Flashback: The Cliffside

As the sun dipped towards the horizon, casting a warm glow over the valley below, Zhang Wei and Mei Lin found themselves on the secluded cliffside path, not far from the Azure Cloud Sect. The vibrant hues of orange and pink painted the sky, creating a breathtaking backdrop for their training session.

Standing at the edge of the cliff, the sheer drop below was intimidating, sending a shiver down Mei Lin's spine. She braced herself, starting on climb down. It was a lot harder than she had expected. Zhang Wei had scammed her when he had told her that he had chosen the technique that was the easiest to master.

Mei Lin watched, her eyes wide with a mix of admiration and annoyance as Zhang Wei demonstrated the Shadow Steps technique with agile grace.

Teacher Zhang watched Mei Lin struggle with the technique. "Terrible form, Priestess Mei," He quipped, "Pay attention when I am showing you how it is done."

He effortlessly glided from one rock to another along the cliffside, moving up next to her. He leaned forward, whispering in her ear, "No wonder you almost got caught sneaking back into the nunnery."

She resisted the temptation to push him off the cliff, convincing herself that risking her balance and life for momentary pleasure wasn't worth it.

"Student Mei Lin," Zhang Wei continued in a mock serious tone, with a playful glint in his eye, "How will you fulfill your long-cherished dream of escaping the nunnery if you don't put in effort?"

Mei Lin, not one to back down, quirked a brow and retorted, "Oh, Teacher Zhang, it's not that I lack the desire, but my body isn't cooperating, demanding breaks at the most inconvenient of times."

Zhang Wei chuckled at her incompetence, his personality terrible as ever. "No breaks for you, my dear Priestess Mei. The path to freedom is paved with swift steps and nimble moves."

Refusing to give in to Mei Lin's pleading expression, Teacher Zhang maintained the wisdom of an elder in his youthful visage, continuing "Excuses will only hinder your progress. Control your body and mind, and you will pave the way to achieving your dreams."

Mei Lin was truly exasperated by his attitude. She pouted, "You're too hard on your students, Teacher Zhang. Your personality is unyielding like a stubborn old rock."

"Perhaps I should teach rocks instead," Zhang Wei shamelessly mused, "they might learn faster than you do."

Mei Lin fluttered her eyelashes at him, "Rocks may be patient listeners, Teacher Zhang, but they can't compare to my charm."

Zhang Wei retorted, not denying her, "Less sass, more effort, Student Mei."

She obeyed him reluctantly, thinking that brilliant minds like Zhang Wei should focus on their own endeavors rather than causing trouble for inexperienced beginners like herself. Zhang Wei was living proof that geniuses made terrible teachers.

After Zhang Wei finally called it a day, Mei Lin lay down on her stomach, exhausted, watching her young teacher out of the corner of her eye, wondering what was the deal with his stamina.

She suddenly asked, "Are you sure you won't get into trouble for sharing these 'secret' arts with me?"

Zhang Wei assured her, a twinkle in his eye, "Fear not, my dear Priestess Mei. These skills are widespread. They are not exclusive to our Azure Cloud Sect."

"If you say so," Mei Lin turned her face to the other side.

"Have some faith in your teacher, Student Mei," Zhang Wei patted her back, "This teachnique like hot buns sells in the cultivator market in the town."

Mei Lin winced in pain at the casual touch.

"I'm sorry. I was careless," Zhang Wei immediately apologized, "Does it hurt?"

Leaning in slightly, he reached out a hand hesitating, before gently resting it on her shoulder, a silent gesture of comfort and reassurance.

"I'm okay, Zhang Wei," she assured him.

Mei Lin had very reluctantly told him about the whip marks she had received, meeting him not long after she was let out of the repentance hall. And it was for defying the rules by feeding a hunger-stricken young nun during a fasting period of all things. Such a noble reason for her punishment, that didn't sound like Mei Lin at all just considering the Buddhist doctrines she went about breaking on an everyday basis. Zhang Wei's heart had twinged with pain, thinking he'd rather she stayed selfish instead.

"They've scabbed already. Stop worrying so much," she insisted. It had been a more than a fortnight since she had gotten out of repentance hall, three weeks since she had gotten punished.

Despite her assurance, Zhang Wei's gaze was filled with worry, his brows furrowed in concern.

