Author's Note (News):
Covid strikes again. . . I had a hopeful feeling of not getting exposed to that virus again. Four years later, after my first Covid in August of 2020, it came with the other one that got me as well: Influenza B. After five days of recovering, I am getting better a little by little, still have minor symptoms to fight'em off.
I'll be receiving negative around Thanksgiving week and get the flu and covid shots. Enjoy reading the 20th chapter, folks.
— GrayZeppelin
11/22/2024
Volume Five: The Shadow
Chapter XX
Captain Zheng's
"Get ready, you three," the Nine's Leader, expressing lament, spoke to the Nine and Jade Palace's messengers beside a horde of geese. Kong, Biyu, and Zeng nodded at the tiger, who wiped his tears before looking away toward the cliff.
Not another one. . .
Chen Xing thought, pulling his brows to his forehead. The loss of his favorite legend, which he had known for years, impacted him severely; despite another loss after he grieved with his grandmother for Grandmaster Shifu's passing, Chen Xing never liked how nature became part of life. When the old ends suffering, a newborn rises in another eternity — a circle of life and death. Yet, the tiger believed that good people like masters could either rest in the Spirit Realm with elders and dragons or have another life to be reborn or reincarnated; you could come back as another body but would never be the same as you once were.
The Great Viper risked his life to defend Chengdu from assailants —bandits of several clans, including old enemies like Great Gorilla. Where could that spiteful creature be when he abducted his nephew before his fate? All Xing remembered from his serpent brother's words was the Great Gorilla's warship had sunk before the blast occurred — the last time the giant beast appeared before possible death, the Nine's Leader pondered: Died by fire or drowned under the depths with his fellow apes who screamed for air.
Warm light showered on the tiger's body as he closed his eyes, light breezes fluttering on his robes and ebony trousers. He could observe a large courtyard down to the north where dragon costumes danced across the way; serpent kites emerging with diamond-shaped kites with yellow and red ribbons hovered. Did any soul from down there know about Great Viper's passing soon? The Nine's Leader wondered if citizens had to keep children entertained from harsh reality distractions, which was suitable for the young for as long as they continued dreaming about flying with dragons someday in their dreams. Heavy soil steps ambled from behind when Chen Xing eyed from his shoulder, observing a group of water deer monks in sleeveless tops and trousers. Notably aware of their clan named the Poison Clan, Chen Xing regarded that they no longer followed their terrible teacher, who claimed to be the ancient so-called Dragon Master — the evil creature Jindiao who opposed the original Four Constellations. After his defeat, most water deer monks chose different paths to find what could be worth it instead of seeking mistakes again.
Their leader was somewhere here, and neither one of the deer in sleeveless red qipao appeared with her sisters. Only one Chen Xing was curious about the monk, who strangely smiled and waved at him and the yak in delight. Presenting a nod with his eyes blinked, the Nine's Leader looked back to his wolf sister next to Wolf Boss and Master Croc, walking next to Kai. Up on the window, emerging from inside, was a flash of pink light shining out of the dark.
The serpent family of Great Viper emitted their sobs.
He's gone. . . I can't believe it.
All the eyes followed pendants escaping from the window, the Great Viper's soul hovering past everyone before a last blossom was on the palm of Xing's claw. The pendant's flower was silky on his fingers, sensing cool crawls from the serpent's slithers; Chen Xing's silver chi depicting the face of his avatar — the White Dragon — curled her noodle body and blew a cold breeze from her muzzle, pushing the last pink blossom toward the pendant vortex swimming across the tower mountains of Guilin.
"So long. . . Grandmaster Viper," Chen Xing bid farewell to his spirit. He turned to his messengers and commanded them. "Fly."
"Alright, everyone. Let's go!" Zeng waved his wings at many geese.
One by one, messengers launched and soared in various directions where to go to towns and villages; flocks of birds hovering together into spins before reaching the sky began to spread apart, flying away as over thirty geese disappeared through the mountains. The last one was left behind with the Poison Clan on a lonely boulder near the side of the Great Viper's cottage.
"Ring the bell," Huifang gestured, and a goose in his white robes flapped his dark blue wings, merging toward the nearest peak where the iron bell rested within the single-story pavilion. Standing by the edge of the cliff, Chen Xing looked up to the sky of tangerine and blue; the remnants of pink foliage underneath the cloud vanished — flashing like stars.
