Shiren was quite surprised when it started raining for a short amount of time while he was in the wild garden, searching for the wolf he saw previously.

He was wondering how it was possible that it rained although they were technically in the middle of a desert.

But at least it explained how plants were able to grow at this place. Plants that grew more dense than it looked like from above but thanks to his small size, compared to medium sized creatures like tigers or wolves, he had no real problem slithering trough the scrub and following the trace of the wolf guard. "This wolf must be somewhere here…" he mumbled to himself. He was sure he saw him from the top.

Determinedly Shiren followed the track of the wolf unerringly in this little jungle until he found him, staying in front of some a kind of statue.

He wondered why he wasn't he surprised by the fact that it was a dragon?

A very rough dragon with half of it's body broken and on the ground but the head still on it's place since for some reason it was bowing in some way. But what could it bow to?

As far as he was concerned, there was nothing above any dragon. But after all, he apparently did not know a lot, according to Viper. Surely she would know the answer but on the other hand he did not care enough to ask her.

The wolf guard seemed to pray to this statue or he was just doing some meditations..

Shiren slithered closer to see more properly and noticed an ancient path, which supported his assumption this place was a giant garden and this place was the centre where all the paths came together. They probably came from other buildings Shiren expected to also be some kind of living space for villagers or maybe even some facilities for consumer goods. If these people ever needed such.

The wolf took some breath and asked calmly without turning around: "Shiren. Why are you persecuting me?"

Shiren was not surprised or anything. He knew this wolf was not normal so he did not expect normal reactions from him. He straightly answered: "I was wondering: Who are you? A wolf is the last thing I would have expected here."

"Who I am, you ask?"

The wolf looked up towards the sky and the high structures of this land.

"Why do you seek such an information, if I may ask? I have no intentions getting in your way."

He turned around towards Shiren, awaiting an answer. Shiren saw this big wolf before him and firstly recognised he was like tree times taller than Shiren himself. But he made no actions to use the height to intimidate him in any way.

Shiren spoke up demurely: "Because you are here. This place is the most hidden place I have ever seen and it was sealed by a puzzle that only opened when I touched it. And then you are just staying there and letting us in because I was standing there. And I don't get it. It's like my blood is the key to unlock every path here. And I'm not a huge fan being left in the dark. So I need answers. You seem to be the mystical person that just lives here, letting us doing our thing and don't bother further although you have to know a lot about this place the whole time."

The wolf took a deep breath and answered: "I have to apologise. But I am letting you just do your thing. The reason I let you in in specific is because it was you who opened the door to this realm. And that's right. Your Chi is what let you pass. It's an ancient lock, sealed by the dragons themselves. And that's all I am going to tell you for now. The way I came in here is my own secret."

He turns back to the broken statue. Shiren was just about to speak up again about how he would have told him to say more. He did not know anything about this wolf at all. Perhaps he wanted it to stay secret as well but that would just not satisfy Shiren in any way.

There was a dragon around this area. And maybe not just one.

This guy is living here seemingly independent from the dragons which does just not sound right. Unless he was hiding for all the time he has been here now, which sounds unlikely too.

But before he was able to speak the wolf already continued:

"I mean no threat to you as long as you keep respecting this place like you're doing already.

And who am I?"

While the wolf was talking Shiren slowly positioned himself next to him to see his face while he was talking. He looked like he either was recalling some memories with his eyes looking down to nowhere specific or he was just very tired.

"Before I came here, I was someone else. I was with a pack.

And we served an emperor, the one you would know as Shen's father.

When his son moved out, we were ready to follow. We followed him because we were loyal, we were curious but we also followed him because of the greed for power.

We faced everyone our lord has chosen as enemies.

And we killed unconditionally. Enemies, traitors and families.

We slaughtered every last one of who ever stood up against our lord Shen.

But just a few of us realised we were doing malefactions and exiled ourselves and went far away from our pack.

Since then we are living far away from any kind of civilisation.

Everyone for themselves.

For all eternity to expiate for our actions."

Shiren was very surprised to hear that. All of that. This wolf just told him an entire story he did not expect to hear so he just starred at him for a moment and let his mind digest these things for a moment.

Shiren remembered his time in Gongmen Ciy. Ke knew who Shen was, although Shiren himself did never see him at all.

Yes, he was there when Shen invaded Gongmen City. But he really just got send into prison right when it happened and he did not resist much because back in the day he was not trained properly or anything but he knew enough to get caged.

And the moment he managed to get out himself trough the chaos that was meant to be a prison, everything was just almost over. He only recognised the fireworks at the port as a sign of celebration.

Everything was over and the dragon warrior won the day.

The remainder of the pack of wolves left the scene and the invaders were gone as swift as they came and he also left without further context.

When he got to train at Xun he realised the huge mistake he did back then. Things could have been different if he had met the Jade-Palace's warriors earlier. Things like the war could have been different.

Seemingly this wolf was one who left before the events happened and he found his way here in pure isolation.

"I'm sorry for you," Shiren spoke from his heart: "But I am glad you found this place for you. Besides us and the dragons there is nobody ever coming here and I ensure you nobody here is going to bother you in any way."

The wolf looked at Shiren, examined his body quickly with his eyes and said: "You seem to have some issues with the society too."

Shiren realised the wolf was talking about his scars. The mark of weapons, fights and despair.

Normally wounds fade away step by step with every shed he went trough but the deepest one on his chest that nearly ended his life, might stay for a long while. Shiren sighed.

"That's nothing worth to be talked about. I have got the lesson that the world never changes and people always will be brutal to fight those they see as a threat.

"… I understand. But you are still here. Haven't given up against those wounds."

Shiren did not look up because that wasn't true.

He gave up.

