Wang Zen sighed, “I can’t believe this is happening to me!”

Jun Nee frowned sympathetically.

“I’m too young to get married!” Zen said. “I have things that I want to do!”

“Zen can still do them while married.” Shibi said.

“No I can’t, Shibi.” Zen said to the Scorch Ape. “You don’t understand marriage. There is a reason why they call the wife a ball and chain. I won’t be able to achieve any of my goals while logging around a woman sized ball and chain!”

Zen stopped, bringing the whole progress of the group to a halt. Turning to Jun Nee he raised his eyebrow at her.

“And you Jun Nee?” he said.

She looked around in confusion. “What about me?”

“Why didn’t you tell me what Mom was planning?”

“I didn’t know!” she said.

Yin and Yan came around.

“Hey, Shibi!” Yin said.

Shibi looked at them with an air of annoyance. “Hmm?”

“Do you want to play with us?” Yan said.

“No.”

“Pleeease! We’ll give you our share of peach desert if you do!”

Shibi rolled his eyes and looked at Zen. The boy shrugged. “You can go ahead if you want but make sure they don’t take advantage of you.”

Shibi nodded. The two little children climbed on Shibi’s back and Shibi gave them a ride, climbing out the window.

Zen began walking away.

“Wait, Zen’er, where are you going?”

“Train! I need to blow some steam off!” he said, not bothering to look back.

“What about the clothes you need to prepare?” Jun Nee shouted after him.

“I don’t care! You can do it if you want it.” He said leaving.

Zen had been in the training arena for a long time. Initially, he tried to meditate in order to increase his Wind Elemental Energy but he was too agitated with the whole situation to sit still for long. He decided to do the Wolf Step routine and cultivate that way.

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He did as the sun set in the horizon, inviting the stars and moon, until his muscles burned with exhaustion and his eyes were stinging with sweat flowing from his brow.

“Ah, Wang Zen, I heard the good news.”

Zen was breathing heavily. He groaned at the sound of the voice and ignored him.

Tiang-Ji Jia waited a while, when he noticed Zen was not paying him any attention, he continued. “I heard you are getting married. To a noble girl nonetheless.”

Zen continued to train, “Yeah? What’s it to you?”

“Its good. This will make you a man and be more independent from your mother.”

Zen gritted his teeth in anger. He turned and glared at Jia. “If you want to see a man sorely needing independence from my mother, I suggest you look in the mirror!”

Jia’s eyes widened in surprise and then he shook his head in disappointment. “I thought your journey and your promotion to master rank would have done something to make you more mature but I see, you’re still that little kid, angry at me because I married your mother.” Jia turned his back and began to leave. “I feel sorry for which ever miss will be cuffed to you in marriage.”

Zen felt his anger boil and went back to training.

Yin and Yan jumped up and down on Wang Zen. He was lying flat on the bed with only his white underwear on as the two jumped on his torso and chest as they giggled in happiness.

Shibi was hanging from the ceiling, looking at three siblings in confusion.

Jun Nee walked into the room. “Yin? Yan? Zen? What is going on here?”

“We’re playing!” Yan said.

“Please leave! Your brother needs to get ready for today.”

“Brother Zen is getting married!” Yin sang.

“His marrying an ugly wench!” Yan sang.

““It would be better if he married Jun Nee!”” They both said as they hopped off Zen and ran past Jun Nee and outside.

Jun Nee turned red as their giggles vanished.

“Those curs!” Zen shook his fist at the disappearing backs.

“Uhh… Wang Zen, why are you not dressed?” Jun Nee said. “You’re guests are about to arrive.”

“I don’t have any clothes.”

“What, here they are.” She said, looking in the closet. She was confused when she found nothing. “Where are the clothes?”

Zen shrugged and turned away from her.

She looked at Shibi. “Shibi, where are the clothes?”

“Shibi, don’t!” Zen said.

Shibi pointed.

Jun Nee fishe dteh clothes from where Zen had hid them.

“Zen’er! You need to get dressed! Now!”

“Shibi, why would you do that?” Zen snapped.

“Jun Nee asked. Shibi said, landing on the ground with a thud.

“I asked you not to!” Zen said, getting up and facing Shibi. They were both in each others faces. “If you can’t keep you mouth shut, maybe we should not share a room!”

“Shibi don’t need to share a room with Zen. Zen farts. Zen smelly!”

“You’re smelly!”

They both growled at each other.

“Stop it you two!” Jun Nee stepped in between them, glaring at Zen. “Wang Zen, I understand what your going through. I understand your situation but you’re not going to make it better by lashing out on your friends or making my job harder than it already is!”

Her words were firm but her eyes were shining with tears. It hurt Zen to see his friend like this.

His anger faded. “Yes, I’m sorry, Jun Nee.” Looking past her, he looked at Shibi. “I am sorry, Shibi.”

Shibi nodded his acceptance.

“Alright,” he sighed. “Let me get dressed and get this over and done with.

“Finally, you’re here.” Ling said as Zen walked up beside her.

“Yes, Mom.” Zen said, looking bored.

“Ooh, and you’re looking nice. Good work, Jun Nee.” She said.

“Thank you, Madam City Lord,” she gave a short bow.

Zen looked out as three carriages pulled up. Out of the first carriage came out a short, plump man with dark hair and a monocle over one eye.

“City Lord Tiang-Ji!” he clasped his hands and bowed. “And I’m guessing this handsome man must be my future son-in-law!”

Zen rolled his eyes.

Ling pinched him and he bowed.

“This is my daughter.” The man said, gesturing to the middle carriage as a girl stepped out. She had long black hair that went down to her shoulders in gentle waves and dark eyes.

“This is,” the man said, “Choi Jingyi.”

Choi Jingyi and Wang Zen looked at each other, neither impressed with the other.