Episode Four: The Lord and Prince ( 17 - 20 )


Chapter XVIII

Xing v. Tigress

I. Lao's Blindfold Challenge

"Fellowship of the Nine have claimed their victory, people of all China!" Emperor Huangdi above the temple with judges and masters announces. "Their next worthy event, the Furious Five are seeking to face a challenge against the Nine!"

It's official. The Nine will spar Furious Five. My heart pumps like the ocean's wave.

"Despite 'elimination' event," adds Huangdi, considering before he speaks. "Four students from the Fellowship have eliminated; Only five remains their survival, and if they win this Kung Fu vs. Wing Chun event by defeating the Furious Five, the Nine must challenge the Dragon Warrior!"

The Emperor's right. The Tournament's rule based on the part of elimination matches. That would have been nice, and simple way to offer all nine of us battling Furious Five, in which could likely be more fantastic, and generous to let all audiences to see a battle of Furious Five versus Fellowship of the Nine. And after, and will defeat the Five, we must challenge Dragon Warrior.

"We all must clasp a half-hour break and offer a small session activity to one of the Nine, Kung Fu demonstration, and Dragon Warrior's chi!" entertains Huangdi.

Yes. This half-hour break schedule can buy my brother's time. At least, the Five and Dragon Warrior are commencing their demonstration of kung fu before all five of the Nine will spar them until one of us or any will win Kung Fu vs. Wing Chun; the Righteous and Nine have completed the demonstration process, then proceeded our sparring against them.

Both Lao and I ascend to the ring when the Nine begins to practice their Chi Sao as the Righteous are also welcome to gaze our training. The wind starts to describe the sky turning blue like a comfort role. Plenty of audiences and even most of the black and white pandas can see my peacock brother on my side while sauntering. The Five, and Dragon Warrior gave us a nod. Likely, they shall able to see what we are going to embark this small event for Lao.

"I'm commencing to get anxious," utters Lao surprisingly.

"Just relax, Lao," I appease him. "As I could tell that the audiences are about to see you a peafowl prince. Most of them don't even know who you are, except Prosper Valley villagers."

Just as I image upon the temple, the masters, judges, and even Huangdi look at themselves communing softly as by thought more about my brother. We nearly stop in a middle of the ring, and I add.

"You'll have to show them their true identity, and entertain everyone. Listen, brother. Any masters including Emperor might able to say that you are like a son of that peacock lord. They might be wrong, but you are not that peacock lord's son. I hope it's not true. . ."

I thought once shortly. Instead of daydreaming, I remain focused on my advice to my brother.

"Anyway, just all you have to say is that your dad who's probably kin and likely a brother of Shen, he had sacrificed himself to liberate you and your peahen mother from Summit Village attack."

"Ok," Lao nods.

Just then, the Prosper Valley villagers behind us over began to cheer as a sunset rose from the growing flowers. We nearly recognize some female voice from one of the villagers as the Nine and my grandmother remember her. These people, these people encourage our hearts as all the villagers support us by representing honor, and our reputation. At first, a fabric creator motivates, saying my brother's name and so to villagers embarking their cry of joy repeatedly as the blue sky brightens after the sun escaped the variable clouds.

Did I just hear Mrs. Yan? Now that impressed us.

"Alright," I chuckle hysterically, palming my brother's shoulder and offering him my black sash to blindfold Lao. "You ready, brother?"

"Ready is my middle name," Lao inclines as he grasps my sash from his feathers.

Now that's the spirit, Lao Ready. I support Lao by enabling a knot behind his head as I let his blue crest move away for more space as covering my brother's eyes. Onto this day forth, his dream has come true. The path of leading his final test of red/black sash is by accomplishing all the advantages I have trained my brother for years. My grandmother's rarest Cai Li Fo movement as Ming has taught by her ancestors and especially some peacock master who created initially that fighting elements along Master Oogway during the Great War.

The eyes of all disciples I bow to them are having their thoughts. On what the masters are genuinely noticed, focusing the peacock murmuring to themselves.

"My Emperor," I call the water buffalo in a particular manner. "I offer Clever of the Nine to demonstrate his blindfold challenge. First round: Cai Li Fo. Final round: Chi Sao, featuring me as the Nine's Leader."

At the moment, I realize these disciples are reckoning to consider. First, the Emperor may interest some nearly long, lost martial art, Cai Li Fo. He turns to my grandmother on his left side. Some of the masters including both Ox and Croc are merely interests to gaze my brother's demonstration. I once knew what Master Ox apprised his son including me about his dead colleague Thundering Rhino who was had that fighting experience before, and trained Lord Shen by used Cai Li Fo forms with a complex.

The Emperor nods after Huangdi offered ourselves to proceed Lao's blindfold.

"You're up," I utter after sauntering away from Lao. "I'll be right behind you near a side of the ring. Your guan dao is right below you, and good luck."


CAI LI FO

I knew this day would be enormous for my brother's demonstration of Cai Li Fo. I have dreamt, mainly thought more about my brother's generation of his legacy from the tomorrow's mystery. Lao is crucial, a key to our family, and accomplishment awaits to his gift will approach after the final act of Chi Sao. The universe once spoke:

Xing Chen, Son of Shui. Your peacock friend is much value to his bloodline in all he conveys through your training. You have made your brother so desirable for you as a brother-in-arms. You may notice a similarity of his personality by gaze Lao much closely as equal to one of his Peafowl Noble family, and one of my colleague of the Mightiest Warriors. Whatever everyone might have known about that other peacock's famous of being a lord who created his creation of atrocity, they all might fear of my brother someday. I hope not.

