POV Tai Lung
The following week passed without any major issues, except for an incredibly strange dream about New Year's (which you can read for free on my Boosty under the "Multiverse of Madness" tag).
Training with Po was progressing well. The panda was soaking up knowledge like a sponge. Honestly, I didn't expect such speed from him, but the Dragon Warrior demonstrated a truly high level of talent, growing stronger literally by the day.
Logically, at this pace, the "teaching" phase couldn't last forever. I master a vast array of techniques, but no sensible teacher dumps everything they know onto a student. It's not about greed; it's about safety. Many high-level techniques are extremely dangerous for the user, which is why they often die out with their creators.
Teaching them to Po would be reckless—his Chi, his build, and his natural style just aren't a match. Even if he could control the Chi flow, the moves would either be significantly weaker than mine or flat-out harm him.
On the other hand, the foundation I've already given him is more than enough for now. The next thing I must provide as a master is experience.
And that's exactly the problem I brought to the Furious Five—specifically, to Wu Kong.
"Sparring with Po?" Monkey asked, scratching the top of his head while hanging upside down from a branch. "Well... I'm not against it, of course, but shouldn't we finish his basic training first? At least to the level of a formal disciple?"
"He finished the disciple-level curriculum days ago," I explained. Monkey was so shocked he dropped his tea cup (how he was drinking tea upside down remains a mystery).
"Wh-wh-what? How?!" Monkey yelped, flipping through the air and landing on his feet. "He's only been training with you for a week! And with Master Shifu for about the same! Even if he'd trained twice as long, that's impossible!"
"And yet, here we are," I shrugged. "I passed the Jade Palace disciple trial three days after I started training, and I could have done it sooner. It's not surprising that Po is fast."
"Comparing yourself to Po... look, no offense, but you're a monster. There's never been anyone with talent like yours in history. Hearing the legends about you, I can almost believe it—but Po?" The guy covered his face with his hand, trying to process it. "That's just unreal."
"Well, he's had excellent mentors," I smirked without a hint of modesty. "So, will you help?"
"Of course I will," Monkey nodded readily. "I'm just surprised, that's all. What's the plan?"
"As I said, I've taught him the basics. Now I want Po to gain experience fighting different opponents."
"Makes sense..." Monkey nodded. "Aside from his insane development speed, anyway..." He sighed. "Should I call the others too? I'm good, but if he needs experience, he needs variety. Different builds, styles, speeds, and temperaments."
"Yes, but... you understand. Even if we're talking now, calling us 'friends' is a stretch. For many reasons."
Even if we'd cleared the air, I couldn't forget the reputation that old turtle gave me. May he have permanent hiccups in the afterlife.
"And what does that make us?" Monkey chuckled. "Consider this a friendly favor." He winked. "And I don't think anyone will mind helping. If not for you, then definitely for Po."
"I'd appreciate it. Let's meet in the Training Hall."
"Deal." With that, Wu Kong leaped into the air and vanished, heading for his teammates at incredible speed. Show-off... but a good guy, despite his rough childhood.
Nothing unusual happened during the rest of the week, except for the behavior of a certain fox—well, fennec. Lin continued to "secretly" observe me, but it looked like something out of a cliché comedy anime.
I'd be heading to the bathhouse, about to take off my pants, when suddenly the intensity of her gaze would spike. Her already shaky (okay, it was decent, just not on my level) masking would slip even further, and my eyelid would start twitching...
Why do I even let her follow me?
Maybe it's a holdover from my past life. Back then, people were terrified of "leaks." I never understood that fear. If everyone sees you naked, what does it actually change? With the right attitude, you can avoid the bullying and instead ruin the reputation of whoever leaked it.
I didn't get a "kick" out of being watched, but it didn't cause me discomfort either. If she wants to watch, let her watch. But the constant presence of those fuzzy ears nearby was getting old. It wasn't the spying that bothered me; it was the persistent company. I was thinking of having a talk with her about it soon.
