"Zen."

Hearing his name, Zen turned at the same time his master, who had been walking at his side, looked over his shoulder.

Huang calmly stepped up to him as he reached into his sleeve, retrieving something before holding it out to him.

My fan!

Zen snatched the item out of his hands immediately, but then realized his rudeness and felt his face warm slightly.

"You left it behind by mistake when we suddenly had to flee my pavilion and head south. I found it when Lee Shaan and I briefly searched for anything that could be of use against my father before heading your way. It seemed to have fallen from the table," Huang said, making Zen nod in response.

"I thank you for returning it to me," he said, then paused.

When prince Yuen raised an eyebrow at the sudden awkward silence between them, Zen licked his lips and slowly lowered himself down to one knee as he lifted his arms so that his left hand could grasp his right one after tilting his fan downward. He then bowed his head respectfully.

"This humble servant also thanks his highness, Yuen Huang, for all of his help in keeping my master safe, and for returning this important gift to me."

Their entire group was silent as Zen felt Qi gently settle a hand atop his head and sift his fingers through his soft hair. When he finally looked up, prince Yuen lifted his own arms and bowed his head with a half-smirk upon his face.

"You are welcome, little guard. Now then, let's finish this so that this tired curse master may finally rest in peace," he said before reaching down and helping Zen back to his feet.

He was about to respond, but Zen slowly closed his mouth as Lee Shaan walked over and grabbed one of prince Yuen's arms and began tugging him forward at an uncomfortable pace as he grumbled, "like hell I'd ever let you rest in peace."

Zen watched them disappear around a corner as he awkwardly tucked his fan into his sleeve. He was just glancing sideways at his master when he was promptly turned, then tugged into a surprisingly-strong hug.

"My sweet love, please be safe during this fight. I will do everything within my power to protect you until the end," Qi said as Zen blushed and pressed his forehead against his master's warm chest, then, feeling a little more courageous than he normally did, likely thanks to Xisheng's fusion within him, he tilted his head upward and pressed a kiss his master's neck.

Qi jumped the slightest bit, making Zen snicker abruptly as he leaned back with a knowing grin. His master's face was tinted pink as he rubbed at the spot he'd just kissed, seemingly in a slight daze.

"Let us go, love," Zen said with a wink that immediately snapped the confused look from his master's face.

Zen tugged Qi forward as he continued to walk sidewalks, unwilling to let the man's embarrassed expression leave his line of sight.

"L-love...?" Qi whispered after a few moments of stunned silence.

Widening his grin, Zen squeezed the hand he'd taken gently, then stopped and lifted it to his lips for a soft kiss as his eyes watched the man before him.

"I will free my master from his life of stress and worry with this final, decisive battle... then I will take him to his bed and—" his lips were abruptly sealed by two of Qi's fingers pressing against them.

Perhaps he had taken things a bit too far, but now that he could talk, he was finding it quite hard not to tease his master relentlessly. The blush that lit up his cheeks was just too beautiful, and considering that it was created by him? He wanted to see it, always.

"L-let's not talk of such things right now," Qi said, fumbling over his own words as he quickly walked ahead of Zen, switching their positions as he began tugging him along.

Grinning, Zen took his fan out and looked at it as he obediently let his master pull him forward. The item would definitely be useful to him, and he really did appreciate having it returned. He gave it a quick try as he flicked it to the side of the path they were walking upon, his face lighting up with a newfound hope as the gentle movement of his wrist easily blew about the scattered leaves as if a strong gust of wind had blown in from above.

He practiced continuously as he was tugged along until they came upon the steps of the palace. Bodies littered the ground, but Qi did not waste any time examining them to try and help. If they were not dead right that moment, they would be soon. Prince Yuen and Lee Shaan had not been merciful.

They continued up the stairs, but right as they set foot in the open entryway, a blast of dark energy forced Qi to whirl around, snatch Zen into his arms, then pin them both to the doorjamb as the spiritual attack singed the back of his master's robes. They didn't wait for another attack to come their way and quickly broke apart before darting inside and running in opposite directions.

