“ZenZen…! ZenZen…!”

Zen could hear the voice and his eyes opened. He could see his mother, Ling, as well as Jun Nee standing over him.

“Mom,” he groaned, “I told you not to call me that.”

“Never,” she says as she and Jun Nee help him sit up. She then turned her eyes to Ding Wu. “What the hell are you doing? Hurting my boy like that!”

“Mom, it was a fair match,” Zen said. “A fair match he won.”

“Sorry, Ma’am City Lord,” Ding Wu also got up from his position on the ground. “And Master Wang, I didn’t win. You did. You’re kick knocked me out.”

Zen shook his head, “Well your electricity knocked me out.”

Ding Wu smirked, “Then allow me to call it a draw. If you had mastered your Wind Elemental, I might have lost.”

“I doubt it,” Zen said, also getting up and walking towards Ding Wu. “You were holding back. That last attack was your full capabilities.”

“Perhaps but I guess we’ll never know unless you get more experience in using your elemental abilities.” Ding Wu said. “How about this, let’s make one more warrior’s promise. Once you get to my level, Master Rank 7, we’ll have one more fight.”

Zen stretched out his fist. Ding Wu bumped fists with him.

“Alright, now go change, son.” Ling said.

“Alright, Mom.” Zen said as he began walking toward the house. He was passing by the man and Yin and Yan who were watching his match.

“Yo, step dad!” Zen said, raising his hand in greeting.

The man rolled his eyes in annoyance. “Wang Zen. I see you have not learned any manners on your journey.”

“Yin and Yan!” Zen greeted the little twins. “How have you been keeping?”

“Well, Brother Zen.” Both Yin and Yan nodded.

The older man glared at Zen’s back as he and Shibi entered the house.

Zen changed into more elegant clothes. Shibi also wore a white vest that Jun Nee had made for him.

There was a light knock on the door. “Zen’er, are you descent?”

“Yep!”

Jun Nee walked in. She smiled when she saw him. “You look good.”

“I hope so, cause I feel very uncomfortable.” Zen said, rotating his shoulder.

“You have a visitor waiting for you in the dining hall.”

“Which one?”

“The one where we meet external service men.”

“Yeah… which one?”

Jun Nee sighed, “Just follow me.”

Zen, Shibi and Jun Nee walked together while trading stories.

They entered the hall. Zen saw an older gentleman standing the hall. He had silver hair and neatly trimmed beard with a light grey clothes and a red band around his left shoulder.

The man clasped his hands and bowed to Zen and Jun Nee and they bowed back.

“Master Wang, this is Zei, a worker of the Delivery Stork Sect.”

Zen raised an eyebrow in confusion. “Delivery Stork Sect? I’ve never heard of that sect. What battles have you fought in.”

“The Stork Sect is purely delivery, they don’t take missions like most other sects.” Jun Nee said. “They mostly focus on delivery missions and they have quite a high success rate.” She leaned in and whispered, “And very expensive.”

Zen frowned. “I don’t know anyone who would hire your services to deliver anything to me.”

He produced a high quality black storage stone. He touched the stone and produced an elegant maroon and golden box. Zen took the box and opened it, seeing a letter inside. Zen took the letter.

“Shibi, please hold this for me.” Zen handed the box over to Shibi.

Shibi sniffed the box then tossed it behind him where it clattered noisily on the ground.

Zen sighed in annoyance at the sound while unfolding the letter and reading it to himself:

Dear Wang Zen

I hope this letter finds you well. I am ashamed that this is the first letter of contact it is to ask you for a favour.

My people and I have come into tough times, we have barely survived an attack from our enemies. We currently have no food or water, nor any resources to keep alive. I have spent all I have on a gamble, this gamble. Please provide us with food, water and any other resources to help a struggling people survive.

Thank you in advance.

Your Friend

Lu Daomeng.

Zen smile on his face. “I haven’t heard from this man in a while.” He looked at the old man. “Mister Zei, do you know where the man who sent this letter is?”

“Sadly, I do not, Sir.” Zei said.

“Is that the correct question?” Jun Nee said.

Zen looked at her in confusion.

“Mister Zei, can you deliver to the man who sent this letter?” Jun Nee asked the old man.

“Yes, that I can do.”

Zen thanked Jun Nee with a nod. “Jun Nee, can you organise a large amount of food, water and seeds by tomorrow?”

“Yes, Master Wang.” She said.

“Please do. I’ll organise a few things from my side as well.” Zen turned to Zei. “Mister Zei, please await a day, while I gather the things I want you to deliver. You can stay in our guestroom.”

The old man clasped and bowed. “Thank you, Sir.”

Zen smiled, knowing he was going to be able to help his old teacher.