Suns and moons passed over Imperial China after that particular evening. Oersted and his friends still assisted the Shifu with his errands in repayment for hosting them, as well as helping him guide his students in their lessons. In turn, the students were getting better under the Shifu's tutelage. Once Hong and Lei got to see Yun indeed learned more of the Shifu's techniques ahead of them, they too became motivated to learn faster as well. Their teacher could not be prouder.
As for Oersted, aside from doing errands for the Shifu, would continue his newfound relationship with the lovely Chan. The days were bright as they conversed and explored Yunfa and Wong together. In walks to the bamboo forest, he protected her from the tigers, impressing her with his strength and skill. The nights were soothing balms for his heart as Chan indeed appreciated his company and his concern for her. In turn, she gave him more kisses upon his cheek.
Even as his heart continued skipping beats, the knight could not help but be filled with a joy he hadn't felt in so long. Even the teasings from his friends had become something he easily let pass. He had not felt so happy in the company of another woman since his princess pledged her faith in him… and he hoped he would not fail Chan like he failed her. She was a strong woman; one of great will. And… more understanding.
But then another thought ended up coming to him. What was he going to tell Chan once he had to return to his own time? Would he even be able to see her again in his own time? Was this era even close to his own? These questions nagged at the back of his head.
However, all things that began had to come to an end. One morning, the Shifu realized he had little left to pass on to his disciples and that their long days spent training would be a thing of the past. Oersted and his friends could see it as well, and so wondered if this meant this would soon be the end of their stay in this time and how were they going to handle their departure. It was clear that sooner or later, the former champion would have to confront those questions haunting him.
One in particular being if the Shifu was truly alright as he claimed. The fallen hero still recalled that particularly wet cough several days ago. Only one other person he knew had such a cough… and he died soon after. Someone he had admired so grandly. Someone who had inspired him to be who he was now.
This culminated one day in the Shifu's home as the wise teacher again stood before his pupils to impart his wisdom, with his guests watching as peers.
"Today's lesson is perhaps the most important." He told them. "Listen well."
Lei, Yun, and Hong nodded in understanding. They had indeed changed much under the Shifu's teachings. Lei, once a cocky and arrogant brute, stood calm and willing to listen. Yun, once a nervous lad with little confidence, came to see his potential and stood without trembling. Hong, though he still was often a hungry man, was more in control of his voracious appetite and hardly ate them out of house and home.
"You have all become very strong indeed. But remember." He advised. "True strength is more than the power to defeat your enemy. It is the power to defend yourself and that which you hold dear."
Oersted took a look at his hands. Strength to defend yourself and that which you held dear… He could defend himself just fine. He tried his best to protect those he cared about.
Yet how long will that last?
"Now, we shall begin training in self-defense–" the Shifu was just about to begin when…
"Shifu! Shifu!"
Everyone looked towards the door at the sudden interruption, and saw none other than Hoi himself barge in! He looked like he came there in a rush. Sweat running down his body and his breath heavy. His presence here was quite a surprise, seeing as he was usually too busy with his restaurant to really make a visit outside Yunfa. Hong was especially worried by his being there.
"It's you!" Hong immediately held out his hands to avoid being implicated in something. "Whatever happened, I didn't do it!"
Hoi continued panting, catching his breath before giving the former dine-and-dasher a roll of the eyes and telling him, "I'm not here for you!"
Ignoring Hong's sigh of relief, he then told the Shifu, "Bandits from Wong! They're terrorizing the people of Yunfa!"
"Bandits from Wong, you say?" The Shifu stepped forward.
"It must be Sun Tzu Wang and his gang!" Yun could only know of one group with that description.
"So humility is still beyond them." Oersted shook his head in annoyance. "Foul rogues…"
"They probably thought they could go to Yunfa and carry on like before without attracting your notice." The young disciple figured before going towards the door. "I'll deal with them!"
"You will do no such thing!"
The Shifu's voice stopped Yun in his tracks, shocking him. Everyone looked towards the wise old man, whose face looked quite stern. Not often was it that they would see the elder frown in their direction, much less look so serious. However, there was no denying the disapproval on his face.
"Strong as you've grown, it would be foolish and reckless." He lectured.
He took a breath and then exhaled, calming himself down before he stepped forward.
"Do not misunderstand." He told Yun, though this was directed to all three of his students. "I daresay you could defeat Wang and his entourage. But what will happen then? Others will come, and the people of Yunfa will suffer. Violence begets violence. Hate breeds hate."
He looked upon the faces of his students, and even gazed towards Oersted, who seemed to be contemplating on his words. The knight was staring into his palm, the hand clenching and relaxing as if he was having trouble deciding on something. He knew that the former champion had issues when it came to faith, and he was most affected by what he considered his greatest failure. This led him to doubt the disciples when they first started out. Understandable, since they did not make the best impression to start with, but…
He turned his back, adding, "You have all honed your bodies and minds. But your hearts are still wanting."
His students looked down at those words. The lot from Prehistory looked confused, not getting them. The knight still stared at his clenching hand. Hoi, all the while, was more anxious than before, seeing them all practically doing nothing to act.
"But, Shifu…!" He pleaded.
Turning to the restauranter, the elder told him, "Fear not, I shall go to Yunfa."
He then made his way towards the door, telling his students, "You three are to remain here and continue your training. Is that clear?"
Nodding in shamed understanding, Yun replied, "Yes, Shifu… I'm sorry. I did not mean to speak out of turn. Please take care!"
"We'll be waiting for you, Shifu!" Hong nodded.
"I'll make sure to put these two through their paces." Lei nodded.
"Hold."
Oersted finally moved from his position, seeing everyone's eyes turn to him. The knight walked towards the Shifu, a certain look in his eyes before standing by his side. The Shifu was patient, waiting for the knight to continue speaking.
"Shifu, if not your student's assistance you'd have," he said, "then prithee, allow mine."
"Oersted, you need not worry on my account." The Shifu assured him. "I can handle this on my own."
"Even so, standing idle I cannot do." Oersted shook his head. "If Yunfa's people are in danger, then I must act. Allow me that at least, Shifu."
"Oh, then Pogo go with Ors-ted!" Pogo was already up and ready, as were Gori, Beru, and Zaki.
"Friends go help together!" Beru agreed.
But the knight held up a hand for them to stay, telling them, "No. Friends stay here. Help Lei, Yun, and training. This not take long."
The Shifu's brow rose. Perhaps Oersted had other intentions besides going with him to Yunfa. No doubt something to do with his reaction to his words prior. Well, it wasn't like he was going to convince Oersted to stay anyhow. He seemed determined, after all.
"Very well." Shifu accepted. "I humbly suggest you let me handle them, all the same."
"Understood." The former champion nodded.
"Quickly, Shifu!" Hoi urged them. "You must hurry!"