Zen immediately channeled some of his light energy into his feet as he blurred around the massive room. He took stock of who else was currently there, and the emperor, Mingsu, was easily the most prevalent at its center. While the man had looked like a complacent emperor sitting upon his throne during their initial meeting, now he swung a dark purple staff over his head as a tornado of dark magic surged around him!

The burst of darkness that had been shot at them when they'd tried to enter the large hall the first time had clearly come from Mingsu, who was currently directing several tendrils towards everyone in the room simultaneously. Zen easily dodged whatever came his way while continuing to scope out the area.

Ah, prince Yuen is in the far corner with Lee Shaan.

They seemed like they'd almost been trapped over there, considering the damage to the surrounding walls and floor, but since the emperor's attention now had to be split, they were given enough of a reprieve to move again.

Zen dodged a particularly-large blast aimed his way before sliding to an abrupt stop, then darting straight for the middle of the room. He unfurled his fan as he moved, channeling his dark energy into the device before swinging it toward the emperor!

He hadn't been sure how the weapon would handle a sudden change in energy supplied to it, but when a massive tornado of black fire surged to life and surrounded Mingsu, Zen's eyes widened at the same time an excited grin spread across his lips.

I hope master is watching!

He knew that it was most improper to think such a selfish thing during a serious battle, but he just couldn't help being giddy at his new ability!

"Pay attention, Zen!" came prince Yuen's yell as the man abruptly appeared before him, blocking a piercing javelin of energy that Zen hadn't even noticed shooting straight through his tornado of fire.

Both of them were suddenly yanked backwards a second later, pulled halfway across the room by two black, fluctuating spiritual ropes before Lee Shaan let them dissipate with a scowl.

Right, excitement later.

He returned his focus to their fight just in time to swing his fan and send a gust of light energy to counter Mingsu's burst of darkness that was heading straight toward them. The man's attack easily overwhelmed his own in a matter of seconds, shattering it and sending him flying backwards in the blink of an eye. He braced himself for the impact, but when he simply bounced off of something that abruptly dispersed upon him hitting it, absorbing most of the damage in the process, Zen jerked open his eyes and easily landed in a crouch, a bit bewildered until he noticed his master far behind the emperor in a defensive stance.

Master saved me...

Grinning, Zen slowly stood back up as Mingsu began building up his energy for another attack. This time, however, he was clearly intent on splitting it between the four of them.

"You think that just because you've convinced my son to fight by your side, that you will be able to defeat me? I raised that despondent boy into a master of death, and yet his allegiance still wavers before a worthless, exiled prince!"

Prince Yuen stepped forward at his father's words and gave the man a partial bow before straightening with his head held high.

"My allegiance has never wavered. His highness, Han Qi, prince and heir to the throne of Han, has always been where my loyalty lies. There is not, nor shall there ever be, another person I would give my life for," he said as he held his blade up, pointing it directly at his father.

"False emperor Yuen Mingsu, step down now and we shall spare your life," Huang said, his words strong and determined, but they shook the slightest amount as he spoke.

Zen couldn't blame him. He'd never known his own father or mother, but he could only imagine how hard it must be to threaten the man who raised you with immanent death. He knew that it was impossible to suggest he try anything else, though. Mingsu had known what would happen should they reach him, and now that they were there, a fight to the death was the only way he'd give up his throne.

While he, himself, wasn't one for vengeance and had no interest in grudges, the man had continuously targeted his master with the intent to kill, so Zen had no qualms about tucking his fan away and unsheathing his own weapon as he lifted it into a fighting stance.

When Mingsu simply smirked and lifted his black staff, dark energy swirling around it like a coiling serpent, prince Yuen knew that he had his answer. The hurt in his eyes was plain to see, but he did not try to hide it as he darted forward. His blade clashed with his father's staff repeatedly as the false emperor turned the ground beneath their feet a pitch black color.

