The dense smoke screen barely allowed to see more than two meters around. Tigress had to pay close attention to where she stepped so as not to stumble or steep about some splintered piece of wood. Still, she was so heartbroken that she had to fight with all her being not to shed too many tears.

Just remembering all those voices inside the cavern echoing in her head seemed like it was going to drive her crazy. The plan wasn't supposed to end like this. They were supposed to burn the drugs, and everyone inside would run away in terror. But she never thought that Tai Lung could do such a thing and that because of him, dozens of individuals were buried alive under the stones. But Tigress had little time to think about what had happened. Well, when she managed to get through the smoke screen, a harrowing scenario was revealed to her eyes.

Much of the slum fell underground when the mine collapsed. The constant ringing had ceased from the teacher's ears, and now she could clearly hear the wailing cries of the citizens who had lost their homes or loved ones under the rubble.

Tigress was on the main street, watching how the citizens ran from one side to the other trying to save the few things they had or fleeing from smaller potholes that occasionally occurred nearby. Tigress was in shock, looking in terror at the ruins of the city. And she stayed like that for several seconds, until a loud scream brought her out of her state.

????: - My baby! My baby! - Desperately screamed a female voice.

Tigress rushed to find the source of the screams, when she could see a rabbit trying to hold onto a piece of wooden wall trying to grab her son who was lying in a crib inside what was once her house. Tigress rushed up and with a powerful blow, smashed the falling rubble to pieces, taking the little mother and her baby in her hands, leaving them in the safety of the street, away from the rest of the rubble.

Rabbit: - Thank you... Thank you very much. - She said with a heartbreaking cry while hugging her little one.

Tigress: - It is not safe to stay here. Flee to the port area. -

Tigress turned around without saying another word, hearing hundreds of voices that they cried for help. Despite having an injured leg, she eased her pain to help as many citizens as she could. Several minutes passed, and the teacher had pulled more than two dozen victims out of the rubble, guiding them towards the safety of the upper areas of the city. When suddenly:

????: - STOP! - A loud voice was heard in front of the caravan of those affected.

Tigress rushed in front of the group and was shocked when she saw a cordon made by the Jade Guard, preventing citizens from entering that area of ​​the city.

Guard 1: - You are not allowed to enter this area of ​​the city! -

Citizen 1: - Are you insane!? The ground is sinking.

Citizen 2: - If you leave us here, we are going to die! -

Citizen 3: - Help us. Please. -

The cries of despair and fear of the great mass of those affected could break anyone's heart. Still, the members of Jade's guard remained immobile without allowing anyone to pass. Tigress hurried to reach the front of the group, where she found hundreds of frightened and desperate faces, both civilians and guard members.

Tigress: - What does this mean!? -

Guard 1: - No one is allowed to enter this area of ​​the city. - Apparently, none of the guards knew who he was talking to, since Tigress was covered in a layer of dust and her damaged clothes were covered in a black tone.

Tigress: - These citizens need shelter! Withdraw immediately! - She yelled angrily.

Guard 2: - I'm sorry. But it's Captain Chao's orders. Nobody can pass. -

At that time the situation became quite tense between both sides. The murmurs and occasional cries of despair from the citizens they did echo in the city Those who lived nearby and whose homes had not been affected leaned out in fear to see what was happening. Tigress was visibly angry, which made the situation even worse. The members of the Jade Guard carried large wooden shields, which they raised and braced on the ground when they saw Tigress's reaction. And when it seemed that a dispute would break out:

????: - What is happening here!? - Shouted a voice behind the members of the guard that Tigress found very familiar.

Guard: - Sergeant Hong. We do not know that is happening. Captain Chao ordered us to stop a mob that was making its way to the higher parts of the city. -

Hong: - But what... -

The canine raised his head, seeing Tigress who was in front of the group. He quickly passed through the guards, brushing aside those who tried to convince him to stay safely behind the shield wall. Still, the sergeant ignored them. Tigress saw Sergeant Hong approaching, but she did not show the slightest trace of happiness. On the contrary, she felt distrust of his person, and thought that his presence would only make things worse. Then, the canine approached her.

Hong: - Master Tigress. What happened? Who are all of them? - Referring to citizens who were dying.

Tigress: - The mines under the slums fell. The ground is not stable, and many structures have collapsed. We must ensure the lives of these citizens, Sergeant. - She said with a serious tone and a little defiant.

