Volume Four: Snow and Fire
Chapter II
Four Months Later
June 9, 1211
The panda was now entitled as the Dragon Master after the Grandmaster's Will since April. His next goal, after Po started from a student to a master during the years of fan-favorite heroism from the citizens of the Valley of Peace and the people of China, was now the next opportunity to prove the worth of his succession: responsibility. Despite how he considered he could handle numerous counts of a hundred meetings, a hundred bandit attacks, and over a hundred lunch breaks to travel across the Song Dynasty, Po always thought of one thing he needed in his life: his father's Noodle Restaurant. This year, Mr. Ping's retirement was imminent, and Po could not handle the two essential duties of serving his people pasta noodles and saving China from countless misfortunes. But in fact, Po provided his dad to use Li Shan and his twin nephews as prior volunteers whenever the Dragon Master was on duty.
But duties never ran out, and all of China needed the Dragon Master the most. Grandmaster Shifu's colleagues from thirty temples provided Po to support him, rather than having the panda travel far on foot or roll down hills at a haste velocity; not every master could reach greater distances, but other heroes nearby would. So far, thank the heavens, no reports from high places and important subjects arrived at this time during his commitment hours.
In Shifu's dormitory, now belongs to Po, the panda scrutinized news articles about printed money and the shipment delays that the ships from Goryeo were supposed to deliver metals to the eastern coasts; the inflation prices for metals had skyrocketed. He had his digits stroked under his chin in uncertainty.
I wonder what happened to those ships. Could it be pirates?
The yellow sunlight from the Guangxi mountains bathed Po's head, waking his thoughts. Thinking about what to robe on for this day, seeing his brown robe with a yellow silk shawl wrapped around the torso and his pairs of patched shorts in the closet full of decorated red surfaces with reflective gold dragon scales, Po chose council robes of outer gray coat with flared up patches and inner white robe with a yellow belt. Behind the shoji wall was the feline silhouette tapping the door when the panda wore his garb. Wrapping the news scroll and departing his dormitory, the Dragon Master joined the Great Dragon's company, reaching for the closest exit.
"Morning, Po," the leopard's voice blended into rich chuff vibrations. He wore his silvery tan top with ebony trimmings and blue-indigo trousers. "You slept well?"
"I feel great," Po grinned.
"Is that so?" Tai Lung arched his right bow, teasing him. "Eating Monkey's cookies again?"
"I wish you could see that again."
"Not ever."
The nightmare Tai Lung remembered too well and impossible to omit. Although the leopard could not stand watching Monkey inflating his whole body, including Mantis, who stretched his tiniest mouth to a crocodile-like muzzle, devouring the table with a bowl of noodles. For Oogway's sake! The Great Dragon never ceased to shiver his core. No soul could ever remember dreams after waking up half an hour unless they wrote their journal to what they remembered quickly before their fantasies washed away.
Opening the door chronicled enchantments of distant bird tweets and crackling insects as the two masters passed through the Garden of Masters halfway before the uneven paths leading to the Student Barrack. A new sculpture beside the behemoth tortoise monument stood there, and Tai Lung could see the smile of his beloved red panda father positioned in a defensive pose with a root pole, which Oogway gave to his student. Finding it odd to glimpse at his bear companion was Po's majestic garb, softly billowing from the breeze.
"What's your story with your council garb, Dragon Master?" Tai Lung asked, curving his lips with curiosity.
"Oh, these fabrics are like a lifesaving instrument," Po said, his paw examining the fabrics. "You know what these materials are?"
"Dragon's Tear and Silk Web," the leopard figured, stroking the material. "It is softer than Master Shifu's shawl."
"This fine silk was made from strong webs and combed with the rain. When you are drowning in water, the council robe supports you in swimming," Po elucidated. "Did you know Master Storming Ox almost drowned at the Sea Battle?"
Tai Lung's eyes wandered off to remembering the bovine. "No. I didn't know. How did he survive?"
"After the Fire Clan's junk ships sank, Master Ox jumped off from the other sail and swam through the strong waves to the island where pirates took his son and warriors," Po answered, the sun bathing the light on the bear's garb, giving the coat and the robe to radiate with gray and white. "Tired his strength, his robes provided him to float while the waves washed and guided him to the nearest beachhead."
The leopard's chuffs were rich in riveting. "I find these fabrics—"
"Awesome, aren't they?! Man, if only I take a big break from endless duties so I could take a quick dip in the pool or somethin'," Po wished, thinking joy on the summer days with the bears at the Panda Village.
