Zhao Clan

Two guards ran into the main hall of the Zhao Clan's residence. "Reporting! Young Matriarch has returned!"

In the corner of the hall, a robust elderly man with a heroic demeanor faced a tall bronze mirror with his hands behind his back.

"I say Zhao Chen, you may be old but still your noble self still shines like the bright dawn," he said.

The two guards looked at each other. One whispered, "He's looking at the mirror again."

The other nodded, while reporting, "Old Master, our Young Miss has returned!"

Waving a hand, Zhao Chen said, "I heard, no need to repeat. She'll be here shortly."

The guard coughed, "Old Matriarch is calling for you...Young Matriarch is with her now."

"What! Why didn't you say Mother was calling," said Zhao Chen in a fluster. Turning about, he started to run but quickly tripped and rolled to the floor. He jumped up quickly with a roar. "Damn Floor! Why's it so slippery! Didn't I say never to mop this area!"

The guards lowered there heads, jaws clenched, their faces turning red as they desperately tried to control their laughs.

Not daring to tarry, Zhao Chen quickly ran out, yelling, "Get someone to dry that area!!"

Both guards almost fell over, laughing wildly. Suddenly, one guard froze. "AH! We forgot to mention..."

Zhao Chen rushed to his Mother's courtyard as though a fire lit his rear. Quickly arriving at the gate, he rapidly smoothed his robes. Placing his hands behind his back, he said, "Mother, I have come to visit." After entering into the courtyard, he paused abruptly as he realized the situation was serious.

On the far side of the courtyard, his saw the back of his daughter who knelt before her grandmother.

Ha! It's not me whose in trouble this time!

"Un-filial daughter! Mother, whatever Wen'er has done...I will punish her accordingly. Daughter, you better beg for her forgiveness."

Zhao Jia shot him a look. Zhao Chen grimaced as that was her look that meant... Shut up you imbecile. He was about to say something to diffuse the situation when he heard...

"Waaaaahh! Waaaaahh! Waaaaahh!"

"Shoosh...Shoosh. Mother will feed you soon."

Zhao Chen's face contorted into a frown and open jaw as his mother said, "Chen'er, say hello to your grandson Zhao Tian Cai."

"Eh! Wen'er is this true??"

"Cai'er meet your grandfather. Although, he isn't the most reliable person, he is my father."

Stumped, Zhao Chen's looked first at his daughter, then the infant in her arms, and then his mother. Noticing an empty chair, he promptly sat down with a blank look.

Smacking his lips, he said "Mother, I need a drink...some wine perhaps??"

"Humph! You just need an excuse to drink wine," she said with a glare. "Luckily for you, this Old Lady needs a drink as well. Someone bring wine!" Turning to her granddaughter, she said, "Quickly rise child before someone thinks of us as unbearably cruel.

Hearing the patter of footsteps outside the courtyard, Zhao Wen nimbly occupied a chair next to her father.

Within a second, a maid appeared to serve the wine. While pouring she stiffened upon hearing Zhao Chen ask, "Is-Is this really my grandson?"

"Mhm."

"How??"

"You...just leave the wine and go, don't say a word or…," ordered Zhao Jia to the maid.

Poof! By the courtyard wall, a shrub flared then exploded into ash.

"Yes Mistress!" exclaimed the maid in horror. She appeared to run while walking as she left the courtyard.

Zhao Chen gulped his cup of wine while his mother spoke. "We were waiting for you so that both of us could hear her explanation."

He nodded with understanding while starting to pour himself another cup. He frowned as he found the gourd was empty.

Zhao Chen shot a glare at his mother.

What! She drank it all up again!

"Humph! You keep giving me that look, I'll use your face to decorate the wall. Child quickly explain before your father meets his demise."

As Zhao Chen's face blackened, Zhao Wen said, "Grandmother...Father…you should rejoice as I brought home a son. While in a small world, I met Tian Cai's father. In fact, we were trapped there for two hundred years by his enemies. It was only recently that we were able to escape. Unfortunately, he was severely injured while protecting me and the child. He may take at least a century to fully recover."

Kacha!

