Capital, Imperial Palace
Third-person view
The Imperial Palace in the capital was not just a building—it was a city within a city, a monument to greatness and power, erected on bones and gold.
The throne room itself astounded the imagination of even those who had been there hundreds of times. The ceiling, lost in the gloom, was supported by gigantic pillars of red lacquered wood, entwined with golden dragons having gemstone eyes. The floor was laid with slabs of black and white marble, polished to a mirror shine reflecting the flames of hundreds of torches placed along the walls. The air here was heavy, saturated with the smell of expensive incense, past centuries, and... blood.
In the center of this magnificence, on a huge golden throne towering over the hall, sat a man in robes of the finest scarlet silk.
He looked hardly twenty years old, yet a frightening wisdom glimmered in his eyes with vertical pupils, and the confident, predatory smile on his face only added to the terrifying stature of the Bloody Emperor.
More than six years had passed since he—Xue Long (which means Bloody Dragon)—took the throne from his father and began returning China to its former greatness with an iron hand.
The old man didn't want to look into the future. His stupid, ossified laws only harmed the country. Even if in the short term they allowed their clan to rise, the price was the rotting of the entire empire. That was what Xue Long thought, seeing confirmation of his ideas in the horrors of the dark side of the Capital and China as a whole...
Slave trade, drugs, bloodthirsty nobility reveling in impunity, underground fighting pits, and even secret cults... All this flourished under the cover of night, like ulcers on the body of a once-great power.
Xue Long couldn't turn a blind eye to this. Even now, sitting on top of the world, he remembered that secret journey through the lands of his native China: the stench of those streets, the cries of children being taken to "pleasure houses," and the empty, indifferent gazes of soldiers openly trading weapons with criminal clans and bandits.
The young prince, who learned all the filth happening right under their noses, was lucky with his aunt, who also saw all this and supported his undertaking. Everything was decided in one day—the father, an old fool, "suddenly died of cardiac arrest," and the brothers, who linked their lives with the delights of the dark side—drugs, slaves, and hunting common people—died suddenly, "accidentally" falling from a balcony during a drunken brawl...
It was on that day that he ascended the throne of China and staged the Great Purge, also known as the "Extermination," for which he was nicknamed the Bloody Emperor.
In just a month, due to his actions, several aristocratic clans were wiped out to the root, and in six months almost all families that fed on other people's pain and built their palaces on bones for decades disappeared from the political map of the Empire.
Rumors of night arrests, secret trials, and offspring of high-born families disappearing without a trace spread faster than the wind, but Xue Long himself did not hide behind shadows—he personally attended the ritual of cleansing the capital, when on the square in front of the Imperial Palace the property (and not only) of the largest criminal clans was burned, turning symbols of their luxury into ash.
He knew: justice must be visible. And, more importantly—irreversible.
His aunt, who became his most trusted advisor, often repeated: "The people will forget fear, but will remember order."
And indeed—by the end of the sixth month, life in the Capital had changed beyond recognition. Streets where opium dealers and merchants of human goods used to rule were now guarded by patrols of Shadows—a previously secret organization that became an excellent scarecrow for those destroying his country and a real symbol of justice for ordinary people.
"My Lord," the quiet voice of one of the Shadows engaged in his personal protection was heard; a masked figure seemed to separate from a column. "The Emperor's Shadow has arrived."
Habitually licking his lips with his forked snake tongue, the Bloody Emperor nodded, giving a lazy hand gesture.
An instant later, the incredibly majestic hall was completely empty. Servants, advisors, and guards disappeared, leaving the ruler in silence broken only by the crackle of torches.
But the silence did not last long. From the shadow of one of the columns, as if woven from the air, a slender figure emerged. Xue Xia removed her hood, and her face, usually cold and impassive, was touched by the shadow of a warm, familial smile.
She did not kneel. Here, behind closed doors, etiquette receded into the background.
"You look tired, Long," she said quietly, approaching the steps of the throne.
"And you look extremely pleased, Aunt," the Emperor chuckled, and his pupils narrowed even more. "So, the hunt in Wei-Jin was successful?"