Mei Lin whispered softly, "I can't bear the way you are looking at me anymore." Taking a deep breath, she added, "I'll show you the scars since you won't take my word for it."

He was shocked, unsure of how to respond.

There was a brief pause before she ordered, "Turn away. Are you gonna watch me undress?"

Zhang Wei gaped at her in shock. Mei Lin ignored his reaction, pulling up her robe. He turned away, his heart pounding, inwardly shocked at her lack of self-awareness.

"Mei Lin, you don't have to do this," Zhang Wei protested, surprised by her insistence.

"You can look now," Mei Lin's voice told him.

Zhang Wei knew he should refuse on ethical and moral grounds. But his head turned to watch her almost instinctively.

Holding her upper robe to her chest, Mei Lin exposed only her back covered only by the knot holding her chest cover on. Zhang Wei gasped, even though he had already known to expect the whip marks. Knowing and seeing were two different things after all.

Zhang Wei's face contorted in pain, not only from the sight of the scars but also from the depth of his unspoken love for Mei Lin. His hand hovered a mere breadth away from her back, wanting to touch the scars. Yet, he stopped himself, bottling up his unexpressed emotions along with his touch.

The new whip scars had indeed scabbed as she had mentioned. But looking closely, there were faint, older-looking white marks that were almost completely obscured by the new ones.

Curiosity getting the better of him, he asked Mei Lin, "How did you get them?

Mei Lin softly questioned, "Don't you already know?"

"These ones." Zhang Wei brushed his finger against one of the older scars.

"I wasn't aware they were still visible," Mei Lin paused, as if debating whether to tell him. "These are from when I first joined the nunnery," she explained, her tone now devoid of its usual lightness.

Zhang Wei's eyes darkened, anger mingling with sorrow. "How old were you?" he inquired.

"Maybe about six?" Mei Lin's tone was casual as if she and the person she was talking about were two different people.

"Why?" he asked, the complexity of his feelings evident. "This is…" Inhumane. That was the word. He was in disbelief that someone would whip a little child that young.

"I stole food during a fast," she revealed, "It's something that is taken very seriously in the nunnery."

Zhang Wei's eyes reflected a mix of emotions - disbelief, sadness, and a hint of anger. "What does a child know, even?" he questioned.

Mei Lin scoffed, her voice dripping with sarcasm, "Tell that to Mother Superior. Spare the rod, spoil the child, she believes in that saying wholeheartedly. Age isn't a concept she understands. In a way, she treats us all the same, equally if you will." Her words cut through the tense air, challenging Zhang Wei's convictions.

Zhang Wei, turned away, lost in thought as Mei Lin put her upper robe back on.

She indicated she was done, tapping on his shoulder, joking, "All praise Mother Superior for ensuring there isn't a single rotund nun within the confines of the White Lotus Temple. Her strict methods may be questionable, but they have certainly kept our waistlines in check."

Still feeling the gravity of their discussion, Zhang Wei asked Mei Lin, "Why didn't you tell me?"

Mei Lin stated quite nonchalantly, "I hang out with you to escape my reality, not face it."

Zhang Wei was struck silent by her blunt confession. The weight of her words hung heavy in the air, casting a shadow over their once carefree companionship. Zhang Wei realized that perhaps he had been blind to the depths of Mei Lin's inner turmoil. The realization left him at a loss for words, unsure of how to navigate the newfound complexity of their relationship.

Mei Lin gently tugged at Zhang Wei's hand, leading him to lie on the soft grass beside her. "Ease up, Zhang Wei," she whispered, "Don't think too much about this. All you need to do is be yourself and keep me company occasionally. That's enough." She lay her head on his chest, hearing his heartbeat , tilting her head toward him in that awkward position,"Don't I repay you with my company too?"

As the minutes passed, Zhang Wei tried to calm himself playing with Mei Lin's hair. A somber expression lingered, his thoughts still clouded. Breaking the silence, still searching for some answers, he probed, "Why risk it all for a young nun, Mei Lin?"

"Surprised?" she asked him. He nodded.

She reached out, absentmindedly stroking the back of his hand. "There are two kinds of people in this world, Zhang Wei. Some would never wish their suffering on another, and then there are those who find joy in watching others experience the same pain. I had always thought I was of the second kind," Mei Lin looked into Zhang Wei's eyes, smiling, "I guess, I surprised myself too."