The cup in Zhao Jia's hand shattered into powder. "You expect this old lady to believe that? Aren't you saying he's too scared to show his face before us? You dare dishonor our family by having a child out of wedlock. You call him over immediately to give this Lady a proper explanation."

Taking cue from his Mother, Zhao Chen stood up. "I'll cripple him!` He dares to not show our clan face? Tell him if he doesn't appear, I'll break off his shorty. He'll beg me for death."

Unexpectedly, Zhao Wen started laughing.

Zhao Jia stood up, her old veins popping out of her forehead. "You dare laugh at me!"

"Humph! You disrespect your Grandmother! You think this Old Man can't still slap you!"

While continuing to laugh, Zhao Wen motioned with her hand and a sunlight domain enveloped the courtyard.

"What-What are you doing?" asked her father with stern brow.

"Grandmother...Father, Wen'er meant no disrespect. However, you should realize you're completely unable to force an explanation from Tian Cai's father. Yun Hao is from the Ninth Heaven..he's a Grand Empyrean."

Zhao Wen smiled wryly as the faces of her grandmother and father stiffened in shock. "Also, he's a Grand Elder of Mystic Sect."

Zhao Chen's legs wobbled, causing him to stumble and fall back into his chair.

In comparison, Zhao Jia shuffled about pausing every once in a while to release deep sighs. Finally she sat down.

The three sat in silence except for the periodic murmurs from the baby.

"Mother, we-we almost kicked an iron plate," finally said Zhao Chen.

Zhao Jia nodded and looked deeply at her grandson and then her eyes narrowed in realization. "Chen'er go prepare, tomorrow we will present Tian Cai to our ancestors and formerly induct him to the Clan. Prepare a small banquet with only Clan members."

"Mother, can't that wait? I want to hear more about son-in-law."

"Humph! Don't you understand I want to discuss things with Wen'er alone?"

"Oh!...Son understands and will go now," he got up and started to leave.

Behind him, Zhao Wen said, "Father...later I will look for you and-and..we can go visit mother."

Zhao Chen shoulders trembled, "Mhm.."

As soon as Zhao Jia sensed her son exiting the sunlight barrier, she unleashed her own barrier, adding another layer of privacy and protection.

Zhao Wen raised her eyebrow and said, "Grandmother, it's best if you activate the courtyard's formation as well."

Zhao Jia grunted and with a hand motion, she activated the defensive formation. "As I thought, there is more to this."

"Mhm...Grandmother you may want to take out a jar of Heavenly Plum Fire Wine."

"Child-is-is it that serious??"

"In 1000 years there will be a calamity. Tian Cai is our only hope for survival…."

Zhao Wen started her story. As she was her clan's successor, she needed to inform her Grandmother of the upcoming calamity and discuss how best to ensure their clan's survival. In addition, she explained the discovery of their clan origins and importance of Tian Cai's growth.

Five years later.

"Punk! You dare steal my sweets!" screamed Bai Guang."

Brown hair tied in a loose bun, Tian Cai thundered out of the manor with several candied fruits stuck in his mouth. With each step, the ground shuddered with tumbling clumps of dirt, rock, and grass. Bai Guang erupted out of the manor's entry and sprung into the air. Tian Cai's scrambling figure was immediately encompassed by her shadow and he grunted, shooting forward.

BOOM!

A massive hole exploded in flame behind him. As the shock wave caught up to him, Tian Cai rolled forward. "Rising Dragon!" he yelled, utilizing the technique his grandfather taught him. Outwardly, however, it was just him jumping back to his feet. Sliding backward, he saw Bai Guang with her fist planted in the ground, smoke billowing in heavy streams about her. Chewing, he swallowed and her face blackened.

"Big Sis, these sweets taste so good!" said Tian Cai with a drooling smile.

"You..You better not let me catch you!"

"Big Sis Slooow Poke...Ha! Ha! Ha!" laughed Tian Cai, running away.

"PUUNK!"

Several moments later, Bai Guang was on the manor rooftop, lips curled as her eyes searched. Finally, she saw him crawling under a bush.

"Tian Cai, you think I don't see you!!!"

The hair raising on the back of his neck, Tian Cai yelped in fear and quickly scampered away.

