As time ticked by without Master Chang waking up, the tension in the room rose. Everyone wore a terrified look on their faces as they anticipated the trouble they would be in when their visitor woke up.
The father of the house would not stop glaring at his second son, his angry eyes blaming him for their new predicament. The boy surely took after his mother with his hot head, and not him, he thinks, while tapping his foot restlessly on the ground.
" I have an idea, " he suddenly blurts out, his brown eyes twinkling with mischief.
The eyes that turned to him don't look hopeful, as the young man speaking has never come up with anything reasonable in his life. Knowing his son and not expecting much from him, their father doesn't bother looking. Only Meilin wears a hopeful look on her face. Maybe her brother might surprise him.
Seeing the disinterested look on his father's face, Junfeng frowns. Father, do you not want to hear my idea? He hates how his father looks down on him. He acts as if his twin brother is the only one with brains in the house.
Why should I bother when I know it is going to be stupid?
Junfeng scowls. But you haven't even heard it, how do you know it is stupid?"
Their father rolls his eyes at his son whining, and then, with a resigned look, demands that he speak his brilliant idea.
His sarcastic tone flies over Junfeng, who looks giddy to share his wonderful idea. He looks at everyone in the room, his brown eyes glowing with dark excitement. They all wait with their breath held for him to speak, and he does.
" LET'S KILL HIM. "
His family stares blankly at him, too dumbfounded by the young man's suggestion to react.
While they gawked at Junfeng, the wheels began to spin in their head as they turned his words around in their head.
Their father reacts first.
"How do we dispose of the body? "
Meilin gasps in shock at her father's words. She never believed he would entertain Junfeng's idea. She looks at her eldest brother, the sane one in the family. Surely, he would see the idea for what it is- a stupid idea.
Qianfan had a sinister look in his eyes that terrified Meilin. He looks very much on board with the crazy idea. Surely, her family doesn't believe they would get away with murder?
As Meilin was beginning to believe that her family was going to make a mess of things, her mother spoke. Her mother has been so silent since this morning that Meilin forgot her presence.
"TIAN!" their mother snaps, shocking the room. Goose bumps erupted all over their skin at her raised voice. They are used to her meekness and mild manner, so they are surprised by her harsh tone and command.
The older woman glares at her husband, who looks away with a sheepish expression, before she turns on her son. They blush and look down at the scolding gaze. "We are not killing anyone, understood?"
Everyone nods.
"What do we do then?" Their father questions, looking at his wife.
We wait till he wakes up, and Junfeng apologizes. She glares at her son.
The young man scratches his head as he averts his eyes from his mother, his face flushed red. His mother has never scolded him before, and it makes him uncomfortable.
Master Chang wakes up to hear the tail of their conversation. " Who are you killing? " He asks, sitting up.
"Oh shit!" Yufei exclaims in shock, falling back.
While their mother glares at her son for his foul language, their father goes to attend to their visitor.
"Master Chang, how do you feel?"
"How do you think I feel?!" Master Chang glares at the father. " Your son hit me! " he spat out, raising his fat finger to his lips, which he cleans and brings to the focus of his eyes. He looks disappointed when no blood stains on his fingers.
Their father looks to the floor, his expression ashamed of his son's behavior. At his silence, their mother speaks up.
" Master Chang, we are sorry."
Master Chang's eyes look in the older blonde's direction, her beauty melting his heart. His hard expression softens, and he looks ready to forgive until his eyes fall on the boy who struck him. His arrogant, unremorseful stance annoys him, and his features harden again.
Following his eyes, their mother sees where he is looking and smacks her son to apologize.
"Ah!" Junfeng holds his side with a frown, his expression clueless.
"Apologize to Master Chang," their mother snaps, with a strong glare.
Grudgingly, the young man turns to the visitor, his expression stubborn. " I am sorry for hitting you," he utters without sincerity.
Master Chang glares at him one more time before getting to his feet.
" Well, I am ready to get out of this gutter, so where is my doll? " he says, looking around.
At his words, Meilin's heart sinks to the bottom of her stomach, and tears begin to stream down her face. Her family looks defeated and dejected as they can't stop what is about to happen.
The youngest, Paisley
" Mother why is everyone looking sad and Salsa crying? " Paisley asked looking confused.