"Insanity," the leopard chuffed with a scoff, opening the door as they entered.
"Anyways. . ." Po smirked. "Tai, since you know these textiles, are those garbs like these come by?"
"Grandmaster Oogway mentioned these materials are rare because you need the water dragon's rain to strengthen the silk's endurance, giving its magical essence to sustain the fabric's air on the water for a very long time."
Most of the majestic creatures after the Red Dragon were mighty, most of whom became spiritual, feeding and treating mortal children as their own. The name of this mythological beast swimming above the showers, Po remembered, was Yinglong; the creature who had four wings controlled the flood before being lost on the ground. Even without her wings, her gifted blessing was cloaking the sun and moon above the heavens, pouring water across the terrain when wrenching the velvet gray sheets. In fact, before the extinction, when the White Dragon became the last one to fight with the living to defeat the army of darkness and Deng Wa, no one had ever seen the paranormal beast under the angry storms.
"How rare do I encounter Yinglong?" Po asked, gaping.
"When you are lucky to see her," answered Tai Lung.
"So. . . you haven't seen the magical beast before, right?"
"Not in my lifetime," the leopard answered, smiling. "The dragons are long gone, Po."
"But their spirits are not."
That, I assume you are right. You sounded like Oogway.
Once reaching for the uneven stretches before the complex house of the Student Barrack, the Dragon Master reflected on most of their companions from the Shui Palace. Those living near the eastern sea were young fighters of the former Street Fighters and a young avian with a vibrant cobalt train ruling in the Throne Room — the Nine of Gongmen City. Po thought those occupying their homes were the closest neighbors the Masters of Jade Palace could contact with young and fearsome warriors — the Nine of Shui Palace.
The panda remembered his feline's student, one behemoth yak who walked along the leopard the last time they were across the Shui Palace's Fighting Square. "Are you and Tigress going to visit Master Ming this week?"
"We are," Tai answered when they entered the Student Barrack and headed to the corridor. "Master Ming wishes for us to be at her palace."
"You and Kai are getting along well?"
The snow leopard's chuffs heightened, his face unveiling an annoyed glance. "He talks too much."
"At least, you gotta accept him. You both had a history in the Spirit Realm, right?" Po pondered but flashed his mind while gasping. "Holy smokes, tell me about the awesomeness story!"
"Probably next time, Po. Let's wake our family."
"Yep! Anytime now. . ."
At that right moment, while tapping his emerald yin-yang pole, a distant bell gonged, and the shoji doors opened with a flash, introducing the Furious Five, two panda teenagers, and Po's student, Shen.
"Good morning, Masters!"
Po gasped. "Right on time! At ease, everyone," the panda broadened his limbs. "Good morning. Time for breakfast!"
Several hours of the morning skimmed from the horizon's velvet light yellow to a lime, the pink foliage from the Peach Tree hovering across the front courtyard of the Training Hall. The shouts and forceful bashes bellowed from the interior, where the Masters of Jade Palace commenced to engage towards the levels of all the types of machinery. Soaring through the swinging rings as Monkey performed his acrobatic flips while leaping to one hoop and the next, Crane barged through the hole, spinning his glide before the avian made his quick turn around the column, landing on the jade tortoise shell. The striped feline master, in her gold sleeveless top and ebony trousers, reached for the shell after somersaulting from the crocodile dummy hordes; Viper darted her slithering poses, her tail rapidly piercing wood limbs and jaws. Above the reptile master, a small line veered to countless zigzags, with quick glides thrashing one model before the horde.
The Dragon Master, his mind filling encouragement with virtue, stood on the platform near the behemoth entrance, emitting the callouts, which the Furious Five comprehended their strategic roles as far as Po educated well from Grandmaster Shifu's callout skills. Across the outer platform beside the second column to the left, Tai Lung engaged in throwing rapid fists and elbows when maneuvering his body, dodging the heavy curves from the giant boar model's axes; the leopard was particularly impressed at sighting the panda improved his teaching scenarios, reminding him how Shifu pushed his limits to enhance the fighting.
"My cookies are going for Bao. What's your bet, Shen?"
"My bet on either of them is neither. I will go on a diet."
Monkey was somewhat offering a friendly composure next to the avian of snow white, whose posture was neutral when the two surveyed the panda teenagers on the courtyard arena sparring with their bamboo staffs. Hails and quick sweeps thundered as if Lei Lei in her crimson qipao began thrusting and parrying while Bao, in a green coat and a red strip bandana, engaged first, allowing him to stomp the challenger's weapon before attacking with an uppercut sweep.