Also, the local clothing is infuriating. My pants are alright—they even have pockets, which is a rarity in this era (likely a "gift" from the Mongols)—but the rest? I want a T-shirt. Easy to put on, doesn't get in the way, comfortable... but T-shirts don't exist here! The materials they do have are... depressing. So, for now, I continued to go shirtless. Thankfully, a bare torso on a man isn't considered scandalous here.
"Master!" a voice called out as I approached the Training Hall. It was Po, sitting in a split. He suddenly pushed off the ground with his hands, popping back up onto his feet. "I can get up from a split by myself now! Look, I learned it on my own! Pretty cool, right?!"
The Training Hall is a vast, high-ceilinged room made of dark wood and bronze. The floor is made of smooth planks, beneath which lies a complex system of gears and levers.
The most recognizable part of the hall is the "forest" of spinning wooden pillars equipped with "arms" and "swords." They don't just spin; they react. One tripped lever triggers a chain reaction.
There is also a sparring area—a sand pit—and an obstacle course with several main hazards:
Swinging Maces: Huge spiked balls hanging from chains. They move unpredictably.Flame Floor: Hidden hatches that (in advanced modes) blast fire or thrust spears.Rotating Rings: Yin-yang symbols on the floor that spin in different directions to trip you up.
"Calm down," I rolled my eyes, hiding a smile. The Dragon Warrior's sincerity was infectious, but he needed more gravitas. "Good job, though. But I have news."
"News?" Po calmed down instantly. "What kind of news?"
"I've taught you everything I believe a beginning Dragon Warrior should know. Continuing like this won't give you much more. You need real experience."
"Does that mean training is over?" Po looked down, dejected.
"Are you upset?" I asked, genuinely surprised. He hadn't exactly shown a love for the grueling sessions I'd put him through.
"Well, not exactly..." Po mused. "It's just... I guess I got used to it? It's not the most pleasant thing, but I've started to actually enjoy it."
"In a twisted way," I smirked. "I've been squeezing every ounce of strength out of you to get these results. Most people would call it torture, not training."
"Come on, it wasn't that bad. And it gave me so much," the panda shook his head.
"Regardless, you can now proudly call yourself a 'Dragon Warrior Larva'."
"Can we not call it that?"
"And to sharpen what I've taught you, I asked the Furious Five for help. They'll be here soon for a spar. I want you to show them everything you've learned. You won't let me down, will you?" I raised an eyebrow, making the previously calm panda swallow hard.
"I-I'll give it my all!"
"Splendid. And here they are." My ear twitched as I caught the sound of approaching footsteps.
Six sets—Shifu was coming too. We'd had a few more heart-to-hearts. I wouldn't say all the resentment is gone—I'm not sure that's even possible—but we show mutual respect. Shifu even took a break from Po's official lessons during my training sessions so he wouldn't interfere.
"A-already? Right now?" Po panicked.
"What did you think?" I smirked. "I took it easy on you today, so be grateful."
"I am! But... maybe tomorrow? I need to, uh... prepare mentally!"
"Where did you even get that from?" I shook my head, getting a suspicious look in return. Yeah, okay, he got it from me. I admit it.
"I brought everyone! They're all in!" Monkey poked his head through the doorway, followed by the rest of the team.
"Experience is good," Shifu nodded, walking up to me. "But are you sure you want to end Po's instruction here?"
"I could teach him more, but then he'd be my disciple, not a disciple of the Jade Palace," I shook my head.
Training under a master isn't just about techniques; it's about "growing" the student. By the end, a master passes on their worldview and moral compass. In some sects, names are even passed down, and teaching is considered a form of immortality.
"I understand," Shifu closed his eyes. "Thank you..."
"Don't mention it," I shrugged. "Guys, as you know, I want to see how far Po has come. I could evaluate him myself, but I want your help. Spar with the Dragon Warrior one by one. Gauge his level. I think it'll be useful for you too."
"We'll start with you, Crane," Shifu announced. "Then Monkey, Mantis, Viper, and Tigress."
"Why is it always me?" Crane sighed, stepping onto the arena.
