Hao Lin Reflects

As I switched my view to the opposite direction it was an entirely different sight. Each of my disciples had their own methods to "teach" others and Lang Gang's method was a bit brutal compared to Liao Rong.

Hers was simply whenever you got hit by one of her arrows you would play dead as if it was your only chance to dodge a life ending strike. Lang Gang over here had the simple thought of: if you could persist you could continue.

While Liao Rong simply had around 32 disciples around her, Lang Gang on the other hand looked to have around 300-350 people ganging up on him. I felt like I was watching a raid group on steroids as they tried desperately to beat a boss.

And said boss was still kicking their asses. With such a large group of individuals it would be quite difficult to all attack simultaneously, but even the eight which immediately surround him have trouble as he simply brute forces his way out by charging one person specifically.

As he breaks out of the encirclement the man he charged earlier could be seen flying several meters away. He shakily gets up before forcing himself to push forward back into the fray. I felt it was quite safe to say many who kept coming back for Lang Gang's training simply had quite the determination, or well they were quite the masochist.

These teaching lessons offered by my disciples were optional after all, it wasn't like school where they had to have mandatory hours in lectures, though my disciples are lecturing much anyway.

Disciples went flying, sailing through the air left and right. These were people who have distinguished themselves from 100,000 other Inner Disciples in terms of achievement, yet here they were now, currently being beaten and tossed around. The vast majority of Core Disciples usually spend their time elsewhere such as in personal training facilities or out on missions.

At some point Lang Gang started to fly up and so did the other 200 or so remaining disciples. Liao Rong also started doing so, but at this point there were only really 7 or so disciples remaining for her.

Back to Lang Gang he became like a meteorite as he flew around smacking any and all disciples which came in his path. A number of them fell back to the ground before a few got back to rejoin the fight and a small group managed to resist the strike enough not to fall down.

Of those who sat out from continuing only about 4 of them couldn't actually go on, the rest were injured in various degrees, but could still keep going if they really tried. Of course not everyone is so welcome to pain though and many of those who gave up are probably feeling enough from the strikes they received.

I took a peek at the session which should end soon just to catch the final shot hitting an archer disciple. Once that occurred the disciples were told some advice one by one before a steady stream of people started to form and walk towards me.

Many of their neutral expressions turned friendly as they saw me. A number of them waved and spoke a few greetings, but a few disciples decided to have a little chat with me.

"Junior Brother Ip! It's been so long since any of us have seen you!"

"Yeah, where have you been? We've missed you!"

"Where have I been? I was just sent on a little mission for a while, that's all! How are you all?"

"We've been well! I managed to become just a bit better at shooting and dodging."

"Heheh, I've become better at deflecting arrows! Let's spar a bit later, I want to see just how much better I've gotten!"

"Oh Yeah? We'll see, in fact let's go and spar now! See you later Junior Brother Ip!"

"Yeah, see you later! When I'm back you'll hear all about how I deflected those arrows!"

As they started running to the sparring arena I sent them away with a light wave.

"Master!"

I turn around to see Liao Rong looking toward me, her bow already nowhere to be seen.

"Hello Xiao Rong! Elegantly done as always!"

"Thank you Master!"

"There's no need to thank me, those were your actions. Now let's watch your 8th Junior brother finish up his "training" session."

***

(Hao Lin POV)

Sulkily I followed after my father into the back with my head down. I trailed behind him yet with every step I took I felt a hint of weakness in my legs. The weight of his voice at the time felt like it would crush me.

I lifted my head a little to stare at his back, yet there was a feeling as I did which forced me to look away. I was seeing my father in a new light right now, a startling light.

'H-he's never been so harsh before. What happened? Is this what some of my other siblings talk about when they talk about father being angry?'

The sound of his heavy steps seemed to cancel out my own and as we walked the rhythmic thuds were the only sound I could hear. Every moment we walked seemed agonizingly long, like this sensation would never end.

'Is that man really not forcing those women to be his wives? That girl I asked looked like she was close to my age and she said she wasn't being forced. But-but, maybe she was only saying that because she might be abused if she didn't! The reason why marks aren't visible is because it could all be internal!

Father people change too! What if the person you knew before isn't the same as he is now!

*Sigh* Who am I trying to fool… that girl clearing isn't lying. If she was then why would she be the one looking at me with pity? She didn't even hesitate when she spoke either, it's clear I'm the only one to be made a fool of.'

