The Human, The Assassin and The Leopard Part 1
Leo was meditating at the Peach Tree. He trained with Tigress and Viper this morning before he continued to read several scrolls. His stomach began to growl. Leo took a breath and stands up. Leo walks towards the palace as Shifu sees him from the hall.
"Leo, I must speak to you for a moment." Shifu said, walking outside.
"What is it, Master?" Leo asks him.
"I recieved a message this morning." Shifu answered.
"From who?"
"The Emperor." Shifu answered as he takes out a scroll.
"What does the Emperor want?" Leo asked him.
"The Emperor wants to talk you about your stay here in China." Shifu answered. "You're sudden appearance has caught the Emperor's attention and he wants you to come to the capitol."
"I see." Leo said. "So I have an audience with the Emperor himself. When do I leave?"
"Immeidietly." Shifu replied. "I suggest you gather your things now. I'm not sure how long you'll be gone."
Leo nodded and headed towards the barracks. He came back several minuets later with a backpack and his sword as Shifu was waiting for him. "Does the Emperor wants you to come as well?" Leo asks him.
Shifu shakes his head. "No." Shifu answered. "He wants you to come alone."
"If that is what he wish." Leo said. "Good bye."
Shifu and Leo bowed before Leo left the Jade Palace and the Valley of Peace.
Leo has been traveling for two days now. He arrived at The Capital at noon. The city was full of people and guards. Leo notices the Imperial Tower. "Impressive." he said. Leo walks towards the palace as he was stopped by two rhino guards.
"Who are you?" the first guard asks Leo.
"My name is Leo." Leo answered.
"Leo?" the second guard. He looks at Leo. "You must be the human from the Valley Of Peace."
"That's correct." Leo nodded. "The Emperor has sent me to talk about my sudden appearance here in China."
"Ah." the first guard said. "He is expecting you in the Throne Room on the Top Floor. We were told to lead you there when you arrive."
"Let's go." Leo said. "I don't want to keep the Emperor waiting."
The two guards led him to the Throne Room. Leo was surprised when he arrived in the throne room. The throne was in the center of the room. There was several guards in between the pillars. Sitting on the throne was a water buffalo who is the Emperor. He was wearing brown pants and have brown eyes. Leo walks over and stops several feet away in front of the Emperor, kneels before him and bowed his head.
The Emperor stands up. "You may rise and speak." He commanded.
Leo stands up.
"I am Han Kang." Han introduced himself. "Emperor Of China. And you must be Leo. The human killed Zhao."
Leo looks at him. "Yes." Leo replied. "I must say it is an honor to be in your presence, your majesty."
"Oh, no." the Emperor chuckled. "I should be saying it's an honor to meet you, Leon. You are the first human I've ever met."
"I'm honored." Leo replied. "I have a question for you. How did you heard of me?"
"People started spreading rumors about you." Han said. "How you defeated Zhao and saved the Valley Of Peace with that blade in you hand. The kids are looking up to you as a hero."
"But the adults are afraid of me." Leo replied.
"Several adults trust you, but not all of them." Han said. "And I can understand that too. I was thinking of banishing you from China."
"What?!" Leo gasps.
"Don't worry." Han said, walking towards Leo. "It hasn't been decided yet. Besides, I have a problem that needs to be dealt with and I need your help."
"What's the problem?" Leo asks him.
Han looks him in the eyes. "A village is being attacked. Several reports are saying its a person or a monster." Han said serious.
"Did they see what it looks like?" Leo asks him.
"No." Han shook his head. "When the villagers tried to look at it, it would disappear, leaving no trace."
"It didn't kill anyone, did it?"
"No." Han answered. "Several of them survived, but the kids were kidnapped."
"But your soldiers tried to fight it?" Leo asked.
"They tried to fight it, but my soldiers were defeated." Han replied. "I fear that we're facing a dangerous monster. If we don't do something about it, that thing may raise an army in the years to come."
"But why me?" Leo asks him.
"Because if you help me with this problem, you will be allowed to stay here in China and I won't decide to banish you." Han answered. "And besides, this monster may prove too strong for my men, but I know you can take it down. Do you accept?"
Leo stares at the Emperor's hand. "If I stop this monster, the Emperor will allow me to stay." Leo thought. "I accept the mission, your majesty." Leo said, bowing his head.
"Excellent." Han smiled. "Now, the village is North West from here. It's a two day journey from here. Once you complete your mission, come back to the capital to give your report."
Leo left the capitol and traveled to the village for two days. There were many stone houses and a field near the village. The path Leo took was near a farm from the other side of the village. He could see the snowy mountains in the north from the village. It was also a late afternoon.
