Wang Zen rose to his feet as he looked at his friend. He did not know if he should be confused or excited to have finally found him.

“Yin Zheng?” he said. “Do you know how long we have been looking for you? What are you doing here?”

“What are you doing here?” Yin Zheng said in anger.

“Looking for you, obviously!” Zen said. “Do you how worried we’ve been? How could you just leave your mother like that?”

“My mother? My mother knows where I am and what I am doing.”

“Well… wait… what?”

“You should not have come here.” Zheng said. “This is the most unsafe place you could be right now!”

“Yeah, because of the whole Commoner’s Meeting… or maybe I should call it by what it really is,” Zen said. “A Rebellion Meeting.”

“Quiet!” Zheng said, his eyes widening in worry as he looked around. “You need to leave before someone figures out who you are and why I asked you to be pulled off stage.”

“You did that?” Zen said, his voice rising in anger. He then squinted his eyes and tilted his head at Zheng and his all black clothing. “Zheng’er, let me see your back.”

“No,” Zheng said.

Zen walked forward and reached out for his friend. “Come on, let me see.”

Zheng slapped his hand away. “I said no!”

“Oh my, my suspicions are true, aren’t there?” Zen said. “There is probably the Black Mark symbol on your back, the word ‘Mark’”

“You need to leave, Wang Zen.”

“Yin Zheng, are you insane?” Zen said. “You can’t join up with these guys!”

“And why not?” Zheng said, seriously. “They’re going to help commoners like me, like my mother. My sister will grow up in a better world.”

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“Are you kidding? You must know what they plan to do to all the nobles? How they keep talking about how they will kill the City Lord, my mother!”

“I am sorry, Zen’er but your mother is keeping up the system that keeps us Commoners down.” Zheng said. “I spoke to their leader; they say they are willing to negotiate with the City Lord. In fact, it is their policy to negotiate for a more peaceful resolution. However if the City Lord cannot be diplomatic, then…” Zheng touched his storage stone, out came Zenjun jian. “then, the only solution will be the sword.” He swung the sword around.

“That sword…” Zen said. “You were there? You burnt down the Li Family mansion.”

“They only got what they deserve.” Zheng said.

Zen looked at his friend in disgust. “What about the 3 night servants who died in that fire. Who were doing their job for their families. Did they get what they deserve.”

Zheng looked at the ground, dismissing the blade in his hands. “Well… they… every war has its casualties.”

“Casualties? Zheng, Yin Bhiki would never…”

“Don’t you dare mention my father!” Zheng snapped. “He is the reason why I am doing this. I am standing up for what he believed in, for what he fought for, for what he dies for!”

“I understand.” Zen said. “I lost my father in the Civil War too.”

“Could’ve fooled me.”

“What is that suppose to mean?” Zen shouted in fury.

“You and your family seemed to have recovered well and I can’t help think that is because you were nobles at the time.” Zheng said. “I lost my father and now I have to find a way to take care of my mother and sister. I don’t think I’ll even be able to go back to Wuming Academy to continue my studies. But you,” Zheng cracked an ironic smirk. “You ended up pretty well. You live in a bigger house than before with even more servants. You’re mother has even become City Lord! You don’t understand what I am going through.”

Zen looked at the ground. All the anger he felt simmering away. “I see your point, Zheng’er.” He said in a lower voice. “All I can say is that I and my family will help you in any way we can. If you need help, I’ll help you and together we’ll find a way. Please, don’t turn to these people.”

“I shouldn’t need your help.” Zheng said. “And even if I took your help, what about the other commoner boys who lost much during the Civil War? Who will help them? My choice is made. Now leave.”

“I can’t.” Zen said. “This is wrong you need to see that. You are my friend, not my family’s enemy.”

“As long as your family is tangled up with the City Lord, I am your enemy.”

“Then I need to stop you.” Zen said.

Shibi ran up to Zen’s shoulder.

“Shibi, away!” Zen snapped.

“Zen, don’t fight Zheng.” Shibi pleaded. “Zheng friend!”

“I have no choice Shibi.” Zen said. “Now, off!”

Shibi got off his shoulder and stood before Zheng with his eryes shining in tears. “Zheng, please no fight. No fight!”

“We have no choice, Shibi.” Zheng said. “Zen is determined to stand in my way, so we have to.”

Shibi whimpered as he got out of the way of the two boys who faced each other down. Each having been determined to fight.