Xue Xia took a thick leather-bound book from her bosom and casually threw it at the ruler's feet. The heavy volume hit the gold of the steps with a dull thud.
" The entire network," she reported briefly. "Names, routes, accounts. Peng turned out to be a thrifty worm. He is now in the dungeons, awaiting your judgment. As are his patrons here in the capital, whose names adorn the first pages of this tome."
The Emperor didn't even glance at the book. His gaze was fixed on his mentor.
"Peng was cautious. And he had strong security. I was reported that he hired 'Hunters'."
"He did," Xue nodded. "Twelve of the best I've seen. Foreign specialists in eliminating masters."
"I also know that there are no losses among the Shadows... Did you handle them alone?" the Emperor's eyebrow crept up in surprise. "I know your strength, Aunt, but even for you this is..."
"I was not alone."
A pause hung in the hall. Xue Long leaned forward, his interest flaring up like dry gunpowder.
"Is that so? And who is this brave soul who dared to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Emperor's Shadow against the Hunters Guild? One of my new generals or did you ask for help from your old comrades from the Furious Five?"
"No," Xue Xia looked straight into her pupil's eyes. "It was a criminal. More precisely, the one your father and the Council of Masters declared as such twenty years ago. Tai Lung."
The Emperor leaned back on the throne, and his laugh, dry and rustling, echoed from the vaults of the hall.
"The 'Monster of Chorh-Gom'? The student who betrayed his master? The very one for whom the most expensive prison in history was built, draining gold from my treasury? I heard he escaped, but thought these were just rumors inflated by panic from the news of Oogway's death and the selection of the Dragon Warrior..."
"He escaped," Xue confirmed. "And the first thing he did was save a village from bandits, and then helped me lance the boil in Wei-Jin. He killed Peng's personal guard in a second and didn't touch civilians."
The Emperor thoughtfully tapped a claw on the armrest.
"The story Oogway told us says he is a bloodthirsty monster obsessed with power and strength."
"History is written by the victors, Long. You know this better than anyone," retorted the Snow Leopard. "Oogway saw darkness in him, and Shifu turned away from him at the most important moment, but I saw a warrior who just wanted recognition. Yes, he is cruel, yes, he is proud, but he is effective... And he keeps his word." She took a step forward. "I promised him that for his help in eliminating Peng and the 'Hunters' I would petition you on his behalf."
The Bloody Emperor slowly rose from the throne. He descended the steps, picked up the book from the floor, and, leafing through a couple of pages, slammed it shut with a clap.
"The old men from the Jade Palace live in the past," he said, looking somewhere into the distance, as if through the walls. "They pray to old teachings and talk about 'inner peace' while the country rots from within. I don't need monks, Aunt, I need swords. Sharp, ruthless swords capable of cutting out all the rot." He turned to Xue Xia, and a cold fire burned in his eyes. "If this Tai Lung is really as strong as you say, and if he is capable of directing his rage at my enemies... Then it is stupid to let such a resource rot in prison."
"Tai Lung is heading to the Valley of Peace," warned Xue. "He wants to take the title of Dragon Warrior."
"Let him take it if he can," the Emperor threw indifferently. "Titles are dust, strength is what matters. Watch him, my Shadow. If he survives and doesn't go mad... bring him to me. Perhaps the Dragon of Blood will finally have his own Warrior..."
Xue Xia bowed her head, hiding a satisfied smile.
"As you wish, my Emperor."
POV Tai Lung
The Threads of Hope represented a huge network of many suspension bridges. All of them were made of very reliable materials, but at the same time quite common and cheap, because during strong winds many bridges were simply destroyed. Not that much money was allocated for repairs, which was generally allocated only because the Threads of Hope is literally the most ancient bridge currently existing. Here, of course, is also a paradox in the style of the Ship of Theseus—it was changed so many times that not a splinter remained of the original, but oh well.
The Threads of Hope themselves are located over "Dragon's Gorge"—a huge abyss which, according to legends, was formed when the Dragon and the Phoenix went against the "Spawn of Darkness," whatever that was...
This gorge is older than the entire empire, so no one knows anything specific about this place, except that the size is huge, as is the depth, which is why even descending to the bottom is already a feat. If books are to be believed, below is only baked stone forming a huge relatively flat plateau with a hemisphere-hump exactly in the middle.