"I should gather some information on the person first." Leo muttered to himself. "Then I should find an inn before it gets dark. After that, I need to come up with a plan."
"Come up with what?" a voice asked.
Leo looks down to see a small girl bunny and a bunny boy. The boy was wearing blue clothes and the girl was wearing jade clothes. The two bunnies seem to be thirteen years old. The girl who asked Leo smiled.
"Nothing." Leo lied. "I have to be somewhere." He walks pass the two teenagers. Leo kept walking until he spots the hospital. He walks inside and comes face to face to guy goat. The goat was wearing a orange shirt.
"Who are you?" the goat asks Leo.
"My name is Leo." Leo introduced himself. "The Emperor has sent me to help solve a problem in this village."
"Wow." the goat said, surprised. "It's an honor to meet you, Leo. Thank you for coming."
"No problem." Leo said.
"I'm Dr. Fai Bo." Fai introduced himself.
"Is it alright if I ask you some questions about the problem?" Leo asked.
The doctor nodded. "Let's talk in my office." He said. The doctor led him through a room of patients.
Everywhere Leo looked, there several villagers on their own beds on one side of the room and a few soldiers on the other side. The two men made it to the office. On the doctor's desk was a few scrolls. There was a window behind the desk.
"I can see that you've been busy, doctor." Leo said, seeing a few scrolls on the floor."
"Because of the problem that the village has been dealing with." Dr. Fai replied. "Let's get down to business."
Leo nodded his head. "When did this happen?" Leo asks him.
"One of the famers noticed something strange about five days ago up in the mountains." Dr. Fai explains. "He saw some strange footprint up there. The farmer felt like he was being watch. Then something hit him and no one was there. After the farmer came back from the mountain, they discovered one of their crates were destroyed. The farmer noticed the same footprint from yesterday as other farmers saw the footprint. Two nights later, I heard some sort of roar and screaming coming from the farms."
"Did anyone see the person of what it looks like?" Leo asked him.
"No." Dr. Fai answered. "The person was so fast we couldn't even see it. It took the food and medicine."
"And what about the children?"
"The children was playing out in the fields last night." the doctor replied. "Some of the soldiers tried to save them, but it was too late. Their parents are worried sick. Can you help us?"
"That's why I'm here." Leo answered. "Tell the village to lock their doors at night. I'm going over to the field and see if there was anything missed after I look at the wounded." Leo and Dr. Fai got up and left the room. Leo walks by the beds slowly, examining one by one. There a few scratches and bruises to a few villagers, but the rhinos was pretty bad. After looking at the last villager, Leo left the hospital.
"Hm." Leo muttered. "Brings back memories." He made it to the field. It was a pretty big field. Leo could tell there was a big fight in several spots. He arrived at the first spot and notice the footprint. "So a rabbit stood in front of a pig." Leo said, looking up at the other spots.
He could tell there was some missing patches of grass in those spots because of the rhinos. In those several spots has a footprint that belongs to a villager or a solider with some of their blood. Now comes the real question; how did this person avoid everyone without being seen? As Leo was thinking, he can hear a couple of voices laughing. He turns around and it was the two bunnies from before.
"What you two kids doing out here?" Leo asks the kids.
"We're playing ball." the girl answered.
"What are your names?"
"My name is Kun Liang." Kun introduced himselfed.
"And I'm his sister Biyu." Biyu smiled.
"Why are you not inside your home?" Leo continues to ask them.
"We were wondering if you had a place to stay." Kun said.
"No, I don't." Leo said to him.
"You can stay with us." Biyu smiled. "Our house is here at the edge of the field. Mom is making our favorite dinner tonight."
"Thanks." Leo said. "But I-" But he was cut off as stomach growled. "Hm." Leo sighed. "Fine. Let's go."
Kun and Biyu led Leo to their house. The table was in the kitchen as the three of them come from the back. Leo turns his head to the right to see a brown bunny woman making dinner as a brown bunny man was setting up the table.
"Mom, dad, we brought someone with us." Kun said.
Their parents saw their kids with Leo standing behind him.
"You must be Leo." the brown bunny said.
"That's right." Leo said. "Your kids offered me to spend the night here."
"It's an honor to meet you." the mother said. "My name is Ju and this is my husband, Liu."
"Nice to meet you." Leo said.
"Grab some food, Leo." Liu said. "It's dinner time."
Leo sat down with them and had some dinner. After dinner, Ju allowed her children to play outside for a few minutes. He was outside of the house meditating and opens his eyes before looking at her. "Are you sure you should let them play after dark?" Leo questions her.
"They'll come when I call them." Ju smiled. "Come, let me show where you're staying." Leo follows her back into the house.
"Has anyone tried to head to the mountain when problem began?" Leo asks her.
