64 The brighter the light, the darker the shadow
[3rd POV]
(The Kingdom of Nanzhao)
"We need to act quickly!! Tai Lung and Shen are going to come for us next! It's only a matter of time, don't you see!!" The advisor of the king of Nanazhao screamed in frustration.
There were many people in the courtroom as they discussed about the apparent defeat of Shu and how to deal with this new, aggressive threat that had popped up beside them.
"I think we should wait and see how they react first. Surely they will not go for the next kingdom until they settle down properly." One of them commented much to the annoyance of the advisor.
"Have you all lost your fucking mind!! The Kingdom of Shu waited and look what has become of them." The advisor spat it out in anger.
"Just say that you are afraid of Tai Lung." He yelled, "Cowards. COWARDS!! ALL OF YOU!!!"
The advisor, a bird species called cassowary was a giant bird who was extremely hot-headed even though he was at the later half of his life.
"Calm yourself advisor." The king said in a gentle voice. He was a beautiful golden pheasant with a calm and gentle demeanour.
The advisor bit his own tongue and resisted the urge to lash out even further. He wanted to kick the heads off of all these coward nobles who knew only how to give honey words to their king when times were good but would run away instantly when their life was threatened.
"Bue indeed, you are correct. We need to make our moves as quickly as possible, we can't wait for them to gather their forces again and attack us when they feel comfortable. In this situation, attacking is our greatest defence." He said, displaying his wisdom as king much to the advisor's relief. This was why he had served him all this time.
"But is that wise my lord?" One of the noble spoke up again, "Shouldn't we be aiming to ally with them or something? Can we even defeat them in a war?"
If Lord Shen and Tai Lung with barely a thousand-strong army and the resources of a city could take over Shu in a month, imagine what they would be able to do with all the remaining army of Shu and their new resources.
Could they win? They didn't think so.
The advisor was fuming, considering whether he should go against his king's wishes to teach those nobles how hard he could kick.
But the King raised his wings and he calmed himself down.
"Allying with them is not an option. They have made their intention clear when they declared war against the whole of China." The King said, "And I do not appreciate your attitude in my courtroom."
"You may leave." The King said in a tone of finality. "Guards."
The noble had a sour expression as he was guided out of the courtroom and the advisor huffed at the display, he was pleased.
"Sorry about that. Now, returning to the discussion..." The king drawls and addressed his subjects, "Although the odds might not look favourable to us, we have a good chance of winning this war if we play our cards right."
"Lord Shen is not the only one with an army killing Master as an ally." The King said and a gentle smiled appeared on his face.
"You don't mean..." One of the nobles guessed and gulped.
"Send a messenger to Mighty Eagle." The king said and the advisor let out a hearty laughter.
"B-But Master Eagle is in seclusion training to attain inner peace and he had specifically asked not to be disturb. Should we really force him like that? He also really gets sensitive when he feels his freedom is limited."
"The Kingdom he swore to protect is under threat. He will respect the wish of its king." The golden pheasant said and everyone nodded, arguing no further.
"But that's not all, I also have another plan..." the king said and his gentle smile slowly turned not so gentle.
..
..
!!!!!
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The next day, a messenger of the royal court was sent to the Tower of Heaven which was a giant rocky mountain in the Southernmost part of the Kingdom.
The messenger flew up the giant mountain which was so tall that it seemed to pierce through the heavens. Not many birds could achieve such a feat in this world and the fact that Master Eagle made it his home shows just how powerful he truly was.
After a long time of struggling and flying, the messenger finally reached the place and he immediately head inside the cave which Master Eagle used as his home.
"I have been waiting for you." A deep voice which was oddly high-pitched at the same time rang out. His voice sounded so wrong to the ear that it caused anyone to hear it uncomfortable.
if he screeched loudly, a person's ear would surely rupture.
"Master Eagle." The messenger called out in awe and respect. He immediately bowed down to the mighty eagle who was turning his back on him.