Look after Great Viper's spirit, dragons. He is in your claws now.
The bell in the distance began to ring. Each rhythm of one hit and another for a long indicated the loss of the grandmaster or a tyrant's defeat — rare enough to hear the bell last time after Great Gorilla fell under his arrest. Two hits each in fast pace meant incursion or a battle; three hits each throughout the day before midday represented the presence of the Emperor of Song Dynasty — only three years ago, Huangdi lastly met the legendary Great Viper, wanting to hear tales of the dancing serpent dragons before their extinction.
After a group of water deer monks from behind, a few became the last. Kai, Wolf Boss, Chen Xing, Master Croc, and Lotus entered Viper's residence. Mutters ruled in all directions, but sobs from upstairs overwhelmingly endured still. It was odd to glance at a few who could not stop staring at the giant in the living room. Kai maintained his posture while neglecting their gazes; his silent shock ruled his expression after spotting twin badgers who were identical to his pendant collection. The yak thought he had lost many Jade Warriors after his emerald obsession with Deng Wa no longer agreed with his rage — a stab from Mingling caused Kai to be mortal.
Cries had finally numbed for several moments. Emerging from the stairs, three serpents slithered down after Chen Xing and Lotus met plenty of masters with Croc and Wolf Boss — Kai was the one who stayed behind. The family of the late Great Viper drenched their faces with sprinkles of tears; Viper, leading onward before all masters, met one warrior at a time. Moments of sharing grief with condolences, the serpents continued while the Nine of Shui Palace stood beside Kai across the living room near the door. Finally, meeting their companions, Viper and Fanshe arched their heads, and Chen Xing and Lotus cuddled them.
"I am very sorry, Viper," Chen Xing comforted her in sympathy. "The Nine of Shui Palace share our condolences to you and your family."
"Thank you, Xing," Viper curled her body on his neck, twirling her tail around his wrist.
"Know that all of us admired your father and his legacy; we'll never forget his tale. He was a good serpent."
Next to the tiger, Lotus embraced the cobra in her arms. Fanshe gently wrapped his body around her upper chest, crying. "I am so sorry, brother," the Nine's Dancer pitied him.
"Hold me. . ." Fanshe lamented, and she did so when the Nine's Serpent drooped his whole neck and head on her shoulder.
"Your daddy was the bestie of the best. I really liked him," Lotus cuddled him with her cheek. "Know that the Nine are here for you whenever you need us."
Viper curled her slithers on Wolf Boss, who patted her with his paw. After his condolences that she was thankful for his kindness and expression of sympathy, Viper slithered close to Kai, whose hoof reached for her. With two hooves bearing her while she looked on the giant, the Mightiest Warrior offered her his words with consolation.
"I don't know much about your old serpent, but after I learned a few about his tale, I am certain you will carry his legacy for decades," Kai said, his dominant hoof caressing Viper's back. "I am old enough to lament after I lost so many soldiers I cared about; know that as the former warlord, you have my sympathies. . ."
Numbing her weeps, Viper reached for her eyes and wiped her warm tears. Once he saw the tiger's nod gesture, Kai drew the serpent closer with his limbs. "Whenever you want to have a chat. . . the Nine's General is here for you."
"Thank you, Kai. . ." Viper nodded, resting the front of her neck and head on the yak's mane upon his shoulder.
Chengdu had grown silent, but the mutters of crackling leaves and citizens' sorrows remained across the paths in homes and residential complexes. Across the quiet street, coming from the lonely peak, Chen Xing sauntered and watched plenty of people fetching their bread and fruits on the sides; neither made their words but to accept the significant loss of the late Grandmaster Viper — their hero of this town-village. As the funeral service for Great Viper had taken care of for yuan donations earlier, the tiger wished to stroll alone and have some tea at a local restaurant; Lotus only remained with her serpent brother and Viper for as long as the wolf could comfort them. The tiger was lost in thought after crossing from the stairs with red lanterns above before heading into alleyways. Sorrow overwhelmed his mind while remembering Nana's tales about mystical dragons and serpents before the Great War. Every night in his early days, Chen Xing was encouraged with inspiration as if every master had from all of their hearts.
I am. . . lost. Where should I go from here?
