Chapter 145: “It Doesn’t Apply to Me!”

Wang Zen walked through the night. Initially he was scared but it seemed the night crowd did not recognise him, allowing him to move in the town with peace. But still, even though no one stared at him, he felt as if he was being watched.

No matter how many corners or side streets he took, he still could not shake the feeling that he was still being followed. He took one too many corner streest and realised he was in trouble, for he was in an alleyway that was basically abandoned.

He quickly turned on hs heels to exit ut it was too late. Before him stood a figure in the beige cloak.

“Look, the ban was on my father.” Zen said. “It doesn’t apply to me!”

“So you are Wang Ton’s kid.” She said as she dropped the hood of her cloak. “You fit the description but my source also told me you rolled with a Scorch Ape.”

Zen had left Shibi behind, knowing the Brown Feather Guild members would be able to identify him easier with the ape on his shoulder. “I don’t know what my father did to make an enemy of the Brown Feather Guild but I am not involved. So you can tell your comrades…”

“Comrades?” she said. “I’m not a member of the Brown Feather Guild. Haven’t been for a long time.” She tilted her head. “So your father never told you what he did. I’m not surprised, I wouldn’t have either.”

“You know? Why was he kicked out?”

“Ah ah, if I give you that info, I’ll need some info of my own.”

“Like what?” Zen said.

“Meet me here tomorrow night, same time.” She said as she pulled her hood up. “Then we’ll talk.”

She left, leaving Zen alone in the dark alleyway.

Wang Ton and Shibi stared at each other. A small fire crackled between them. They looked to the side, Wang Zen emerged from the forest.

“Where have you been?” Wang Ton said.

“I was in the city.” Zen said, hefting a thumb behind him. “I got some peaches for Shibi.”

“You risked your life for some peaches?” Ton said dissaprovingly.

“I was also tired of just sitting here.” Zen said, collapsing next to Shibi. “Its boring.”

“If it was boring, than you should have stayed here and cultivated.” Ton said. “Clearly you are not concerned with getting stronger.”

A silence fell on them as Zen handed Shibi a peach.

“So I was wrong,” Zen said. “I thought you were at odds with the Brown Feather Guild because you were in a rival Guild but it turns out you are at odds with them because you got kicked out. What happened?”

“Nothing of your concern.” Ton got up and began walking away. He opened the flap of his tent than stood still. “Do not leav the camp again.” He closed the flap and went to sleep.

Zen scrunched his face in annoyance. “Well, if he won’t tell me, the I guess I’ll have to find out myself.” Zen whispered to himself.

Lei Cong Min and Shou Na Shi walked up along a small dirt road.

“This old man lives far away from populated areas.” Lei Cong Min said in annoyance.

“True, makes him look… suspicious.” Shou Na Shi said.

“What are we looking at battle-wise?”

“Not much. Like many of the peasants, he never reached Master and he barely reached the higher stages of pure ki usage.”

“Family?”

“None,” Shou Na Shi recalled. “His wife and child were killed by a local member of the noble family. Apparently his son, 12 years old at that time bumped into the noble’s daughter.”

“He lives alone and is weak.” Lei Cong Min smirked. “Should be a easy one.”

They reached the small shack.

Shou Na Shi knocked roughly. “Open up!”

There was no response.

He knocked again, hard enough to threaten to knock the shoddy foor off its hinges. “I said open up!”

There was still nothing.

He was about to do it again when Min raised her hand.

“Do you hear that?” she said.

They fell quite and could hear the feint sound of drums. As one, they leapt up and landed on the roof of the shack. In the distance was the old man they were looking for, riding Lizorse, a scaly creature that looked like a horse.

“Commander, will you or should I.” Shi said.

“Go.” She said.

Shi burst into action, leaping off the shack and moving the earth benath him to propel himself after the old man.

The old man looked back at the pursuing Red Dragon member. He urged his steed on, gaining more speed.

Shi clicked his tongue in annoyance and a pillar of earth shot out beneath him, sending him sailing through the air.

The old man looked up but was not fased. He knew he had a massive lead of the Earth Elementalist. He looked forward before a wall of fire appeared before him. The Lizorse reeredup, throwing him off its back.

The old man grunted as he sat back up, his steed staying by his side.

“Its okay, Boy.” He cooed to the silver eyed beast before mounting it again. “We can get through this together. Ki Comet!” Both he and his beast’s body were engulfed in grey ki.

They shot a path through the wall of fire but their momentum was soon quickly stopped when they smashed into a wall. The old man looked at the large wall before them in surprise. It had a crater when he and his beast crashed.

He looked back with great fear at the earth elementalist who was coming closer. He knew he was in danger if the cultivator could erect walls in his path.

The old man touched the red main of his beast. “Once more,” he said. “Ki Comet!”

Once again they were engulfed in ki and they smashed through the wall to the other side. Both he and the beast were exhausted were breathing heavily with swet running down their bodies.

“Come boy, we just needto push a little more and we’ll be safe.

A hole opened up before them and Shi flew out. “No, you won’t ever be safe again.”

The old man glared at the elementalist before him. “DON’T-“ he said as the grey ki covered his beast and himself, “underestimate us! Ki Comet!” He shot forward at Shi, feeling as if he was one with his beast.

Shi looked disgusted. “Pathetic!” he raised his hand. “Hand of the Earth: Three Fingers!”

Three Earth Pillars grew around the man and bent like fingers to catch the old man and his steed. Their ovement was stopped instantly and their ki dissipated. The fingers stayed still ofr a moment and then squezzed. The Lizorse did not get a chance to scream in pain before it popped like a balloon, sending the man off of it, spainted with the blood of his beat.

He coughed as he tried to get to his feet. Shi grabbed his neck and lifted him off the ground.

“No more ki?” Shi said as the man squirmedand coughed in his grasp. “Now, you will tell us where Wang Ton is or you will experience the most excruciating pain ever.”