Chapter Forty: A Worthy Opponent

Tai Lung had barely finished delivering his greeting before being launched backward by an instantaneous flying kick from Tigress; the tiger master had not hesitated to open the hostilities.

The leopard soldiers who had approached the Black Lotus of Hēishèn were helpless to watch as their leader went sailing through the air and into the misty depths of the gorge — the striped feline following close behind. As they fell together, Tigress and Tai Lung were already throwing punches and trading blows with furious abandon, their strikes reverberating through the heavy fog that shrouded the gorge.

The descent accelerated, the sound of rushing wind mixing with the sharp cracks of their fists meeting. Their forms blurred in the mist, spinning and striking like a deadly whirlwind. For a brief moment, the eyes of Shifu's two most formidable students met as they sensed the surface of the water rushing up to meet them. Instinct took over, and in perfect synchronicity, they sprang backward away from one another.

Their claws dug into opposing sides of the narrowing canyon walls, sending shards of stone flying as they screeched downwards. The gorge walls provided no hold to stop their momentum, and both warriors released, dropping the remaining short distance into the shallow riverbed below.

The impact sent a spray of water in every direction, droplets suspended in the misty air like crystalline shards before falling back into the river. The water barely reached their ankles as they stood, muscles coiled and ready, slowly wading toward one another with guarded stances.

"And here I thought you wouldn't miss me!" Tai Lung quipped, his voice carrying the same arrogant humor Tigress remembered — and despised.

Tigress narrowed her eyes, her tail lashing behind her. "How are you still alive?" she demanded through clenched teeth.

Tai Lung's grin widened, an infuriatingly smug expression. "I think you already know."

The cryptic response ignited Tigress' fury. Without another word, she surged forward, fists flying in a series of rapid jabs. Tai Lung met her with equal ferocity, his movements sharp and precise, every strike deflected or evaded with minimal effort.

The narrow river became their battlefield, water splashing and streaking into arcs with each pivot, kick, and leap. The shallow current did little to hinder their movements; instead, it became a medium for their speed, the sprays of water tracing their trajectories like ghostly tails.

Tigress tested his defenses, her strikes probing for any sign of weakness. A high kick met a perfectly timed block, a spinning backhand caught only air as Tai Lung ducked low. Tai Lung's counterattacks were just as relentless, but Tigress read them with practiced precision, her body flowing through the motions like a reed bending in the wind.

The two circled each other briefly, neither willing to break their steely gaze. For a moment, the sound of their breaths, deep and measured, was the only thing audible above the faint trickle of the stream.

"Still so predictable!" Tai Lung said, shaking his head mockingly.

Tigress exploited his boasting, planting a solid kick to the middle of his chest that sent him a fair distance backward. "And you're still just as arrogant!"

Tai Lung chuckled as he recovered from the blow, his eyes narrowing as he shifted his stance, his body lowering slightly into a crouch. "Let's see if I'm wrong, then."

The fight reignited with a ferocity that sent ripples through the water, each strike more calculated, more dangerous than before. Tigress lunged with a clawed hand, and Tai Lung countered with a sharp elbow, their blows colliding with a resounding crack that echoed through the canyon.

Tigress' strikes grew more savage, each blow laced with the pent-up hatred she harbored for the snow leopard. He had betrayed everything she held dear, and now, standing before her again as if rising from the grave, he was a living embodiment of everything she hated most.

Her fists drove forward almost effortlessly, fueled by anger and aiming to break him apart piece by piece. A hook aimed for his jaw connected solidly, snapping his head to the side, but Tai Lung recovered with infuriating ease, spinning with the force of the blow and retaliating with a fierce kick to her midsection. Tigress grunted as the impact pushed her back, her paws skidding through the shallow water.

"You've grown faster, at least." Tai Lung said, his voice teasing, but there was an edge to it — a glimmer of something Tigress refused to acknowledge as respect.

"No," the tiger retorted as she stepped up and lept from a nearby rock to strike again, "You've just grown old."

The dance of combat continued, the mist closing in around them, obscuring the sight of the gorge walls and the stars above. Yet the two warriors moved as if guided by an unspoken rhythm, their forms illuminated only by the faint silvery light of the distant moon filtering through the fog.

Tigress's frustration began to build as the fight wore on. No matter how she adjusted her strategy, Tai Lung adapted in kind. She hated to admit it, but it was clear: he was every bit the warrior he had always claimed to be, and a fear grew within her that this contest would conclude no differently from their previous one.