Foliages under his feet swam past through cobblestones, streaming in rustles and twirls toward the top right corner of the uneven path. From there, a charcoal sky gleaming with broad sunlight stroking on the complex was a local tea restaurant. The front of a complex tavern displayed a wide wooden board with a round face pig with a black spot on the left eye; next to the painting were whiffs of silver steams crawling out of the white cup with blue dragons.
Captain Zheng's.
As Xing entered the front of the tavern, the surroundings wafted with countless smells in the tiger's muzzle: spicy mints, fresh wood surfaces, and blueberry scents. A random of two dozen villagers sat on their chairs, sipping their cups. By the counter where a pig with a left eye spot poured peppermint tea from a brown kettle, Master Croc was on the bamboo stool. An owner of this restaurant whitened his face with a surprised posture.
"Auh. Right on time, young master," a pig in his brown robe gestured. "Are you new here?"
"I guess I am," Chen Xing answered.
"Welcome to Captain Zheng's, friend. Come sit by here with Master Croc," he said. "I will be serving with you in a few moments."
The Nine's Leader sat on the stool, resting his arms on the wooden dash. A pig began to greet three rhino officers from the threshold, expressing a warm welcome to serve with his customers across tables. "Master Croc," the tiger greeted.
"Master Xing," the reptile nodded, his hands surrounding the white cup with peppermint steam. "What are you doing here?"
"I am here for a drink," he replied. "I would like to suppress my grief with some tea. You?"
"Same," Master Croc said, sipping his tea before letting out a long sigh of relief. "How are you holding up?"
"Keeping my head above water," Xing looked at pictures of an owner with customers on the wall before them. He found the painting of the serpents next to an owner on the third section to the left. "You okay, Master?"
"I don't know. . ." he lamented, staring at his cup. "I thought I could see Great Viper in healthy spirits some other time. But. . ." the reptile deadened his sigh. "Old age approaches when you don't realize time flies."
"I am well aware of that," Xing commented, shaking his head in dismay. "I cannot express how long I had dreamt of being a fan of Great Viper. He was my motivation."
Croc nodded, holding the cup with his hand. "Viper reminded me of someone like him. Not a serpent, but my old friend who had the best brain and the brawn - equal enough with the distinctive mind, strength, and. . . brilliance."
"Who?" Chen Xing eyed the reptile, who made another shot of tea to sip.
"Thundering Rhino."
"My grandmother was lucky to meet him in person," Chen Xing said, remembering moments of him encountering the behemoth rhino in his voluminous garbs of gray coat with flared-up shoulder patches and white robe with a yellow belt in the Spirit Realm. "I heard Master Rhino was a good being. Ming could still hear his low voice in her dreams, mentioning his perception of looking onward and believing in good things."
"Gods. . . I missed him. It's been over a decade since I last saw Rhino. Why him. . .?"
Chen Xing could not find words to answer while they shared their grief for a prolonged period. A pig walked by the front behind the dash and carried the kettle. "Here there, young warrior. How can I serve you?"
"Do you have some lavender tea, sir?" Xing asked.
"Absolutely!"
"I like some of that, please," Chen Xing presented him with a silver yuan coin.
"Right away."
A pig fetched the gray kettle on the other counter where other kettles cooked boiled with steams. He served the tiger lavender tea in a white cup with blue serpents. Before him, loud and gentle steps encroached inside from the tavern's threshold, and a pig widened his eyes.
"My word! What a big creature you got here, Mister!"
"Pleasure to see you as well," Wolf Boss chuckled, approaching between the feline and the crocodile. "I like—" he sent a hard pat on Xing's shoulder. "—what my boy has."
"Sure," an owner nodded. "And you, sir?"
The yak's puffed with a harsh snout.
"Of course you do. Sit with this young warrior right here; I'll fetch you some more lavender tea."
"Just blueberry. Thank you."
Kai sat next to Chen Xing and looked around the tavern indoors, with chandelier candles from above. To him, the yak seemed to have remnants of memories of drinking in other tavern bars with his fellow fighters, every taste of rice and wine on his tongue savoring Kai would have loved to sip the rest during accomplishments. This was all different from what he used to see, unlike taverns and war pavilions. Guffaws from soldiers faded, and coins dropped like waterfalls; Kai liked that with Oogway.
Moving closer to the tiger, Wolf Boss patted Xing's back again. "You okay, son?"
Xing sipped his cup. "I'm fine."