" Because she is going away stupid, " Yuze snapped at him.
" What! No!!! " Paisley face squeezed before he ran towards Salsa and threw himself at her. " Please don't go, " he begged clutching her tightly.
Her brother's action caused the dam to burst open. Salsa started to cry clutching her brother to her side.
" Let's go doll, " Master Chang snapped looking irritated at all the emotions going on around him.
Junfeng who couldn't bear to see his sister leave stood to his feet and walked out with an angry look on his face.
Salsa looked at her father for a last-minute miracle, when he looked away from her with his shoulders slumped, her teary eyes moved to her mother. She had her head down crying refusing to raise her head. No help from there. She moved on to her older brother. Though Qianfan had regret in his eyes for not doing more to help her, he also tried to look brave for her sake, and Salsa tried to copy his emotions but it was really hard and the tears won't stop coming.
" Come here, " Qianfan said walking to her.
Salsa was eager to fall into his arms, trying to draw strength from his strong and masculine body.
Qianfan tightened his grip around her and even though she couldn't breathe Salsa didn't mind at all.
" Come on people I don't plan to spend the whole day in this backwater, " Master Chang called out again, even though his voice didn't sound irritated he looked very impatient and ready to get on the road.
Salsa wished that she could remain in her brother's arms forever. When he tried to pull away she wouldn't let go and clung harder, now crying loudly.
" It's alright Sal, " he whispered calmly into her ear.
" No is not! " Salsa protested tearfully wrapping her hand tightly around Qianfan's neck.
" Don't be scared I will find you, " Qianfan assured her in a determined tone.
His words sparked a little light of hope in Salsa's heart. She pulled back to regard her brother in the eyes. The brown eyes staring back at her looked determined and hard.
Before Salsa could say something she was being pulled forcefully from him and dragged towards the door.
" Noooooo!!!!!!! " she screamed, she was not ready. " Qianfan!!!! Dad!!!!! Mum!!!! " she cried out for them, begging for them to save her, but none of them could do anything and the last thing she saw before she was out the door, was her dad looking defeated, her mother and younger brothers weeping, Qianfan looking helpless and Junfeng nowhere to be seen.
" Now will you please stop with the tears unless you want to start your training early enough, " Master Chang glared at her. " A woman crying rubs me the wrong way and pisses me off, " he snapped at her before moving into his fancy carriage.
Salsa drew up short, his words paralyzing her. She stood outside the carriage unable to move. A squeak squeezed out of her lips when she felt someone lift her up and into the carriage.
" Now we are all alone come here Sweet thing, " Master Chang said in a sweet creepy voice lounging towards her with a sly smile on his face.
" Ah!!!! " Salsa screamed moving away from him. " Stay away from me! " she yelled moving to the far corner of the carriage and then let out a loud squeak when the carriage suddenly moved causing her to launch forward right into Master Chang's lap.
" Oh ya, you are right where you are supposed to be, " he smirked at her running his hands over Salsa's body through her gown.
Salsa snatched her body from his creepy disgusting caress and flew to the other end of the carriage.
" Keep your sick wandering hands to yourself, " she cried in her mind, glaring at Master Chang.
Master Chang threw back his head and laughed as if it was funny pawning at her the way he did.
" Don't worry sweet thing soon you will be begging me for it, " he licked his lips while eyeing Salsa with a hungry look. " I can't wait to break into that sweet innocent body of yours. "
A cold shudder ran through Salsa's body leaving her with goosebumps.
" Sir are we going home? " the man driving the carriage asked out loud pulling Master Chang's attention from Salsa.
" No, we will be going to the palace, the king is getting married to his new queen today. "
Salsa sat up at the mention of the palace, her interest picked. She has never been to the palace, no she has never left her village before and this will be the first time and visiting the palace even in her current situation sounds awesome.
The road leading out of her village was bumpy and filled with a lot of puddles of mud water, Salsa had to hang on tight to the carriage to avoid being thrown around. She would hate to land on Master Chang's laps again.
Finally, after a long ride, they entered Central City. Salsa gaped at the wonder surrounding her. The houses were beautiful, there were stores everywhere carrying so many interesting, and the whole place was bustling with people.
The sight outside momentarily caused Salsa to forget her predicament and the sight of the majestic and aesthetic building of the royal palace left her with her jaw to the ground.