While lost in my own thoughts I collided with something only to realize that the rhythmic thudding had ended. I looked up only to see my father's back, the sight made my legs quiver in fear of what he might do because of my mistake. I raised my hands in terror and tightly shut my eyes, merely waiting for what's to come.

Yet he didn't utter a word, instead the next sound I heard was the slight creak as a door opened. By the time I opened my eyes father had disappeared and in his stead was an open door.

"Come in and take a seat."

His weighty voice came from within which sent a shiver throughout my body, but I wouldn't, couldn't refuse his summon. With a quick and deep breath I carefully tread within the room, closing the door behind me, and sat on the seat opposite him.

There was a deathly silence as his eyes seemed to penetrate my very being, yet at this moment I couldn't even return the gaze for a moment. Staring at my lap I twiddled my thumbs in hopes that this moment would quickly pass.

"*Sigh* Hao Lin, look at me."

I flinched and froze the moment he spoke my name. It wasn't like the way he always affectionately called me Lin'er, but now it felt a little distant as he spoke my entire name. I couldn't even remember the last time he called me anything else. There was also a sense of tiredness in his voice, but I couldn't focus on that.

I looked up with a few trembles at him, but I still couldn't meet his eyes.

"Hao Lin, look at me."

He spoke the same words once more and I felt a slight dread if he had to say it a third time. My eyes darted around his face for a few moments before landing on his eyes, but it only managed to stay for a few moments before I instead turned to look at his mouth.

"*Sigh* What prompted you to say such things earlier? I know you are a little mischievous at times, but this is a little too far."

"I-I… Brother Chen told me that it was the truth. Even when he left earlier he still looked at them like he would free them."

"Why did you believe him?"

"Well, a small event occurred around a month ago. We, Ye Chen and I, met them in a clothing store and when I went to try on some clothes then came out he was injured. He told me that-that U–uncle was the one who did it."

Halfway through saying that I just realized what it meant when they called each other brothers. That handsome young man was around my father's age, but even then why does my father look so much older in comparison?

"And you believed him just like that? Simply by his word alone?"

"Y-yes?"

'Hmm, why did I believe him so easily? I didn't ask anyone around for more information nor did I even witness the event.'

"I'm disappointed in you."

After hearing those words I felt like something shattered inside me. A heavy feeling began to descend upon me mentally. Disappointment, he had never been disappointed in me before, at least not to this extent of visual representation.

It had always just been a light scolding, but this feels much worse even though he wasn't lecturing me about anything.

"But, Father, why would he lie to me?"

"He could do so for a variety of reasons such as to use you."

"B-but why would he have to do such a thing like that? He-we've already…"

'We've already slept together, he's already taken… I'm no longer a…'

"Hmm? You've already what?"

"Nothing, it's nothing. Does that mean that everything that he's said is a lie?"

'I'll do it myself, I have to do it myself. I'll kill that lying bastard with my own two hands! It's the only way I can feel at ease for what he's already done!'

"Who knows, but Brother Jiang isn't such a horrid person. His disposition is neutral, but leans a bit more toward being a righteous person. At least I believe so. Anything else besides talking about my Brother could be either true or false, but if he lies about random people he met in a clothing store what couldn't he lie about?"

"He knew the girl though, but it seems like the man who appeared was a complete stranger to him."

"Hao Lin, I'll take my leave. The guests need their host. I hope you'll put your trust in more reliable people in the future. You're going to be a grown woman soon who'll have to start making their own choices. In the meantime I want you to return to your room and reflect upon yourself for the next three days."

Like that he got up and left the room. I sat on the sofa alone stewing in the silence. After an unknown amount of time I got up and headed toward my room. I opened the door and sat down at my dresser and opened my palm which still contained the ring that Ye Chen gave me.

I stared at it for a moment as my browser furrowed before clenching my hand into a fist as hard as I could. I could feel the ring give way a bit before eventually shattering into a few pieces.

I stared at these pieces in a similar silence as before, but my brows had unfurrowed. A small flash occurred as the pieces disappeared into my spatial ring.

I brought out my sword on the dresser and slowly unsheathed it. The blade gleamed from a light which penetrated into the room.

'Ye Chen, oh Ye Chen. You lying bastard, your love for me was probably a lie too wasn't it?! I'll make sure to get you back for this! It seemed that you hated that handsome Uncle for some reason didn't you? Or perhaps you simply just wanted to be rid of him so that you could have his women. I'll make sure to team up with him to take you down! Men hate to lose their women to others and wear the so-called "green hat" right? Next time we meet, maybe I'll make it seem like we did so! I'll just have to somehow convince Uncle to play along with me.'