"Hmm. Doesn't look like you are okay, big guy," the one-eyed wolf noticed. "That loss seems to be impacting you — just like you had grieved with Nana last time after Shifu's passing." He planted his forearms on the table, eying on him. "Talk to us, kid; while mothers are not here with you, you have what your panda friend has two in his life."
"Which is?"
"Your dad and uncle."
What? Master Croc expressed a stunning gaze.
After hearing Zhong's words, Chen Xing attempted to clear a single tear from his eye. "Great Viper was a hell of an inspiration, Baba," the Nine's Leader lamented. "I knew him when I was small, known much about the dragons that gave birth to their descendants — all serpents before Viper's dad."
Wolf Boss let out his blunt drone with comprehension as soon as he and Kai received cups of lavender and blueberry tea from a pig who passed nearby. "He seemed to be the bravest warrior — most bandits I used to know pooped their pants about the serpent that felled every assailant," Zhong mentioned, bearing the cup with his paws. "Were you a big fan of him?"
"Not just me, Baba," he clutched his eyes closed, sniffling. "Every last one of us masters and students. I felt like. . . I lost my good friend."
Sipping blueberry, Kai rested his hoof on Xing's upper shoulder. "Everything's going to be alright, Kitten. Life goes on."
Just then, hardwood taps from behind draw customers' attention. And a rhino officer with the rank of two silver lines on the cloth's round neck showed himself.
"Everyone," he uttered, and the indoor tavern lessened mutters. "This is the Captain speaking. It's been a rough day; I know we all have. Not only is this year drawing struggles because of what is happening here in China, but today, we have lost our sole hero. Great Viper meant everything to us; we would not have been here right now if Chengdu weren't for him. We should be grateful we are alive and well because of him and his family. They deserve to be treated like we are their people. Great Viper looked after us like his own; we should do the same to his family."
The Captain looked around the eyes as he walked past citizens after the warriors. "Anyone who has purchased or is planning to — drinks are on this tavern. Bartender, send yuans on my tab."
Random people held their cups to the Captain with appreciation.
"Thank you, Captain."
"Much appreciated, sir."
"Ahoy, mateys," a boar with upward tusks raised his mug of rice. "Let us raise our cups for the hero of Chengdu. . ." he stood up and proclaimed. "To Great Viper!"
"For Great Viper," a rabbit with an eye patch respected. And many sipped their drinks.
"Long live the Great Viper," a fox with a straw hat in his brown attire uttered.
Several held their cups for the tribute. With a hot stream of lavender tea soothing in his rough throat, Chen Xing requested the bartender for another round; Master Croc craned his head close. "Not all of us are willing to be immortal from age, Xing," the reptile said, holding the cup in his claws. "Life goes on after legends die; many will remember their stories—after decades and centuries, their legacies may thrive."
"We'll be seeing Great Viper when we—well—head to the Spirit Realm," Wolf Boss commented when scooting toward Xing's right side. His paw reached for the tiger's back. "Remember what Lady Xia said, boy. You gotta be strong."
Lightly blowing at the steam on the cup, the Nine's Leader sipped; Kai had a good catch on spotting the oldest painting from pictures of famous citizens with the bartender above it. Discovering what this tavern belonged to seemed for Kai to recognize one of his soldiers who strode to build a bar for himself after retirement. The old painting, depicting a pig soldier in his lamellar armor and battle cap helmet who stood beside comrades next to him, was Kai and Oogway's fellow fighter.
I know your face. . . Kai thought. Captain. . . Zheng?
Zheng was a well-known fighter, from being a craven to a relentless creature who split every skull with his weapons, which drove enemies to fear his aggression with Double Hatchet Skull Smasher. Kai could still see Zheng's hooves clutching silver hatchets, including the soldier's grimacing face that remarked him ten times over.
"What's up, big guy?" Wolf Boss nudged Kai's arm with his elbow, grinning. "You must have seen a ghost or something."
Kai roughly puffed his breath from his muzzle. "I think I have," he drank his tea.
"Looks like we'll be staying in Chengdu for another week," Zhong commented. "Viper's funeral starts two days ahead; we'll have to wear anything white and black robes before we go to his house."
"I — I don't feel like going to the funeral," Xing closed his eyes and lowered his head. "I just can't. . ."
"You don't have to, Xing. It's only for saying farewell to his spirit with lanterns in the air," Croc said. "Great Viper means a lot to you, as many have."
