Chapter 163: The Familiar Mask

Deng Ai had a pile of scrolls in his arms. He weaved through the crowd of students, ensuring that he did not bump anyone. It did not matter as an older boy shoved his scrolls to the ground. Sending them spilling on the ground.

“What are you doing here, Commoner?” the boy who did it said as his friends laughed. “Haven’t you noticed that there are only nobles here?”

“I’sorry,” Deng Ai kept his head down as his cheeks became red. He dropped to his hands and knees to pick yp the scrolls. “I’ll leave.”

“Leave now, idiot!” the boy said. “Leave the crap and just go!”

Before Deng Ai could say anything, he was tackled onto his butt by an orange and red mass of fur. He straightened his glasses on his face as he looked at the Scorch Ape on him. “Shibi?”

“Shibi, if your going to race back to the dorm you need…” Zen froze when he nted that he was in a place full of kids. “Deng Ai?”

“Wang Zen.” Deng Ai said as he came back to his position on his hands and knees where he could collect the scrolls.

Shibi ran to Zen and climbed on his shoulder. Zen joined Deng Ai on the ground to help him collect the rest of the scrolls.

“Who is that kid?” Zen heard one of the boys say.

“Come on, you know Crooked Nose.” He heard the older boy who had been speaking to Deng Ai say plainly. “He’s the Wang kid. The pervert who spied on the City Lord’s daughter while she was taking a bath.”

“Oh! I know his not worth much but why is he helping this commoner trash?”

Zen was growing annoyed with the talk about him. Usually people would at least try to make sure he was out of earshot before talking about him but he bit his tongue and just collected the scrolls faster.

“The Wangs are not really nobles.” The older boy said and Zen could her the smirk on his face. “They are bribebloods, him and his creep of a dad.”

Zen’s head whipped to glare at the older boy. He recognised the other boys around, they used to be his “friends” when he and Chu Jiahai were still rolling with Bua.

“What?” the older boy said, opening his hands tauntingly.

Zen and Deng Ai got up, as Zen placed the last scroll in Deng Ai’s arms.

“Wang Zen. Wang Zen there’s no need fot this.” Deng Ai said. “Let’s just leave.”

Zen turned Deng Ai and his glare faded before he nodded.

They began to move before the older boy stood in their path, forcing them to stop.

“I don’t like the way you look at me, Bribeblood Punk.” The older boy said.

Zen’s glare returned and with t came his killing intent that he now made no effort to hold back. Shibi felt it and bared his fangs at the boy, while his body heat rose. The older boy blinked in surprise and stepped back. He then clenched his fists and his ki began roiling.

“Oh no,” Deng Ai said, unconcsciously stepping back from the two.

“What is going on here?”

Zen pulled his killing intent back and the older boy’s ki calmed, only Shibi was the one still ready for a battle. They both looked at Lou Shan.

“Nothing is going on, Ma’am.” The older boy said. “Just giving little brother here some pointers.”

Lou Shan looked at Zen who nodded.

“Fine.” Lou Shan said.

The older boy left.

Zen was about to do the same when Lou Shan called to him.

“Boy, wait!” Lou Shan said as she approached him. “I want to speak to you.”

Everyone scattered at that, leaving Zen and Shibi with Shan.

“Yes, ma’am?”

Lou Shan touched her Academy badge which had a storage stone embedded in it. A folded piece of paper appeared in her hands. “I am looking for a mask and I am told you may know where I can find it.” She showed Zen the page which had a picture of the mask.

Zen knew the mask well. It was the mask he had owned and then gave to Hue Yi as payment. “I-I don’t know that mask.”

“Really?” Lou Shan narrowed her eyes. “This mask has the ability to hide power levels. I’m told you own one of these expensive masks.”

“I do own one.” Zen touched the storage stone and produced the new mask his father had given him. “This is probably the mask you were told of.”

She narrowed her eyes at the long nosed mask. “And you do not know who may own the mask in question?”

Zen shook his head.

“Do you know why I’m asking you about this?”

Zen shook his head again.

“The Head of the City’s Enforcers was assinated 2 nights back.” Lou Shan said, looking at Zen to the point where he felt uncomfortable. “Do you know anything about it?” Her face came closer to his.

Zen stepped back. “Yes.”

She raised her eyebrow.

“I mean… everyone does!” Zen quickly explained. “You know, rumours and news. The Black Cloth Gang attacked the Head Enforcer of the city.”

“Yes, seems the Black Cloth Gang is what everyone has decided to call them.” Lou Shan said. “One of them was killed and though the body was burnt badly, they were still able to trace it. One of the members of the Black Cloth Gang is from the academy, so we believe more of them are among us.”

“I don’t know anything about that, ma’am.”

She narrowed her eyes then straightened up. “Stay close, Boy.” Lou Shan said walking away. “I may have questions for you later.”

Zen looked at Lou Shan was walking away under his breath, with a lot of annoyance, he said, “Hue Yi!”

Wang Zen walked into his dorm room. Deng Ai and Ao Li stared at him intently.

“What?”

“Deng Ai told me what happened.” Ao Li said. “So the Gargoyle got to you, huh?”

“The gargoyle?” Zen said.

“Lou Shan, man you’ve been gone for a long time.”

“Apparently.” Zen said. “What the heck, Deng Ai, you just left me there!”

“My apologies,” Deng Ai said, nerviously fixing the glasses on his face, “but I’m not messing with Miss Lou Shan.”

“So what did she want?”

“Heh, she asked me why I was gone for so long and how I plan on cacthing up.” He said as he walked to his bed.

“Heh, tough.” Ao Li said.

Wang Zen stroked Shibi’s head, not knowing what to who but he knew one thing, he needed to speak to Hue Yi.