Taking a rapid dodge under before rolling to the side, Lei Lei sidestepped and made perfect parries, shoving Bao backward to a minor stagger, which had the boy shake off the flashes and attempt sidesteps left and right, diverging from Lei Lei's staff spinning towards him. Their bamboo sticks thwacked forward, their faces drenching with sweat as Lei Lei and Bao teased themselves with grins. Both shoved away with a mighty blow, skidding their feet as they were apart.
"Nicely done, Lei Lei," Tigress stood with her serpent sister on the opposite side of Monkey and Shen. With confidence, the stripped feline crossed her limbs. "You earned your dexterity."
"And strength, you both," Viper encouraged the pandas.
The peacock lightened his silvery chuckles, displaying his stern glance at Monkey. "Now, hand your jar of cookies to me."
Monkey buzzed his lips. "No way."
The Dragon Master and the Great Dragon began their walk towards their prospering village as they protected their people for years— the Valley of Peace. Po continued his prime purpose to support his goose father's Noodle Shop when Mr. Ping considered his retirement plan, wishing for his adoptive son to keep his legacy going. Knowing Li Shan regarded his son's responsibilities as interfering with two possibilities, struggling him to work harder, he thought of volunteering and bringing his twin cousins to do the work so Po could handle minor and main issues with Shifu's allies.
Strange scenes occurred after a few months of the Grandmaster's Will. The Dragon Master discovered a few critics bashing, yet claiming the food was not identical to how the flavor used to be, nor other restaurants competing with good tastes, the former customers expected the Noodle Restaurant more. They were not from the Valley of Peace as far as the Dragon Master concerned the tourists. Po had always remembered the term from his goose father that the customer's always right, and these words may be right.
At this particular perception to glance ahead of this long day (so as another, then the other, and forever goes on for his active duties being the Dragon Master), Po pondered there were his off-duty days to spend more time with his family, giving more encouragements to his people. Even though his friends like Tigress mainly advised him to go on his vacation, something for the panda by delivering more time on his duties rather than doing one thing and the other endlessly.
Po went to his old room and gazed at these action figures positioned on stashes ahead of him. Multiple warriors, including the Furious Five, remained in their Kung Fu stances, and one of his standing, so colossal and intimidating, appeared the yak with whirling chains.
So, Oogway. This panda is the one destined to stop me?
The Maker of Widow's daunting voice of curiosity may yet be haunting to Po. From his regard, however, the panda had used most bandits seeking this so-called Dragon Warrior that every soul should fear, and their determinations leveled puzzlements. He could hear many of them inside their awkward demands.
Are you kidding me? This panda?
Did somebody give him bamboo sticks, devouring more to be bigger?
Is this a joke? Should I be wary of his butt sitting on my face?
The panda? That's impossible!
Neither of their voices stopped him from getting him discouraged as if his type feasted China as the People Hero that Oogway envisioned in the prophecy. "I don't know how am I going to do this the way you did, Master Shifu. . ." Po said, slightly downcast. "I mean. . . You were so good at leadership and all the responsibilities. How can I do that?"
He thought of wanting their conversations to go longer than Shifu being away, and Po would have craved what he could do to be better than his teacher. Leading for the palace was simple, but over fifty summons from the scroll messages daily were overwhelming to handle himself alone. What smiled him dearly was his last moments with Grandmaster Shifu here, celebrating his birthday in April; he didn't know the teacher's farewell planning until the red panda teacher summoned Po. And so did Tai Lung, Tigress, and the Nine's Master, Chen Ming.
"I won't let my mind cloud my thoughts, Master," Po sighed, surveying the red panda figure as he blew out a few dust from it; he placed the figure back on the counter with the Furious Five and Tai Lung. "I wish you were here."
Laughs heightened from the window before the panda could draw himself closer. Looking down at Mr. Ping's Noodle Restaurant, his comrades emerged on two tables front to the right, guffawing when Tai Lung had a noodle on his muzzle and presented his sister's glare.
"Make where Tigress gets happy!" Mantis chirped.
Tai Lung bent his muzzle and showed his grimacing pose, and Monkey and Crane spat their drinks. "Oh! You look like Tigress!"
"No doubt about that, Monkey!" Mantis flickered his sharp limbs before turning towards the leopard. "One last thing. How about making yourself proud?"
Tai Lung made another nonchalant figure, like brother and sister.
"Dammit! I can't stand this!" Mantis guffawed.
