CHAPTER 71: ON EDGE

Zen heard rustling from a bush. He spun around with his fists drawn. Shibi stood at the ready because of his response. The rustling stopped and out popped a Bushtail Green Squirrel. Zen’s shoulder’s drooped in relief.

Shibi grumbled.

“Sorry, Shibi.” Zen caressed Shibi’s head. “I’ve been a little on edge lately.”

After Jiahai’s attack, Zen was afraid that Bao would make more attempts at him. He now always carried his storage stone containing the short, single edged blade that his father had gifted to him a while back. He had hoped that Bao and the rest of the guys had gotten their fill of vengeance but considering that he defeated Jiahai, he was doubtful.

He arrived in front of class and Jiahai hopped from his shoulder. This was the tradition as they did not allow any beasts inside. Zen entered without him, knowing it would be some time before he saw him again. Shibi had become independent ever since he got at the Academy, many times exploring on his own, only to find Zen again hours later or even later that night.

A moment after he sat down, Jiahai walked in. they exchanged brief looks before Jiahai chose a seat at the other end of the classroom. Zen sighed in disappointment before looking forward as the teacher began his lesson.

Zen grumbled silently as the martial arts teacher berated him for his poor performance on the day. Zen knew he could not go all out. If he was attacked later, he wanted to have enough energy to either defend himself or escape his attackers.

He had started to wonder if this was not part of Bao’s plan, to have him so on edge tat he could not do anything. He must admit, if it was, it was working. He could not put his all into training nor could he do anything with any ease. Even walking was nerve wrecking.

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The last class had ended for the day and he began making his way to the safety of his dorm room. He doubted Bao would try anything there. Once at his dorm he dropped onto his ned thankfully. The dorm room had been repaired, even the window. They could not stay long with a broken window in the cold weather.

With nothing better to do, he crossed his legs and tried to meditate, his crooked nose and his oath heavy on his mind. In the hour or so he sat there all he got was a leg cramp and negligible progress on his cultivation base.

Night had fallen and his roommates were in, surprised at seeing at Zen in the room before them.

“Wang Zen?” Li Ao said, combing his quiff out. “What are you doing here?”

“I live here.” He said.

“I believe he means that you are usually out at this time,” Deng Ai said, pushing his glasses up his nose.

Zen knew what they were talking about, at this time he was usually training, either fighting the mannequin his father had sent or going through the forms he had learnt during the day. However, the night was not a place for someone who may be in danger like he was. Deciding that he had nothing to do, he went to sleep.

He woke up. A bad dream, already fading from his mind had brought him back to the waking world. He looked around the room, Deng Ai and Li Ao were both sleeping. He was about to go back to sleep when he noticed something off. Shibi was not in the room.

Zen sat up and threw his sheets off as he got out of bed. He hugged himself to keep the cold at bay as he walked to the window. He looked out at the night plane, there he saw no sign of the orange scorch ape.

He was not sure how long he stood there, looking out of the window. The cold began to creep into his body, his skin was already littered in goose bumps. He shivered as he made his way back to his bed where he covered himself with his blanket. There he waited. And waited. And waited. No Shibi.

Zen was starting to worry. Shibi had always come back to sleep either beside him or on the window sill. Now that his companion had not come back to him, Zen began running through the worst scenarios. He had known that Bao would try to harm him but he had never considered that he would try to harm him by harming those close to him and for him, no one at the academy was closer to him than Shibi.

The sun began to peek over the horizon, Deng Ai and Li Ao woke up and headed to the mountain to cultivate and Shibi had still not come back. If Shibi was truly n danger than there was only one person he could think of asking and it was this person that could help him find the scorch ape.