CHAPTER 171: INTERROGATION

Wang Zen was led into a tiny dimly lit room. As soon as the door open he saw Lou Shan waiting for him. He was sat down on a chair, separated from Lou Shan by a desk.

“The Boy.” Lou Shan said as he looked at Zen.

“Greetigns Miss Lou Shan.” Zen said.

“Do you know why you’re here, Boy?”

“They think I am a part of the Black Cloth Gang.” Zen said. “Its crazy! I’m a noble, they are commoners!”

“That has no bearing on your guilt” she said before leaning forward. “We know everything Wang Zen. Your friends have told us everything on your involvement. Confess now and if you point out additional conspriators your punishment will go from murder and terrorisom to vandalism and of course you will be expelled.”

Zen was scared. The thought of being found guilty of terrorism and killing city enforcers would probably result in his death. He wanted to ask and makesure. But he was also confused and allowed the question o drive his confusion to trump the question that drove his fear.

“What friend?” he said.

The only friend he hadwho knew everything he knew was Shibi and he highly doubted that Shibi would squel to the authorities about anything they had witnessed. He would not even speak to Deng Ai and Ao Li, the people they lived with so him talking to the enforcers was impossible.

“Maybe you don’t call him a friend,” Lou Shan said. “Maybe teacher is the better word.”

“Zen’s eyes widened. “Shifu Lu Daomeng?”

“Yes, him.” Lou Shan gave a knowing smirk. “He told us everything including your involvement in all of this. And if you don’t tell us something simple… well, we all know what the Overlord will do to thos against him.”

Zen’s fear sky rocketed. He thought on what he could tell Lou Shan so that he could be spared. Would he tell her about his father’s involvement? No! He would never betray his father. Though Lu Daomeng probably already told her about him.

“Time is running out, Boy.” She pressed. “Give me something or your death is assured.”

He was tempted to offer Hue Yi to save his own skin. It was only a matter of time after all but they would probably already know about him. Lu Daomeng would have told her that Hue Yi was a member of the Black Cloth Gang. He probably even knew all the members of the Black Cloth Gang.

“Hurry up,” she said. “ Or should I call the enforcer to take you away.”

“Please, give me some time!” He was fast realising that there was nothing he was willing to tell orthat he could tell that would be useful. Lu Daomeng knew much more than he did. Anything he uttered would be useless or the same information.

“My patience is running out!” she said.

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“Wait…” Zen slowed down and took a deep breathe. Once again, he let his confusion trump his fear. “If Shifu told you everything \, why would you need me to tell you anything?”

It was then that Zen realised that he wasbeing played and he almost fell for it.

“I know as much as you do, ma’am.” Zen said. “Nothing.”

Lou Shan leapt to her feet and grabbed Zen by his clothes. A strong maelstrom of wind engulfed them, throwing paper and debris in a chaotitic whirl as Zen was pulled to his feet then left to dangle in the air in her grasp. The wind made them rise higher into the air, trapping Zen on all sides with Lou Shan and her frightening killing intent.

“DON’T PLAY WITH ME, BOY!” her voice hammered into his skull, making him tremble in fear. “ TELL ME ALL YOU KNOW OR THIS WILL BE YOUR LAST MOMENTS ON EARTH!”

“Alright! Aright! I’ll tell you everything!” he said. He could feel a warm sensation at his pants, not having realised yet that he was pissing himself.

“SPEAK!”

“I… I and some of the students call you gargoyle behind your back!” he said.

“What?” she said as her killing intent vanished and the wind began dissipating, dropping them both on the table gently, with her straddling him.

Zen nodded vigoursly. “I don’t know where they came up with the name Gargoyle for you but I just started using it. I don’t th-think Lu Daomeng made it th-though.”

She gritted her teeth and brought her face close to his and he ooked away, his eyes tightly shut. “Useless!” she sneered before getting off of him. “Enforcers, take him away!”

As Zen was led by the enforcers, he could feel the tears prickling his eyes. He looked down, his hands were fists held infront of his pants where a sizeable dark spot was. He had asked for a fresh pair of pants and was only answered by mocking and laughter.

The door to the holding room opened and he was shoved inside the dily lit and overcrowded room. He kept his head down with shaky fists. It would not take much for him to cry. He wanted to find a corner, curl into a ball and pretend he did not exist, that the shme and disappointment he felt did not belong to him.

“Master Wang?”

Zen heard the voice behind him. Turning around quickly he grabbed the man with his arms and squezzed, pressing his face to his clothes as his tears freely flowed.

“Shifu,” he said between clenched teeth. It took all he had not to shout. “I’m glad that you’re here.”

“Not for long.” Lu Daomeng said. He did not return the embrace, instead, he placed something in Wang Zen’s pocket. “We don’t have much time, Master Wang.” He pushed him away and then turned to walk out of the room. He glanced once at him, with sadness in his eyes before leaving, letting the door close behind him.

Zen continued to cry as he listend to the conversation happening on the other side of the door.

“Lu Daomeng, what are you doing here?” Lou Shan said.

“Just checking the condition fo this place.” Lu Daomeng said.

“You are not allowed here.” She said. “You are not allowed to even be outside your room. Enforcers take him!”

While he was still a crying mess, he found somewhere to sit. He sank down to the floor and fished a storage stone. This is what Lu Daomeng had placed in his pocket. Not sure what to do, he touched it…

He was in a place of green, grass was left to gow knee high, a forest surrounded them and a serine waterfall dipped into a sparkling lake. Lu Daomeng stood before the waterfall and walked towards Zen. He already knew that this was some kind of powerful Thought Message and this was all being projected into his mind.

He wore beige clothes with a symbol at its chest, a circle with a diagonal line cutting it. He opened his arms and hugged Zen before parting from him.

“I’m glad I saw you Zen, I need your help.”

“Me?”

“The Commoners’ Rebbellion is about to begin,” Lu Daomeng began. “But there is a problem that may kill it before it starts. The children of the strongest commoner cultivators are in custody.”

“But how can I…”

“They are with you in the Bronze Holding. You need to free them. Inside the stone there is a key that will disable the barrier trapping you. Once your out, head to the north side of the building, my steed will await you there. Lead them out.”

“They won’t listen to me, Shifu.” Zen said. “I’m not…”

“Good luck.”

The Thought Message ended, leaving Zen in the real world. He looked around the room and sighed, now he had to convince them all to escape with him.