Shadow of Dawn

💥ℭ𝔥𝔞𝔭𝔱𝔢𝔯 3: 𝔉𝔦𝔯𝔰𝔱 ℑ𝔫𝔠𝔬𝔲𝔫𝔱𝔢𝔯💥

Me: Here's chapter 3~ In this chapter, Mei meets a certain monk. Hope I got his attitude right etc. Kung Lao in my story looks like the image above. Enjoy~

☆~☯~☆

Mei had never left her village before, so everything outside its borders was unfamiliar and overwhelming. As she wandered through the bustling streets, she felt lost and out of place. Her eyes darted around, taking in the unfamiliar sights and sounds, when a conceited-looking man approached her.

Kung Lao, eager to prove himself equal to Liu Kang, noticed Mei's lost expression. Though his demeanor was confident to the point of arrogance, his curiosity got the better of him. "Are you lost? Do you need help?" he asked, his tone carrying a hint of superiority.

Mei hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yes, I am. I don't know where to go."

Kung Lao, sensing an opportunity to display his own skills and knowledge, offered to help. "Let's find you a place to stay for the night. There's an inn nearby where I'm staying. You can have a room next to mine."

Grateful for his assistance despite his attitude, Mei followed Kung Lao to the inn. They checked in, and she was given a room adjacent to his. That night, Mei couldn't sleep. She sat on the edge of the bed, frowning, her brows furrowed in deep concentration as she reread the riddle on the open scroll over and over in her mind.

The next morning, as Mei sat on the bed, still fixed on the riddle, she heard a knock on the door. She left the scroll behind carelessly and walked to the door. Opening it, she found Kung Lao standing there with a concerned expression , masking his deeper insecurities.

"Good morning, Mei. I was wondering if you needed any help," he said, trying to maintain his air of confidence.

Mei hesitated, then decided to trust him. She stepped aside, letting him in, and pointed to the scroll on the bed. "Someone important to me gave me this riddle to figure out. It sounds familiar, but I can't make sense of it."

Kung Lao picked up the scroll and began to read, his eyes narrowing in thought. "This riddle... it's familiar to me too. It's part of an ancient Shaolin teaching, often spoken of by the elders."

Mei's eyes widened, a distant memory resurfacing. "I remember now... My grandmother used to tell me stories from the Shaolin temple. She must have mentioned this riddle."

Kung Lao nodded, his voice adopting a tone of condescension. "It's a guiding principle, meant to lead seekers toward enlightenment and understanding. Your grandmother's stories hold more clues than you might realize."

Mei felt a wave of realization wash over her. "So, the answer lies within those stories... within the teachings of the Shaolin."

"Exactly," Kung Lao said, handing the scroll back to her. "Let's retrace those stories and see where they lead us. Together, we'll uncover the truth."

As Mei thought about the teachings, it dawned on her. "The place... it's the Whispering Pine and the Lost Temple, isn't it?"

Kung Lao smiled smugly, seeing the recognition in her eyes. "Yes, you've found the answer. The Whispering Pine and the Lost Temple hold the secrets we seek."

Taking a deep breath, Kung Lao continued, "I need to be truthful with you, Mei. I am also searching for this place. I knew what it was, but I wanted to test your genuine desire to find it. This quest was given to me by an old friend."

Mei was surprised but not upset. She appreciated Kung Lao's honesty. "I see. Thank you for trusting me with this. I need to find the Whispering Pine and the Lost Temple."