Breaking Liuming

"Master Xiaoyu! What are you doing here?" Upon opening the front door, Liuming greeted her unexpected guest with surprise.

"I am here to discuss the case of that fellow in your care, Xiao. Let's just say I have found a way to rekindle her consciousness."

Joy sparked in Liuming's visage, although she was content with their one sided conversation, she would still appreciate it Xiao could finally return them.

"Truly!? Then we must hurry, follow me, master Xiaoyu!"

Since the matter was of paramount importance, none should witness she was harboring a kicked out disciple, Liuming dismissed her hired goons. Now, it was only the three of them in her mansion.

Soon, Liuming will find out that they are only ever two.

+++

As the masked master examined Xiao in her bed, a small part of Liuming was regretful that Xiao was about to be healed.

Always ready to lend an ear to Liuming's woes, no need for food, being able to dress Xiao in any way she want. For Liuming, Xiao's special condition turned her into her own special doll.

"It is done. Expect her to walk around soon."

That was it!? The masked master just checked her pulse! Then again, Liuming was in no position to question Xiaoyu's methods lest she earns her ire.

Liuming cupped her hands in reverence and gratefulness, "From the bottom of my heart, I thank you, master Xiaoyu."

"Oh no, don't thank me just yet." Xiao's eyes spotted the coffee table. "Why don't I prepare some tea for us while we wait for Xiao to open her eyes?"

"No, I don't want to trouble you for something so simple, let me prepare the tea."

Liuming was about to head into her tea table, but Xiaoyu cut her off.

"But I insist, Liuming."

+++

The two sipped their tea in silence.

It was Liuming that first broke it.

"Master Xiaoyu, do you think that Xiao will remember these weeks that I spent with her?"

"There is a chance she will, but also a chance she will not."

Xiao had not begun her torment yet and a simple answer like the one she gave already seemed to have torn Liuming's heart.

"A-are you sure she might not remember?"

"I am, why?"

"There are...things that I did to Xiao that I am regretful about. I have asked for her forgiveness but if what you are saying is true, I might have to ask for it again."

If Xiao's resolve for vengeance was as sturdy as pillar going up to the heavens, Liuming's words were able to introduce some crack into it.

But it still wasn't enough to make it completely crumble.

Suddenly, Liuming's vision became blurred, everything started to spin. Before Liuming knew it, she had already passed out.

"Xiao stood, towering over the collapsed Liuming."

<< See, this Liuming regrets what she had done. You still can not find it in your heart to forgive her?>> Zhen chimed in.

"That's not enough, master. Liuming needs to hurt equal to how I lost an arm and a leg."

<>

+++

The coldness of the ice binding her wrists and ankles to the chair woke up Liuming.

Still groggy, Liuming started to open her eyes. There's a figure standing in front of her, who could it be? Master Xiaoyu?

Her vision now focused, elation ran through Liuming's face as she saw Xiao standing before her.

"Xiao, you're consciousness has returned! I can finally..."

"Shut up!" The stern shout from Xiao cut off Liuming. "Do you really think taking care of me for a few weeks was enough to erase your sin?"

"B-but Xiao! I...I..."

Liuming's speech was starting to become slurred from the anxiety, she had never seen Xiao glare like that before. A glare that might have wished for Liuming to have never existed in the first place.

Xiao grabbed a seat and nonchalantly sat in front of the obviously troubled Liuming.

"And you thought you could steal me from Lin?" Xiao belted out a laugh fueled by ridicule. "If it wasn't for my condition from before, I would have rushed into Lin's arms instead of remaining by your side. No woman would want to be with a spoiled bitch like you who's only merit is her family name."

The words Xiao uttered were like swords, piercing Liuming's chest. Tears immediately began to streak from both of Liuming's eyes.

A wicked smile formed in Xiao's lips. Xiao then went close and seductively whispered into Liuming's ear, "After my business here, that's what exactly I would do. And to celebrate my return, I'm sure we're going to go at it all. night. long."

From a steady stream, Liuming's tears became a waterfall. Why must Xiao hurt her like this? As if Xiao had just pulled her heart out from her chest and stepped all over it.

The pleasure of finally serving Liuming what she deserved felt splendid. Splendid enough that Xiao was ready to stop the emotional torment here. After all, Liuming expression was already that of a maiden whose heart had been crushed to a thousand pieces.

