With each breath, Liu Linyuan's body couldn't help but slightly shake. Enduring until his body could barely hold on.
When his session finished, he was the only one left in the room. Standing up, he couldn't help but wipe the sweat off his face.
Stepping out of the training grounds was as desolate as when he first arrived. The only real difference being that the sun was setting and that Shang Lěi was nowhere in sight.
Walking back to his courtyard with hardly any strength. Liu Linyuan always tried to have at least one arm on any of the walls.
It feels like rollerblading for the first time. He pondered.
When he reached half way a scratchy voice sounded behind him.
Freezing in place, Liu Linyau let out a defeated sigh before turning around. Then bowing, not daring to lift his head.
"I greet the young master." Liu Linyuan with a tone of flattery.
"How dare you stand before me!" That scratchy voice sounded again.
Liu Linyuan dropped onto his hands and knees without hesitation. He knew Liu Chung and his servant Shang Jin well. Being submissive will help reduce the beating that will happen.
Liu Cheng was Liu Linyuan's eldest brother, being 14 this year. Liu Cheng, like all his siblings, had raven black hair. Unlike his silver eyes, Liu Cheng were deep brown. Liu Cheng towers over him being 165 cm, compared to his height of 106cm. With a stocky build compared to his body of mere flesh and bone.
When Liu Cheng began raining blow after blow on his body. LiuLinyuan didn't scream or dodge, just bringing his body into a ball protecting his neck. With each blow, he could feel his bones shudder.
Compared to cultivating, this is heaven. Besides, he won't permanently injure me.
A loud voice silenced the sound of flesh being beaten.
"Stop that!"
Liu Cheng instantly stopped and locked up from his punching bag. The words he was going to say became stuck in his throat. He grunted before lifting his foot and walking away, however not before leaving threatening words.
"Liu Linyuan, I remember this."
Liu Linyuan was able to see who got involved. Just like Liu Cheng he froze when he saw who it was but for a different reason. Cold sweat started to run down his back.
That's the protagonist. You gotta be kidding me. He was a part of this family. I just thought we had similar last names. He laminated.
Liu An was 119 cm tall. With midnight hair in a low ponytail. Vibrant evergreen eyes with a lean build. The atmosphere around him just made people want to relax.
"Are you okay?" Liu An said with a honeyed voice. Reaching out to help Liu Linyuan up just to be swatted away.
Liu Linyuan looked at Liu An warily.
Just why is he here of all places and why help?. He pondered.
"Don't worry, I mean no harm," Liu An said with a gentle smile on his face. But Liu Linyuan couldn't take it anymore before raising his voice.
"Then why help?"
Liu An froze. Liu Linyuan, catching the puzzlement in his eyes, continued.
"If you truly meant no harm you shouldn't have interfered."
"But you were being beaten I could not just walk away"
Liu Linyuan had a condescending smirk on his face when he heard Liu An's answer.
"So you have a heart of justice"
Liu Linyuan struggled to get back on his feet, ignoring all Liu An's attempts to help him stand.
Walking away after contemplating he stopped before saying.
"If you truly are trying to help me then here is a word of advice. In this family nothing is done out of kindness. There are only two types of people, those who vent one's emotions like you just saw."
Before he could continue Liu An interrupted him.
"No father is kind, he helped me and mother when we were in difficult times."
He couldn't help but laugh at that response before going into a coughing fit. Wiping the tears from his eyes. He turned to face Liu An for a moment.
"Father, no that man does not care for you, me, or any of our siblings. You should realize now while it's not too late that person is the second type. One who only does things out of interest."
"No you're wrong he loves me and mom. He stopped the others from picking on us, punished the servants who made fun of us and even returned all that was taken."
"Are you an idiot?" Liu Linyuan said.
"No, you're an idiot," Liu An repeated with pouted cheeks.
He sighed. The fact that Liu An was right depressed him. After all, he was fighting with a child again.
"Liu An remember this besides the family rules and uncle. That man can dictate everything that happens in this place. It took a few words from that him. Then everything was like waking up from a nightmare before ascending. Remember, all your plights here only happened to such an extent because he allowed it. Never forget that as soon as you lose your value, that nightmare will come back."
He then headed back to the courtyard, ignoring Liu An's dumbfounded face.
He thought about what had just happened when he returned. When he saw Liu An's face for some reason, he felt irritated, wanting to give him a knock on his head. Whereas he did not have any feeling towards his brother nor that servant.
But when mentioning his father and uncle. Especially his uncle drove thoughts of murder like a demon whispering on his shoulder that he should kill both, but especially his uncle should be made to experience hell.
Why was that I saw nothing in any of the memories resulted in this much hatred? Furthermore, he hardly ever met his uncle, maybe twice, in counting his past and future memories? What happened during the parts that are missing? He pondered.
"Forget it, given the little time I had left before being able to escape, it's better to get some rest and figure this out later." He mumbled.
Laying down on the straw, he almost reached for the medicine pills before stopping.
He only has these pills left and it will take a month to get more. Given how little time is left and what will happen after and during the escape plan its better to stock up and use them only when necessary.