13 Ch. 13 - Tai Lung

[I remember that I didn't state his age yet so some of you just assumed he's a teen, well you guys are wrong. Y'all should've considered that he already has a career so he's no teen anymore. Jin is actually around 25 instead of 16 like most of you assumed.]

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After a barrage of pebbles, Master Shifu was already breathing heavily. Despite being a master, he still has his limits and not to mention, he's already old, unlike his prime self.

"What? Exhausted?" Jin mocked him while slowly marching towards him with pebble on his hand.

'This brat...' Master Shifu's eye twitches before finally deciding to end this battle with a technique that Jin probably doesn't know.

"Fine. Let's finish this, brat." Stabbing his cane on the ground to his side, Master Shifu assumed a challenging stance to Jin.

"Alright, you asked for it." Shrugging his shoulders, Jin flicked the pebble on his hand to Master Shifu.

Breathing heavily, Master Shifu closed his eyes and imagined the pebble as a water drop.

*Fwoosh!*

As soon as he heard the sound of the speeding pebble, Master Shifu opened his eyes and smoothly grabbed the speeding pebble and quickly moved his body to transfer the direction of the pebble straight on the ground.

*Bam!*

In Jin's eyes, Master Shifu just caught the pebble on his hand and slowly did a bunch of movements that slowly guided the pebble throughout his body before finally releasing it on the ground.

'That move looks familiar.' Jin squinted his eyes on the technique and can't help but feel some sense of familiarity on it.

"Let's stop the fight here, you have passed, Jin." Master Shifu stood straight before speaking with pride in his voice.

Jin also wanted to stop the fight or else he might meet Master Shifu's Wuxi Finger Hold.

Right now, the most fearsome word in this world is 'Skadoosh!' word.

"Before we head back, I have something for you." Master Shifu then grabbed his large bag while Jin tilted his head in confusion, but still, he didn't interrupt Master Shifu.

"I think you're now worthy of the Dragon Warrior." Master Shifu said before bringing out a pair of sandals with a familiar pants underneath it.

Jin widened his eyes in surprise as this was the attire that he requested the moment he joined.

***

"When do you think they will come back?" Monkey asked while dangling on a tree branch using only his tail.

"I have no idea. Thankfully, we already managed to evacuate the Citizens of Valley to another side of the mountain. Now, Tai Lung will only meet nothing but us." Mantis confidently said with a smug tone.

"Didn't Master say that we should join the Citizens on evacuating? We're going against his order by staying back." Viper worriedly said.

"It doesn't matter anymore. Any minute now, Tai Lung will arrive and we don't know when Master Shifu will be back so in the meantime, we must protect the Valley and the Jade Palace from his wrath." Tigress said while leaning on a pillar with closed eyes.

"Uhh, guys. Maybe you should consider looking at that." Crane squinted his eyes at the distance, down at the valley since the Jade Palace is built on top of a mountain while pointing with his feathered wing.

All of the Furious Five immediately turned their heads at where Crane was pointing to.

Across the distance, they saw a silhouette walking slowly towards them, more specifically, the Jade Palace.

"I'm sure we've already evacuated everyone. So, that can't be a citizen of the valley. That means...." Mantis slowly came to a conclusion, leading to only one answer.

"Tai Lung!" They all shouted in unison.

"I didn't expect he'd arrive while Master Shifu is not here!" Viper said in shock however, while the others were shocked, Tigress's expression was different.

She was smiling. A smile that contains confidence in not only her strength but also that she could defeat Tai Lung without the need of the Dragon Warrior.

'There's only one way to find out.' Tigress said to herself with a smirk before dashing off, surprising the Furious Five.

"Tigress! Where are you going!?" Viper called with panic on her voice.

"You can't be thinking of facing him alone!" Mantis added in.

Tigress stopped in her tracks and faced the Furious Five again, then said.

"I have to." After that, she resumed her pace and started descending the stairs.

Turning to one another, the Furious Five seemed as if they mentally spoke to each other through eye contact before nodding their heads with resolution.

"Let's go." Monkey grabbed his staff before descending the stairs, followed by the rest of the Furious Five while Crane took up the air.

There is nothing in their eyes except confidence and courage, not fearing Tai Lung.

***

"It seems like they have expected my arrival. The valley is desolate." Searching around, Tai Lung found no signs of life.

*Sniff!*

Suddenly, he sniffed and turned his eyes at the Jade Palace, specifically on the stairs where a furious Tigress was glaring at her.