"Let's go, little guard," Lee Shaan said from behind him as one of his big arms wrapped around Zen's middle right before he abruptly jumped upward, yanking him high up into the air before they settled onto an empty dusty pedestal that had likely held a statue upon it at some point in time.

Zen looked across the massive hall to see that his master had done the same, but instead of finding a pedestal, he was hanging onto a length of tapestry. He quickly redirected his attention when he noticed Mingsu immediately turn toward Qi and begin gesturing slowly toward the ground, as if stirring the dark energy pools beneath his feet with his staff.

When, after a few moments, something caught Zen's eye a few feet away from the man, he nervously glanced toward it, only for whatever it was to quickly slink back beneath the murky pools of energy.

What is that...?

A deep, reverberating sound echoed throughout the hall, the timbre making the pedestal beneath their feet shiver.

"Wait, where did prince Yuen go?" he asked, suddenly aware that the son had suddenly vanished after attempting to spar with his father.

Zen quickly looked around the area, but even from their perfect vantage point, he could see no trace of the dark prince.

"I've got him," Lee Shaan said as he knelt down next to him to look over the edge.

That's when Zen noticed a faint, barely-visible chain wrapped around Lee Shaan's right hand. He looked down again, following the faint line as it seemed to be slowly moving around beneath the floor down below.

Is he... in a lair?

"His father's?" Zen questioned as he sheathed his sword and pulled out his fan once more.

Lee Shaan nodded, but seemed slightly unsure, too. So he was in a lair, but which one wasn't discernable. Not minding his reaction, since prince Yuen was at least still alive, Zen slowly rose back to his feet and narrowed his eyes on his new target. He had no doubt that Lee Shaan knew his intentions, but he didn't bother trying to stop him. He wasn't sure if he could do it or not, but that didn't stop Zen from lunging off the edge of their perch, then, as he turned in mid-air, swung his fan back toward Lee Shaan. The man braced himself against the wall as a strong gust of wind slammed into him, propelling Zen clear across the large open hall.

I actually did it!

He was just descending down toward his master, relieved that he would again be close enough to protect him better, when he heard a gurgling, hissing rumble suddenly sound from below. The volume of it grew exponentially louder before a massive snake-like dragon erupted from the darkness directly beneath him.

It's jaws parted as row after row of dagger-like teeth formed in anticipation of its first meal! Zen's heart hammered hard against his ribs as he noticed his master trying to help him, but he couldn't focus enough on his abilities while hanging upon the tapestry, nor could he create a barrier strong enough to withstand such a beast in just a few short seconds.

Zen was just about to try building up as much energy as he could into his fan to try and strike at the monstrous beast's open maw when he suddenly heard a loud hiss ring out from within his mind.

Xisheng?

Without hesitating, because he truly did not have the time to do so, Zen allowed Xisheng to take complete control of his body as purple scratches clawed apart the skin on the left side of his face from underneath, giving the appearance of jagged whiskers on that side. His body began to heat up exponentially as little zaps of electricity danced within him, making his muscles twitch as Xisheng threw his right arm down toward the approaching dragon and growled through Zen's mouth.

In an instant it felt like all of the air left in his lungs was suddenly sucked out as the area around the massive beast seemed to fluctuate abruptly, then pulse with purple electricity. The creature made it another meter or so before it suddenly stopped, suspended in midair with its lower half still fused within the swirling mass of darkness that was the floor.

We... stopped it?

Zen's eyes were as wide as his master's when they looked at each other. He remembered Xisheng being able to suspend Ashong in midair briefly during their fight within the forest, but he'd never thought that such a skill would be useful against such a massive opponent, nor had he thought that he'd be able to use it after they'd fused bodies!

"Come here, my Zen!" Qi called as he reached out his free hand toward him.

