Wang Zen and Yin Zheng looked at each other. Zen covered in his Moon Aura while Zheng was covered by his Shuddering Shield Aura.
“This is your last chance, Zheng’er.” Zen said.
“Where’s Jun Nee, Zen’er?” Zheng said.
“She’s safe.”
Zheng huffed. “I tried.”
“I did too.” Zen said.
They charged at each other. When they met, their auras combined and surrounded them, swirling and vibrating around the two boys as they did hand to hand combat. Their battle was furious. Zen threw a punch and Zheng diverted it before trying a roundhouse kick.
Zen ducked low, the kick passed overhead. He countered with a punch that Zheng side stepped before throwing a backfist. Zen leaned back, dodging the attack while kicking out forward. His foot made contact with Zheng, making him stumble back, the energy surrounding them bulged on the side that Zheng was in.
The maelstrom of ki around them shrunk, bulged and grew based on the fight.
The longer the fight went the more furious the two boy’s grew. Their hands and feet began to blur. Zen’s kick Zheng’s belly and the boy was sent stumbling back but he kept on his feet, ready to receive Zen as he continued to attack. Once again, their hands moved quick, only interrupted when Zen’s fist found Zheng’s face, sending him stumbling back again. This continued for longer, with Zen’s attacks overcoming Zheng’s defence the more they fought.
Zen was finally able to fully over Zheng’s attack, kicking him in the face. Zheng was sent flying away, breaking the ki aura that was around them.
Zheng coughed and rose to his feet, holding his abdomen.
“Its over!” Zen said, charging forward. “Blitz Fist!”
Zen’s fist hit Zheng multiple times, his last fist hitting Zheng across the face and taking him out.
Zen breathed heavily as he looked down at Zheng’s body. “Now, I’ve won.”
“Zen?”
Zen looked towards Jun Nee who had Shibi on his shoulder.
“Is that, Yin Zheng?”
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
Yin Zheng got up at the sound of Jun Nee. “Jun Nee, you’re okay…”
“Yin Zheng!” Jun Nee said, with tears shining in her eyes.
The sun began rising up, its morning glow flowing through the castle and melting the dark of the night away.
“Oh no,” Zheng said getting up. “It’s dawn.”
“So?” Zen said.
“The Black Mark. We’re suppose to be retreating before…” Zheng looked to the ground, “before we burn the mansion.”
“That’s not going to happen.” Zen said.
They all looked at him. “What do you mean?” Zheng said. “We… The Black Mark have never failed.”
“Well, you will here. You will with my mother.”
They heard a group of footsteps. Jun Nee and Wang Zen stood in front of Zheng. They hid him from the coming group. Zheng suspected that the group were the retreating Black Mark. He struggled to his feet, ready to defend his friends against his allies if he needed to.
The group came upon them. They were mansion guards.
“Master Wang, you’re okay!” one of the men said, looking at Zen.
Zen nodded. “Quickly, clear the mansion out of The Black Mark! I am okay and safe.”
The men nodded and departed, leaving the three kids and Scorch Ape alone.
Zen turned to Zheng. “You need to leave before more guards come.”
“Heh, what’s the point?” Zheng said. “As soon as they find out who I am…”
“I won’t tell them,” Zen said. “Neither will Jun Nee and or Shibi but, you have to leave town.”
“And go where?” Zheng said angrily.
“Back to Wuming Academy,” Zen said. “As long as you stay there, you will be safe.”
“And leave my mother and sister to fend for themselves?”
“I’ll take care of them. They will be my mother and sister just as they are yours.” Zen said.
Zheng took a moment. “Fine.”
Zen, beckoned Shibi off of Jun Nee’s shoulder to his where he whispered to him. Shibi ran off his shoulder and into the rubble.
“How will I even make it out of the mansion grounds.” Zheng said.
Zen looked around and saw the scroll Jun Nee had. “Jun Nee, that scroll.”
Jun Nee looked at the scroll and offered it to him. “Your mother said I should give you this,” She said. “I think it should help keep you safe.”
Zen took the scroll and opened it. “I Wang Zen, invoke the Wang Family Hawk Contract to summon Razor Feather!”
A light shone out from the scroll and a brown giant hawk emerged from the light, Razor Feather.
“Razor Feather,” Zen said in a commanding voice, “Take Zheng away from here. Take him home, so he can say goodbye to his family, then return.”
The giant hawk bowed at Zen.
Zheng sighed and climbed onto the back of the hawk.
“Don’t forget your sword.” Zen said, as Shibi dragged the bronze sword to Zen who handed it to Zheng.
Zheng gave a short bow. “We’ll meet again,” he said, looking at Zen, Shibi and Jun Nee. “I promise.”
Razor Feather flapped his wings and flew out of a window.
Zen, Shibi and Jun Nee watched as the bird flew as fast as it could with Zheng on his back and soon, they both melted into the horizon.
“Wang Zen,” Jun Nee said. “Why? Why did you help him? He is your enemy right? So why help him?”
Zen shrugged. “Because… Because I love him.”
Jun Nee’s eyes began to water and she rested her head on his shoulder. “Thank you, Wan Zen.”
They stood there for a moment, watching the morning sun, rise into the sky.
Then there were several explosions. They both stood to attention.
“Oh no, they’re trying to burn the mansion!” Zen said. “I need to find my mother!”
Zen ran into the mansion, racing to where his mother was, where he hoped she would be okay…