"Cai Li Fo; Lao."

I attend my brother's preparing voice up in front of the ring. Bowing, and serenading like a wind. Before nature's sky sings by the breeze as I remain standing towards the edge of the rectangular platform, the blade chants softly. Lao sweeps his train by diving below the ground as the blade soars. He instantly rotates himself, and snatches his guan dao from his left feet, and stunning his movement of complex forms of air, and water in between soft, and horizontal sweep attack.

He rises onto the gentle air while sticking his piercing guan dao below the ring by heel kick before landing. Lao continues his singing blade as much countering defense at around spinning clockwise as that blade can penetrate sideways with a cut of the water droplet, turning into half as two droplets I have imaged Lao's Cai Li Fo. Likely to his feathers being solid and soft grip onto his guan dao stick, the metal shall prefer his liking instead wood. He does train more wooden polls. Even then, his fear has vanquished. The rain was Lao's nemesis. The droplets on what he does believe are any warrior's cry pouring from the sky will let my brother stay stronger instead of being soaked with horror.

You're okay. It's just the rain. Nothing's going hurt you anymore.

Brothers for life! Brothers to the end!

The echoes reminded a recall. That was the time when Lao sled from the rain on the Fighting Square he could not rise. It all started when we both Lao and I were able to show no fear what my grandmother just offered us to train outside with gentle rain. As I seek my brother's gloss of guan dao screaming softly with a vertical cut, the pouring with rich lines impacts near mountains of Prosper Valley. Ignited! Sparks in everywhere else I remembered about the sever blackness of hushing winds could have let us bolted.

But this is where he continues down fourth of no fear. Once I gaze my brother trailed his blue train after skidding near to left side quickly with his guan dao, my colleagues convene from my tail.

"How long have you trained your brother, Xing?" the golden snub knuckles my arm shortly. "He seems quite better according to his stance that I could barely notice Lao's choreography of. . . what is this demonstration, kid?"

"Cai Li Fo, Master Monkey," I comment. "My grandmother and I trained Lao since a year after my village went desolated. What you are about to image my brother's form, he trained himself alone during a gentle rain that Lao faced horror before. As my grandmother and I were able to pick his weakening strength, we did deliver ourselves by battling the storm, without fear."

"Not bad," Monkey gapes softly. "So formidable."

"Um. . . his stance is getting there, and I rather train him more to glide his wings," Crane points Lao's aggressive form. He individually described my brother as looking well, but a little problematic by controlling balance. "We as the Masters of Jade Palace are already getting into the interest of your brother. You know, getting to know Lao and so the Nine. Do you know what is your brother's life story?"

"I believe I have," I reply, with honest. Somehow, the Five, Shifu and Dragon Warrior are absorbing continuously. They like my brother more. "It's a very long story, Master Crane. I would love to bear my reasonable way to answer everything that I do know Lao for ages, but it'll be much better to clarify this later after Tournament."

"Yeah," Monkey approved at once we three are imaging the peacock's guan dao soaring above the ring with all the gloss from the star above. "Maybe Xing's right, Crane. We'll talk more after this."

"Should you masters are supposed to improvise your kung fu demonstration with Dragon Warrior?" I ask them two delicately.

"Ah, no worries, kid," Monkey said as soon as he used his long tail straightening below the edge of the ring, balancing his whole body soothingly. "We got this. Instead our improvising, you like to have my cookies, Xing?"

Just in time, I thought smirkingly. Does the Furious Five already desire their friend Monkey in which likes to give more cookies for the rest of the Nine and me? I should clarify him more about my sister and her cookies Lotus can eat thousands of those sweets every month. It is true.

"Why not?" I smirk. "I'll trade you with my sister's cookies. Maybe later."

The sweats began to humid elsewhere like water. I would wonder if the breeze could ever lastly chill over my forming spine around me as the slithering touch from Viper. Lao nearly accomplished his complex Cai Li Fo while around his front slide with guan dao spinning above the air like a toss. As the shining star shines like a Spirit Realm I used to dream before; the gazing blue made an absolute diamonds that glossed from behind the clouds that touched the sun.

Monkey, Crane and I were communed for over minutes as that gazing cloud cover the whole gloss of blue, and gold from the star as we have clarified about Lotus's overeating cookies. Just then, Lao immediately salvaged his forming time after the first round of Cai Li Fo demonstration has ended with a bow and guan dao together onto my brother's left wing. It was not that long when Emperor Huangdi and his fellow judges, senators and likely masters finally give out their points for Lao by intermediate level, and higher achieve the decision. At first for the last round: Chi Sao.

"Well done, Lao," I repeatedly clap at once I stroll to the middle of the ring. "You have entertained most of the audiences. They're kinda like you."

"That seems surprising," he ponders. The audiences claim their cry of joy softly. Many villagers of China are riveting Lao most likely. "Should many people already noticed who I am?"

"They already know who you are, brother," I simpered at him ridiculously. "Did you hear their murmuring voices crawling all over the stadium? These audiences are thinking more about you now."