And with that, both the young knight and the elderly master left the cottage and began making their way towards Yunfa. While it was a familiar route and no doubt a short trek there, it almost felt like they were moving quite slowly. There were things they had to talk about, just between the two of them. At least, considered such by Oersted. So, the Shifu spoke first.
"So then, Oersted, what concerns you today?" He began. "Is it about Wang?"
"...Aye, in a manner of speaking." The knight replied. "Encountered him, both of us have, yet differently handled. Thy lesson of humility in thy first battle with the fiend, made clear it should have been. Thou handled them effortlessly, and cowards they were, they ran. Yet still they persist in villainy."
"You mentioned you ran into them yourself one night, did you not?" the Shifu recalled him mentioning that incident. Yun was shocked to hear they were still running around as well.
Nodding, Oersted continued, "Sought after Chan for themselves, they didst. But I wouldst not stand by. Protect her, I did. To impart thine lesson, I sought naught, but to enact justice. Seems still, being brigands they insist on. I fear this may end the same way."
"So you're concerned showing mercy may not matter?" The elder's tone was not judging. Merely understanding.
"I'm afraid so." The fallen hero confirmed. "I understand thine words. Violence breeding violence. Hate breeding hate. But a persistent foe I have faced before. He always returned for vengeance, no matter how many times I spared him, no matter how often I tried reasoning with him. How can we be certain he will stop if we continue granting him mercy when he has shown no inclination to do such after repeated attempts?"
"I don't know."
That answer came so casually from the Shifu, Oersted wasn't even sure he caught it on the first hearing.
"You do not know–" The former champion shook his head, flabbergasted. "Then why–"
"I don't know, but there is no shame in seeking the good in others."
Seeing Oersted's silence was an unspoken question, the Shifu continued, "You are indeed correct that it may not matter in the end. There is a possibility that Sun Tzu Wang might never learn humility. However, that does not mean the possibility of learning humility is beyond him either. And I believe, since you spared his life before, that you see this as well."
"I…" The knight was not sure what to say about that. He simply sought justice. He wasn't sure that was the same as showing mercy.
"The pursuit in seeking the better nature of people is not a fruitless endeavor so long as it is pursued with an open heart. This is the lesson I desire to instill upon my students." the teacher explained. "The Earthen Heart is not a means to defeat an opponent with sheer strength. It is an art in which one humbles their opponent, giving them a chance to see reason. As it was taught to me, I shall hope to teach it to them."
Pah! Nothing but pretty words. Platitudes! Excuses to keep his hands clean of blood and let other people, his negligence suffer. To obvious solutions he blinds himself. Better to kill those bandits and put them out of everyone else's misery. Do the world a favor.
Ignoring those hostile thoughts, Oersted spoke, "Still, justice I would prefer seest done rather than await a return inevitable."
"We are not arbiters of justice, Oersted. We are people." The Shifu told him. "The best we can do is show empathy and understanding for our fellow man, sharing a better path than one of self-destruction."
"In darkness dare not despair. 'Tis a test. Do we succumb to sorrow and to hate… Or rise above, and choose instead to trust in one another? I would take the leap."
Uranus, o wise sage… If only he had protected you then instead of ran. If only he had woken you up instead of immediately pursuing suspicions. If only…
"Please, Shifu!" Oersted was knocked out of his memories when he heard Li pleading to the Shifu. Apparently they had just made it to Yunfa. "You've got to do something about those bandits!"
"There's no telling what those bandits will do if you don't stop them!" Ling pleaded as well.
"Calm yourselves, good people." Oersted walked up, gently assuring the elderly civilians. "Prithee, where are the bandits?"
"They're further up the street!" Yao pointed ahead. "At first, we expected the Xi siblings to keep guard when they strutted in, but for some reason they have been gone since sunrise!"
The Xi siblings were missing? Oersted looked to Shifu in askance, wondering if he had any idea about that. But the elderly master shrugged, having no clue himself. As they walked forward, another question came to the knight's mind. The people of Yunfa expected tailors to be able to fight ruffians?
"Ahahahaha! There's wine galore!" They could hear that familiar, contemptuous voice ahead as they walked.
"And enough food for an emperor's banquet!" Getting closer, they could indeed see a band of rogues in the distance.
"And plenty of women to keep us company!" Closer still, and indeed, there was Sun Tzu Wang and two of his cohorts causing trouble. One of which was roughly holding a fair woman's arm and trying to pull her towards him as she struggled to break free.
"Eek! Get away from me!" The woman continued to struggle, shivering as that blustering brute leered at her.
"Heh," he disgustingly licked his lips, "why not stay a while, sweetie?"
"Unhand the maiden, rogue!"
The sudden command got the bandits' attention, with Oersted's hand reaching for his hilt as they came up near. Fortunately, the distraction allowed the girl to get her arm free from the flunkie and then proceed to kick him square in the middle of his trousers. He groaned in pain at that, seething as he held his bruised parts while the girl backed away into the nearby building. Sun Tzu Wang, all the while, glared at the two who had defeated him before. It was clear they interrupted him and his men just as they were busy partaking in their ill-gotten gains.
"You two!" The Tiger King sounded dismissive. "What are you doing here!?"
"A query I shouldst be asking thou." The former champion replied with narrowed eyes. "Thou should knowst by now where banditry and sin keep leading thee."
"I ask you to leave this place at once." The elder spoke with more patience. "I do not wish to hurt anyone. Not even you."
Hmph. Speak for thyself, fossil.
Once more, Oersted ignored the hostile voice.
But even in spite of his situation, Sun Tzu Wang smirked.
"Heh. Don't be so quick to presume it'll be the same as before." He said. Flexing his muscles, he continued, "I now follow the teachings of the Yi Po Men, the Indomitable Fist! I have endured training more rigorous and relentless than you can possibly imagine!"
"The Indomitable Fist…?" The fallen hero repeated in his head. "Another martial art school…?"
Just then, the Tiger King backflipped and got into a fighting stance, standing on one foot with his hands clenched like claws. His lackeys followed suit, forcing everyone else nearby to run for cover. Oersted braced himself for a fight, readying Brion and his shield. The Shifu simply sighed and stood ready. Indeed, he expected something like this.
"Allow me to show you both the new techniques I have learned!" He boasted.
With that, the Tiger King and his henchmen charged towards the Shifu and Oersted. The knight was up against the grunts, using his shield to deflect their punches and kicks. Much to his surprise, there was actually a strong amount of force in their blows that wasn't there before, actually causing him to back up a single step. Could they actually have trained under someone who gave them stronger techniques? What was this Indomitable Fist school?
All the while, the Shifu was dodging Sun Tzu Wang's strikes, observing their improved swiftness and the force coming from their thrusts. It was indeed a stark contrast to the last time he had faced the contemptuous ruffian before. So the thug had reason to be confident in his newfound abilities. It was commendable. Any normal man would no doubt fear such an improvement.
