Zen was out walking through the mansion. In his hands was the medicine that Xing had left him. He sipped the bitter medicine as he looked at the sky. He noticed a red spot in the dark sky, followed by a line of thick grey smoke.
His eyes twisted in confusion. He looked down and saw some soldier running towards the mansion.
Zen rushed to his mother’s office where he knew she would be. To this day, he was unsure which room his mother slept in the house, considering how much time she spent, glued to her seat.
He arrived at the same time as the messenger soldier he saw running through the field.
“Ma’am, it is awful!” the soldier said. “A in the Upper District mansion… it’s on fire!”
“What?” Zen heard his mother say.
“It is a major fire.” The soldier continued. “It’s threatening to spread through the upper district.”
“Get me a carriage!” she said.
Wang Lin ran out and stopped when she saw Zen in the hallway. “Kiddo, what are you doing out of bed?” she put her hands on her hips as she interrogated him.
“I was cultivating and thought I should take a break, drink my medicine and walk around.”
“Get back to bed.”
“Mommy, what is going on?”
“There’s a big fire… nothing I can’t handle.” She said. “Get to bed, Son! It’s nothing you need to worry about.”
She continued to run off.
Wang Lin got into a carriage. Her father, Jao, sat beside her. The carriage pulled away, being moved by four beasts. The carriage sped throughout the streets,
Jao spread his arms and legs, looking like he was trying to hang on to the carriage.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
Lin tried not to laugh but could not help but crack a smile as she looked at her father. “Are you okay, Father?”
“Must we move so fast?” Jao said. “Tell them to slow down LinLin.”
“No can do, Father.” She said. “We need to get at our destination as quickly as possible.”
“Well, we better get there soon,” he said. “Or you will need to replace these seats and I will require new pants.”
A soldier came up beside the carriage and gave a signal to Lin.
“Well, that’s not good.”
“What?” Jao said. “What’s wrong?”
“The soldier just gave me a sign that there is something at the back of the carriage.” She said. “I’m going to investigate.”
Lin opened the door. There was a rush of air that blew into the enclosed space
“Wait, are you going to get them to stop the carriage?” Jao said, looking at the open door with the scenery blurring by in horror.
“No time, Daddy!” she said as she approached the opening. “Don’t worry, this won’t take long!”
She swung up to the roof of the carriage. Her short hair fluttered in the air caused by the fast moving carriage. She took a few careful steps, edging slowly to the back of the carriage. She looked down over the side.
She frowned at who she saw hanging on there.
Zen had a feeling of being watched and looked up. Shibi, who was hanging onto him, also looked up and ooked.
“Mommy?” Zen laughed nervously.
“What are you doing?”
“I wanted to see the action,” Zen said, apolitically. “Sorry, Mommy.”
“Get up here!” she scowled, offering him her hand.
Zen took it and he and Shibi were being helped up the roof by Wang Lin.
“You are lucky I decided to investigate instead of giving the soldiers a kill order.” She said.
She led Zen to the carriage.
“You?” Jao said, in surprise as Zen and Shibi swung into the carriage, followed by Lin. “What are you doing here?”
“He decided to tag along.” Lin said in disappointment. “Very naughty, ZenZen.”
Zen saw Jao, his arms and legs spread out in a strange attempt to holding onto his seat. Zen cracked a smile. “Are you okay, Grandfather?”
“Just fine!” he said grumpily.
Lin hopped in after him.
“Well, since the injured boy is here, I guess we have to turn back.” Jao said.
“No time,” Wang Lin said. “I guess you shall just have to stay close to us, Kiddo.”
Zen nodded.
Zen looked up at the night sky, seeing the dreadful amber glow growing brighter the longer the carriage sped forward. He could start to smell the smoke clinging in the air.
The carriage slid to a stop. His mother got out.
“Oh thank goodness!” Jao said in relief as the old man moved faster than Zen had ever seen him move when he barged out of the cart.
Zen stepped out, immediately, his eyes were not drawn to the groups of people running to and fro in a panic but to the mansion before him, burning in a fiery blaze. It was almost as big as the City Lord’s mansion and looked familiar but in the night and with it being consumed by the blaze, he could hardly recognise it.
Zen raised his hands to ward off the heat. Then there was an explosion of fire from a window that sent flaming debris towards Zen’s group!