Running along the small bridges of ropes and wood was both scary and fun. In general, after I started my new life in this body, I constantly have such problems—it seems cool, and even pleasant, but at the same time you catch yourself thinking that if I were an ordinary person—I would certainly have died; escaping from Chorh-Gom alone is worth a lot.
In general, I never cease to be amazed by the local beauties—you could lead tours...
However, nothing can last forever—the idyll ended when I just stepped onto the last bridge separating me from the Valley of Peace; at the other end, I noticed five figures...
Ah yes, how could I forget about this? The Furious Five! And in full composition!
Noticing them, I immediately recognized those very cartoon heroes, and even if they looked here like people with animal features, this didn't confuse me.
Instantly making a decision, I break into a run—if they cut the last bridge, I can get stuck here for a long time. Although I can use the ropes and, swinging, throw myself where needed, but why risk and put myself in a disadvantageous position?
I catch with the edge of my ear some command from a tall girl with red hair—Tigress, after which...
"Cut it!" she barked.
Mantis and Monkey (a guy with a tail), without asking questions, synchronously struck the thick ropes holding the bridge.
The dull crack of snapping fibers echoed from the gorge walls. The bridge under my feet shuddered and began to fall rapidly down, turning from a convenient road into a deadly ladder into the abyss.
But I was ready!
At the very moment the ropes snapped, I pushed off the railing, putting all the strength of my Chi-enhanced legs into the jump. I flew straight to the saving ledge, intending to slip over the falling structure, but Tigress had other plans.
"You shall not pass!" she roared, making a return jump.
She didn't try to save herself or hold the bridge, but jumped straight at me, into the void, trusting her comrades and sacrificing her position just to knock down my inertia.
Our bodies collided in the air. The impact was heavy, hard; I even felt her claws slash my forearm, and my knee strike entered her body, but even receiving a blow from me, she achieved her goal.
I was thrown back.
I drove my claws into the bridge planks, stopping the slide, and calmly stood up, holding onto one of the ropes. The bridge swayed over the abyss, creaked and groaned, but held us, because the torn threads were now held by the other members of the new Furious Five.
Tigress hung about five meters above me, clutching the planks. Her amber eyes with vertical pupils burned with rage.
"Where is the Dragon Warrior?" I asked, grinning.
The situation was painfully familiar, surreal, but I couldn't help repeating this phrase—it was too legendary for past-me.
Tigress pulled herself up, getting into a fighting stance right on the shaky planks.
"Maybe you are looking at him right now," she answered, squinting.
Steel sounded in her voice; saying this, she was clearly challenging me.
I just chuckled, noting how unpleasant it was for her to say this. Well of course, she still believes she is worthy.
Just like I did once...
"We are not enemies," I said calmly, lazily brushing off a splinter that flew from the strong wind. "Why are you trying so furiously to drag me into a battle, kitty? I'm just going home."
"You are a monster!" she spat. "You destroyed Chorh-Gom, you killed hundreds... I... We will stop you and bring peace to the Valley of Peace!"
"Peace to the Valley of Peace..." Monkey repeated quietly, and I heard a stifled chuckle in his voice.
Tigress, ignoring her comrade's comment, bolted from her spot with a roar.
She was fast, much faster than the rhinos or that wolf hunting masters. Her Tiger style was aggressive, straightforward, and powerful. My opponent used inertia and gravity, falling on me from above and trying to literally crush me with a hail of blows.
I met her strike with a block. The wood under us cracked.
"Ha!" she exhaled, delivering a series of strikes: claws, fist, turn, kick.
I parried, dodged, redirected her force. It was a dance on the edge of the abyss. We jumped on the fragments of the bridge, clung to ropes not to fall out, and exchanged blows from which splinters flew.
"You are strong," I admitted, letting her strike pass over my head and responding with a palm poke to the shoulder. "But I don't see composure in you."
"Shut up!" she barked, trying to reach me with a spinning kick.
I caught her leg, causing surprise to flash in her eyes.
"Shall we fly?"
I spun and threw her with force to the side from where I came.