"And now, you can rot in this mansion all by yourself while Lin and I enjoy the night. Goodbye, Liuming."

As Xiao turned her back to Liuming, Xiao once again heard her master.

<< I never knew you could be this heartless. It would have been merciful if you beat Liuming up instead of the emotional torture you just pulled. At least with a beating she can recover in time, while this, this would forever scar her. >>

Heartless!? Liuming was the reason why she got kicked out of the sect, being almost killed by Qiang in consequence. If you asked Xiao it was well deserved.

"I'll hear none of it from you, master. You almost scared me to death when you pretended you were going to kill me."

<< Yes, but I am your master and that was a lesson to slap you out of your naivete. This...this is straight up bullying the weak. >>

Halfway across from leaving the room, the loud wheezing stopped Xiao in her tracks. The initial euphoria of breaking Liuming's heart had disappeared, in its place was the pang of pity. Liuming was REALLY crying her heart out that her goons would have already rushed in if Liuming didn't dismiss them earlier.

In between her ear shattering sobs, Liuming was able to mutter, "I'M...*sob*...SORRY...*sob*...XIAO, FORGIVE ME, PLEASE! *sob*"

An action unbecoming of a Young Mistress of the house Shen, Xiao wanted to poke more fun but she couldn't find it in herself to do so since Liuming was pouring out her heart through her tears.

"Stop your crying, there's nothing you can do to stop me." Xiao resumed her steps.

"WAIT, XIAO, DON'T LEAVE ME, PLEASE!"

In Liuming's determination to stop Xiao from leaving, she tried to move even if she was bound. Hopping her seat, Liuming chased after Xiao.

Suddenly, a loud thud made Xiao turn around as she was nearing the door.

It was Liuming, her head bloodied as she lay sideways on the floor, mixing blood with her tears. Remnants of red on the tea table's edges.

<< Oh wow, this woman's cultivation is so low that she wounded herself after banging herself on the tea table. Are you just going to let her die from blood loss, Xiao? >>

"Fuck!" Just when Xiao had flawlessly executed her revenge!

Xiao marched back to where Liuming was, undoing her ice binding with just a wave of a hand. Next, Xiao planned to give Liuming a healing pill to take care of her forehead wound before Xiao would resume her merry way to Lin. That's about it, I'm sure her master wouldn't call her heartless now.

Xiao knelt, ready to pick up Liuming.

To Xiao's surprise, Liuming launched her own surprise attack. Going in for a sudden embrace.

"What are you doing, Liuming!? Get off of me!"

The harder Xiao yanked Liuming away from her, the tighter Liuming's arms would get.

"No! Listen to my apology first!"

Xiao could forcibly remove Liuming given her vast cultivation strength, but that would involve physically harming the redhead.

Xiao sighed, "Fine, go right ahead."

"Xiao, I'm sorry for always harassing you. I've always envied you, for a commoner, you're brimming with talent unlike me, my family has to pay just so I could be a core disciple."

"That doesn't excuse getting me kicked out of the sect."

"I know. I'll make it up to you, I'll do whatever you want me to do! Just please, remain by my side!"

Forming a nasty grin, Xiao suggested, "Then for your transgressions against us, can you kowtow in front of me and Lin?"

Liuming was ready to abandon her pride for Xiao, but not for Lin. To grovel in front of that lightning bitch...Liuming was having second thoughts.

"I'll kowtow in front of you right now, just keep Lin out if this!"

"No, you've wronged us both, if it wasn't for Lin's station she would have been kicked out like I would have. If you can't do it then..."

"I'll do it, I'll do it! But can we postpone it until tomorrow, the night deepens, we can go there early in the morning."

"Let me go and I'll think about it."

Liuming tightened her embrace even further, "I want to speak to you Xiao, stay the night...please. We can go to Lin tomorrow."

Even as they laid on the bed, Liuming kept her embrace on Xiao like a python smothering its prey not with malice, but with affection. At least after ingesting the healing pill, Xiao wouldn't need to worry about her clothes being bloodied.

"Xiao..."

"What is it?"

Although coldness lingered in Xiao's tone, hearing a response was enough to calm her agitated heart. Liuming's smile deepemed, she might still be able to fix their relationship.

"I'm happy you can finally speak now."

"Yeah, about that..."