[Tai Lung's POV]
You know you slept well when you slept in the morning and woke up the next morning. A full 24 four hours of sleep.
When I first woke up, I thought I had only slept a few minutes instead of a whole day. But the subconscious part of my mind told me that it had been a day.
But I still did not get up. I continued closing my eyes as I enjoyed the afterglow of the great sleep. My soul needed that.
It wasn't until my ears picked up the sound of footsteps coming inside the barracks that I opened my eyes.
I pushed myself up on the bed and streached my body which seemed to be full of vigor more than ever. The room was neat and without any decoration or items that held personality.
If not for the pleasant scent of the room, I would call this room mundane. Yet as I took in the smell, I couldn't say I did not like the room.
The sound of footsteps stopped in front of the door and paused for a second before it was slid ajar to reveal Tigress.
"Oh, it's the kitty, good morning." I said as Tigress looked at me with a cold face, the face of stoicism.
"You slept in my room."
"Did I?" I asked, "I thought it was a free room since it was so mundane."
Her stoic face broke as she glared at me. It was a lie, we both knew I could tell if a room was used or not just from the smell.
But where else was I supposed to sleep? Crane used a mat as a bed since he slept while standing up, Mokey used a hammock that could d not support my weight, Mantis was too small and Viper used a log to coil around and sleep. The empty rooms had no beds.
There was Po's room which I could've used but between Po and Tigress, I chose her because we were both felines and the type of bed we wanted to sleep in was similar.
"I am here to wake you up and invite you to breakfast." She said and my ears perked up at the word.
Breakfast?
Food?
Count me in.
"Lead the way." I stood up from the end and followed her as she lead me towards the dining place of the barrack.
The barracks of the students consisted of three buildings interconnected to make one house. The barracks could hold around 10 people and it had a kitchen, dining room, living room, bathroom and everything in between that you could hope for in a house.
In fact, the barracks were rather luxurious and big when compared to houses that existed during this era. It was a show of just how influential and wealthy the Jade Palace was.
We went to a different section of the house and I looked around at the changes that had taken place while I was away.
.
.
"Be quiet, he'll be here soon!!"
"I just don't get it!! Why are we going to share a meal with him!! What if he decides to stop playing nice all of a sudden?"
"It is master's order! Remember, he told us to be nice and to treat him like one of us. Technically he is our senior so we should be respectful."
"Who the fuck would disrespect him anyways? What I am worried about is if he would mind me standing on the table?"
"Po! Are the noodles ready?"
"Just a sec! I am going to serve Tai Lung, I'm kinda nervous so don't rush me."
I heard the lively chattering at the dining table as we went near it. But the moment Tigress and I stepped in, an absolute silence descended in the room.
"...."
"...."
"...."
I stood at the entrance while Tigress went in and took her seat. I watched my juniors in amusement as they wiggled awkwardly in their seat.
I slowly brought my hands up and imitate a monster's claw before I said, "Boo."
Funnily enough, Crane and Monkey still flinched in their seat rather loudly. Really, how badly did I traumatize these kids?
Chuckling softly to myself, I took the empty seat which appears to be reserved for me. The Furious Five eyed themselves and me while I got comfortable in my seat.
"Good morning kids." I said while eyeing everyone on the table. My tone was cold and firm, a contrast to the amusement I felt when I looked at them.
"Morning."
"Good morning." They wished me back politely but I could see that they were unsure of how to act around me.
It reminded me of the time I was a young student and shared a meal with Master Flying Rhino. I was too unnerved by his mere presence that I couldn't even eat properly as the food went stale.
To share a meal with someone you knew could break you anytime they want, to be in the presence of a superior beast. That feeling was especially intense for Kung Fu practitioners who dedicated their life to getting stronger. Especially if they were a stranger or a possible enemy.
I remember being so frustrated and leaving as quickly as possible before making a beeline to the training hall where I trained for the whole day and night without even a wink of sleep.
Master Flying Rhino came in the morning and told me he was impressed by my fighting spirit. He even taught me a few of his techniques and we separated on a good note.
However, I think I was not on his good side anymore ever since I beat his son - Master Thundering Rhino - right after his accomplishment of slaying Ten Thousand Serpents in the Valley of Woe.
I couldn't help it, the dude got lost in his own fame and claimed that he was strongest of his generation. I had to go to the Guangdong Province and show him otherwise.
In fact, I think he might even be hostile to me since I killed Vachir, the Commander of Anvil of Heaven when I escaped my prison. He was one of Master Flying Rhino's favourite students.
As I got lost in my thoughts, Po had already set up the table and put our meals in front of everyone.
The Furious Five waited for me to first eat my food as they stared. I shook away my thoughts and took a look at the bowl of noodles in front of me.
I smelled it and observed it carefully while the nervous Po took a seat beside me.
Then under the eyes of everyone, I started digging in. Seeing that, the Furious Five also started eating their food.
It was good that they were treating me respectfully like a senior.
I made quick work of the most delicious bowl of noodles I had ever had in my life and after that, I slapped Po on the back.
"I am glad I did not kill you. That was the most pleasant bowl of noodles I've ever had." I said seriously and he gave me a smile which quickly turned unsure when he fully comprehended my sentence.
"Umm..Thank you?" He said, unsure if it was right to thank me for not taking his life. In the end, he shrugged, "Seconds?"
"Most definitely."
Po got up with my bowl and returned with more noodles. I nodded in satisfaction when he put it in front of me.
'Maybe being a Vegan is not so bad.' I thought to myself and my eyes wandered to Crane.
He visibly freaked out when we locked eyes, what's wrong with him?
Po sat back to his seat in a rather noisy manner due to his weight and then he tried to make a conversation. He was the most talkative among them and he was uncomfortable with the silence.
"So, you never had noodles like this in Prison?" He asked with no intention of offence in his tone but the others looked at him with wide eyes.
'Was it okay to bring up something like that to Tai Lung?' They thought.
Honestly, I did not care.
"Forget about noodles, I never got any food while I was imprisoned." I said which took Po back by surprise. He was someone who loved and needed food, he could never imagine being without food.
"What? But I thought you were imprisoned for a long time?"
"20 years." I said as I swallowed the noodles, "In 20 years I never got food, or water."
That seemed to surprise even the Furious five as they gave me a questioning look.
"But how did you survive for that long without food?" Po asked the main question as everyone listened to hear my answer.
I did not want to give a long explanation about how I wasted minimal energy in my immobile state or how Chi helped me. Instead, a small playful smile appeared on my face as I turned to the Panda.
"I feed on my hatred and wrath to survive for all those years," I said with all the seriousness in my voice.
"Whoaaaa~" Po said in awe, "Is that why you are so nice now? You ate all your hatred and wrath?"
I held back a laugh, "Exaclty."
I went back to eating my foot as Po took in the information. Until it clicked that what I said didn't make too much sense.
"Wait, how did you-"
"He was joking Po." Viper told him.
"oo"
The others chuckled seeing the gullible Panda and the mood became a little less awkward.
"So, Dragon Warrior. Tell me about yourself and how you became the Dragon Warrior out of all these masters." I asked initiating a conversation.
I wanted to make them all comfortable with my presence even with all that had happened. Since I was going to live with them, there should not be any conflict between us.
And technically, they were my juniors so it was my responsibility to guide them and help them when they need it.
"Well, it all started when I was an egg. And then I was born to my father..." Po started retelling his stories from the very beginning.
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Author : Double chapter at the beginning of the week as I promised!!!