[Tai Lung's POV]
A true appreciation for life's richness begins at the table, where the love for food transcends mere sustenance.
So as I savored the meaty goodness of the fish in front of me, I made sure I was appreciating life at its fullest.
It might be because I was a cat or it might be due to my love for meat in my past life, maybe even both but my love for fish had transcended all realms.
My love for fish was only next to my love for Kung Fu.
"Marvellous job Chef Li." I said and put a spoonful of the fish soup in my mouth. I had different kinds of fish dishes on the table ranging from fried, curry and soup.
Mr Li was the chef of the restaurant and an obese Cheetah who looked exactly like Officer Clawhauser from Zootopia.
He nodded at my words with a wry smile, that must've been at least the seventh time I had complimented him and without regret too. His dish was the best, rivalling the likes of Mr Peng.
It was truly a wonder how he was not a popular chef in the city. This world truly did not know how to treat its talents and gems.
It had already been two days since my duel with Master Rhino and his defeat had also been spread amongst everyone in the city. Therefore I was not even wearing my cloak anymore and showed my face to the world.
Other than the gaze filled with fear and the citizens always running away on sight, there was no problem for me showing my face. I was no longer an official criminal after all.
But the fact that the restaurant was completely empty when it usually has at least one or two customers any time of the day would tell you how the people perceive me.
Danger.
I don't think with my history and strength, people were ever not going to see me as a threat. The fact that I won against Master Rhino was also not something that bode well with anyone.
It's a clear show that thier protecror was helpless in front of me and would not be able to stop me if push comes to shove. This caused my past stories to be brought up again too.
People were a bad judge.
Although I wanted to say how much I didn't care about what the mass NPC thought or said about me, I couldn't.
Because to some extent, I cared.
If an immediate threat like Shen were to appear suddenly and attack the City, I would go out of my way to protect it. That shows at least to certain level, I cared about the people and the innocents.
So no matter how much I tried to deny it, I know some part of me cared about what they said and thought of me.
I try to not let them get to my head though.
'The path you walk shall not lead to glory as you wish. Your quest for validation, a failure. History remembers a villain you never wished to be. Destiny is not kind to those who defy her'
Fucking old goat's prophecy. I knew it was never a good idea to indulge in these things.
I put a huge chunk of fish in my mouth and I grumbled in my seat. We'll see who is more stubborn, me or destiny.
"I knew I would find you here." I heard a voice from behind and the person quickly took a seat beside me on the counter.
"Master Gazelle." I said and acknowledged her presence.
"You don't have to be polite with me Tai Lung. You can call me Gazelle, it's fine." She said alluringly. There was always a teasing nature in whatever she did, which I have come to learn was because of her Kung Fu.
Although I said I have learned and mastered all forms of Kung Fu, there were certain skills I could not master due to my size, gender or species.
Longmei Quan, the Kung Fu Gazelle had mastered was one of them. So it would not be wrong to say that I respected her more than other ordinary masters due to her kung fu which even I could not learn.
"So Gazelle, what brings you here? Last time I noticed you were not too fond of fish." I asked while eating my food.
"Nothing in particular, I just wanted to see you~" She said and I gave her a side-eye.
"And ask if you were going to stay in the city tonight again? If so, I have much better hotels than the one you are staying." She said and before I could speak, she continued.
"I know you have no interest in those things but it's really just a luxurious hotel. And maybe a 'massage' if you desire, how about it? I will even let you stay for free, as long as you give me permission to advertise my hotel by saying Tai Lung once stayed here." She said and let out pleasant giggles.
I did not answer her immediately and instead took the time to slowly eat my food which was nearly finished. I let the silence stretch between us as I analysed the different layers behind her words.
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"They want me gone soon huh?" I said and looked her in the eye. I saw her freeze up briefly before she relaxed with a sigh.
Although it might seem like she just wanted to form connection with me and truly wants me to stay in her hotel, I knew otherwise.
She was a member of the Kung Fu council, it was just a way of trying to monitor me and her question was also just a way to ask when I was going to leave without making it obvious.
"Yes." She admitted that people indeed wanted me to leave. "The nobles are on edge and the Kung Fu Council is considering if they should send more members to Gongmen City or if they should remain as they are to not provoke you."
"They think they can force me to leave?"
"It's for safety." She corrected, "The people are afraid Tai Lung, and they need assurance."