The battle raged on with unrelenting ferocity, the echoes of strikes meeting flesh and stone bouncing off the canyon walls. As they fought further downstream, the terrain shifted. The water deepened suddenly, the riverbed dropping off into a hidden pool surrounded by jagged rocks. Tigress barely had time to adjust before Tai Lung surged forward, his claws catching her by the shoulder and driving her under the surface.

The cold water engulfed her in an instant, cutting off her breath and disorienting her senses. But she was no stranger to desperation. Twisting her body with feline agility, she managed to wrench free from his grip and grabbed his arm instead, yanking him into the depths with her.

The two siblings grappled beneath the surface, their struggles a violent flurry of limbs and claws. Bubbles erupted around them as they each sought the upper hand, the water's muffled roar masking the sounds of their struggle. Tigress clawed at him, managing to drag her razors across his flesh. He grimaced and let out bubbles of air, but retaliated by grabbing her waist and attempting to pin her against the rocky pool floor.

For what felt like an eternity, the siblings fought for dominance beneath the surface, their movements violent and chaotic. Neither was willing to give the other an inch, and every moment they spent underwater only fueled their mutual hatred.

Tigress' lungs burned, her need for air becoming unbearable, but she refused to relent. With a powerful kick to his midsection, she pushed him away and surged upwards, breaking the surface with a desperate gasp. The cool night air filled her lungs as she wiped water from her eyes, only to see Tai Lung emerging a moment later, his expression a mixture of irritation and grim amusement.

As they both clamored up the opposite sides of the pool, Tigress' claws dug into the slippery rocks as she propelled herself out of the water and back onto the shallow edges of the river. She crouched low, panting heavily, her fur plastered to her body as water dripped from her chin.

Tai Lung edged closer, his own breathing labored but his stance steady.

"Shame, really. This was rather expensive, you know?" he said, tearing off the shredded remnants of the richly decorated Mongolian tunic he had been wearing.

In the darkness of the pool, what she had thought had been her landing a serious blow – had in fact only succeeded in destroying her opponent's attire. Now, he stood before her just as she remembered from years ago – clad only in his signature purple trousers, his muscular frame unmarred, and his expression radiating a familiar, seething disdain for everything and everyone around him.

They collided again, their claws slashing and fists pounding with renewed vigor. The fight spilled out of the riverbed as the gorge began to widen into a basin plain. Water sprayed from their movements as they traded blows, each strike leaving its mark on the other.

Despite the grueling pace, neither showed any sign of stopping. Tigress' attacks were feral and unrelenting, her retribution echoing in every punch and kick. Tai Lung's counters were equally vicious, his strikes precise and punishing. At one point, Tigress was knocked against the wall of the gorge, and narrowly avoided the oncoming fist of the snow leopard. The resulting impact sent a crack that resounded up the cliff face and caused a small avalanche of stone debris.

As the mist thinned and the stars above became clearer, the open expanse of the basin became their new battlefield. The riverbed gave way to a widening expanse of cracked earth, the shallow waters trickling into scattered rivulets that dried to nothing under the pale moonlight. The river's flow slowed here, but the intensity of their combat only increased. In the distance there could be seen a great number of lights and fires, as if a small city were nearby – despite the fact that this was supposedly uninhabited wilderness. Tigress did not pay this any mind, however, as she was a whirlwind of motion, her senses drunk on adrenaline and fury. She could feel it in her teeth; no small part of herself wanted him dead.

Tigress surged forward, feinting a low swipe before delivering a powerful upward strike that sent Tai Lung staggering back. He retaliated with a spinning thrusting kick that clipped her shoulder, but she rolled with the impact, closing the distance between them. Their fists collided in midair, sending shockwaves through the dry earth beneath them. They broke apart briefly, circling each other like predators, both battered and unyielding.

For all his bravado, Tai Lung seemed to recognize her strength. There was no mockery in his eyes now, only a grudging respect mingled with his own ruthless intent.

"I'll admit it," he said, his voice low as he circled her. "You're better than I expected."

Tigress ignored his words, her stance tightening as she punched him to the ground with devastating force.

The leopard grunted in pain as he collapsed backward into the dust, and before he could recover, Tigress was upon him. She straddled him, her fists raining down with relentless fury. Each blow was punctuated by her venom-laced words.

"You selfish bastard! You took everything from me!"

But Tai Lung wasn't finished. Summoning his remaining strength, he caught her wrist mid-punch, twisting it just enough to force her off-balance. With a heaving roar, he bucked her off and reversed their positions, pinning her to the ground. His paws pressed down around her throat as he sneered, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth.

