly. "My palace is not far from here."
"Where?"
"About ten miles west from here," Ming answered, pointing West. "The Prosper Valley is where I dwell with nine students."
"Great!" Shifu murmured to such excitement. "I'll be there with my students if we are in luck on a top three list of martial arts."
"Brilliant," Ming finished her tea.
Just then, Ming and Shifu approached through Hall of Warrior's front door to exit. Shifu's thoughts kept swimming into every speck of his closest friend, well-educated with their tortoise teacher, as their world was full of divine and beauty. Their world was filled with inclinations before they raised Tai Lung.
"You are going to leave again, right, sister?" Shifu pondered.
The feline revolved her head to the shoulder, eyes meeting the red panda who raised his pale eyebrows. "I won't do the way I left you both since our early days," Ming spoke. "After I left when our adoptive son had his heart fragmented, I never wanted to start quarreling with your and our grandmaster's decision. He was our boy, but he's no longer suffering."
"It was a difficult choice to make," Shifu comprehended. "I know you had to leave, save your family from danger, and take good care of your only grandson. Your apology is accepted. Grandmaster Oogway and I wondered if you would revisit someday after you were gone."
"It was a long trip; many years had gone through before I came here," Chen Ming said. "I just hope I would forgive my firstborn's death and his wife." Ming immediately turned to Shifu and hugged once again for a great reunion. "I will return, brother."
"I know you will, Ming," Shifu approved. "If you wish to come by here with your students, you are welcome to Jade Palace anytime."
"Thank you, Shifu," Ming accepted Shifu's welcome. Ming dressed in her traveling cloak and grabbed her staff. Before she strolled down the colossal stairs, Shifu immediately called her sister.
"Ming. One more word before you go back home. Is one of your talented students having issues?"
"Just one of the Nine students only, not my grandson," Ming explained. "Chen Xing sometimes sees his peacock brother distressed about his past that he cannot remember. My student's peahen mother I met once said she must raise and protect her son from one of their own, who drove himself mad. He desired his son to show him something potential."
Potential? Shifu perceived his old friend's hint. Indicating that their teacher had countless companions as only one that Oogway mentioned of his colleague, the possibility of "grandson" was enough to recognize the peacock as the spiritual warrior. The red panda elucidated. "Master Oogway told me that his companion is watching over your student. He told me about your student's long-lost memory, which continues haunting his nightmare."
"Master Oogway told you that? You cheated me," Ming joked. Shifu nodded as both chuckled. "I'll greet our Master later on, but I have to see what my student is having trouble with tomorrow morning."
"You can meditate alone with green candles, Ming, and you shall see Oogway in a moment," Shifu advised. "Meditation requires your students to make Inner Peace, the capability to swim your mind into the unflustered cloud. Have the Nine practice zen."
"Thank you for the advice," Ming appreciated. "I'll teach my students a new lesson." She turned gently without a rush on a stairway.
My student's peahen mother I met once said she must raise and protect her son from one of their own, who drove himself mad. He desired his son to show him some potential.
The red panda witnessed the eyes of crimson, lightened with embers standing on the weapon that was the word nearly destroying Kung Fu. A metal dragon tumbled where Gongmen and Jade Palace masters rushed in the horde of wolves before the rope sparked with a thousand suns, and the dragon spat its fire. Potential struck in Shifu, knowing the smell of powder and angry foams on the harbor he was on that time with two Masters of Gongmen and his students. Crimson and white trailed across the water like there was no tomorrow, and several balls of fire deflected and submerged. The last one was the icon that circulated Yin-Yang, which rushed pale ripples around the broken hull and launched the fire directly at the warship junk, splitting it half apart.
"Do you notice your peacock student is identical to someone?" Shifu asked Ming.
Ming stopped near the stairs as the breeze fiddled with her brown cloak. His question was common to perceive the young peacock's origin, although Shifu worded his old companion. "I needed to ask, Ming. The Masters of Jade Palace had a history of the Lord of Gongmen wanting to destroy the creation, which brought some of us into mental trauma. My student Po was in difficulties for several months and needed to recover from the past. The Dragon Warrior went through what Lord Shen initially raided his home," Shifu elaborated. "You said your student and his mother fled from someone who drove himself mad. Is he the one or someone else related to him?"
Each of the Nine had origins to where they came from in China. Half were the sons of masters. Some were only peasants and formerly bandits, but they strode into a passion to becoming students, as likely all into one bonded as brothers and sisters of the Nine. I trust that my brother shall hear Lao's origin. Chen Ming beckoned her nod, turning her shoulder toward Shifu.
"My student's grandparents were Peafowl Nobles of Gongmen City. Later followed their son before my student," Ming said, her blood running cold in her heart as Shifu made his ocean eyes widen. "He doesn't know his father. He had been the Prince of Gongmen long before Lord Shen went exiled before the Lord of Gongmen returned to his city. My student learned only the history of his father losing the battle. Since the lord and lady wept tears and laid under the earth soil, their son pulverized himself under the harbor, the Nine's Brilliance is the heir to the Gongmen City throne."
"I see why," Shifu comprehended. "What is your disciple's name?"
"His name is Lao," she revealed the young peacock's name. "My grandson named him a brother since Lao and his peahen mother came to my palace. His true name for his Peafowl Noble bloodline is Dōngjì, meaning winter."
"That's a wonderful name for your student," Shifu blessed his old friend's student's name. "I'll keep your words confidential with that matter, Ming. I am sure that Lao will know the beginning."
"I will regret myself if the peacock student I've known as my lovely son finds out the truth by himself," Chen Ming patted her chest. "He's just a child, like his father, but not an aggressive emotion. I need more time at the right moment to speak with my student after the Tournament."
Ming nodded at once when Shifu discovered her difficult situation that Lao would soon reveal his distant memory. They both gestured their hands at each other, and Ming sauntered down the stairway path to lead Valley of Peace, where she must return to the boatman and ride back on a stream towards the Prosper Valley.
Shifu, in his memory, sat on the flat ridge beside the peach tree with Oogway and Ming, sipping tea while glancing at the morning. From his perfect life, he missed the closest friend he had ever known and waited for years of Ming's return. The blossom flower, soaring in a breeze, stroked Shifu's cheek.
"Oh!" Shifu chuckled. "I almost forgot to go to bed. I have a big day tomorrow."
Shifu returned through the door and closed a behemoth entry to the Hall of Warriors. The midnight sky with gray clouds remained peaceful as the Sacred Peach Tree near Student Barracks gleamed with pink blossom flowers. Shifu went to his chamber, perching on the bed as the breeze bore blossom foliage.
"Awesome."
In the Spirit Realm, observing from the golden ocean with white ripples, floated an old tortoise. Glinting his yellow eyes, Oogway surveyed his Wing Chun student in a brown cloak who strolled down the Jade Palace stairs. Pink foliage swam over her, and Chen Ming sensed peach blossom flowers. "Grandmaster Oogway. . ." she breathed out with a genuine smile.
"Hmm. Chen Ming," Oogway simpered.