A smile slid onto Zen's lips as he turned, somehow still suspended within midair, then leaped forward toward his master. Qi caught him easily, then shot a burst of light energy out to meet one of Mingsu's frustrated attacks after Zen quickly grabbed onto the tapestry so that his master's hand was free once more. It was clear that the man was irate with his suddenly-frozen dragon, because even though he hadn't taken much damage, his attacks were becoming more unstable by the second.

Zen quickly joined his master in attacking with his own borrowed light energy, sending sharp gales to surround the man at the same time Lee Shaan's form began to waver where he remained crouched upon the pedestal. He wasn't sure what he was doing, but Zen kept up with his master's barrage for several minutes until a loud roar shook the room and drew everyone's attention toward a massive pure-black tiger.

Is that... his spiritual familiar? But that's also him...

He hadn't been aware that the man even had a familiar, and considering prince Yuen's? The tiger was easily twenty times bigger as it began to stalk down the walls, seemingly having no issue with gravity as its muscles flexed and its glowing, bright yellow eyes bore down on Mingsu. The false emperor turned toward his dragon and gestured harshly downward. The beast's form shook as it fought to break free of Zen's gravitational ability, eventually shattering it with a roar as it hurriedly darted back down beneath the pitch black floor.

"The dark portions of the floor are shrinking," Qi noted beside him as Zen looked off toward the further side of the room, surprised to see that his master was right.

Is he running out of energy?

Pushing aside the thought, because it didn't matter until the man was actually out of energy, Zen fanned himself twice with his spiritual device, then smirked as he suddenly tucked it tightly against his left shoulder, then swung it out over the expansive area toward Lee Shaan's tiger. The beast seemed to need no help understanding what he planned to do, and with each swing of Zen's fan, the tiger darted across the air, easily moving from invisible platform to invisible platform.

The floor shook as the dragon beneath it gave out an angry bellow, seemingly following the spiritual creature until, finally, burst free of it right beneath Lee Shaan's tiger! The giant black cat quickly darted off of the invisible wind platform and onto another in response, then leaped to another a moment later, allowing it to dodge as it read Zen's movements perfectly to keep itself from falling down onto Mingsu's fluctuating floor. His attention was so focused on keeping Lee Shaan's tiger safe that when a massive blue owl suddenly broke through part of the damaged ceiling, he couldn't pay it any mind.

"Do not worry about the bird, love. I will protect you," Qi said as he stabbed his sword into the wall, then settled down onto it in order to finally free his hand from holding onto the tapestry.

Zen carefully lowered himself behind his master before the man gently helped him take the foremost position, allowing him to continue focusing on Lee Shaan. Oddly enough, it seemed like the bird was apparently distracted, to some degree, because it didn't head straight for them, but instead found itself circling overhead. It's attention seemed to focus on him, but since it wasn't attacking, he didn't bother with worrying right then.

"Let's take care of this before it decides to attack," Qi said, earning a nod from Zen as he lunged forward at the same time Lee Shaan's tiger blurred past. He just-barely managed to snag a handful of the beast's black fur around its scruff and swing onto its back before it roared loudly and landed on one of the small portions of dilapidated floor where Mingsu's dark curse had recently retreated.

Zen unsheathed his sword as the tiger turned toward the dragon aiming to swallow it whole. Channeling his dark energy, Zen quickly mixed it together with what remained of his light energy and slashed straight for the inside of the dragon's mouth, sending a harsh blast toward it. At the same time, Lee Shaan's beast hunched down and to the left side, making Zen confused for the fraction of a second it took him to realize what the man was doing. Fragments of the floor pooled together with materializing shards of black ice moments before the tiger slashed upward and to the right, bringing with it a massive wave of frigid debris and dark energy straight toward the dragon that had come too close, too quickly, to dodge!

The dragon fractured with a scream that sounded like a surprising mix of Mingsu's rough voice and the dragon's natural roar. At the same time, the darkness upon the floor shrunk back a considerable amount as it reabsorbed the massive, downed beast. Mingsu turned his attention to retracting what remained of his spiritual energy from the beast as Qi found his way to them before quickly setting up multiple barriers.