Foe's Friend

Days flew by, Lianming was still secretly searching for the star that grants any wish. He was convinced from the story of the old man that from that star lies his only hope in seeking peace for the death of his family.

"No dawdling more plowing!" Mr. Ping shouted as he whipped Lianming's legs

Lianming continued to plow, his mind still plotting about how he will go outside of his shack every night and where he will look for the star. Meanwhile, Mr. and Mrs. Ping kept on torturing him and telling him to work faster when they were wounding and cutting his body.

The whipping continued till a man ran towards Mr. Ping, he was a messenger, before he could even deliver the message his eyes darted to Lianming who was almost dying from bleeding and Mrs. Ping blocked his sight to hide Lianming's hideous condition.

"Don't mind him good sir, he is an insane person and his wounds are self-inflicted, we're here helping him find work to earn money for his living and also stop him from hurting himself more" Mrs. Ping told him, the messenger smiled after hearing her words, like he was suddenly enlightened and understood the whole situation.

He bowed to Mr. Ping and gave him a letter, it was long and white, no creases could be seen or felt, and it was embellished with markings of the YanlinZhen Sect. another neighboring sect that is more prominent than their sect. Mr. Ping turned pale for a bit and smiled afterwards, he then bowed to the messenger and motioned him that he can leave, as the messenger went away, Mr. Ping's grip on the whip tightened and his hands shook in anger.

"What is it?" Mrs. Ping asked while looking concerned at her husband fuming with anger. Mr. Ping looked at her and smiled "Another neighboring sect wants to save this worm" he answered, Mrs. Ping went as pale as her husband did and her expressio suddenly darkened with intent of killing.

Both of them slowyly turned and glared at Lianming's direction, seeing his body full of cuts, fresh wound, and scars Mr. Ping smiled and slowly walked towards Lianming who was plowing the field at his best despite his condition.

Mr. Ping raised his hand in the air gripping the whip tighter than before while still smiling and staring at Lianming's bleeding back, he aimed for his head. As he was about to lash his whip towards the unsuspecting Lianming he was stopped by another man. He held Mr. Ping's arm and prevented him from whipping.

As he was about to turn and curse at the person, his eyes widened in surprise and he stuttered, the man who stopped him was the Sect Leader of YanlinZhen, Zhen Shiexing! Mr. Ping quickly dropped his whip and bowed down to greet him.

"My, I thought you would visit tomorrow! I didn't expect an earlu visitation!" Mr. Ping exclaimedwhile smiling to Sect leader Zhen. Mrs. Ping was behind them and bowing as well. "Sect leader Zhen, it would be best to talk at out humble home and not in this fly infested field" Mrs. Ping coerced, Sect leader Zhen looked around and glanced at Lianming who was now looking at all of them in a shocked expression.

"Servant, bring me some tea" Sect leader Zhen spoke as he went out of the field and towards the Ping residence. Mr. and Mrs. Ping was shocked at his order but they can't stop Lianming from what he was told to do. The Zhen sect clearly wants to know something from Lianming's condition.

It was also a surprise for Lianming, eversince he bacame the Ping family's slave, he was never allowed to enter their residence and he is only allowed to work on the field and live on the old shack, this will be the first time that Lianming will be able to set foot on the Ping's residence without a whip lashing out behind him.

Mrs. Ping took Lianming to the house bath and told the other male servants to help him clean up and mend his wounds. They bathed Lianming and took off all the dirt and dried up blood he had, even though Lianming bathes on a running river near the town, a complete bath is rare to him ever since he lost everything.

After the bath the men helped him get dressed and treated his wounds, they also brushed his hair, Lianming's features was now clear as day, even though his body is full of scars, he still resembled a beautiful Amaryllys flower, his sking was light and his face shown great elegance, his eyes, even though tired and drooping, was still captivating once you stare at it.

Lianming never felt as clean as before, and the men helping him were also shocked to see how elegant of a man Lianming was. Mrs. Ping came inside and told everyone to hurry up or they will all recieve a good beating from her husband, they all bowed down and Lianming stood up, faced her, and bowed down.

She was shocked at seeing Lianming's features and even though she was about to slap him her hand stopped midway. "You..." she said her voice trembling in extreme anger, the other men already went out and Lianming was left alone with Mrs. Ping.

"Rejoice tonight child, for tomorrow your life will end" she warned him with a more ominous tone, she smiled like a freak afterwards and pushed him down, because of his fresh wounds in the leg he fell down easily.

Before leaving Lianming, Mrs. Ping glared at him once more and smiled, "I must find a way to destroy that beautigul face of yours" after saying those words she left without a sound, Lianming placed his palm towards his face, his body was full of scars but his face was free from it, now Mrs Ping wants to destroy it as well.

Out in the pavillion, Mr. Ping was telling Sect leader Zhen about different things such as other cultivation sects and his daughters taking the path of cultivation, he also made time to tell the one sided story of Lianming's crimes to Sect Leader Zhen and assured him that it was the truth, Sect leader Zhen on the other hand, remained still and silent.