Tigress flew ten meters, breaking several dozen if not hundreds of planks with her body, and hung by one hand. But I didn't let her recover.
I grabbed a rope and, using inertia, wrapped it around her neck, holding her in place and not letting her inhale.
"Kha!.."
Tigress wheezed, trying to break the bonds, but I held tight, leaving her no chance.
"And is this all?" I asked, looking into her eyes. "Did you really think that with such skills you could become the Dragon Warrior?"
At that moment my senses, sharpened to the limit, howled. Danger! Right!
I instinctively jerked my head to the side.
Whiz-whiz-whiz!
Three thin, almost invisible needles plunged into the wood where my neck was a second ago. Acrid green haze came from the puncture site. Poison.
Viper!
This snake—a girl with incredible flexibility and small patches of skin with scales—sneaked up unnoticed; her steps almost didn't increase the pressure on the planks, and she couldn't be heard either.
While I was distracted by dodging, the grip on Tigress's neck weakened. From above, cutting the air with wings, Crane fell like a stone. He picked up the Five's leader with his hands and jerked her out of my trap, flying up.
"Monkey!" shouted Viper, launching needles at me again and trying to strike, simultaneously breaking the distance. She understood that she wouldn't stand alone in close combat against me.
I shifted my gaze back, from where Monkey was flying at me, having already gained quite high speed.
"Take this!"
I didn't even move aside.
When Monkey was already a meter away, I simply took a step forward and threw out my hand, grabbing him by the ankle right in flight. His inertia played against him. He hung in the air, comically waving his hands.
"Uh... hi?"
"Bye," I grunted.
With my second hand, I delivered a short but crushing blow to the back of his head.
Boom.
Monkey's eyes rolled back, and he went limp in my hand like a rag doll.
"Monkey!" Viper screamed in horror.
She rushed at me, forgetting about stealth. Her attacks were fast, whipping, but she acted on emotions and at the same time did not possess outstanding physical strength, and I dodged her "poisonous surprises" without problems.
Realizing this, Viper lunged, aiming at my eyes, but I simply intercepted her in the air, squeezing her neck.
"Let go!" She hissed, trying to hit me with a hand with needles clamped between fingers.
"Sleep, princess." I pressed a point on her neck, releasing a Chi impulse.
The girl twitched and hung limply in my hand.
The fight was over.
I stood on the swaying bridge, holding the knocked-out Monkey by the leg in my left hand, and carefully pressing Viper to my chest in my right.
Tigress and Crane were already together with Mantis at the very fastening of the bridge to the rock. They looked at me with hatred, ready to release the ropes, but dared not sacrifice friends.
Chuckling, I started walking toward them.
I carried Viper carefully, almost like a princess—after all, she is a girl, and judging by her bloodline, of blue blood (all aristocrats have the bloodline of various snakes). It is improper for a lady to lie on dirty planks, but Monkey... well, this clown hung upside down. Why? Just because his smug face annoyed me.
Reaching almost the very end, I stopped. Ten meters remained to Tigress, Crane, and Mantis, who was holding the bridge with his incredible strength.
"Let them go!" shouted Tigress, taking a fighting stance. "They already lost!"
I looked at her, then down, into the bottomless abyss swirling with fog.
"I will let them go as soon as I step on solid ground," I answer her calmly. "Or..." I demonstratively extended my left hand, hanging Monkey's carcass over the abyss. Fingers unclenched by a millimeter. "...Release them here after all? Long fall, maybe they'll wake up on the way."
"Tsk!" clicked Tigress, clenching her teeth. Impotence was read in her eyes. She slowly stepped back, giving way to me. Crane spread his wings but also stepped aside.
Finally, I overcame the last meters and stepped onto the rocky soil of the Valley of Peace.
"There's a good girl," I said, passing the tense Tigress.
I approached a large boulder at the edge of the road and casually threw Monkey off. He flopped into the grass and muttered something in his sleep, drooling. Then I bent down and carefully laid Viper next to him.
Straightening up, I brushed off my hands and looked at the remaining trio.
"Still want to fight, respected masters, or will you listen to your 'big brother' over a cup of tea?"