Three ex-husbands and a marriage

White Spirit Pearl

Man Chiu leisurely soaked in the steaming hot tub and ignored the nearly silent grunts everytime the thick leather whip made contact with the man's skin. No matter how thick a man's skin can be, the lashes laced bloody stripes on his near naked body. Captain Hanli's arms are currently cuffed to two pillars behind the screen that separated the bathtub and the torture chamber.

Unfazed by the metallic smell of blood, Man Chiu raised his slender figures and curiously observed the wrinkled skin on the tip of his fingers and smiled. It has been too long since he could enjoy such a satisfying bath. He should soak a little longer. After all, his anger has not subsided.

"Young Master Man, please tell me where is my wife?" begged the Captain.

"Hanli, endure and when I am satisfied we can talk," said Man Chiu lazily.

"Please...tell me...is she still alive?"

Man Chiu laughed and raised a finger to his lips and made a long 'shush' sound. Hanli endured the violent whipping without a sound but broke into tears upon hearing the low sound.

"No...no...please tell me...my poor wife...my poor wife..." he sobbed.

"Shut up. Hanli, all these months you went cavorting with my fiancée, have you spared a single thought for your wife or me? Don't bother me with your useless tears," said Man Chiu coldly.

His good mood disturbed by the man's tears.

"It wasn't me...it wasn't her either...Muon Rui An and I were not the same..." he sobbed. Words could not express the strangeness of the situation.

Muon Rui An is not the same? Man Chiu knew that, but who is she?

That was the question that has plagued his mind these last few months. The more he thought about it, the more intrigued he became.

At first there was an unsettled feeling in the pit of his stomach that grew and grew. It became so irritating that Man Chiu felt almost paralyzed by it. The most annoying thing was that he had no idea what it was. The unnamed feeling lasted until he saw a plate of steamed buns. Inexplicially, the buns reminded him of a name, a woman's name that he had never heard of and one that would have originated from the Middle Empire.

Bai Mingling.

He couldn't get rid of this name from his mind and his gut told him that unless he found her, he would not be able to rest. He sent his people to find this Bai Mingling, dead or alive, he must meet her. Luckily for them, the Bai surname was few and the most famous one was the Regent of the Southern Provinces.

His scouts gave a description of Bai Mingling and once again his gut told him that it was her. He rushed into the Middle Empire and waited for an opportunity to meet her. But Bai Mingling was hard to run into because she rarely stepped foot outside the Bai palace. After a few days, he grew impatient. Unless he broke into the heavily guarded palace and risk drawing attention, he must lure her out.

That was when he focused on the cousin, Bai Xiao Wei. Strangely when he spoke to the beautiful young girl, he felt pure hostily radiate from her body. Once again his gut tells him that she carries an unspeakable grudge against her family and means to harm them. He could see the word 'revenge' clearly written on her forehead. Intriguing he thought, intriguing indeed, but until this sinking feeling in his stomach vanishes, he must keep Bai Mingling alive.

It was almost too easy for Man Chiu, the girl was too obedient and followed his instructions to the tee. In the face of her submissiveness he felt bored and a little disappointed. The thrill of the unknown was irritating but exciting and now that it was coming to an end he grew despondent.