Wang Zen and Jun Nee walked to the alleyway where they had agreed to meet Yin Zheng. When Yin Zheng saw them approaching got to his feet and waved them over.

“There you guys are,” he said. “Keeping me waiting as always, I see.”

“Sorry, man!” Zen said.

Zheng frowned. She saw Jun Nee’s sad face. “Jun Nee, what’s wrong?”

“Oh Zheng, it’s awful!” Jun Nee said, starting to cry as two streams of tears came from her eyes.

“Zen, what did you do?” Zheng said.

Zen nonchalantly shrugged.

“I should have known!” Zheng said. “I thought working for the City Lord would be better but I should’ve…”

“It is!” Jun Nee cried. “Miss Wang is kind, powerful and smart. I’m learning a lot and they treat me very well.”

Zheng was taken aback by this. “What… so these tears… these are tears of joy?”

“Noooo!” she continued to cry.

Zheng looked at Zen in confusion. The boy shrugged again.

“What’s wrong?” Zheng said.

“Zen and I were told about a party that was going to happen next week.” Jun Nee said.

“Yeah,” Zen said. “It should be a real stuffy event.”

“No, its not!” Jun Nee said. “It will be a sophisticated event. There will be dancing, music and delicious food! It will be the very first upper-class event that I’ll attend.”

“Oh… that’s nice.” Zheng said.

“No, its not. I’ll be attending as servant not as a guest.” She said, continuing to cry.

“I don’t see what’s so bad about it.” Yin Zheng said, shrugging. “At least you’ll be attending, normally you would not even be allowed a meter near such parties.”

“True… but… oh Zheng forgive me!” Jun Nee said. “I am so jealous!”

Zheng felt even more confused. “Jealous of who?”

“Of you!”

Zheng felt his confusion peak. “Why?”

“Wang Zen, tell him.”

“Well, ideally I wanted to invite both of you to the party as my guests.” Zen said. “But since my mom wants Jun Nee to work then, that means I can only extend the invitation to you.” Zen said, producing a letter with a golden trim.

Zheng looked at the letter in confusion. “M-M-Me?” he pointed at himself.

Zen nodded.

“Not sure about that, Zen’er?” he said. “Me in a stuffy party with nobles. I would not survive.”

“Heh, you think I would fare any better?” Zen said. “I’d like to have both my friends there.” He stretched his hand further to Zheng.

Zheng looked at Jun Nee, who had calmed down. She nodded her encouragement at him.

Zheng shrugged and accepted the letter. “I guess if you need a friend there, I’ll be glad to come as your guest, Wang Zen.”

“Thanks!” Zen clasped his hand.

Jun Nee began crying again. “Couldn’t you have gotten me the job after the event?”

Zen shrugged, “I didn’t even know this party would happen. But at least we’ll all be there together.” Zen said, covering both Jun Nee and Zheng’s shoulder to bring them both closer to him. “All together.”

Jun Nee cried.

Zheng rolled his eyes, “Yeah yeah.”

Zen and Jun Nee returned to the mansion.

“Ah, Jun Nee,” Wang Lin said, as she passed by them. “Please prepare my son’s clothes for event next week.”

“What?” Zen said awkwardly. “I can dress myself, Mom!” He said defiantly.

“What?” Wang Lin said. She then began to laugh. “Poor boy, men can’t dress themselves! Else they dress like… like… well like the way you are dressed now.”

Zen looked at his clothes. It was a simple grey shirt with brown pants. Nothing fancy but one of the most comfortable outfits he has.

“Jun Nee, Zen has an outfit, red with golden trim. It should be in the far left of his closet. Make sure you pick out good shoes for him.” She said.

“What’s this I hear?” Jao said. “Wang Zen is going to attend the event?”

“Yes, he will.” Wang Lin said.

Zen held back an annoyed look.

“Lin Lin, we will be inviting the nobles and merchants to this party.” Jao said. “It is the official way we can introduce ourselves to the most elite. We want to show strength. I fear Wang Zen is simply not up to it.”

