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No. Zheng Zu is not just his father. Zheng Zu was also his master... a master he was trained to follow without pause or question. Wouldn't you have done anything for your master? 
Appearing in "Chapter Four: Master and Apprentice"
Featured Characters:
- Shang-Chi (Main story and flashback)
Supporting Characters:
- Kitten (Kitty Pryde)
- Red Sai (Main story and flashback)
- Iron Fist (Rand K'ai) (Main story and flashback)
Antagonists:
- Emperor Zheng Zu (Main story and flashback) (Death)
- Laughing Skull (Only in flashback)
Other Characters:
- Phoenix (First appearance) (Only in flashback)
- Parker, Weaver of the Spider Cult (First appearance) (Only in flashback)
- Drew, Weaver of the Spider Cult (Main story and flashback)
- Lord Namor of the Halls of Atlantis (Main story and flashback)
- Namorita of the Halls of Atlantis (First appearance) (Only in flashback)
- T'Challa of the Panther Clan (Main story and flashback)
- T'Chaka of the Panther Clan (First appearance) (Only in flashback)
- Lord Tuan (Only in flashback)
- Kingpin of the Red Hand (First appearance) (Only in flashback)
- Karnak of the House of the Terrigen Mists (Main story and flashback)
- Crystal of the House of the Terrigen Mists (First appearance) (Only in flashback)
- Spector, Master of the Faces of the Moon (Main story and flashback)
- Punisher (First appearance) (Only in flashback)
- Callisto of the Ten Rings
- Lowest Caste
Races and Species:
- Humans (Main story and flashback)
Locations:
- Earth-15513 (Main story and flashback)
- Battleworld (Main story and flashback)
- K'un-Lun (Main story and flashback)
- River Styx (Only in flashback)
- Battleworld (Main story and flashback)
Items:
- Ebony Blade (Only in flashback)
- Eternal Flame (Only in flashback)
- Infinity Gems (Only in flashback)
- Cosmic Cube (Only in flashback)
Synopsis for "Chapter Four: Master and Apprentice"
With a heart forged by the Ebony Blade within the Eternal Flame, two Infinity Gems for eyes, and the Cosmic Cube for a brain, Emperor Zu baptized Shang Chi in the River Styx. He was a still-born but brought to life after his father filled his lungs with the ashes of the Phoenix, this is the story of the creation of Shang Chi. Or at least, as Shang relates, this is what the Emperor to believe. In truth, he probably just can’t remember which of his concubines Shang’s mother was.
Hearing enough of the story, Rand-Kai attacks Shang, shadowed closely by Red Sai. They put up a good fight, but Shang has only been defending. Red Sai gets in a good shot with her blade and reveals that the tip was poisoned. Rand-Kai does not want vengeance in such a dishonorable way, but he demands that Shang repent for the murder of Lord Tuan.
Red Sai speaks up now and she tells Rand-Kai that she was sent by Emperor Zu to assassinate Lord Tuan. She failed and Shang Chi was sent by the Emperor to finish the job. Kitty pleads with Rand-Kai to understand that the command of Zheng Zu was not just the command of his father, but of the Emperor as well. Rand-Kai does not know what he would have done in such a situation, but he understands that Shang-Chi is the only warrior who stands a chance of defeating the Emperor, so he uses his iron fist technique to heal Shang.
Walking through the doors to the 13th Chamber alone, Shang-Chi meets the Emperor. The Emperor chastises Shang for not completing his task of assassinating all the great masters. Shang stands defiantly, fighting back blow-for-blow. Emperor Zu taunts Shang, reminding him that he’d taught Shang nine on the ten styles of the Ten Rings School. He never taught Shang the 10th style, the “Spectral Touch”. He uses this style now, going for the killing blow, but Shang uses the technique that Kitty is trapped in. Though she is stuck in her ghost form, Shang has mastered it and he can shift between solid and intangible at will. In this form, Emperor Zu cannot harm him.
Now, Shang-Chi uses all the Ring Techniques that he knows against the Emperor. The Mortal Blade, the Nightbringer, the Zero Tough, the Flaming Fist, the Shocking Palm, the Long Breath, the Daemon’s Eye, Remaker’s Gift, and the Lost Hope; he uses all of these to bring Emperor Zu to his knees.
Shang demands that the Emperor should yield, but Zheng Zu refuses. He makes to attack his son, but Shang channels his energy and touches Zheng’s forehead, calling upon a technique that he had recently invented; the Gorgon’s Touch. The final moments of Emperor Zu are lived in a mixture of shock and terror as he turns to stone.
With the battle over, Shang-Chi goes out to the welcoming citizens of K’un-Lun.
Solicit Synopsis
THE KUNG FU SAGA CONCLUDES!
• Shang-Chi continues battling through the Thirteen Chambers to face his father, the immortal Emperor Zu!
• But first, he must defeat his rivals, Rand-K’ai, Great Master of the Iron Fist, and Red Sai, deadly leader of the Red Hand!
See Also
- Write your own review of this comic!
- Discuss Master of Kung Fu Vol 2 4 on the forums
- Images from Master of Kung Fu Vol 2 4
Footnotes
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