"How easily you sweat now, Shifu!" the Tiger King laughed. "Not even that so-called strength of the heart you prattle about can compare to the power I possess!"
…But the Shifu was hardly normal.
"Your strength has indeed improved." The Shifu commended. "However, your awareness leaves little to be desired."
And with that, the Shifu countered with a mighty push, sending Sun Tzu Wang back. Shocked but undeterred, the Tiger King growled and continued trying to take down the elderly master. At the same time, Oersted, while he had spent some time defending against the brute's hot-headed lackeys, had come to see that even with their increased strength, their moves were still ultimately predictable at best. With that, he easily pushed them back and then slashed his sword down before spinning it with a slash. This attack didn't cut them down, but the way it moved caused them to get drowsy.
"Down with you!" And with that, he charged at them with the shield and knocked both of them down on their backs.
All the while, the master of the Earthen Heart had already got the upperhand against contemptuous ruffian. For all that increased strength, none of his techniques have actually changed. He was still the same, predictable thug whose attacks the Shifu could see clearly and evade with ease. And as such, defeating him once more was all too easy. Yet one more playful punch sent him onto his back with his brothers, just as it had before.
"I… I've lost…?" The Tiger King could barely get up on one knee. "Impossible! How could I lose again!?"
"Now dost thou understand?" Oersted asked. "Give up thine ways of thiefdom and abuse of the innocent. Thou hast caused enough trouble."
At this, the brigand growled. He then got up and pushed past his lackeys as they too struggled to get up from the ground. But before he left, he turned to both knight and elder and swore, "This isn't over, old man! Ou Di Wan Lee will put paid to you and that rotting shack you call a school! Mark my words! And you, gweilo, will rue the day you dared to underestimate the great Sun Tzu Wang!"
And since the third time was the charm, the 'great' Tiger King ran with his tail between his legs. His blustering lackeys called for him as they ran off soon after. With that, this matter was settled. However, Oersted and the Shifu were left with another thing to worry about. This Indomitable Fist had a leader, Ou Di Wan Lee. How long has this been around, escaping their notice?
However, their thoughts were interrupted when the familiar voice of Hoi Cha cheered for them.
"You did it!" The restauranter exclaimed as he rushed over to them. "I knew we could count on you, Shifu! And your guest as well! Thank you so much! Here, I've just cooked up another batch of my famed steamed buns! Here, take one for each of you!"
"Oh, you do not need to–" The former champion tried being modest, but the restauranter already put soup dumplings in his and the teacher's hands. "Oh."
"We appreciate such fine food as always, Hoi." The Shifu told him. "Have things gone well back at the school?"
"Nothing has gone wrong from what I've seen." Hoi replied. "I immediately rushed over here a little after you had left. I couldn't just leave my restaurant at risk of those bandits! Especially with my brothers having mysteriously vanished."
"Your brothers are missing?" The knight blinked, just about to take a bite of his bun.
"Yes, it's the strangest thing." The restauranter nodded, shrugging in confusion of the whole matter. "I got up this morning, ready for work as usual. But when I got up, I found out that not only were my brothers not home, they hadn't visited the restaurant at any point today. They never miss out on my food, much less a brawl with brigands, so I got worried. That's why I immediately came to you for aid, Shifu."
"So not only are the Xi siblings missing, so are the Cha siblings? Robbing Yunfa of immediate aid?" The Shifu stroked his chin. "How very strange…"
"Rather convenient, that is…" Oersted could not help but find it suspicious. "Perhaps back home we should consider this further."
"Indeed." The elder nodded, though an amused smile appeared on his face. "Although, it appears you've got admirers to attend to."
"Eh?"
The former champion blinked and turned to see four girls approaching him, each of them putting their hands together in admiration of him with blushes on their faces. All shared a similar qipao though each had different colors, the same with their braided twin ponytail hairstyles being different colors. All were quite attractive too, and gave Oersted charmed eyes. Immediately, the fallen hero could feel a sense of familiarity and nostalgia with this situation. He asked himself again, were women of the past truly so forward?
"Thank you so much, good sir!" One of them praised him.
"Yes, thank you!" So did another.
"You were so valiant to tell that brute to take his hands off!" And another. "It was breathtaking!"
"T-Twas nothing, my fair ladies!" Oersted assured them. "Simply the right thing to do, it was. I am glad you are safe. Tis no reason to thank me so…"
"Nonsense! You must let us give you something special to show our appreciation!" The fourth one said as they all took him by the arms. "If you'll come this way~"
Oersted's protests ended up falling on deaf ears as the ladies took him aside. He could only blush further as he was soon being given such a beautiful sight. Such a lovely, magnificent, round curvature… Such a radiant shine… Oh, Oersted simply did not have the words to describe everything. This was… This was…!
"Most wonderful gifts, these are, truly." The knight told them after they gave him rewards. A peach bun, a chow chow charm, and a panda charm, from what the Shifu explained to him about it. "Thou didst not need to give such things, but I thank thee. I appreciate thy kindness."
"So humble~" The girls sighed at the same time.
"Ah, to be young and popular with the ravishing maidens again." The Shifu chuckled. "Those were indeed the days."
Oersted's little trek down memory lane only got started. As they went down Yunfa, more of its citizens came up to express their gratitude, giving more gifts. A pork bun, a scroll of martial secrets, another pork bun, a pot lid, a Beijing pot, a bottle of Tieguanyin (which was a brand of oolong tea), a red bean bun, a set of tiger attire and a tiger glove to compliment them, and that was just how much Oersted could recall. He remembered when he first went on his quest, where the people of Lucrece voiced their belief in him and their support; some of them even gave gifts themselves.
…He really could have done without that one guy giving everything he had, including the shirt off of his back, though.
After that, they soon left Yunfa with plenty of items they shared among themselves to lighten their burden. All that was left was for them to return home and resume the Shifu's intended lesson for his students. That, and consider all they had learned from this endeavor. Who was this Ou Di Wan Lee and his Indomitable Fist school of martial arts? What would this mean for them?
"Banditry and pillaging, what kind of school would encourage?" Oersted just didn't get the logic behind anyone training someone like Sun Tzu Wang to get stronger and continue being a felon. "It sounds backwards. What law would allow such a thing?"
"It is indeed a strange thing to learn about. And now of all times." The Shifu agreed. "What worries me more, however, is how people have suddenly gone missing. The Xi and Cha siblings… Oersted, have you seen Chan lately?"
"Not since last night, if that is thy query." The knight was a little worried too, now that his host brought her up. "I assumed with the matter in Yunfa, there we'd see her. But nay, twas no trace of her too. Surely, thou dost not think…?"