"No." Ju answered, climbing the stairs. "We stop heading to the mountain ever since one of the farmers saw that footprint. Some of the other farmers think that mountain is dangerous."
Kun and Biyu was playing tag. Biyu notice they went too far from the house. "Kun, we have to go back to the house." Biyu said.
"Ok." Kun nodded. Before they take a step something caught the two kids by their shirts as their feet left the ground.
"What's happening!?" Biyu yelled.
Kun looks over his shoulder and gasps in horror.
Ju led Leo to the guest room. It has a nice view of the field. Leo turns around to look at her. "Thank you for letting me spend the night." Leo said.
Before Ju can answer, a terrifying scream can be heard.
"What was that?" Leo wondered. He quickly turns around and head towards the window.
"My kids!" Ju gasps in shocked.
Leo followed behind her with Liu and a few villagers. They ran into the fields with torches and Liu discovered his children's ball.
"Their kids are gone."
"What are we going to do?"
Liu hugs his wife tightly. Leo looks around him, seeing the villagers muttering amongst themselves.
"We should leave the village!" one of them cried.
He notices the doctor walking up to them.
"This isn't looking good." Dr. Fai said to Leo. "Why is this happening?"
"I'm not sure." Leo replied, crossing his arms. He turns around and looks at the mountain. "I think there should be some answers when I get to the mountain. Hm?" He was about to say something else but something interrupted him. He looks back the villagers. Leo heard someone crying, but no one shed a tear. Leo felt a little headache. "Gah." Leo muttered.
"Are you okay?" Dr. Fai asks him.
"I'm fine." Leo said. "Just a little headache."
"It's dangerous to up there." the doctor said.
Leo shook his head before saying, "So am I. I will bring back the children and stop whoever is doing this." The villagers watch Leo walks towards the mountain.
Leo was running through the bamboo forest until he came across a few footprints. The couple footprints belongs to Kun and Biyu, but this new footprint caught his attention. It was much bigger than the rabbit's footprints. "Interesting." Leo said. "Who would make a footprint like that?" Leo began to run again.
He made it to the lower level of the mountain. There was a bed of flowers to left of the path. As he was walking, Leo notice a figure on the hill. It was dark for him to see, but Leo could feel the figure's red eyes gazing at him. Leo drew his diamond sword and pointed at the figure. "Who are you?!" Leo called.
The figure didn't reply as the figure got into a fighting stance. Leo growls and runs towards the figure. But the figure was much faster than him. He notice the figure was getting ready to throw a punch. Leo was about to block, but the figure quickly punches him in the chest six times before upper cutting below his jaw.
"Ngh!" Leo yelled in pain as he was sent flying across the path. He didn't get a chance to strike back as the figure grabs him by the throat and pulls him to his feet and knocking his weapon out of his hand. But Leo was ready this time as he got out of the choke and did a headbutt to stun the figure.
"Gah!" the figure cried out.
"Gr!"Leo grunted, backing away a few feet. "This person is good. Looks like I'm facing a warrior who uses leopard style." Leo thought. "Whoever this is broke through my defense. I need to figure out how beat this person."
But Leo notice that the person quickly vanish. Then he felt his body getting scratch all over from different angles. Leo tried to attack, but his punches or kicks touched nothing but the air. The person appeared in the same spot.
"Damn!" Leo cursed under his breath. "This person is extremely fast. My attacks didn't hit anything but air. Plus..." Leo looks at his body as he was covered in scratches. "This person did some damage."
The person runs away.
"Hold it!" Leo shouted, running after the person. He kept running after the person as they reach the mid section of the mountain. There was another field with a lake and a waterfall.
The person kept running and stops at a ledge. The person turns around and face Leo.
"There's nowhere to run!" Leo shouted. Before he can attack, a dagger was thrown near Leo and the person's feet. Another person landed in between them. This other person was a snow lynx cat. She was wearing a white mask and a black hanfu. The lynx drew a tang dao dagger that was hanging from a belt.
"Leo!" a voice cried out.
The lynx cat and the person was surprised to hear Leo's name.
Leo turns around and notice Kun. He looks up and sees several boulders falling from above. Leo quickly ran and pushes Kun out of the way before he caught the boulder in time. "Have to..." Leo grits his teeth. "Hold on!" Something within him has stirred and Leo destroys the boulder with his bare hands. Leo collapse on the ground, unconscious. The last thing he saw was the person walking toward him, reaching out to him.
What do you guys think? Now this takes place where Po got arrested. I thought it was time for Leo to meet the Emperor since he arrived in this world. The next chapter is going to be interesting so I hope you enjoyed this chapter and don't forget to leave a review!