NOVEL NEXT Proposal
[Tai Lung's POV]
Using Flash steps to fly across China was quite taxing for my body as I felt my legs numb due to the strain. My Chi reserves were also plummeting at an alarming rate since I was not too proficient with the technique.
But I pushed on because I could see the metropolis city ahead. It took me less than a day to cover the distance I took 2 months to cover by foot. Abliet I was in no hurry when I travelled on land.
I used my heightened senses, my hearing and my acute sense of smell to observe the City ahead. The smell of iron and gunpowder was thick in the air. I could see huge smoke rising from factories and buildings, they were probably creating more cannons for Shen.
I continued kicking the air and when I was right above the main entrance gate of the city, I stopped kicking and allowed myself to fall.
I could've just entered the city and directly go to the Palace but I did not want to risk anything before I got more information.
For all I know my students could have not come to the city, they could be on the run from Shen or they could've been killed. I wanted to get some information first before barging in and falling into a trap.
My cloak came off as I was falling from the sky but I made no effort to retrieve it. A deep frown graced my face and my throat vibrated to produce low-pitched growls.
..
*V-BOOM!!*
I landed on all of my four limbs right outside the city gate and the many guards stationed there gawked at me in utter surprise. My landing created a small crater in the dirt road and the shockwave sent small pebbles flying.
My yellow eyes narrowed as I scanned the surroundings. My ears twitched to hear the many footsteps that came from other places, rushing here to check what was going on.
My nose took in the smell, searching for the faint scent of gunpowder as I searched for any cannons stationed there. My eyes observed the wolf and Gorilla soldier stationed ahead, I swiftly judged their strength from the way they held their weapons, their muscles and the quality of armour they were wearing.
My sensitive paw sensed the ground, noting that it was made of dirt and it was damp. I should be able to move easily without any fear of slipping.
All of these observations were done on instinct and in just a single second. My long tail whipped behind me as my muscles tensed, ready for movement.
I stood up slowly as the guards still looked at me as if I was some illusion. The gravity of the situation had not quite settled in their mind.
There were 13 of them stationed right outside the gate. 5 of them were Gorillas while the rest were black wolves.
Soon enough, they shook their head and finally reacted to my presence. The biggest Gorilla amongst them whom I assumed was the leader yelled out, "Get him!!"
The soldiers rushed towards me but before they could get close, I disappeared. There was no sound produced by my movement. The air was not displaced and there was no footprint on the ground.
'Flashsteps.'
I moved at a speed untraceable by their eyes and when they saw me again, I was already past them and stood directly in front of the Gorilla who gave orders.
They all paused for a second and then a dozen of them fell on the ground, paralysed. I had hit their never points even before they could realize what was going on.
Thump!! x12
The Gorilla who was the only one left took a step back in surprise. I let out my claws and sunk them at the side of his face before I brought him down to my level.
He gritted his teeth but he was frozen in fear. He was too scared to even fight back as I looked him in the eye.
"Tell me, have the Dragon Warrior and the Furious Five came into the city?" I asked with a threatening edge to the vibration of my voice.
I expected him to give me an answer but even if he did not, I have no problem with it. I chose him for a reason.
He had a big body which meant more bones I could break and more muscles I could tear to get my answers.
Lucky for him, he answers my question instantly, "Yes! They are currently held as prisoners in Baoxiang inn."
His voice cracked in the end due to fear but I heard him clearly.
"Are they alive?"
"Yes! All of them are unharmed! Lord Shen ordered us to no harm them." He said, "Even the Dragon Warrior too."
I hummed at his answer before I delivered a swift nerve attack on his neck that made him fall to the ground limply.
His answer got me curious. Why are they all held as prisoners and why did Lord Shen still spare them? He also said Lord Shen ordered them to not harm the prisoners.
What is he planning? Is he trying to hold them as hostages against me?
'One way to find out.' I thought to myself before kicking myself up in the air and I made a beeline to the top of the Tower of Sacred Flames.
I now learned that my students were indeed captured and held as prisoners so I could finally act. I flew across the ginormous city in a few minutes before I found myself directly above the Tower.
I fliped in the air and kicked as hard as I could to propel myself downwards. I crashed through the tile roof of the Tower and landed directly on the top floor which was the throne room.
*Crash*
I broke through the roof and the clitter clatter sound of pieces of tiles falling on the ground filled the empty room
It was dark and eerily silent with no guards to be seen. I would've thought no one was here if not for the presence I sensed on the balcony.
I turned my head to look at Shen who was standing on the balcony a few meters away. His back was facing me so I was unaware if he had any weapons but I was ready for sharp projectiles.
"I have been waiting for you." He said softly yet in the eerie silence, his voice was loud and it echoed.
He turned around as his majestic wings and royal robes fluttered due to his action. His eyes confidently met mine and there was a friendly - almost good-natured - smile on his face which was something I did not expect considering how we met last time.
"Greetings Tai Lung, we meet again." He said with a courteous bow benefitting of an elegant ruler.
I was thrown off by the whole thing and I did not know how to respond. So I narrowed my eyes at him and became alert.
"You do not have to be wary, I just want to have a talk with you." He said, "And your students are safe and under great care."
Shen slowly walked towards me, his metal talons made a clicking sound as he walked and they made me very conscious of the many hidden weapons he might have under all that feather and robe.
"I know you are someone who does not like to beat around the bush so I will cut straight to the point." He said.
.
.
.
"I have a proposal." A smile benefitting the devil on your shoulder appeared on his face.
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[3rd POV]
Shifu opened his eyes and looked into the horizon.
He was standing on the top of his staff and medtating until he felt a disturbance in the flow of the universe.
He had received the relpy letter from Lord Shen so he knew his students were not in danger and treated as guest so he wondered what the feeling he had was about.
The wind suddenly picked up pace and a powerful gale blew on Shifu while he looked the the sky.
The once clear sky was gone as dark clouds filled the sky. The world rumbled as a storm without rain brew above.
Shifu noted that it was an aweful lot like the storm on the night Oogway passed. When his master had said there was an 'accident'.
Whatever was happening the universe did not like it. Shifu was not sure but through inner peace, he could feel it.
The universe was throwing a tantrum.
.....
In the Kingdom to the West, Monkey King snapped open his eyes to look at the sky above.
His eyes glowed in his chi as he blinked once before he creased his eyebrow.
Something was wrong.
.....
Simlar scene could be seen happening across China as everyone with a deep connection with the world could feel something was wrong.
They did not know what.
They did not know where.
But they felt the distress of the universe.
.
.
.
[IMAGE]
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