Wang Zen could feel the anger in him rise as Jun Nee recounted the events of the last 2 weeks while he was unconscious. Each word seemed to break an invisible seal that kept his killing intent at bay, which only made her more hesitant to speak further.

“Are you hurt?” Zen said.

Jun Nee shook her head. “I was able to escape getting hurt.”

“And Zheng?”

“He is still at home, recovering. He was not as lucky as me.” She said, looking down again.

Zen rose to his feet, out of the bed. “Jun Nee, come.” He said with determination. “We need to go see my mother.”

“The Black Mark has been active again.” Jao said, looking over a document. “These damn commoners, they are getting awfully brave and very close to us.”

Wang Lin was seated at her desk, looking over her own pile of documentation. “Meh, I doubt they’ll come here.” She said.

“And if they do?”

She smirked, “Then they’ll have to deal with me.” She signed the document and put to the side before taking the next document. “I think the more important thing is how do I get the townsfolk to stop pooping in the west side of town.” She said. “I think to fix it, we need…”

“Mommy!” Zen said, bursting into the door.

“Uh… Ze… Master Wang, I don’t think…” Jun Nee was saying as she was being pulled in the office by the hand by Zen.

“It’s okay, Jun Nee.” Zen said, before letting go of her hand and looking at his mother.

“Mommy, my friend, Yin Zheng, was attacked by the Li Family.” Zen said. “He was hurt and his property was stolen. The Li Family should be punished.”

“You want to punish a noble family for what happened to a commoner?” Jao said. “Seems your ridiculousness has wholly rubbed off on your son.”

“He is not just a commoner,” Zen said, glaring at his grandfather.

“How dare…!”

“I have already dealt with the Li Family.” Lin said.

“Really?” Zen said.

“Well, maybe I should instead say I dealt with those spineless cowards as best as I could.” She said.

“Yes,” Jao spoke up. “When this servant girl came crying to LinLin, she was angry. She went after the Li Family.”

“Oh?” Zen said in surprise. He looked at Jun Nee. “That was brave of you, Jun Nee. To tell my mother.”

“Not much good was done though.” Wang Lin said, looking bored. “When I went to the Li Family, they claimed that their servants had acted on their own. Two boys who had apparently stolen their contracted beasts and used them to attack Jun Nee, Yin Zheng and a woman bystander.”

“So what did you do to them?”

“I took over their little Hawk contract. I also forced them to pay the medical bills for your friend, the woman attacked died and I made them pay her family. Also charged them a penalty fee, I might as well get some money for myself, hey.” She sighed. “To be honest, I just hurt their ego. I doubt this will be much of a deterrent for them. They are the richest family in town.”

Zen clenched his fists on how untouchable the Li Family seemed to be. “Was Yin Zheng able to recover his sword that they took from him?”

Lin shook her head. “Apparently, they’ve lost it.”

The room fell into silence. Zen bowed to his mother. “Thank you, Mother. You have really done your best. I am sorry if I appeared disrespectful to you or to grandfather.”

She nodded. “You were concerned about your friend, Kiddo. I’m sure Daddy and I can forgive you, right?” she looked at his father.

He scoffed and looked back at his document.

“I’d like to check up on my friend.”

“In your condition?” Jao said. “We paid a lot to have you back to full health, we would not waste it with you re-injuring yourself on the street.”

“I’ll be careful, grandfather.” He said.

“I think not!”

“And I will have Jun Nee to protect me.”

“Ha! The servant girl?” Jao said. “She wouldn’t be able to protect the air in her lungs let alone a whole person!”

“I… I agree.” Jun Nee said.

“Mommy, please!” Zen said. “I am okay. I feel great even!”

Lin took a moment to think. “You can if Miss Xing says its okay and you have to take Ding Wu with you.”

Zen nodded again. “Thank you, Mommy. I’ll go see Miss Xing now!” he said, before pulling Jun Nee along.

Miss Xing smiled as she examined Zen, who sat on a bed. “This is good, Master Wang.” She said. “Seems you are recovering quite well.”

“Really? Thank you!”

“You just need to keep taking your medicine until it is all finished.” She said. “But otherwise, you are well on your way to being at 100%.”

“That’s good news, Zen!” Jun Nee, who had Shibi on her shoulder, clapped in excitement.

“It is,” Miss Xing said. “I am happy that my last check up on you was a good one.”

Zen frowned at this. “You mean… you’re leaving?”

She nodded. “My patient is doing well. No use having a healer with no one to heal.” She said.

Zen rose to his feet. He clasped his hands and bowed low. “Thank you, Miss Xing. If it were not for you, I would either be dead or worse.”

Miss Xing bowed back. “You are welcome, Master Wang.”

Jun Nee also clasped her hands and bowed.

Wang Zen with Shibi, Jun Nee and Ding Wu walked across the streets, heading for where Yin Zheng and his family lived. They turned into a residential area.

All three knew where they were going. Zen had visited Yin Zheng plenty of times before they went their separate ways to different academies. Jun Nee was well acquainted with where Zheng lived too, having also, while Ding Wu knew the place from all the times he used to visit his boss Yin Bhiki.

They walked up to the door with Zen in front. He knocked on the door in a rhythmic way and waited for the door to be opened.

The door opened. “Son, where have you been, I’ve been wo…” The woman stopped when she saw the three. In her arms was a little baby, that she would gently rock in her arms.

Her face twisted in confusion as she looked at the boy. “Wait you are not Yin Zheng.”

“I’m sorry, I’m not Miss Yin.” Zen said, bowing.

Her eyes widened. “You are Young Master Wang!” she said with a smile. “Yin Zheng had told me that you were back.”

She looked around.

“Oh, Ding Wu! And you are also here, Jun Nee! Please, come in!”

They all came in and found chairs, other than Ding Wu, who stood against the wall.

“I wanted to seeing Yin Zheng, Ma’am.” Zen said. “I heard he had been injured.”

“Yes, he…” the baby in her arms began crying. “Aww, probably is cold.” She looked at the people in the room before landing her eyes Jun Nee. “Ah, Jun Nee, please take her for a moment.”

“Of course, Miss Yin.” Jun Nee said as she took the baby.

“Excuse me while I fetch her blanket.” She said before disappearing into another room.

Zen leaned over to look at the baby.

Jun Nee smiled at him. “This is Yin Zheng’s sister.”

“Yeah?” Zen gingerly reached out with his finger.

The baby’s tiny fingers curled around his finger and he shook it. “She has a grip. I bet her fist will knock out anyone when she grows up.”

“There we go,” Miss Yin came back. She took her baby and wrapped her in the warm blanket.

Zen looked up at her. “Zan we see Zheng?”

She shook her head. “He left yesterday, said he would be back but hasn’t yet.”

“He can walk again?” Jun Nee said.

“Thankfully yes.” She smiled and looked at Zen. “We have a lot to thank your mother for, Young Master Wang. If she had not helped, my son may still be bedridden.”

He nodded. “I’m just happy he is okay. If you see him, please tell him we were here.”

“Of course,” she said.

The group left. Zen looked sad.

“Don’t worry, Master Wang.” Ding Wu said. “Yin Zheng is as tough as you. Wherever he is, I’m sure he is okay.”

Zen nodded and managed a smile. “Yes, I just hope we get in touch with him soon.”