********** Beaten ********
It's been four days since the river encounter. I haven't seen Liu and Lang again. But I know they've asked about me. I also know that Liang has scolded some slaves for talking about me. I think Shu and Ai have too. Hopefully, it'll help. I don't want any more trouble.
I'm in one of the training rooms. I'm busy keeping it running, with other slaves. We clean here and there. We change the training dummies when they break. We bring water or whatever the students need. My goal is to get close to a group of four. They're a bit far away.
I'm picking up pieces of a pole. Someone has used a skill that was too high for the pole. There're pieces scattered everywhere. Even near the group.
"They haven't come out in the last month. It's impossible to catch them," I hear Mao Xuo say.
"Do you think it was really them? They've just broken through to four. I don't know if they'd be able to," Jin Shuo intervenes.
He seems scared. He's in stage three. It's the easiest target. That's why he never comes out.
"Who else? You better be careful until we catch them. They'll wish they had died that day," Jia Xu threatens.
"Fuck. I can't even fuck a slave. It's hard to catch them inside, and I have almost no points," Jin Sho complains.
"Ha, ha, ha. We'll send you one someday," Jia Xia laughs.
He's at the Soul realm, and must have quite a few contribution points. It's the hardest target. But the day of his doom will come. We promised.
"Can't we set a trap for them somehow? Maybe Xuan...?" Jin Shuo asks, but Jia Xu silences him.
I pretend to continue collecting pieces. Luckily, no one takes a slave into account. But, just in case, I move away. Better not tempt fate.
I continue with my work until a slave speaks to me.
"It seems that there's a female student watching you. Be careful."
I turn around. I expect to see Bei Lu or Bi Lang. But no. It's Pan Ning. I gulp. I turn around again. It's better to focus on my work. I'd rather not have anything to do with her. I don't even notice her coming towards me. Until she's too close.
"Damn scum! You were looking at me with perverted thoughts!"
I can only think that she's crazy. Obsessed. I activate Inner Armor. Just in time to get kicked in the stomach.
"Ugh!"
It hurts. If it wasn't for the armor, it would've been bad. And I can't undo the seal here. She kicks me again while I'm on the ground. And another. I don't know how I'm going to escape this.
"Pan Ning! What're you doing!?" a voice suddenly yells.
"That slave... he... was..." she stammers.
"I don't care!. Are you going to do his job!? If there's any problem, I'll take care of it. I'm the one in charge of the area for a reason. You, the green-haired slave, take the slave to the infirmary. Have someone else sent, and come back quickly. If anyone else interrupts again, I'll expel them. Pan Ning, you'll have to pay contribution points for the substitute slave."
I can see that Ning is furious and gritting her teeth. But she can only obey. She's only a student in stage four. Damn it. It hurts. How could this happen?
----------
"Nothing broken. Several bruises. Rest today. For a week, minor physical work. You can go," the nurse tells me, indifferently.
The truth is, I'm better than I look. The Inner Armor has protected me. There're several bruises that make me look worse than I am. In fact, being in stage six, I could heal faster. But Liang would be suspicious.
The truth is that I'm frustrated and furious. It makes no sense. I must have gotten into the middle of some problem Pan Ning has with Bei Liu and Bi Lang. I hope it ends here.
I arrive in the room after passing through the almost empty warehouse. It's strange to see it like this. But, of course, they're all working. I have a few hours off. I take advantage of it to call them and talk about what I've heard. Although, it has to wait. I haven't been able to hide my condition from them. My bruises.
"That bitch is going to pay for it!" Shi mutters.
"She won't have a single bone left!" Yi threatens.
"Let me make her suffer little by little," Song growls.
"I won't forgive her!" Yu gets angry timidly.
They're a little scary. Although, it's also comforting that they care about me so much. That they're angry for my sake. It takes me a while to calm them down. I know they haven't forgotten it. After that, they end up joking at my expense. I'm their favorite victim.
"We'll have to postpone the plans for today. We'll have to treat him gently. Like a delicate little flower. We'll torture him another day," Song begins.
"It's a pity. I wanted to hear him scream," Shi follows.
"Oh come on, stop messing with me," I complain.
They all laugh. But they become serious again when I talk about what I have managed to hear. Bai Yi and Bai Yu are pale.
"Xuan...? Is it Bai Xuan?" Yu trembles.
"No... I think... I hope... not..." Yi tries to deny.
But they aren't very convinced. Bai Xuan is from their family. A close cousin, somewhat older than them. She's at stage seven. They say that she has always treated them well. We don't know if it's her. Or what connection she has. But we'll investigate. They've decided to torture the next one until he lets it all out. When they're angry, they are scary.
"If they reserve a slave for Jin Sho, we can attack him," Yu suggests.
"We only need to replace her. When he lets us in, we subdue and torture him," Yi continues.
"It's better if you have an alibi. I'll take care of it," Shi intervenes.
"But it's our problem! We can't put you in danger!" Yi protests.
"Now, it's everyone's problem. It's the safest option," Song refuses.
"Kong could be chopping wood on the other side. That way, he can get closer if necessary," Shi continues.
"But..." Yu tries to protest without success.
"Yes, just in case I have to run away and hide," Shi continues, thus interrupting and ignoring her protest.
"Shitty leg. If not, I could help you," Song complains. "If necessary, we can use Rui."
She says it without any kind of compassion. She still hates Rui for what she did to her. I don't oppose anything they say. I'm worried that they'll expose themselves too much. But I know they won't let me protect them.
After that, we spend a few hours talking. Laughing. Planning the future. Talking about martial arts.
We don't usually have that much time to just be together, with nothing else to do. At night, they usually don't stay too long. To let me rest. And now is not a good time to have sex. It hasn't been long enough since the last one. I couldn't fully expand their containers. And I'm a little bruised.
It's nice to be able to idly waste time with them. Lying down. Feeling their bodies leaning against mine. On the part without bruises. Gently stroking their hair. The skin on their arms. Letting them pamper me too. Smiling at each other. Kissing. Playing.
