Zheng approached Jun Nee. “Are you okay?” he asked her.

She nodded. “I’m fine.”

“I see the Li Family is here.” Zheng said.

“You say that with such hate,” Li Yue said, with an unfriendly smile. “I hope you are not holding a grudge over our first meeting.”

“You chased hard working commoners from their home and business,” Zheng said, narrowing his eyes. “Why would I not hold a grudge?”

“We were well within our rights to do so,” Li Yue said. “But maybe we can appease you? What family do you belong to?”

“The Yins.” Zheng said.

“Yin?” Li Yue looked at her entourage. “Have you heard of a noble family called the Yins?”

Both her companions shook their heads no.

“I’m not a noble.” Zheng said.

Li Yue’s expression changed to one of disgust. “You are some kind of nameless commoner? What makes you think you have the right to speak to me the way you have? Do not think just because you snuck in here that you can get away with challenging a Li Yue?”

Zen stepped up. “If he does challenge you, know that he has my support.” He said, glaring at her. Shibi’s growl added to his threat. “Or do the Li family need a reminder of who I am?”

“Who do you think you are?” the well-built member of Yue’s entourage said. “How much sway can an ugly boy who can’t even tame that pathetic thing on his shoulder?”

Li Yue raised her hand to shut him up. “This is Wang Zen, son of the City Lord, correct?”

“Yes, and you are? I’m sorry, I don’t think you introduced yourself the last time you attacked me.”

Li Yue smiled. “Let officially introduce myself and my family. Papa!” she called out.

“Yes, daughter?” A man appeared. He had golden hair and was dressed in a fine tunic.

“Have you met, Wang Zen, son of the City Lord.” Li Yue said, gesturing to Zen.

“Shibi,” Zen said.

Shibi instantly calmed down, hiding his teeth.

“Ah, nice to meet you young man.” The man said. “I hope you and our family can be close… what is that?”

“This is my companion, Shibi.” Zen said.

“What kind of name is Shibi?” the man said with mirth. “And he is not even under a contract? He is probably not worthy but if you find a beast worthy to have a contract with you, you can come to us. We have some great beast tamers.”

“Thanks,” Zen half heartedly said.

“I know your family is struggling, especially with burden of the position of the City Lord.” Li said. “So when you hit the bottom, the Lis will always be here.”

Zen narrowed his eyes but kept quiet while Li Yue smirked.

“Wait, we’re struggling?” Wang Lin said. Her mouth was full of food as she spoke. “Weird, ever since I became City Lord we’ve been drowning in food and paperwork.”

Wang Lin tossed a piece of braaied meat into her mouth.

“You are not complaining about my rule, are you, Mr. Li?” Wang Lin’s power rose dangerously, engulfing both of them and causing the eyes in the room to be drawn to them. “For you are the last person I would accept any of that talk from.”

“Of course not, Miss Wang.” He said, giving her a charming smile.

“Good,” her power calmed. “W should really let these kids do their thing.” She smiled. “They probably don’t want to hear the boring adults talk.”

“Of course,” Mr Li said, nodding to his daughter and her friends to dismiss them.

Wang Lin leaned down to Zen and whispered to them. “Try to behave, Kiddo.”

“Mhm,” Zen said.

“You too Shibi.”

“Ook,” Shibi said.

Zen and his friends also left.

The three friends tried to stay together as much as possible but Jun Nee still had to work.

“Girl!” Li Yue said when she saw Jun Nee. “My friends and I want drinks.” She snapped her fingers, “Be quick about it!”

“Yes, Ma’am.” Jun Nee said before running off to get their order.

Li Yue looked at Zen and Zheng and smiled at them.

Jun Nee came back. “Here are your drinks, Ma’am.” She said.

“Are these it?” Li Yue said, looking at the drinks, unimpressed. “You stupid girl, we wanted Cherry flavoured juice, not Litchi! This will not do, get us other drinks, NOW!” She shood Jun Nee away.

Zheng was getting physically annoyed at how they were treating Jun Nee.

Li Yue could see the annoyance in both boys and blew them a kiss.

“Zen’er, would I ever be invited back here if I sock her in the face?” Zheng said to Zen.

“Not being invited back would be the best case scenario.” Zen said. “Better not risk it in case you get the worst case scenario.”

Jun Nee cam back with glasses of red liquid. Li Yue saw her and bumped her elbow against the tray that she had the drinks balanced on. They tray tipped over, spilling the contents of the drinks on her dress.

“You stupid, clumsy girl!” Li Yue spat.

Zen and Zheng rushed over to her side.

“Wang Zen, you and your family really should find better help.” Li Yue said.

“I saw what you did,” Zheng said marching at them.

Li Yue’s two friends stepped forward to meet him.

“What did I do, Dirt Boy?” Li Yue said.

Zheng clenched his fists but Zen stopped him from raising them. Zen smiled at Li Yue, “You’re very sly, aren’t you Li Yue? You pick on my friend just to get to us. Real sly… real cowardly.”

“Like I care what you think about me.”

“Of course you don’t,” Zen said. “Why would a dishonourable coward care what their betters think.”

Li Yue smiled, but it trembled in annoyance. “You think you are my better.”

“I said ‘we’” Zen repeated. “Including Jun Nee.” He helped Jun Nee to her feet. “Of course, you could always prove us wrong.”

“Huh?”

“A sparring match. One of you against one of us.”

“A sparring match?” Li Yue thought for a bit. “That’s stupid. We are true blood nobles, we would win.”

“Care to make a wager on that?” Zen said. “How about that pretty sword you had at the market.”

“What?” Li Yue touched a storage stone and brought forth the sword in question. It glinted in the light of the hall. “This sword was crafted by a famous smith in Bronze Cauldron Province. We paid a pretty penny to have it and other weapons to be imported over. What could you possibly have to wage against this?”

“A weapon forged by the greatest smith.” Zen said. “Shibi!”

Shibi grabbed his storage stone and touched it, bringing out the Zen Blade.

“A short dao?” Li Yue said unimpressed.

“Not good enough? Then maybe my one of my father’s greatest creation.” Zen said.

Shibi touched the storage stone again. Light came out and a mask appeared in Zen’s hand. It was blue mask with red trimmings and a long nose.

“Is… Is that a power level hiding mask?”

Zen nodded. “So, you game?”

Li Yue smiled. “Definitely!”

“Then let’s take this outside.”