I'll Make a Man Out Of You || Li Shang x Reader

01 - Ping

'Okay, let's try this again.'

I cleared my throat and spoke in a deep voice, roleplaying with none other than my horse, Khan, who seemed to be getting bored.

It was seven in the morning, and it hadn't been long until I came across this spot in a bamboo forest just near the Wu Zhong Camp.

I spent three full hours developing my alias to get into the army, except I haven't thought of a name yet, and I now started to realize how differently boys behave than girls.

Groaning in frustration at the sight of Khan falling over and laughing in horse, I threw my shoe at him.

'I'm working on it!' I grumbled and went to pick up my shoe.

'Ugh, who am I fooling?' I sighed. 'Why didn't I think this through? It's gonna take a miracle for me to get into the army.'

'Did I hear someone ask for a miracle?'

A loud, triumphant voice boomed from behind.

'Let me hear you say "Ahh".'

'AHHH!' I screamed as flames rose from a rock.

'That's close enough.' said the loud voice.

A shadow of a large dragon on a bigger rock started talking.

'Get ready, Y/N, your salvation is at hand. For I have been sent by your ancestors-'

The dragon grunted, kicking something in the corner.

'-to your masquerade. So heed my word, cuz if the army finds out you're a girl, the penalty - is DEATH!'

To make that sound more dramatic, the flames rose higher for a second.

'Yeah... I think I've worked that out for myself, funnily enough.' I said stiffly. 'Also, who are you?'

'Who am I?' The dragon repeated, sounding as though I'm supposed to know him. 'Who am I? I am the Guardian of Lost Souls. I am the powerful, the pleasurable, the indestructible Mushu.'

As soon as I was about to get excited, disappointed was written all over my face at the moment I saw what spoke from the rock.

'Oh, so my ancestors sent a lizard to help me?' I said in fluent sarcasm.

'Hey, dragon. Dragon. Not lizard.' Mushu corrected me. 'I don't do that tongue thing.' he added.

'You're...'

'Intimidating? Awe-inspiring?' Mushu guesses, slithering on the bamboos.

Yes, it's still a dragon, and like every other, he's red. Just-

'Tiny.' I whispered as to not offend.

'Of course! I'm travel-size for your convenience.' said Mushu delightedly. 'If I was my real size, your cow here would have died of fright.'

Khan made an attempt to bite his hand off when Mushu patted his nose.

'Down, Bessie.' he said sternly to Khan. Mushu then turned back to me. 'My powers are beyond your mortal imagination. For instance, my eyes can see straight through your armour.'

The idea itself was weird. I accidentally threw a slap on the red dragon when I saw how he got a glimpse of my chest for a brief second.

Rolling himself back up to his feet on the ground, Mushu exclaimed, 'All right, that's it! Dishonour! Dishonour on your whole family. Write that down.' he whispered to a cricket, which I assume could be what he kicked just now.

'Dishonour on you! Dishonour on your cow-'

'Okay, okay, I'm sorry.' I said quickly. 'I'm just tense, I've never done this before.'