Liu Kang has heard the legends regarding Shang Tsung's island and of the Mortal Kombat tournament. Being a blood relative to Earthrealm's original champion; the Great Kung Lao, the stakes felt just as high for him, and the pressure was overwhelming. The Great Kung Lao was a beacon of hope to both his home realm and to the Shaolin monastery from where he and his cousin trained almost their whole life.
Liu Kang was summoned by master Wen, traveling together through the interiors of the monastery, he entered the room in which Wen resided with a withered old man standing right beside him, giving off an eerie smile to the young monk. He bowed before Wen and though he tried his best, it was difficult to look away from the sorcerer.
"I suppose you know why you are here?" Wen asked.
"The tournament." Liu Kang nonchalantly replied.
"Indeed. Our guest, Shang Tsung, has arrived to invite you especially to compete." Wen said. "We couldn't think of a more worthy warrior than you to represent the Shaolin."
"I have heard great things about you, Liu Kang." Shang Tsung interjected, maintaining his sinister smirk.
"Many have said that you have the skill that could rival the Great Kung Lao. Goro will enjoy playing around with your corpse." Liu Kang maintained a stern look towards him.
"I can assure you sorcerer; your champion will meet his challenge!" Liu Kang said. Shang Tsung maintained his composure, still smirking at the young monk, "He's not called a champion for nothing." Shang Tsung replied, his expression turning sour. He turns to master Wen, "Well, now that the monk and I are acquainted, I must go look for more warriors." He said. Wen bowed his head in response. Shang Tsung then turns to face Liu Kang once more.
"The tournament will take place on my island in the Lost Sea, there will be a boat waiting for you in Hong Kong." He explained, conjuring up a portal behind him with just a snap of his fingers. "Do not be late." He said as he entered the portal and vanished from the temple.
Within the following days since Shang Tsung's visit, Liu Kang had trained more vigorously during the limited time he had left at the Shaolin temple. Though he was already one of the Shaolin's best warriors, he wanted to make sure he was truly ready for when he had to face Goro or another Outworld competitor.
On the eighth of October, Liu Kang traveled to a shipyard in Hong Kong, from there he saw a worn down wooden boat being boarded by an assortment of thugs, mercenaries, ninjas, street fighters and almost every other martial artist that Shang Tsung managed to encounter, rumors have spread that Shang Tsung had even invited one of Earth's gods to compete, though most of the monks grew fearful, Liu Kang maintained his composure; he felt this revelation to be no different from the interrealm threats he'll have to face. Liu Kang boarded the boat, carrying only one travel bag compared to the massive amounts most other warriors took with them, no doubt stocked up with weapons.
Liu Kang sat himself far from the others, zipping open his bag, he examined the items inside; a pair of black nunchucks with golden dragon emblems on them, along with spiked gauntlets and a red headband. He pulled out the headband, firmly holding onto it. He gazed at it intensely for a few seconds before he clenched his fist tighter and bowed his head with his eyes closed. He began to remember all the words that his fellow Shaolin and family told him before his departure, but the words from his cousin hit him the hardest.
This headband and gauntlets once belonged to the Great Kung Lao. Wear them and our ancestor's spirit will guide you.
Though physically, you will be far from us on the island. In your heart, we will always be close by.
Have faith in the Shaolin and in your family, Liu Kang.
You will make us all proud, of that we have no doubt.
I'm proud to share blood with you. —Kung Lao
Opening his eyes once more, Liu Kang looked over to the other passengers on the boat. Several aforementioned thugs, monks that were not part of the Shaolin, at one of the edges stood a blindfolded Japanese man carrying a katana on his back and two blue clad ninjas had just entered the boat. Right behind them, he could hear the constant chatter from a few American men, the one who was boarding the boat, seemed oblivious of what's to come.