"You think you can hide? If I can't see you...Certainly I can still hear you!" roared Bai Guang, jumping down from the roof. With a burst of air, she swooshed after him.

Inside the manor, Zhao Wen sat with knitted eyebrows as she sipped a cup of tea. In the guest chair beside her sat Savant City Head Guard Chief Mo.

"Senior Zhao, as always your clan is so lively. This one commends you on your patience," said Chief Mo.

"Well Chief, just skip the pleasantries. We have this meeting every week, where you bring me the complaints against Tian Cai. How many this time? I hope you correctly investigated, otherwise any evil doers trying to take advantage of our Zhao Clan...well you know how they disappear."

Boom!

"Punk!"

"Grandpa, save me!"

"Runt, what did you do this time?"

"Grandpa, I did like you ask me. Here are the sweets you asked me to get."

"Who asked you to get sweets? Wine! I asked you to get wine!"

Boom!

"Those were my specially ordered treats from Ling Clan Merchants. I waited half a year for those to be sent!"

"Runt, you did it this time...RUN!!"

Boom!

Zhao Wen bent her forehead and rubbed her glabella with her palm.

Coughing, Chief Mo said, "Senior..I see you're busy...maybe I should return tomorrow. How about I leave the complaints here for you to review overnight? That way, we'll spend less time tomorrow in discussing the compensation."

"Chief Mo, thank you for your consideration. Savant City Lord did well in recruiting such a wise Chief."

Chief Mo smiled and looked away with a flushed face. "Senior, Zhao Clan is well respected in Savant City...I'll always fulfill my duty in the most honorable and just way. I'll return tomorrow about the same time."

"What's all this noise??"

"Ah Mother! Why-Why are you here?"

"Did I hear you asked Tian Cai to steal wine for you?"

"Ow! My ear! Mother please!"

"Humph! It's been a long time since the Punishing Wall has been decorated with your face imprint."

"There you are Tian Cai! I'll spank…Ah Old Matriarch! OW! My ear!"

"Humph! You dare try to hit my great grand child! I'll decorate the wall with both your faces."

"Granny's the best! Granny's the mightiest!" yelled Tian Cai.

"Dear child, Granny will always protect you. I'll have these two faces bleed well."

Upon hearing these words, Zhao Wen jumped to her feet. "Chief Mo, please forgive me for not showing you out...I need to mediate this situation immediately," she said and quickly ran out.

"Grandmother! Don't-Don't kill them!" she screamed.

Chief Mo sighed, pulling out two scrolls with complaints and demands of compensation and left them on a side table.

Zhao Clan's Young Matriarch sure had heavy responsibilities.

"Daughter, did that fool Chief leave?" asked Zhao Chen.

"Mother, did-did I do well?" asked Tian Cai who clung to Zhao Wen's waist.

"Master, Disciple wants you to know that I absolutely did not touch even a hair of Tian Cai."

"Humph! Wen'er where did you pick up this girl? I came out because her attacks where too serious," said Zhao Jia, glaring at Bai Guang.

Tian Cai ran over to hug Zhao Jia's frail waist. "Granny, grandson loves you best. Big Sis Guang would never hurt me...I believe she loves me more than she's loves my mother," he said winking at Bai Guang. Catching his signal, she nodded aggressively in agreement."

"What! Are you saying she has eyes on my grandson? Wen'er, she absolutely cannot marry Tian Cai."

Zhao Wen said, "Finally, he left the main gate. Someone, bring me tea." Finding a chair, she said, "Relax Grandmother, she dotes on him like a little brother. Although, I love her dearly, I'll kill her if she hurts Tian Cai."

Bai Guang's face blackened.

Didn't you ask us to create a ruckus. Wasn't I just doing what you commanded?

Tian Cai ran back into Zhao Wen's arm's. "Mom, son loves you best!"

Zhao Wen laughed as she saw her grandmother's face blacken.

Aren't we all in the palm of your hand?

"Daughter, are we going again tonight as usual?" asked Zhao Chen.

"Fat Shadow!" called Zhao Wen.