“Why not?” Zen snapped.

Jao glared at the boy.

“No, Papa.” Lin said. “Wang Zen is my son. He may be injured but he is still my own and if anyone sees him as weak or even treats him lesser than he deserves, then they shall experience the full fury of the City Lord.”

Jao sighed. He obviously did not approve. “Fine, Daughter. It is your choice after all.”

With that Jao left.

Zen laid flat on his bed, idly petting Shibi while looking at the ceiling. Jun Nee was at his closet, picking out the outfit Wang Lin had asked her to.

“Wow, Zen’er, you have such nice clothes!” Jun Nee said, as she looked over her closet.

“Yeah?” Zen idly said. “I used to have much more. But I think they were mostly sold after we lost the old house. That was when Grandfather Jao moved in with us.” He turned to the side.

Jun Nee kept looking at the clothes, her expression twisted in confusion and fear. “Wang Zen… I… I hope you don’t mind me asking…?”

“Mmm?”

“What exactly is wrong with you?” Jun Nee said. “Zheng and I guessed that you are injured somehow but we don’t exactly understand how?”

“Oh? You’re asking because of what Grandfather Jao said, right?”

She kept quiet.

“Alright, I’ll tell you.” Zen sat up, grimacing a little as he did. His hand went to his chest, not that the dull pain he constantly felt or the ki he had trickled out of his chest but that is where he had associated the term diantian with. “My diantian is broken.”

She looked at him with shocked eyes. “Diantian? That’s where your ki is kept. Right?”

Zen nodded. “While its broken, I can’t use ki. And even worse, I’m slowly losing my strength.”

“That’s awful!” she said. “So what are you going to do?”

“We’re waiting for a specialist healer to fix me.” Zen said. “I think he should be on his way.”

“Then you’ll be better?”

He shrugged. “There is a chance I won’t survive.”

Jun Nee clenched her hands into fists. “You will survive. You’re Wang Zen. You face odds you have no business winning against and you win.”

Zen smiled. “Thanks, now, I guess I should have a look at these clothes you’re picking for me.” He said as he climbed off the bed. “I was wondering, can we also get Shibi some fancy clothes.”

Shibi gave Zen an unfavourable look.

“What? Why should we be the only ones to suffer casual wear.”

“You’re not suffering it,” Jun Nee said. “Casual wear is beautiful!”

“Sure, that sounds like something only a girl would say.” Zen said.

“Don’t worry, Shibi.” Jun Nee said. “I’m going to make you an outfit. A real good one!”

Shibi sighed and looked away while Zen giggled.

Yin Zheng approached the City Lord Mansion. There were carriages parked along the road, being pulled by different beasts. It was the first time he had seen such decadent carriages in one place. Those he had grown accustomed to were simple, with the most extravagant one simply having a roof that does not leak in the rain. They did not have mantle pieces of mythical beasts at the head, golden and silver tassels and they were not a multitude of colours in the rainbow. Most of them had a guard standing by.

Yin Zheng makes his way to the gate and stops. There were twice as many guards than before.

“Hello, I’m here to attend the party? The gathering? The thing that’s happening… in… in there.” He pointed sheepishly at the mansion that was lit in the night.

“Invitation?” The guard said.

Yin Zheng presents his invitation, a letter with golden trims.

“Alright, one of us will accompany you…”

“No need, Sir!” Zen said.

“Master Wang,” the guard said.

“This is my friend.” Zen said. “I’ll accompany him.”

“Yes, Master Wang.” The guard nodded.

“Woah, that outfit,” Zen said, “Nice outfit!”

“Yeah,” Zheng said, smiling. “This is the finest outfit in my wardrobe. I only wear it on special occasions.”

Zen smirked. “I’m glad you think this is a special occasion.”

Zen and Zheng stood before the lit-up castle with large double doors.

“Well,” Zen said, “Let’s get this party started.” He said, walking forward, as the doors opened to let them in.