Chapter 57: Teaching A Fish How To Swim
What Zen had accomplished was far beyond Roger's understanding of marrow refining level. 'After chasing after the queen blade locust, in the insane manner Zen did, he not only survived but dealt with her and brought back her crystal core!' contemplated Roger in awe.
His mouth formed a thin, sour line. “You talk a big talk, and it sounds great, but, it's just empty talk!” he said chuckling abruptly, his head bobbing so hard that the ponytail in the back of his head shook. “But... ” There was a serious look on Roger's face. He paused and then added, “I like it! You're very ambitious, Zen. So, I have decided to get involved and help you with this mess!”
At Roger's acceptance to help, Zen's face lit up.
Almost nothing was unsolvable when one of the top seven noble clans was involved because no one would dare push back except another member of the same elite class. So, since Roger consented to assist in resolving the issue, things would go much smoother.
“One thing though, Zen. What did you mean when you told me that Fren the loony had attempted to kill you multiple times?” Roger asked unexpectedly.
“It's sort of a long story. My dispute with the Zhuge family came about during the Blooded Test at the Cloud Sect,” stated Zen. After a brief pause, he recounted the stories of what happened that got Chad kicked out from the Blooded Test and how he severely beat Fren the loony's steward, Thomas at Drizzle Peak.
With Roger staying to lend a hand with things, Sun gave up his plans to leave, even though he knew his presence wouldn't really do much. Everyone acted for their reasons, and in Sun's case, he decided, 'Since Roger thinks highly of Zen, there's no harm in befriending him!'
Shortly thereafter, the three turned in, sleeping the rest of the night soundly, and the next morning, first thing, the three men strode to the Dragon Fort's center.
Housed in the Dragon Fort were thousands of barracks for squads, and the main barracks were surrounded in the middle.
Standing before the gates that led to the main barracks were two rows of stoic soldiers at attention, clutching spears and expressionless.
As the trio reached the gates, a soldier snapped to life and shouted, “You have no business here! You need to leave!”
With an air of authority, Roger took two steps towards the soldier and calmly said, “I'm here to see Jon Gou.”
“Officer Gou?” asked the soldier, the determined look on the soldier's face softening the instant Roger spoke the name Jon Gou.
Any man, who referred to a superior by full name, wouldn't be just some ordinary person, and what was more, he uttered it casually, as if he were merely summoning one of his servants?!
Immediately, the soldier became polite and deferential. He tossed his spear to the nearest soldier and bowed to the three disciples. “Officer Gou is in the main barracks, now. If you could give me your name, I will inform him of your arrival, okay?” the soldier asked respectfully.
“You can tell him that Roger is requesting to see him.” Roger had an inflection of tedium.
After the soldier got Roger's name, he scurried off to the main barracks.
A short time passed before the soldier came back into view. He was smiling appealingly as he sauntered back.
His smile and even strut were because when he told Jon Gou, who was usually aloof, that Roger wanted to see him, he grew enthusiastic—more so than the soldier had ever seen, and even repeated his response, saying, “Yes, show them in at once! Yes, show them in at once!”
Not being naive, the soldier understood immediately that Roger was some big shot!
“If you three would follow me, please. Officer Gou is in the main barracks waiting to receive you!” announced the soldier happily.
Following the soldier, Zen, Roger, and Sun walked through the main compound and were soon in front of Jon Gou.
Seeing Roger, Jon Gou was all smiles and warmly said, “Young Master Roger, why didn't you tell me that you are at the Dragon Fort? If I had known, I would have prepared a nice treat for you!”
While he gushed and fussed happily, Jon Gou received a lukewarm response in return. “The south has such poor products though, aside from blade locusts, what does the Dragon Fort have?” quipped Roger coolly. “What treat would you offer me?”
Even though he was given the cold shoulder, Jon Gou beamed happily. “That's not true,” he retorted halfheartedly. “The south has specialties all its own, Young Master Roger. You can't speculate that...”
“Cut the garbage! Enough pleasantries, I've come because I have business with you,” Roger cut in, impatiently, not caring how Jon Gou would feel. “You've got a Martin Lu here, right?”
Jon Gou's expression became serious, and he nodded, “Yes, he's the leader of the Green Haze Group. Are you here for him, Young Master Roger?”
“Yes, release him,” Roger ordered as he gave a small nod.
When Jon Gou heard Roger's request, he hesitated and stated, “Young Master Roger, I'm obligated to accept your orders.” Then pausing a moment, he stared into Roger's eyes and added, “However, while it would be a small thing to release Martin, please let me remind you...”
“Yes, I am aware,” Roger impatiently cut Jon Gou off again. Even before Jon Gou finished, Roger knew what he was about to say.
“But, the Zhuge family...” Jon Gou blurted out, unsure if Roger truly understood what he was trying to say.
“I know that Jon, I already told you that!” snapped Roger, his face set and hard.
Immediately, Jon Gou nodded briskly and said, “Well alright then, if you insist, I won't worry about it, Young Master. Follow me!”
He led the three men deeper into the main barracks.
Deep in the main grounds, there was a courtyard, where four people sat at a blue stone table. It was laden with fruits, wine, meat, and many other tasty foods.
While the imperial army was permitted drinking, it wasn't allowed in the barracks, and anyone caught would face disciplinary action.
But, the four men were sitting around drinking, unconcerned that they were violating the rules.
“Actually, we should drink a toast to you, Randall!” Liam said laughing as he went on, “Without you, things wouldn't have gone so smoothly!” Raising his glass, Liam then chugged his drink down.
To the toast offered, Randall He tilted his head back and let the wine slide into his lopsided mouth before casually saying, “Don't mention it, Master Fren entrusted the assignment to me, and it was a piece of cake.”