But then Oersted trailed off when the Shifu suddenly stopped. His eyes took notice of the master's serious expression. There, on the ground, was a trail of footprints leading up towards the mountain. Normally, such footprints couldn't have been made into Mount Aspiration's surface, no matter how people could stomp. But these have…
It was then Oersted recalled something.
—-
"This isn't over, old man! Ou Di Wan Lee will put paid to you and that rotting shack you call a school! Mark my words!"
—-
"No… they could not have!" The former champion's breath was short. "The others!"
They both picked up the pace, following the tracks and hoping that they didn't lead where they thought. But the more they followed, the worse their fears had gotten. They continued running, feeling the air grow thinner the higher they went. They finally made it near the Shifu's home, and just a few steps outside, they were struck with the sight of Lei, beaten and exhausted, with Zaki much the same as he knelt near her, keeping himself up with his spear. Immediately, Oersted and the Shifu came to their aid.
"Lei! Are you all right?" Her teacher asked with concern. "What happened?"
Lei slowly looked up to face her teacher. He was shocked to see her having suffered bruising, with a black eye and some blood dripping from her lips. Some of her attire had also been tattered and torn, but fortunately not the worse for wear. Even in spite of her condition, she managed to smile thankfully at the sight of the pair. She didn't even mind that Zaki's lizard companion was on her shoulder.
"You're back…" She spoke a bit before she had to cough a bit. Zaki gently patted her back to help her. "I'm… sorry… While you were away… Some men came… Followers of the Indomitable Fist, they said. We… We did everything we could to fight them off, but they… There were too many. They were too strong. Even for all of us…"
Oersted looked towards Zaki, wanting to know if this was true.
Zaki nodded as his lizard friend then jumped onto his shoulder next. "Many men come. Trained warriors. More than Zaki. Men fight like many small ODO. Savage. No mercy. Zaki help Lei protect school, but Zaki and Lei beaten hard. Zaki shamed."
"What about the others!?" The Shifu asked, fearing the worst.
"They're inside…" Lei pointed over to the school.
Oersted was in dismay at seeing the damage done. The cottage was practically sacked! The roof had massive cracks, the windows were damaged, and the outer walls had lost pieces of stone. And that was just from the outside. He could only imagine how it looked on the inside. And his friends…
"I'm here now, Lei!" The Shifu helped Lei get back up on her feet as Oersted did the same with Zaki. "I've got you!"
With the four together, they quickly ran towards the Shifu's cottage and shoved the door open. And it was indeed much worse on the inside as far as the knight could see. The floor had holes stomped in it. One candle stand was sent to the floor with the candle snuffed out. Pots were broken, planet baskets were tripped over, the drawers were pulled out, the spears and their stands were also broken, and even the tapestries on the wall were ripped apart. It was a complete mess!
And worse yet, lying nearby were Yun and Pogo, both looking like they had gone through an intense fight themselves.
"Yun!?" The Shifu rushed towards his pupil, trying to shake him awake. "Yun! Yun!"
"Pogo!" Oersted did the same for the young caveman. "Please, Pogo! Open thine eyes!"
At first, they worried that they were too late to save them… but then, both of them began to groan and stir.
"Shifu…" Yun's voice barely came out of his mouth. "I'm sorry, Shifu…"
"Yun, you're alive!" The Shifu let out a breath, relieved. "Oh thank goodness…"
"Ugh…" Pogo's voice was definitely more of a groan. "Pogo head hurt real bad…"
"It okay. Oersted here." Oersted was glad to see his first companion in this journey was alright. "Pogo alright? Heap dumb ask, but…"
"Pogo been better…" The green-haired lad shook his head before jumping back onto his feet. "But Pogo still alive. Strong men big heap cowards. Cheat when fight Pogo!"
"What Pogo mean?" the former champion asked as the teacher and the former bandit helped Yun get up.
"He means it's my fault he got hurt." The bandanna-wearing lad answered despondently. "Please forgive me, Shifu. When those angry, violent men came, we tried to fight as hard as we could. But though Pogo was holding them back, I was careless. They used me like a human shield so Pogo couldn't strike them without getting me as well… it's all my fault!"
"Yun…" His teacher gently placed his hand on his shoulder. "Right now, what matters is that both you and Pogo are safe."
"Pogo, where Hong, Gori, and Beru?" Oersted asked the short caveman.
The green-haired warrior pointed towards the Shifu's chambers, saying, "They go that way. Beru run, be safe. Hong and Gori protect Beru. Pogo make sure!"
Pogo, as he said, ran ahead toward the Shifu's room. The others, including a still depressed Yun, followed suit, and to their sorrow, the master's chambers somehow got wrecked worse. More broken pots, spilled fruit, a shattered tea set, seats overturned, drawers open and emptied, overturned books, another fallen candle stand, and more damaged windows. And lying on the ground were two more unconscious bodies. Hong and Gori.
"Hong!" Shifu of course went to his student's aid, trying to shake him awake.
Fortunately, it worked, as the former voracious thief managed to turn his heavily bruised and swollen face to look towards his master.
"Shifu…" He uttered amidst a broken nose.
"What happened here!?" His teacher asked while Pogo was getting his ape friend to stir awake.
"The Indomitable Fist… they came in numbers…" The round student started getting up. "When they got through the door, we tried fighting back… then we noticed Beru being surrounded. Gori and I tried protecting her… but they were too strong. Too many. Now she's gone… They took her away."
Gori, when he got up, could only whimper sadly. He felt guilty about losing Beru too. At this, Pogo let out an aggravated shout and began swinging his quick spear at whatever he could. It had to take both Lei and Zaki to hold Pogo back and calm him down, despite his strength. Even so, the situation was indeed grim. Beru had been kidnapped once more, and an attempt was made on the lives of the Shifu's students. Oersted's fists clenched in indignation.
"There will be a reckoning." He swore to himself. "This 'Indomitable Fist' will answer for their deeds this day!"
And they will pay in blood.
…This time, Oersted could not rightly disagree.
Recovering from this incident was not simple. The Shifu was happy, more than anything, that all of his students survived. For that, he was eternally grateful to Oersted's friends for protecting them. However, there was still the price they paid for protecting his disciples. All of them still got hurt in this attack on his own school, and one of their own got kidnapped. A cherished love for one.
Worse yet was how this had affected his own students. Lei kept herself standing tall, but it was clear she was trying to keep herself from appearing weak. Yun still felt guilty, believing he was responsible for Pogo being unable to fight more against their attackers. Hong felt guilty for being unable to prevent Beru's kidnapping. He knew that this was not their fault; it was his burden to bear, who moved those men to attack them no matter how unintended.
…He had little time left. It was time to put an end to this.