I notice some familiar voice from our teacher from Prosper Valley. The funny thing is, Mrs. Yan is such a crazy woman who in her phantasm dates my brother more than her husband she used to know. She's on fire!

"I love you, Lao!" she echoes. "Don't forget that I am your best teacher who made you flowers and silks every day!"

"Looks like Mrs. Yan's madly in love," I said. "She brought some flowers for you, and Hong looks quite jealous about that."

"Great," Lao noticed our teacher voice from Mrs. Yan behind us along Prosper Valley people. He inhaled, and asked, "Is this a final test?"

"Definitely," I reply. "You know you have been waiting for this final test for very long time, brother. This round is for you to know everything you have been training for the last twenty years of Wing Chu and ten years of Cai Li Fo. After you've dealt all seven of the Nine students for a couple of years, your next opponent, Lao, will be me."

"Then let's go!" Lao chuckles. "We fight to the end. I accept your sparring."


CHI SAO

His dream has come true. Lao calms his feeling that he may not go excited as unbalancing. His purpose for my brother's future: greatest grandmaster of Wing Chun, Kung Fu, and Cai Li Fo. As my brother checks my sash around his eyes, I do the same as we both have to worth Chi Sao to our highest level of Wing Chun. I offer Lotus's red sash to borrow it shortly from my sister before she steps away from the ring.

The wind sings onto my ears from the Spirit Realm. (I used that kind of two words for representing Heaven, and all that's there could be an illusion of good and evil spirit warriors existing there with immortality. No fleshly.) The sash caresses onto my surrounding eyes while the breeze approaches our stance, and knotting it from behind.

This highest level of Wing Chin doing particular sash blindfold around our heads is a piece of knowledge by being used of harmony with discipline, and physical that Ming always taught about peace instead of war. Even while without the eyes to sight, the ears are the best melody you can barely hear movements like pointy arrows screaming while it soars, someone's breath, and forms touching with clothes elsewhere. This ring, is like emptiness through your mind, by concentrating enemy's structure, without sightseeing.

"Wing Chun, Lao."

"Wing Chun, Xing."

We bow except our glimpse. My arms contact to my brother's feather arms; Lao and I control agility of circling balance of Chi Sao. One on the outside of Lao's left wing, and the other inside of his right arm. As we form within our circle like smooth water, I reflect my grandmother's wise, and most important words of complex, and particular difficulties of Chi Sao every day.

Remember, my students. Chi Sao is much complex than your fundamental fluidity of knowledge as what you know of Wing Chun blocks and attacks to encounter. It is not just what you have learned, it is confident by assuring your controllable movements of your spar's arm, and your arms from in and out. It is not as easy for Lao's wings. As I can enable his alternative complex for his wings is by balance, he will guide through fluidity as similar to kicks for his claws to attack, his train feathers for distraction, and wings alike deflection to encounter strikes.

Once you reach the black sash one day, you will not be the same as that time will come to realize of testing may result in what you earn in the future.

We both prepare our precise movement. I begin to use fists as Lao enables fook sao block. Encountering as rapid rustled smack, my brother takes his advantage along my left side after kune lum tao to my right path after he felt my wide open area by his instinct. Lao's claw sweeps near as I attend the forthcoming breeze from skidding, and jo phan his leg at multiple angles while Lao forced his other upcoming kicks by the sides.

I claim my brother's wings with multiple straight punches on the inside of Chi Sao. He re-flexes bong sao, tahn sao and feather palms near my cheek as he engages after I flinch shortly away, and mainly focus on Lao anywhere with my guard up on the center. I slightly slant to the left after Lao I cannot detect him from his movement. Using my extended arm on yen on multiple sideways, and listening to the ring's step is my guide to find my brother's stance.

I barely recognize his train's sweep near to my right side. Closing in with two steps softly and lap sao onto adrift breeze attached my paws. Calmly. I felt my brother's tip of his train onto my right tip of a toe. Noticing Lao is near, and also he does as I mainly stay focus my blindfold with singing breeze impacting my both ears at simultaneously. As soon as my presence forged onto something more like awareness situation without sightseeing, and my guard leaps onto flat glide with my left lap sao paw.

Lao's sleeve joins my silk on the outside of my left arm soothingly like a pillow. Contacted!

I streak his wing down-force, and tahn sao his right side of his sleeve and palm him onto the bottom of the lung. Barely noticing his flap sleeves on elsewhere, Lao, apparently, targeted my inner strength upon my middle side while palming his elbows like a lightning strike. The wind caught off through my outside arms as Lao managed his fook sao blocks encountering my rapid straight punches on front. Repeatedly as my both wrists turn non-pain into heated fur from Lao's fierce fook sao blocks, we swiftly moved around circles. Both Lao and I attend the Five and Dragon Warrior's gasp from my left side.

I bong sao his right ring from my contacted sleeve arm, with multiple angle counters severely as through his bridge nearby, and kune-lum-tao my elbow I felt Lao's serene, and he thrusts my whole body trapped with my arms together. A rustled sweep reminds of my brother's train, and I leaped above from preventing Lao's trick, and I side-kick near his surroundings as I could not notice where he might be close by, or further away from me.

