Chapter 39: Here’s Your Spine Back

Wang Zen practiced his kicks and punches on the empty battlefield. He made sure to twist his hip and body with each punch he threw in the air, imagined his attacks hitting Chen Jian’s face. he stopped, to catch his breath, smiling as he looked at his fist.

His spine had fully healed now and just in time as the new school semester was about to begin.

“Shibi,” he said to his monkey as it ran up his body to his shoulder. He walked the school grounds to his dorm. There were a few people around, who were preparing for the oncoming semester.

He slowed down when he saw a familiar face hauling bags across the campus.

“Chu Jiahai.”

Chu Jiahai smiled at him. “Wang Zen!” Jiahai had been called to spend the remaining holidays with his family after their little adventure but now he was back.

Wang Zen was happy to see his friend. Recovering had been lonely affair. “Did you enjoy your time home?”

Jiahai nodded happily. “I even brought back a treat or two for us.”

Wang Zen smiled but then frowned when he heard a whinning noise. Shibi had heardit too, as he stiffened on his shoulder. “What was that?”

“Oh, nothing!” Jiahai smiled sheepishly before rubbing his belly. “Just all this talk of food has made me hungry. Uhm… let me go put my bags in my dorm and we’ll meet up later.”

Wang Zen knew the whining noise was not the sound of a grumbling stomach but he just nodded, “Then I’ll meet you later.” Wang Zen watched as Jiahai dragged his bag away.

“Strange,” he said as he headed to his own dorm room.

“Ook!” Shibi agreed.

-

In his dorm room, Wang Zen changed his clothes to fresher ones. While he was putting away the sweat drenched ones, his roomates walked in, carrying their luggage with them.

“Oh, it’s Wang Zen.” Li Ao said, non too excited.

Wang Zen looked at the bespectacled Deng Ai and Li Ao, who had dropped his bags in the hallway to fish out his comb and lengthen the quiff of his hair. “Oh, it’s… uhm… what are your names again?”

Deng Ai’s shoulders drooped, “We’ve been living together for 6 months and yet you don’t remember our names.”

Wang Zen shrugged.

“Well,” Li Ao said, twirling his comb around his fingers, “You may not remember the name but you most certainly will remember the magnificent hair!” Li Ao combed through his hair once before striking a pose, unbeknownst to him, Shibi came beside him and copied the same pose. “I am the handsome Li Ao, a man with hair that would put women to shame!”

“Yeah…” Deng Ai said sheepishly. “I am Deng Ai.”

“Li Ao. Deng Ai. Welcome back.” Wang Zen before he made his way out of the room.

Deng Ai and Li Ao looked at each other in confusion as Wang Zen walked beside them.

“Is that all?” Li Ao said.

Wang Zen looked at them on confusion, “What do you mean?”

“Well, I believe what Li Ao is alluding to is that whenever you talk to us, you usually add an insult alluding to the fact that we’re commoners.”

Wang Zen frowned, “None of that now.” He left them, Shibi following behind.

“Oh no, Ai ai!” Li Ao grabbed Deng Ai roughly, making the scrawny boy grimace in pain.

“Please don’t call me that.” Deng Ai said.

“It has happened,” Li Ao said. “Our roommate is suffering through cultivation deviation!”

“I doubt it,” Deng Ai said. “Cultivation deviation results in violent psychosis, not mild politeness.”

“But that’s the whole genius of it!” Li Ao insisted. “First, he stops insulting us, next, he’ll be killing us with kindness! How evil!”

“Yes,” Deng Ai said unenthusiastically, “’How evil’ indeed.”