From Cellar to Throne: Zen's Quest for Immortality novel Chapter 20

Between rolling over and over as the furnace tumbled and smelling the fusty stench of Evil Lan's body, Zen wanted to retch.

After rolling on for a while, they suddenly stopped. The gleam of excitement flashed in Evil Lan's eyes as he came up and leaned in close to Zen to inhale his scent. Evil Lan questioned, "I have never come across a person with a body as special as yours. You are surreal! Your fragrance is so similar to my mysterious weapon!"

"You're kidding, right? Look at me; I have limbs! Touch me, and you'll see, I am flesh, just like you! How can I be anything but a real human?" demanded Zen seriously. "I won't be helpful to you in refining weapons, and I advise you let me go," Zen calmly informed Evil Lan. Not expecting Evil Lan's nose to be so sensitive that he would be able to smell Zen's subtle scent unnerved him, but, he remained calm and collected outwardly.

"Ha-ha-ha! Are you kidding? Let you go?" cackled Evil Lan wildly. "Hell no! I am so excited to find someone who has a body as unique as you have! I wonder what powerful item will result from tossing you into my weapon-refining furnace? I'm really looking forward to this!" Evil Lan said while reaching out with chains to secure Zen's hands to the inside hull of the bronze furnace before he jumped out.

Inside the metal beast, Zen lurched side to side and then began being bounced around slightly as Evil Lan lifted it off the ground, and took off running with his furnace on his back. They were moving even faster than they had been with Evil Lan inside.

At least now that Zen didn't have to suffer the foul stench of Evil Lan and wasn't being tossed around, he was more comfortable. He was able to crane his head out of the bronze furnace to see the surrounding scenery.

Tugging at his restraints, Zen realized they were too strong to be broken, so, he knew they weren't gold or iron. As he looked around the furnace, Zen's mind whirred as he tried to think of a way to escape. The insane man wasn't even afraid of Zen's uncle, Bryson! Considering how much stronger Bryson was compared to Zen, how would he escape this? Instead of wasting energy worrying, Zen decided he would wait and see what happened.

Trees were a blur to Zen, making him realize Evil Lan was running very fast, even barefoot. He could hear cawing and hooting while the trees became denser. The air was a touch cooler, and the light was dimmer, all of which told Zen they were deep in the thick forest.

Eventually, it grew brighter again as they came back out of the forest. Craning his neck, Zen saw a cliff rising in front of them, and quickly coming closer. But, Evil Lan wasn't stopping or slowing down, and when they came to the precipice, he clutched the bronze furnace tighter as he flung himself over the edge.

'Holy shit! How will we survive jumping off the cliff?' wondered Zen. Terrified, Zen grasped the chains in the bronze furnace. Suddenly, he lurched to a stop telling him they weren't falling anymore.