Yes, the story Kahn told was naturally the household classic Journey to the West. Although he did not remember every detail of the original, he cobbled together bits from the novel, the television series, and various fanfictions to produce a heavily modified version.
At any rate, it was more than enough to tell Zuko and the others.
Not only was Zuko listening with rapt attention, but Azula had also pricked up her ears at some point, looking equally absorbed.
Whenever the story reached an exciting part, Zuko would exclaim in amazement, while Azula, though she liked it inwardly, made a show of disdain and voiced her mockery.
Sometimes the two would start arguing, but they soon stopped, because Kahn would not pause and wait for them to finish. He simply kept telling his story.
And so, with Kahn's storytelling as the main melody, embellished by Zuko's exclamations, Azula's jeers, and their occasional arguments, the scene possessed a strange, lively harmony.
Had something odd slipped into that description?
Time slipped by unnoticed.
When Yin Shu saw them again, this was the peculiar scene that greeted her-
Zuko, Azula, and Kahn were gathered together, all looking thoroughly bedraggled yet getting along harmoniously. Even Azula and Zuko, who normally could not stand each other, were coexisting peacefully. And Kahn was actually sitting between them, right beside Azula, without anything happening to him!
Sure enough, this little boy...
Looking at Kahn and Azula, Yin Shu gave a meaningful smile.
While Yin Shu was observing the three of them, Kahn spotted her as well. He stopped his story, stood up, and greeted her:
"Hello, my lady."
Zuko came back to his senses too. Seeing Yin Shu, he cried out delightedly, "Mother!"
Annoyed that the story had been interrupted, Azula did not get up. She remained seated on the ground and gave Yin Shu a perfunctory greeting.
Yin Shu did not mind, and instead asked:
"What happened to you all? How did you end up looking like this?"
Zuko answered, "We were sparring just now."
"You were fighting?!"
Yin Shu instinctively raised her voice.
Of course she knew what sparring was, but she knew even better how far apart Zuko and Azula were in firebending ability. Sparring between them was more like Azula using it as an excuse to give Zuko a beating.
Azula knew what Yin Shu was thinking, so she sneered:
"I just gave them a one-sided thrashing, that's all. Zuzu couldn't even fight back. How could that count as a fight? You should say I was bullying him instead."
"What do you mean, I couldn't fight back?!"
Zuko shouted his objection, selectively skipping over the part about being thrashed, then explained:
"No, it really was sparring! We each had a match, and now we're resting."
Kahn nodded as well:
"That's right. Zuko and Azula are both very interesting people. We're getting along pretty well."
At those words, both Zuko and Azula looked at him strangely.
Getting along pretty well?
Wasn't that stretching things a little too far?!
After looking the three of them over, Yin Shu relaxed her tone and smiled. "So that's what happened."
She walked over to Azula and pulled her up from the ground. "You're a young lady. Don't lie on the ground so ungracefully."
Yin Shu did not pull very hard, but Azula followed her movement and stood up anyway.
Then, to Azula's surprise, Yin Shu brushed the dust off her and said:
"I misjudged you this time, and I apologize. I know you've always been a good child, Azula, just a little lively. You behaved very well today. I'm very happy."
Seemingly accustomed to criticism from Yin Shu, Azula was somewhat at a loss before this sudden apology and praise. In the end, she turned her face away with a snort and said nothing.
But the faint upward curve of her lips betrayed her. This was not her earlier sinister smile, but one of purest innocence.
After all, Azula was still only a child.
After soothing Azula, Yin Shu continued:
"As long as you're having fun. But it's getting late, and Iroh may be nearly finished. Zuko, you can take Kahn to the gate to wait for him."
"Is it that late already?"
Kahn sounded surprised.
He looked up at the sky. It was cloudy today, so he could tell nothing from it.
They had only sparred with one another, rested a while, and spent a little time telling stories. Well-the storytelling might have gone on a little long-but how was it already time to leave?
I haven't learned firebending yet!
Kahn was reluctant to part with the firebending he had yet to learn. Zuko was reluctant too, but still said:
"Then let's leave it here for now. We can play together again next time."
"All right."
Kahn sounded disappointed.
There was nothing he could do. He could hardly stay in someone else's home and refuse to leave, could he?
My firebending! I hate this!
After Kahn said goodbye to Yin Shu, Zuko took him to the gate they had entered through. Before long, Iroh arrived.
Seeing how bedraggled Kahn looked, so different from when he had arrived, Iroh did not ask what had happened. He only asked:
"Did you have fun today?"
"Hmm."
Kahn thought for a moment:
"Although there were a few complications-meaning Azula-and regrets-meaning I didn't get to learn firebending-overall, it was pretty good."
"Hahaha, is that so!"
Iroh laughed:
"Regrets give you something to look forward to. Since you have regrets this time, make up for them the next time you come."
"Of course."
Kahn nodded in agreement. They had promised to teach him firebending. He could not let a duck already in his grasp just fly away.
After seeing Kahn off, Zuko hurried back. Uncle Iroh had come out, which meant his father would be returning too.
"Back so soon?"
A voice from above stopped Zuko. Azula had climbed onto the wall again.
Resting her chin on her hand, she looked down at Zuko and asked teasingly:
"Did Uncle scurry off that quickly? Didn't he run into Father?"
Zuko's expression was far from pleasant. "None of your business!"
"Hehe!"
Azula chuckled unconcernedly, then casually brought up another subject:
"Come to think of it, doesn't Father really dislike your friend? He doesn't know you secretly brought him to our home, does he?"
"What do you think would happen if he found out?"
What would happen?
Of course Zuko knew. Just imagining the expression on his father's face and the words he would say made it a little hard to breathe.
And just then-
"What are you doing here?"
An authoritative voice came from behind him, plunging Zuko's heart into an icy cavern.
It was his father's voice.
"Father!"
Azula leaped down from the wall. As she walked past Zuko, she gave him a meaningful look, then approached the middle-aged man and said with a grin, "I have something to tell you. While you were away, Zuko-"
"Challenged me, and I beat him until he was rolling all over the ground, completely unable to fight back! Well? Aren't I amazing?"
"Hahaha! That's my daughter, the most gifted firebender in the Fire Nation."
Their father, Ozai, the Fire Nation's second prince, praised Azula, then turned to the bedraggled Zuko and said expressionlessly:
"Can't you even recognize your own level? You actually dared challenge Azula. No talent, no sense of your own limitations. What an utter fool!"
After scolding him, he paid no attention to Zuko's reaction and walked past him toward their home.
Zuko stood where he was, his heart pounding, but not because Ozai had scolded him. It was because of Azula.
Azula followed behind Ozai. As she passed Zuko, she laughed softly beside his ear:
"Hey, do you know what tattling means now?"
Zuko now remembered what Kahn had said earlier, too.
Now he knew.
Before you continue