These wounds put him where he was right now. They were the reason he woke up at the Jade-Palace and had to be treated. But as much as he wished this never happened, he can't deny to be in their debt.

And yet he wasn't able to admit it.

The wolf changed the topic by saying: "What else do you wish to talk about?"

Shiren looked up to the face of the wolf and he said: "I think that would be it for now. Will you stay down here? I guess the party is going onward today. Would be harder to reach for you if I have any new questions."

"I am where I am and where I am going to. There is no telling where I would be next. But if you need to speak to me you will find your way." He looked up into the sky that was visible from here trough the buildings and he said: "You should go now. There is a rain coming up soon."

Shiren didn't know how he could tell.

His logic failed at this place and he struggled adapting to these things that just happen here even though he tried to just accept things how they were.

"If you say so. We shall meet again," he answered, nodded politely and went back to the inside.

On his way back he looked back to the wolf who went on his own way wherever it leaded.

He did not have to feeling this wolf was hiding anything from him in order to hurt him later.

It could be that he was wrong but doubting everyone around him would not bring him any further.

"Shiren," someone said and Shiren looked forward again and saw the professor.

Shiren turned around and asked surprised:"Professor? What are you doing here?"

The Professor leaned against a stone pillar and crossed his arms. He loosed them again when he said: "Please, I know everyone is calling me that but you can tell me by my name when we are between each other."

"Alright. Jiàoshòu, why did you came down here?" Shiren asked and came closer.

Jiàoshòu looked stiffly in this moment. "I could ask you the very same question, Shiren. You know how dangerous this place can be when we are not careful," he said with a tone of warning in his words. He looked down at Shiren and seemed to check if he was okay.

Which Shiren confirmed: "You don't need to worry, I am fine. In fact I was just about to come up back to you."

"What have you even done down here if I may ask?" he asked curiously and now sounded a bit more relaxed.

Shiren started following Jiàoshòu back to the halls of the ruins and made their way up again. He answered equanimously: "Nothing in specific. But… would you allow me one question though?"

"What is it? Feel free."

Shiren nodded and said: "Thanks. It's about… you said you worked in the library of Gongmen City."

Jiàoshòu normally continued his way and answered demurely: "That is correct. I could tell this place my second home if you want to be precise."

Shiren didn't hesitate when he asked the question: "What do you know about Lord Shen? I suppose you were there when he raised." He looked up to Jiàoshòu but he did not look back to him.

Instead he just answered: "… That's an interesting question you are asking there. It would be more likely to find an ancient artefact as a layman than not knowing about Lord Shen. What do you want to know?"

"… Nothing in specific. I am just thinking."

Jiàoshòu now now looked down to Shiren with a view of a view of a parent telling it's child how dangerous the world really is and he started tell him: "Hm… Well, maybe I can help. You see, Lord Shen is treated like a very bad man. Like he represented all guilt in the world. But I have suggested otherwise."

Shiren grew confused. He never saw a person speaking nicely about Shen in any way. "Huh? What do you mean by that?" he asked in his confusion.

"Did you ever see Shen in action?"

Shiren didn't know what he meant by this question. It was probably more a question about something else than about if Shiren ever saw him in person. But he answered quickly so he could listen to what Jiàoshòu was about to say.

"I guess I did not. But his actions spoke for themselves."

Jiàoshòu stopped right on the stairs they were at and turned to Shiren: "The point I was going to make is that he might been violent but that doesn't mean everything you hear about him is true. History is written by the winners, Shiren, not by the losers.

He had a lot of followers. Were they all evil too? Is it likely that because of one representative, each one on his side was evil too? Or what did make them following him?"

"Why are you telling me all of that?" Shiren really didn't know why he was talking the things he was saying. If anyone would hear that they would critically looked at him at this moment but luckily for him they were alone for now.

Jiàoshòu kneeled down to Shiren to have the same eye-level. He looked into Shirens eyes and said gently: "Because I know you are smart. You can understand words without interrupting me when my story doesn't suit you. Imagine I would tell this theory to Tigress. She was there after all. And she would deny everything I say without hesitation. You know that."

"Yes. And I am listening. So what is your point in this now?"

"I just want you to consider his motives. I can't deny the fact he did some terrible things in Gongmen City but that's not everything he did.

My point is, whatever anyone is telling you, you are free to have your own opinion on these things and doubt other's words. I've heard this Viper was talking to you and tried to make you doing or stopping stuff. Yet you know she may be a good person and perhaps just wants to help but that's also not everything she presents. Whatever she might tell you; You are free to have your very own opinion about these things and don't need to feel bad when you are not agreeing with her on whatever she says."

"Do you say she would try to indoctrinate me?" Shiren asked perplexed.

"I will not say anything about what anyone could want. I don't know these persons. That's why I just want to remind you that you have your own head. You can bow to them if you like. It's alone yours to judge. If you think Shen was a bad person, if you believe Viper and the others are just good persons who wants to help you, it's yours to choose. But don't do things you don't want just because others told you. You have your own head. Never forget that." With getting up again Jiàoshòu showed that he was done talking for now. Which Shiren was glad about.

He did not think he wanted anything bad for him but it was still a bit spooky. "I see. Thanks."

Jiàoshòu started making his way again when he asked: "Oh, did I answer your questions by the way? I'm sorry, I think I maybe went a bit too far there."

Shiren shook his head and followed. "No, it's all right. I respect your experience, Jiàoshòu and I thank you for your advices. I will consider these things."

"If there is anything I can help you with just let me know. If things get too much for you at some point and you can't handle it-"

"I got it, thanks." Shiren didn't want to interrupt him but it kinda just happened to pass.

He knew the professor was on his side. And he was grateful for that.