After returning the test tube to the Pandaren, Zul'ra said nothing more to him. Instead, he soothed the injured Trolls and had Broken-Tooth inform everyone aboard that the Pandaren Chen was a passenger on the ship, that everything just now had been a misunderstanding, and that they should not act rashly in the future but clarify matters as much as possible.
Zul'ra also had someone return Chen's Qiong Bamboo Staff, with its gourd tied to it. A monk seemed to fight better empty-handed than with a weapon, so whether the staff was confiscated or not was really only symbolic. But when Chen received his Qiong Bamboo Staff back, he knew he would no longer be held accountable. Greatly relieved, he expressed his gratitude to Zul'ra and repeatedly apologized for the earlier conflict.
Zul'ra merely smiled without speaking at Chen's remarkably positive attitude. He led him to the bow to talk, naturally first asking why he had ended up on his ship. As a Pandaren, Chen could have gone anywhere after leaving Shen-zin Su's back—so why had he specifically come aboard his ship?
"I didn't really want to, either. I just didn't have enough money for a ticket, so I wanted to hitch a ride." Chen's black-and-white furry face looked somewhat embarrassed. What he had actually wanted was to catch a ride on a passing ship.
"Do you know where we're going?" Zul'ra blinked at the embarrassed Chen. This was a ship returning to Zul'Aman, yet this fellow had simply climbed aboard?
"Yes. I asked one of the dock administrators and spent a few Almond Coins. He told me your ship was returning north to Zul'Aman, though it would pass through Mudsprocket along the way." Chen scratched the black mane beneath his chin with a paw. The tips of his fangs