Zen and Shibi arrived where they had left Silicy. Zen looked around in confusion because where the Snow Dove should have been was a big mound of dirt and leaves.

“Where’s Silicy?” Zen said, worry flooding his voice. He did not want to think of the possibilities of Silicy having been captured or killed by some errand hunters, taking advantage of the exhausted bird.

“Camouflage.” Shibi said.

“Camo…? What does that mean?”

Bursting fourth from the mound of dirt, leaves and twigs was Silicy. She shook the dirt that clung to her but there was still some left.

“What is the meaning of this?” Silicy shouted.

““Camouflage.”” Both Shibi and Zen said.

“You would dare cover me with…”

“My apologies Silicy!” Zen said. “I went out to get you food and…”

“No! I will not hear of it. Climb on and let us end this journey!”

Zen sighed, “Yes.”

“Overgrown Chicken,” Shibi said below his breath but since he was on Zen’s shoulder, Zen could hear him and held in a laugh.

A few more days passed travelling with Silicy. Zen was worried, as with each passing day, he could feel Miss Hong’s seal weakening and more ki leaking out from his diantian. Silicy was able to get them to town.

“That house there!” Zen said, pointing at his home. “That is where we live, you can drop us off there!”

Silicy flew lower and touched down on the green grass of the small mansion.

Zen and Shibi got off Silicy’s back. Zen faced the Snow Dove, clasped his hands and bowed.

“Silicy, thank you for your assistance. I owe you and Xue Shaonu a lot. I’ll probably never be able to repay but if there is ever anything I can do, please do not hesitate.”

“I will tell my Lady.” Silicy said, bowing curtly before flying away.

Zen turned to face his home. He was surprised Ding Wu had not run out to greet him, or was he preoccupied with his mother to have noticed a giant white bird land in the yard?

Zen ran towards the front door. “Mother? Mother?”

He opened the door. The door creaking echoed throughout the empty mansion. He walked in, remembering that this was no longer his home, not since his father died and the Empire seized his father’s fortune.

He walked into the large and empty house. His heart grew more sorrowful with each step that echoed throughout the empty house. He passed by his parent’s room, now devoid of the giant bed they shared. He walked by his room, also now an empty husk of what it had been previously. He looked at where the dining room had been, where he had shared dinners with his family and friends, now empty. After a few minutes of walking around the abandoned home, he stood in front of a closed door. The room beyond this door had not been changed for years and part of him did not believe that it had changed even now.

He pushed the door open and looked into the empty room that used to belong to his late brother. With this, the tears that had been prickling at his eyes since he began the sad tour of the house burst forth. He could no longer deny it, he could no longer control his sadness. Zen stood in his late brother’s former room, crying into his forearm as Shibi tried to comfort him by rubbing his head.

Zen made his way through the town to the City Lord’s Mansion. That is where he guessed his mother, the new City Lord, would be. A giggle escaped his mouth. It was strange. His mother was one of the few women in history to become City Lord and it seemed she was also the poorest City Lord since she had failed to save her home.

“That’s him!” he heard someone say.

Suddenly two older boys stood in his path.

“Hey, you with the red monkey. Aren’t you the City Lord’s kid?”

“No,” Zen said, before trying to walk around them.

They made a move to block his path once again. “Don’t lie to us. We know its you. Kid with a red monkey and an ugly ass nose. It’s you alright.”

Zen was annoyed at being stopped and threatened like this in his own home town. But with hic current conditions, he was in no position to challenge the boys. “Please leave me alone.”

“Leave you alone?” one of the boys said. “How can we leave you alone when your mother is working for scummy Empire?”

“Yeah!” The other boy said. “You and your trash mother should leave our town and take the other commoners with you!” The boy angrily grabbed Zen’s arm.

Zen reached for his blade with his other arm while Shibi bared his long fangs and gave off a threatening growl to the older boy.

“Watch the monkey!” the other boy said.

“No, watch me!” a newcomer said as he grasped the boy’s arm.

The boy looked at the newcomer in confusion. “Who are…?”

“No,” the newcomer said as a constant wave of ki energy came from his body, “who do you think you are?”

The wave of energy pushed the boy off Zen and allowed the newcomer to step between Zen and the two boys.

“Do you know who this is? Do you know his father, Wang Ton?” The newcomer said. “Do you not know what he gave for the commoners?”

“But we…” one of the boy’s started to protest.

The newcomer increased the intensity of the wave of ki.`

Zen stepped back, hoping to get some reprieve as did too the older boys.

“We’re sorry!” One of them said before both ran off.

Zen narrowed his eyes at the back of the newcomer. He had short hair and word simple garb. There was also something familiar to Zen about his voice.

“Well, this is quite a poor welcome home, hey Zen’er?”

It was then that Zen realised who the newcomer is. Even before the newcomer turned around, Zen was already calling out his name “Yin Zheng!” Zen shouted.

“It has been so long, my friend.” Yin Zheng said with a smile.