“Let’s go, Shibi.” Zen said.
Shibi’s body and eyes began to glow. He aimed for a brick oven and blew out hot fire into the oven. The fire blazed. Zen piled metal bars above the cauldron fires. The metal turned yellow with heat. Using his charred black prongs, Zen lifted the piece of metal and began beating it with the hammer. The heat in the forge was too much for him, making him take off his shirt. His muscles gleamed with sweat as he shaped the single bar of metal into three throwing knives, which he sharpened.
“Well well well, three days in and you’re already back at the forge.” Jun Nee said, walking in.
“Jun Nee!” Zen said.
She looked around with a frown. “Where are the other weapons you had?”
“I gave them to my friend,” Zen said.
“The one who sent the delivery man here? Are you ever going to tell me what was all that about.”
“No,” Zen said.
She walked forward, inspecting the knives on the table that were made. “So, what are you and Shibi making this time?”
“Throwing knives,” Zen said. He picked up one knife. “I’m not sure what is exactly wrong. The weight is all… off. I think that’s why… well.”
Zen threw the knife at a circular, wooden target hanging at the other end of the wall. The knife harmlessly clattered against the target and fell to the ground.
“See?” He said. “I think it may also be because I don’t know how to use a throwing knife.”
Jun Nee picked one of the knives up and balanced it between two fingers. “You’re right, the weight is a bit off. You should make the front a little lighter.” She said before throwing the knife at the target.
The knife sped across the room and stabbed into the target. Shibi clapped his hands. “Jun Nee better than Zen!”
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Zen’s mouth hung open. “When did you learn that?”
“Madam City Lord Zhou taught me,” Jun Nee said. “You know your mother knows a lot; she could probably teach it to you.”
“Yeah,” Zen said. “Clearly she has taught you more than admin work.”
“Yeah, I’ve learned more since the last time you trained me.”
“Train you? What are you talking about, I never trained you.” Zen said, with an unconvincing look of confusion.
“Oh, come off it, Zen’er!” she rolled her eyes, “I know you were training me when you were sending me to do odd tasks that stretched my abilities to the max, or making me spar with you when you were testing out your own abilities.”
“Heh, so you caught on to what I was doing, huh?”
She nodded. “After you left, your mom took over my physical training. Your mother is an amazing person.”
Zen smiled and nodded. “Yeah, I guess she is, even if she has bad taste in men.”
She laughed at this.
“Uh oh, you laughed at your City Lord.” Zen smirked. “Imma tell on you!”
“Zen’er, you better not dare!” she said, seriously.
“What are you going to do to stop me?”
She lifted her finger.
“Uh…? Jun Nee, don’t you dare.”
She put the finger in her mouth.
“Get that out of your mouth, now!”
The she popped her wet finger out of her mouth. “Now for your punishment! Wet willy!”
“No!” Zen tried running away from her as she chased him around the forge. “Shibi, help me!”
“Zen is on his own,” Shibi said.
Zen continued to run around while a giggling Jun Nee chased after him. Shibi stuck out a foot and tripped Zen. Jun Nee fell on top of him.
She smiled at him. “Seems I’m still faster than you.”
He smirked, “Some things never change I guess.”
“Am I interrupting something?” Ding Wu said, walking in and seeing the two on the ground.
“No! No! No!” Jun Nee quickly sprang to her feet and stiffened up.
Zen leisurely got back to his feet also.
“I could come back later if you kids want to roll on the ground even more.” He winked.
“If you’re gonna tease us, think up of something better, Ding Wu!” Zen shouted. “Anyways, why are you here.”
“Madam City Lord wants to see you, Master Wang.” Ding Wu said.
“I’ll be there,” Zen said.
“Wear a shirt, Master Wang.” Jun Nee said, giving him a smile while also leaving along with Ding Wu.
Wang Zen walked into his mother’s office, followed by Shibi. His mother was sitting at her desk, reading some documentation. Jun Nee was standing beside her, holding a stack of papers.
“Mom, you wanted to see me?” Zen said
She looked up from her paperwork. “Zen’er, yes. I have good news to tell you!”
Zen and Jun Nee exchanged looks of confusion, it was clear to Zen not even she knew of the news his mother had.
“What news?” he said.
“I’ve finally was able to find you a bride.” Ling said in excitement.
Zen’s eyes widened, “W-What?”
“Yes, you are going to get married!”