Sergeant Hong was stunned, trying to process all the information he was receiving. But before he could make a decision, one of his subordinates spoke to him behind his back.

Guard: - Sergeant. Captain Chao ordered us not to let them pass without matter the reason. -

The guard's comment further infuriated the already irritated Tigress, and in turn, tore at the hearts of the few citizens who could hear it. But a voice broke through the murmur that irritated everyone's ears.

Hong: - I DON'T CARE! - Hong's scream left everyone stunned. - LET THEM PASS. NO MATTER WHAT THE CAPTAIN SAID! -

Guard: - But sir... -

Hong: - IT'S AN ORDER, SOLDIER! -

The guard did not say another word. He simply bowed his head to his superior and fell back with the rest. Hong looked at Tigress, who had a stunned face, and nodded his head in approval. Then the sergeant directed his men.

Hong: - You! - He referred to a small group of members of the guard. - Take the civilians to a safe area! The rest, follow me! We will rescue as many civilians as we can! -

The more than one hundred members of the guard responded with a firm tone that shook everyone present, showing their admiration and loyalty towards their sergeant, who, contrary to what anyone would think, inspired even more confidence and determination than his superior, Captain Chao.

Civilians began to enter the Gongmen slums aided by members of the Jade Guard. As they moved, they helped the wounded walk and reach designated areas. The rest of the guard descended into the slums overtaking the sergeant, who had to grab Tigress's forearm to prevent her from returning to the danger zone.

Tigress: - What are you doing? I must go back and help the others. - She said something annoying.

Hong: - I'm afraid I must decline your request. You are hurt and need to rest. You can leave the rest to the Jade Guard. -

Tigress: - But... - She said something doubtful, knowing that Hong was right in her words.

Hong: - Master. - He interrupted her. - The most important thing now is that you recover. We need you to be in your full faculties if we want to win this war. -

Hong's words left Tigress a bit confused, but the canine retreated to the slums without letting her say a word. Quickly, the sergeant immediately began supervising the rescue operation, giving his men direct and precise orders.

Paying attention to Hong's words, Tigress turned around and began to walk with the rest of the displaced towards the upper neighborhoods. Many of them settled in the streets and squares of the port area and around the palace, while complaints and laments were present in every corner of the city. The children were crying in shock, and there were little the mothers could do to try and calm them down.

Tigress walked between the crowd, looking sadly at what, in part, had been his fault. Despite having blamed Tai Lung for what happened, she also felt responsible. And as her mind calmed down, the more she realized that both she and the snow leopard were equally guilty.

Tigress was lost in her thoughts, when a group of individuals stopped in front of her.

Soldier: - Master Tigress. We have come to your aid. -

Tigress looked up and saw twenty rhinos in front of her. They wore a peculiar black armor that covered every corner of their body and in their right hand they carried huge extremely sharp Dao spears.

Tigress: - Who are you? -

Soldier: - Captain of the Gongmen Royal Guard, Sun Ce. At your service. -

The rhino had a young voice. He was maybe a few years younger than Tigress, but the teacher could detect a lot of experience in his voice.

The presence of the Royal Guard caught the attention of everyone present, and the fact that Sun Ce called her "Master Tigress'' had aroused the despair of those affected. Citizens who had lost everything began to come forward to ask for help and mercy, knowing that the freezing winter conditions would soon take their lives. However, with a simple gesture from Sun Ce, the huge rhinos surrounded the teacher, pointing their huge spears towards civilians.

Tigress: - What are you doing? - She asked, puzzled.

Sun Ce: - Master. Our priority is to keep you safe. -

Tigress: - But you must not threaten civilians. -

Sun Ce: - At any cost. -

The last words of the rhino made the teacher reconsider. She looked around and could see the fearful faces on the citizens, despite the fact that the huge figures of the rhinos that surrounded her prevented her from seeing the whole scene clearly. Tigress took a few seconds to think, while she could still hear the wailing around her. But when she made her decision, she looked at the imposing rhino in front of her with defiant eyes.

Tigress: - We will shelter the displaced inside the Imperial Palace. At least until they have a safe place to live. -

Everyone who was able to hear was shocked, even the members of the Royal Guard protecting the teacher. Sun Ce stared at Tigress, but he did not show any kind of expression. The huge rhino simply nodded and turned to his men.

Sun Ce: - You already heard the orders! Lead the civilians to the Imperial Palace! - He shouted without even questioning Tigress's words.