The ship had stopped. The river they sailed ran through the Ning mountains which took the boat to the right direction. It was barely morning when the cellar door of the ship slammed open. Jinghua had already been awake. The slam of the door awoke Bingwen and Chisheng Wei. It was Xue Quan who entered. "Lady Chisheng," he said, "Someone is waiting for you in the palace." she glanced at Jinghua, then Bingwen, then back at Xue Quan who smiled as if he was doing her a favor. But his smile faded away. "That means come with me." He said, then leaving with a swish of his robes and his long, white, silky hair. The three followed, their robes had been damp but they were no longer cold.
They reached the stairs of the palace and at the gates was someone Chisheng Wei recognized. Someone she despised more than her mother and father. Her sister, Chisheng Lei. The three passed by, Chisheng Wei gave her sister a death stare as they passed and entered the main hall of the Ning palace. Ning Lin made his way to his throne and took a seat, ordering his maids for a cup of wine. "How does it feel to be home, Longwei? You should be happy that you have returned." said Ning Lin. Jinghua spoke under his breath, "I'm ashamed."
"Speak up, boy!" Ning Lin yelled, Jinghua's face turned sour. He then took off his crown, holding his hair up, the ribbon in his hair was also torn away. And his hair fell onto his back. The crown that had shown what clan he belonged to, what clan he was the future leader of. His father growled. "How dare you take off your glory. How dare you disrespect our clan. Your clan!" Bingwen picked up Jinghua's crown and put it in his sleeves.
Ning Lin got annoyed with his son giving him the silent treatment so he spoke to Bingwen. "Master Yusheng, have you heard the news yet?" Bingwen was confused. What news? He only wanted to know why he had been captured.
Bingwen shook his head. Ning Lin Chuckled. "What a shame then. I shall tell you! Your youngest sister has passed away!" Bingwen felt like he had just been stabbed. He lost feeling in his legs and fell to the ground. How did he not get word? "Your..lying.." he mumbled.
"I am not. And do you know how she died, Yusheng Jin?" Ning Lin began to walk over to Bingwen. He snapped his fingers, ordering his disciples to keep his son and Chisheng Wei out of the way. And they did so. "Stay away from him!" Jinghua yelled at his father. Ning Lin continued to approach Bingwen. "Tell me, master Yusheng, why do you think I want you dead?" said Ning Lin, pulling Bingwen's head by his hair. Bingwen couldn't say anything. He didn't know why. Was there even a reason? "I killed your sister, Yusheng Jin. She was shot by one of my arrows in her sleep. And I did it to get the attention of your family! Your clan will be mine soon. Just you wait!" Ning Lin threw Bingwen and crossed his arms behind his back, walking towards his disciples. "I would like to talk to lady Chisheng and bring her sister in here as well. As for my son, take him to his room. And for master Yusheng, take him to the chambers. Do whatever you want to him!" said Ning Lin. Jinghua burst out in anger, "No! You can't take him away! FATHER, YOU BASTARD!!" And with that, Bingwen was taken, taken away from them. Again.
He was dragged down a hall, into a cellar. It was dark and damp with little light at all. It was like a jail. And it smelled of rotten flesh. What happened down here? What secrets does the Ning clan keep?
Bingwen was thrown into a large cell. Blood was dried into the rocky stones of the floor. Bingwen sat up and stared at the Ning disciples. His hair was a mess from Ning Lin grabbing it and his robes were messed up as well. There were only three disciples. He could take them all out if he had enough Chi but he was weak. One of the disciples spoke up, "Master said we could do anything we wanted!" he teased, another disciple spoke next. "You've done a lot to damage this clan, Yusheng Jin! This is all your fault, and you should be punished!" The disciples closed in on Bingwen and all that could be heard from above. Was Bingwen's last yell for help.
Chisheng Wei's sister, Chisheng Lei, her given name Yawen, was brought into the palace. Jinghua flinched at the sound of Bingwen's yells. He wanted to do something to help him. But his father was always in the way. Chisheng Wei's older sister walked her way towards Ning Lin's throne. "Why the hell are you here?" she said, clenching her teeth as she spoke. Chisheng Lei crossed her arms and smiled at her sister who stood below her. "Because, Meiling, Mother told me to watch my little sister! You have been gone for forever now and she got worried!" Chisheng Lei said, sarcastically. She chuckled, stopping closer to Ning Lin's throne. "You know, you can continue to ignore everything you hate and you can continue to run away and you can continue to think everything is so wonderful and great but know that you will always be overpowered by me, Meiling." Chisheng Wei felt helpless, clenching her fists. A disciple went up to Ning Lin and whispered in his ear. Ning Lin then stood up and said, "I must take my leave now. There is something I must do." he smiled and walked out of the palace, disciples by his sides. Jinghua ran to the cellars, ignoring the yelling from Chisheng Lei and other disciples. Ince he had reached the cellars he found Bingwen. Bingwen's robes had been torn with whip strikes. The disciples had kicked him and hit him. He was bloody and bruised. "You bastards! Get away from him NOW!" Jinghua yelled. And they hurried out in a panic that Jinghua's temper would get worse. Jinghua picked up Bingwen's weak and beaten body and took him out of the cellars. His only focus was Bingwen and nothing else. A lot could happen behind closed doors.