The Dragon's Fury

OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS, Zi Yin did his best to recuperate. He kept a low profile, avoiding his father and the chilling gaze of his Shifu. Zi Yin stood before the mirror, his eyes fixed on his own reflection. Despite the bruises that marred his once flawless skin, he couldn't help but be captivated by the gentle beauty that stared back at him. His eyes, like crescent moons, shone with a soft, ethereal light that seemed to draw you in. His lithe frame was slender like that of a crane, yet held a quiet strength within. His long black hair cascaded down his back unbound, unlike other omegas from gentry clans he choose to wear all white like a wandering immortal.

Or at least he tried to be. Zi Yin's mood dimmed as he stared at himself, his mind was clouded with worry. Fu Tai had been avoiding him recently, and he couldn't help but wonder why. Had he said something wrong? Had he done something to upset him? The uncertainty gnawed at him like a hungry beast, threatening to consume him whole.

Zi Yin's fingers traced the edges of the bruises on his face as if searching for answers in the pain. He longed to see Fu Tai's face again, to feel his touch, but it seemed as though he had vanished into thin air. What would it be like? To touch him? Kiss him?

As he gazed into the mirror, Zi Yin's thoughts drifted to the world outside. The sky was dark, the stars glittering like diamonds in the inky blackness. He felt as though he too was lost in that vast expanse, adrift and alone. Zi Yin's imagination began to run wild as if in answer to his silent prayer, he saw a faint light in the distance. It was small, but it grew brighter with each passing moment until it illuminated the entire room. And there, in its warm embrace, stood Fu Tai.

Zi Yin's heart leapt with joy at the sight of him. He stepped forward, his eyes never leaving Fu Tai's, and as their lips met in a tender kiss, he knew that he was no longer alone in the darkness. Just as quickly as the images came they vanished and he was back to begin alone in his room.

When would it stop? Zi Yin touched his forehead sighing through his nose. He checked the time and realized he was running late. It was high noon when he made his way through the imperial guards, he had a study session with Gong Yijun and he was glad to be taking it easy for the next few weeks until the competition. The Sun Ocean Palace sect had been buzzing lately as people from all the sects gathered for the competition, Zi Yin knew he should be spending this time cultivating, but he was still immensely sore and he didn't want to damage himself further by not tending to his wounds first.

There were still a few weeks before the competition started, so he knew he'd have enough time to heal up and then begin practice again with his Shifu. Zi Ling had been practicing non-stop for weeks now, hoping to get ranked high enough. As the daughter of Zi Xinyue, she knew she had to do her best.

Zi Yin was holding his scrolls in his hand when he passed by the punishment courtyard and saw his father and his Shifu standing there. Zi Yin's brows knitted in confusion until he watched in horror as his Shifu strapped Fu Tai to a pole, his arms and legs bound tightly. The young disciple's eyes were wide with fear, his face pale and streaked with tears. The Fu clan were all lined up, kowtowing, their heads knocking against the ground.

What? A cold sweat dripped down his back and he felt like his lungs were being squeezed by a fist.

Zi Wang stood tall and proud with a whip in his hand, glaring down at them. "Have mercy, my lord—" Fu Fen had served Zi Wang for nearly forty years, but he was viciously kicked to the ground.

"Quiet," Zi Wang spat.

Zi Yin's heart ran rampant as he lurched forward, grabbing at his father's arm. "What are you doing?!"

Zi Wang shrugged him off. "Zi Yin, stand aside while I punish this slave."

"No—you can't—" Several guards grabbed Zi Yin. "Father—it was my mistake. Don't punish them, please—"

"Look at you," Zi Wang barked. "Pleading for a servant. Look how far you have fallen! Fu Tai's job is to protect you at all costs, even if it means his life and yet here you are beaten and bruised and he has barely a scratch! You are the sect leader's son! Conduct yourself with propriety. Or so help me, Zi Yin I'll lock you in seclusion so you'll never see the light of day! Begin!"

Zi Yin's heart jammed in his throat as Shifu stepped forward, brandishing the whip in his hand. "For your insolence Fu Tai, you will receive fifty lashes. Never in my life have a seen a servant so willful, that he'd conspire not only to not help his sect leader but allow him to be beaten severely."

Zi Yin couldn't believe what he was hearing! Fu Tai did nothing but help, it was Zi Yin's idea to jump into a fight with the Fearless Gang and interfere with their matters. "Shifu—please—it was me I did it—"

"Silence!" Shifu snarled. "Or I'll add another fifty lashes to the punishment!"

Zi Yin slammed his mouth shut, he knew his Shifu was ruthless when it came to punishments, but he never imagined that their Shifu would resort to such cruel punishment. The whip cracked through the air, cutting into Fu Tai's back with a sickening thud. Zi Yin winced in pain, feeling as if the whip had struck him instead. He could see the deep red welts forming on Fu Tai's skin, each one a testament to his failure. Zi Yin's hands curled into a fist, his anger rising. How could their Shifu be so heartless, so cruel? He wanted to rush forward and stop the punishment, but he knew that he would only make things worse. Zi Yin could do nothing but watch as Fu Tai was whipped, the skin from his back flayed and the scene before reminded Zi Yin of a gruesome painting, with Fu Tai's body serving as the canvas. Each strike of the whip was like a brushstroke, leaving behind a trail of pain and misery. The sound of the whip was like a violent thunderstorm, its cracks echoing through the courtyard.

Zi Yin couldn't bear to watch anymore, but he couldn't tear his eyes away. He could feel the bile rising in his throat, the sickening sensation of helplessness and despair. Tears slipped down his cheeks, his heart wanted to flee his chest but he didn't dare move.

After what seemed like an eternity, the whipping stopped. Fu Tai was released from the pole, his body trembling with exhaustion and pain. Zi Yin rushed forward but was yanked back by the guards, the motion jarred his wound sending spikes of pain through his entire body. He winched, stifling the cry that was almost ripped from his throat. Zi Wang snorted, then flicked his wrist and walked away, his head held high. Fu Fen remained bowed, forehead knowing against the ground, while Shifu followed suit. The guards finally released Zi Yin and he lurched forward, grabbing Fu Tai who was slumped on the pool. "Fu Tai! Fu Tai!" Zi Yin cried, tears streaming down his face. It was all his fault.

He could feel the heat radiating from the fresh welts on Fu Tai's back, the pain and anger mixing in a potent cocktail of emotions.

"Zi-gongzi please," Fu Fen begged, he was elderly and wrinkled, and his knees were dragging on the ground. "Allow me—my son—please—"

Zi Yin let Fu Tai go and watched as his mother and father hurriedly grabbed their son off the floor, his blood drenching the ground. Fu Tai's back was a shredded mess of flesh, it looks like saggy lasagna as they carried him away. Bitter tears ran down Zi Yin's cheek, there were three weeks before the competition, and although Fu Tai was strong, there would be no way he'd be able to heal by then.

His position had been lost and their Shifu knew it. Zi Yin felt anger roil in his heart. How could they do this to him? Fu Tai had been his friend and servant all his life, he would have never done anything to hurt Zi Yin intentionally. Zi Yin's blood pulsed, he knew that Fu Tai had trained for ages just to be named in the competition to make his family proud. Now it was all for nothing.

Zi Yin's bottom lip trembled as Fu Tai was taken away, he tried to swallow around the blockage in his throat. There was no one else to blame. Fu Tai would carry these scars for the rest of his life.