CHAPTER 133: STICKING WITH THE WANGS

It was his father. A man he had admired for most of his life. A man he currently was unsure what he felt for him... other than contempt. The last time he had spoken to him, Shibi was injured and he made a deal to cut off contact with him for Shibi’s sake. He found it amazing that the deal held up so well. His father kept his side of the bargain, that he even cut his monthly allowance, only paying fees at the Academy. The academy housed him and fed him. The deal was so strong even now that he was the last of the family to find out about his own father’s injuries.Injuries that were so severe, that is father was in a coma.

Zen wanted to contact home but he had no money and was not willing to let on how much his relationship with his father had detoriated to his cousins so he did not ask them for money. However, he did have a plan.

He produced his storage stone, which still had all the fine clothing he had brought from home and something else… A short blade materialised into his hand. The Zen Blade, the weapon his father had given him. A blade he had said held a secret that would be unlocked when he reached the Element stages of his cultivation. He kept the blade because for him, it represented his father’s faith that he would reach that stage.

Zen sighed. He still was a Wang and although his feelings for his father were… complicated, he still had loyalty to his family as the eldest and last remaining son. He got up, determination shining in his eyes.

“Shibi,” he said to the Scorch Ape that hopped onto his shoulder, “we’re going home.”

And home they went. Zen opened the curtains of his carriage and looked out, smiling at the old streets and buildings. Things had changed, walls had been put up, businesses had been closed down and new ones had opened in their place. It was the same town but it was also so different.

“Home.” Shibi simply said.

“Yep, we’re back.” Zen could not help but smile. It had been a long time since he was here and getting back was no small feat. He had to sell almost everything he owned, other than his blade, the clothes on his back and a set of clothes that his best friend, Yin Zheng, had given him. He did not even have his storage stone anymore. “You want to go outside and run the roofs like you used to?”

“Not young Shibi anymore. Shibi grow!” Shibi said. “…maybe I try it out.” He said after sometime and leapt out of the carriage window.

“Driver, we’re good here.” Zen said said, knocking at the front before stepping out of the carriage. He began walking through the streets, enjoying the feeling of being back.

Shibi stole two peaches from a merchant, who looked shocked to see the orange and red scorch ape. “Wh-What? Shibi? You’re back, you little thief!” he said, the smile on his face contrasting his words.

Shibi landed on Zen’s shoulder and dropped a second peach in his hands while taking a bite of the other.

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“Wait, is that the Wang boy?” a townsfolk said.

“He has grown so much!” said another.

“You should know the drill by now,” Zen said before taking a bite of the peach, the juce dripping down his smirking mouth. “Any property stolen or damaged by Shibi, send a request of compensation to the Wang manor!”

Yin Bhiki rushed outside, flanked by a few of his men. He arrived just as the gates to Wang manor closed behind Wang Zen.

“Master Wang,” he said in surprise, “What are you doing here?”

“Things must have changed since I was last here,” Zen said as he went deeper into the property. “Is this not the Wang manor? Am I not welcomed here?”

“No… No, of course not!” Bhiki said.

“Then maybe one of you can explain why no one bothered to contact me when my father was injured.” He said as he passed by the family bodyguard.

“He was already recovering, we didn’t want to worry you.”

“Well too late for that, cause I’m here now.” Zen said as he headed for the entrance. “I’m going to my room and it had better not have turned into a scrapbooking room.”

Zen stopped and looked back, a smile playing on his lips. “Oh yeah and… I missed you guys.”

Everyone looked at each in confusion and surprise.

Wang Zen waited outside his father’s room along with some of the servants. A healer came out, he was an old man, experienced in Wood Healing Techniques, which was understandable because of the amount of money that needed to be paid for him to see his father.

“Healer? Is my Father going to be okay?”

“Yes,” the man said. “He is conscious. He should take it easy for a while.”

“Oh,” Zen actually found himself sighing in relief. “That’s good.”

“He asked to see someone,” the healer said. “He wanted to see a Yin Bhiki.”

“Yin Bhiki?” Zen looked at Yin Bhiki before returning his gae back at the healer. “Are you sure? Does he know I am here?”

“I told him everyone who was here of importance. You are Wang Zen, correct?”

“Yes.”

“Then yes, he definitely asked for Yin Bhiki.”

“But…” The heavy hand of Yin Bhiki fell on his shoulder.

“Be calm, Master Wang.” Yin Bhiki said before he walked into his father’s room.

Zen continued to wait. His mind was wrestling with his conflicting emotions for his father. He paced uncontrollably. A few more hours passed by before Bhiki would emerge from the room.

“Yin Bhiki, how is he?”

“Seems the healer was right.” Yin Bhiki said, looking at the old man. “Master Wang seems to be recovering well.”

The healer nodded at the muscular man.

“Did he have anything to say to me… about me?” Zen continued.

Yin Bhiki frowned at this. “Yes, Master Wang said that the Young Master should leave and return to Goixi Academy tommorrow.”

“Huh… why am I not surprised,” Zen folded his arms. “I’ll need to pack my clothes. I have none back at the academy.”

“I need to unpack my clothes while you need to pack them,” a voice said. “If I was a poet, I’d say something about lives and mirrors.”

Zen smiled when he saw who the voice belonged to. “Ding Wu! Where have you been?”

“Away on assignment.” Ding Wu said, chewing on a long peace of green barley. “I rushed back when I heard what happened to the master. Is he okay?”

“Recovering well,” Zen said, “so much so that he’s already kicking me out.”

No one knew what to say, so only silence followed.

“It’s just sad that I couldn’t see Zheng Yin or Jun Nee, what with them being away and all.” Zen said, kicking the air.

“Well, not all is lost, Young Maser Wang.” Bhiki said. “I recall you two made a promise to be stronger the next time you see each other.”

“Did we?” Ding Wu said.

“Yes, we did!” Zen said, insulted that he had forgotten.

“It’s a good thing you didn’t make any promises on being smarter, cause Ding Wu would’ve broken that.” Bhiki whispered to Zen. “Well, since you’re both here and you are technically seeing each other, I say we should have a test to see if both of you followed through on your promise.”

“How do we do that?” Ding Wu said, chewing on a long iece of green barley.

“Simple,” Bhiki smiled, “You two will have a match.”