"Haha, it looks like Shifu prepared quite a greeting for me." Tai Lung grinned as Tigress jumped from the stairs and landed gracefully in front of him.

"Surrender now, Tai Lung. You won't get past me." Tigress confidently said while assuming a stance.

*Thud!* x4

"Us." Mantid corrected her as they all landed in front of Tai Lung, side by side with Tigress.

"Hehahaha! Is this Shifu's new students? I'm very disappointed. How about you all step aside and let me face the Dragon Warrior!" Tai Lung arrogantly said before continuing.

"How do you know you're not looking at her." Tigress said, a bit annoyed that she's not recognized as the Dragon Warrior.

"You! The Dragon Warrior? Hahaha, oh please. I heard he came from the sky under a bowl of fire! Striking down on the ground as the flames of fury welcome him!" Tai Lung exaggerated as he even closed his fist, as if welcoming a challenge.

"Jin?" Tigress can't help but utter his name.

"So, that's his name. Jin..." Tai Lung seemed to memorize the name for a bit before he continued.

"Finally, a worthy opponent! Our battle will be legendary!" Tai Lung yelled on the top of his lungs as he raised his fist.

Having enough of his rants, Tigress decided to strike first.

"Raah!" Running forward, Tigress extends her arm, trying to grab Tai Lung on his shoulder however, Tai Lung was fast to react and immediately countered her by grabbing her wrist first and delivering a kick towards her unguarded head.

Unfortunately for him, Monkey and the rest aren't just for show as the moment Tigress made a move, they were already on guard so the moment they saw Tai Lung attacking, they immediately sprung into action!

*Bam!*

Blocking his kick with his staff, Tigress managed to free herself from Tai Lung's grasp and immediately crouched down while sliding her feet through on the ground, forcing Tai Lung to step back a little.

However, that was enough for Crane to attack him in the air, surprising him slightly.

Unfortunately, Tai Lung was flexible and managed to grab Crane's legs before slamming him on the ground, breaking the cement.

"Oh not again." Crane uttered as he remembered that he was also treated like this when he first sparred with Jin.

Taking the opportunity that he was distracted on Crane, Tigress roared once again and tried to deliver a punch to Tai Lung's head.

However, he was fast enough to react to parry her attack and so, they both exchanged blows after blows while the rest of the Furious Five were trying their best to assist her.

From the looks of it, they were at the disadvantage as Tai Lung not only managed to parry all of their attacks, but also successfully counterattack then, forcing them in a tight situation.

Luckily, Tigress managed to land a devastating blow on Tai Lung's chest.

Just when Tigress thought that she finally hurt Tai Lung, he surprised her by simply patting his chest, treating her attack as nothing like an air.

"Strong...but not strong enough! Looks like Shifu didn't teach you everything!" Having enough of the unnecessary fight, Tai Lung decided to finish this. After all, he needed to preserve his stamina so he could still fight the Dragon Warrior.

Folding all of his fingers, except for his middle and index finger which are partially folded, Tai Lung struck Monkey first then followed by the rest of the Furious Five.

Just as it was Tigress's turn, Tai Lung suddenly heard a sound coming up from above him.

Knowing that he's about to be ambushed, Tai Lung tried to step aside however, it was already too late for him as Master Shifu arrived in time and was about to strike his head.

Knowing that he can't dodge, Tai Lung simply crossed his arms, protecting his head from the upcoming blow. He's confident enough on his own defenses.

*Bam!*

True to his thoughts, Tai Lung has successfully defended himself from Master Shifu's kick.

Trying to counterattack, Tai Lung raised his arms and tried to smack Master Shifu. Unfortunately, he was too fast for him as he backflipped and landed on the ground, right in front of the heavily injured Tigress and the paralyzed Furious Five.

"Shifu, coming here to save your students?....." Tai Lung mocked as he continued in a high volume voice.

"When you didn't even think of saving your first student!"

"Tai Lung, I will not let you cause any more chaos. I will stop you right here and right now." Master Shifu said in an unwavering tone.

"Stop me? You failed to stop me last time, do you think it will change now? Admit it, Shifu you're weak! You can't even handle protecting your own student just because some old turtle tells you so!" Tai Lung said in an angry tone. From the looks of his face, you could clearly tell that he's been carrying this anger and letting them grow as time passes.

"Today! I'll end you and the entire Jade Palace! I'll make you regret not choosing me back then!" Tai Lung yelled and was about to snap at Master Shifu when a voice suddenly interrupted him.

"Are you sure about that?"

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