Chapter 120: Meeting Jiahai

Wang Zen and Shibi could not find Jiahai at his dorm room, so they went to the only place he could think of finding him, the place where his newest Ragged Jackal lived. He made his way to the place as snow was being blown into him. Zen was thankful that Shibi was with him, for the Scorch Ape would radiate heat in an attempt to keep him warm. It was an abandoned area of the academy at the edge of the academy woods. Zen was unsure if he was at the exact place for the build up of snow and the blinding wind made it hard for him to recognise anything.s

The “Chu Jiahai,” he said as he looked around, rubbing his hands to keep the cold coming with the falling snow at bay. “Jiahai, it’s me, Wang Zen.”

The sound of growling was all that he got.

He spun around and saw a Ragged Jackel glaring at him. Its black fur, with white speckles of ice, stood wildly and its yellow eyes shone with a dangerous glint. Zen knew this was not Rizon but it was Jiahai’s newsest beast, Blackfur.

“Blackfur, I’m a friend.” Zen stepped away from the growling hound, which stalked closer to him. “Remember? I was here with your master a while ago.”

Blackfur bent, preparing to pounce. Zen did not need a clear line of sight to it to know that it was about to attack, for he could feel a small killing intent eminating from it. Zen prepared fro battle, hoping that he could defend himself without using lethal force.

“Blackfur…”

The killing intent from the beast died down at the newcomer’s voice. Blackfur turned around and trotted to the owner of the voice, a figure hidden in the snowy wind with a hound-like beast next tto him.

“Jiahai?”

Jiahai walked forward into better light. He wore a thick fur, overcoat, most likely one of his victims. “Wang Zen? What are doing here? Blackfur would have attacked you, you know.”

“I knew you’d call him off.” Zen smirked as he waslked closer, shielding his face from the wind.

“I was only able to call him off cause Rizon was here.” Jiahai said as both boys looked at the Jackals frolicking in the snow. “If she was not here, he would have attacked whether or not I was here and being a member of the pack, I would have to assist him when you try to defend yourself.”

“You’re kidding… right?”

Jiahai just gave Zen a serious look.

“We don’t have time for this,” Zen said. “I have something important to talk to you about.”

Jiahai sighed, “Does this involve me?”

“Yes.”

Jiahai sighed in disbelief. “Alright, tell me.”

“Not here!” Zen said, shivering. “Let’s go to somewhere warmer.”

The storm grew stronger outside. Zen was thankful to be inside the empty canteen, looking at the storm outside. He looked at Jiahai, “What is this place? I don’t think I’ve ever been here.”

“One of the less popular canteens on the academy.” Jiahai said. He leaned closer to Zen with a conspiratory tone said, “they have awful food and it is overpriced.”

“How did you find it?” Zen said, returning Jiahai’s smile with his own.

“I spend most of my time alone or in the company of beasts.” Jiahai shrugged. “It’s one of the places where I can be… alone.”

Zen continued to smile, however, this smile was a sad one.

“Anyways, why did you want to talk to me?”

Zen explained everything to Jiahai, Xue Shaonu’s posining, the black cloaked assassin and Chen Jian’s suspicion of him. When he was done, Jiahai had a worried look on his face.

“I told them,” Zen said as Jiahai reached for a storage stone, “that it is impossible that you had anything to do with it. First of all, you don’t even have a weapon like…”

There were flashes of light and a black staff dropped on the table between the two. It rumbled as it attempted settle, making the only sound as Zen stared at it wide eyed. It stopped, coming to a rest.

“This is… This is…”

“A Tamer’s Staff.” Jiahai said. “Very rare. Very powerful.”

Zen looked at Joaiah in disbelief. Had he been wrong? Was Jiahai the Black Cloaked Assasin?