While I began to land, my feet message my thought sweep to the left of my horizontal surrounding, and Lao impacted my arms with lum-chin with by feathers touched with a wind twice, by my right palm strike. I front kicked, and his wings crossed below and above according to my surprise palm thrust. By my second surprise with my clenched paw, he deflects his feather onto my fist moderately. Noticing my arm began to some tense, my force of power, was not soft like water. It strains like arms tightening my muscle.

Lao's soft power catapults me like his iron feathers thrust my whole body.

SWOOSH!

Lao has become worthy. Everyone's cheer of cry has ended our sparring battle as we, at frankly, did our blindfold challenge. Once I removed Lotus's red sash from my eye level, the sight shined like I am in Heaven. Soft pure, and cozy blue and sighting my brother's whole white glow with blue train up front, currently guarding himself with fook sao.

He did it! I thought smirkingly. My brother has earned it!

"Bow," I ordered him while Lao returned to his stance and immediately bowed to me after he joined his feathers together. "Now, remove your blindfold," Lao ultimately take off my sash around his eyes softly. His eminence became so clear how Lao succeeded Cai Li Fo forms and hardest Chi Sao complex. Lao noticed of my proud face after all the pure lightness surrounded his both eyes shortly before dims typically.

"You did it," I beam. "You have earned yourself great gift Lao." I pointed my sash towards his wings on front. "The sash belongs to you now."

After everything Lao had worked so hard since the beginning of our friendships, he observed his eyes toward his new sash. I know his face became delightful as dauntless. I have never seen his beak grows lighter than I first met him.

"I'm very proud of you, brother," I please as we begin to embrace ourselves before the Nine, Furious Five, and hundreds of audiences cheered from the beloving sky.

The new rank is where Lao embarks the era of the black sash. He has changed, not the same as Lao and I played each other along my grandmother Ming, and his peahen mother, Lady Xia. Lao's newest sash has an image of a next generation with any number on lowest to highest den rank. Ming's position is above fifty dens, and I will embark my first den to rank up as I must continue my newest journey with my brother Lao.

It's just the beginning.


II. Kung Fu vs. Wing Chun

Viper vs. Fanshe

The two serpents from Wangu Village; the Nine's Cobra, and Furious Five's snake. Viper in the beginning never mentioned Fanshe that she was living along with two of her serpent parents. By the most knowingly for Viper's newest journey by became a new member of Furious Five after she left her home, Fanshe had started to live on Wangu's Village when he quitted some gang-related bandits who treated people poorly with no respect. Fanshe does not concern his circumstances to hurt villagers, or punished by one of bandit's leadership.

Viper's father as Fanshe once elucidated to me before. He can regain cobra's compliment to use disciplinary and treat villagers as much likely the elders instead venoming them with treachery. The Five's Viper has something to began wondering about the Nine's Cobra, and Fanshe considered more to her about Wangu village, and Master Viper's residence.

"You have truly met my father before, Fanshe?" Viper asks as after both snakes infiltrate a large, arena.

"He's a very much disciple and wiser I have met him, Viper," Fanshe describes. "I have confidence that you are the first before I began my newest journey."

"Then we are brothers and sisters," Viper marvelously approved. She inquires, "Are you ready?"

"I was born ready," he snickered at the time both snakes are bowing to themselves. "Wing Chun; Fanshe."

"Kung Fu; Viper."

There can be only one serpent who is equal to their deadliest tails and fangs throughout the process. Both reptile snakes snarl their attack and shake their tail onwards like keenness blade screeched their skin rapidly. Viper avoided Fanshe's vertex whip vertically, snap! She snatches one of reddish ribbon stick to her right corner at quick way before Fanshe began to sweep with a large bamboo pole. He peered Viper's tail that she gripped with her strength by carrying only one, and single reddish ribbon stick with possible usage of dancing, and Pandivas.

Just as Viper comes up to seek Fanshe's slither movement, she engages with a full force of ribbon sweep onto criss-cross direction towards Fanshe's incoming bamboo pierce stick. Within up close personal to both being fearless of serpent snakes snarling, it is their reflection opposing and defensive reflexes along bridging the small pole and red sash splintering into crack after Viper removed Fanshe's stick, and she thrusts multiple angles on below, then above, and slam like a hammer.

Viper wins.

"I am sorry, brother," she apologizes, then giggles. "I thought you've said you're ready."

"That was," Fanshe paused, although twitching to many sides after he nearly hammered to the middle of the arena from Viper's slashing tail with a red sash, and he felt the tears on snarling teeth cracked apart, "lovely."


Monkey vs. Zhao

Master Monkey, the street-smart, and mastery of four palms combat of kung fu. These masters are genuinely lucky to have him being much as enthusiasm and good jesters as by born from the sense of humor. The next of Monkey's secret is cookies. Lotus and Monkey do have their diet problems of eating hundreds of cookies every day as I reminded of Lady Xia's bakery cookies quickly vanished by my sister. Every eye he gazes at me with a nod and gesturing, he can notice about my sister's problematic of diet.

"Oh, this is too easy," Monkey chuckles after landing the ring upfront of Zhao close enough. He asked, "You have no chance to surrender my bananas, right?"

"Bananas are my problematic diet, Master Monkey," Zhao replies, once crunching and popping his fingers over knuckles roughly.

Do you? I guess you do have a problem with fruits! I think.

"I bet you are," Monkey points smirkingly. "You have nothing to fear, ferocious."

