Master Cocodrile received master Tigress with joy while she managed to get up from her chair with difficulty. Tigress approached accompanied by Fang Yin and when they were close enough, they greeted the teacher who was doing his best to stay on his feet. Master Crocodile returned the greeting, and before saying a word, he looked at Fang Yin out of the corner of his eye, making her understand that he had to leave the room, which the goat did immediately. Leaving the two masters alone in the immense throne room.

Tigress: - It's good to see you again, Master Crocodile. -

Crocodile: - I say the same, master Tigress. - When he finished speaking, a deep cough shook the body of the already old teacher.

Tigress: - Master. Are you okay? -

Crocodile: - I would be lying if I said that nothing happens. But age is not something we can control. Come. Come with me for a moment. -

Master Cocodrile went down the steps with difficulty and headed towards one of the side exits of the immense main hall followed by Tigress, who watched with some concern as the weakened old man could barely take a couple of steps without losing his balance. Leaving the room, two palace servant pigs were waiting for the master's arrival, and seeing the difficulties he was having, they came to his aid.

Crocodile: - Let me go! - He yelled angrily. - I can still fend for myself. -

Servant: - As you ordered, master. -

The pigs stayed behind while Tigress and Master Crocodile continued to advance.

Tigress: - Master Crocodile. Can you tell me what... -

Crocodile: - Sometimes a few words can reveal a lot. - He interrupted her. - And sometimes the best thing is to listen to the silence. -

The teacher's words were somewhat confusing, but Tigress could understand that the teacher wanted her to keep quiet. So she patiently followed him until he reached a huge garden to one side of the throne room, still inside the Imperial Palace.

The garden had a square shape with a perimeter of two hundred meters. There were hundreds of small bushes and small plants surrounding a gigantic pond that stretched the length of the garden. Some trees that had lost their leaves were preparing for winter, and right in the middle, a leafy Japanese cherry tree under which a small bench with capacity for just two individuals was raised.

Master Crocodile walked calmly between the small mounds of dirt that protruded from the pond while Tigress followed him. Finally, he sat down on the bench with a lot of effort and invited Tigress to sit next to him, which the teacher did without hesitation and with great curiosity about the teacher's attitude.

Crocodile: - It is undoubtedly a beautiful tree. - He said as he raised his head to contemplate the beautiful pink leaves of the cherry tree. - But every beauty can hide a terrible shadow. -

Tigress was alarmed by the teacher's words. It was then that she realized that the place was empty and away from any prying ears. It was obvious that the teacher Crocodile did not want anyone to hear what he was going to say.

Crocodile: - A new shadow is stalking Gongmen. A shadow that is corroding this city from within. But I am not able to find out what it is. - He coughed a little. - My health is no longer what it was before... And since Kai took my Chi, my body has deteriorated faster than usual. - The teacher's cough began to get out of control.

Tigress: - Master. What's going on? -

Crocodile: - You must save this city. There is something... something new... that is tearing at Gongmen's heart. You must find and... stop this shadow... Don't... Trust no one. -

When the teacher finished his sentence, the cough began to shake his body in a very violent way. So much so that the teacher had no strength to resist his body and fell fainting on the green grass. Tigress, seeing the master's state and not knowing what to do, yelled with all her strength for help, and almost immediately, the two pigs serving in the palace came to help him.

The pigs carried Master Crocodile's body into a room and laid him on a bed to rest. Within a few minutes, a sheep wearing a white coat and wearing a mask to hide its face arrived at the compound. It was without a doubt the palace doctor, accompanied by Fang Yin.

Fang Yin: - What happened? -

Tigress: - I don't know. The cough started suddenly, and then he just felt on the ground. -

The doctor began to check the teacher's body, and with a strange wooden stethoscope that looked like a speaker, he began to listen to the inside of the crocodile's body.

Fang Yin: - Is something wrong, doctor? - She asked with some sadness.

Doctor: - His body is too weak. - He said after a long sigh. - There's not much we can do. Unfortunately, we cannot fight against time. We'd better let him rest. For now we will give him this - He took out a jar with a whitish liquid inside. -It will relieve the cough a little. -

The two servants helped the doctor to open the master's mouth so that he could pour out the contents inside. And when the coughing seemed to control a bit, Tigress, Fang Yin, and the doctor left the room, leaving the master and the two servants inside.

Fang Yin: - My little one. You must be tired from such a long journey. - She said to Tigress with a sweet voice.

Tigress: - A little. But I'm more worried about the teacher's health. -

Doctor: - For now we can only wait for his body to heal on its own. There isn't much we can do. For now I am leaving. Ladies. - The doctor was quite formal, and after a slight bow, he turned and walked away through the corridors of the palace.

Fang Yin: - Good bye, doctor. - She said something flirtatious, then she turned to Tigress again. - Master Tigress, come with me. I'll show you your room. -

Tigress accompanied Fang Yin to the other side of the palace where there were several rooms, and one of them was luxuriously prepared for the arrival of the new member of the Council of Masters. Master Tigress felt overwhelmed by so many luxuries and valuable objects that decorated the room, something even worthy of the emperors themselves.

Fang Yin: - This will be your room. I hope you feel at home. -

"I definitely won't feel at home here." Tigress thought.

Tigress: - Thank you very much. -

Fang Yin: - Well. Now I must retire. See you in the morning. -

Fang Yin left the place showing a peculiar smile on her face. When closing the doors of the room, master Tigress felt a little overwhelmed by so much opulence, since she only brought a modest backpack with a few personal utensils, which she accommodated in a corner of a huge chest of fine wood.

On the huge bed, capable of holding two elephants, was a beautiful white silk dressing gown that was very pleasant to the touch. They must have placed her there so she could sleep on the thin sheets. A high quality wooden tub with hot water inside was also prepared. Tigress took a long bath to get rid of all the discomforts of the long trip. The truth was that the feeling was very comforting, but somehow Tigress, who had always lived modestly, did not feel very comfortable surrounded by so many luxuries.

Tigress finally put on her robe after drying and brushing her fur. The feel of the cotton was very nice, although she was more used to the linen that she always used to wear. Finally she lay down on the huge bed, but she felt something "insignificant" in the middle of such a large mattress. Unable to fall asleep, Tigress peeked out of a balcony that overlooked a part of the city from the top of the palace. The view was wonderful, and the city illuminated by the light of the full moon was quite a spectacle for the eyes.

Tigress: - Something tearing Gongmen's heart. - She thought aloud while she was lost in her thoughts, remembering what Master Crocodile told her.

Tigress remained for a while contemplating the panorama feeling the cold autumn breeze. And once she was able to calm her thoughts a bit, she returned inside and lay back on the huge bed until she fell fast asleep, ignoring that some strange yellow eyes were looking at her from a distance when she was on the balcony.