Once those who were injured fortunately recovered thanks to the local apothecary, and thanks to those peculiar plants that Oersted had in his possession, the Shifu had brought everyone to the summit of Mount Aspiration once more. No more had they felt the true meaning of being so high until now. The teacher stood firm against the wind, looking upon his students with a strong presence he had never excluded before. This was it. The final technique that he would need to teach them.
"Pay attention. Miss nothing. Observe everything." He told his students. "My strength wanes, and so I may be able to perform this only once."
Oersted seemed to shake when he mentioned that. But he had no time to wonder about that now. This took precedent. He took a few steps away and then put his hands together.
"Every breath, carefully drawn…" He stated. "Every movement, subtle and hidden."
And then, to everyone else's shock, the ground itself began to rumble beneath their feet. Was the earth quaking? But then their eyes took in the Shifu with awe. An aura of yellow energy began to build around him, the sheer power starting to send wind flowing from his being. And yet, even as they all felt themselves being slightly forced back by its force, the master of the Earthen Heart was keeping himself standing.
"The culmination of my life and my art." He continued as the aura grew close to bursting. "With mind's eye… And open heart… Mark well and learn!"
The students awaited what was to happen with baited breath. The party out of time leaned forward in anticipation. And then, the Shifu moved. Almost as though he was teleporting, the master began unleashing several successive punches and kicks faster than anyone could even comprehend. He continued moving with such speed that it was like he was in multiple places at once. And then at last, he finished it off with one final kick, which struck with such force and speed that it actually cut through the very fog surrounding the mountains!
Oersted… well, everyone, really, was amazed. To think that the Shifu was in fact this powerful. There was no denying that he had to be as strong as good Hasshe and Uranus were. Dare he say, if not more! He had to be a hero in his youth!
But then, the Shifu fell to his knees, exhausted.
"Shifu!" His students quickly ran over to him.
Their teacher took some deep breaths, clutching his chest. A sight that more than concerned the knight. The wet cough from days before, now this? Again, a tragic memory crossed his mind.
"This technique is my greatest secret. A move meant to counter one other that has never been mastered before." The elder explained once he regained the ability to speak. "Xuan Ya Lian Shan Quan. Heavenly Peak's Descent. Strong as you've yet become, you cannot yet perform such a complicated attack. Yet perhaps, in welcoming the wisdom into your heart and soul… "
He finally managed to get up, giving his pupils a warm smile.
"When the time is right, it will be yours to wield. Quite soon, I think, given the prodigious skill you have demonstrated early." He finished.
After that, they had returned to the ruined school to finish the lesson. Although there was still plenty of damage, what they had cleaned up at least made the Shifu's teachings possible. Even so, the room was rather somber. Hard not to forget it with plenty of reminders surrounding them.
"That's all for today." The Shifu said to his disciples. "Now rest. You all have earned it."
The teacher then started walking past them towards the door.
"Are you going somewhere?" Lei asked at this.
"To settle some unfinished business." was all he answered her with. Turning to his guests, he requested, "Oersted, Pogo, Gori, Zaki, if you could join me, please."
The knight and those from prehistory looked to each other, suspecting something else. However, they had no reason to decline. Oersted, especially not. He had reasons for wanting to join him. Personal reasons.
The Shifu gave another smile to his students, telling them, "I'm proud of all of you. Please. Stay here and rest."
"Are you sure?" Hong asked. He wanted to inquire more, clearly, but both Yun and Lei had their hands on his shoulders, gently shaking their heads to dissuade him. He then sighed, saying, "Then, we will do as you say."
With one parting nod, the Shifu parted from the house with his guests following suit. He continued walking, following the tracks that the men of the Indomitable Fist left behind. It wasn't hard for the fallen hero to figure out just where his host was heading towards, and already he had reservations aplenty about this approach. After all, if this ended like it had before, the former champion had no idea what he could possibly do. So, as they started approaching the bamboo forest, he gently tapped the Shifu on his shoulder.
"Pardon my delay, Shifu," Oersted spoke to the old man, "but of this, art thou certain? With thine ailment…"
"I suffer no sickness, Oersted." The Shifu corrected him. "My body is simply not what it used to be."
"That changes my concerns none." The knight rebutted. "'Tis clear what you mean to do. I understand wholeheartedly. But enemies many wait within. Too many, even for thee!"
"Even so, I must do this."
The Shifu's reply was immediate and stern. Hard. Nothing like how he would normally address situations from what the knight had observed of him.
"Oersted. I have learned in all my years of living that patience is indeed a virtue." He told the former champion. "As such, I can tolerate many things from people. Lei's previous ego, Hong's cravings, Yun's self-deprecative impulses, even the antics of your friends. I can handle all of those with ease. None of you mean any harm to others, after all. However, even I have limits to what I am willing to pass."
Oersted was silent, understanding fully well what the man was getting to, reminiscent back to a time when he wished to be a champion of justice who would aid others and stand up to evil.
"In spite of what I told Yun and the others, I will not tolerate people causing harm to others who had done no wrong. That's why I wanted to take care of Sun Tzu Wang in Yunfa myself." He explained. "But when we returned home to see what the Indomitable Fist had done to my students and your friends, all just to get to me… I cannot stand by and do nothing in response.
"Yes, I know what may happen to me, Oersted. But this attack on my students must not go answered." He stated.
"Then thou canst go alone!" The knight told him. "If you didst–"
"That's why I asked for you to come along."
At that, the group blinked at the Shifu's words.
"I'll admit, I did not ask you to come with me simply for the sake of wanting your company, as comforting as it is." He explained. "I'm more than aware of the enemy I face. Just as they have attacked my students and your friends while we were away, I doubt they will fight us fairly. So I would have you come with me. After all, we also need to rescue Beru, do we not?"
Pogo nodded with a loud grunt.
"Pogo save Beru!" He declared. "...Again!"
The knight had to admit. That was actually pretty clever of the Shifu. He was aware of the situation and basically asked them to come along since they had their own reasons for wanting to attack the Indomitable Fist. As such, they would increase his chances of surviving long enough to beat down the fiends. It was also a realistic take to expect they would not be against honorable foes.
"What happen after?" Zaki asked.
"Hm…" The Shifu surprisingly took the time to consider it as they resumed walking into the bamboo forest. "I suppose, once all this is taken care of, it will be finally time for me to choose a successor to the Xin Shan Quan. By then, my time would no doubt be over as is."
"With all respect due, Shifu…" a thought came to Oersted. "Must thou only choose the one?"
"What do you mean?" This got the old man curious.
"To step upon tradition, I dare not imply," the knight shook his head, "but rather I question why only choose one? All three show perfect skill in their own ways, with none surpassing the other. I believe that was thy intent, after all. So, for one successor, why settle?"