"Oh, I'm shaking," Zhao shortly trembles his body while Lao and I chuckle.

There are like hundreds of dummy crocodiles at Training Hall from Jade Palace, I subsequently reflect. The Five decapitated it all, and what I just to be clear on this, not mistakenly. . . I believe they all and even one of the Five can vanquish Zhao.

He's going to lose, I wise.

"Kung Fu; Monkey."

"Wing Chun; Zhao."

Monkey sweeps across the ring with leaping hands he increased jumping. Zhao goes forced with the only advance rank of Wing Chun that he did necessary Chi Sao practice for over months, and still progressing weak points on any size opponent, including his tail to use for whipping. Just as Monkey used all four hands as an ideal outcome, Zhao immediately swiveled his tail below, as Monkey solved the crocodile's surprise.

Monkey intervened him by two palm feet stroke into Zhao's right side of the chest, and he sighted that attention. Zhao immediately guarded his arms, and lap sao Monkey's right arm swinging near, and Monkey palmed Zhao's punch with other two hands below him have pounded the crocodile harder with a strike of knockout. Zhao leaped away, then landed unconsciously from Monkey's knockout winning.

Monkey wins.


Viper vs. Lotus

Featuring my craziest, and the Nine's best ribbon dancer on Prosper Valley, my she-wolf sister Lotus. For plenty of months, since I began to know my best friend Lao for over three months, my grandmother headed to some Bao Gu Orphanage where one of the Furious Five masters were taken care before Shifu arrived there a long time ago. Mrs. Yan once notified to Ming that one of the orphans was considered dangerous, and a cub who lost a family of a wolf pack from the Wolves Village.

To myself and my brother Lao, after my grandmother picked the orphan from Bao Gu, she was not that dangerous. Lotus as we both sighted her as a beautiful wolf cub, she held her knees, perched in a room with her ears jerking back and manifested eclipse eyes growing wide. For plenty of days since Lao and I began to perceive her as such friendship, both my grandmother and Lao's mother Xia had waited for wolf cub's mother to arrive our palace.

But no one, nor her parents came.

For as long as Lao and I become our greatest brotherhood by looking after Lotus for years, we will always call Lotus as our sister. We do need to have a family relationship. Lotus likely desired us as by being a brother and sister, not probably a sibling, but being close friendship dearly.

"I thought wolves were mean, and wildly like a blaze," Viper considered when sighting Lotus entered the ring, and sauntering across the halfway near the snake's personal space.

"You may have seen many wolves before me," replied Lotus. "I never like how wolves are reckless and ruthless."

"I love your qipao," Viper pointed her tail onto Lotus's vest happily.

"Is that my lotus?" My sister awkwardly demands the serpent's flower above Viper's temple. "These two flowers are truly mine!"

"Come and get it. . ." Viper taunts her sarcastically, then bowing with her tail. "Kung Fu; Viper."

"Wing Chun; Lotus."

Viper snarls before she contacts Lotus's fook sao guard. She may be even surprised as my sister also practiced with Fanshe during their spar a while back. Eventually, both clash with tail and paw; Viper bends her whole slither body with springing tail, nearly piercing Lotus's two fook sao paws while my sister has prevented the snake's onslaught. Lotus takes action onto her motion of second step forward, and Viper facilitates many penetrated targets with her aggression tail.

Later, Lotus palms the next phase of Viper's familiar "subtlety," the snake has stormed her approach onto the mid-air, and my she-wolf performs bil-gee, four different blocks of similar bong sao into one, full defensive after Viper attack her with a tail four times in a row on mid-air. Lotus elbowed the snake rapidly, palmed two hands onto Viper's neck and front cheek, and double front kicked the snake with a wondrous, and effective strike.

Lotus wins.

My sister began to inspect Viper's knockout near the edgy side of the ring at the Five's land. As the snake quivers her expression, Viper perceives with eyes onto Lotus crouching near the snake. "Are you alright, Master Viper?" Lotus queries with ocean eyes dazzling.

"That's a hardcore game you got here, wolfy," the snake amazed. "I am wondering why your name sounded physically attractive and raised very kindly."

"In an honest manner," Lotus began, and shortly clarify Viper during the accomplished round filled with clapping hands and ecstatic voices. "My tiger mother raised me with my two best friends we raised each other, and I was born with an alluring name 'Lotus,' given by my long, lost parents from Wolves Village."

"Oh. . . Now I understand that name," Viper has notified. As soon as Lotus help Viper, and the snake crawls onto my sister' neck intimately, "That's a beautiful name, Lotus," Viper adores, then immediately inquire Lotus, "I'm very curious. How many cookies have you ate?"

"About a thousand cookies every year," she replies before descending the ring. "Twenty cookies a day, four hundred cookies around a month, and thirty cookies around weekends."

"Oh, my!" Viper raises her tail and presses her lips. "You must be a cookie giant, just like Monkey and Po!"


Monkey vs. Lao

"Come join the Furious Five," Monkey implores Lao, gesturing him. "We have cookies if you are accepting to surrender."

"I'm highly impressed of your trickster," my brother perceived. Lao has adept through the tip of the arena by seeking any recommendation weapons for him, and also Monkey on a halfway across the other side. "Why don't you try to eat your cookies with my sister Lotus?" Lao asked. "She's a lot worse I can utter you."