The fight promised to be tough for Po, even though Crane was technically the "weakest" in a direct brawl. Without Chi techniques, a flying opponent is a nightmare. However, Po got lucky—Crane underestimated him and tried to engage in close quarters. He got sent flying by the first hit, and Po immediately locked him in a submission hold.
It's one thing to hear the noodle guy became a fighter; it's another to feel his grip. I can relate to Crane—I used to underestimate opponents too.
The second fight was more interesting. Now that they knew he was serious, nobody was holding back. Monkey danced around the ring, dodging grabs and looking for an opening. When he found one, he flew at Po with a double-kick.
Po took the hit, flew back into the arena ropes, and used the tension like a slingshot. He slammed into a shocked Wu Kong, launching him not just out of the ring, but out of the Training Hall entirely. The comedy was peaked by the fact that Monkey flew right through the open door instead of through a wall.
The pattern was clear: Po had off-the-charts durability and strength. His agility was improving, but his technique and experience were lacking. This is why he lost the following rounds:
Mantis used his superior speed and tiny size to flip Po over easily.Viper won through sheer luck—Po swung with all his might to add speed, and Viper simply used his momentum to guide him right out of the bounds.Tigress... Po didn't stand a chance. She was meant to be the Dragon Warrior; she possessed the greatest strength in the Five. Strength enough to face me—at least according to that old turtle.
"Good work, Po," Tigress said, offering a hand to help him up. "Surprisingly fast growth. Well done."
"I agree," Viper nodded. "You need combat experience, of course, but this is a very respectable level."
"Thank you," Po smiled sincerely, blushing at the praise. "I couldn't have done it without the lessons from my mentors."
"Don't be modest," I put a hand on the kid's shoulder. "You worked like a dog. You earned this. Tomorrow is your day off, so I expect a fresh batch of noodles..."
"YES!" the Dragon Warrior cheered, jumping for joy.
"But then, we resume training," Shifu added with a smug smile, cutting the celebration short.
"Fine..." the Dragon Warrior sighed, then bowed deeply to all of us. "Without you, I'd still just be a noodle-cook. I will never forget my debt to you."
"Don't sweat it," I waved him off.
"As your master, it was my duty to pass on my knowledge," Shifu added.
"And as members of the Jade Palace, it's our duty to support our younger brother," Monkey said, rubbing his bruised ribs.
"Guys..." Po sniffled. "Alright, let's hit the kitchen! I'm going to make the best noodles I possibly can! I'm not as good as my dad yet, but I've been practicing that too!"
The Capital, Imperial Palace, Dungeons
"I told you so..." the Shadow of the Emperor said with satisfaction after hearing the report. "Poorly handled, Chen. Very poorly..."
"I realize my mistake," the second-highest Shadow said, closing his eyes. "However, we were lucky."
"Yes, that Tai Lung made peace with Lin-Lin. Honestly, I thought he'd just kill her," Xue Xia mused.
"As you can see, I was closer to the truth on that front," Chen nodded. "Lin is requesting more data on Tai Lung and the Jade Palace. If things continue this way, her being exposed actually benefits us. Recruiting Tai Lung is now much more feasible. But that technique of his... it concerns me."
"'Mirror of Truth'?" Xue asked. "Don't worry about that. While it pierces basic mental barriers—which is why Lin answered him—it can't reveal state secrets. My friend created it too long ago; we've advanced much further in mental shielding since then."
"If you say so..."
"In any case, we won't recruit him yet. He's too ambiguous a character. I'll speak to the Emperor, but he shouldn't be brought to the Palace. At least not soon."
"Understood. Should I send Lin the requested files?"
"Yes. And tell her to stop playing hide-and-seek. People have different temperaments, but very few enjoy being watched."
"Copy that," the Blade Shadow nodded. "Moving on: the Lian aristocratic house. Loyal servants of the previous dynasty who suddenly became 'neutral' after the coup. We've captured the head of the house, but he has an incredibly rare Chi trait—mental techniques don't work. May I use... more traditional methods?"
"Yes. Torturing aristocracy is bad form, but the situation is too dangerous. If the direct descendants of the Dragons return, the country is in peril. I cannot allow that."
"As you wish..."