The Shifu seemed to ponder on this idea. True, it did seem off to pick only one successor. After all, that was how he was chosen to inherit the Earthen Heart kung fu. Between him and Yi Pei Kou. Of course, after that was when everything changed, they went their separate ways, and his friend had retired to a peaceful life. Would things have been different if both of them were successors instead?
He mentally chuckled to himself. Thinking about the past and what-ifs. He really was getting old.
"Thought you could leave us out of it, huh?"
But then, to their surprise, even Zaki's, Lei Kugo appeared from the bamboo, standing in front of them and blocking their path. She appeared somewhat exerted as she had sweat dripping from her brow. With her were Yun Jou and Hong Hakka, standing by her sides. All three of the pupils had serious looks on their faces as they looked at the others, especially their Shifu.
"We knew you were planning to confront them." She said. "We're coming, too. You have to let us. We won't let you pass unless you do."
"Lei… Yun… Hong…" Shifu looked upon all three of his students. "Are you all truly sure about this?"
"It is our responsibility to fight just as you feel it is yours." Yun said. "We owe it to each other and to you to do it. Please, let us! We can fight, and we won't get underfoot, we swear!"
"We had failed to protect the school and Beru because we were weak." Hong added. "But now we are strong. Now we must fight!"
"Your earnestness, I hear truly." Oersted spoke in response. "But… how didst thou appear here before us? Lei, I understand, as her agility is known. But Yun and Hong, how couldst they match?"
"We held together with Lei so we could match her speed and ease her burden of carrying us." The shorter pupil explained. "It… took more than a few steps just to manage it."
"And a few trips…" The large one sheepishly admitted.
Wiping sweat from her brow, the girl put comforting hands on their shoulders, a smile on her face, "But we did it together. So, are you gonna let us come with or what?"
The Shifu momentarily had no idea what to say. His students actually worked together as one for the same purpose? To convince him to allow their assistance in spite of all that they went through? Even despite him telling them to stay back and rest?
…He could not help but be so proud of his disciples.
"...Very well." the Shifu relented. "I hope you are prepared for what lies ahead."
His pupils all nodded, replying, "We are!"
Their teacher nodded back, stepping forward and looking ahead to the path ahead of them.
"Then let us be off. For the Indomitable Fist awaits…" He told everyone as they all looked in the same direction with a determined look in their eyes. "And the black heart, Ou Di Wan Lee!"
"Right!" Everyone else agreed… though Gori's was more of a grunt than anything else.
And thus they began their charge to the north. Moving out of the bamboo forest, they stepped upon fine marble tiles, the path lined with containers containing fine red flowers. And to the sides, acting as mighty guardians, were great jade eastern dragon statues. Completing this almost over-extravagant display was a fine temple gate.
"So the Indomitable Fist had taken over this temple, and I had never known." The elderly master recognized much of this place, shaking his head in dismay. "How blind was I to their actions until now…?"
"Elder know place?" Pogo asked.
"This was once the temple of a famed master of kung fu, Na Bei of the Wan Tan Na Bei family." He explained. "Often he had visited the Earthen Heart school in its prime, meeting with our master and overseeing our training. However, once everything changed, he had also stopped visiting, but he did occasionally send letters until one day those too had ceased. I suppose now I see why before my eyes."
"Hold now." Oersted saw something peculiar up ahead. "It appears before us, someone arrived here."
The gate was forced open, with two guards, disciples of the Indomitable Fist knocked unconscious. The party, led by the Shifu, made their way forward to the temple's courtyard where they saw a single youth standing before a large group of Indomitable Fist disciples. The boy didn't seem that much older than Yun, but his hair was blonde and his outfit consisted of an orange gi, a black belt, and black sandals over white socks. His body was toned, clearly the result of long years of exercise.
"Who do you think you are?" An acolyte of the Indomitable Fist asked this stranger. "A boy, alone, challenging the might of the Indomitable Fist? Speak!"
The boy snidely chuckled at this.
"Forgotten me, have you?" He asked. "It may have been years since then, but I used to call this place home."
"You…" the acolyte squinted his eyes, then widened them in recognition. "You're the Wan Tan Na Bei kid, aren't you!? So, you were really foolish enough to return after being cast out, huh?"
"Long have I waited for this day," the vengeful youth, Wan, clenched his fists, "the day I finally avenge my father! I've trained relentlessly–till my hands were raw and bloody– to master my art! And now I shall slake my thirst for revenge! With the secret technique of the Wan Tan Na Bei–"
He then got himself into a stance, putting his hands close together as if to hold something within both.
"Calamitous Rage!" He called out, building power within himself. "Yaaarrgh!"
And once more, the very earth began to tremble and quake as young Wan began to emit a yellow aura. The disciples of the Indomitable Fist began to step back, wary about what was going to happen next. Wan's hair began to flow with the wind, rising upward like spikes. The ground began to crack beneath his feet. His body sparked with lightning. The party watched, wondering what was going to happen next.
"Calamitous Rage… yes, I'm aware of this technique." The Shifu, on the other hand, recognized this.
"You do?" Lei asked in surprise. "Is it really strong?"
"It would not be the ultimate technique of the Wan Tan Na Bei family if it wasn't, Lei." Her teacher answered her. "However, there is a significant issue with it."
"I-Issue?" Yun blinked.
"If channeled correctly, Calamitous Rage could easily take out everyone in the area in one fell swoop. However, if channeled improperly or too much power is charged–"
And then, the spot where Wan stood exploded in a burst of pure energy. Wan remained where he stood, but completely covered from head to toe in soot, his hair a spiky mess and his attire in tatters. Comically, a puff of smoke escaped his lips with a cough. Some steam even rose from one of his bangs. The ground he stood on was coated in soot as well, remnants of the explosion his ill-used technique cast.
"...it would do that." The Shifu finished, shaking his head.
"Oh wow…" Hong awkwardly scratched his head. "That's unfortunate…"
Gori snickered at the monumental failure.
"...We help him?" Zaki asked.
"We should." Oersted watched the disciples start moving towards the lad. "Our aid, he clearly requires."
Under the scornful eyes and the wicked smirks from those fiends who had ruthlessly murdered his father, Wan felt like he was a child all over again. He failed to use his family's ultimate technique despite all his years training to get it right. Despite being focused on avenging his father and his family's honor. It all meant nothing now. He was just about to cry and run away in disgrace…
But just then, the acolyte's eye noticed something.
"It's him!" He pointed behind Wan. "The Shifu!"
The vengeful youth blinked, looking behind him. The Shifu? He was truly here? And with so many others? Why was he…?
"Whoever deals the finishing blow will be well rewarded!" The acolyte told the disciples. "Go!"
And with that, the brutes charged past him to take out the Shifu and the strangers with him. Wan watched in awe as they were actually beating back those fiends with greater strength than he had ever aspired to gain. That pretty girl's speed. That large one's. The boy's agility. Those strange moves from the others. It was all so… so…!
