Ch. 15 - Apprentice

[Guys, just a question. Can rubbing alcohol on the monitor screen cause stuck pixels? Please help me because ever since I used alcohol and tissue to clean my monitor screen, there have been some stuck pixels on the screen that come in different forms such as lines and dots. Please tell me how to fix it or if it is really a stuck pixel caused due to alcohol.]

|-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_|

A few weeks have passed since the matter with Tai Lung. Peace once again ensued in the Valley of Peace.

News about the Dragon Warrior defeating the evil Tai Lung spreads throughout the entirety of China, making Jin's name known by almost everyone. After all, in the world of Kung Fu, the title of Dragon Warrior is viewed highly by everyone and considered that only the strongest in the world of Kung Fu can rightfully be called the Dragon Warrior.

Some Kung Fu masters sent their heartfelt congratulations to Jin and some wished to have a spar with him if they met sometime. Unfortunately, Jin would avoid them at all cost, after all, there's no point to him in establishing relations in other Masters.

Sure he could have allies but since when did he need such allies when he already has the Furious Five and Master Shifu.

***

"Hah!" x10

In a forest full of lush green trees and grasses, Tigress can be seen punching a big boulder in front of her while on the tree a few meters beside her, Jin was sleeping on an outstretched branch.

"What's the point of all this? I've been punching this boulder for days and I still don't see the purpose of all this." Tigress complained to him with ragged breaths as it's been a few days since Jin offered to help her learn the technique that Master Shifu was supposed to teach them but they failed to master.

According to Jin, she just needs to feel the course of the wind and let it guide her strikes.

'How am I supposed to let the wind guide my punch? It's not even that strong to help me!' Tigress complained to herself.

"You're not listening to me, Tigress. The technique is best suited for individuals like us. How come you're still having the trouble to master it?" Jin opened his eyes to respond to Tigress's complaint with a lazy expression.

"It's not my fault that you're so talented that you don't even have to work hard like I do! I'm out of this, I'd rather have Master Shifu teach me in Kung-Fu unlike someone who has been blessed from the start and doesn't experience hard work." Tigress finally snapped before walking away, leaving Jin alone in the forest, speechless at her sudden outburst.

'Did I go too hard on her? Or perhaps she was right, I was so reliant on my Jin template that I didn't even experience hard work.' Jin started contemplating what Tigress said before she left and when he finally did, he couldn't help but think that Tigress was right!

Because of the template, he didn't bother to experience hardships such as training for several years just to become a master, and many more.

'Sigh, I should go and apologize to her. I also think I was too harsh in teaching her earlier, maybe I should practice on that first.' After that, Jin jumped off the branch and landed on the ground gracefully, perks of being almost superhuman.

***

Running back to the Valley of Peace, Jin arrived at Mr. Ping's Noodle shop and he could clearly tell that the shop is much more bustling than ever.

Po was busy serving the customers, so he decided to quietly sit in one of the available tables.

Since it is Po's vacation, he took his time to visit his father and help in the shop. Jin can't help but applaud Po's dedication in helping his father instead of using his vacation time to enjoy himself or train in Kung-Fu.

"What a filial son." Jin muttered to himself.

As if having a Panda Senses, Po immediately turned around to face his table after placing the bowls on the table he was serving.

"Jin!" Po yelled his name in surprise as he immediately started running towards him.

During the run, Po kept tumbling upon the other tables, he even almost accidentally squished a poor rabbit with his belly and the chair that the bunny was sitting on.

"Ooop, sorry. Coming through."

"Excuse me, please."

After stumbling on almost every customer in the shop, Po finally reached Jin as he breathed heavily.

"Huff....Huff. Jin! I'm glad you're here! I've been dying to learn Kung Fu! But the Furious Five always tells me to cook instead of training them." Po scratched his head in embarrassment before continuing.

"So, I thought that maybe you could train me instead? Don't worry, I'll diligently learn and not slack off!" Po then shyly requested as Jin can't help but raise his eyebrows, when he heard Po.

'Is this what Po would've been treated in the Jade Palace if he wasn't the Dragon Warrior? Poor Po.'

Meanwhile, Po kept glancing at Jin's face while fiddling with his fingers, hoping that Jin would agree to his request.

However, when he saw Jin was raising his eyebrows and looking at him in pity, Po thought that Jin would've refused him and just when he was about to sigh in sadness, he heard Jin speak.