Oh, heavens. You are reminding me of that haunted dream.
Tai Lung feared as his sister Tigress patted his brother's back. Viper, holding her lips from guffawing with her thin tail, expressed encouragement to the two felines. "You are charming, both of you."
We are a family.
"Oh, Po!" his goose father called from the corridor, emerging himself as he peeped. "I have a few boxes of donations for the children who need some action figures."
The Dragon Master remembered the stacks of bamboo carts full of crafted action figures labeled the heroes and villains outside the restaurant behind the back. Po thought of wishing the citizens of the Valley of Peace could offer their children some entertainment as the small followed the inspiration from the Masters of Jade Palace.
"Great," Po smiled. "How are the yuans going, Dad?"
"They're balancing well, son," Mr. Ping said, drumming his feathers. "How is everything going at the Jade Palace?"
"Hmm," the panda could answer good terms of endlessly training his students and his companions — nothing new, however, but read plenty of recent activities across China from the news: after the disappearance of Master Owl's daughter, she remained not found so far; the yuan balance for the economy always balanced from the rise and fall, which expected; the demise of Heilongjiang Province's senator; and the increasing prices for the metal.
Pondering on the other side from considering his goose father's customers' complaints, Po walked down to the bamboo stairs where his goose father cooked noodles. Near two tables down to the right, Li Shan communed with one of the customers, who spilled more criticism. Po's cousins were out with Li, handling the pig and deer.
"Po?"
His father called, and Po woke from his distraction. "Um, yeah. Everything's good. Kind of."
"Kind of?" the goose repeated, which caught his son's tone to a lower nonchalance. "Po. Are you alright?"
"Yeah, it's just. . ." Po breathed in and gave his long sigh. "I have many things to do after Shifu, Dad. It's a big deal."
"Oh, Po. I miss him too," he said, patting his son's belly. "I mean, you got Kung Fu, you got your friends, you mastered your chi, and you got noodles! Shifu would be proud of you!"
"He was," Po shut his eyes, widening his flabby arms before slapping his legs to discouragement. "Would you like to know how hard it is to be a leader?"
Mr. Ping's brows arched upward, comprehending his son's lack of confidence as Po lowered his head before the goose replied. "I know how to lead noodles."
Po bent his left eye, rapidly quivering his head in bewilderment. He asked him. "Wait, you are teaching noodles?"
"Yes."
Glancing at each other briefly, both burst into laughs as Po dominated his. "I mean, no," Mr. Ping chuckled. "Noodles lead, and vegetables follow you. Don't you see, son?"
I guess?
Po could not follow his father's gifted insight but listened to him further, finding encouragement. "What I am trying to say is Po," the goose reinstated, his wings palming his son's cheeks. "Your friends follow you. You are their leader. They are your family — we are your family, son."
As always, every parent can read your expression. A family will open the door to your troubling concern. Mr. Ping was one of the closest members of Po's side. Po could see that his dad wanted him to push forward instead of discouragement. Whether the panda engaged in facing the complex challenges, he thought a family of his own would stand by his side, handling the matters before addressing other importances.
"You alright, Po?" the goose asked, expecting his son's honest answer.
"I'm alright. Every master has important work; I'm doing my best not to be agitated."
"Agitated?" the goose stretched his left eye wide open. "Oh, Po. Life's work in our souls sticks through our veins. You have Jade Palace, and I believe your teacher sought what you can manage leadership."
Since when have you spoken to Shifu?
Po held his determination as Mr. Ping approached him, fiddling his feathers.
"I spoke to Shifu before you and the Five returned to Jade Palace. He mentioned one day, you would look after Oogway's Legacy, and I reminded him of my vow you and your twin cousins would work at my restaurant here. You don't have to save China and cook noodles simultaneously; you can do one thing at a time."
"But the Noodle Shop, Dad," the panda mentioned.
"Dim and Sum can manage our shop with your dads during your duty, son," the goose reminded. "It's up to you, Po. When you wish to cook noodles, have someone volunteer your turn."
"Do I have to?"
"If you can. Our Noodle Shop will always be yours, Po."
Finding his understanding of what he could do for his schedule limits, Po could hear soft wings flapping in the distance, drawing closer before the goose messenger Zeng appeared at the archway. He saw a satchel with two scrolls (lime green and orange) before the goose carried a yellow scroll, nearly in his wings, as he met the Masters of Jade Palace. Behind the messenger drew a little louder than his, summoning a vibrant train before landing. The peacock arrived with his fresh clothing in a silky onyx robe with crimson lines and gold dragon scathes over his garb.