I admit I did not have the best history with my alleged rampage in the Valley of Peace and Mielin City but this kind of fear was not warranted.
"And the nobles?"
"You are scaring off business with your presence Tai Lung. If you don't leave soon I am afraid they would be forced to take action to protect their source of wealth." She said and I couldn't help but growl.
She flinched back and reached for the dagger on her back. Her muscles tensed as she prepared to at least fight back if I were to kill her in anger.
After a few seconds. I stopped and got up from my seat.
"You don't have to worry about me. I was planning on leaving today." I said. If they did not welcome me even after I was stripped of my criminal identity, there was nothing I could do about it.
It was their city.
And I knew better than anyone how my presence had affected the City. Everything changed after my identity was revealed. Even Mr Li had lost all his other customer ever since I ate at his restaurant.
"Here you go, Mr Li. Thank you for the meal as always." I said and tossed a huge string of coins to make up for all the customers I scared away.
Then without any more words, I put on my cloak and left the restaurant.
I did not stop there as I immediately made my way to the gate of the city. I also noticed how much fewer people were in the first district of Gongmen City.
Traders and travellers had avoided the city due to my presence. It made me feel frustrated that they had such irrational and illogical fear of me.
There was a lump on my thorat when I saw people quickly making way for me. Was it sadness?
I quickly went out of the city and I did not stop until I was decently far away. After that, I stopped walking and stood still on the road leading to the city.
I went into thought as I contemplated my situation. It was not fair, I will admit that but life was not fair.
'Destiny is not kind to those who defy her. History remembers a villain.' The voice of Soothsayer echoed in my mind.
It was Oogway and the universe will bullshit that the world still perceived me like this. It would take quite a lot of time until the public changed their opinion of me.
But I had the Dragon Warrior and the Jade Palace by my side so that would help in changing their opinion of me, right?
I stood there for some time and watched the city and the beautiful Pearl Lake from afar. I could see how the Lake got its name as under the morning sun, the water seemed to glitter like precious pearls.
Finally, an idea came to mind as I took out the white peacock feather from my pocket. I took a sniff and remembered its scent before putting it away again.
Then I held my nose high and searched for the scent in the air. Snow Leopards had a great sense of smell and could smell their prey from miles away.
But even with my nose, it was hard to pinpoint the smell. The City was close so there were many scents mixed in the air and the thick smell of gunpowder did not help.
I entered inner peace and used my Chi to fuel a miracle. My sense of smell heightened and finally, I could tell where the smell was coming from.
I could track it.
I smiled when I realised that Shen was close by.
"People would stop seeing me like a villain after doing some good things and saving the world right?" I asked myself and started sprinting towards the source of the smell.
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[3rd POV]
"What do you mean he left the city?" Lord Shen asked the messenger duck in surprise.
"It is true Lord Shen. I saw him leaving Gongmen not too long ago and I have come to tell about you instantly, just like you asked." The messenger said with a bow.
"Huh." Lord Shen scoffed in disbelief.
He was the one who had been spreading bad rumours about Tai Lung and initiating chaos and fear amongst the citizens.
With more than half the nobles and many citizens by his side, it was not a hard thing to achieve. He also stationed his wolves on the road to Gongmen City and spread the rumours of Tai Lung, the person deemed evil by Oogway himself so that they would avoid the city.
Lord Shen even ordered his soldiers to rob them if they didn't listen. He could always use more money and metal after all.
He was doing all of this in hopes that the Kung Fu Council will take action against Tai Lung. It would be best for him if two of his enemies fight each other, right?
And even if the Kung Fu Council failed, Lord Shen could act as the City's saviour and help in bringing down Tai Lung with his cannons. That would surely make more people want him back on the throne.
But who would've guessed that Tai Lung would leave the city so soon? Lord Shen reckoned Tai Lung would at least stay in the city even if it was just for his pride alone.
Yet it was not bad news for Shen. If Tai Lung left the City, that means he would be able to carry out his plans like normal. There will no longer be a variable in his plan.
"You can leave." Lord Shen ordered the messenger and reclined back on his chair.
He rested in his chair calmly and went over his plan in his mind again. But his moment of peace was disturbed when a wolf soldier barged into his room with wide eyes full of fear and a ragged breath.
"Lord SHEN!!!"
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"We are being attacked!!"
His plan might just have fired back at him.
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[IMAGE]
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Author : Goal not reached no extra chapter. Well, less work for me.
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