THE INTRUSION.

"Well, you did a lot of mess here?! How are you going to sort it all out?"

"What?" The Wind Master could not believe that he had heard correctly. Sent into wilderness exile, cut off from everything, only to be unjustly accused again.

"Your Majesty," the Master bowed before the Emperor, "Forgive your humble servant for his stupidity, but could you please explain what the servant did wrong again?"

There was no response—and still lowering his head, the Master caught only distant echoes scolding him. "A useless animal, even in exile…"

The Emperor disappeared as casually unannounced as he had appeared, making the Master feel guilty of everything that happened. And finally, blissful silence reigned inside the monastery walls. The Master sighed, heading toward his chambers. But someone's voice stopped him.

"Venerable monk," the beggar's head peeked from behind a column.

"What do you want?" the Master lifted his gaze.

The beggar came closer.

"If you seek food," the Master proclaimed, "ask the stuff. They'll guide you to the kitchen. No money here, but they might offer work and a place to stay."

As the Master turned away, the beggar emerged waist-deep in front of him. Ignoring the intrusion, the Master already irritated, tried to dismiss him.

"I'm not doing any fortune telling either ," he said. But the beggar's hand blocked his path.

"What else do you need?" The Master's patience waned. He wanted solitude, time to ponder how to aid his missing servant. Yet the beggar persisted.

"My companion disappeared," he explained. "We split up to avoid the monks' wrath. He's nowhere to be found now."

"He probably left long ago," the Master dismissed. But this time, the beggar's grip on his shoulder revealed otherworldly strength.

"Forgive me," the beggar persisted. "Your acquaintance spoke with my companion. Then the time formation appeared. And exactly at that moment I got hit on the head." He pointed with his free hand to his forehead where there was a huge red bump.

The Master stared, bewildered.

Unexpectedly, the beggar burst into laughter, still holding the old man's shoulder.

"What's wrong with you?" the Master asked.

"Stop pretending being a fool," the beggar chuckled. "I couldn't hear all of you, but I definitely saw your friend with my own eyes using forbidden practice. And now, old lad, we're both caught in this time twist."

The Master's bulging eyes still remained fixed on the stranger.

"What are you looking at? Not all beggars are fools and ignoramuses," the stranger retorted, finally releasing the Master's shoulder and folding his arms.

The Master said nothing, just massaged his shoulder and moved into the chambers, waving his hand to the stranger. Silently, the stranger followed the Master.

Taking his seat on a cushion by the tea table, the Master gestured to an empty place in front of him and prepared the leaves. When ready, tea flowed soundlessly. The stranger drank and broke the silence.

"We've finished the ceremonies," he spoke. "Now, will you enlighten me, old man? Where is my friend?"

"I'll put some light on the events," the Master replied confidently. "But first, tell me how have you known about the time formation."

"Ha! That's easy!" The stranger grinned. "My friend, the one I seek, knows how to do the same trick, he called it 'time formation'."

"I see…" The Master rubbed his beard, gathering his thoughts. But before he could speak, they were interrupted.

The intrusion shattered the coming confession, leaving the Master and the stranger facing the unexpected guests dressed like the Imperial Guards .

"Monk Feng Bo, accept the imperial decree!"

*Thx for reading.