"Sure, I'll train you. After all, I promised you that right?" Jin said with a smile, making Po beam up and jump in excitement.

*Boing!*

*Clank!* x3

As if there was an earthquake, the tables and everything on top of the table shook slightly after Po's jump.

The customers immediately held on the bowls and table as if their life depended on it.

"Po, calm down." Even Jin has to hold his table as it suddenly loses balance.

Realizing what he did, Po went back to his usual shy self and apologized to the customers.

"But first, I'm quite hungry, Po. Mind giving me your shop's best selling?" Jin said while crossing his fingers between each other.

"Oh uhh, we only serve noodles and noodle soup here. So, I'll just bring you a bowl of noodles." Po once again got embarrassed and scratched his head before leaving in a hurry.

Chuckling at this, Jin noticed that the nearby customers were whispering to each other while pointing at him excitedly.

Deciding to wave at them, the customers immediately squealed and someone even fainted on the spot.

'Jesus, is this how celebrities feel whenever their fans are around them? I wonder why some of them hated having fans.' As Jin wondered to himself, his bowl of noodles finally arrived. It didn't even take a minute before Po went back to his table with his noodles.

"Here you go." Placing down the bowls on the table, Jin started eating after thanking Po.

'Sigh, I'll never get over the noodles. Although I already tasted these noodles back on the Jade Palace, it's kind of addicting that I'll never get over it.'

***

After a few minutes, Jin finally finished and he was now wiping his mouth with a napkin, before paying with a few coins, Jin told Po to meet him at the training place in the Jade Palace after his vacation.

Nodding eagerly, Po went and cleaned his table while bringing his bowls and chopsticks to God knows when because Jin didn't see him leaving the bowls and chopsticks to the kitchen and instead, he brought it upstairs.

'Is he gonna put it on display or something? I underestimated how much of a fan he is in Kung Fu, especially the Dragon Warrior.' Jin chuckled to himself as he started walking back to the Jade Palace.

However, he stopped in his tracks soon when he realized one thing that he missed.

'Oh right, I haven't opened the Dragon Scroll yet, right? Maybe I should ask Master Shifu about it.' With a goal in his mind, Jin resumed his journey back to the Jade Palace.

***

'Fucking stairs, if only I'm smart, I'd invent an escalator in this world.' Jin said after having a 'fight' with the infamous stairs to the Jade Palace.

Even though it's nothing to someone like Jin however, it's still annoying, especially to Jin who is used to things such as escalators or elevators.

After getting over the stairs, Jin was about to enter the Jade Palace when his senses suddenly warned him of an incoming projectile.

Stepping back, Jin saw that a one handed shirt blade just passed over him, If he didn't dodge in time his head would've been decapitated.

However, Jin's expression was different as instead of being shocked, he just sighed.

'Seriously, this kind of training again? Master Shifu really wanted me to live up to my name as the Dragon Warrior, huh?' As Jin said to himself, Master Shifu appeared walking out of the shadows with a satisfied expression on his face.

"Good job, Jin! Never let you guard down, even if you're in a place where you feel safe. You never know when an enemy will suddenly ambush you."

Jin's mouth twitched at the sight of Master Shifu caressing his beard.

"Seriously, master. I'd rather have you teach me new techniques instead of these kinds of things." Jin said.

"Hehe, I know, Jin. Which is why I want you to follow me, I have something to show you." Master Shifu said before walking away.

Jin couldn't do anything except follow him, and so he did until they arrived at a waterfall.

"What are we doing here?" Jin asked.

"Aren't you curious about the technique I showed you when you threw a pebble at me? I'll teach you that." Master Shifu raised his head, as if he was teaching an ancient technique that Jin wanted to learn the most. However, Jin's response went beyond his expectations.

"Nah, I'd rather learn the Wuxi Finger Hold technique, that technique seems to be way cooler and deadly."

*Crack!*

"Cough! Young Jin, it is not wise for you to learn such a high level technique. Only reaching the level of Masters such as I, you could learn the technique. As of now, I deem you unworthy of learning the technique!" Master Shifu said with his eyes closed, as if taking no as an answer.

'Bullshit! Even Po managed to do it just by seeing it once! Why can't I?!'

|-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_|

You can visit my p@treon to read 10 advance chapters and if you want to support me. (www.p@treon.com/SlimeSage) don't forget to change @ to a.