Wang Zen had spent another day training. If anything, he was training harder than ever, since he heard the Black Mark were resuming their activities again. His body burned in exhaustion and he collapsed.

“No, I need to continue.” He said, as he forced himself to his feet. “I need to be better if I am going to be better than… him.” He thought of his former friend Yin Zheng.

He continued to train until he had a major breakthrough. A few hours later, he was done. He sat down, meditated while his body recovered to be strong enough to walk to his mother’s office, next to him, Shibi did the same. When they began to make their way to his mother’s office, he saw two soldiers carrying a big bronze disc.

It took a moment for Zen to realise that the giant disc was a scrying disc, the biggest one he had ever seen. He followed the two soldiers. They found a small hall, with a fountain in center where crystal water flowed forth.

This was the first time Zen had seen this place but at this point, he was not surprised. He suspected he would be finding new places at the City Lord Mansion for years to come.

“Master Wang,” Ding Wu said approaching him.

“Ding Wu,” Zen said. “What’s this about?” He gestured to the men setting up the disc.

He kept his mouth shut, as if deciding whether to tell Zen or not. He sighed. “Seems Ma’am City Lord has received a message.”

“A message?” Zen said. “From who? Is it the Empire?”

Ding Wu shook his head. “It is from the Black Mark.”

Zen’s eyes widened in shock and confusion. “Why would they want to contact my mother?”

“That is what we’re hoping to find out.” He said. “Ma’am City Lord has been called; she should join shortly.”

“Oh well,” Zen said. “I guess we’ll just wait for mommy here, huh Shibi?”

Shibi nodded his head.

Wang Lin came into the room a little later. Behind her was her father, Jao and Jun Nee, who was carrying a stack of papers.

“Mommy!” Zen said.

“Hey, ZenZen!” she said. “How was you’re training today?”

Zen was excitedly shifting his weight from one foot to another. “I did it, Mommy! I mastered Dash Tackle!”

Her eyes widened and a smile spread across her face. “That’s great news, Kiddo!” She ruffled her hair. “Maybe we should have another sparring match?”

“Really?” Zen said with a smile. “That would be great, Mommy! When can we have it?”

“Well… uhm…” she opened and closed her mouth a few times, and with each, her expression grew more confused as if trying to recall an important fact. “Let me ask Jun Nee.” She said before calling the girl over.

Jun Nee came to her side, carefully balancing the stacks of papers in her arms as not to crease or drop them. “Yes, Ma’am?”

“When will I be free for a little sparring match with my kiddo?” she said, playfully punching Zen’s arms.

Zen and Shibi could not help but giggle at this.

Jun Nee listed all the commitments and deadlines she had as best as she could. It took a few minutes but then she was finally done.

Wang Lin turned to her son with a smile on her face. “You hear that, Kiddo?” she said. “Seems we can have that sparring match as soon as you turn 31!”

His shoulders drooped at this. “Yay,” he said, unenthusiastically.

“Daughter,” Jao said, “Could you please be more serious. I for one am interested in what the Black Mark has to say.”

“They are pretty arrogant,” Zen said, “Sending a message to the City Lord.”

Lin nodded. “This is a show of power and a show of how much resources they have under their command.” She said. “They could have easily left the message with the Water Elementalist Communication guild or even send a small scrying disc but they want to be elaborate.” She folded her arms in front of her chest. “Fine, let us see what these Black Mark stooges have to say to tehri City Lord.”

That was the command needed for one of the soldiers to hear. The soldier opened a box with a recording stone. He touched the stone to the giant scrying disc and its surface began to ripple. The image of a man appeared. Zen guessed that he was his mother’s age, he had brown hair, serious black eyes and two scars, running parallel across his cheek, one longer than the other.

“City Lord Wang Lin, my name is Hei of the Black Mark.” Hei said. “I am here to offer you a proposal… more of an ultimatum if you will. I trust you have seen what we have done to your allies? I burnt down the Li Family’s mansion and made them pay for their hubris against the commoners.”

Zen raised an eyebrow. The Li Family were not their allies.

“I also attacked the Lifu family for their hubris in speaking badly about us and the plight of the commoner.” The recoding of Hei continued. “You have seen our power and I hope you consider it as you make your decision between the two choices presented before you. The first choice, is you confiscate the wealth and fortune of every noble family. For the money that they greedily horde was obtained from the sweat and backs of the commoner folk that they took advantage of to enrich themselves. You will then hand over the confiscated funds to the Black Mark to redistribute the money to the commoners of this city. Next you will proclaim that the Empire’s system is flawed and the only way to fix it is to demolish the Empire itself. You will then step down from your position as City Lord.”

Zen scoffed at this choice. Even if his mother was somehow able to do all of the things Hei demanded, she would not only lose her job but the Empire would make sure that she loses her head! So, is this the negotiating you spoke of, Yin Zheng? Zen thought to himself.

“You’re second option,” Hei continued, “is to test my strength. Rest assured, it is not something you will survive. Search for my name, you will hear that I have already killed two City Lords in the most brutal fashion.”

Jun Nee gasped at this.

“If you go against me, I will do to you what I did to the Li Family and the Lifu family but yours will be 10 times worse, 10 times more humiliating and 10 times more brutal. So,” the man smirked at this, “for the sake of your grandfather, the old Jao and your son, Wang Zen, I hope you make the correct decision.”

The screen rippled again, as Hei’s image completely vanished.

Zen began feeling a killing intent permeating across the room. He looked towards the source and saw his mother. Her face was turning a slight shade of red, her fists were clenched tight and her ki and Elemental Energy roiled in her body, creating visible blurs around her.

“That man thinks he can threaten my family and get away with it?” she said. “He has another thing coming.” She looked at the guards. “Prepare yourselves,” her voice boomed, “we’re going to war against the Black Mark!”