"I will like to see her try. . ." Monkey assures. While the Five's joker is reflecting as Lao immediately inspects the available weapons for battle at simultaneously, Monkey turns white. "Oh! Bamboo poles," Monkey snatches that bamboo pole he favors. "What do you prefer, kid?"

"My dragon pole, and your cookies for Lotus," Lao said.

Well, this should be good, I reflect.

Lao and Monkey have embarked their pole fighting with stunning assault and surprise. Within each and thrusting pole that Lao comforts the pushing force, Monkey circulates a horizontal motion at the upcoming charge from Lao's encounter strike poles on forward, onto the sides, and even over to the top of the head level. Whereas Lao manage his agility based on trained sticks and pole from similar Cai Li Fo form he primarily handles every time, my brother may discipline his serene ability.

By reflecting on discipline by seeking Lao and Monkey shake their sticks into the arena, they both contradict their targeting marks while sticks are drawing onto side by side hitting it-selves, near inner circle. Before the coming, at first, Lao wobbled that bamboo pole, infiltrating on Monkey's whole chest with two arms above that the Five's joker disciplines it. Monkey nearly thrust above Lao's neck, and my brother deflects it high and begins whirling his train onto Monkey's two feet hands. As in particularity, Monkey leaped swiftly, and Lao swings onto golden snub's left lung at a full open target.

Lao wins.

Monkey has collapsed onto the edge of the arena, where the Five are reflecting us as we are also part of warriors who Grandmaster Oogway's students as far as we know, from our instructors Shifu, and Ming. Lao has released his dragon pole, in addition to Monkey panting himself when covering his rib with large palm. During the time Lao convenes Monkey shortly, my brother gazes hurriedly.

"Nice work, peacock." Monkey beams lightly. Lao began to assist him with a wing, while golden snub felt the impact stroke from his left rib. Well, hopefully, Lao did not break any of Monkey's ribs. "You did train well, kid. I guess I owe you fifty cookies since I give a bet to let me win this round."

"I am honestly desired to supper your cookies about only five of them," Lao considered. Subsequently, Monkey arises, and normally solid. Although golden snub has used of kung fu injuries, Lao began to converse at that time strolling. "Lotus can handle all fifty cookies. Let me explain though: She will manage and mention you that my sister may eat ten cookies or more, but Lotus is a scheming wolf who can eat more cookies without letting the Nine notice the truth. She needs a lot of help."

"No worries, kiddo," Monkey says while them two exits the arena. "I can manage your sister. Lotus will have to fight her diet. Next time, Lao. I am amazed at your pole fighting. I kinda like you."

"It's a fantastic spar, Master Monkey," Lao shakes Monkey's hand. "Probably next time at Jade Palace."


The other two matches did not take long to reach the end of "Wing Chun vs. Kung Fu" match. My sister accepts her challenge to take on the Five's smallest, and most resolute warrior who penetrates the outplayed bandits within a whole clan of bandits within a short radius, Mantis. My sister embarked her courageous moment at a moment of the bug who applies in combat, and Mantis was not making this battle much more comfortable because of our higher advantage. At first, Lotus darts her clenched paws toward Mantis's 'thingies' penetration reflexes at multiple axis angles.

Lotus nearly cracks open onto Mantis's claw, sensing that powerful attack sting within each strike and defensive. Lotus ignores that kind of severe crack of bones, elbowing and guarding her bong sao arms against Mantis's kicks he bounds. After multiple bong sao blocks in the meantime, Mantis leaps and attacks her, his claws were trembling, and Lotus back-knuckles him with sort of take-down combination and straight palm punches rapidly.

After Lotus's success, bird against bird battle has started. Lao and Crane are both ordinary, and communing birds as I shall notice they both address to each other like peaceful thoughts. Crane soars around large polls; banking left with a swift of hurricane breeze landing onto Lao's surroundings like a horror blast. Whoa! Evidently, Lao prefers the dragon pole (at once again).

At once Crane blizzard a dry breeze in between the two, large wooden poles on both sides at the edge of the arena, Lao embraces the gale with a train fanning extended after Crane shouts with a cry howling bird. Wings of Justice! Crane landed onto Lao in front, and engages with a full force of attacking kicks, and sweep sides, in a way that my brother combines with his deflection wings onto Crane's feet. In just within countering, Lao has finished Crane with sweep pole onto Crane's feet, and nearly poke the bird's neck with a defeat.

Lotus and Tigress embark the competitive spar in just after Crane's defeat for the past five minutes ago. The Five's leader strikes at multiple sides near Lotus's front and centerline while my sister lands many palm blocks on Tigress's both arms at different angles.

There is something odd that I could barely notice what the reason why Tigress cannot commune my she-wolf sister, I reflect. Have the Nine or I ever see Lotus been talking to Tigress at Jade Palace? Not even since we met Masters of Jade Palace first since last month?

Tigress yanks Lotus's whole left arm, blowing on my sister's entire body chest and striking her ribs below at both arms as well. Tigress disciplines her power, contradicting Lotus's thrust and knife palms at a near neck level toward Tigress, and as the Five's leader embarks with a mass of tight claw strike, my sister trembling. Oh no. Tigress snarls to Lotus and spinning back kick onto my sister's cheek with a devastating, and lethal attack as a technical knockout.