"Thanks, Dad. We'll speak later," Po patted his dad's shoulder before departing to the kitchen door.
And your dads will hear you well.
The Dragon Master passed by tables before meeting with his friends and their messenger, who found the panda and villagers around them commemorating their heroes. "Ah. There you are, Master Po. I brought you messages from all three provinces. One is from the Great Viper, the other from Hajin Province, and the third is for you, only your eyes."
"Here. May I have my father's scroll?"
"Let me see the Hajin one."
Viper received hers before Tigress grabbed the orange scroll. Po wished for Zeng to keep the yellow scroll in his satchel when Shen joined the company with the panda. "I assume I am a little late for lunch."
"No way, Shen. You can hang out with us," Monkey said, filling his stack of noodles in his mouth before swallowing. "Your food's almost ready. Come take my spot."
"Thank you," the peacock moved to the corner where he could sit beside Viper. The leopard split his rice dumpling in half as Tai gave his food to Shen. Quivering his sharp insect-like wings, Mantis approached the striped feline.
"What does it say?" he asked.
"A minor activity," Tigress said, scrutinizing the scroll with Tai Lung, who leaned his head closer. "A few groups of bandits who used to follow the Boar leader are attempting to raid Hajin Province."
"I thought those clowns learned their lesson," Mantis pondered.
"Perhaps not," Tigress said, wrapping and placing the scroll in the capsule. "My aunt and nephew will hear this message."
"Viper?" the insect beckoned his head to her, the group waiting for her answer.
As for the feline, reading the expression well, she could see Viper's eyes downcast. "I. . ." the serpent master muttered, hesitating to speak little. She glanced at her friends long before Po handed a bowl of noodles to Shen.
"Sister?" Tigress called her, arching her brows. "What's wrong?"
The serpent's eyes were closed, her head shaking in dismay. "I need to be alone."
"Viper?"
She slithered away toward the archway before a few warriors sighted her swimming towards the Palace stairs. Tigress and Monkey checked Viper's scroll to discover the news from the serpent family. The crowds deafened their joys as Li Shan, near the third table to the left side, stood against the two visitors, who dominated their complaints throughout the Noodle Restaurant. A deer in a brown robe and black trousers spat beside his traveling companion; he carried his bowl while pointing at his food, painting his eyebags darker.
"This has been the third time I ate my noodles, and the food I ate is starting to be tasteless!" the deer shouted. "I want my money back!"
"Excuse me a moment. Wait for me outside, Zeng," Po pardoned and headed to the confrontation argument when the goose began to soar away. Monkey scrutinized the last words from Viper's mother's beautifully stroked texts before realizing the news.
"Oh, no. . ." Monkey gaped before Tigress made her way out of the Noodle Restaurant.
"I'll go to Viper."
"Me too," Mantis hopped and mounted over the feline's shoulder. Once a few masters left, only Tai Lung, Shen, Monkey, and Crane stayed behind when the customers heightened their voices nearby.
"What news, Monkey?" Tai Lung asked.
"It's Viper's dad," Monkey revealed, his tone altering to grief.
The argument was overwhelming as Monkey attempted to speak further but stopped when he and the group surveyed Po approach the visitors near the front dash. "Can you not see these kinds of pasta look so soft like a rock?!" the deer customer lightened his cinnamon eyes.
"I can hardly chew on those noodles," the pig crossed his limbs. "My teeth cannot tell the difference of this special ingredient."
"Listen, if you don't want any trouble, just take a hike," one of the twins behind the counter suggested, cutting a few slices of carrots.
Li was cornered in defense with his broom when Po approached the deer and pig. "Po," he called.
The deer and pig turned their backs and saw Li's son. Flushed their cold thoughts in their spine, the pig gasped and held his hoof on his chest. "Dragon Master. My apologies for giving rants in front of pandas."
"Hello, you two," Po stretched his grin, clasping his paw on his belly. "What appears to be the problem here?"
"I tried out a few noodles from different restaurants, and most out of the ten no doubt have better tastes," the deer frowned, clutching his main fist. "Those ingredients of yours are nothing like the rest. I expected more from your restaurant, Master Panda."
"I understand you are not satisfied with your noodles and tofu," Po regarded, gesturing his paw to lessen their composures. "There is no need to criticize my father's restaurant here. If you don't like the food, you can have your yuans back."
"That's fair to me, Master Po," the pig assured. "By all means. My buddy and I can walk out without trouble."