"I heard her cry so many times over the year, so I was sure that my presence would be needed eventually." The eagle said and slowly turned around and walked forward to the light.
His body was gigantic and heavy for a bird like him which should be impossible. But such things as defying simple biology was easy with the help of Chi.
"So, who is he?" Mighty eagle asked, his piercing voice tinged with anger.
"I-Its Tai Lung." The messenger said, confused at how he was able to know so much even before he delivered the message.
He also wondered who Master eagle was referring to when he said 'her'.
"Ah...." Master Eagle said as his eyes glazed over with recognition and excitement.
"The old cat is out of prison huh." Master Eagle said.
"Interesting."
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(3rd POV)
"Pftttt, I knew you would follow behind me soon enough." Jin Dao heard a voice immediately after he was brutally killed by Tai Lung.
One moment he had the entire half of his body ripped off and then he felt his soul being pulled out and he found himself in this place.
He slowly opened his eyes and he was greeted with an amazing sight. The world was not how he remembered it.
He felt extremely light as if all the burdens on his soul were lifted. That was not just in a physical sense either as he felt all of his worries, regrets an anger dissolving into nothing.
He was in absolute peace.
"Oi, I'm talking to you old monke."
.....maybe not absolute peace.
"Where are we?" Jin Dao asked the Monkey King who was floating in front of him in a lazy sleeping position.
"Well, if you have not already deduced by now then let me say..." The Monkey King drawls shifts in the air and opens his arms.
"Welcome to the spirit realm. The afterlife of all the people with a mutated Chi, otherwise known as Kung Fu masters." the Monkey revealed grandly.
"Why do you look so surprised? Did someone kill you while you sleep?" Monkey King asked Jin Dao whose eyes were wide in shock.
"What? No!" Jin Dao huffed, "I died at the hands of Tai Lung because I fought to the very end." he boasted with puffed chest.
"What I am surprised about was seeing you here. The letter said you disappeared, it never mentioned about you dying."
'Yeah about that.." The monkey king scratched his cheek, "I found out that I couldn't survive the explosion of ten barrels of gunpowder."
"So you were killed by Shen and you died....because of a powder." Jin Dao deadpanned.
The Monkey King looked offended and was about to retort and give the old monke a piece of his mind but his words got stuck on his throat when a green blade with chains connected to it wrapped around Jin Dao.
"What?!"
*Whoosh*
Monkey King quickly dodged the incoming blades and moved away. His body was encased in yellow Chi as he immediealy turned around to look at the new guy that ambushed him.
An explosion of green light enveloped the entire realm, blinding the Monkey King before the looked at the Bull who was holding a jade pendant in his hand.
The pendant was carved in the shape of a Mandrill.
"Haaa, such a fine Chi." The bull commented as his eyes glowed eerie green. "I wonder who is sending me all of these masters from the other side. I have to make sure to thank them when I return." He said with a chuckle.
"Hmm." He hummed and looked at Monkey King, his eyebrow raised in interest.
"Especially you. You have an amazing amount of Chi and the quality is refined." The bull commented, "Maybe I will finally be able to best Oogway after taking your Chi."
The Monkey King did not know what was happening but he got ready to fight. The bull who was yet to be introduced spun his chains and threw his green blades at him.
A fight began, much to the Monkey King's horror who thought he would be able to slack at least in the afterlife. Alas, he was wrong.
..
..
..
Kai was getting stronger. He was slowly but surely getting even stronger than his canon counterpart because even though he did not get Tai Lung's chi, many other Masters who did not die in canon were all dying.
With the upcoming wars that Tai Lung was about to wage, surely many more Kung Fu masters would be sent into the spirit realm.
It was only a matter of time until Kai became unstoppable.
Although Tai Lung was getting strong, his ultimate enemy was also doing the same.
Tai Lung had broken the first part of the prophecy, will he be able to break free from the second part?
Will his legacy truly die at the hands of Kai?
..
..
The inevitable battle was drawing near.
One that would shake the heavens and shape the universe.
.
.
.
[IMAGE]
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