Chapter 10

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I remain in my cell for the next two days, as far as I can keep track. I drift in and out of consciousness, sometimes awakening to sunlight, sometimes to darkness. Wen Chao bursts the door open twice during my haze, both times shouting, but I cannot understand his words. After the second time, he does not return.

Light burns my eyelids. I am being pushed up. My pain has shrunk to a constant, dull ache that sharpens every time I move. It is not so intense as to terminate my consciousness, and now that I am awake and aware, I will endure it.

"Up with you," a guard growls. "You're to attend today's lessons. You've missed enough already."

I raise an eyebrow, my pain throwing caution to the wind. "If Young Master Wen exercised any restraint, surely I would learn more during my stay."

The guard punches my side. I double over as he says, "If you do not exercise respect when speaking, we'll gag you again."

I snort softly as his snarky remark, but then he shoves me up the corridor and the stairs, ushering me to the platform where he others are assembled. Wen Chao is mounted with a woman, and they are embracing each other. Publicly, in full view of everyone present. I hold back my disgust.

Wei Ying is out of the dungeon as well, albeit a bit disheveled. He winks at me knowingly when I am ushered into the line. The others only give me a passing glance. Some linger, but if anyone harbors any inquiries as to why I am escorted to the platform every morning after they have all gathered, none voice them.

"Today," Wen Chao says, "is a special day." He transfers his attention to us. "We hunt today. A monster lives in a cave not far from here. We will investigate it. I will be the one to kill the monster."

I scoff. Wen Chao, the coward, will kill a monster savage enough to start a rumor? I have trouble believing that claim, and I am not the only one.

Jin Zuxian steps forward in indignance. "How are we to hunt if we don't bear swords?" he demands.

Wen Chao glares at him. "You will hunt, sword or no sword. That is final. Let us be off!"

We form a large caravan, the Wen cultivators stationed at the back and sides. We lead, Wen Chao and his horse trotting along in the middle, insulated from any danger. We whisper our dissatisfaction amongst ourselves, some claiming we are "meat shields" and "sacrifices". I am inclined to agree.

As we travel, I walk alone, my going slow and having no clan present to associate myself with. The others clump together by clan and by friend group. I idly scan for Wei Ying and Lan Zhan, the only two people present that perhaps qualify as friends. Seeing neither of them, I glance behind me. There they are, Lan Zhan limping closer to the rear of the party. Wei Ying appears concerned and says something to Lan Zhan. Lan Zhan waves him off. He turns to someone else for help, a woman I recognize as Wen Qing. She halts our party under the guise of drinking water.

Wen Chao stops in annoyance, no doubt muttering some foul words under his breath. The others look relieved at the brief respite from worrying about imminent danger. I look back toward Lan Zhan. Though Wei Ying is practically scolding him, Lan Zhan continues to wave him off. I wander to them, if only for the reason of having nowhere else to go.

"Xiao Li!" Wei Ying smiles as he sees me approaching. I, like Lan Zhan, walk a bit stiffly. The pain I feel is bearable, despite every wound protesting with every step I take. I incline my head to Wei Ying and bow to Lan Zhan.

"Wei Ying," I say. "Huanguang Jun."

"Xiao Shelan," Lan Zhan bows in response. I make no comment on his limp. He makes no comment on my stiffness. Wei Ying does not afford either of us the grace of ignoring our pain.

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