"Excuse me, Wan, was it?" the Shifu was suddenly near him, taking out another of those brutes. "I have known your father in my younger days as well. You are here to avenge him, correct?"
"Y… Yes…" His earlier confidence had been broken. "I swear, I've trained so hard to get stronger, and yet…"
"It would not have been best to start with Calamitous Rage, if I might say so." The master admitted, circling around a charging brute before chopping the back of his neck. "But it would not hurt to have better control over your feelings to truly master it. If you are willing, allow us to handle things here. We have business with the Indomitable Fist as well."
"But… But what about my father?" He asked. "How can I possibly avenge him now?"
"You may leave it to us. The Indomitable Fist has much to answer for." The Shifu nonchalantly punched another one in the face, allowing the guy to be struck down by Lei. "It may be damaged right now, but the school of the Earthen Heart still stands, willing to accept students. Simply wait for us there. Once our business is done, we shall return there to see to your continued training."
"I… Thank you, Shifu."
It may not be what he wanted when he trained for this long… but perhaps he was not the one meant to avenge his father after all. At the very least, he could trust the Shifu and his own students… weird as they all were, to handle things here. So with that, Wan left, and by then, the party had taken down the nine disciples, leaving the acolyte by himself. With a startled gasp, he backed up towards the temple, seeing he was terribly outnumbered.
Just then, he thought he heard some reinforcements, as another one of his fellow acolytes ran out of the temple, calling behind him, "Release the tigers! Quickly!"
This was then compounded by two other Indomitable Fist disciples coming out with a pair of white tigers to attack the intruders. Pogo and Gori smirked at this. They really thought bringing out more cats with sharp teeth was going to knock them down? Not a chance! When the white tigers went to bite at Pogo, he kicked one square in the jaw and knocked out some teeth while the ape grabbed the other by its tail and swung it around before throwing it at the two approaching disciples, knocking them out as well. Zaki then finished off the enemies outside by kicking one acolyte in the face and sending him into the other.
They then pushed the doors open and made their way inside. Two more disciples tried charging at them before they could react, but sadly they were not fast enough. Oersted leapt into the air and cut them down with a swing of his blade. He then got up to keep moving forward and look for any sign of Beru… but then he noticed Lei looking into the pots that were nearby.
"...Beru, is robbing from the fiends necessary?" He asked plainly.
"What?" She shrugged, pulling out a pair of weathered boots from one pot and a feather from the other while Hong found a red bean bun in the third. "I'm just looking for items we'll need further in."
…Ah. The classic adventurer's foresight in play. That made sense.
Evening the odds was a must, so he decided he would let it slide. Looking around at this temple, he could see that, compared to the Shifu's humble cottage, this Ou Di Wan Lee aspired to be as imposing and impressive. As though he had something to prove. Almost like this man thought himself a king. The pillars with the dragons wrapped around them were a clear sign of that.
And yet, in spite of the clear size difference, as they went down the halls, as clean and well kept as they were, it all felt… empty. Even as they dealt with another white tiger in their way, this temple felt devoid of the earnest desire to impart important knowledge so much as to just teach future brigands how to better trample upon the weak. It was more than evident when they faced another pair of Indomitable Fist disciples. There was no real technique. Just more force put into their blows.
What weaklings. These fools really thought they could claim to be strong? After attacking that fossil's shack? They more than deserve to have their lives cut short here.
"Oh, there's another peach bun in here!" Hong took the time to open one of the nearby pots after that fight was done.
"Knew how to locate it, did you?" Oersted teased, used to Hong's habit by now.
"I… just looked in the pot like Lei did." The wide one cleared his throat.
"There's a pair of Qilin boots here." Lei said as she opened a nearby fancy drawer. "Yun, these should be handy for your kicks!"
"Thank you, Lei!" Yun was grateful for the offer.
They kept moving through the halls as other acolytes and disciples blocked their path. Not that it mattered, since their numbers easily dwarfed their foes. But at least Hong found a couple more peach buns along the way… and a soup dumpling on a nearby table. That one Pogo gladly went over and chowed down on it. Good timing too since the next hall ahead was filled with acolytes!
However, the Shifu knew how to clear the room, and so moved with the grace of a wise fox, taking out two out of five. His pupils moved in to take on the other three. Lei easily maneuvered around one of them and then kicked him down from behind. Yun used his mastery of the Shifu's techniques to make good use of the monkey's speed, dodging the acolyte's punches and punching him back in the face. Hong simply had simply made use of one of the few techniques he learned from the Shifu thus far and punched the last acolyte in the face, ending him in one hit.
They continued moving forward, with Zaki taking his turn kicking in the next white tiger and breaking its jaw, before hearing something from the room up ahead.
"To think the Shifu was keeping this pretty woman to himself the entire time." A lecherous voice chuckled. "Guess not even he is without his vices."
"I don't blame him. That luscious pink hair, those large breasts…" Another seemed to salivate. "Why, those hips are no doubt meant to bear children~..."
"Hey, calm down." Another voice told the second one off. "She's attractive, yes, but remember, she's still a foreigner. Best to sample, not to take."
Then there were the sounds of a woman in peril, albeit muffled. Pogo immediately jumped up with a shout and ran ahead. Sure enough, confused shouts were heard and a tussle followed. The rest of the group went into the next room and already saw Pogo had taken out one of the five men in the room surrounding a table. They were men with spiky hair, all wearing the same black coats and trousers with purple scarves. More disciples of the Indomitable Fist, no doubt, but perhaps in another league. But on the table itself was none other than Beru, bound by rope and gagged with a cloth, cheering for Pogo as he beat down the first one.
"It's the Shifu and his band of barbarians!" One of them pointed out. "Chun Chan Pai, together!"
"Careful," the elderly master warned his allies, "these ones are bound to be stronger than the ones we faced up to now."
"Aye, Shifu!" Oersted understood.
Twas time once again to rescue the fair maiden. With Pogo having taken one down, Oersted went after the next one, barely avoiding a sharp-pointed throwing weapon dripping with a toxic, purple liquid. No doubt venom. It took but one bold cut of his sword to cut the man down. He quickly held up his shield to block more of those sharp objects thrown his way from across the table.
Pogo, finishing up with the first one, leapt into the air and whacked the one throwing those sharp weapons at Oersted before leaping again at one close bite and taking a bite of his arm. While he was in pain from the bite, this left the disciple open to be smacked over the head by Gori. The last remaining foe was beaten by one forceful push from Yun.
With the enemies down, the young caveman got onto the table and once more untied the ropes binding Beru and got that cloth out of her mouth for good measure. His paramour was so happy that she hugged him right to her chest and gave him quite a few kisses. The boy blushed beet red and giggled before flexing his muscles to impress her. She giggled at this.