But I felt Viper's spirit on my arm. . . It was a goodbye feeling.
In heavy burn of lamentation, the Nine's Leader angled the cup before the lavender steam swam into his muzzle, alleviating sorrow. "If only I could see him one last time, I would make sure his passing will not be forgotten," Xing drank with his last round, emptying the rest. "I wish. . . Great Viper could live a little longer."
Kai rested his bulky arms on the table. "How about this, Kitten," he smirked as silky strands of his mane slipped to one side over his shoulder. "Would you like to be in a mood for. . . three of us? You, me, and Zhong?"
The tiger glanced at the yak. "A mood for what?"
"For old timers," he replied. "I would like to share my good tales about warlord days, and then Zhong will mention his wolf ancestors before they became Whispering Warriors."
The Nine's Commander, almost spitting his tea, delivered his grunt of approval. "Now, that sounds like a great idea, Kai," Wolf Boss beamed a little and rounded his arm around the tiger's neck. "What do you think, Xing?"
Tugging his lips while tasting remnants of the lavender herb flavor, Chen Xing needed to figure out how to lighten himself ahead. "Maybe," he dried his eyes.
"I say yes," Wolf Boss agreed. "How about another walk and head back to our rented cottage?"
"Yes," Kai presented his vicious grin after a rough slap on the table. "Let's get going then."
"Okay," Chen Xing surrendered his seat and stood with them.
"I'll see you later then, kid," Master Croc slowed his bobbed head at him.
"See you around, Master," the tiger patted the reptile's shoulder. His thoughts began to sparkle after wanting to offer the bartender something special. "Excuse me, bartender?"
"Young warrior," the pig nodded, wiping a few cups. The Nine's Leader dug his paw in his own pocket and handed him five gold coins — rare yuans. "Oh, my. . . Oogway's blessing. That's some valuable yuans you got here, customer."
"These are for a rhino captain over there," he said. "Tell him it is an anonymous offering. Could you give these yuans to him for me? He deserves kindness in return."
"Of course, sir!" the bartender smiled, receiving the gold coin. "You're a fine gentlefolk right here. What's your name, sir?"
"Perhaps next time, then?" the tiger smiled a little.
"Sure! I hope you come back next time, friend! Farewell!"
"Zhihou."
Chen Xing followed Kai and Wolf Boss out of Captain Zheng's and walked towards the alley. Silver clouds shredding apart from the sky emerged thin rays of crepuscular lights touching Chengdu; at the same time, the wolf and the yak continuously chatted about what to come up with best tales from Kai's favorite battles and Wolf Boss's lore myths from his wolf brothers long ago, Chen Xing wandered off to the nearest middle of four crosspaths - only one where his dads knew where to head the cottage. One step alone let Xing hear a crumpled paper brushing under his left foot.
The Nine's Leader inspected the scroll-like sheet, which depicted what Xing saw blotches and brushes of dark ink: a painting. Clutched his lungs with slow breaths of shock, he surveyed the drawing of hue surroundings around a large alley road with white lanterns above the street in saturation, with gray droplets of rain showering. Standing amidst the road appeared a black crocodile figure with purple eyes.
The writing on the drawing below was left in scribbles:
The Shadow.
Author's Note:
— I had finally posted my pencil drawing on my DeviantArt page depicting Viper's house with pink foliage remnants flowing in the air. I had it stashed for a year, so I am giving y'all a good illustration. Check it out if you like!
— The Shadow is now known without a name, but Volume Five's build-up story had taken a while to reveal this unknown reptile character. You are close to heading into the climax part of Volume Five, and I cannot wait to share my new chapters I have been planning the rest for years! Especially new volumes, which I have been dying to write! Lots of big things and answers will come!
— Captain Zheng is my OC who will be Kai and Oogway's supporting character from my prequel book Blood and Dirt (I am quite lost about where to write Kai and Oogway's journey, but I will be concentrating on learning battle strategies such as Total War: Three Kingdoms (Thanks for the gift while back, Drags! I owe you one.), and this game will help me learn scenarios, including the book The Art of War by Sun Tzu that every soldier must learn his quotes.). Medieval fights look fun to see in movies, but describing their plans, killer moves, and instincts is not that easy, in my opinion. I'll do my best for their journey's dark times before the change.