The sunset cast a hue of orange and pink from over the horizon as a young man, clad in a red-accented black robe, wet with sweat, rushed along the dirt path, one hand flinging along a bag of ointment while the other grasped a mundane-looking token of stone
Ming breathed heavily as he tried to keep running, but his stamina was limited since he'd never been trained formally in martial arts due to Zhu Feng's constant obstruction. Despite that, Ming's physical strength was still above average because of all of the chores he does daily
Now his mind was all over the place, torn between worrying about being late to deliver this bag of ointment and pondering the authenticity of the mysterious elder's words
"I see potential in you, Ming, you're not talentless" rings repeatedly in Ming's head
Although significantly bastardized by Ming's perception at the time, it was enough to send the simple mind of this insecure servant spinning
His eyes flash hints of hope and worry as the sun begins to disappear under the horizon and the Crimson Cloud manor draws near
Just about when the two gate guards were about to close up the Manor gates, Ming sprinted through and stumbled, falling to the ground as he raised the ointment bag, not letting it be damaged
"The lady is already done bathing, Ming, young master Feng had been counting the seconds until you came back" One of the guards spoke up and then sighed
"You're in for another earful kid" he said sympathetically as De Ming stood up and brushed off the dust before making sure the bag is pristine
Ming happens to be the same age as the Crimson Cloud's young lady, Miss Zhu Lian, who treated him kindly as an equal, not just a servant
In contrast, her elder brother of two years, Zhu Feng would often bully and take out his frustration on Ming, finding every excuse to belittle him
Even if Ming acted as though it didn't affect him, enduring the young master's beatings everyday without flinching
But internally, Ming was conditioned to never view positively of himself, so much so that Ming never doubted Zhu Feng's baseless claims, that he is utterly hopeless and talentless when it comes to martial arts
"MING! DO YOU KNOW HOW LATE YOU ARE!!" a roar rang out from the main house as Zhu Feng kicked the doors open. His long auburn hair flicked behind him as he strode forward in a gold-accented red robe, his face all wrinkled up and haughty as he stepped in front of Ming
Ming intuitively bowed timidly and greeted him "Young master"
"Don't give me that polite crap, you know what you did!" he said, almost barking as he pointed his finger at Ming's face, clearly just to bully and show dominance over the weak servant boy
"I'll punish you right here, or my name isn't Zhu Feng!" he stated with bravado, as if he ever needed a legitimate reason to ruthlessly beat up Ming
'Great, looks like a beating is back on the menu' Ming thought sarcastically as he prepared to endure Zhu Feng's punches as usual
//Crimson Flame Palm, Low-silver grade, familiar//
Unexpectedly, no punch came, instead Zhu Feng threw a palm forward, striking Ming straight in his chest as a burst of white and red flames sprung forth, throwing Ming back, hitting the wall behind him with a loud thud
Zhu Feng actually dared to use martial arts against him, which was strictly forbidden by the Crimson Cloud's Patriarch. And what Zhu Feng used was the Crimson Flame Palm no less, Crimson Cloud Manor's signature technique, a technique Ming has seen Zhu Feng and Zhu Lian practiced time and time again
De Ming grabbed his scorched chest in pain as he stood up, his legs weak from the fall and the exhaustion of an hour straight of running, his back aching from the impact, and his robe charred.
Anyone could tell that Zhu Feng had gone too far
But Zhu Feng wasn't the type to have sympathy and stopped mid punishment
Fortunately, just as Zhu Feng was winding back for another blow, his momentum was cut short by a hand firmly grabbing his wrist. Zhu Feng looked back and saw Elder Hu, the family's steward and the trusted right-hand man of his father, patriarch Zhu Zhang
Elder Hu was looking at him with a disappointed expression, shaking his head in disapproval
"Zhu Feng! Stop bullying Ming already! You've gone too far!" a frustrated feminine voice called out at Zhu Feng
It was Zhu Lian, a beautiful girl with fiery ruby eyes, rosy skin, her auburn hair tied up into two buns, leaving a short-length curtain of hair, framing her face and its childish features. Her face now mirroring the anger Zhu Feng directed at Ming earlier
Noticing Ming's condition, Lian quickly rushed over and supported him, looking him from head to toe to find his chest and back battered, his robes burnt in front while Ming was still trying to display an awkward yet reassuring smile for her
"It's fine Lady Lian, the young master…was just giving out my punishment " Ming said weakly with a fake smile, his teeth clenching from the searing pain on his chest
"Why didn't you call for me?" She said in a desperate plea before continuing
"Am I not reliable to you, Ming?" she said disheartenedly, her expression laced with hints of a growing frustration
Before Ming could muster up a response, she turned to Zhu Feng, whose wrist was still firmly restrained, she shouted
"He was carrying out the errand for me! So what if he's late, he doesn't deserve such a punishment! You even struck him with the Crimson Flame Palm!" She said furiously as she helped Ming move to the manor's infirmary
"Cheh, so what? it's not my fault that he's such a pushover"
Zhu Feng, who saw no wrong in what he did, shrugged his shoulders and sneered before being dragged away by Elder Hu
=================================
In the infirmary, Ming laid on a simple bamboo bed, groaning as Zhu Lian treated his wounds with some salve and herbal remedies
"Ming, next time he bullies you, call for me okay? Don't just endure it!" Lian said warmly as she applied the medicine
"It's not like I have a choice, young lady, he'll hold a grudge and come at me another time, possibly even angrier" Ming said in a defeatist manner before continuing "If only I could do more than endure"
"Endure… you always endure, everytime" Suddenly, Lian's voice shifts from her usual warmth to something unfamiliar, grudging? Resentment? Ming wonders, shocked at the abrupt change-up of her mood
"What if…" Lian paused as if the words struggled to leave her mouth
"What if he goes too far one day, worse than this?… And something happens to you" the latter part she muttered quietly but enough for Ming to hear
He looked up in haste and met with Lian's face, pale, staring at him were her two delicate eyes, now the start of two subtle streams running down her cheeks
"Zhu Lian, I-" Ming pauses, now addressing her name directly
"I'm sorry, sorry that I've made you worry" Ming said nervously, he smiled weakly as he tried to reassure her, but his eyes betrayed him
They were too telling, She knows those eyes, that look that he shows her every time he tries to shoulder things along, leaving her out of trouble and in turn, out of his life
Lian sniffled and stood up, wiping her tears, breaking eye contact and she let out a barely audible
"That look again, I guess you'll never change after all, Zhu Feng was right about you"
It was hurtful, she was fully aware but she couldn't keep it in anymore, seeing him abused over and over angered her but the fact that he was willingly enduring it angered her even more.
Even though she didn't mean it, the remark came out of her lips naturally. And by the time she had realized the implications of what she said, it was too late
Ming was speechless, he couldn't believe that even Zhu Lian, the only person who would show him genuine warmth would think that about him. His weak smile fades, replaced by a pained expression that could only be described as betrayed
"Ming I-I didn't mean I in that way-" Lian tried to save the situation but quickly gave up seeing Ming's despaired expression
"I'm sorry" Zhu Lian said as she turned away and left, making a break for her room, crying along the way
Ming, now hurt both physically and mentally, laid back down on the infirmary bed and stared at the moon outside the window, pondering
'Maybe I was in the wrong'
He thought to himself but couldn't shake away Lian's words " Zhu Feng was right about you"
They thought about how pathetically he acted every time Zhu Feng decided to picked on him
His fist tightened around the token he received earlier, his nails dug into the token until they bled as only one thought played in repeat
"I want to change"