"It was Shifu! Shifu took everything from us, you fool!" His teeth reflected the first rays of dawn. "Join me… and we can kill him together!"

Her eyes narrowed to slits, "Never!"

She planted a fierce strike to his ribs, but Tai Lung's grip did not lessen. He held her up by the neck so she could see the sprawling encampment in the distance.

He brought his maw to her ear before speaking, "I know you too well, sister. You asked to see the past. But I… I asked to see the future. It would seem I was destined for greatness after all!"

Unwilling to listen to him any longer, Tigress jabbed with a precise chi strike that temporarily paralyzed his arm. A ripple of golden energy dispersed over his muscular form as he dropped her to the ground, recoiling in shock.

"Ah," Tai Lung choked out, trying to regain control of his limb as he fell to his knees, "Shifu finally let you study the Thousand Scrolls, I see."

"No." she said, landing a punch across his face accompanied by a sickening audible contact. "I did as Po does - I figured it out."

Tai Lung grunted in pain, having to relocate his jaw and spit out some blood before being able to speak, "And here I thought I could hold a grudge. Been waiting for this, have you?"

"Every moment. Every day."

The old leopard nodded towards the ground with a smile, "I know how you feel."

Tai Lung was able to stand with some effort, and Tigress watched him cautiously. Her chest rose and fell heavily as she caught her breath, her eyes never leaving him. She could still feel the sting of his earlier grip on her throat, but her focus was unyielding. He took a cautious step toward her, spreading his arms as if to show he meant no harm.

"Think about it," he continued. "Together, we could be unstoppable. Khasar Khan's empire is nothing compared to what we could build. The two of us—true warriors—leading an army."

Tigress stiffened, the muscles in her shoulders tensing as his words sunk in. "You think I would ever fight alongside you?" she asked in a hostile tone.

Tai Lung chuckled, his tail flicking lazily behind him. "Oh, I think you will. We have both peered behind the death-veil. You know as well as I do that the world needs to change. You've seen it, Tigress—the corruption, the oppression. You hate it as much as I do."

She took a step forward, her stance lowering as she prepared herself for whatever move he might make. "The only thing I hate," she said coldly, "is you."

Before Tai Lung could react, Tigress surged forward, seizing him by the shoulders with a strength that startled even her. In one fluid motion, she spun and hurled him through the air. The leopard's body twisted, a blur of motion, sailing through the air a great distance before landing with a thunderous crash on the outskirts of the encampment. Dust and debris erupted around him, and a stunned silence fell over the soldiers gathered there.

Tigress stood in place, her chest heaving. She looked down at her paws, turning them over as if they belonged to someone else. The raw power she had just unleashed was unlike anything she had ever felt before. Her claws trembled slightly, but not with fear—with astonishment. She had always been strong, but this... this was something else entirely.

Woah…

A low murmur spread through the encampment as numerous soldiers - an assortment of wolves, leopards, bears, and foxes - began to gather around their fallen leader. Tai Lung pushed himself to his feet, brushing off the dirt and glaring at the onlookers as Tigress approached. For a brief moment, she considered continuing the fight, but recalled the words of Fei Lian:

Be sure to put on a good show.

And that's all this really was. A performance. A display.

Rage cleared from her mind, and Tigress lowered her fists. Tai Lung was beaten, and that was good enough for her.

"Stand down!" Tai Lung barked, his voice commanding enough to silence the crowd instantly. "She is not our enemy."

The soldiers exchanged uncertain glances but obeyed, retreating to a cautious distance. Tai Lung straightened, his piercing eyes finding Tigress once more. Despite the blood and bruises, he still exuded an aura of authority and determination.

"You should think about my offer," he said, his tone calm but insistent. "Khasar isn't just my enemy, Tigress. He's yours too. You'll see that soon enough."

Tigress shook her head, her gaze unwavering, "I'm nothing like you." she said, her voice steady. "And I don't need your help to stop him."

Tai Lung smirked, "We'll see."

Without another word, Tigress turned her back on the encampment of Mongolian rebels and began walking toward the horizon, her silhouette outlined by the rays of dawn.

She didn't look back.


Author's Notes:

- Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! I'm glad I was able to update this story before the end of the year

- I've always loved the idea of a potential rematch between Tai Lung and an older more experienced version of Tigress, and I hope that I did it justice with this chapter

- I also hope that Tai Lung's arrival lands correctly, I've tried to foreshadow it here and there over the course of the story

- Thanks again to all my readers and reviewers! Until next time!