Chapter 38: The Painful Back

“Uh guys, I’m really happy for you but can you untie me?” Jun Nee said from on top of the rock.

“Oh, sorry.” Zen got up and two steps later he fell on his face. “I think my back is broke.”

“Wang Zen!” Jiahai ran to him but Zen shooed him away with a raised hand, unable to raise his face off the ground. “Go free Jun Nee first.”

Jiahai untied Jun Nee, allowing her to hop off the rock and join Zen. They helped Zen on his feet, each under one shoulder.

“Are you okay?” Jun Nee said.

Zen clenched his teeth at the pain that seemed to flare to life now that the adrenaline of battle went dead. “Seems, I can’t walk on my own. I’ll be in your care now.”

“We should try to find an alternative route out of the castle,” Jiahai said. “Away from the battling.”

All Zen could do was nod through the pain. They moved through the estate, walking through an alternative path led by Jun Nee. They stopped before an opened doorway, where they saw Yang Tai and his friends around a table scattered with a score or so of spirit coins.

“Yang Tai?” Jiahai said.

Zen narrowed his eyes at the cons on the desk. “Is that why you came here? To steal Ma Xinqi’s spirit coins.”

“You didn’t think we’d walk away from this with nothing, did you?” Yang Tai said.

“You’re nothing more than petty thieves!” Zen said.

Yang smiled, “You’re just jealous you didn’t think of it.”

“But-But the counterfeits.” Jiahai said.

“Don’t worry,” Yang Tai said, gesturing to one of his friends with a spyglass, “My friend can spot the authentic from the counterfeit. The battle between your friend from the Red Dragon Sect and Ma Xinqi is about to end. Whoever wins will probably not be merciful with any of you or us.”

“He’s not my friend!” Zen said as he was helped away.

-

Days later, Zen was making his way through the streets of the town with Jiahai and Jun Nee. His two friends walked slow so as not to make him over exert himself on the crutches he was using. The academy’s wood masters were able to mend his spine, not fully as that would’ve required him to pay for their services, but enough to shorten his recovery time to a few weeks.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea for us to be walking like this in the open,” Jun Nee said. “I mean, Master Wang is hurt and they may still be people from Ma Xinqi’s gang lurking around.”

“No need to worry,” Jiahai said. “Since that man from the Red Dragon Sect won against Ma Xiniq, most of his gang and the remaining Black Butterflies are too busy dodging the authorities to worry about us.”

“Yes, and I also want to say goodbye properly.” Zen said. A red blur raced up his arm onto his shoulder.

“Shibi!” Jun Nee said before Shibi leapt onto her shoulder, allowing her to caress it. “I still don’t understand. You said I was going to leave the city but where to?”

“Back home,” Zen said. “Back to Wuming.”

“But how? The reason you helped me the first time was because I could not make that distance on my own.”

“The ‘how’ has already been arranged and don’t worry, you won’t be travelling alone.” Zen said.

“Are you coming along?”

Zen shook his head no at her question. “No, I’m not but he is,” Zen nodded forward.

Jun Nee followed his line of sight and stopped in place. Ahead of him was Hue Yi and another man standing beside him. it was this man that Jun Nee stared at. She ran for him and he for her before they hugged.

“Brother!” Jun Nee cried into his shoulder. She looked back at Zen, “You found my brother.”

“Yeah, it was no big deal.” Zen said.

“Actually I found him,” Hue Yi said. “And it was a big deal as I struggled. Luckily I found him in time before he left for Wuming.”

“You’re leaving?” Jun Nee said.

Her brother nodded, “And you’re coming with.”

Jun Nee looked back at Zen, “How-How can I ever repay you, Master Wang?”

“Well, there are two things you can do,” Zen said. “First, don’t call me Master Wang anymore. It doesn’t sound right when a friend says it. And second, say high to Yin Zheng for me.”

Jun Nee nodded thankfully to him.

They eventually said their farewells. Zen watched them go. He did this until it became too painful to watch their backs disappear into the horizon in the distance. His aching heart forced him to turn around.

“That was a nice thing you did for that girl,” Hue Yi said as the three boys were walking back to the academy.

“I’m impressed you were able to find her brother,” Zen said.

“Yeah,” Jiahai agreed. “You think you can teach us to do the things you do, Mister Hue Yi?”

“Yeah… sure, I might.” Hue Yi said. “But first, you’ll have to stop calling me Mister and instead, call me Big Master Boss Bro.”

“Okay, Big Master Boss Bro Hue Yi,” Jiahai said.

“Good, good. Now next, I’ll need a few silver coins.”

Jiajai immediately dug into his pocket.

“Jiahai, don’t give him anything!” Zen said before the boys started arguing.