From the corner of the court yard, several shadows streamed over and magically coalesced into the form of a thin wiry man.

"This one sees Old Matriarch, Old Master, and Young Matriarch."

"Uncle Fat Shadow!" called Tian Cai, excitedly.

"Youngest Master, Miss Guang," greeted Fat Shadow.

"Fat Shadow, hows the list? How many targets do we have tonight?"

"Jin Clan's Weapons Pavilion, Savant's Abode Tavern and White Tiger's Parlor."

Zhao Wen's eyebrows knitted. "Two taverns? Why so many? There's no reason for Tian Cai to be there."

Fat Shadow's eyes motioned left towards Zhao Chen.

"Father! Are you taking Tian Cai to drinking places!?"

"Daughter, how can you say that? I was merely passing by while spending time with grandson. Besides, what's it matter when these people obviously are evil doers. By filing complaints against Tian Cai...Humph! We need to swat them dead like flies."

"Fat Shadow, what about the weapons pavilion. Why should my innocent son need to go there?"

Fat shadow's eyes shifted right to Bai Guang.

"Bai Guang!"

The young girl grimaced, her long jet-black hair trembling over her shoulders. "Master, I was looking for gloves and needed Tian Cai for testing."

"Didn't you say she dotes on him like elder sister? Is she not using my grandson like a common tool for testing weapons?" sarcastically said Zhao Jia.

"Mom," said Tian Cai, tugging on Zhao Wen's arm.

"Cai'er, Mom needs an explanation from Bai Guang," she said glaring at her disciple.

Bai Guang fell to her knees. "Master! It's not like that. He was helping me at the market...I saw the pavilion and entered on a whim. I purposely did not lead him there to test weapons."

"So you DID test weapons on my son!" Zhao Wen's Empyrean pressure fell upon Bai Guang like a thundering waterfall.

"Mom," faintly repeated Tian Cai.

"Master, I would never disrespect..."

"Its over now little girl," said Zhao Jia.

"To think Cai'er looks at you as an elder sister," said Zhao Chen

"Mom...son feels weak..."

"Youngest Master!!" exclaimed Fat Shadow.

Bai Guang's eyes opened wide in horror. Pointing, she exclaimed, "Master! Tian Cai's fainted!"

"Grandson!" said Zhao Chen, zipping over.

"Cai'er!" said Zhao Wen, pulling Tian Cai's body into her arms.

"Bring him to a bed!" commanded Zhao Jia.

"Fat Shadow, call a healer!" ordered Zhao Wen. He dissipated into several shadows and streamed away. The rest, moved like a frantic pack, following Zhao Wen as she flashed into the manor.

About thirty minutes later, Fat Shadow appeared with a healer before the door of Tian Cai's chamber. Knocking on the door, he said, "Aunt...I've brought Temple Vice Master Jun." Outside, Bai Guang waited as well. The door opened revealing Zhao Chen being shoved out of the room.

"Mother!!" he roared. "I, as his grandfather should be at his side."

"Humph! You're snoring on a chair is disrupting his rest!"

Zhao Wen stepped out. "Greetings Temple Vice Master Jun. I apologize..it appears we don't need your help after all. My Tian Cai slept really poorly last night and fainted as result of lacking rest. I'm sure he'll be okay by tomorrow."

Temple Vice Master Jun bowed. "Zhao Matriarch, are you certain? Children are susceptible to several ailments...it's best to evaluate him thoroughly as to reveal any hidden sickness."

Zhao Wen pulled out a money pouch. "Master Jun, please accept this contribution to the temple. I've checked every aspect of his meridians and dantian. I assure you, everything is normal."

"Junior understands," replied Master Jun, accepting the pouch. "I will inform the Temple Grand Master of the Zhao Clan's generosity. We will be sure to pray for the Zhao Clan's good fortune during this weeks prayers."

"Please send my greetings to the Temple Grand Master. Fat Shadow, please escort him back to the Temple."

As soon as the two, left Zhao Wen quickly shut door. She and her Grandmother quickly surrounded the bed.

The boy sat up abruptly and peered about in wonderment.

Whispering, Zhao Wen asked, "Are you Rey or are you still my Tian Cai?"