"How's that for eating Monkey's cookies?" Tigress provokes her jokingly. Oh no, you didn't.

Lotus barely rises from her one left knee after Tigress had to finish the round. My sister catches off guard that the reason of her arms are nearly soft, but aggressed, and tensed her muscles in a way Tigress felt Lotus's control. Lotus's eyes are trembling like the ice shattered into the water. Has she ever lost any of the Tournament events before? Even Lotus had to serene her anger issues for just because of not winning most of the time? She has, also in previous fifth Tournament around our teenage years.

Tigress surrenders her combat, peering my sister's apprehensive tremble. Why have Lotus's eyes become shattered? I have recalled her startled nightmare. I may notice why. Some horror that Lotus had faced something she had, and ran away from prejudiced boar bandits who claimed their actions by ambushed and demolished Wolves Village. Grimace face, collateral damage property, and palms covering her head when she sat in her room. Fortunately, her other nightmare Lotus encountered was some bullies who threatened her with severe abuse.

Tigress saunters across Lotus's surrounding about five to three feet away, considering my sister's failure.

"I remember. . ." Lotus's wobble voice crawls over her throat. "I remember how I'd lost before. . . ."

"What do you mean?" Tigress confuses, checking Lotus's struggle that she can notice my sister's tense. Tigress crouched nearby to Lotus and then asked concerningly. "Are you alright?"

"I can't explain what was wrong with me. . ." My sister shakes, gazing down to something she may able to recall. She's depressing. "Those orphanages, the ones who opposed me before since I was a cub. . . I was a monster." The Nine and I had realized how Lotus became so unbearable, in at such hopeless that depression tore my sister's voice. "I was a monster on that day before I raised by my best friend's grandmother. Terrified and I am innocent. I never opposed them because they think I am a ruthless predator who murdered villagers."

"You are not," Tigress palms Lotus's paw while she contemplates my sister's splintered voice. "Never say you are a monster, Lotus. I understand how difficult you have been through from your depression. Have you been raised from Bao Gu Orphanage?"

"How?" Lotus insists her with a blink of an eye. She demands, "How do you know I was there?"

My grandmother.

"Your master told me," Tigress replies noticeably. "When you and the Nine came to Jade Palace last month, your master once clarified most of her students to us about their origin, even you, Lotus. Ming has already known the truth about you. You were once a cub who survived the tragedy of Wolves Village. Raised by the caretakers over a month at Bao Gu Orphanage when bully orphans struggled you, then your master raised you along your two companions by having them both as you are their sister.

"We both remain the same," Tigress honestly believe both her and Lotus are equivalent to their history of Bao Gu Orphanage. "The caretakers also raised me, and waited for my parents to come during my anger management of being myself as powerful, and a word of 'monster.' As I waited for them. . . My parents never arrived, and then my master came.

"Look, I am sorry how you were experienced being innocent and lost Lotus," Tigress regretted my sister respectively. "I wasn't expecting that you are facing many issues of struggle, and regret from your past. You just looked like me that you have your experience of loss, and then dangerous. Lotus, you are very good at sparring that I can notice two things I shall describe to you: fearless, and integrity."

Lotus softly swift her own shattered eyes onto Lao and me beside me. As all we listened to their conversation after our sister's defeat, Lao and I wondered Tigress's statement in which the Nine, and Seventh Righteous on our right as they noticed and overheard. Lotus's eyes fill with soft red, and full of dry-fulness tears, Lao and I urged our nodding agreement to our beloved sister to continue speaking Tigress.

"That's why I am the only one who my brothers called me 'crazy sister' every day," Lotus said.

"Then your brothers are the ones who sighted you as the only wolf can be courageous," Tigress reasonably explicates to my sister.

"You are right," she accepts as Lotus softly clench Tigress's paw to rise from the ring.


Xing vs. Tigress

Semi-Final

I volunteer Lao's turn to exchange as my brother already went to his black sash rank when Hong begins curing Lotus's cheek before I start myself entering the arena against Tigress, and Mantis leaped onto my sister as the bug inspects also. The reason for this volunteer: Tigress is a lot common to realize she presents stronger than any warriors, even her rank as slightly above tenth-degree grade when I once told by Grandmaster Shifu. An odd part of myself infiltrating large arena as the whole stadium filled with villagers and classes voice a little. How come of this, and why is that?

These people are reflecting both of us. Two of most common tigers which Tigress I gaze her shortly— and here I am, concentrating the sound of silence everywhere in my mother's eyes.

"This stadium seems to get quieter," we both gazed elsewhere after I conjectured this moment of silence. Then I asked, "Do you know what's the reason, Master Tigress?"

"I'm afraid not," she does not notice why.

My mind could not scratch with a word "aunt" from that female Swan. Why would Swan said that my grandmother's sister had a daughter, and Ming does not notice the truth to me? Does my aunt exist? Does she? Does any of my family member still exist?

"Xing?" Tigress intervenes. "Is something wrong?"

There is the only way to reveal that truth, I thought.

"Is it true that you are my aunt, Master Tigress?" I anxiously ask. "I kept wondering to myself that my parents I usually knew them a little. Since I was a cub, my mother I barely have known her, she was just exactly how her cheek looked so the same as yours."