Lei just rolled her eyes, "Honestly, get a room, you two."
Getting a pork bun from one of the pots along with a bottle gourd, Hong then asked, "Shifu, do you think we're getting closer to their master?"
"It should not be long now." The Shifu looked steadfast as they looked towards the hall ahead. "Just one more hall. Beyond that, we will finally face the root of all this evil."
Oersted's grip on Brion tightened. Indeed, one more room, and they shall finally put an end to the evil plaguing this mountain. Then a thought came to him. An evil plaguing this mountain… just as there was an evil plaguing the Kuu tribe, forcing them to commit evil to please it. Could it be? …Nay, it could not. Ending evil's origin should no doubt have ensured none other would inherit its baneful cause.
…It could not… could it…?
—-
"Sun Tzu Wang, was it? You have great nerve to return here after your stunning failures."
Ou Di Wan Lee was hardly a man of impulse. Far from it. However, that did not mean his patience was unlimited. The so-called Tiger King, who came to him seeking power, was proof of that. And now, here that fool was, on his knees before him, looking as pitiful as ever with his even more pitiful lackeys three.
"B-B-But Master Lee!" Sun Tzu Wang stuttered shamefully. "We have done as you asked! We brought the Shifu away from his hovel to Yunfa! We gave enough time to–"
"'By our honor, oh mighty Master Lee'," a voice from one of the many people sitting at the grand table recited, "'we shall not only lure the old fool away, but we shall tear out his precious heart and stomp it into the ground.' Those were his words, were they not, brother?"
"Indeed they were, brother." One sitting across from that first voice concurred. "But lo and behold, he returns not only having failed to properly bloody his hands, but outing himself as a liar. Shameful, isn't it?"
Sun Tzu Wang kept his mouth shut, sweat running down his face. When he had originally gone to Ou Di Wan Lee and the Indomitable Fist, he had never met the twelve greatest warriors of the art, so he was cocky. But when he returned, seeing them all assembled, he was shocked to see they were all people he had seen before. All of them exuded power he had not even expected from anyone human. Especially that woman…
The Tiger King felt more out of his element than ever.
"And he didn't go alone, did he?" A deeper voice from the table recalled. "He had that foreigner with him. Didn't the so-called Tiger King lose to him as well as the Shifu?"
"That he did." That woman's voice confirmed. She then sighed, continuing, "It was such a breathtaking display. His skill with a sword was just poetry in motion. And the way his eyes gazed upon that fool with such scorn… pardon if I sound foolish, but my heart sang~."
"Careful now, girl." The aged one at the table warned her. "Sentiment is a fool's weakness, after all."
"It's hard to deny. After all, when he was like that, I was reminded of our Master Lee." The woman replied. "Hopefully that causes no offense, master?"
"Hmph. I'll let it slide." Ou Di Wan Lee said. "After all, from what you told me of this 'Oersted', I would like to see him as well. What kind of man is this foreigner to have made even one of our own feel the sting of love's trappings?"
He could feel shivers run down his back. Sun Tzu Wang was a brute and a bandit, sure, but these people… these people were cruelty incarnate. Demons wearing human flesh. Oh yes, he knew of their plans. Not even he was that ambitious!
He had to get out of here. He had to–
"Now, as for you..." The leader of the Yi Po Men looked towards them.
"M-Master Lee, please, I–" He tried to beg, but was cut off with, "You will speak when permitted."
Ou Di Wan Lee rose from his throne, stepping towards him. Each step was like a deep reaching echo, growing louder as they drew closer. Almost as though death was coming, and the Tiger King could not escape it. The fear he felt upon realizing the old man was the Shifu could never compare. Not to this… monster.
"You have failed to uphold your boasts of strength, your oath to the Indomitable Fist." The master told him. "You have revealed yourself time and again for what you truly are. A coward. A liar. But worst of all, a weakling. And for these transgressions, you will pay the price."
"No!"
One of his men stood up and ran in front of him, holding his arms out to block Ou Di Wan Lee from reaching him.
"Y-You fool!" Sun Tzu Wang tried to dissuade him. "What are you doing!?"
"Whatever you want, please, I'll do anything!" His shockingly brave henchman pleaded despite the shaking in his legs. "Just do not hurt our brother! He is still our leader! Our Tiger King!"
…The Tiger King felt his stomach drop when he saw that man smirk.
"Ah. Brotherly love. Sweet in tone…" he began, "but ultimately a fool's delusion."
He could only watch as the master of the Indomitable Fist wrapped his hands around his brother's neck. He saw the grip grow tighter… tighter… tighter still. He could hear his brother gasping for air amidst his noises of pain. He could hear the bones under his brother's skin begin to crack. A red and black miasma surrounding the master.
Then he saw his brother's neck snap in Ou Di Wan Lee's grasp, his body no longer moving.
The demon callously dropped his deceased brother to the floor, uncaring of his other brothers calling out for their sibling in vain.
"Be grateful, Sun Tzu Wang." Ou Di Wan Lee told him, even though the Tiger King could barely register everything going on at that moment. "Your brother traded his life so you could keep yours. But even so, you still must be punished. Leave my sight and never return. And take the corpse with you. His body won't make good mulch for my garden."
And so, as he picked up his brother's body and began walking out with the brothers who remained, Sun Tzu Wang wondered what his life had been for. He and his brothers have been bandits for as long as they could remember. They had no other way to survive. It was all they knew. All they could possibly do.
But was it worth it? Was this the cost of living a life of banditry? To see the true, crueler parts of the underworld and encounter even worse monsters than themselves? Was seeking strength worth it? He wasn't sure anymore.
…Please… someone end this nightmare.
—-
And with that, we have finally gotten the eighth chapter of this story taken care of, and we're also nearing the end of the Imperial China arc! Next time it's going to be the ending battles, along with quite a few shocking truths for everyone to deal with.
Now I know what you're thinking. Wasn't it going to be obvious that all of the Shifu's students were going to survive? Well, that's the wonder of having plenty of friends to help you. Good things can happen even amidst the worst. Hopefully this doesn't have any far-reaching consequences though.
I also hope you all don't mind me basically buzzing through the Indomitable Fist temple. Making it extra long seemed not only like a massive attempt, but even in-game it wasn't even that long a slog to go through. No, that sort of process is for the Twilight of Edo Japan arc coming up.
Not to mention wanting to make a moment where I'm sure 'Odio, Lord of Dark' would be playing for Ou Di Wan Lee. I always felt weird hearing that track for the likes of most of the incarnations, but didn't play for three total. Hopefully the scene where he kills off that fourth member of Sun Tzu Wang's group fits that motif just as well.
Once again, the next chapter is going to be a while; after a couple one-shots and another chapter of my other fanfic. Remember to be patient now!
Thanks again to Akito the Boxer for beta-reading this chapter. See you all next time!