"Before you go," Po pardoned as he gestured to his twin cousin. Dim grasped his handful of dry wafers and showed those to the customers. "Would you like free fortune cookies?"
The deer rapidly crossed his limbs. "No!"
"Yes. Two for us," the pig replied, shaking the deer's shoulder. "Calm down."
"I feel my stomach ache! What the hell was in this food?" the deer snapped, shaking off the pig's grips. "Oh, I am not leaving until I hear some answers."
Before the deer stepped his foot forward, low growls closed in from his left side back. Tai Lung entered their space and dominated his stance against him, defending Po's father. "Nam, the food is not poisonous. Don't make things worse," the pig warned.
"Listen to your friend," Po advised the deer.
Nam was neglecting but staring at the leopard, whose rich growls drummed in the lowest position. Tai Lung was ready to control the tempered subject, nearly buried his void thoughts of various attempts, but he would not dare to do so. The deer heard rumors, quite a few he wished not to mention the bitter incident again, but he thought of one of his own — his aunt, the victim in the Valley of Peace.
Was it you?
Finally able to bury his thoughts, the deer whizzed his muzzle in defeat. "Fine," Nam loosened his hooves, glaring at the pandas. "My friend and I will not be visiting here anymore."
"Ok. That's understandable," the pig regarded, clearing a throat. "Could you please hand our yuans back?"
Finally settled the argument, Li Shan handled the customers their yuans. The deer continued presenting his defiant look in front of them before turning away with his traveling companion. What nearly stopped them from reaching the archway, the customers somewhat drowned their cold gasps under their lungs after recognizing one warrior who was at the nearest table, approaching close to the Dragon Master. The peacock Shen was staring at the two.
The pig stammered, unveiling his horror glance. "No. . . No. It's —"
"The monster!" Nam finished his friend's comment that Shen never wished to hear one word again for eternity. The pig clutched the nape of Nam's collar, and both of these former customers sprinted away from the peacock and dispersed to the east road, their heights becoming smaller and smaller until they no longer appeared.
The Dragon Master checked in with his cousins and his father. "Is everyone alright?"
"That guy had a beef, but we're good, cousin," Sum said.
"Dad, did the food come out bad?"
"It didn't, son. I did give a taste test first — the food has the same flavor before giving the noodles to them both," Li answered. "The deer was the one who made a terrible excuse."
Po softened his grunt. "Another critic is trying to troll my dad's restaurant," he figured.
"Po," the avian master pardoned as his ebony wing nudged his upper shoulder. "Zeng needs to show you the message right away. All of us must be at the Jade Palace."
The scroll, Po remembered, had a yellow color that could present something important from the Song Dynasty's temples; he could regard Shifu's colleagues messaging him. When the panda saw his goose father appearing from the kitchen stairs, Po nodded to Zeng before Mr. Ping shifted his head to a worried look. "Alright. Let's head to Jade Palace and see what's going on. Come on, Tai. You too, Shen."
Po and Tai Lung passed by the peacock before Shen walked to the minor incident, surveying the twins with Mr. Ping inside the kitchen and the Dragon Master's father before the avian.
"Are you alright, Mr. Shan?" Shen asked.
"Get out of here."
Shen could hear Li's grave voice. The old panda's sight became sharper, gradually altering to disapproval. Understanding the panda's temper without questioning him further, the peacock beckoned his nod before he dismissed the group, trekking towards the river bridge and beyond the ridge stairs.
"Another terrible time?" Crane figured.
"Hopefully not. Let's head to Jade Palace."
Author's Note:
— I like to share my reasons about what you have thoughts about one of the characters who you wish to see more. Grandmaster Shifu. With my idea of how the series goes, I planned for him to retire rather than live through most tribulations as Shifu needed peace. As I am aware of him coming to KFP 4 or not (remember, I know nothing), I would like to see how his fate goes — either retired or killed as far as I have my thoughts about him.
— Now, let's not spill some oil and spark fire here and read my note. While you think about what will happen after Grandmaster Shifu's appearance in Book II, there are only a few chapters of him giving farewell to the students he chose. And for those who will receive their letters from him. For Tigress, yes. For Po, absolutely. Are you hoping for Tai Lung to say goodbye to his father? Stay tuned for that one. This book may be far more challenging for me to write drama and angst when writing two work-in-progress chapters for both warriors wishing to see their teacher one last time.
— Po has a new title as the Dragon Master. There will be much clarification about how he has the title instead of the Dragon Warrior. Onward to the next!