“Was it easy? We've been stuck in this barren place for three days so far, and we still have a few more days before we can leave!” the Black Fiend complained irritably as he grabbed the wine jug roughly and drank from it.
“I know,” agreed the White Fiend, “I should've beaten him to death, then, we wouldn't be sitting here, waiting around!”
“No, you two, it's not as simple as that. When there's a death of a Cloud Sect's disciple that is suspicious in the Dragon Fort jurisdiction, the Dragon Fort doesn't sit idly by,” remarked Randall He. “Zen's body hasn't been found yet, but, the queen blade locust was chasing him, so he must be dead by now!”
Liam nodded, adding, “Zen's a tough guy, but he won't survive against the queen blade locust. We just need to be patient for a few more days, and then we can inform Master Fren the assignment is completed.” With a smile on his lips, he raised his glass and said, “Cheers, cheers!”
Oblivious to Zen and the others approaching, the four men sat around, drinking, toasting each other and bragging about their accomplishments.
As he neared the table, Jon Gou called out, “Hello Randall. You seem to be enjoying your drink quite a bit.” He stepped in front of the men seated, sniffing the air and with a big grin on his face, he said heartily, “How delightful!”
“What do you want, Jon?” demanded Randall He, scowling at Jon Gou. Fully aware that Jon Gou would not come to see him socially, Randall He knew he had an agenda.
When Liam looked up from his wine and glimpsed Zen, his eyes bulged, and his mouth opened slightly, in shock. “How? Zen! You! You're not dead!?” Liam half-accused, half-asked with alarm in his voice.
Liam's question got the attention of Randall He, White Fiend and Black Fiend. None of those three had met Zen before and they looked over at him now.
Like Liam, they were awestruck at Zen being alive.
Since the last report they had gotten was that the queen blade locust was chasing after him, they naturally assumed he wouldn't survive.
It was what they were just talking about, and the reason for their celebration!
Yet, here was Zen standing in front of them and very much alive!
The shock and confusion they felt were too challenging to put into words.
“I was wondering who was behind this. It was you! Very well!” accused Zen. The revelation that the mastermind of the plot to kill Zen was Liam, a fellow disciple of Drizzle Peak infuriated him, but, he held his temper in check and instead, he smiled contemptuously.
“Ha! Yes, it was me, so what?” spat Liam venomously. “Harumph! I don't know how you survived, but, since Master Fren wants you dead, I guess that's it, you will die here, at the Dragon Fort! I suggest you kill yourself here, that way we...”
“That's quite enough of that! There won't be any fighting here!” snapped Jon Gou. Getting involved with disputes among this younger generation was one thing he tried to avoid, and he wouldn't be embroiled in this matter either if not for Roger. Turning to Randall He, Jon Gou commanded, “Where is Martin? Release him!”
“No, Jon, I don't think I will,” Randall He refused outrightly, shaking his head.
“Why not?” inquired Jon Gou.
“Well, if I let Martin out, he'll stir up trouble for me, again. Why would I ask for trouble?” Being the same rank as Jon Gou in the imperial army, Randall He had no intentions on taking orders from Jon Gou.
“Oh, really? You dislike trouble, so, I will make this easier for you. If you don't let him go, you'll have even more trouble on your hands!” stated Jon Gou.
“You're kidding, right?” chuckled Randall He maliciously. “I'll have more trouble? Do you even know who I'm working for?”
“That would be the Zhuge family, correct?” replied Zen, grinning caustically.
“Exactly! So, now that you know, go, run along! Don't stick your nose in the affairs you can't afford to mess with, or you'll find yourself in too deep!” Not knowing the young men behind Jon Gou, Randall He would have been furious at them with his short temper, but for Jon Gou, he kept his temper in check.
Both White Fiend and Black Fiend stood up, and as they did, black plumes of smoke swirled about White Fiend while a white light amassed around Black Fiend. The refining methods that the two practiced were white and black, which were unique and integral to each other. The way they moved indicated that the two were preparing an assault.
“Are you saying that you won't let Martin go?” asked Zen.
“Yes, that's what I said! I won't release him!” snarled Randall He. “Do you know who you're speaking to, Boy?” he added as he glared steadily into Zen's eyes. As Randall He stared, his bleak aura burst from his mind, towards Zen.
“Look out!” shouted Jon Gou as soon as he noticed Randall He's stare. Randall He's attack using the bleak aura was faster, and before Jon Gou could do anything to prevent it, the aura had sprung at Zen.
“Is this a chill intent?” asked Zen, a little surprised.
He hadn't expected Randall He to have the refining ability of an intent.
Now, if the chill intent had been used in an attack on anyone else, they might find their soul frozen, immediately.
But, the only thing frozen about Zen was the scornful smile on his face. Seemingly undaunted, he stood still, allowing the chill intent to assail him!
Considering that when Zen felt the intent from the Vengeful Beast at the Heavenly Library, it wasn't able to cause him any tangible harm, the meager strength of Randall He's chill intent was paltry and nothing to Zen.
Seeing Zen's soul was unharmed by his chill intent, Randall He stood there perplexed.
Using this moment to strike, Zen gave a cold snort, and a translucent gray thorn flew out of his head.
“Spiritual Thorn!”
The thorn had scarcely appeared before it struck Randall He's head.
The speed the two sparred at was so fast that before the others present realized there was a fight, the sound of a cold snort from Zen was heard, and then Randall He was on the ground, crouching holding his head and screaming in anguish.
“You were teaching a fish how to swim. Look at you now, bringing shame to yourself!” mocked Zen casually as he stood over Randall He, clasping hands behind his back.