I have said to Tigress twice about my mother's familiar facial to her on front. She may notice the anxiety I must not show my weakness onto her mistakenly. That is not my weakness in the exact path for my failures. Her eyes as I predict to reflect, Tigress is bond. I never see any of her perceiving sense. If my grandmother's sister does exist, then Ming should have to bear me to notice her niece, based on our bloodline of Qing Temple survivors.

"We may have to talk about this later," Tigress utters. I believe we will. It's too soon to prevail the validity. "Your grandmother will converse to us at Jade Palace after the Dragon Warrior's final round."

Her discussion does not break, however. I merely stay focus instead my worried to show. Tigress's style of Kung Fu is much lethal as my father formerly taught me before. I experience her power of strength I was familiar with that training at Jade Palace along with her Furious Five and Dragon Warrior. This round will even face a profound circumstance that my habitat can bridge Tigress's onslaught. We began to bow this final round (hopefully), for the last of Furious Five member to fight.

"Wing Chun, Xing."

"Kung Fu, Tigress."

Within a rapid surprise, I sweep to the right side of the ring at once Tigress front kicked onto the mid-air, landing on the left side competitively. I palm her right bridge with combo knife stroke onto Tigress's neck. She contacts her claw on my right arm she does not summon her sharp nails. Her bridge connects, touching my whole right arm, and sweeps with palm stroke near her lung.

Next, she encounters my palms with chain blocks connecting with bong sao, tahn sao, and Pak sao closer to Tigress's surroundings. She left side kicked, and I palmed with kune Lim tao, elbow and back-knuckle combinations before thrusting her with full force. By the which of upcoming oppose, our kicks connected with jo phan, and heel kick whenever Tigress enables strong kicks, she attacks my defensive strategy.

Tigress leaps with spinning angles behind me as I swift with my guard. She front-kicks as I summon chin-gon onto my bridge near her leg, and trapping Tigress as now she fists my bong sao onto my right arm. I lurch, and Tigress stays balanced instead tripping over the ring. I await her next surprise. She reckons my professional level of chi sao in just being aware of my predictable agility.

Tigress snatched bamboo stick within a quick reaction I grabbed dragon pole on my right side. The bond wood and bamboo clashed together. I swirl my pole below as Tigress vertical downward strike after leaped, and I block her surprise. Each thrust, my pole bridges it away from my area. Wobbling my pole when Tigress leers my tip of wood, she deflects, and I surprised her with sweep combo next to her left ankle. She upsurges her jump to my left and two sticks crumbled together into pieces after bamboo and dragon poles clashed simultaneously.

Back at the paw-to-paw (hand-to-hand combat) sequence, our arms keep bridging on each deflects and attacks at the same time. By that means, Tigress rendezvouses my whole area opened after my arms collide, and steps into my unbalance stance, and I bypass her surprise fatality from chaining lethal chain claws. Quickly rising before the double front kick she engages me again, I cross my arms below and above to dismantle her encounter strikes. I kick her single leg she does not notice my incoming surprise; Tigress drops her knee downwards. Likely, my engage is all there with multiple straight punches, and numerous palm hits I can finish her. Instead finishing her off—

I stopped fighting; with my whole knuckle softly landed on her cheek instead hitting her harder.

"Xing wins!" Huangdi thunders to audiences.

I won.

"Good," Tigress nod. The Five's Alpha congratulates me on my occasion. I support her paw when I help Tigress rise, and most voices of cheer from everywhere else on Kong Bai Stadium becomes a sunrise.

"You did well, Xing. How long have you been taught Wing Chun with your grandmother, Xing?" Tigress asks normally. She has somehow wondered at such the most amazed of me how predictable I am because of my reflexes that could analyze, and eliminate enemy's weak points like Niu's father, Master Ox.

"Very long time," I answer while massaging my knuckles as I ignore the pain by not just my claws, but to my wrist thoroughly.

"I shall assume you have well trained for more than twenty years," she notices, pointing my paws.

"Same as your paws," I discern Tigress after removing my left paw away to my right wrist. "Do you punch Ironwood Trees?" I asked, then she nodded before I add when approaching Tigress on front. "I punch and palm it many times for seventeen years, and still progressing."

"That's good for you," she provides me, rubbing my trembling fingers. "The battle's not over yet. You and Lao are up to the challenge. Your battle will be both you with your brother, facing the Dragon Warrior."

That is - We are going to get our butts kicked. "Seems your fingers are normally fine as you did your. . . 'Chi Sao' counters," Tigress inspects my paws. "You are still in this fight, Xing."

"Seems likely," I accept after I returned my paws. Just then, these audience with full of pride, and prosperous villagers and classes of martial arts are cheering their support of joyous, and surprising moment for us we have honored our spar. "Looks like we have entertained many people around us, Master Tigress,"

"Yes," she nods, "As the matter of fact, you have done-" Tigress fist punched onto my right rib. "-awesome."

OW!

"Is that for real?" I insist bewilderedly, panting.

"That. . . is for owing me a cookie," she jests at once Tigress strolls down to the ring.

"Did you just jerked Tigress?" Lao queries whenever he strolled beside to me after my brother roared his glide. "What did you do to her, brother?"

I chuckle after Tigress nearly grins, and then vacated the ring. Despite a loss, but she and I deserve this triumph for sparring, and my first time battled the Five's leadership.

"I like her," I snicker.