Today as usual, early in the morning; While the disciples are earnestly sweeping the floor clean of any dead leaves and dust, a sudden loud booming noise disturbs the monotonous atmosphere.
Clearly startled by the noise; everyone rushes to their school's backyard from where the noise had come from.. The same rocky ground where their master regularly trains.
"Who or what could have caused such a ruckus?" On their way, one of the disciples wonders aloud.
another disciples has a guess, "You don't suppose it's him, right?"
"It could be!" everyone else responds with a drop of sweat trickling down their bald heads. Fifteen years ago; during their early days at the school, they would regularly hear such noises.
"It has to be him.. Master Tao Pai Pai... But why now?? right when Master Shen is out on his morning run, his brother had to show up. How are we going to handle this?" the oldest of the students laments.
.
.
.
"Today marks exactly six months, two weeks, and two days since Master Shen started his training. Other than instructing us students here and there, he hasn't really interacted with other people," the oldest student explains the situation to the eccentric man who stands before him.
With his Chin up to the sky, The middle-aged man looks weird to say the least. He has a small thin mustache and black ponytail styled hair tied with what appears to be a red ribbon. His clothes, on the other hand, are the same as his brother's, with slight color differences.
the trembling disciple feels the temperature drop, Both his arms holds onto one another.. struggling just to keep his balance.
"Master has told us not to allow any visitors," he speaks meekly with a slightly crouched back.
Fearful to even look at the man before him; who stands with hands behind his back like it's nobody's business...
The man tilts his head down. "Really now?" With just that gaze, he could kill the poor soul. Similarly even his voice is unnecessarily heavy, having a chain-smoker like voice, but unlike your so-called cool smoker friends from school, he actually has the face to match his harsh voice.
"Though of course!" Fearful of the man, the student quickly adds; "Such rules don't apply to you, Master Tao Pai Pai, our master's own brother."
"Good! So... when does he return?" Tao Pai Pai plainly questions.
Some five or so disciples further explain the situation to Tao Pai Pai and prepare some tea for him, while everyone else nervously keeps an eye on the situation from a safe distance, hoping for their master to return quickly.
Return the Crane Hermit did, after a whole hour that is.
As he gradually enters through the school's large main gate, he finds the place oddly quiet. This piques his interest.
"What could have happened? Aren't there supposed to be loud karate yells at this time of the morning?"
He directly starts searching, as he has no need to change clothes after the run. While running outside, he only wears the heavy cloth and not the metal weights. Nowadays, just the clothes aren't enough to give him a sweat.
Upon not finding anyone inside the school walls, he walks out to the backyard, sensing something from the place.
'Even if my ki sense isn't that great yet, people are gathered here.. that's for certain.' He enters the backyard and is surprised to see how most of the students are gathered together right on the doorsteps.
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"Master!! It's master!!" one student calls out to his fellow disciples.
"Master! Thank God he's here!!" another one exclaims.
One by one as all the disciples hear the shouts of his arrival; they start chattering among themselves. it is as if they are in some sort of assembly, waiting for a politician to make a speech.
"Ahem!" Master Shen clears his throat, and the chattering subsides.
Although slightly annoyed by the enthusiasm of his students, he keeps his cool and asks why they are gathered here.
A while later, fully Understanding the situation, he approaches this brother of his.
The five students that were serving Tao Pai Pai, are just kneeling with one leg before the man. unsure of what to do next, as Tao; the to-be assassin of the future, is also calmly standing in his place.
Then to the exhausted disciples' relief they hear the loud shouts of Master Shen's arrival. followingly sounds of footsteps reach their ears.
"So you returned, Tao Pai Pai!! How was your journey?" Master Shen asks in a nonchalant manner. "Did you notice anything interesting in the outside world?"
"Well, it wasn't too bad. Technology has certainly improved. How about you, brother? How were your days? Looks like you have gained some muscles." Tao replies in a similar calm manner.
"It's so-so, nothing much. Let's talk inside. I have some delicious tea just right for today."
Master Shen then turns to the disciples.
"You guys too, finish your own duties and make preparations for a party, hurry!!"
"Yes, Master Shen." Happily, the students execute a 90-degree bow. After all, who wouldn't be enthusiastic for delicious good food?
...
Peacefully sitting on a chair, the two brothers slowly sip their tea in the courtyard adjacent to Master Shen's room.
The aroma of herbal tea blends in with the fragrant whiff of flowers that reach their table from the nearby indoor pottery garden.
But something doesn't sit right with Tao Pai Pai. Slowly but continuously, he sways his chair back and forth, seemingly possessed by a teenager trying to balance on just the two back legs of the chair.
Most would leave it as weird behavior from a weird man, but that is not entirely correct in this case. There's an itch in his heart.
'This is odd... very odd. Elder brother would start an argument whenever he had a chance. Such a peaceful tea time, it's not possible for him.'
Tao Pai Pai wonders if the grumpy old coot had hit his head on a rock. The new change is apparent, as in the past, the two brothers would argue over the simplest of things.
But Tao Pai Pai doesn't linger on it for too long, attributing it to a simple change in a person's mindset.
Master Shen, however, has a completely different idea in his mind. The old guy's uncaring eyes give the menacing glint of someone who would kill you in a heartbeat. The future world's best assassin, however, isn't skilled enough to notice this hidden intent.
'Tao Pai Pai! It seems he has noticed a change in me, probably from my behavior. It's a given, as these Brothers have been together for nearly 300 years. I knew he would notice even the most subtle changes... There's no hiding it.. So Tao pai pai, see this as natural growth in your brother and leave the topic behind... it's for your best!!'
The day goes by as usual for the school. Shen and the students still do their regular training, albeit less compared to their other days.
The sun falls down the horizon as the moon takes over, commencing the homecoming party. Everyone eats and drinks to their heart's content. The whole of Crane School has a good time.
...
The next morning, Tao Pai Pai wakes up to a surprise. His brother apparently wants to leave the school for some time. The two have a short explosive argument, resembling their old days. And like the those days, the older of the two brothers, wins again.
Master Shen's banter couldn't be outdone. "Tao! It was I who instilled the basics of martial arts into you, and now are you disobeying me, your big brother? Show some respect to your elder."
During these six months, he has grown a lot closer to the students, so without someone capable in charge, he couldn't just disappear from the school and leave the students be for long.
Although all the students are well-disciplined, the former Master Shen's teachings have warped their mindset. Without anyone to oversee them, it's hard for them to agree on anything.
But now, leaving the school and his disciples in Tao Pai Pai's care, he doesn't have to worry about anything. Tao Pai Pai wouldn't kill or severely injure any student without his approval. He isn't a professional killer just yet. Atleast, that is what Shen belives is the case.
For some while now, Shen has been planning to go out and do his own thing. His more than six-month-long training has shown its results. His strength has recovered to its prime. He can now put some of his plans into action.
For one, there's treasure hunting. He remembers from the early Dragon Ball anime of there being hidden underwater pirate treasure near the oceans of Kame House.
"That old geezer Roshi even had a map for it. I need to first get that map."